Date: 2/16/18
Location: The Presidio, San Francisco, CA 94129 37.798804″N, 122.465500″W
Site Description: The Presidio is a former military base situated at the southern entrance of the Golden Bridge. As a site with former ecological management for military purposes, much of the native predominance has been removed and replaced by carpobrotus edulis (ice plant). More recent restorative ecological efforts have attempted to reintroduce former native species back to the area. Due to the high density of scrubs, the Presidio can be considered a coastal chaparral interspersed with serpentine soil. The open areas, high sun exposure and windswept nature of the terrain facilitates easy growth for these shrub species. The predominant tree species at the head of the trail were eucalyptus and a variety of gymnosperm pines. The predominant tree species in select areas closer to the shore which were not likely ecologically managed were the Monterey Pine and Monterey Cyprus.
Narrative: The trip began at a trail head close to the road at the top of a steep hill. Gradually we made our way down from the top toward a former battery bunker, whereby we noticed a shift in species diversity and population. After the bunker, we made our way through steep serpentine rock interspersed with artificial streams until we reached the beach. We then traveled back up through the same terrain.
Family, Genus, and Species: Papaveraceae Eschscholzia Californica (California Poppy)
Micro-habitat: Immediately off the path in a generally open area with only other small shrubs and grasses present.
Habit: Annual, erect or ascending growth form and spreading from a single point, roughly 8 inches.
Morphology:
- Leaves: segmented, 1-pinnate compound, obtuse or acute apices, glabrous leaf surface.
- Flowers: 4 petals, orange base becomes yellow toward petal apex, receptacle obconic, rotate corolla shape.
Family, Genus and Species: Cucurbitaceae Marah Fabacea (California Man-Root)
Micro-habitat: Immediately off the trail, snaking through and over smaller shrubs and grasses.
Habit: Rhizome, thick stem, generally herbaceous, not woody; fruit, flowers, and leafs come from same node on stem.
Morphology:
- Leaves: simple palmate shape and venation, broadly dentate leaf blade margin, glabrous surface.
- Flowers: radial symmetry, 5 pedals, white color, rotate corolla shape, flowers either pistillate or staminate sex, raceme flower organization.
Family, Genus and Species: Brassicaceae Arabis Blepharophylla (Coast Rockress)
Micro-habitat: Immediately off the path in area with serpentine soil, in an area with not many competing plants, only occasional grasses.
Habit: Shrub-like, perennial.
Morphology:
- Leaves: basal leaves, pinnate leaf shape and venation, strigose hairy and glabrous leaf surface, blade margin entire to moderately dentate.
- Flowers: radial symmetry, 4 petals purple color, generally rotate corolla, 4 sepals, 6 stamen, 1 ovary, perfect flower.