Field Journal Entry#9 Ring Mountain

Ring Mountain Preserve Tiburon, CA

Coordinates: 37.9099° N, 122.4858° W

Ring Mountain is an open area with serpentine grassland located in the Marin County, California. The trail consists of grassy slopes with many different wildflowers such as poppies and goldfields, and other short shrubs. There were many giant rocks on the trail almost remind me of Stonehenge. Some part of the trail got little muddy but overall it was good. Serpentine grassland holds extensive amount of wildflowers during the spring that we all enjoyed walking through.

Calystegia purpurata

Calystegia purpurata, also known as smooth western morning glory, is a part of Convolvulaceae family. It is perennial herb from woody caudex, glabrous, often glaucous. The stem is trailing to strongly climbing less than 7m. The leaves is triangular to reinform. It is a funnel shaped flower. The lobes are spreading, 2-tipped with sinus V-shaped. The inflorescence is peduncle 1,5 flowered. The flower has sepals about 7-14mm, corolla 23-52mm, and white or cream.

lupinus nanus

lupinus nanus, also known as sky lupine, is a native annual plant that is part of fabaceae family. The petiole is roughly 2-8.5cm, leaflets 5-9mm, 1-12mm wide, occasionally linear. The inflorescence consists of 2-20cm flowers generally whorled, penduncle 2-15cm, pedicels 2.5-7mm and bract 4-12mm. The flower is 6-15mm, upper deeply lobed, and blue or lavender petals and the center of the banners are white. It usually live in open or disturbed areas less than 1300m elevation. The flowering time is around March to June.

Achillea millefolium

Achillea millefolium, also known as Common Yarrow, is a native perennial herb that is part of Asteraceae family. The cauline leaves are alternate, divided finely 3-pinnate. The inflorescence is consists of phyllaries 4-9mm. The ray flower is white about 2.4-4mm, ovate to round. The disk flower is white about 15-40mm, corolla 2-3mm. It lives in many habitats such as disturbed grasslands less than 3560m elevation. The flowering time is between April to September.

Narrative:

We left the parking lot around 1 pm and it took about half an hour to get there. The reserve was open grassland area that consists of variety of wildflowers and Stonehenge around the trail. It was a beautiful area except it was cloudy with very very strong wind. I thought if we were there at the right time, the view would be unbelievable. It was so windy and everyone had hard time listening to Dr.Paul and taking picture of the plants. The wind got little better after an hour or so. We also took picture at the top of the giant rock mountain. I realized that serpentine soil holds extensive amount of wildflowers during the spring and overall we enjoyed the trail.

Additional photos:

Milk Thistle, part of Asteraceae

Purple Vetch, part of fabaceae

False Babystars, part of polemoniaceae

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