Date: April 6th, 2023

Location: Marin Headlands at SCA Trail

Coordinates: 37.83220 (North), -122.48365 (West)

Description: On our next field trip, we headed towards the Marin Headlands located on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge. This location is sandwiched between the waters of the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Habitat composition at the location consisted of low coastal hills, scrublands, grasslands, and beaches. Animal species that dominated this area include black-tailed deers, mountain lions, bobcats, foxes and coyotes that were all in hiding. 

Plant Descriptions and Images: 

Family: Saxifragaceae, Genus & Species: Tellima grandiflora (Fringe cups)

This species is a perennial evergreen herb characterized by rhizome roots, sparsely glandular morphology, and moderately hairy stems. Leaves produced on these stems are basal and cauline with a cordate base, ovate tip, and shallowly lobed margin. Each leaf is simple with palmate venation, appears in an alternate growth pattern, and is sparsely covered with trichomes. The inflorescence of the plant is a spike-like raceme that is generally scapose and one-sided with many flowers. Bracts found on the inflorescence are scale-like. Flowers  on the plant are greenish-white to red and have frilly petals that are divided into 5-10 lobes. When you smell the flower, you can pick up a faintly sweet odor that is produced.

Family: Montiaceae, Genus & Species: Claytonia perfoliata (Miner’s lettuce)

This species is an annual deciduous herb characterized by taproots and fleshy leaves that are edible. The leaves of this plant are unique in that they are perfoliate, which is derived from opposite leaves adjoining to form one circular leaf. A slender, delicate stem grows through the middle of the leaf to produce the inflorescence. Due to this morphology, the circular leaf is basal with entire margins and has tips that are rounded to be acute. Inflorescences of this plant are smaller racemes with 1 bract at the base and produce 5-40 flowers. Each flower is small with 2 to 6 millimeter petals that are pink or white in color.

Family: Apiaceae, Genus & Species: Heracleum maximum (Cow Parsnip)

This species is an annual to perennial deciduous herb characterized by taproots, stems that are ribbed, and a strong fragrance. Stems of the plant are also hollow and generally scapose. These stems produce leaves that are basal, pinnately compound, and follow an alternate growth pattern. The “leaves” are round to reniform and have leaflets that are ovate to cordate in shape. Margins of the leaves are lobed and/or coarsely serrate. Inflorescences of the plant are tomentose or long-hair, umbel-like formations that are terminal and have a flat top. Flowers of these inflorescences are small, white, and are produced in large amounts.

iNaturalist Submissions:

1. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/165120581
2. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/165120739
3. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/165120906

Narrative:

On today’s field trip, we had a mock field quiz that took up most of the time. Even though it was a mock field quiz, it was really nerve racking as many of the plants I still did not know and the pace we were moving was really fast. When we got a plant right, the professor gave us candy, which I really liked as it helped me think better by the end of the field quiz. Besides the field quiz, we learned some new plants that I memorized instantly. The common names of the plants are what helped me quickly get them. Mainly blue dicks because I thought the name was hilarious. Hopefully with more practice, I will be able to get the names of the plants as soon as I see them….and win candy of course.