Month: April 2023

Field Trip #7: Big Rock

Heather Miller

Hey guys!! Welcome to the 7th field trip blog post. This time we went to Big Rock Mountain, which is just located an hour away from the University of San Francisco. This mountain range is north of Mount Tamalpais and near Skywalker Ranch, making it a picturesque location to explore the diverse plant species of California. On this trip, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the trail was a bit easier than I anticipated 😅. We were able to see a range of plant species, from the old to the new. I am excited to share my experience with you and I have attached some photos from the trip for you to enjoy. So sit back and relax, let’s dive into the world of botany at Big Rock Mountain!!

  • Taxon:  Achillea millefolium
  • Taxon Common Name:  Yarrow
  • Parent Taxon: Asteraceae
  • Description:
    • Habit: Perennial herb. Leaf & Stem: Lanceolate shaped leaves; Leaves are narrow and finely divided, feathery and fern-like; the leaves and/or stem are often covered in fine hairs, but not always; . Flower: Head Inflorescence; White to pink ray flowers. Fruit: Fruit is a cypselae or achene

  • Taxon: Castilleja densiflora
  • Taxon Common Name: Owl’s Clover
  • Parent Taxon: Orobancaceae
  • Description:
    • Habit: Herbaceous flowering plant. Leaf & Stem: linear or lance-shaped leaves with or without lobes. Flower: small inflorescence and has bracts tipped in white to dull or bright pink or purple; between the bracts appear the flowers, which are somewhat rounded and punched, and white to yellow to pink to purple in color  

 

  • Taxon: Nemophilia Menziesii
  • Taxon Common Name:  Baby Blue Eyes
  • Parent Taxon: Boraginaceae
  • Description:
    • Habit: Annual herb. Leaf & Stem: lower leaves are stalked, lobed and oppositely arranged; upper leaves are more or less sessile and less lobed than lower. Flower: white or blue; five-petaled, bowl-shaped flowers w/ white centers. Fruit: capsule
Categories: Mt. Tamalpais State Park - Laurel DellLeave a comment

Field Trip #6: Edgewood Park & Natural Reserve – Redwood City

Heather Miller

 

Hey guys! On our 6th field trip we went to the Edgewood and Natural Reserve, located on the westside of Redwood City. This was a 45-minute drive away from the University of San Francisco. Our journey led us through a trail that was abundant in poison oak, but we were able navigate through it safely. Along the way, we came across a dead mole rat and spotted some deer! On this trip we reviewed our previous knowledge of plants (got candy if we were able to identify a plant’s family). In this post I will be sharing some of the interesting plants that we encountered.

  • Taxon: Geranium molle
  • Taxon Common Name:  Dove’s foot Crane’s-bill or Dovesfoot Geranium
  • Parent Taxon: Geraniaceae
  • Description:
    • Habit: Annual or Perennial herb. Leaf & Stem: Plant covered with soft hairs; leaves nearly round, palmately divided into 5-7 lobes; lobes evenly round-toothed. Flower: pairs of flowers with 5 petals divided into 2 lobes (looks like 10 petals). Fruit: seedpods hairless of reflexed stems.

 

  • Taxon: Delphinium parryi
  • Taxon Common Name:  Larkspur
  • Parent Taxon: Ranunculaceae
  • Description:
    • Habit: Perennial herb, evergreen, growth habit is an upright spike. Leaf & Stem: base generally curly-puberulent; Leaf is generally curly puberulent. Flower: purplish-blue; the flowers are on long pedicels; sepals reflexed or spreading.

 

  • Taxon: Trifolium willdenovii
  • Taxon Common Name: Tomcat clover
  • Parent Taxon: Fabaceae
  • Description:
    • Habit: Annual wildflower. Leaf & Stem: leaves are linear-to-lance oblong or elliptic, green, alternate, and palmately compound. Flower: looks like a typical clover but with extra long leaves, lavender to purple (sometimes purple to pink); 9 united stamens and one free Fruit: 2-seeded pod. Inflorescence: stalked, axillary cluster, pea-like flowers arranged in a wheel-like shape

 

Categories: Edgewood Park & Natural ReserveLeave a comment

Field Trip #5: Marin Headlands – Mock Field Quiz :)

Heather Miller

     

Welcome Botanists!! On our 5th Field Trip (April 6th, 2023) we went to the Marin Headlands in San Francisco, which was only a short 20-minute drive away from the University of San Francisco. The breathtaking views and perfect weather made for an incredible learning experience. With clear skies and mild temperatures, we were able to fully immerse ourselves in the beauty of nature. One of the highlights o the trip was the Mock Field Quiz where we put our plant family knowledge to the test! We also had the opportunity to discover new plants and expand our botanical horizons. In this post, I will be sharing some of the new plants we encountered on this trip. So lets explore the wonderful of the Marin Headlands!

  • Taxon: Claytonia perfoliata
  • Taxon Common Name: Miner’s Lettuce
  • Parent Taxon: Montiaceae
  • Description:
    • Habit: Annual. Leaf & Stem: Leaves are mostly basal, simple; has numerous erect to spreading stems that branch from the base. Flower: small pink or white flowers have 5 petals, the flowers grow above a pair of leaves that are connected together around the stem; the flowers are tiny, three-valved capsules containing 1-3 seeds. 

 

  • Taxon: Tellima Grandiflora
  • Taxon Common Name: Fringe Cups
  • Parent Taxon: Saxifragaceae
  • Description:
    • Habit: herbaceous perennial flowering plant. Leaf & Stem: Rounded stalked leaves mostly growing from the base emerging from a rootstock; ciliate to toothed; base cordate, lobes shallow; Pubescent stem.Flower: Terminal racemes (up to 60 cm high); petals are deeply fringed; pinnately divided; 10 stamens and 2 styles Fruit: capsule. Inflorescence: spike-like raceme; bracts scale-like

 

 

  • Taxon: Dipterostemon capitatus
  • Taxon Common Name: Blue dicks / Wild Hyacinth
  • Parent Taxon: Themidaceae (monocot)
  • Description:
    • Habit: Perennial species; they go summer-dormant. Leaf & Stem: short, solid, vertical, underground stem; 2-3 basal leaves; straplike, linear to narrowly lanceolate. Flower: perianth blue, blue-purple, pink-purple, or white, tube; lobes generally ascending; 3 stamens opposite outer perianth parts with filaments Fruit: capsule with 3 chambers. Inflorescence: head-like umbel; trumpet-shaped flowers; fused bracts at base; ovary superior
Categories: Marin HeadlandsLeave a comment