Month: May 2023

Field Trip #9: Steep Ravine

Heather Miller

 

HEY GUYS! Sad to say this will be my last blog post for this semester 🥹. On May 4th, 2023 we set out on our final field trip for the semester. The destination: The breathtaking Steep Ravine Trail, that is located on the coast of Mt. Tamalpais. As we embarked on this 43-minute drive from the University of San Francisco, little did we know that we were about to immerse ourselves in a truly unforgettable experience. Undoubtedly, the trail lived up to its name, presenting us with a steep and challenging ascent. However, as always we persevered through the demanding hike, our efforts were rewarded by glimpses of vibrant California flora.

Throughout the course, being part of the USF botany class had been an immensely gratifying experience, and this field trip had undoubtedly been a highlight. Under the guidance of Professor Paul, we had not only expanded our understanding of plants and ecosystems but also formed lasting memories that would remain etched in our hearts.

With this in mind, below are some of beautiful plants we encountered on this field trip:

 

  • Taxon: Acer macrophyllum
  • Taxon Common Name:  Big Leaf Maple
  • Parent Taxon: Sapindaceae
  • Description:
    • Habit: . Leaf & Stem: Leaves are deeply five-lobed, wavy teeth, shiny, dark green on top and paler underneath Flower: Small greenish-yellow, about 3 mm, hanging in clusters at the end of twigs. Fruit: the fruit consists of two winged seeds joined at the base. Seeds are hairy, 3-6 cm long.

 

 

  • Taxon: Aquilegia canadensis
  • Taxon Common Name:  Red Columbine
  • Parent Taxon: Ranunculaceae
  • Description:
    • Habit: Perennial, up to 3 ft. tall. Leaf & Stem: compound leaves, divided into rounded-lobes threes. Flower: A nodding, red, and yellow flower, wit upward spurred petals alternating with spreading, colored sepals, and numerous yellow stamens hanging below the petals.

 

  • Taxon: Urtica Dioicia
  • Taxon Common Name:  Common Nettle Sting
  • Parent Taxon: Urticaceae
  • Description:
    • Habit: Perennial. Leaf & Stem: toothed leaves are borne oppositely along the stem, and both the stems and leaves are covered with numerous stinging and non-stinging trichomes (plant hairs). Flower: The tiny green or white flowers are born in dense whorled clusters in the leaf axils and stem tips and are wind-pollinated Fruit: the fruits are small achenes

 

 

Categories: Mt. Tamalpais State Park - Laurel DellLeave a comment

Field Trip #8: Ring Mountain

Heather Miller

On April 27th, we embarked on our 8th field trip to Ring Mountain, which is just located 30 minutes away from the University of San Francisco. This scenic location near San Quentin state prison in San Francisco offers a unique hiking experience, with stunning views of enormous houses, probably owned by the millionaires of San Francisco 👀. On this day the temperature reached up to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the hottest day of the week. Despite the heat and sweating, we were treated with some In N Out on our way back to campus, which was an amazing way to end the day. During the hike, we were able to spot a range of plant species, again from old to new. I hope you enjoy the pictures I took from the trip!

  • Taxon: Layia platyglossa
  • Taxon Common Name:  Tidy Tips
  • Parent Taxon: Asteraceae
  • Description:
    • Habit: Annual wildflower. Leaf & Stem: rough, hair leaves; the upper part of the stem are short and have a pilous texture; the leaves at the basal part of the stem can be dentate to pinnate shaped to rotund short lobes; the lower leaves are generally lobed and the upper leaves are entire; leaves are usually alternate or opposite; blades are usually simple. Flower: individual heads are borne on a peduncle; the flower heads are composed of 5 to 18 yellow ray flowers with white tips and many central yellow disk flowers. Fruit: the seeds are one per fruit, embryos straight.

  • Taxon: Calystegia macrostegia
  • Taxon Common Name:  Morning Glory
  • Parent Taxon: Convolvulaceae
  • Description:
    • Habit: Woody perennial herb or small shrub which may be a low herbaceous vine or a stout, woody, climbing plant. Leaf & Stem: slender, weakly, climbing to woody; leaves are generally widely triangular, lobed. Flower: inflorescence is peduncle; flowers are white or fading pink

  • Taxon: Lepidium nitidum
  • Taxon Common Name: Shining Pepper Grass or Shining Pepperweed
  • Parent Taxon: Brassicaceae
  • Description:
    • Habit: Annual herb. Leaf & Stem: slender stem; small leaves along the stem and larger ones at the base and divided into many narrow lobes. Flower: the flowers give way to flattened, rounded to oval-shaped disc-like fruits up to about half a centimeter long; at the top of the stem appear tiny flowers with spoon-shaped white petals. Fruit: each green to pink shiny fruit is divided down the center into 2 chambers containing seeds

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories: Ring MountainLeave a comment