Mount Tamalpais (Serpentine Sites): 37.88908, -122.61086

We returned to Mount Tamalpais, but this time we visited some areas near the middle peak. These areas were challenging to classify, as they were dominated by many different plant species. In general, the serpentine outcrops were dominated by small plants such as chamise and Mt. Tamalpais manzanita. I would classify the other areas as chaparral, as they were dominated by oak species and some conifer species.

Cirsium occidentale (Western thistle)

      

C. occidentale is a California perennial herb in the family Asteraceae. It is native and endemic to California. It tends to have erect stems with distal branches. Its leaves are gray-green to white-tomentose. They are more or less glabrous with spiny petioles and oblanceolate blades. The leaves also have triangular lobes with spines from 1 to 10 millimeters long. The inflorescence of C. occidentale consists of one to several heads in a loose to tight cluster. The cluster is ovoid to spheric, and can be straight, twisted, or bent. The heads can come together in an appressed to widely radiating pattern. They are sometimes connected by a network of hairs resembling spiderwebs (as observed in this individual). We did not observe any flowers, but when they are present, they are white to lavender, purple, or red with a corolla from 18-35 millimeters wide. In addition, we did not observe any fruit, but when it is present, it is about 5 millimeters in size with a pappus from 15-30 millimeters long.This individual was found near a moist gully on the side of the road on Mount Tamalpais.

Quercus parvula spp. tamalpaisensis (Tamalpais oak)

      

Q. parvula is a native tree species in the family Fagaceae. We observed the subspecies Q. parvula spp. tamalpaisensis (the Tamalpais oak). This evergreen subspecies grows from 1 to 6 meters tall. Its leaves are 8 to 14 centimeters long, with long, dentate margins. The leaves were also dark green and glabrous, with a roughly tapering shape. On this individual, some leaves had dentation and others were entire. We did not observe any fruits, but when it is present in the form of nuts. These nuts are 30 to 45 millimeters in length, with a bowl shaped cup. The nuts are also barrel-shaped to ovoid, tapered, and mature during the second year of growth. It grows in understory conifer woodland, up to 750 meters in elevation. This taxon is considered to be rare or endangered. This individual was found on a slight slope on the side of a trail.

Streptanthus glandulosus spp. pulchellus (Mt. Tamalpais bristly jewel flower)

     

S. glandulosus is an annual in the Brassicaceae family. It is native and endemic to California. It has a simple, glabrous stem that is branched throughout its length. The leaves are basal and petioled. They are also coarsely dentate to lobed and sessile. The leaves tend to be lanceolate-linear to oblanceolate in shape. This species also exhibits open inflorescence. The flowers consist of a bilateral calyx and sepals 5 to 10 millimeters in length. These sepals can vary greatly in color, from white to yellow, rose, purple, or purple-black. They are also glabrous or have sparse bristles. The petals are 7 to 17 millimeters in length. In addition, the flowers have filaments in three pairs of unequal length. We did not observe any fruit, but when it is present, it is ascending to spreading or reflexed and is 3 to 11 centimeters long. It is either straight or curved, and can be glabrous to moderately pubescent. There are 22 to 70 ovate to oblong seeds per plant. This species is notable because seven out of its eight subspecies are found in California. More specifically, Streptanthus glandulosus spp. pulchellus is a rare or endangered taxon, and is occasionally found on serpentine. Its stems and leaves are bristly and its flowers are rose to lavender to purple. The individual we saw was about 15 centimeters tall, with purple flowers. It was found on the edge of a serpentine outcrop in full sun.

The views at the end of the trip were incredible–maybe even the best I’ve seen all semester! I am very thankful to get off campus and appreciate the rich botanical diversity of the Bay Area.

         

 

Ring Mountain: 37.90974, -122.48580

Ring Mountain is an area at the north end of the Tiburon Peninsula in Marin County. It has serpentine rock outcrops and also includes rare and endangered flora (such as the Tiburon mariposa lily). Ring Mountain is only 602 feet tall, but one can enjoy views of Mt. Tamalpais, the North Bay hills and the San Francisco skyline. It was dominated by vegetative shrubs less than 5 meters tall. There were many, many grass species and a diverse range of flowering plants.

Based on these characteristics, I would classify this floral community as grassland or prairie. This area is able to support a wide array of wildlife.

Calochortus umbellatus (Oakland mariposa lily)

C. umbellatus is a perennial herb that is both native and endemic to California. It is a member of the family Liliaceae. Its stems tend to be 8 to 25 centimeters long, and its leaves are persistent, carline, and generally linear. The inflorescences are more or less umbel-like and erect, with 3 to 12 flowers per inflorescence. The flowers themselves are perianth bell-shaped and tend to be white or pale pink to lilac with purples spots at the base. Its sepals and petals are distinct from each other. The petals are 12 to 18 millimeters long and are widely wedge shaped to obovate. In addition, the petals are glabrous. The filaments are about 5 millimeters long, and the anthers are about 2 millimeters long and light blue or pink. When fruit is present it is 10 to 14 millimeters wide and elliptic or winged. The seeds are irregular, dark brown, and netlike It often grows on serpentine soils, and is found in open chaparral or woodland. This particular specimen was found on the edge of a moist trail in full sunlight.

Linum bienne (Flax)

     

L. bienne is a non-native, annual herb in the family Linaceae. It tends to grow from 6 to 60 centimeters tall, with glabrous stems. Its leaves are 5 to 25 millimeters long and tend to be linear. The flowers have distinct sepals and petals. The sepals are about 5 millimeters long, and are ovate to lanceolate with translucent margins. The petals are light blue and 6 to 10 millimeters long. They also have free styles and linear to club-shaped stigmas. When fruit is present, it is 4 to 6 millimeters wide and dehiscent. The seeds are about 3 millimeters wide and dark brown to black. Flax is often found in grassland, woodland, and disturbed places. This particular specimen was also found on the side of a moist trail in full sunlight.

Calystegia purpurata (Smooth Western morning glory)

 

C. purpurata is a perennial herb that is both native and endemic to California. It is a member of the family Convolvulaceae. It is glabrous, with a trailing to strongly climbing stem less than 7 meters long. Its leaves are 1.5 to 5 centimeters long and are triangular to reniform. It exhibits peduncle inflorescence and its bracts do not hide the calyx. Its flowers are made up of sepals 7 to 14 millimeters wide and a corolla 23 to 52 millimeters wide. They are white/cream to purple, and often have purple stripes. This species also has two subspecies: subspecies purpurata and subspecies saxicola. This specimen most closely resembles subspecies purpurata because its leaves are triangular and V-shaped. Their lobes are also strongly angled and the margins are not wavy. This species, in general, is found in chaparral and coastal scrub. This particular specimen was found on the side of a moist trail in full sunlight.

Views on a beautiful day…

       

Edgewood County Park: 37.47367, -122.27864

Edgewood County Park is a lovely area in San Mateo County. It is known for its wildflowers in the spring and 160 acres of serpentine soil. It has many native plant species, and these include rare and locally endemic species. This area is also notable because it includes grasslands, chaparral, coastal scrub, foothill woodlands, and wetlands. In addition, it includes parts of Cordilleras Creek and Laguna Creek. I would classify the area we visited as a Foothill Woodland because it included medium sized trees such as coast live oak and toyon. The trees here were 20 meters tall or shorter, and many areas were relatively moist and shaded.

Adiantum jordanii (California maidenhair)

      

A. jordanii is a fern species that is native to California and Oregon. A member of Pteridaceae, it can be recognized by its 2-3 pinnate and asymmetrical leaves. It is bright green and has blackish stems. In addition, one can see false indusia on the underside of this fern species. The sori and false indusia tend to be less than 5 millimeters in size. This fern is one of two maidenhair species in this area. This particular specimen was found on the side of a moist hill in complete shade.

Lithophragma affine (common woodland star)

L. affine is a perennial herb in the Saxifragaceae family. It is also native to California. It usually grows to be 10 to 60 centimeters tall. Its leaves are lobes and often have sharp-tipped teeth. This species has pedicel inflorescence and with bright white flowers. These flowers are in parts of 5 and have ovate/elliptic petals approximately 5 to 13 millimeters long. One can also see their reddish-green sepals. Most noticeably, the petals are 3-lobed at their tips. This particular specimen was found on a hillside in partial sunlight. Poison oak was intertwined with multiple L. affine plants in this area.

Wyethia angustifolia (narrow leaved mule’s ears)

           

Narrow leaved mule’s ear and blue eyed grass compete for Dr. Paul’s attention!

W. angustifolia is a perennial herb species native to California, and a member of the Asteraceae family. Its leaves tend to be linear to lanceolate (or nearly deltate) and 10 to 50 centimeters long. This species has head inflorescence, with soft/hairy radially symmetrical flowers. It has 8 to 21 ray flowers, which are up to 45 millimeters long. The disk flowers usually take up approximately 10 millimeters in the center of the ray flowers. This particular specimen was found in a field in full sunlight. It was at the border of the field and the trail.

     

This coast live oak was able to expand and grow very large without other large floral competitors present!

San Bruno Mountain State Park: 37.69676, -122.43384

San Bruno Mountain is a State Park at the northern tip of the Santa Cruz Mountain Range. It has beautiful hiking trails and views of San Francisco. One can also see the remains of a Nike Missile early warning radar site. The mountain includes the Guadalupe Valley Creek and Colma Creek, as well as some serpentine rock. It often experiences the fog that is seen around the Bay. It is also home to the endangered San Bruno elfin butterfly, which is endemic to this area.

I would characterize this area as Northern Coastal Scrub, as it was dominated by various shrub species. For example, the trail we took was dominated by the Franciscan wallflower, coastal buckwheat, manzanita species, These shrubs were approximately 2 meters tall and shorter, and created an intermittent canopy.

Salvia spathacea (Hummingbird sage)

         

S. spathacea is a perennial herb that is endemic (and native) to California. Its leaves tend to be 8 to 20 centimeters long. They are pubescent and oblong in shape, with rounded teeth. Its inflorescences are 6 centimeters wide or less, and the green or purple bracts can be up to 5 centimeters wide (this specimen had purple bracts). Flowers can be red to light pink in color, and are also divided into upper and lower lips with protruding stamens and styles. It is a member of the Laminaceae family and shares many of its characteristics. For example, this particular specimen had square stems and slightly sticky, strong-smelling leaves. Its stalks were especially pubescent and it had magenta, bilaterally symmetrical flowers. It is also known as hummingbird sage because hummingbirds pollinate the species when they stick their heads into the tube-shaped flowers and rub against the petals. This specimen was found on the side of a hillside in partial shade.

Castilleja wightii (Wight’s paintbrush)

      

C. wightii is a perennial herb that is endemic (and native) to California. This species can be yellow to purple in color. We saw both orange and yellow specimens in this area. This herb is in the family Orobanchaceae, along with other paintbrush species. The paintbrushes often appear to have been dipped in paint, and this species only has its very end dipped in this “paint”. It has fairly short stems with many leafy axillary shoots. Its leaves tend to be lanceolate to ovate and 20 to 60 millimeters wide. The inflorescences have bracts and can be bright red to yellow. The flowers are divided abaxially and adaxially, with acute or rounded lobes. They are made up of both the calyx and corolla, with red to yellow margins. These specimens were found in full sunlight on the side of a trail within the Park. They were found only a few feet away from each other.

Phacelia malvifolia (Stinging phacelia)

P. malvifolia is an annual herb native to California. It is found outside of California, but it is confined to western North America. It is found in the family Boraginaceae and tends to grow from 20 to 100 centimeters tall. It has erect stems and can be most obviously characterized by sharp, bulb-based hairs. Its leaves are 20 to 140 millimeters wide and dentate to round. The leaves are also toothed to lobed. Its flowers are bell-shaped and cream-white, and are oblong to oblanceolate. This particular specimen was found on the side of a hill in full sunlight. It was on the border of the hill and a parking lot.

I really enjoyed the great diversity of plants we saw during this lab. And though it distracted us a bit, In-N-Out was an amazing reward! Thank you, Prof Paul, for including it in the course!