Category: Uncategorized

Family Dryopteridaceae:

This family has round sori that line the veins of the plant.

1.) The Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum)

Family Ranunculaceae

The leaves on these plants are usually stalkless and have a alternate arrangement. The flowers are typically in parts of 5 or 7, and they are not very big.

1.) Rough-fruited Buttercup (Ranunculus muricatus)

Family Polygalaceae

The lower keeled petals of these pkants typically have a tuft, and some of these species have been known to climb/sprawl.

1.) California Milkwort (Rhinotropis californica)

Family Fagaceae

The flowers of this family are typically unisexual, small catkins. The leaves are leathery, flat, and pubescent.

1.) Tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus)

Family Dennstaedtiaceae 

This family has a unique reproductive system. The sori of these plants are on the underside of the leaf, near the margins, and it has false indusia.

1.) Common Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum)

Family Fabaceae

This family has a very distinct flower shape; the bottom part of the flower typically droops down like a banner, and it seems like a perfect fit to write the word “fab”.

1.) Reddish Tufted Vetch (Vicia benghalensis)

2.) Subterranean Clover (Trifolium subterraneum)

3.) Narrow-leaved Clover (Trifolium angustifolium)

Family Phrymaceae

The flowers of this family are typically tubular, and bilaterally symmetric. For Monkeyflower, especially sticky Monkeyflower, the leaves are very distinct.

1.) Orange Bush Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus)

Family Papaveraceae

The flowers of this family are typically in parts of four, and they sort of resemble dish due their open complexion. The colors of the flowers can vary, but anything from red to orange to yellow is characteristic.

1.) Bush Poppy (Dendromecon rigida)

Family Iridaceae 

Many of the plants in this family have long, narrow leaves with parallel venation.

1.) Fernald’s Iris (Iris fernaldii)

Family Ericaceae

Leaves in this family are typically evergreen, alternate or whorled, simple, and without stipules. The bark/wood of this specimen is very easily distinguished due to its reddish-brown color and smooth complexion.

1.) Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii)

Family Apiaceae 

This family has a very unique compound umbel inflorescence, and sheathing leaves.

1.) Pacific Sanicle (Sanicula crassicaulis)

2.) Common Cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum)

Family Asteraceae

This family has a very unique inflorescence that makes it look like a composite flower. It is actually made up of individual, specialized growths that make these species look like they have a single flower.

1.) Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)

2.) Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Date: May 3rd, 2022

Location: Mt. Tamalpais East Peak, East Peak Parking Lot, East Ridgecrest Blvd., Mill Valley, CA 94941 (37.929258, -122.577880)

Site Description: Mt. Tamalpais has a variable topography, but this site was situated somewhere around 2,500 ft. This trail did not dip or rise in elevation by very much, and it was a short, handicap accessible, 0.70 mile loop trail near the top of the mountain. The trail had a high biodiversity, and was used as a refresher for the field quiz due to the high number of plants that we have observed throughout the semester. The soil at this elevation was pretty dry for the most part, and a lot of the plant species present can go weeks without rainfall. Many of the specimens were rooted on slopes, or on top of rocks, and nearly the entire peak was covered in vegetation. I was also surprised by the amount of insects present at this elevation; there were many bees, flies, wasps, and other pollinator species zooming around at the top of the mountain. The top of the mountain was pretty hot, and the sun was shining bright.

Specimen Descriptions: 

Specimen #1: Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)

This moderately-sized, evergreen, woody, native shrub is a part of the family Rhamnaceae. This species. This species can grow to 6’-8’, and sometimes up to 10’ in certain conditions. It is characterized by its red fruit and opposite or alternate leaf arrangement, as well as its simple leaves with tertiary reticulate leaf venation. This specific specimen was located about ten meters into the trail, on the left side in arid soil.

iNaturalist

Specimen #2: Golden Fleece (Ericameria ericoides)

This small/moderately-sized, shrubby, dicot, native perennial is a part of the plant family Asteraceae. The thing that really makes this species pop is the beautiful golden inflorescences that bloom later in spring. They have very bright green, almost needle-like leaves that shoot out from the stem. This specific specimen was found on the left side of the trail, about 50 meters into the walk, and in very dry, rocky soil. 

iNaturalist

Specimen #3: Chaparral Pea (Pinkringia Montana)

This small sized, herbaceous, native perennial is a part of the family Fabaceae. This plant’s family is easily distinguished by the shape of the flower, which consists of a drooping petal that resembles a banner of sorts. This species has a bright pink/magenta color to it, and it grows in very dense brush. The leaves here are a bit difficult to characterize; they are either simple or trifoliate. This specific specimen was on a slight slope, and was growing along the side of a big boulder. Soil conditions were dry and rocky.

iNaturalist

Narrative

This was the first field trip I have taken with my botany class since my ankle injury, and I was extremely ecstatic about the location. It felt so nice driving across the bridge and up to Mt. Tamapais, and it made me think about all the funny moments I missed while I was out. This trail was a breath of fresh air, and I haven’t felt the sun shine like that for such a long time. I am not sure if the professor actually wanted to go to this location, but it was a handicap accessible trail with minimal elevation and smooth walkways. Although I felt a bit out of it since I missed so much information, I was still happy when I was able to win a piece of candy for classifying a specimen’s plant family. Sure, the Reese’s pieces melted in my pocket a bit, but it was still candy nonetheless. I guess I want to thank Dr. Paul, my professor, for being so understanding about this whole situation, as well as making this class one of my favorites at USF. Everything was enjoyable, even the lectures, and that’s saying a lot. Anyways, if you want a leisurely hike that contains a ton of plant families/species, then the East peak is the peak for you. 

Date: April 18th, 2022

Location: Harney Garden at USF (37.777, -122.45)

Site Description:

The garden is primarily comprised of native California plant species, and is located at the Hilltop Campus of the University of San Francisco. The garden is surrounded by an urban campus, but serves as a sort of green spot in between the education buildings. The garden is moderately sized, with walk-ways to Harney Science Center and Golden Gate Ave. splitting the different sections of flora. The garden has limited pollinators due to its somewhat secluded location, but most of the plants were flowering.

Species Descriptions:

Specimen #1: Leucanthemum × superbum (Shasta Daisy)

This moderately-sized, herbaceous, perennial, native is a part of the Asteraceae family. This species is characterized by its large, showy flowers with head inflorescence, which is basically densely packed, small flowers that form the ‘flower head’. These flowers are raised up by a fleshy stem, and can sometimes be 8-12 inches above the leaves. The leaves are large, fleshy, serrated, and have an obovate shape. The leaves have a thick midrib with prominent secondary venation. This specific plant was located next to the first cement bench outside of Harney, in a somewhat sandy soil.

iNaturalist

Specimen #2: Coreopsis lanceolata (Lance-leaved Coreopsis)

This small/moderately-sized, perennial, herbaceous, native is a part of the family Asteraceae. A distinguishing characteristic of this plant is the golden/bright yellow flower. Similar to the Shasta Daisy, this specimen has a head inflorescence that is comprised of many smaller flowers. The flower is also raised above the leaves by a prominent stalk. The leaves are elliptic in shape with minimal venation, and are pubescent. This specific specimen was located right next to the Shasta Daisy outside of Harney, in the same sandy soil.

iNaturalist

Specimen #3: Species of Lamiaceae

This small/moderately-size, perennial, herbaceous, native is a part of family Lamiaceae. A distinguishing characteristic about this plant is the aroma that it releases, and the very unique color of the flowers. This plant has violet/blue flowers that sprawl up above the leaves/base of the plant. The leaves are serrate, somewhat fleshy, and venation is very prominent. Tertiary venation is scaliform, and these leaves are slightly pubescent. This specific specimen was located to the left of the third bench outside of the Harney Science Center. The soil was very sandy, and it was next to a competing plant.

iNaturalist

Narrative:

I have done labs in this garden for pollination biology and insect biology, and for such a compact/small space the university really makes the most of it. These plants might not be the best resource for native pollinators, but there’s a sort of aesthetic that I associate with it. The plants are colorful, they fragrant, and it’s a breath of fresh air after taking a science course inside of the Harney Building. I do want to say that if the benches are being used by students, crawling around and taking pictures of flowers does seem a bit off. Once you get over that initial emotion of embarrassment, you are free to frolic through the soil.

Date: March 29th, 2022

Location: USF Native Plant Garden (37.778068, -122.453168)

Site Description: This garden is located on the corner of Parker Ave and Turk St, and is right next to the Lone Mountain campus of USF. It is easily distinguishable by the huge “USF” sign, and some major plant growths native to California. Of course, not all the plants here are native, but the university is making an effort to bring in some of the monumental species of the California Floristic Province. One of the main (non-native) plants you will see, and may even walk over/stomp on as you enter the garden, is the Iceplant. A member of the Aizoaceae, this invasive species has been known to be extremely competitive, and even takes up entire stretches of soil with it’s extensive out-growths. Originally brought into CA to solidify the sandy soil, this species has become a major impediment to the native plants that rely on the same resources. On the other hand, there are plenty of native species present to get a decent taste of the native flora. Some of the species include Blue blossom, the California poppy, and the Bush Lupine to name a few. Due to the native plants, a lot of native pollinators can be found in the garden, including some species of the insect family Apidae.

Species Descriptions:

Specimen #1: Lupinus chamissonis (Chamisso Bush Lupine)

Field Journal #3

Date: 02/29/2022

Location: 2480 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA, 94115 (37.789923, -122.433766)

Site Description: I found the first two plants in a window-side flower trough outside of Elite Fine Jewelry. The soil seemed to be somewhat watered, kind of dry and flaky, but I’ll give the shop-owners the benefit of the doubt. It did not seem like the shop was going for any specific biome, as there were succulents, ornamentals, and some weeds. The trough was essentially for decoration, but it had some interesting specimens. The shrub was found a few feet away outside of an apartment building (right next to the trough), and only a block or so from where I work. I couldn’t bend down to examine the soil, but I’m going to assume it was flaky since I was in the suburbs of San Francisco.

Specimen Description: 

Specimen #1: Brightfig Tribe (Tribe Ruschieae)

This vibrant, small, succulent is a part of the family Aizoaceae. The leaves are slightly pubescent, succulent, and seem to arise from the stem in a whorled pattern. The flower is very bright, with a sort of pinkish-purple hue. These flowers are year-round, and the genus can be distinguished by the shape of their seed capsules. The flower kind of resembles that of a daisy, so I want to say it has a capitulum inflorescence, but I don’t know for sure. The stem is fleshy, and covered in tiny hairs, and seems to have an inferior ovary. The microhabitat for this one is inside the ornamental trough, somewhat near the edge of the box.

iNaturalist

Specimen #2: Rock Purslane (Cistanthe grandiflora)

This small/moderately-sized, herbaceous, perennial is a part of the family Montiaceae. The leaves are succulent, slightly pubescent, and arise from the stem in a whorled pattern. The flower iss at the end of a thin, wiry stalk that stretches upwards. The flower seems radially symmetric. The petals are overlapping, creating a sort of cup-like shape. The flower color is pink, and they typically bloom in every season except for the winter. The plant is evergreen, making it a perfect ornamental plant, and this species was found is the back corner of the trough.

iNaturalist

Specimen #3:

I am not quite sure what this specimen is, and all of my apps/tools are not finding a specific genus, but the flower shape is making me think of the family Fabaceae. The specimen was growing as a shrub; I believe it’s perennial and evergreen as they are there year round when going to my job. The leaves are needle-like, and kind of resemble the structure we observed in the lupines when at the Presidio. The flower is a hue of purple, and appears to be bisexual. 

iNaturalist

Narrative: 

As I was crutching out of work and towards the bus station, I looked up and realized that I could get a few specimen descriptions for this week’s lab journal. I was ruled out due to a sprained ankle, but I’m hoping to join my class sometime in the near future. Anyways, this journal is a little boring since I am not describing any topography, nor will I be describing the habitat. These specimens are ornamental, and really only have a  purpose as an aesthetic. I did not see any native pollinators flying near the flora, nor did I see anybody  actively watering these plants. The first two specimens are succulents, and the other seems to be a coastal scrub type, so none of them require an intensive amount of water. In fact, the purslane looked a little bit neglected in my opinion, and the leaves had some sort of residue on them. I guess that’s what you get for observing flora next to a sandwich shop. The temperature leaving work was around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and the time of observance was around 12:00 PM. The sun was out, there was a slight breeze blowing down Sacramento St, and, besides the ankle, it was an overall good day. 

Field Journal #2

Date: February 22nd, 2022

Location(s): The Presidio

Site #1: Batteries to Bluffs trail in San Francisco, CA (37.796934, -122.479425)

Site #2: Langdon Ct, near the Battery Godfrey lookout in San Francisco, CA (37.803421, -122.476888)

Site Description:

Site #1: Our class only walked a short distance down the trail due to construction, but there were a lot of different plant species despite only walking about 100-150 meters. The trail overlooked Baker’s beach, and Marshall’s beach was hidden to the north by a nearby hill. The soil here is very sandy, making water retention very difficult. The trail was barren, with no weeds or small vegetation sprouting between the rocky walkway (this could also be due to the high amounts of human foot traffic through the area). This trailed passed through a coastal scrub biome, and almost all the plant species in this area were specialized to combat the strong winds and dry conditions. Elevation was no more than 500 feet, and there was no canopy or barrier to prevent the gusts coming off the Pacific Ocean; the wind chill made this sight very cold, so dress warm if you plan on visiting! The site was dominated by multiple species of Lupinus (Fabaceae), numerous members of the family Asteraceae, as well as species of Polygonaceae.

Site #2: The trailhead of this site was around 600 ft. of elevation, so slightly more elevated than site #1. The beginning of the trail had a closed canopy, and was dominated by Monterey Cypress (Cupressaceae) and Monterey Pine (Pinaceae), both large, woody species of tree. The trail seemed more moist than site #1, and was peppered with Wild Radish (Brassicaceae), Blueblossom (Rhamnaceae), and White nightshade (Solanaceae). As we descended towards Marshall Beach, the soil turned sandy, and resembled that of site #1. The habitat transitioned into coastal scrub, and many of the species were specialized to withstand the dry and windy conditions. The dominant species in this portion were California Bee plant (Scrophulariaceae), Morning glory (Convulvulaceae), and more White nightshade and Blueblossom. As we approached the bottom of the trail, we passed through a patch of serpentine soil in which only one specimen, the California poppy (Papaveraceae), was present. The end of the trail sat around 25-50 ft. of elevation, and was very windy and cold.

Species Descriptions:

Specimen #1: Beach blue lupine (Lupinus chamissonis)

This small/moderately-sized herbaceous, native, perennial shrub is a part of the family Fabaceae. This species is characterized by its palmately compound leaves that arise in alternate fashion on the stem. The flower is blue-violet (hence the name), arises in whorled fashion, and has a sort of banner drooping towards the ground. This specimen has a very distinct bluish-green hue, which is typical in coastal scrub species, and has very pubescent leaves to avoid desiccation in windy conditions. The leaves appear to be linear with minimal venation, and sort of resemble pine needles. The fruit of this species is a legume pod, and we spotted a couple legumes dried up near the base of the plant. This specific specimen was located at the Batteries to Bluffs trailhead, around 5 meters into the windy path and located in sandy soil.

iNaturalist

Specimen #2: Sticky Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus)

This small/moderately-sized, woody/herbaceous, native, perennial sub-shrub is part of the family Phyrmaceae. This species is characterized by its bilaterally symmetrical orange flowers, which consist of five somewhat fused petals. The petals were pulled back to expose the stigma, and, when touched, the stigma retracted. The leaves of this plant arise in opposite fashion, have a slight dentation, as well as a slight reticulate tertiary venation. Again, these leaves (as well as the stem) are pubescent to avoid desiccation in this unforgiving coastal scrub biome. The reason it’s has sticky in the common name is due to the adhesive nature of the leaves; they stick to your hands when you touch the leaves. This specific specimen was located right next to specimen #1, about 7 or 8 meters into the Batteries to Bluffs trail. It was seemingly thriving in the sandy soil and windy conditions that the coastal scrub biome offers.

iNaturalist

Specimen #3: Dune Knotweed (polygonum paronychia)

This small, herbaceous, native, perennial shrub is a part of the family Polygonaceae. This species is especially specialized to survive in the coastal shrub biome. Its leaves are small, needle-like, and very pubescent to avoid desiccation; the stem is also pubescent, and has grayish, trichome-like structures arising from it. There appears to be almost no venation, and the leaves arise in a sort of whorled like fashion. The flowers of this plant are incredibly small, and consists of five white/pinkish petals that are all fused together. The flower is raised up by a sort of stalk, and it seems to be reaching for the sun in the bottom right image. The name of this specimen describes its microhabitat: the dune knotweed can be found in dune sands, which is very sandy soil with poor water retention. This specific specimen was found around 75 meters into the Batteries to Bluffs trail, and located right off the side of the trail.

iNaturalist

Narrative:

We left the Harney Science Center at around 12:57PM. The temperature at the time/location of departure was 48 degrees Fahrenheit, with partly cloudy skies and moderate winds. We arrived at the Batteries to Bluffs trailhead at 1:16PM, and the temperature was 44 degrees Fahrenheit, with a slight windchill due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Getting out of the vehicle, we were greeted with strong, cold winds that sliced through my light hoodie, and I regretted not bringing a heavier jacket. Aside from the weather, the site had some excellent views of the Pacific Ocean, and the vibrant colors of coastal scrub species seemed to juxtapose the mostly green trees of the Presidio. Although we only walked a short distance, we made sure to stop every five feet or so to point out a prominent species, taking our time to observe and identify the specimen at hand. Our professor claims he was torturing us, but I found it quite fun (except the wind, that was kind of brutal at times). I think my favorite plant at this site was the San Francisco Wallflower due to its bright white flowers and unique morphology. After walking about 100 meters in the trail, we turned around and headed back for the cars. From here, we drove a little bit up the road to the Godfrey Battery lookout. This site is somewhat touristy as the lookout boasts incredible views of the Golden Gate Bridge. People were taking wedding pictures near the ocean, and it puzzled me why they wouldn’t postpone and wait for better weather. We began walking in the shade and identified some of the prominent tree species in the area, and the professor aggressively ripped out a wild radish as this species runs rampant in the area. The difference between the trailhead and the end of the trail was pretty crazy, and I again found myself in awe with how close two different biomes could be to one another. I think the toughest part of this field trip was the change in weather, so definitely wear layers if you plan on visiting!

Additional Photos:

Field Journal #1

Date: February 15th, 2022

Location: Baltimore Canyon Preserve in Kentfield, CA (37.93490, -122.56070).

Site Description: The preserve is primarily a redwood forest that is somewhat elevated with Mt. Tamalpais peaking behind it. The mountain itself has an elevation of around 2,500 feet, but the trailhead was closer to 1500 feet. As for general habitat, the beginning of our 4 mile loop was through an open chaparral, and the bottom portion along the creek was a closed-canopy forest. The open chaparral was dominated by species of Ericaceae, such as the Pacific Madrone, and other species of Manzanita. Peppered along the upper-trail were Tanoak (Fagaceae), Houndstongue (Boraginaceae), and Chain Fern (Blechnaceae). The lower-trail was dominated by redwoods (Cupressaceae), with a lot of Western wakerobin (Melanthiaceae), and Western sword fern (Dryopteridaceae) growing in the shaded canyon.

Species Description:

Specimen #1: Dendromecon rigida (Bush Poppy)

This moderately sized, woody, native eudicot is a part of the family Papaveraceae. This species is characterized by its four-petal flowers, and it’s overall golden hue. The petals are yellow, the anthers are golden, and the stamen follows in suit; the presence of both male and female reproductive systems means that this is a perfect flower. The leaves seem to have tertiary reticulate venation with slight dentation, and arise from the stem in an alternate fashion. This species inhabits rocky landscapes, which explains its prosperity at the edge of the trail in the open chaparral. This specific specimen was found around 25 meters into the upper-trail.

iNaturalist

Specimen #2: Aesculus californica (California Buckeye)

This large, woody, native angiosperm is a part of the family Sapindaceae. This specimen is deciduous since there are new leaves growing from the apex. At the base of these leaf growths are bracks, and they seem to have a sort of bulbous structure. It has palmate compound leaves with slight, and the leaf itself has slight dentations, pinnate veins, and scaliform tertiary venation.  The specimen has woody, white bark, is medium in size, and was observed growing from the base of another tree. Fruit was not present at this time, and the flowers do not typically bloom until May-June. This specific specimen was discovered about 200 meters into the upper-trail, and about 5 meters off the edge of the trail in a somewhat open canopy.

iNaturalist

Specimen #3: Artemisia californica (Coastal sage brush)

This small, shrubby, native angiosperm belongs to the family Asteraceae, one of the largest flowering plant families in the world. The scruffy character was not flowering at this time of year as the brush typically blooms after wind-pollination in August-December. This species is characterized by its sort of needle-like leaf structure; the picture at right looks like it could have fallen off of a member of the Cypress family. The fragrance given off by the bush is incredibly strong, and smells remarkably like commercial-grade sage (hence the name). This sort of bluish-gray color to the brush is characteristic of species found in coastal scrub biomes. This specimen was found about 500 meters into the upper-trail, dwelling on the rocky trail edge in the open canopy.

iNaturalist

Narrative:

We left San Francisco at 12:55 PM, and our class arrived at the preserve at around 1:40 PM. When first stepping out of the car, the weather was 61 degrees Fahrenheit, and a very slight, periodic breeze was blowing down the trail. As we came around the bend at the trailhead, we were greeted with a beautiful view of the adjacent mountainside. The flora looked movie-like, almost as if the color saturation of the hills were turned up a notch. The hike was eventful, and we stopped every five minutes or so on the upper-trail to identify plants on the trail edge. I think my favorite plant on the upper-trail was the Houndstongue because its bullseye pattern made it easy to identify. As we moved along the trail, we reached the path that would lead us to the creek; let me tell you that my Vans sneakers were not prepared for the slope. After many of my classmates slipped on the path, we reached a lower-trail that was shaded by a closed canopy. I was immersed by the natural aromas and the deep greens of plants residing near the water. As I looked around, I found it crazy that two completely different habitats could be in such close proximity to one another. The upper-trail was dusty and rocky, with green and vibrant surrounding brush, while the lower-trail was cool and moist, and consisted of towering trees and twisting California bays. The two elevations had such different species richness and abundance that it caught me off guard. The toughest part of the loop was the climb back up to our car, but I took that as collateral for seeing such an amazing place. In retrospect, I probably should have taken more pictures, but I guess you’ll have to see it for yourself…