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2013 Plants of the Month

December Plant of the Month

Vernon Smith
Marsh goldenrod, (Solidago elongata)  –  and other similar goldenrods
by Doreen Smith

“In the drying marshes of Pt. Reyes, such as along the western parts of the Abbotts Lagoon trail, marsh goldenrod, Solidago elongata, is often abundant in early September. It is often seen flowering in showy yellow masses. The inflorescences are much larger than those of the other two true goldenrods of Marin County, Solidago spathulata and Soldago velutina ssp. californica.

read more December Plant of the Month

September Plant of the Month

Vernon Smith
Marsh goldenrod, (Solidago elongata)  –  and other similar goldenrods
by Doreen Smith

“In the drying marshes of Pt. Reyes, such as along the western parts of the Abbotts Lagoon trail, marsh goldenrod, Solidago elongata, is often abundant in early September. It is often seen flowering in showy yellow masses. The inflorescences are much larger than those of the other two true goldenrods of Marin County, Solidago spathulata and Soldago velutina ssp. californica.

read more September Plant of the Month

October Plants of the Month

Doreen Smith
New Plants for Marin Flora
by Doreen Smith

Just because Marin Flora was recently revised (in 2007) doesn’t mean that new species of plants cannot be discovered, possibly by any of you. The drying shores of Stafford Lake reservoir, west of Novato, have offered unusual-for-Marin flowers even in late summer and fall.

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June Plant of the Month

Vernon Smith
Chorizanthe valida  (Sonoma spineflower)
by Doreen Smith

This is one of the rarest plants in the world now found as a natural population only on Point Reyes National Seashore. There is some doubt that the original type specimen really came from Sonoma County and it is possibly a Marin endemic. Sonoma botanists need to check for it near Duncan’s Mills to refute this statement!

read more June Plant of the Month