About 30 of us were led by Ellen Hamingson, Restoration Biologist for the Point Reyes National Seashore, and Carolyn Longstreth, up a private road and through several locked gates to see the diverse plant community on this serpentine ridge.
Many of these plants are in peak flower earlier in the year. The endemic Nicasio Ceanothus (Ceanothus decornutus) which is being considered by CNPS for listing as 1B.2, and the woolly blue-headed gilia (Gilia capitata ssp. tomentosa List 1B.1) were not in flower. We found a few plants in flower for others such as the Nicasio jewelflower (Streptanthus glandulosus), the Marin dwarf flax (Hesperolinon congestum List 1B.1), and the Tiburon paintbrush (Castilleja affinis ssp. neglecta List 1B.2). Other species seen were shortstem morning glory (Calystegia subacaulis ssp. subacaulis), woolly marbles (Psilocarphus tenellus), serpentine coyote-mint (Monardella purpurea), yellow mariposa lily (Calochortus luteus), white rosinweed (Calycadenia multiglandulosa), cream-sacs (Castilleja rubicundula ssp. lithospermoides), woolly sunflower (Eriophyllum lanatum var. arachnoideum), and Monterey centaury (Zeltnera muehlenbergii).
Thanks to Carolyn Longstreth for organizing this fine hike.
Text and photos by Vernon Smith.
{igallery id=8560|cid=115|pid=1|type=category|children=0|addlinks=0|tags=|limit=0}
Hover over the thumbnail images and they will move to the left or right.
Click on a thumbnail image and it will display as a large image with the plant names.