Vegetation

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Vernal pools are a unique form of seasonal wetland found across broad areas of western United States south to Baja, CA, Mexico. Vernal pools are shallow depressions that fill with standing water during rainy periods, support flora and fauna which gradually become dormant as dry summer conditions prevail. Only 3%-6% of the vernal pools that naturally occur in the County remain.

Jojoba shrubs (Simmondsia chinensis) in a sea of Goldfields (Lasthenia californica). Jojoba shrubs (the female shrubs only !) provide the seeds that have the long chain wax used in shampoos and lubricants. This shrub is an associate of Maritime Coastal Sage and Coastal Sage Scrub in our area but ranges throughout the Colorado and Sonoran deserts of California, Arizona, Baja California and Sonora. The specific epithet, chinensis, is due to confusion in naming the plant which the author through was from ... guess where?

Bladder Pod (Cleome isomeris or its synonym, Isomeris arborea), a shrub of Coastal Sage Scrub and Maritime Sage Scrub. It also ranges into the Sonoran desert and has several varieties based upon the shape of the fruit (pod). It is a good source of the Harlequin Bug which apparently feeds on it due to the Mustard Gas-related compounds found in the plant.

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Coast Prickly-Pear Cactus (Opuntia littoralis) is scattered about Coastal Sage Scrub and Maritime Sage Scrub habitats. It is most likely hybridized with the introduced Tuna (Opuntia ficus-indica) from mainland Mexico which was and is planted widely for the succulent fruits. The fruits of this native, sans spines, are edible, but this is also the opinion of some native species of fly larvae, if you don't mind a little protein! The cactus is in the subgenus Platyopuntia, due to the flat stems (cladophylls).

Coast Prickly-Pear Cactus (Opuntia littoralis) - a close up but notice that the plant is a little different than the proceeding, most likely due to hybridization.

Coast Cholla (Opuntia prolifera) is common in Maritime Sage Scrub or Coastal Sage Scrub. It is a sterile triploid hybrid between two Baja California species and has spread vegetatively, probably on the punctured pelts of coyotes or deer, throughout coastal Southern California as far as Ventura County. It has been called Jumping Cholla but does not really jump. If the spines are lightly brushed, their barbed nature allows them to seize the passer-by and "disarticulate readily" from the mother plant. It is in the cactus subgenus Cylindropuntia due to the round stems (cladophylls). A close up look at the flowers would illustrate the thigmotropic nature of the stamens that move toward the center of the flowers when touched. This happens very quickly on a hot day. It may be an activity to force pollen on to the bodies of pollinators (bees or beetles) to assist in cross pollination (which apparently does not occur in this sterile hybrid!)

H. conjugens is the rare Otay Tarplant. This photo was taken in Johnson Canyon. This plant occurs on clay soils and the original location for Otay Tarplant is the Otay Valley. This is a grassland species due to the preference for clay soils that do not allow deeply rooted shrubs to grow.

Coast Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus viridescens) is an associate of the Maritime Sage Scrub and Coastal Sage Scrub. It ranges as far north as Escondido and as far inland in our area as the old cement factory on Rancho Jamul where the coastal fog influence reaches its eastern limit. The plant ranges into Baja California as far south as the region about San Vicente. The ribs of the cactus cluster about very special numbers as the plant grows, adding ribs and stabilizing for a time at 5, 8, 13 and 21. What famous mathematician is this series named for? The pattern occurs in other plants, particularly the heads of sunflowers. It is called Hidden Visnaga due to its growth sometimes under shrubs. Visnaga is the Spanish name for barrel cactus...and no, it is NOT a source of water!

California Poppy (Eschscholzia california) struggling to survive in a sea of weeds dominated by Field Mustard (Hirschfeldia incana) and Filaree (Erodium moschatum)

Lady Fingers (Dudleya edulis), one of the many species of this native succulent genus that occur in San Diego County. The subgenus, Stylophyllum, to which this plant is associated, is the basis of the common name. The rock on which it grows here, is the hardest in the county, the Jurrasic age Metavolcanic, Santiago Peaks Formation, quarried in the valley for stone used in breakwaters and rip rap.

Yerba Santa - Eriodictyon trichocalyx ssp. lanata - a chaparral shrub

Indian Warrior (Pedicularis densiflora) a hemiparasite on the roots of chaparral plants.

Reed Grass (Calamagrostis densa) an old name that is not now recognized for this endemic grass of gabbroic or metavolcanic-derived soils.

Tecate Cypress (Cupressus guadalupensis ssp. forbesii) a shrub or tree that is associated with chaparral but forms pure stands on coastal peaks in Orange and San Diego County and adjacent Baja California. The species needs fire for regeneration but too frequent a fire does not allow for cone and seed production and the population declines. The plant is the host for an endemic butterfly. A canker afflicts the plants in senescence. The largest trees can be seen on the north slope of Guatay Peak, just east of Descanso on Highway 80.

Tree Poppy (Dendromecon rigida). a sometimes associate of Chaparral, ranging from the bluffs at Torrey Pines to the summit of the Laguna Mountains and elsewhere in California and Baja California. There is a relationship of the movement of the seed by native ants with the success of germination of the plant but fire or the chemicals in the smoke that soak into the seeds are also involved with the germination of this species following beneficial chaparral fires....yes, that's right, fires are good for the native vegetation.. but not the people who build houses in chaparral!

Southern Mountain Misery (Chamaebatia australis), an endemic shrub of the Rose family found on coastal mountain tops in San Diego County and adjacent Baja California often shrouded by coastal clouds above the inversion layer that provide moisture in the form of condensate on the stems and leaves.

Laurel-leaf Sumac (Malosma laurina), often lumped into the genus Rhus, is the not so toxic cousin to the Poison-Oak, also found in the valley. This plant is sensitive to frost and whole stands in the valley floor have been frozen in the past, testifying to this plant's relationship to a tropical member of the family, the Cashew. The plant resprouts following frost as well as fire but it is not considered a Chaparral plant, but a member of Coastal Sage Scrub vegetation. Avacado farmers look for this plant in order to predict appropriate locations for groves.

Mule-fat (Baccharis salicifolia) is a shrubby member of the Daisy family, Asteraceae. The plants are either male or female and ususally associated with moisture at one time of the year. The seasonal flowering of the plants in the spring or fall was the basis of descriminating between the two prior names used, i.e. B. viminea and B. glutinosa. It is an important plant in the riparian woodland since the Least Bell's Vireo often uses this plant due to the optimal height preferred by this migrant bird.

Otay Manzanita (Arctostaphylos otayensis), notice the lack of many stems from the base. This plant regenerates from seed and not from an underground burl or ligno-tuber as with some other manzanitas. It occurs only on peaks in south San Diego County and adjacent Baja California.

Mexican Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) one of the few native trees not necessarily associated with drainages. The fruits are edible but the leaves are reported to have a toxic constituent. The fruits, at maturity, can be blue or green in the same species (but different plants!) It is associated with many vegetation associations.

Wishbone Plant (Mirabilis californica) and Coastal Sagebrush (Artemisia californica). The Mirabilis flowers appear too blue. They open later in the day and are the basis in the genus for the name, Four O' Clock. These are associated of the Maritime Sage Scrub and Coastal Sage Scrub plant communities.

A bittersweet photograph of two stalwart native trees, Western Sycamore (Platanus racemosa) and Black WIllow (Salix goddingii), in contrast to the introduced Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis) and pinkflowered Salt-cedar (Tamarix parviflora), the plague of the river valley.

Spiny Rush (Juncus acutus ssp. leopoldii) a common associate of the ephemerial drainage called Otay River. The fruits provide seed for grain-eating birds.

Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis) - a lovely weed of the river valley.

San Diego Sunflower (Viguiera laciniata) - a good example of this native sunflower that ranges all along the coastal areas of the county and into Baja California.

Black Willow (Salix gooddingii), the tallest of the native willows in our area. The plants are dioecious, that is to say, plants are either male or female.

Chaparral Pea (Pickeringia montana ssp. tomentosa) a spiny shrub of the Pea Family, Fabaceae, found in mountain regions of Chaparral , but this subspecies is restricted to our area.

Our Lord's Candle (Hesperoyucca whipplei) the common Yucca of our region, ranging from Ventura County southward to the El Rosario region of Baja California. The plant dies after flowering, a condition called monocarpic. The plants often flower, en masse, following a fire.

Ramona Wild-Lilac (Ceanothus tomentosus), the common Ceanothus in our area associated with Southern Mixed Chaparral. The plants are not related to the cultivated Lilacs but look to some as if they were, so the name is hyphenated to indicate that it's a lie!

Lemonadeberry (Rhus integrifolia), a substantial shrub of the Coastal Sage Scrub that derives its common name from the citric acid exudate on the fruits.

Coast Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus Viridescens), in a bed of Bigelow's Spike-moss (Selaginella Cinerascens) growing in the cracks of the hardest rock in the county, the Santiago Peaks Metavolcanics glistening from a recent storm. Notice the dead Chalk-Lettuse (Dudelya Pulverulenta).

Coast Barrel Cactus in a weedy bed of non-native Brome Grass.

California Cottonfern (Cheilanthes Newberry), all "fronded-out" following winter rain in its typical rocky crevice.

Chalk -Lettuce in its prime following a winter storm with two inflorescences initiating and a companion plan, Bigelow's Spike-Moss (Selaginella Cinerascens).

Chalk-Lettuce (Dudley Pulverulenta), in a weedy state with the native California Cudweed (Gnaphalium Californicum).

Parish's Nightshade (Solanum Parishii), a common herbaceous perennial but toxic to livestock. Plants with lobed or hastate leaves are referred to as the rare S. Tenuifolium.

Parish's Nightshade (Solanum Parishii), a lovely but toxic relative to potatoes and tomatoes.

Common Meadow-Rue (Thalictrum fendleri var. polycarpum), usually found in shaded or protected sites. The plants occur as males or females, a condition called dioecious.

A major rock outcrop of Metavolcanic Rock with the typical growth of Bigelow's Spike-Moss (Selaginella Bigelovii). Often the more restricted Pygmy Spike-Moss (Selaginella Cinerascens is also found in similar situations.

Habitat photograph of Deerpea Vetch (Vicia Ludoviciana Var. Ludovidiana), with a Lurel-Leaf Sumac (Malosma Laurina).

Deerpea Vetch (Vicia Ludoviciana Var. Lucoviciana), a herbaceous perennial often clambering about low shrubs.

Southern Povertyweed(Iva Hayesiana), frequent in rocky drainage's in the southern port of San Diego County and adjacent Baja California. The leaves have a very aromatic fragrance when crushed. The plant is used as hedge or border shrub in native landscaping.

Laurel-leaf Sumac (Malsoma Laurina), this shrub is in an otherwise tropical family, the Anacardiaceae, that includes cashews. Frost flowing through the valley floors on a winter morning will kill the plants back to the roots.

(Eucrypta Chrysantemifolia), one of serveral waterleaf family members that does so well following fires. It usually occurs in shaded areas but had no choice this year following the fires!

Wishbone plant (Mirabilis Laevis Var. Crassifolia), this is a delicate shrub commonly found on sunny slopes with flowers that open later in the day.

Cucamonga Man-root (Marah Macrocarpa), this member of the cucumber family has a huge root and as seen here, responds very rapidly following fire. The spiny fruit contains several very large seeds but the plant is not palatable.