2016 Field Trip Report: Baker Canyon [3/12/2016]
Trip Recap
On Saturday 12 March 2016, 10wildflower enthusiasts met at Baker Canyon road and set off on a 5.6-mile hike led by Bob Huttar and Diane Etchison. The group took the Helo Trail to the Silverado Creek/Hall Canyon Trails along the south side of the hill,and then climbed to the 1360-ft peak,and returned to the staging area via Baker Canyon Trail through the meadow. Rain had fallen the night before, so the trails were a bit muddy, but the weather was mostly sunny and mild.
The Silverado/Hall Canyon trail passed through coastal sage scrub and chaparral, with some oak trees shading where the trailneared Silverado Creek and where itcrossedseveral small creeks. Highlights includedKelloggs snapdragon (Antirrhinum kelloggii), Hartweg's Climbing Milkweed (Funastrum cynanchoides), Miniature Suncup (Camissoniopsismicrantha), and Owls Clover (Castellejaexerta). Slender Sunflower (Helianthus gracilentus) was just beginning to bloom. On the Helo trail Nuttall's snapdragon (A. nuttallianum) was seen.On the descent from the peak on Baker Trail we found Shiny Lomatium (Lomatium lucidum). Chocolate lilies (Fritillaria biflora) were blooming in a meadow near the bottom of the trail, which then meandered through spectacular fields of blue-flowered Ceanothus (C. oliganthus) and Yerba Santa.
Butterflies includedSara Orangetip, Behr's Metalmark, Pale and Western Swallowtail, California Sister and Mournful Duskywing
Plants Seen
Latin name |
Common Name |
Form |
Status |
Bloom |
||
Acmisponglaber |
Deerweed |
P |
F |
3-8 |
||
Acourtiamicrocephala |
Sacapellote |
P |
N |
6-8 |
||
Adenostomafasciculatum |
Chamise |
S |
Bud |
5-6 |
||
Ambrosia psilostachya |
Western Ragweed |
P |
S |
7-11 |
||
Amsinckiamenziesii |
Small-flowered Fiddleneck |
A |
F |
5-7 |
||
Anagallisarvensis |
Scarlet Pimpernel |
*A |
F |
3-5 |
||
Antirrhinum kelloggiiA |
Kellogg's Snapdragon |
A |
F |
4-7 |
||
Antirrhinum nuttallianum |
Nuttall's Snapdragon |
A |
F |
5-7 |
||
Artemisia californica |
California Sagebrush |
S |
M/S |
8-12 |
||
Artemisia douglasiana |
Mugwort |
P |
N |
6-10 |
||
Baccharissalicifolia |
Mule Fat |
S |
F |
1-12 |
||
Brassicanigra |
Black Mustard |
*A |
F |
4-9 |
||
Bromusdiandrus |
Ripgut Brome Grass |
*A |
F |
4-6 |
||
Bromusmadritensis |
Red Brome |
*A |
F |
3-6 |
||
Calystegiamacrostegia |
Morning Glory |
A |
F |
2-5 |
||
Camissoniopsismicrantha |
Miniature Suncup |
A |
F |
3-5 |
||
Carduuspycnocephalus |
Italian Thistle |
*A |
N |
5-7 |
||
Castellejaexerta |
Owl's Clover |
A |
F |
3-5 |
||
Castellejafoliolosa |
Felt Paintbrush |
paraP |
F |
3-6 |
||
Caulanthusheterophyllus |
San Diego Jewel Flower |
A |
N |
3-5 |
||
Ceanothuscrassifolius |
Thick-leaved Lilac |
S |
F |
2-5 |
||
Ceanothusoliganthus |
Jim Brush |
S |
F |
2-5 |
||
Centaureamelitensis |
Tocolote |
*A |
F |
4-6 |
||
Chamaesycealbomarginata |
Rattlesnake Spurge |
P |
F |
4-11 |
||
Chenopodiummurale |
Nettle-leaved Goosefoot |
A |
F |
1-12 |
||
Chenpodiumcalifornicum |
California Goosefoot |
*A |
F |
3-9 |
||
Cirsiumoccidentale |
Cobweb Thistle |
B |
F |
3-7 |
||
Chlorogalulmpomeridianum |
Wavy-leaved Soap Plant |
Pb |
N |
5-8 |
||
Claytonia perfoliata |
Common Miner's Lettuce |
A |
F |
1-5 |
||
Corethrogynefilaginifolia |
Sand Aster |
P SS |
N/S |
7-11 |
||
Cryptanthaintermedia^^ |
Common Cryptantha |
A |
F |
3-7 |
||
Curcurbitafoetidissima |
Coyote Gourd |
P |
N |
6-8 |
||
Cuscutacalifornicus |
Dodder |
AV |
N |
5-9 |
||
Dichelostemacapitatum |
Wild Hyacinth |
P |
F |
3-6 |
||
Deinandrafasciculata |
Fascicled Tarplant |
A |
F |
4-9 |
||
Eriodictyoncrassifolium |
Yerba Santa |
S |
F |
4-6 |
||
Eriogonumfasciculatum |
California Buckwheat |
S |
F |
1-12 |
||
Eriogonumfasciculatum^ |
California Buckwheat |
S |
F |
1-12 |
||
Eriophyllumconfertiflorum |
Golden Yarrow |
SS |
F |
4-8 |
||
Erodiumbotrys |
Big Beak Filaree |
*A |
F |
3-5 |
||
Erodiumcicutarium |
Red-stemmed Filaree |
*A |
F |
2-9 |
||
Erodiummoschatum |
White-stemmed Filaree |
*A |
F |
2-9 |
||
Eschscholziacalifornica |
California Poppy |
A |
F |
2-9 |
||
Eucryptachrysanthemifolia |
Common Eucrypta |
A |
N |
3-4 |
||
Euphorbia peplus |
Petty Spurge |
*A |
F |
1-12 |
||
Foeiculumvulgare |
Fennel |
*P |
N |
4-7 |
||
Fritillariabiflora |
Chocolate Lily |
P |
F |
5-8 |
||
Funastrumcynanchoides |
Hartweg's Climbing Milkweed |
P |
F |
4-7 |
||
Galiumangustifolium |
Chaparral Bedstraw |
SS |
F |
4-6 |
||
Giliaangelensis |
Chaparral Gilia |
A |
F |
2-6 |
||
Hazardiasquarrosa |
Saw-toothed Goldenbush |
S |
S |
7-10 |
||
Hedypnoiscretica |
Crete Weed |
*A |
F |
4-5 |
||
Helianthus gracilentus |
Slender Sunflower |
P |
F |
4-10 |
||
Hesperoyuccawhipplei |
Yucca |
P |
F |
4-6 |
||
Heteromelesarbutifolia |
Toyon |
S |
F |
6-7 |
||
Hypochaerisglabra |
Smooth Cat's Ear |
*A |
F |
3-6 |
||
Isocomameziesii |
Coast Goldenbush |
S |
N |
4-12 |
||
Jepsoniaparryi |
Coast Jepsonia |
P |
Leaf |
10-2 |
||
Keckiellacordifolia |
Heart-leaved Penstemon |
S |
N |
3-8 |
||
Lamarckiaaurea |
Goldentop Grass |
*A |
F |
2-4 |
||
Lathyrusvestitutus |
Chaparral Sweet Pea |
PV |
F |
2-7 |
||
Lepidiumnitidium |
Shining Peppergrass |
A |
F |
2-3 |
||
Logfiagallica |
Narrow-leafed Cottonrose |
*A |
F |
3-7 |
||
Lomatiumlucidum |
Shiny Lomatium |
P |
F |
4-5 |
||
Lupinusbiocolor |
Miniature Lupine |
A |
F |
3-6 |
||
Malacothamnusfasciculatus |
Bush Mallow |
S |
M |
5-6 |
||
Malacothrixsaxatilis |
Cliff Aster |
P |
N |
1-12 |
||
Malosmalaurina |
Laurel Sumac |
S |
M |
2-5 |
||
Marahmacrocarpus |
Wild Cucumber |
P V |
F |
1-4 |
||
Malvaparviflora |
Cheeseweed |
*A |
N |
3-5 |
||
Marrubiumvulgare |
Horehound |
*A |
N |
5-8 |
||
Medicagopolymorpha |
Bur Clover |
*A |
F |
3-6 |
||
Melilotusindicus |
Yellow Sweet Clover |
*A |
F |
4-10 |
||
Mimulusaurantiacus |
Bush Monkeyflower |
S |
F |
3-6 |
||
Mirabilis laevis |
Wishbone Bush |
P |
F |
12-6 |
||
Opuntialittoralis |
Coast Prickly Pear |
S |
F |
5-6 |
||
Oxalis albicans |
Wild Oxalis |
P |
F |
3-5 |
||
Paeoniacalifornica |
California Peony |
P |
F |
1-3 |
||
Pentagrammatriangularis |
Goldenback Fern |
P |
|
|
||
Phaecliaramosissima |
Branching Phacelia |
P |
N |
5-8 |
||
Piptatherummiliaceium |
Smilo grass |
*P |
F |
4-9 |
||
Plagiobothryscollinus |
California Popcorn Flower |
A |
F |
2-5 |
||
Plantagoerecta |
California Dwarf Plantain |
A |
F |
3-5 |
||
Pseudognaphaliumbioletti |
Bicolored Everlasting |
P |
F |
4-7 |
||
Pseudognaphaliumcalifornicum |
California Everlasting |
P |
N |
4-6 |
||
Pseudognaphaliummicrocephalum |
White Everlasting |
P |
N |
6-8 |
||
Quercusagrifolia |
Coast Live Oak |
T |
F |
3-4 |
||
Raphanussativus |
Wild Radish |
*A |
F |
1-4 |
||
Rhamnusilicifolia |
Holly-leaf Redberry |
S |
F |
3-6 |
||
Rhusintegrifolia |
Lemonade Berry |
S |
S |
2-5 |
||
Rhusovata |
Sugar Bush |
S |
F |
3-5 |
||
Romneyacouilteri |
Coulter's Matilija Poppy |
SP |
N |
3-7 |
||
Salvia apiana |
White Sage |
S |
N |
4-7 |
||
Salvia mellifera |
Black Sage |
S |
F |
4-7 |
||
Sambuccusnigra |
Elderberry |
T |
F |
3-9 |
||
Saniculaarguta |
Sharp-tooth Sanicle |
P |
F |
3-4 |
||
Selaginellabigelovii |
Bushy Spike Moss |
P |
Grn |
|
||
Seneciovulgaris |
Common Groundsel |
*A |
F |
1-12 |
||
Silenegallica |
Windmill Pink |
*A |
F |
2-6 |
||
Sonchusasper |
Prickly Sow-thistle |
*A |
F |
1-12 |
||
Solanumxanti |
Chaparral Nightshade |
P |
F |
2-6 |
||
Sonchusoleraceus |
Common Sow Thistle |
*A |
F |
1-12 |
||
Stellaria media |
Common Chickweed |
*A |
F |
2-9 |
||
Stipapulchra |
Purple Needle Grass |
A |
F |
3-6 |
||
Toxocodendrondiversilobum |
Poison Oak |
S |
N |
4-5 |
||
Vicialudoviciana |
Southern Slender Vetch |
A |
N |
3-6 |
||
Viola pedunculata |
Johnny Jump-ups |
A |
F |
2-4 |
||
Unknown plants 1* and 2** |
|
|
F |
|
* unknown plant 1- thick green central stem 2'tall, no side branching stems, short narrow alternate leaves, flower buds possibly forming at tips
** unknown plant 2 - tiny Gilia-sized plant, but with thicker narrow leaves, unopened white flowers alternating up the stem -- possibly Toadflax (Nuttallanthustexanus)
^ Two possible subspecies of California Buckwheat: E.c.foliolosum and E.f. fasciculatum
^^ confirmed - 4 nutlets with dorsal fold and small surface bumps
Butterflies: MournfulDuskywing females,unidentified Duskywing sp, Behr's Metalmark, California Sister, Pale and Western Tiger Swallowtails, and Sara Orangetips
Key: Life form: A = annual, B = biennial, P = perennial, S = shrub, T = tree, * = Introduced species
Status: D = dried, F = flowering, M = mature, N = new growth, S = seed