2016 Field Trip Report: Upper Newport Bay Ecological Preserve [6/26/2016]
Trip Recap
Twenty-two enthusiastic participants spent a beautiful morning exploring portions of the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve. We met at the Back Bay Science Center, where we were joined by Dr. Peter Bryant, President of The Newport Bay Conservancy. We conducted a brief orientation, then headed to our first of two stops. A few minutes later we arrived at the area known as Newport Valley, just a brief walk from the Science Center.
This are has been the subject of over ten years of active restoration efforts and the results were quite impressive . . .
[MORE TO COME SOON]
Our second stop was a mile or so up Back Bay Drive. We drove and carpooled the short distance to the Big Canyon area. This area has only recently begun restoration and is the subject of a significant effort that is currently moving through The City of Newport Beach. Grants have been written and funding is hopeful for a very ambitious effort here . . .
[MORE TO COME SOON]
Plants Seen
Plant Species within Big Canyon, 6 -26 -16 + Those seen and identified during OC CNPS field trip. |
MONOCOTS |
AGAVACEA - AGAVE FAMILY |
Agave decipiens - false sisal* + |
Agave americana - century plant* |
ARECACEAE - PALM FAMILY |
Phoenix canariensis - Canary Island date palm* + |
Washingtonia robusta - Washington fan palm* + |
ASPARAGACEAE - ASPARAGUS FAMILY |
Asparagus aethiopicus - Sprenger’s asparagus fern* + |
ASPHODELACEAE - ASPHODEL FAMILY |
Aloe maculata - soap aloe* |
Aloe arborescens - candelabra aloe* |
CYPERACEAE - SEDGE FAMILY |
Bolboschoenus maritimus ssp. paludosus - cosmopolitan bulrush + |
Bolboschoenus robustus - sturdy bulrush |
Cyperus eragrostis - tall flatsedge |
Cyperus involucratus - umbrella plant* + |
Eleocharis palustris - common spikerush |
Isolepis cernua - low bulrush |
Schoenoplectus americanus - chairmaker's bulrush + |
Schoenoplectus californicus - California bulrush + |
JUNCACEAE - RUSH FAMILY |
Juncus acutus ssp. leopoldii - Leopold’s rush + |
Juncus bufonius - toad bulrush |
JUNCAGINACEAE - ARROW -GRASS FAMILY |
Triglochin maritima - seaside arrowgrass |
POACEAE - GRASS FAMILY |
Avena barbata - slender oat* + |
Avena fatua - wild oat* |
Brachypodium distachyon - purple false brome* |
Bromus catharticus - rescuegrass* |
Bromus diandrus - ripgut brome* + |
Bromus hordeaceus - soft brome* |
Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens - red brome* |
Cortaderia selloana - Uruguayan pampas grass* + |
Crypsis schoenoides - pickle grass* |
Cynodon dactylon - Bermudagrass* + |
Distichlis littoralis - shoregrass + |
Distichlis spicata - saltgrass + |
Echinochloa crus -galli - barnyardgrass* |
Elymus condensatus - giant wildrye + |
Elymus triticoides - beardless wildrye |
Festuca myuros - rat -tail fescue* |
Festuca perennis - Italian ryegrass* |
Hordeum murinum ssp. leporinum - hare barley* |
Lamarckia aurea - goldentop grass* |
Melica imperfecta - smallflower melicgrass |
Parapholis incurva - curved sicklegrass* |
Pennisetum villosum - feathertop* |
Poa annua - annual bluegrass* |
Polypogon monspeliensis - annual rabbitsfoot grass* + |
Polypogon viridis - beardless rabbitsfoot grass* + |
Schismus barbatus - common Mediterranean grass* |
Stenotaphrum secundatum - St. Augustine grass* |
Stipa lepida - foothill needlegrass |
Stipa miliacea var. miliacea - smilograss* |
Stipa pulchra - purple needle grass + |
TYPHACEAE - CATTAIL FAMILY |
Typha domingensis - southern cattail |
Typha latifolia - broadleaf cattail + |
FERNS AND FERN ALLIES |
AZOLLACEAE - MOSQUITO FERN FAMILY |
Azolla filiculoides - Pacific mosquitofern |
GYMNOSPERMS AND GNETOPHYTES |
PINACEAE - PINE FAMILY |
Pinus halepensis - Allepo pine* + |
EUDICOTS |
ADOXACEAE - MUSKROOT FAMILY |
Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea - blue elderberry + |
AIZOACEAE - FIG -MARIGOLD FAMILY |
Carpobrotus chilensis - sea fig* |
Carpobrotus edulis - hottentot fig* + |
Malephora crocea - coppery mesemb* + |
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum - common iceplant* |
Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum - slenderleaf iceplant* + |
Lampranthus aurantiacus - trailing iceplant* |
AMARANTHACEAE - AMARANTH FAMILY |
Amaranthus albus - prostrate pigweed* + |
ANACARDIACEAE - SUMAC OR CASHEW FAMILY |
Cupaniopsis anacardioides - carrotwood* + |
Malosma laurina - laurel sumac + |
Rhus integrifolia - lemonade sumac + |
Schinus terebinthifolius - Brazilian peppertree* + |
Toxicodendron diversilobum - Pacific poison oak + |
APIACEAE - CARROT FAMILY |
Anthriscus caucalis - bur chervil* |
Apium graveolens - wild celery* + |
Conium maculatum - poison hemlock* + |
Daucus pusillus - American wild carrot |
Foeniculum vulgare - sweet fennel* + |
APOCYNACEAE - DOGBANE FAMILY |
Nerium oleander - oleander* |
Vinca major - bigleaf periwinkle* |
ARALIACEAE - GINSENG FAMILY |
Hedera canariensis - Algerian ivy* |
Hedera helix - English ivy* |
ASTERACEAE - SUNFLOWER FAMILY |
Ambrosia psilostachya - Western ragweed + |
Artemisia californica - coastal sagebrush + |
Artemisia douglasiana - Douglas' sagewort + |
Artemisia dracunculus - tarragon + |
Baccharis pilularis ssp. consanguinea - coyotebrush + |
Baccharis salicifolia ssp. salicifolia - mulefat + |
Baccharis salicina - willow baccharis + |
Carduus pycnocephalus - Italian plumeless thistle* + |
Centaurea melitensis - Maltese star -thistle* + |
Centromadia parryi ssp. australis - pappose tarweed + |
Cirsium vulgare - bull thistle* |
Corethrogyne filaginifolia - common sandaster + |
Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. virgata - virgate sand aster |
Cotula australis - Australian waterbuttons* |
Cotula coronopifolia - common brassbuttons* |
Cynara cardunculus - cardoon* |
Deinandra fasciculata - clustered tarweed + |
Dimorphotheca ecklonis - blue and white daisybush* |
Dimorphotheca fruticosa - shrubby daisybush* |
Encelia californica - California brittlebush + |
Encelia californica x farinosa - hybrid brittlebush |
Erigeron bonariensis - asthmaweed |
Erigeron canadensis - Canadian horseweed + |
Euthamia occidentalis - western goldentop + |
Gazania linearis - treasureflower* |
Glebionis coronaria - crowndaisy* + |
Helminthotheca echioides - bristly oxtongue* + |
Heterotheca grandiflora - telegraphweed + |
Hypochaeris glabra - smooth cat's ear* |
Isocoma menziesii var. menziesii - Menzies' goldenbush |
Isocoma menziesii var. vernonioides - Menzies' goldenbush + |
Jaumea carnosa - marsh jaumea + |
Lactuca serriola - prickly lettuce* + |
Laennecia coulteri - Coulter's horseweed |
Logfia gallica - narrowleaf cottonrose* |
Malacothrix saxatilis - cliff desertdandelion |
Matricaria discoidea - disc mayweed |
Pluchea odorata var. odorata - sweetscent + |
Pseudognaphalium biolettii - two -color rabbit -tobacco |
Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum - Jersey cudweed* |
Pseudognaphalium stramineum - cottonbatting plant |
Pseudognaphalium ramosissimum - pink cudweed + |
Pulicaria paludosa - Spanish false fleabane* + |
Senecio vulgaris - old -man -in -the -Spring* |
Silybum marianum - blessed milkthistle* |
Sonchus asper - spiny sowthistle* + |
Sonchus oleraceus - common sowthistle* + |
Stephanomeria virgata - rod wirelettuce |
Xanthium strumarium - rough cocklebur |
Volutaria tubuliflora - Mediterranean desert knapweed* |
BATACEAE - SALTWORT FAMILY |
Batis maritima - turtleweed + |
BIGNONIACEAE - BIGNONIA FAMILY |
Tecoma capensis - Cape honeysuckle* |
BORAGINACEAE - BORAGE FAMILY |
Amsinckia menziesii - Menzies' fiddleneck |
Cryptantha intermedia - Clearwater cryptantha |
Echium candicans - pride of Madeira* + |
Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia - spotted hideseed |
Heliotropium curassavicum var. oculatum - seaside heliotrope + |
BRASSICACEAE - MUSTARD FAMILY |
Brassica nigra - black mustard* + |
Brassica rapa - field mustard* |
Capsella bursa -pastoris - shepherd's purse* |
Descurainia pinnata - western tansymustard |
Hirschfeldia incana - shortpod mustard* |
Lepidium didymum - lesser swinecress |
Lepidium lasiocarpum ssp. lasiocarpum - shaggyfruit pepperweed |
Lepidium nitidum - shining pepperweed |
Lobularia maritima - sweet alyssum* |
Nasturtium officinale - watercress + |
Raphanus sativus - cultivated radish* |
Sisymbrium altissimum - tall tumblemustard* |
Sisymbrium irio - London rocket* |
Sisymbrium orientale - Indian hedgemustard* |
CACTACEAE - CACTUS FAMILY |
Cylindropuntia prolifera - coastal cholla + |
Opuntia littoralis - coastal pricklypear + |
Opuntia oricola - chaparral pricklypear + |
Opuntia xoccidentalis - western prickly pear |
CAPRIFOLIACEAE - HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY |
Lonicera japonica - Japanese honeysuckle* + |
CARYOPHYLLACEAE - PINK FAMILY |
Polycarpon tetraphyllum - fourleaf manyseed* |
Silene gallica - common catchfly* |
Spergularia marina - salt sandspurry* |
CHENOPODIACEAE - GOOSEFOOT FAMILY |
Arthrocnemum subterminale - Parish’s glasswort + |
Atriplex amnicola - swamp saltbush* + |
Atriplex canescens var. canescens - fourwing saltbush + |
Atriplex glauca - waxy saltbush* + |
Atriplex lentiformis - big saltbush + |
Atriplex prostrata - triangle orache* + |
Atriplex semibaccata - Australian saltbush* + |
Atriplex suberecta - peregrine saltbush* + |
Bassia hyssopifolia - fivehorn smotherweed* + |
Beta vulgaris - common beet* |
Chenopodium album - lambsquarters* |
Chenopodium macrospermum - largeseed goosefoot* |
Chenopodium murale - nettleleaf goosefoot* |
Dysphania ambrosioides - Mexican tea* |
Salicornia bigelovii - Bigelow's pickleweed + |
Salicornia pacifica - Pacific swampfire + |
Salsola tragus - prickly Russian thistle + |
Suaeda esteroa - seablite |
Suaeda taxifolia - woolly seablite |
CLEOMACEAE - CLEOME FAMILY |
Peritoma arborea - bladderpod spiderflower + |
CONVOLVULACEAE - MORNING -GLORY FAMILY |
Convolvulus arvensis - field bindweed* |
Cressa truxillensis - spreading alkaliweed + |
Cuscuta salina - saltmarsh dodder + |
CRASSULACEAE - STONECROP FAMILY |
Crassula connata - sand pygmyweed |
Crassula ovata - jade plant* |
Dudleya lanceolata - lanceleaf liveforever |
Sedum praealtum - green cockscomb* |
CUCURBITACEAE - GOURD FAMILY |
Cucurbita foetidissima - Missouri gourd |
Marah macrocarpa - Cucamonga manroot |
EUPHORBIACEAE - SPURGE FAMILY |
Croton setiger - dove weed + |
Euphorbia maculata - spotted sandmat* |
Euphorbia peplus - petty spurge* |
Euphorbia polycarpa - smallseed sandmat |
Ricinus communis - castorbean* |
FABACEAE - LEGUME FAMILY |
Acacia longifolia - Sydney golden wattle* |
Acacia melanoxylon - blackwood* |
Acacia redolens - bank catclaw* + |
Acacia retinodes - water wattle* |
Acacia saligna - orange wattle* |
Acmispon glaber var. glaber - common deerweed + |
Lupinus succulentus - hollowleaf annual lupine |
Medicago polymorpha - burclover* |
Melilotus albus - white sweetclover* + |
Melilotus indicus - annual yellow sweetclover* |
FAGACEAE - OAK FAMILY |
Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia - California live oak + |
FRANKENIACEAE - FRANKENIA FAMILY |
Frankenia salina - alkali seaheath + |
GERANIACEAE - GERANIUM FAMILY |
Erodium cicutarium - redstem stork’s bill* |
Erodium moschatum - musky stork’s bill* |
Geranium carolinianum - Carolina geranium |
GROSSULARIACEAE - GOOSEBERRY FAMILY |
Ribes speciosum - fuchsiaflower gooseberry |
HHDROPHYLLACEAE - WATERLEAF FAMILY |
Pholistoma racemosum - San Diego fiesta flower |
LAMIACEAE - MINT FAMILY |
Marrubium vulgare - horehound* + |
Salvia apiana - white sage + |
Salvia mellifera - black sage |
MALVACEAE - MALLOW FAMILY |
Malva parviflora - cheeseweed mallow* |
MORACEAE - MULBERRY FAMILY |
Ficus sp. - ficus* |
MYRSINACEAE - MYRSINE FAMILY |
Lysimachia arvensis - scarlet pimpernel* |
MYRTACEAE - MYRTLE FAMILY |
Eucalyptus camaldulensis - river redgum* |
Eucalyptus polyanthemos - redbox* |
Eucalyptus sideroxylon - red ironbark* |
Melaleuca viminalis - weeping bottlebrush* |
NYCTAGINACEAE - FOUR O’CLOCK FAMILY |
Mirabilis laevis - desert wishbone -bush + |
OLEACEAE - OLIVE FAMILY |
Fraxinus uhdei - Shamel ash* + |
Olea europea - Olive* + |
ONAGRACEAE - EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY |
Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia - beach suncup |
Epilobium canum ssp. canum - hummingbird trumpet |
Oenothera elata ssp. hirsutissima - Hooker's evening primrose |
OROBANCHACEAE - BROOM -RAPE FAMILY |
Chloropyron maritimum ssp. maritimum - salt marsh bird's -beak + |
Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setiger - bird’s beak |
OXALIDACEAE - OXALIS FAMILY |
Oxalis pes -caprae - Bermuda buttercup* |
PHRYMACEAE - LOPSEED FAMILY |
Mimulus aurantiacus - orange bush monkeyflower |
PLANTAGINACEAE - PLANTAIN FAMILY |
Antirrhinum nuttallianum - violet snapdragon |
Keckiella cordifolia - heartleaf keckiella |
Plantago major - common plantain* |
PLATANACEAE - PLANE TREE, SYCAMORE FAMILY |
Platanus racemosa - California sycamore + |
PLUMBAGINACEAE - LEADWORT FAMILY |
Limonium californicum - California sea -lavender + |
Limonium duriusculum - European sea -lavender* + |
Limonium ramosissimum - Algerian sea lavender* + |
Limonium sinuatum - wavyleaf sea lavender* + |
POLYGONACEAE - BUCKWHEAT FAMILY |
Eriogonum fasciculatum var. fasciculatum - Eastern Mojave buckwheat + |
Persicaria lapathifolia - curlytop knotweed |
Polygonum argyrocoleon - silversheath knotweed* |
Rumex crispus - curly dock* + |
PORTULACACEAE - PURSLANE FAMILY |
Portulaca oleracea - little hogweed* |
PROTEACEAE - PROTEA FAMILY |
Grevillea robusta - silkoak* |
RHAMNACEAE - BUCKTHORN FAMILY |
Rhamnus alaternus - Italian buckhorn* + |
ROSACEAE - ROSE FAMILY |
Eriobotrya japonica - loquat* |
Heteromeles arbutifolia - toyon + |
Prunus persica - peach* + |
Rosa californica - California wildrose + |
Rubus armeniacus - Himalayan blackberry* |
Rubus ursinus - California blackberry + |
RUBIACEAE - MADDER FAMILY |
Galium aparine - stickywilly* |
SALICACEAE - WILLOW FAMILY |
Populus fremontii - Fremont cottonwood + |
Salix gooddingii - Goodding's willow + |
Salix lasiolepis - arroyo willow + |
SAPINDACEAE - SOAPBERRY FAMILY |
Koelreuteria paniculata - goldenrain tree* |
Koelreuteria bipinnata - Chinese flame tree* |
SAURURACEAE - LIZARD’S -TAIL FAMILY |
Anemopsis californica - yerba mansa + |
SCROPHULARIACEAE - FIGWORT FAMILY |
Myoporum laetum - ngaio tree* + |
Scrophularia californica - California figwort |
SOLANACEAE - NIGHTSHADE FAMILY |
Datura wrightii - sacred thorn -apple |
Lycium californicum - California desert -thorn |
Nicotiana glauca - tree tobacco* + |
Solanum americanum - American black nightshade |
Solanum douglasii - greenspot nightshade + |
TAMARICACEAE - TAMARISK FAMILY |
Tamarix ramosissima - saltcedar* |
TROPAEOLACEAE - NASTURTIUM FAMILY |
Tropaeolum majus - nasturtium* |
URTICACEAE - NETTLE FAMILY |
Hesperocnide tenella - western stingingnettle |
Urtica dioica ssp. holosericea - stinging nettle + |
Urtica urens - dwarf nettle* |
VERBENACEAE - VERVAIN FAMILY |
Lantana camara - lantana* |
Verbena lasiostachys var. lasiostachys - western vervain |
* Not Native at this site |
+ Observed during 6 -26 -16 OC CNPS field trip |
Compiled by Ron Vanderhoff, 06 -2016, from: |
Ron Vanderhoff, Orange County California Native Plant Society, Personal field observation |
Big Canyon Nature Park, Resource and Recreation Management Plan, City of Newport Beach, March 2016 |
Big Canyon Habitat Restoration and Water Quality Improvement Project, Biological Resources Technical Report, City of Newport Beach, January 2016 |