Trip Recap
19 people, from San Diego to Los Angeles, met in the hills above Laguna Beach for the three mile round trip walk along the ridges surrounding Hobo Canyon. The weather was overcast and mild, a perfect day for nature lovers.
As we walked the ridge we learned of the efforts of local resident David Randel to keep this trail and others nearby free of invasive weeds, especially mustard (Brassica). David’s efforts were applauded by the group, which added two or three more that we discovered with considerable searching. Great job!
We paused to appreciate the unique plant communities in this area, diegan sage scrub and maritime chaparral, both of which are greatly reduced in size from their former ranges. These habitats support a unique community of plants, many of which are found nowhere else, Cneoridium dumosum, Ceanothus megacarpus, Comarostaphylis diversifolia, Dichondra occidentalis and Rhamnus crocea. The rare and federally protected big-leaved crown beard (Verbesina dissita) was also located and discussed. This, and a handful of other canyons nearby, are the only places this plant occurs outside of Mexico. It is an OC national endemic plant.
At the turnaround point the group was asked if they wanted to go another half mile and possibly see Eriastrum, Chorizanthe and Cercocarpus. The enthusiastic group said yes and we marched on, locating all three.
In all, the group logged 73 plant species, including new species for many of the attendees.
Plants Seen
Acmispon glaber - deerweed
Adenostoma fasciculatum var. obtusifolium – chamise
Anagallis arvensis - scarlet pimpernel+
Artemisia californica - California sagebrush
Atriplex semibacatta – Australian saltbush+
Avena sp. – wild oat+
Baccharis pilularis – coyote brush
Bloomeria crocea – golden star
Calochortus splendens - Mariposa lily
Calystegia macrostegia var. cyclostegia – bindweed
Carduus pycnocephalus – Italian thistle+
Carpabrotus edulis – hottentot fig+
Castilleja affinis – paintbrush
Ceanothus megacarpus – bigberry California lilac
Centaurea melitensis – tocalote+
Cercocarpus betuloides - mountain mahogany
Chamaesysyce sp. – spurge
Chorizanthe staticoides – Turkish rugging
Cneoridium dumosum – bush rue
Comarostaphylis diversifolia – summer holly
Corethrogyne (Lessingia) filaginifolia - cliff aster
Cortederia sp. – pampas or jubata grass+
Cuscuta californica - dodder
Cynara cardunculus – cardoon
Deinandra fasciculata – fascicled tarplant
Dichondra occidentalis – western dichondra
Dudleya lanceolata - lance-leaved live-forever
Dudleya multicaulis – many-stemmed live-forever
Dudleya pulverulenta – chalk dudleya
Elymus condensatus - giant wild rye
Encelia californica – California sunflower
Eriastrum sapphirinum – sapphire wolly-star
Eriogonum fasiculatum ssp. fasciculatum – Cal. buckwheat
Eriophyllum confertifolium - golden yarrow
Erodium sp.- cranesbill+
Foeniculum vulgare – fennel+
Galium angustifolium - narrow-leaved bedstraw
Grindelia camporum – gum plant
Heteromeles arbutifolia - toyon
Hypochaeris glabra – smooth cat’s ear+
Isocoma menziesii - goldenbush
Isomeris arborea - bladderpod
Juncus sp. - rush
Leymus condensatus – giant wild rye
Lomatium lucidum – shiny lomatium
Lupinus microcarpus - chick lupine
Malacothamnus fasciculatus laxiflorus – bushmallow
Malosma laurina - laurel sumac
Marah macrocarpa - wild cucumber
Marrubium vulgare – horehound+
Mimulus aurantiacus - bush monkeyflower
Mirabilis laevis – wishbone flower
Opuntia sp. – prickly pear
Osmadenia tenella - osmadenia
Pennisetum setaceum var rubrum? – red fountain grass
Pseudognaphalium californicum - California everlasting
Quercus agrifolia - coast live oak
Quercus berberidifolia - scrub oak
Rhamnus crocea – spiny redberry
Rhamnus ilicifolia – holly-leaved redberry
Rhus integrifolia - lemonadeberry
Ribes speciosa – fuschia-flowered gooseberry
Rumex sp. – dock+
Salvia mellifera - black sage
Sambucus mexicana – Mexican elderberry
Sisyrinchium bellum – blue-eyed grass
Solanum sp. (douglasii?) - nightshade
Solanum sp. (umbelliferum?) - nightshade
Sonchus sp. – sow thistle+
Stachys rigida – hedge nettle
Stipa pulchra – purple needlegrass
Toxicodendron diversilobum - poison oak
Verbesina dissita – big-leaved crown beard
+ Not native - at this site
