Mission PeakWild Plants |
Wild Plants of Mission Peak Regional Preserve, part of East Bay Regional Park District. Published by East Bay Regional Park District.
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Wild Plants of
Mission Peak
Regional Preserve
Common Name Version
A Photographic Guide
Sorted by Form, Color and Family
with Habitat Descriptions and Identification Notes
Photographs and text by Wilde Legard
District Botanist, East Bay Regional Park District
New Revised and Expanded Edition - Includes the latest
scientific names, habitat descriptions and identification notes
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English Inches
Notes:
A Photographic Guide to the Wild Plants of
Mission Peak Regional Preserve
More than 2,000 species of native and naturalized plants grow wild in the San Francisco Bay Area. Most are very difficult to identify without the help of good illustrations. This is designed to
be a simple, color photo guide to help you identify some of these plants. This guide is published electronically in Adobe Acrobat® format so that it can easily be updated as additional
photographs become available. You have permission to freely download, distribute and print this guide for individual use. Photographs are © 2014 Wilde Legard, all rights reserved.
In this guide, the included plants are sorted first by form (Ferns & Fern-like, Grasses & Grass-like, Herbaceous, Woody), then by most common flower color, and finally by similar looking
flowers (grouped by genus within each family). Each photograph has the following information, separated by '-':
COMMON NAME
(Scientific Name)
Origin & Longevity
Family Name
(Bloom date range)
Habitat
ID Characteristics
Additional notes
Revision: 3/2/2014
According to The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California, Second Edition (JM2) and other references (not standardized).
According to JM2 and eFlora (ucjeps.berkeley.edu/IJM.html).
Native, Naturalized, or Waif (not reproducing without human care). Annual, Biennial, Perennial, or a combination.
Common family name according to JM2,
Period during the year when the plant blooms, according to JM2 and other sources. '-' if plant does not bloom (ie. Ferns).
Habitat description according to JM2 and other sources.
Plant description with identification characteristics and other notes, based on multiple sources including: Annotated Checklist of the East Bay Flora, Second
Edition (2013), JM2, Plants of the San Francisco Bay Region (Revised Edition), and Weeds of California and Other Western States.
Occasionally, an additional note may appear (ie. NOXIOUS weed, INVASIVE weed, Fed & Calif. ENDANGERED, etc.).
Fern-like - Green/Brown
BRACKEN FERN (Pteridium aquilinum var.
pubescens) Native Perennial - Bracken Family - - Pastures, woodland, meadows, hillsides, partial
to full sun - Leaf blades widely-triangular, gen
0.5-5' long, gen 3x divided, hairy underneath.
Wild Plants of Mission Peak Regional Preserve - Sorted by Form, Color and Family
GOLDENBACK FERN (Pentagramma triangularis
subsp. triangularis) Native Perennial - Brake Fern
Family - - - Gen shaded, sometimes rocky or
wooded areas - Leaves triangular, 1.2-4" long,
undersides either granular green or powdery
gold.
SMOOTH SCOURING RUSH (Equisetum
laevigatum) Native Perennial - Horsetail Family - - Moist, sandy or gravelly areas - Stems 1 kind
only, 12-71" tall, unbranched. Sheath w/dark
band only at the top.
Page 1
POLYPODY FERN (Polypodium calirhiza) Native
Perennial - Polypody Family - - - On plants, rocky
cliffs or outcrops, roadcuts, often granitic or
volcanic, rarely dunes - Leaf blades 4-8" long,
often widest above base, deeply lobed.
Revision: 3/2/2014
Fern-like - Green/Brown
Wild Plants of Mission Peak Regional Preserve - Sorted by Form, Color and Family
Page 2
COASTAL WOOD FERN (Dryopteris arguta)
Native Perennial - Wood Fern Family - - - Locally
common. Open, wooded slopes, caves - Leaf
12-24” long,5-12” wide, divided 1-2 times.
Segments generally with spine-tipped teeth.
SILVER HAIR GRASS (Aira caryophyllea)
Naturalized Annual - Grass Family - (Apr–Jun) Sandy soils, open or disturbed sites - Flower
cluster > 0.6" wide, diffuse with long slender
branches. Spikelets about 0.1" long with 2
extended awns.
SLENDER WILD OAT (Avena barbata)
Naturalized Annual - Grass Family - (Mar–Jun) Disturbed sites - Plants gen 24-32". Spikelets
0.8-1.2" long. Awns 0.8-1.8" long. Lemma tip
bristles >= 0.1" long. Seeds EDIBLE whole or
ground for flour. INVASIVE weed.
LITTLE QUAKING GRASS (Briza minor)
Naturalized Annual - Grass Family - (Apr–Jul) Shaded or moist, open sites - Stem 3-20” tall.
Spikelets 0.1-0.2” long, resemble tiny rattlesnake
rattles.
CALIFORNIA BROME (Bromus carinatus var.
carinatus) Native Perennial - Grass Family (Apr–Aug) - Coastal prairies, openings in
chaparral, plains, open oak and pine woodland
-Plant 20-40” tall. Flower cluster 6-16” long.
Spikelet 0.8-1.6” long. Lemma 0.5-0.8” long,
hairy, awn 0.3-0.6” long.
RIPGUT GRASS (Bromus diandrus) Naturalized
Annual - Grass Family - (Apr–Jul) - Open, gen
disturbed areas - Plant 6-40" tall. Spikelet 1-2.8"
long. Lemma body 0.8-1.2" long, awn > 1.2" long.
Barbed seeds can stick in flesh of animals.
INVASIVE weed.
SOFT CHESS (Bromus hordeaceus) Naturalized
Annual - Grass Family - (Apr–Jul) - Fields,
disturbed areas - Plant 4-26” tall. Leaf hairy.
Flower cluster 1-5” long, dense, some stalks >
spikelet. Spikelet 0.5-0.9”. Lemma 0.26-0.4”, awn
0.16-0.4”. INVASIVE weed.
FOXTAIL CHESS (Bromus madritensis subsp.
madritensis) Naturalized Annual - Grass Family (Apr–Jan) - Disturbed areas, roadsides - Plants
4-20" tall. Stem and sheathes smooth. Flower
cluster branches visible, lower spikelets erect, >
stalk.
Revision: 3/2/2014
Grass-like - Green/Brown
Wild Plants of Mission Peak Regional Preserve - Sorted by Form, Color and Family
Page 3
BRISTLY
DOGTAIL
GRASS
(Cynosurus
echinatus) Naturalized Annual - Grass Family (May–Jul) - Open, disturbed sites - Tufted. Stem
4-28” long. Leaf blade 0.1-0.6” wide. Flower
cluster 0.4-1.6” long, 1-sided. Fertile and sterile
spikelets. INVASIVE weed.
WESTERN WILD-RYE (Elymus glaucus subsp.
glaucus) Native Perennial - Grass Family (Jun–Aug) - Open areas, chaparral, woodland,
forest - Tufted. Stem 12-55" tall. Leaf 0.2-0.5"
wide, flat. Spikelets0.3-0.6" long, 2-4 per node.
Lemma awn 0.4-1.2" long.
BROME
FESCUE
(Festuca
bromoides)
Naturalized Annual - Grass Family - (May–Jun) Uncommon. Dry, disturbed places, coastal-sage
scrub, chaparral - Stem < 20". Inflor 0.6-6" tall,
dense, lower branches erect. Spikelet 0.2-0.4"
long, awn 0.1-0.3" long.
RYE GRASS (Festuca perennis) Naturalized
Perennial - Grass Family - (May–Sep) - Dry to
moist disturbed sites, abandoned fields - Stem
20-40" tall. Spikelet 0.2-0.9" long, > glume,
awned or awnless. Sterile shoots at base.
INVASIVE weed.
NORTHERN
BARLEY
(Hordeum
brachyantherum subsp. brachyantherum) Native
Perennial - Grass Family - (May–Aug) Meadows, pastures, streambanks - Stem 1-3' tall,
gen robust. Leaf sheaths gen smooth, blade <
7.5" long. Lemma awn < 0.25".
MEDITERRANEAN BARLEY (Hordeum marinum
subsp. gussoneanum) Naturalized Annual Grass Family - (Apr–Jun) - Dry to moist,
disturbed sites - Stem 4-20". Leaf blades to 32"
long, auricles < 0.08". Central lemma awn
0.25-0.7" long. INVASIVE weed.
HARE BARLEY (Hordeum murinum subsp.
leporinum) Naturalized Annual - Grass Family (Feb–May) - Moist, gen disturbed sites. Common
- Stem 12-43" tall. Central spikelet stalk ~0.06"
long. Central floret << lateral florets. INVASIVE
weed.
WALL BARLEY (Hordeum murinum subsp.
murinum) Naturalized Annual - Grass Family (Feb–May) - Moist, gen disturbed sites - Stem
1-2'. Leaf auricles notable. Central spikelet stalk
0-0.02". Central floret gen = lateral florets.
INVASIVE weed.
Revision: 3/2/2014
Grass-like - Green/Brown
Wild Plants of Mission Peak Regional Preserve - Sorted by Form, Color and Family
Page 4
CALIFORNIA MELIC (Melica californica) Native
Perennial - Grass Family - (Apr–May) - Open or
rocky hillsides, oak woodland, conifer forest Stem 16-55". Leaf 0.06-0.2" wide. Spiklet 0.2-0.6"
long, w/3-7 fertile florets; sterile tip widest above
middle, tip squared.
TORREY'S MELIC (Melica torreyana) Native
Perennial - Grass Family - (Mar–Jun) - Chaparral,
conifer forest - Stem 12-40" tall. Leaf blade
0.04-0.1" wide. Spikelet 0.14-0.28" long w/1-2
florets; sterile tip widest above middle to 0.06",
short-hairy lemmas.
ANNUAL BLUE GRASS (Poa annua) Naturalized
Annual - Grass Family - (Feb–Sep) - Abundant.
Disturbed moist ground - Plant 1-8” tall. Leaf
blade 0.04-0.12” wide, soft. Flower cluster 0.4-4”
long, triangular. Lemmas 0.1-0.16” long.
ONE-SIDED BLUE GRASS (Poa secunda subsp.
secunda) Native Perennial - Grass Family (Mar–Aug) - Common. Dry slopes to
saline/alkaline meadows to alpine - Plant 6-40”
tall, densely tufted. Flower clusters congested.
Spikelets gen 0.3-0.4” long. Lemmas 0.16-0.2”
long, backs rounded.
PURPLE NEEDLE GRASS (Stipa pulchra) Native
Perennial - Grass Family - (Mar–Jun) - Oak
woodland, chaparral, grassland - Stem 14-39"
long. Leaf blade 4-8" long. Glumes 0.5-0.8" long,
~equal. Awn 1.6-4" long, last segment straight.
CLUSTERED TOAD RUSH (Juncus bufonius var.
congestus) Native Annual - Rush Family (Apr–Aug) - Drying pools, shores, disturbed
ground, gen saline - Stem 1-4" tall, gen brached
from base, ~0.04" wide. Flower cluster crowded.
Flowers 0.2-0.3" long.
SPREADING RUSH (Juncus patens) Native
Perennial - Rush Family - (Jun–Oct) - Marshy
places, creeks, seeps - Plant 12-41" tall, densely
tufted. Stems blue-gray-green & distinctly
grooved when fresh. Stamens 6.
COMMON
SPIKERUSH
(Eleocharis
macrostachya) Native Perennial - Sedge Family (Spring–summer) - Common. Fresh to brackish
wetland - Stem 8-39" tall, 0.06-0.1" wide. Spikelet
0.2-1.6" long, 0.08-0.2" wide, style 2-branched.
Revision: 3/2/2014
Herbaceous - Blue/Pink/Purple
Wild Plants of Mission Peak Regional Preserve - Sorted by Form, Color and Family
Page 5
GRAND HOUND'S TONGUE (Cynoglossum
grande) Native Perennial - Borage Family (Feb–May) - Chaparral, woodland - Stem 1-3'.
Leaf stalk 3-6". Leaf blade 3-6" cm long, broadly
oval. Flowers bright blue w/inner white teeth.
CALIFORNIA PHACELIA (Phacelia californica)
Native Perennial - Borage Family - (Mar–Sep) Bluffs, open slopes, road cuts, chaparral,
woodland - Plant tufted, stiff-hairy. Leaves gen
pinnate w/big terminal leaflet. Flowers 0.16-0.28"
long, lavender.
BLUE DICKS (Dichelostemma capitatum subsp.
capitatum) Native Perennial - Brodiaea Family (Mar–Jun) - Open woodland, scrub, desert,
grassland - Plant 2-28" tall. Flowers blue-purple,
not narrowed in the middle. Stamens 6. Early
spring bloomer.
ITHURIEL'S SPEAR (Triteleia laxa) Native
Perennial - Brodiaea Family - (Apr–Jun) Common. Open forest, conifer or foothill
woodland, grassland on clay soil - Flower stem
4-28". Leaves 8-16", 0.16-1" wide. Flowers blue,
blue-purple or white, 0.7-1.9" long.
MEDITERRANEAN LINSEED (Bellardia trixago)
Naturalized Annual - Broom-rape Family (Apr–Jun) - Disturbed grassland. - Plant
sticky-hairy.
Stem
6-32"
tall.
Leaves
lance-shaped, toothed. Flowers 0.8-1" long,
2-lipped: upper lip pink, lower lip white.
INVASIVE.
PURPLE OWL'S-CLOVER (Castilleja exserta
subsp. exserta) Native Annual - Broom-rape
Family - (Mar–May) - Open fields, grassland Plant sticky, short-hairy. Flower cluster tipped
white, pale yellow or rose. Flower upper lip
hooked, fuzzy.
GIANT TRILLIUM (Trillium chloropetalum) Native
Perennial - Bunchflower Family - (Apr–May) Edges of redwood forest, chaparral, gen moist
slopes, canyon banks in alluvial soils - Flowers
dark purple to white, sessile. Petals 2.6-4" long,
odor rose-like or spicy.
PURPLE SANICLE (Sanicula bipinnatifida)
Native Perennial - Carrot Family - (Mar–May) Open grassland, gen on serpentine, or pine/oak
woodland - Plant 5-24" tall. Leaves 1.6-7.5" long,
1-2x divided on a winged central axis. Flowers
dark purple. Fruits prickly.
Revision: 3/2/2014
Herbaceous - Blue/Pink/Purple
Wild Plants of Mission Peak Regional Preserve - Sorted by Form, Color and Family
Page 6
FOUR-SPOT
(Clarkia
purpurea
subsp.
quadrivulnera) Native Annual - Evening Primrose
Family - (Apr–Aug) - Common. Open, grassy or
shrubby places - Buds erect. Petals < 0.6",
lavender to dark red. Ovary 8-grooved. Sepals
1's or 2's.
COMMON WILLOWHERB (Epilobium ciliatum
subsp. ciliatum) Native Perennial - Evening
Primrose Family - (Jun–Oct) - Common.
Disturbed places, moist meadows, streambanks,
roadsides - Plant 20-48" tall, smooth or
short-hairy. Petals 2-6 mm, white to pink.
LONG-BEAKED FILAREE (Erodium botrys)
Naturalized Annual - Geranium Family (Mar–Jul) - Dry, open or disturbed sites - Stem
4-35" tall, coarse-hairy. Leaves lobed. Petals
pink, 0.3-0.5" long. Sepals w/reddish tip. Fruit
beak 2-4.7" long.
REDSTEM FILAREE (Erodium cicutarium)
Naturalized Annual - Geranium Family (Feb–Sep) - Open, disturbed sites, grassland,
scrub - Stem 4-20". Leaves compound, leaflets
dissected. Sepal tip bristly. Petal pink to purple.
Fruit beak 0.8-2". INVASIVE.
GREENSTEM FILAREE (Erodium moschatum)
Naturalized Annual - Geranium Family (Feb–Sep) - Open, disturbed sites - Stem 4-24",
short-hairy. Leaves compound, leaflets toothed.
Sepal tip glabrous. Petals 0.4-0.6" long, pink.
Fruit beak 0.8-1.6" long.
CUT-LEAVED
GERANIUM
(Geranium
dissectum) Naturalized Annual - Geranium
Family - (Mar–Jul) - Open, disturbed sites - Stem
3-28" tall, rough-hairy. Leaf blades deeply
divided. Petals violet-red, 0.1-0.25" long
w/notched tips. Flower stalk sticky. INVASIVE.
HAIRY DOVE'S FOOT GERANIUM (Geranium
molle) Naturalized Annual - Geranium Family (Feb–Aug) - Open to shaded sites, disturbed
ground - Stem 4-17" tall. Petals red-purple,
0.1-0.4" long, notched. Sepals awnless. Fruit
smooth, wrinkled.
WESTERN BLUE-EYED-GRASS (Sisyrinchium
bellum) Native Perennial - Iris Family (Mar–May) - Common. Open, gen moist, grassy
areas, woodland - Stem < 25" tall. Leaves
iris-like. Petals 6, blue-purple with dark veins,
0.4-0.7" long.
Revision: 3/2/2014
Herbaceous - Blue/Pink/Purple
Wild Plants of Mission Peak Regional Preserve - Sorted by Form, Color and Family
Page 7
CALIFORNIA
LOOSESTRIFE
(Lythrum
californicum) Native Perennial - Loosestrife
Family - (Apr–Sep) - Marshes, pond and stream
margins - Stem 8-24" tall. Leaves 0.4-2.8" long,
gray-smooth, linear. Petals purple, 0.2-0.3" long;
2 style forms.
BULL MALLOW (Malva nicaeensis) Naturalized
Annual - Mallow Family - (Mar–Jun) - Disturbed
places - Stem 0.7-2'. Leaf blade 1.2-4.7" wide,
5-7
shallow
lobes.
Bractlets
egg-shaped,0.16-0.2" long. Petals pink to
blue-violet, 0.2-0.5" long.
COYOTE-MINT (Monardella villosa subsp.
villosa) Native Perennial - Mint Family (May–Aug) - Dry rocky slopes, oak woods,
chaparral - Plant < 20" tall. Leaves ovate,
0.4-0.9" mm long. Flower head 0.4-1.2" wide.
Flowers pink to purple.
CHIA (Salvia columbariae) Native Annual - Mint
Family - (Mar–Jun) - Dry, disturbed sites,
chaparral, coastal-sage scrub - Plant 4-20" tall.
Leaf 0.8-4" long, many 2x divided. Flower cluster
head-like, 1-2 on bare stem. Flowers blue, tubes
6-8 mm long.
PACIFIC PEA (Lathyrus vestitus var. vestitus)
Native Perennial - Pea Family - (Feb–Jul) - North:
Conifer forest. South: chaparral & oak woodland Stem wings to 0.02" wide. Leaves gen elliptic.
Flowers 0.5-0.7" long, pale lavender to purple.
MINIATURE LUPINE (Lupinus bicolor) Native
Annual - Pea Family - (Mar–Jun) - Abundant.
Open or disturbed areas - Plant 4-16", hairy.
Flower 0.16-0.4" long, banner longer than wide,
upper keel ciliate near tip, pedicel < 0.12". Fruit
0.12-0.24" wide.
CHICK LUPINE (Lupinus microcarpus var.
microcarpus) Native Annual - Pea Family (Mar–Jun) - Abundant. Open or disturbed areas,
occ seeded on roadbanks - Plant 4-32", hairy.
Leaves smooth above. Flowers gen pink to
purple. Flower bracts shaggy.
PINPOINT CLOVER (Trifolium gracilentum)
Native Annual - Pea Family - (Mar–Jun) - Open,
disturbed places, occas serpentine - Leaflet tips
not deep-notched. Reflexed pink-purple flowers
w/point. Flower bracts completely smooth.
Revision: 3/2/2014
Herbaceous - Blue/Pink/Purple
Wild Plants of Mission Peak Regional Preserve - Sorted by Form, Color and Family
Page 8
ROSE CLOVER (Trifolium hirtum) Naturalized
Annual - Pea Family - (Apr–May) - Disturbed
areas, roadsides - Head with 1-2 bract-like leaves
immed below. Flowers pink, 0.4-0.6" long,
densely-bristly in fruit. INVASIVE weed.
TOMCAT CLOVER (Trifolium willdenovii) Native
Annual - Pea Family - (Mar–Jun) - Abundant.
Disturbed, gen spring-moist, heavy soils, occas
serpentine - Head bract wheel-shaped,
sharp-lobed. Leaf narrow. Flowers purple w/white
tip, 0.3-0.6" long.
SPRING VETCH (Vicia sativa subsp. sativa)
Naturalized Annual - Pea Family - (Mar–Jun) Roadsides, disturbed areas, grassland, open
areas in oak and riparian woodlands - Flowers
1-2 at leaf bases, pink-purple to white, 0.7-1.2"
long. Leaflets 0.16-0.4" wide.
CALIFORNIA GILIA (Gilia achilleifolia subsp.
achilleifolia) Native Annual - Phlox Family (Mar–Jun) - Open or shaded, gen grassy places,
sandy or rocky soil - Leaves linear-lobed. Flowers
lavender, 0.4-0.8" long, throat > tube, 8-25 in
hemispheric head.
BIRD'S-EYE GILIA (Gilia tricolor subsp. tricolor)
Native Annual - Phlox Family - (Mar–May) Open, grassland, hills, valleys - Stem 3-15" tall,
many branched. Flowers not in heads. Petals
0.4-0.75" long, throat yellow w/purple spots
merged into ring.
WATER
SPEEDWELL
(Veronica
anagallis-aquatica) Naturalized Perennial Plantain Family - (May–Sep) - Wet meadows,
streambanks, slow streams - Stem 4-24" long.
Leaves 0.8-3.1" long, gen stemless. Petals
lavender to blue, violet-lined,0.2-0.4" long.
PADRE SHOOTING STAR (Dodecatheon
clevelandii subsp. patulum) Native Perennial Primrose Family - (Mar–May) - Moist places,
often on serpentine or in ± alkaline sites - Leaf
blade length >2x width. Flowers often white.
Filiment tube w/light spots below anthers.
MOSQUITOBILLS
SHOOTING
STAR
(Dodecatheon hendersonii) Native Perennial Primrose Family - (Mar–Jul) - Gen in shady sites
- Leaf blade length generally <2x width. Flower
parts 4s or 5s. Filament tube solid black.
Revision: 3/2/2014
Herbaceous - Blue/Pink/Purple
Wild Plants of Mission Peak Regional Preserve - Sorted by Form, Color and Family
Page 9
ITALIAN THISTLE (Carduus pycnocephalus
subsp. pycnocephalus) Naturalized Annual Sunflower Family - (Mar–Jul) - Roadsides,
pastures, disturbed areas - Stems 8-79", narrow
spiny-wings. Lower leaves 4-10 lobed, heads 2-5,
flower bracts woolly. NOXIOUS.
BULL THISTLE (Cirsium vulgare) Naturalized
Biennial - Sunflower Family - (May–Oct) Common. Disturbed areas - Plant 12-79" tall. Top
of leaves bristly; leaf base forming decurrent
wings on stem. Flowers purple, gen 1-2" wide.
NOXIOUS weed.
ARTICHOKE THISTLE (Cynara cardunculus
subsp. flavescens) Naturalized Perennial Sunflower Family - (Apr–Jul) - Disturbed places Plant 1.6-8' tall. Artichoke head 1.6-6" diam,
spine-tipped. Flowers blue or purple, 1.2-2" long.
NOXIOUS weed.
MILK THISTLE (Silybum marianum) Naturalized
Annual-Biennial - Sunflower Family - (Feb–Jun) Roadsides, pastures, disturbed areas - Stem
1-10', stout. Leaves spiny, shiny green w/white
veins and spots. Flowers red-purple. INVASIVE
weed.
CURLY DOCK (Rumex crispus) Naturalized
Perennial - Buckwheat Family - (All year) Abundant. Disturbed places - Stem 16-39" tall.
Flower cluster dense, valves 0.2-0.24", winged
around tubercles, smooth edged. 1 tubercle
enlarged. INVASIVE.
FIDDLE DOCK (Rumex pulcher) Naturalized
Perennial - Buckwheat Family - (May–Sep) Disturbed places, meadows, moist or dry habitats
- Stem 8-24" long, branches widely spreading.
Leaf blades 1.6-4" long, 1.2-2" wide. Valves
w/2-5 teeth.
HOARY
NETTLE
(Urtica
dioica
subsp.
holosericea) Native Perennial - Nettle Family (Jun–Sep) - Meadows, seeps, springs, margins of
marshes, streams, lakes, moist areas in
chaparral, coastal scrub - Plant 3.3-9.8' tall,
grayish, covered with stinging hairs.
MUGWORT (Artemisia douglasiana) Native
Perennial - Sunflower Family - (May–Nov) Common. Open to shady areas, often in
drainages - Plant 20-60" tall. Leaves gen 0.4-4"
long, densely hairy below, some 3-5 lobed.
Flower bracts hairy.
Revision: 3/2/2014
Herbaceous - Red/Orange
Wild Plants of Mission Peak Regional Preserve - Sorted by Form, Color and Family
Page 10
COMMON FIDDLENECK (Amsinckia intermedia)
Native Annual - Borage Family - (Mar–Jun) Abundant. Open, generally disturbed places Plant 0.5-3' tall. Flowers orange with 5 red spots,
0.3-0.4" long, 0.2-0.4" wide, tube straight.
COMMON INDIAN PAINTBRUSH (Castilleja
affinis subsp. affinis) Native Perennial Broom-rape Family - (Mar–Jun) - Chaparral,
coastal scrub - Plants 6-24" tall, gen bristly,
non-sticky. Leaves 1-3", lance-shaped, 0-5 lobes.
Flower cluster open, red to orange-red.
SHEEP SORREL (Rumex acetosella) Naturalized
Perennial - Buckwheat Family - (Apr–Jul) - ±
Disturbed, often acidic places - Stem < 16". Leaf
gen basal, blade 0.8-2.4" long, lower
arrowhead-shaped w/2 lobes. Flowers yellowish,
turn reddish. INVASIVE.
CRIMSON COLUMBINE (Aquilegia formosa)
Native Perennial - Buttercup Family - (Apr–Sep) Streambanks, seeps, moist places, chaparral,
oak woodland, mixed-evergreen or conifer forests
- Flowers about 2" long, yellow with red sepals &
spurs.
CALIFORNIA FUCHSIA (Epilobium canum
subsp. canum) Native Perennial - Evening
Primrose Family - (Jun–Dec) - Dry slopes, ridges
- Plant hairy, gen sticky with a woody base. Leaf
0.3-2.8" long, gray to green. Flowers red-orange,
floral tube 0.8-1.2" long.
SCARLET PIMPERNEL (Anagallis arvensis)
Naturalized Annual - Myrsine Family - (Mar–May)
- Common. Disturbed places, ocean beaches Plants 2-16" tall. Flowers 0.2-0.3" long, salmon or
occasionally blue. Leaves TOXIC, can cause
dermititis.
CALIFORNIA POPPY (Eschscholzia californica)
Native Perennial - Poppy Family - (Feb–Sep) Grassy, open areas - Plant 2-24" tall. Flower
w/spreading rim <= 0.2". Petals 0.8-2.4" long,
early spring = large and orange, fall = smaller and
yellow.
CALIFORNIA
FIGWORT
(Scrophularia
californica) Native Perennial - Snapdragon Family
- (Mar–Jul) - Common; damp places, chaparral,
roadsides - Stem 2.6-4' tall, square x-section.
Leaves opposite, to 7" long, triangular, toothed.
Flowers 0.3-0.5" long, upper lips red to maroon,
lower paler or yellowish.
Revision: 3/2/2014
Herbaceous - White
Wild Plants of Mission Peak Regional Preserve - Sorted by Form, Color and Family
Page 11
VARIABLE-LEAF
NEMOPHILA
(Nemophila
heterophylla) Native Annual - Borage Family (Feb–Jun) - Common. Forest, chaparral,
roadsides, streambanks - Flower 0.1-0.4" long,
unspotted, bract appendages < 0.04" long in fruit.
COMMON PHACELIA (Phacelia distans) Native
Annual - Borage Family - (Mar–May) - Common.
Clay to rocky soils, slopes - Plant 6-32" tall.
Leaves divided. Flowers 0.24-0.35" long, dirty
white. Seeds 2-4.
BUR-CHERVIL (Anthriscus caucalis) Naturalized
Annual - Carrot Family - (Apr–Jun) - Generally
shady places - Plant 18-40" tall. Flowers white;
flower stalk >= fruit length. Fruits 0.1-0.2" long
with curved "velcro" bristles. Leaves fern-like,
triangular outline.
POISON HEMLOCK (Conium maculatum)
Naturalized Biennial - Carrot Family - (Apr–Jul) Common. Moist, esp disturbed places - Plants
2-10' tall. Stems purple-spotted. Leaves fern-like,
gen 2x divided. Flowers white. TOXIC. INVASIVE
weed.
COW PARSNIP (Heracleum maximum) Native
Perennial - Carrot Family - (Apr–Jul) - Moist
places, wooded or open - Plants 1-3 m tall,
woolly-hairy. Leaflets 3, maple-lobed, 4-16" wide.
Petals white, outermost longest. Juice causes
dermatitis.
SWEET-CICELY (Osmorhiza berteroi)
Perennial - Carrot Family - (Apr–Jul) forest, woodland, disturbed areas - Plant
Leaflets in 3s, serrate to irreg lobed.
white. Fruit 0.5-1", upward pointing
splitting apart below.
VENUS' NEEDLE (Scandix pecten-veneris)
Naturalized Annual - Carrot Family - (Apr–Jun) Grassy slopes, roadsides - Plant 6-20" tall. Leaf
segments finely divided, linear. Flowers white,
outer petals larger. Fruit 0.2-1" long with a beak
0.8-2.8" long.
WAVYLEAF
SOAP
PLANT
(Chlorogalum
pomeridianum var. pomeridianum) Native
Perennial - Century Plant Family - (May–Aug) Common. Open grassland, chaparral, woodland Plant 1-8' tall, flowers at night. Bulb juices lather
in water.
Native
Conifer
12-47".
Flower
barbs,
Revision: 3/2/2014
Herbaceous - White
Wild Plants of Mission Peak Regional Preserve - Sorted by Form, Color and Family
Page 12
CALIFORNIA MAN-ROOT (Marah fabacea)
Native Perennial - Gourd Family - (Feb–Apr) Streamsides, washes, shrubby open areas - Vine
6-20' long. Leaves moderately lobed. Flowers
cream or white, < 0.3" wide. Fruit spiny all over.
GOOSE GRASS (Galium aparine) Native Annual
- Madder Family - (Apr–Jun) - Grassy, ± shady
places - Stem 12-35" long, weak, brittle. Leaves
0.5-1.6" long, in whorls of 6-8. Flowers white,
4-lobed. Fruits covered w/short, hooked hairs.
COMMON PALE CLAYTONIA (Claytonia exigua
subsp. exigua) Native Annual - Miner's Lettuce
Family - (Apr–Jul) - Dry or moist, disturbed bare
clay to sandy soils, often serpentine - Stem leaf
free or fused. Petals 0.1-0.2", white or pink.
Seeds dull w/appendage.
SHORTSTEM MORNING-GLORY (Calystegia
subacaulis subsp. subacaulis) Native Perennial Morning-glory Family - (Apr–Jun) - Dry, open
scrub or woodland - Stem gen ~0.8" long.
Flowers 1.3-2.4" long, white or cream. Bractlets
concealing flower bracts.
MILK MAIDS (Cardamine californica) Native
Perennial - Mustard Family - (Jan–May) - Gen
shaded sites, canyons, woodland. One of first
spring flowers - Stem 10-24" long. Leaves lobed
to compound w/sharp teeth. Petals white or pale
rose, 0.3-0.5" long.
WATER CRESS (Nasturtium officinale) Native
Perennial - Mustard Family - (Mar–Nov) Streams, springs, marshes, lake margins,
swamps - Stem 4-43" long. Leaflets 3-9, 0.3-1"
wide. Petals white, 0.12-0.18" long. EDIBLE
leaves.
CALIFORNIA TEA (Rupertia physodes) Native
Perennial - Pea Family - (May–Sep) - Woodland Stem
~1.6'.
Leaflets
3,
triangular
to
lance-shaped, 1.4-2.8" long, sticky. Flower bracts
not hairy, lobes =. Flowers white or yellow,
banner 0.4-0.55" long.
SUBTERRANEAN
CLOVER
(Trifolium
subterraneum) Naturalized Annual - Pea Family (Mar–Apr) - Meadows, roadsides, disturbed areas
- Plant hairy, creeping. Leaflets 0.4-0.6" long.
Head 0.4" wide. Flowers white, 0.3-0.55" long,
fruit in a bur.
Revision: 3/2/2014
Herbaceous - White
Wild Plants of Mission Peak Regional Preserve - Sorted by Form, Color and Family
Page 13
BICOLOR LEPTOSIPHON (Leptosiphon bicolor)
Native Annual - Phlox Family - (Mar–Jun) Common. Open, grassy areas, chaparral,
woodland - Plant 0.8-8.3" tall, hairy. Flower lobes
~0.1" long, pink or white; tube red; stigma
<=0.02" long.
STICKY MOUSE-EAR CHICKWEED (Cerastium
glomeratum) Naturalized Annual - Pink Family (Spring) - Dry hillsides, grassland, chaparral,
disturbed areas - Flowers 0.1-02" long, white,
sticky-hairy. Flower bract hairs extend beyond tip;
bracts herbaceous.
SMALL-FLOWER CATCHFLY (Silene gallica)
Naturalized Annual - Pink Family - (Spring–early
summer) - Fields, disturbed areas - Plant 4-16".
Leaves < 1.4" long. Flower cluster short-hairy,
bracts sticky-hairy, petal blade 0.2-0.5" long,
smooth to notched, white to pink.
COMMON CHICKWEED (Stellaria media)
Naturalized Annual - Pink Family - (Feb–Sep) Oak woodland, meadows, disturbed areas - Plant
2.8-20" tall. Stem w/line of hairs on 1 side. Sepals
0.12-0.18" long. Petals white, 2-lobed, 0.7-0.9x
sepals.
STICKY CINQUEFOIL (Drymocallis glandulosa
var. wrangelliana) Native Perennial - Rose Family
- (May–Jul) - Gen ± shady or moist areas - Stem
8-28". Flower 0.2-0.25" long, pale yellow to
cream. Terminal leaflet distinct, unlobed.
WOODLAND STAR (Lithophragma affine) Native
Perennial - Saxifrage Family - (Mar–Apr) - Open,
grassy slopes - Plant 4-24" tall. Leaves w/3-5
sharp-toothed shallow lobes, stem leaves
alternate. Petals 0.2-0.5" long, white. Hypanthium
funnel-shaped.
CALIFORNIA
SAXIFRAGE
(Micranthes
californica) Native Perennial - Saxifrage Family (Feb–May(Jun)) - Moist, shady places - Plant
6-14" tall. Leaves 1.6-4" long, at base,
egg-shaped, >= 0.08" wide, toothed. Petals
white, 0.1-0.18" long.
YARROW (Achillea millefolium) Native Perennial
- Sunflower Family - (Apr–Sep) - Many habitats Plant 4"-7' tall. Stem white-hairy. Leaves finely
dissected. Flower cluster flat-topped. Flowers
white to pink. Widely used in folk medicine.
Revision: 3/2/2014
Herbaceous - White
Wild Plants of Mission Peak Regional Preserve - Sorted by Form, Color and Family
Page 14
COMMON CALIFORNIA-ASTER (Corethrogyne
filaginifolia) Native Perennial - Sunflower Family (Jul–Nov) - Coastal scrub, chaparral, grassland,
foothill woodland, forest - Heads 3-20+, calyx
length 2x width. Rays white to pink-purple.
PHILADELPHIA
FLEABANE
(Erigeron
philadelphicus var. philadelphicus) Native
Biennial-Perennial - Sunflower Family (May–Jun) - Streamsides, other moist habitats Plant 10-32" tall. Disk yellow. Rays 150-400,
narrow, white to pink. Leaves clasping.
CALIFORNIA
BUTTERCUP
(Ranunculus
californicus var. californicus) Native Perennial Buttercup Family - (Mar–Aug) - Grassland, open
woodland - Petals 9-17, 0.28-0.55" long, often >
2x width. Fruit body 0.07-0.13" long, 0.05-0.09"
wide, smooth.
FOOTHILL MEADOW-RUE (Thalictrum fendleri
var. polycarpum) Native Perennial - Buttercup
Family - (Mar–Jun) - Moist, open to shaded
places, woodland, forest - Plant 2-6'+ tall, male or
female. Leaf 1-4x divided, 3-18" long, segments
0.3-0.8" long. No petals.
BLADDER PARSNIP (Lomatium utriculatum)
Native Perennial - Carrot Family - (Feb–May) Open grassy slopes, meadows, woodland - Plant
4-20" tall, leafy stem. Leaf lobes linear, bases
broad. Flowers bright yellow above unfused,
round bractlets. Fruit winged.
PACIFIC WOODLAND SANICLE (Sanicula
crassicaulis) Native Perennial - Carrot Family (Mar–May) - Open slopes, ravines, woodland Plants stout, 9-47". Leaves 1-5" across with 3-5
deep, palmate lobes and serrate edges. Flowers
yellow.
GOLDEN MONKEYFLOWER (Mimulus guttatus)
Native Perennial - Lopseed Family - (Mar–Aug) Common. Wet places, gen terrestrial, occ
emergent or floating in mats - Plant 0.8-60".
Flower yellow, gen > 0.8" long; mature bracts
flattened sideways, inflated in fruit.
CLIMBING BEDSTRAW (Galium porrigens var.
porrigens) Native Perennial - Madder Family (May–Aug) - Among shrubs in chaparral, forest Stem 4-59" long. Leaves 0.1-0.7" long, oval to
egg-shaped, in whorls of 4. Flowers yellow to red,
4-lobed.
Revision: 3/2/2014
Herbaceous - Yellow
Wild Plants of Mission Peak Regional Preserve - Sorted by Form, Color and Family
Page 15
ERECT-POD WINTER CRESS (Barbarea
orthoceras) Native Perennial - Mustard Family (Mar–Jul) - Meadows, streambanks, moist
woodland, grassland - Stem 8-24". Lower leaves
w/large terminal lobe, upper clasping stem.
Petals bright yellow, 0.2-0.3" long.
BLACK MUSTARD (Brassica nigra) Naturalized
Annual - Mustard Family - (Apr–Sep) - Common.
Disturbed areas, fields - Plant 1-6' tall. Petals
bright yellow, 0.3-0.4" long. Fruit upright, pressed
against stem. INVASIVE weed.
SHORTPOD MUSTARD (Hirschfeldia incana)
Naturalized Biennial-Perennial - Mustard Family (Apr–Oct) - Disturbed areas - Stem 16-60".
Longest leaves 1.6-4" long, dense-hairy. Petals
pale yellow, ~0.2" long. Fruit appressed.
Fall-blooming. INVASIVE.
CHARLOCK (Sinapis arvensis) Naturalized
Annual - Mustard Family - (Mar–Sep) - Disturbed
areas - Stem 8-39", no rosette. Leaves coarse.
Petals 0.35-0.47" long, yellow. Fruit 0.8-1.8",
ascending, beak 0.24-0.47" long w/fat base. 3-7
valve veins. INVASIVE weed.
HEDGE MUSTARD (Sisymbrium officinale)
Naturalized Annual - Mustard Family - (Apr–Sep)
- Disturbed areas, fields, pastures - Stem 10-22"
tall, thin, wiry. Petals 0.1-0.16" long, pale yellow.
Fruit 0.4-0.55" long, awl-shaped, appressed.
BERMUDA BUTTERCUP (Oxalis pes-caprae)
Natu