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Flora of Anaho Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Nevada. Published by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).
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Flora of Anaho Island
National Wildlife Refuge
Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation
Washoe County, Nevada
Sarah Kulpa
Allison Phillips
Version 1.1, 2015
About the Authors
Sarah Kulpa is currently the botanist for the Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office in
Reno, Nevada. When she was a graduate student at the University of Nevada,
Reno, she developed a vegetation monitoring plan for Anaho Island which
prompted the need for and development of this booklet. Sarah can be contacted
at:
Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office
1340 Financial Boulevard, Suite 234
Reno, Nevada 89502
Tel: 775-861-6340
Email: sarah_kulpa@fws.gov
Allison Phillips is currently a science teacher at Junipero Serra High School. She
also started working on this booklet as a graduate student at the University of
Nevada, Reno after Sarah introduced her to the joy of island life. Allison can be
contacted at:
Junipero Serra High School
451 West 20th Avenue
San Mateo, California 94403
Email: allisonphillips18@gmail.com
Sarah and Allison collecting vegetation data on Anaho Island, NV.
Acknowledgements
- Thank you to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Stillwater National Wildlife
Refuge Complex (and especially Donna Withers, Wildlife Refuge Specialist)
for the support and funding for the Anaho Island NWR plant survey projects
that lead to the creation of this plant identification booklet.
- Thank you to Dr. Elizabeth Leger, Associate Professor of Plant Ecology,
University of Nevada, Reno, for her dedication to this project and editorial
contributions.
- Thank you to Arnold (Jerry) Tiehm, Herbarium Curator, University of
Nevada, Reno, for sharing his plant identification expertise and his editorial
contributions.
- Thank you to the Stillwater Wildlife Refuge Complex boat operators who
got us safely to and from the island: Matt Wilson, Dave Wills, Bob
Henderson, and Keith Schmidt.
- Thank you to all the volunteers that helped collect data during the surveys:
Kevin Badik, Owen Baughman, Charlene Duncan, Jason Forgette, Erin
Goergen, Michelle Hochrein, Sandra Li, and Bryce Wehan.
This booklet was developed based on data and herbarium specimens
collected by the authors during 2009-2011 (Kulpa and Leger 2013; Phillips
2011), as well as data and herbarium specimens collected in 1964 by W.
Verne Woodbury (Woodbury 1966). All herbarium specimens are housed at
the University of Nevada, Reno herbarium. Photographs used throughout
the booklet were taken by Owen Baughman, Brian Kulpa, Sarah Kulpa,
Elizabeth Leger, Allison Phillips, and Donna Withers. Plant common and
scientific names, distinguishing characteristics, and terminology are as found
in the USDA NRCS Plants database (http://plants.usda.gov), Jepson Flora
Project (eds.) 2013. Jepson eFlora, (http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu), Harris and
Harris (2009), or as provided by the authors.
Version 1.1 contains updates performed by EA Leger, including reformatted
pictures and the addition of new species.
Table of Contents
I.
II.
Map of Anaho Island
Commonly Used Terms
Flora of Anaho Island
III. Grasses
IV. Annual Forbs
V. Perennial Forbs
VI. Shrubs
VII. Trees
VIII. Plant Check List
IX. Glossary
X. References
Native grass community on Anaho Island, NV
I. Map of Anaho Island
Pyramid Lake
Reno
Anaho Island – 2014 World View 2 imagery from Digital Globe provided to the FWS through the
National Geospatial Intelligence Agency Enhanced View Web Hosting Service
Anaho Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is located near the eastern
shore of Pyramid Lake, Washoe County, Nevada and is part of the
Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation. Pyramid Lake is approximately 35 miles
northwest of Reno, Nevada. Anaho Island NWR was established in 1913
to provide secure nesting habitat for migratory birds, especially colonial
nesting birds such as American white pelicans (Pelecanus
erythrorhynchos), double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus),
and California gulls (Larus californicus). This island ecosystem supports a
unique variety of birds, plants, reptiles, and small mammals. Anaho
Island NWR is closed to the public.
II. Commonly Used Terms
A complete glossary of terms can be found in Section IX.
Types of plants found on Anaho Island (definitions from Webster’s New College Dictionary 2009)
Grass: A herbaceous plant with narrow leaves; hollow, jointed stems; and spikes or
clusters of membraneous flowers borne on smaller spikelets. Grasses may be annual or
perennial.
Forb: A herbaceous, non-woody plant other than a grass. Forbs may be annual,
biennial or perennial.
Shrub: A low, woody plant with one to several stems; usually shorter than a tree.
Shrubs are perennial.
Tree: A tall, woody plant with a single trunk; usually taller than a shrub. Trees are
perennial.
How plants grow (definitions from Harris and Harris
2009)
Annual: A plant which germinates from seed, grows flowers, sets seed, and dies in the
same year.
Biennial: A plant which lives two years, usually forming a basal rosette of leaves the
first year, then flowers and fruits the second year.
Perennial: A plant that lives three or more years once established.
Native Plant: With respect to a particular ecosystem, a species that, other than as a
result of an introduction, historically occurred or currently occurs in that ecosystem.
(definition from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System Biological Integrity, Diversity,
and Environmental Health Policy 601FW3).
Non-Native Plant: With respect to a particular ecosystem, any species, including its
seeds, eggs, spores, or other biological material capable of propagating that species,
that is not native to that ecosystem (definition from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wilderness
Stewardship Policy 610FW1). A non-native plant did not historically occur in a particular
ecosystem, but has become established there as a result of human related changes to
the landscape. Non-native plants can reduce biodiversity by displacing native and rare
plant species. They can also alter ecosystem functions and characteristics, such as
wildfire intensity and frequency, or soil and hydrologic characteristics, that indirectly
impact native species.
Historic Condition: The composition, structure, and functioning of ecosystems resulting
from natural processes that we believe, based on sound professional judgment, were
present prior to substantial human related changes to the landscape (definition from the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health
Policy 601FW3).
III. Grasses
Scientific Name
Achnatherum speciosum
Bromus berteroanus
Bromus diandrus ssp. rigidus
Bromus rubens
Bromus tectorum
Distichlis spicata
Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides
Hordeum jubatum
Hordeum murinum
Poa secunda
Common Name
desert needlegrass
Chilean chess
ripgut brome
red brome
cheatgrass
saltgrass
squirreltail
foxtail barley
mouse barley
Sandberg bluegrass
Native, perennial grass Achnatherum speciosum
Achnatherum speciosum
Achnatherum
Desert
desert needlegrass
speciosum
needlegrass
ACSP12
POACEAE
A bunching, perennial grass
•12-24 inches tall
•Spikelets appear feathery due to hairy awns
•Awns are sharply bent
•Callus is well developed and sharp
Habitat on Anaho Island: Common, especially on southern and
western areas. Occurs in large patches at lower elevations, and
becomes more sporadic as elevation increases. Large patches of
this grass without their inflorescence resemble hedge-hogs
scattered across the landscape.
Bromus berteroanus
Chilean chess
BRBE6
Poaceae
A non-native, annual grass
•12-24 inches tall
•Solitary spikelets
•Leaf blades are sparsely to densely covered with hair
•Awn is bent and twisted below the middle
Habitat on Anaho Island: Found at mid-elevations in rocky
areas. Uncommon.
Bromus diandrus ssp. rigidus
ripgut brome
BRDIR
Poaceae
A non-native, annual grass
•12-36 inches tall
•Leaf blades are flat and hairy
•Florets have very long awns
Habitat on Anaho Island: Found in patches along western
slope and high elevations.
Bromus rubens
red brome
BRRU2
Poaceae
A non-native, annual grass
•4-16 inches tall
•Erect inflorescence
•Leaf blade covered in small, soft hairs
•Brush-like inflorescence that becomes reddish-purple at
maturity
Habitat on Anaho Island: Found all over the island; its
presence increases as elevation increases.
Bromus tectorum
cheatgrass
BRTE
Poaceae
A non-native, annual grass
•2-35 inches tall
•Drooping inflorescence when mature
•Leaf blade covered in soft hairs
•Spikelets are nodding towards one-side
and spikes turn purple with maturity
Habitat on Anaho Island: Common throughout the island
especially along lower elevation beach areas.
Distichlis spicata
Distichlis spicata
saltgrass
DISP
Poaceae
A rhizomatous, perennial grass
•4-20 inches tall
•Salt excreted through glands (and present on leaves)
•2-ranked leaves (opposite sides of axis)
•Inflorescence of multiple spikelets
Habitat on Anaho Island: Common, restricted to lower
elevation shorelines. Dense colonies of very green, relatively
large plants on northeastern (pelican) shore of the island.
Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides
squirreltail
ELELE
Poaceae
A perennial bunchgrass
•4-20 inches tall
•Spiked inflorescence
•Mature seeds appear twisted with awns
looking like a squirrel’s tail
Habitat on Anaho Island: Common on northwestern and
southern portions of the island that were exposed after 1911;
more sparsely distributed as elevation increases.
Hordeum jubatum
foxtail barley
HOJU
Poaceae
A native, tufted, perennial grass
•12-36 inches tall
•Inflorescence a terminal spike
•No auricles at the base of leaf blades
•When in flower, nodding clusters are pale green
Habitat on Anaho Island: Not seen during 2009-2010 surveys;
however, recorded by Woodbury in 1964.
Hordeum murinum
mouse barley
HOMU
Poaceae
A non-native, annual grass
•Up to 10 inches tall
•Inflorescence a spike
•Well-developed auricles at the base of leaf blade
Habitat on Anaho Island: Sparse on the island and is found at
low elevations.
Poa secunda
Poa
Sandberg
secundabluegrass
POSE
Poaceae
POACEAE
A small-clumping, perennial grass
•Up to 12 inches tall
•Leaves with prow-shaped tip
•Numerous, small basal leaves
•Begins growth in early spring
Habitat on Anaho Island: Common at lower elevations and
becomes more sporadic as elevation increases.
IV. Annual Forbs
Scientific Name
Amaranthus albus
Amsinckia tessellata
Atriplex micrantha*
Atriplex rosea*
Bassia hyssopifolia
Camissonia boothii ssp. boothii
Camissonia claviformis ssp. cruciformis
Caulanthus lasiophyllus
Chaenactis stevioides
Chamaesyce serpyllifolia ssp. serpyllifolia*
Cryptantha pterocarya
Descurainia pinnata
Eriogonum deflexum
Eriogonum nidularium
Eriogonum pusillum
Erodium cicutarium
Galium aparine
Gilia inconspicua
Halogeton glomeratus*
Lactuca serriola
Malacothrix glabrata
Mentzelia albicaulis
Mentzelia veatchiana
Phacelia crenulata
Psathyrotes annua
Rafinesquia neomexicana
Salsola tragus
Sisymbrium altissimum
Verbascum thapsus*
Common Name
prostrate pigweed
bristly fiddleneck
twoscale saltbush
tumbling saltweed
fivehorn smotherweed
Booth’s suncup
browneyes
California mustard
fleshcolor pincushion
thymeleaf sandmat
wingnut cryptantha
western tansymustard
flatcrown buckwheat
birdnest buckwheat
yellowturbans
redstem stork’s bill
stickywilly
shy gilia
saltlover
prickly lettuce
smooth desertdandelion
whitestem blazingstar
Veatch’s blazingstar
cleftleaf wildheliotrope
annual psathyrotes
desert chicory
prickly Russian thistle
tall tumblemustard
common mullein
* species which have been observed on Anaho Island, but for which neither herbarium mounts nor photographs
were available, so information is not provided in this edition
Amaranthus albus
prostrate pigweed
AMAL
Amaranthaceae
A non-native, annual forb
•6-36 inches tall and basally branched
•Stems are light green
•Alternate leaves
•Flowers are in small, axillary clusters and have only sepals
Habitat on Anaho Island: Not seen during 2009-2010 surveys;
however, recorded by Woodbury in 1964.
Amsinckia tessellata
bristly fiddleneck
AMTE3
Boraginaceae
A bristly, sticky-haired, annual forb
•Up to 24 inches tall
•Stiff, bristly hairs cover the entire plant
•Scorpioid, coiled inflorescence
•Yellow trumpet-shaped 5-petaled flowers with
orange markings in the throat
Habitat on Anaho Island: Common on western and southern
sides of the island. Very common during 2010 (a wet year).
Bassia hyssopifolia
fivehorn smotherweed
BAHY
Chenopodiaceae
A non-native, annual forb
•Up to 36 inches tall
•Younger stems are covered with long, soft hairs
•Flowers are in a spike and are only made up of sepals
•Sepals have five distinctive hook structures which surround
each seed
Habitat on Anaho Island: Found at low elevations along the
northeast and south beaches.
Camissonia boothii ssp. boothii
Booth’s suncup
CABOB
Onagraceae
A glandular, hairy, annual forb
•5-15 inches tall
•4-petaled flowers that are pink or white
•Head-like stigma
Habitat on Anaho Island: Only found on sandy/gravelly
shoreline habitat on the northwest, west and south portions
of the island. This species can flower as early as April and as
late as October.
Camissonia claviformis ssp. cruciformis
browneyes
CACLC
Onagraceae
A glandular, hairy, annual forb
•4-24 inch tall flower stalks
•4 petal flowers that are white or yellow with a dark spot
near the inner base
Habitat on Anaho Island: Only found on sandy/gravelly
shoreline habitat of southwest beach.
Caulanthus lasiophyllus
California mustard
CALA35
Brassicaceae
A stiff-hairy, annual forb
•8-40 inches tall
•Stems are erect and often unbranched
•Basal leaves wither quickly
•4-petaled white flowers with variable size
Habitat on Anaho Island: Uncommon; found in one location
on the northwestern side of the island.
Chaenactis stevioides
desert pincushion
CHST
Asteraceae
A branching, rayless, annual forb
•2-18 inches tall
•Stems are hairy with cobwebby fibers that thin with age
•No ray flowers - yellow bumps in the center of the flower are
tightly closed disk flowers that will open white. Fully open
disk flowers are very narrow, white tubes that resemble ray
flowers.
Habitat on Anaho Island: Common on sandy/rocky soils at
lower elevations of the island.
Cryptantha pterocarya
wingnut cryptantha
CRPT
Boraginaceae
A bristly, annual forb
•4-16 inches tall
•Stems with short, stiff hairs; leaves with bristly hairs
•Tiny, white, 5 petaled flowers that often occur in a coiled,
spike-like cluster
Habitat on Anaho Island: Common on sandy/rocky soils at
lower elevations of the island.
Descurainia pinnata
western tansymustard
DEPI
Brassicaceae
A hairy, multi-branched, annual forb
•Up to 28 inches tall
•Pinnately lobed leaves
•Tiny, yellow, four petaled flowers in a terminal raceme
Habitat on Anaho Island: Common at south and west beach
areas and at lower elevations.
Eriogonum deflexum
flatcrown buckwheat
ERDE6
Polygonaceae
A small, branching, annual forb
•Up to 30 inches tall (typically shorter)
•Woolly, kidney-shaped basal leaves
•Flowers small (1-3 mm) with 6 tepals that are white to pink
Habitat on Anaho Island: Seen only on the south beach,
during the spring of 2010 ( a wet year).
Eriogonum nidularium
ERNI4
birdnest buckwheat
Polygonaceae
A small, annual forb
•2-12 inches tall
•Small, round basal leaves
•Rounded form with tangled branches
•Small (2-3 mm) fan shaped tepals, yellow-red
Habitat on Anaho Island: Common in sandy, gravelly, and
rocky areas of the island, particularly on the western and
southern sides. Seen at all elevations, in sand and gravel at
low southern elevations, and in rocky outcrops at higher
elevations.
Eriogonum pusillum
yellowturbans
ERPU6
Polygonaceae
An annual forb
•5-30 cm tall
•Small, round basal leaves that are very white & woolly below
•Spindly, naked branches
•Small (1-2.5 mm) tepals, yellow becoming reddish
Habitat on Anaho Island: Only seen on the southern beach,
during the spring of 2010 (a wet year).
Erodium cicutarium
redstem stork’s bill
ERCI6
Geraniaceae
A non-native, annual forb
•1-24 inch hairy stems and spreads from a rosette along the
ground
•Hairy leaves divided into narrow, fern-like lobed segments
•5-petaled pink to purple flowers with a long, beaked fruit
Habitat on Anaho Island: Dense populations found on
northeast side of island near nesting birds and along the
south and northwest beaches.
Galium aparine
stickywilly
GAAP2
Rubiaceae
A sticky, annual forb
•2-12 inches tall
•Small flowers with 4, white petals
•Leaves borne in whorls of 6–8
•Leaves and stems have fine hairs that stick to clothes and fur
Habitat on Anaho Island: Found in shadier places in between
rock crevices. Seen between rocks at the high elevation
pelican viewing platform and the southwest beach area.
Gilia inconspicua
shy gilia
GIIN2
Polemoniaceae
A small, annual forb
•2-12 inches tall
•Mostly basal, cobwebby leaves
•Small (2-3 mm) flowers with lavender lobes that have a
purple spot at the base
Habitat on Anaho Island: Seen only during the wet year of
2010 growing at the base of the western slope of the island.
Very hard to spot especially when growing with patches of
Erodium cicutarium.
Lactuca serriola
prickly lettuce
LASE
Asteraceae
A non-native, annual forb
•1-5 feet tall with milky sap
•Leaves (with a sharp spine on the back side of the midrib)
grow along a spiny stem, getting smaller as they get closer to
the top of the plant
•Branches only in the flowering portion of the plant
•Flower heads are yellow and composed of only ray flowers
Habitat on Anaho Island: Found mainly on northeast and
southern beaches of the island.
Malacothrix glabrata
smooth desertdandelion
MAGL3
Asteraceae
A hairless, annual forb
•2-16 inches tall
•Mostly basal leaves that wither by the time the flower opens
•Stalked, yellow, strap-like flowers that sometimes have an
orange-tinged spot near the center of the cluster
Habitat on Anaho Island: Not seen during 2009-2010 surveys;
however, recorded by Woodbury in 1964.
Mentzelia albicaulis
whitestem blazingstar
MEAL6
Loasaceae
A white-stemmed, annual forb
•2-16 inches tall
•Basal rosette of leaves with narrow, pinnate pointed lobes
•Bright yellow flowers with 5 petals
Habitat on Anaho Island: Only seen during the wet year of
2010. Growing on west facing & south facing slopes on the
southwestern side of the island. Seen growing with Amsinckia
tessellata and Mentzelia veatchiana.
Mentzelia veatchiana
Veatch’s blazingstar
MEVE5
Loasaceae
A hairy, annual forb
•1-18 inches tall
•Deeply lobed basal leaves
•Yellow-orange flowers with five petals; petal bases are
generally red-orange
Habitat on Anaho Island: Only seen during the wet year of
2010. Growing on west facing & south facing slopes on the
southwest side of the island. Seen growing with Mentzelia
albicaulis & Amsinckia tessellata.
Phacelia crenulata
cleftleaf wildheliotrope
PHCR
Hydrophyllaceae
A glandular, stiff-haired, annual forb
•4-24 inches tall
•Dark green, pinnately divided leaves with scalloped margins
•Purple-blue bell shaped flower with 5 petals in a cyme that is
curled at the tip like a scorpion’s tail
Habitat on Anaho Island: Sparse on the island. Found in
rocky patches along the western slope and randomly
scattered rocky patches on the island, with just a few plants in
each location. DO NOT TOUCH, the hairs on this plant can
produce a rash similar to poison ivy.
Psathyrotes annua
annual psathyrotes
PSAN
Asteraceae
A grayish-green, annual forb
•1-6 inches tall and forms a low, spreading mound
•Alternate, rounded leaves with teeth toward the tip
•Stems are purplish
•¼ inch yellow, flower heads on short stalks in leaf axils
Habitat on Anaho Island: Grows in sandy, lower elevation
southwest beach areas on the island. Larger population
observed in 2010 (the wet year).
Rafinesquia neomexicana
desert chicory
RANE
Asteraceae
A hairless, milky-sapped, annual forb
•6-24 inches tall with weak, zigzagging stems
•Small, toothed, and alternate stem leaves
•Large, white flower heads that occur singly at the end of
branches
Habitat on Anaho Island: Seen at lower elevations on the
island.
Salsola tragus
prickly Russian thistle
SATR12
Chenopodiaceae
A non-native, annual forb
•Round, multi-branched annual up to 36 inches tall
•Stems are red or purple striped
•Leaves are alternate
•Inconspicuous green flowers borne in the axils of upper
leaves, accompanied by spiny bracts
Habitat on Anaho Island: Common throughout the island,
mostly at lower elevations and along the south, northwest
and northeast beaches.
Sisymbrium altissimum
tall tumblemustard
SIAL2
Brassicaceae
A non-native, annual forb
•24 to 48 inches tall
•Multi-branched with a bushy appearance
•Divided lower leaves
•Small, 4 petaled, pale yellow flowers
Habitat on Anaho Island: Common at low elevations on
south, northeast, northwest and west beaches.
V. Perennial Forbs
Scientific Name
Arabis holboellii
Arabis pulchra
Astragalus lentiginosus var. kennedyi
Astragalus purshii var. tinctus
Castilleja chromosa
Cressa truxillensis
Delphinium andersonii
Erigeron aphanactis
Heliotropium curassavicum
Lepidium latifolium
Mentzelia laevicaulis
Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa
Oenothera caespitosa
Rumex crispus
Sesuvium verrucosum
Stephanomeria pauciflora
Native, perennial forb Astragalus lentiginosus var. kennedyi
Common Name
Holboell’s rockcress
beautiful rockcress
Kennedy's milkvetch
woollypod milkvetch
desert paintbrush
spreading alkaliweed
Anderson’s larkspur
rayless shaggy fleabane
salt heliotrope
perennial pepperweed
smoothstem blazingstar
wishbone bush
tufted evening primrose
curly dock
western seapurslane
brownplume wirelettuce
Arabis holboellii
Holboell’s rockcress
ARHO2
Brassicaceae
A slender, dainty, perennial forb
•Up to 28 inches tall with one to several erect stems
•Pubescent leaves
•4 purpleish pink to white petals that point downward
•As they mature, siliques (fruit) dangle downwards from the
stem
Habitat on Anaho Island: Only seen flowering during the wet
year of 2010. Growing on a southwest rocky beach.
Arabis pulchra
beautiful rockcress
ARPU2
Brassicaceae
A slender, dainty, perennial forb
•8-24 inches tall and branching from a woody base
•Pubescent leaves
•4 spoon-shaped purple petals
•Siliques (fruit) become pendent as they elongate
Habitat on Anaho Island: Only seen flowering during the wet
year of 2010. Growing on a southwest rocky beach.
Astragalus lentiginosus var. kennedyi
Kennedy’s milkvetch
ASLEK
Fabaceae
A Nevada endemic, perennial forb
•Soft, shaggy, hairs on leaves
•Purple pea-like flowers
•Pods are glabrous, papery-membranous, and not mottled
Habitat on Anaho Island: Grows in rocky, sandy lower
elevations of the island. Two locations are known on the
island.
Astragalus purshii var. tinctus
woollypod milkvetch
ASPUT
Fabaceae
A silver-gray, woolly, perennial forb
•Up to 5 inches tall forming low mats along the ground
•Pink-purple pea-like flowers
•Pods are densely hairy and white, resembling little cotton
balls
Habitat on Anaho Island: Grows in rocky, sandy soil at lower
elevations on the island.
Castilleja chromosa
desert paintbrush
CACH7
Orobanchaceae
A semi-parasitic, perennial forb
•6-18 inches tall
•Lower leaves are long and undivided; upper leaves are
divided into 3-5 segments
•Flowers are small and inconspicuous; colored “flower-like”
parts are bracts that range from orange to red
Habitat on Anaho Island: Sparse on the island; found growing
in a rocky area above beaches.
Cressa truxillensis
spreading alkaliweed
CRTR5
Convolvulaceae
A multi-branched, perennial forb
•Up to 10 inches tall, low and spreading along the ground
•Gray-green in color due to silky hairs on the plant
•Small, hairy, oval leaves
•Flowers white with 5 petals, surrounded by hairy, green
sepals
Habitat on Anaho Island: Commonly found on the south
beach of the island.
Delphinium andersonii
Anderson’s larkspur
DEAN
Ranunculaceae
A red and glabrous stemmed, perennial forb
•Up to 20 inches tall
•Mostly basal leaves that are palmately divided
•4 purple-blue petals, 5 purple-blue sepals with the upper
sepals extending into a spur
Habitat on Anaho Island: Rare on the island. Two locations
are known in a rocky patch near the western slope of the
island.
Erigeron aphanactis
rayless shaggy fleabane
ERAP
Asteraceae
A short, clumping, perennial forb
•3-10 inches tall
•Mostly basal, linear leaves
•Leaves and stems covered in stiff, spreading hairs
•Inflorescences are a head of yellow, disk flowers
Habitat on Anaho Island: Found along rocky shoreline of
south beach area.
Heliotropium curassavicum
salt heliotrope
HECU3
Boraginaceae
A fleshy, smooth, perennial forb
•4-24 inches tall
•Spread from underground roots to form mat-like clumps
•Many, tiny, white-purple, sessile flowers are produced in 2-4
coiled cymes at the ends of branches
Habitat on Anaho Island: Found on low elevation beach areas
throughout the island.
Lepidium latifolium
perennial pepperweed
LELA2
Brassicaceae
A non-native, perennial forb
•1-3 feet tall
•Comprised of numerous woody stems
•Laceolate, bright green to gray leaves; basal leaves larger
than upper leaves
•White flowers in dense clusters at branch ends
Habitat on Anaho Island: Only known to occur on south
beach. Management actions taken to eradicate. Continued
monitoring needed to detect regrowth.
Mentzelia laevicaulis
smoothstem blazingstar
MELA2
Loasaceae
A white-stemmed, biennial forb
•Up to 3 feet tall
•Weedy-looking, whitish, branching stem with saw-toothed
leaves
•5 petals, bright yellow flowers that contain many stamens
Habitat on Anaho Island: Found in low elevation beach areas
throughout the island.
Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa
wishbone-bush
MIBIR
Nyctaginaceae
A multi-branched, perennial forb
•Up to 30 inches tall
•Smooth stems
•Ovate to kidney shaped opposite leaves
•Flower made up of five white to light pink petal-like sepals
that are bell-funnel shaped
Habitat on Anaho Island: Found along the shoreline
throughout the island.
Oenothera caespitosa
OECA10
tufted evening primrose
Onagraceae
A stemless, fragrant, perennial forb
•Up to 24 inches tall, spreading to 24 inches wide
•Leaves and flowers borne on root crown
•Night-blooming, large white to pink flowers with 4 petals
•Flower petals have a notched-tip making them heart shaped
Habitat on Anaho Island: Found only on western slope at
mid-elevation of the island.
Rumex crispus
curly dock
RUCR
Polygonaceae
A non-native, perennial forb
•Up to 5 feet tall
•Mostly basal leaves with curly margins
•Stems are erect and reddish
•Small flowers in dense, green, spike-like clusters
•Entire plant turns red at maturity
Habitat on Anaho Island: Sparse on the island and is found at
low elevations.
Sesuvium verrucosum
SEVE2
western seapurslane
Aizoaceae
A succulent, perennial forb
•Spoon-shaped leaves with a base that clasps the stem
•Leaves covered in small, wart-like bumps
•Star-like, bright pink flowers composed of only sepals borne
in the leaf axils
Habitat on Anaho Island: Common on the south and north
beaches.
Stephanomeria pauciflora
brownplume wirelettuce
STPA4
Asteraceae
A branching, pale-stemmed, perennial forb
•12-24 inches tall
•Stems are smooth, slender, and wiry forming a short,
branching plant
•Flower heads made up of pinkish straplike rays
Habitat on Anaho Island: Common on the south, west and
north beaches near shoreline.
VI. Shrubs
Scientific Name
Common Name
Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis
Wyoming big sagebrush
Atriplex canescens
fourwing saltbush
Atriplex confertifolia
shadscale saltbush
Brickellia microphylla
littleleaf brickellbush
Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa var. speciosa rubber rabbitbrush
Grayia spinosa
spiny hopsage
Krascheninnikovia lanata
winterfat
Lepidium fremontii
desert pepperweed
Picrothamnus desertorum
bud sagebrush
Sarcobatus vermiculatus
greasewood
Tetradymia glabrata
littleleaf horsebrush
Native shrub Sarcobatus vermiculatus with double-crested cormorant nest towers
Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis
Wyoming big sagebrush
ARTRW8
Asteraceae
An evergreen, strongly aromatic shrub
•3-9 feet tall with a rounded, uneven crown
•Wedge-shaped leaves with 3 lobes at the tip
•Inflorescence is an open, many flowered spike
Habitat on Anaho Island: Not common on island. Found only
on western slope at mid-elevation.
Atriplex canescens
fourwing saltbush
ATCA2
Chenopodiaceae
A densely branched, gray-green shrub
•3-5 feet tall
•Sessile, linear leaves with a scaly texture
•Male and female flowers are produced on separate plants
•Two flat, ½ inch long bracts enclose the female flowers,
wings emerge from each bract, giving the fruit “four” wings
Habitat on Anaho Island: Found at mid-elevation areas on
the island.
Atriplex confertifolia
shadscale saltbush
ATCO
Chenopodiaceae
A shrub with stiff, spine-like branches
•1-3 feet tall
•Long, rounded leaves with entire margins and a grayish, scaly
appearance
•Male and female flowers are on separate plants
Habitat on Anaho Island: Found at mid-elevations on the
island.
Brickellia microphylla
littleleaf brickellbush
BRMI
Asteraceae
A multi-branched, pubescent shrub
•1-2 feet tall
•Pubescent, gland-dotted stems branching from the base
•Round, green, glandular leaves
•Petals are pale yellow and often purple-tinged
Habitat on Anaho Island: Not found during 2009 or 2010.
Location of specimen collected by W. Verne Woodbury in
1964 is unknown.
Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa
var. speciosa
rubber rabbitbrush
ERNAS2
Asteraceae
A yellow flowered shrub
•1-8 feet tall
•White-gray woolly hairs cover the stem and leaves
•Leaves are narrow and linear
Habitat on Anaho Island: Common throughout the island,
mostly at lower elevations and along the southern,
northwest and northeast beaches.
Grayia spinosa
spiny hopsage
GRSP
Chenopodiaceae
A shrub with gray-striped bark
•1-3 feet tall with twigs that harden into spines
•Alternate, oblong leaves sometimes gray at the tip
•Male and female flowers are on separate plants and are
produced in dense clusters
•2 round, green bracts surround female flowers and turn red
with age
Habitat on Anaho Island: Uncommon at mid-elevations on
the island.
Krascheninnikovia lanata
winterfat
KRLA2
Chenopodiaceae
A shrub covered in white, woolly hairs
•1-2 ft tall with slender leaves that alternate along the stem
•Male flowers have protruding stamens and are clustered at
the tops of stems
•Female flowers are in clusters in leaf axils below
•Bracts under male and female flowers have tufts of hair,
giving the flowers a cotton ball appearance
Habitat on Anaho Island: Found at mid and high elevations
on the island.
Lepidium fremontii
desert pepperweed
LEFR2
Brassicaceae
A many branched, smooth, gray-stemmed shrub
•1-4 feet tall
•Leaves are long and narrow
•Clusters of small, white flowers with 4 petals make the plant
appear entirely white when in flower
Habitat on Anaho Island: Common on south beach at low
and mid-elevations.
Picrothamnus desertorum
bud sagebrush
PIDE4
Asteraceae
A spiny, hairy, round shrub
•12-20 inches tall
•Tangled branches are woolly when new and thorny and
rough when aged
•Palmately divided, small, hairy leaves
•Small, tightly packed, yellow, hairy disk flowers
Habitat on Anaho Island: Only a few plants found on the
western slope.
Sarcobatus vermiculatus
greasewood
SAVE4
Chenopodiaceae
A rounded, spiny shrub
•3-6 feet tall
•Linear, fleshy leaves on yellowish-gray stems
•Male flowers form small cone-shaped structures at the ends
of branches
•Female flowers develop where the leaves meet the stem
below the cone
Habitat on Anaho Island: Common on north side of the
island near nesting birds.
Tetradymia glabrata
littleleaf horsebrush
TEGL
Asteraceae
A densely branched shrub
•1-4 feet tall
•Narrow, pointed leaves that are clustered around branches
•Stems appear white striped due to white woolly fibers
•Inflorescence bears up to