Muir Woods Explorations
Muir Woods National Monument is mainly about giant Coastal Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens). It is also a good place to see the first wildflower of the season: Fetid Adder’s Tongue or Slinkpod (Scoliopus bigelovii). After the rains it is a good mushroom habitat as well. Although birds were heard the only actually spotting was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. We arrived at Muir Woods shortly after 8 AM, the official opening time. There were only two cars in the parking lot, no one to collect fees at the gate, and almost no one in the park until 9 and only small groups until 10 AM. It was quite cold (for the Bay Area). and by noon it still never went over 40 degrees. It is often foggy when driving into Muir Woods and today was not an exception. It was overcast all morning which made for even diffuse light for photography.
The name Bigelovii honors John Milton Bigelow, a surgeon and botanist from Ohio, who did a botanical collecting trip in Marin County in the spring of 1854 that made a significant contribution to the Marin flora. Scoliopus means crooked foot and refers to the curving stalk of the flower. When the plant first appears in the spring, the flower stalks stand up straight, holding the flower above the two leaves which are still quite small. After the flower has been pollinated, the fruit or seed pod begins to swell and the flower parts fall off. The weight of the growing pod causes the slender stalk to bend over and touch the ground, thus the common name “slink pod” The name “adder’s tongue”refers to the mottled leaves that have grown quite large after the flowers have fallen off and are visible for months. The “fetid” part of the name coming from the odor of the fresh flower which is thought to attract pollinators. (source for information was Marin CNPS)
If you are interested in going to Muir Woods, go first thing in the morning and on a weekday if possible and dress warmly.Also check the Muir Woods Website for current information.
Natural History Wanderings 
[…] To learn more about Fetid Adder’s Tongue check my old posting First Flower of the Year. […]
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By: My Favorite Early Season Flower « Natural History Wanderings on February 1, 2013
at 6:46 PM
[…] Today we drove Fairfax- Bolinas Rd. with the main destination being Lily Pond or Lily Lake to see Fetid Adder’s Tongue (Scoliopus bigelovii), my favorite early season wildflower. Blooms seen along the road included Milkmaids, Hound’s Tongue, Morning Glory, Strawberry, Redwood Sorrel, Silk Tassel (Garrya elliptica), and a pink pea or vetch. Also seen were some very colorful sori on Polypody ferns. Birds included Northern Flicker, Western Scrub Jay, Say’s Phoebe, Red Tail Hawk, Raven and Wrentit. At Lily Pond we were successful in finding Fetid Adder’s Tongue well camoflaged but cooperative tiny frog. Thanks to John Wall’s Natural California January 22 post that alerted us to this being a good spot to find the Fetid Adder’s Tongue. To learn more about Fetid Adder’s Tongue check my posting from last year: https://naturalhistorywanderings.com/2011/01/07/first-wildflower/ […]
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By: Early Season Marin County Wildflowers « Natural History Wanderings on January 30, 2012
at 5:34 PM
[…] First Wildflower (naturalhistorywanderings.com) […]
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By: Early Marin Wildflower Reports « Natural History Wanderings on February 8, 2011
at 9:06 AM
John and Rob,
Thanks for the feedback. Rob I am guessing you haven’t seen slinkpods as it is only out very early season in redwood forests. The leaves, which are pretty impressive in their own right are fairly large with red blotches (the Adder’s Tongue part of the name) and linger longer. If you should be in the Bay Area in the next few weeks, Slinkpods also are in the Redwood section of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Berkeley. and those haven’t bloomed yet.
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By: Sandy Steinman on January 8, 2011
at 7:32 PM
Any time you can get outside in a great location like that, it is worth it! And you found some marvelous things. I love the slinkpod. That is a flower I do not know. Very cool.
Rob
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By: Rob Sheppard on January 8, 2011
at 6:25 PM
I like that redwood portrait! Cool to see that FAT is back. I didn’t see any at Cataract Creek. I don’t think those are honey mushrooms, but I couldn’t say what they are.
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By: John W. on January 8, 2011
at 10:30 AM