Natural History Wanderings

The San Francisco Chronicle reported on the rare and endangered plants at the Presidio. They report that ” 10 plant species in the entire 74,000-acre recreation area are listed as threatened or endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Four are now growing in the Presidio, including the clarkia.”

Clarkia franciscana has an interesting history

• Discovered in 1956 growing in a 50-by 50-foot area in an old quarry at the Presidio.
•  1969 believed to be extinct
• Seed collected by a botanist were grown in the Regional Parks Botanic Garden and planted at the Presidio in  1972.
• By 1994, 6,000 clarkias were counted
•  In 2011, there were 100,000,
•  Another  population has since been found in the East Bay hill

The Franciscan Manzanita Arctostaphylos hookeri was believed to be extinct in the wild for  60 years. In 2009 it was discovered growing in the Presidio. It was moved to an undisclosed location.  Cuttings have been rooted and planted in several locations in the Presidio.Native manzanita.

Read more in the San Francisco Chronicle  Presidio’s plant, wildlife is making a comeback