Natural History Wanderings

The Solano Land Trust Flickr Site reports

Jepson Prairie, it would seem, is at it’s peak. Please forgive the following run-on sentence.

Bright patches of Asthenia (goldfields), beginnings of Downingia (D. councilor, D. bella or Hoover’s downingia, D. insignia or cupped downing and D. pusilla or Dwarf downingia. Plagiobothrys or popcorn flowers are beginning to show, Achyrachaena mollis or blow-wives are starting to display their seed head, scattered patches of Astagalus tener var. tener or Alkali milkvetch can be found, Damasonium californicum or fringed water plantain can be found in the ditch at the west side of Olcott just outside the fence, Gratiola heterosepala or Bogg’s-Lake hedge hyssop (rare) can be found in Buck pasture along with Castilleja campestrist or Vernal pool owl’s clover is beginning to show in larger patches in Buck,Triphysaria eriantha or Butter and eggs are on the wane but can still be found, various Psilocarphus species can be found in greater profusion in low areas, Pogogyne zizyphoroides or Sacramento bearstyle are beginning to form heads and display their tiny blossoms, Brodiaea terrestris or Dwarf brodiaea are beginning to show, I’ve seen a few Trifolium barbigerum or Bearded clover, Lotus corniculatus or Bird’s foot trefoil are scattered but beginning to bloom, a few Mimulus guttatus or seep monkey flower can be seen in the ditch at the gate into Buck pasture, Linanthus liniflorus or Flax-flowered linanthus are beginning to bloom (also in Buck), there are scattered areas of Limnanthes douglasii ssp rosea still blooming although they are on the wane. That is all for Jepson.

Rockville Trails is on the wane in most areas. I’ll be out at RT tomorrow, hopefully, to check on the later seasonal bloom around the vegetative area on Harmonia Hill and across the ‘saddle’ to Viburnum ridge. There is a fair bloom still underway along a trail with Leptosiphon acicularis or Bristly lepthosiphon and is closed to hikes until it’s completed it’s life cycle. Another area below the rock slide at the base of the drainage has been displaying a couple of species of Trifolium microndon, T. wildenovii or Tomcat clover, T. variegatum var. variegatum or Variegated clover, Leptosiphon parviflorus or variable leptosiphon, Lupinus nanus or Sky lupine, Lewisia rediviva var. redivida is also blooming at the head of the rockfall canyon.

I expect to see the rare Lomatium repostum or Napa lomatium blooming, Rosa spithamea or Sonoma ground rose, perhaps some lingering Harmonia nuts (rare), Delphinium nudicale or Canyon Delphinium, Eriophyllum lanatum var. achilleoides or Yarrow leaved wolly sunflower, Monardella (possibly purpurea or Siskiyou or serpentine monardella, Clarkia species, Hypericum concinnia or Gold wire, Calochortus amabilis or Diogene’s lantern/fairy lantern,

Dichelostemma congestum or Fork toothed Ookow, Asclepia cordifolia or Heart leaf/purple milkweed, possibly Clematis lasiantha or Pipe-stem clematis, Navarretia pubescent or Downy/purple navarretia, Scutellaria siphocampyloides or Gray leaved/Curved skullcap, Helianthella californica or California Heliantha, Solanum americanum or Common nightshade, hopefully Prunus illicifolia or Holly leaf cherry, Viburnum ellipticum (rare), Convulvus or morning glory species, Wyethia or mule ears and perhaps a few other ‘surprises.

via Flickr: Discussing 2015 hikes. in Solano Land Trust.