1 2Local Field Trip to theCoastal Sage Scrub

A. INTRODUCTION

Southern California is dominated by a dense, impenetrable, shrubby vegetationknown collectively as the chaparral. It is found throughout the foothills and mountains ofLos Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego Counties, and extends into Baja Cali-fornia. The word chaparral comes from the Spanish "chaparro, " meaning the scrub oak(Quercus dumosa). It is also called "elfin forest" because of the low, shrubby nature ofthe vegetation. A similar vegetation is found in various parts of the world; in southernEurope it is known as "machie"; in Australia it is called "scrub. "

The chaparral is a rather distinct plant community or assemblage of plants occupy-ing a given region. It is composed of plants which are adapted to prolonged summerdrought and periodic brush fires during late summer and fall. The climate is essentiallyMediterranean, with winter-wet and summer-dry seasons. Many of the shrubs have en-larged subterranean burls (stumps) which can resprout rapidly after a fire. Seeds ofsome species such as Ceanothus will not germinate unless subjected to the heat fromfire. Some of the rare coniferous species, such as Tecate cypress and knobcone pine,have serotinous cones which open during the heat of a fire. Xeric leaf adaptations toreduce transpiration and thus conserve water during the prolonged drought season (Maythrough November) include the following: reduced leaf size (microphyllous) in somespecies such as Ceanothus and buckthorn; tough, leathery leaves (sclerophyllous) com-posed of compact cells with few air spaces; hard, linear leaves of chamise and wild buck-wheat; aromatic, resinous or glutinous leaves; leaves covered with whitish bloom orpubescence; revolute leaf margins with stomata confined to the pubescent (hairy) under -surface; multiple layers of epidermal cells with thick cuticle. Desert plants have goneone step further with the absence of leaves in cactus and certain drought deciduous speciessuch as the ocotillo and smoke tree.

The chaparral provides the food and shelter (niches) for a variety of birds, mam-mals, reptiles, and invertebrates. A rather incomplete list includes the following:mule deer, coyote, bobcat, woodrat, mountain quail, scrub jay, wren-tit (voice of thechaparral), alligator lizard, horned lizard, striped racer, and western rattlesnake.

The low hillside vegetation surrounding Palomar College is more appropriatelytermed coastal sage scrub. This plant community occurs at lower elevations than thechaparral (generally below 2000 ft.), and is dominated by the coastal sagebrush(Artemisia californica). Typical chaparral species are also present, such as chamise,laurel sumac, toyon, buckthorn, and Xylococcus bicolor, particularly along the upperslopes near the "P. " Many of the coastal sage scrub species have adaptations similar tochaparral plants, since they both occur in a Mediterranean climate. Mesophytic shrubs,such as elderberry, may be found along ravines where there is more moisture. Shady,moist sites, especially on north-facing slopes, often support mesophytes such as ferns,mosses, and flowering herbaceous species. Some of the animal inhabitants include thefollowing: California ground squirrel (Citellus beecheyi), wood rat (Neotoma fuscipes),California mouse (Peromyscus californicus), short-eared pocket mouse (Perognathusfallax), costa hummingbird (Calypte costae), wren-tit (Chamaeafasciata), valley quail(Lophortyx californica), fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentatis), coast horned lizard

179

(Phrynosoma coronatum), striped racer (Masticophis lateralis), Pacific rattlesnake(Crotalus viridis), red diamond-back rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber).

Some of the common plants to see on the field trip are listed below. Be sure totake notes on their identification and adaptations because you will see some of them againin the form of a short laboratory practicum.

Native and Naturalized Plants Adjacent to Palomar College Campus: With Parti-cular Emphasis on the Hills North and East of Campus Following the Fire of Spring,1970. Compiled by W. P. Armstrong Spring, 1973.

Note : These areas are essentially native coastal sage scrub and are in great dangerof total destruction due to encroaching urbanization.

AgavaceaeYucca whipplei Chaparral Yucca

AmaranthaceaeAmaranthus albus Tumbling PigweedA. retroflexus Rough Pigweed

AmaryllidaceaeBrodiaea pulchella Wild Hyacinth

AnacardiaceaeRhus laurina Laurel SumacR. integrifolia Lemonade BerrySchinus molle Pepper Tree

AsclepiadaceaeAsclepias fascicularis Narrowleaf Milkweed

BoraginaceaeCryptantha intermedia White Forget -Me-NotAmsinckia intermedia Yellow FiddleneckPlagiobothrys californicus Popcorn FlowerPectocarya linearis var . ferocula Comb-BurHeliotropium curassavicum var. oculatum Heliotrope

CactaceaeOpuntia littoralis Coast Prickly Pear

CampanulaceaeTriodanis biflore Venus Looking-Glass

CaprifoliaceaeSambucus mexicana (S. coerulea) Elderberry

CaryophyllaceaeSpergularia villosa Sand SpurreyStellaria media Common ChickweedSpergula arvensis SpurreySilene gallica Windmill PinkCerastium viscosum Mouse-ear Chickweed

ChenopodiaceaeAtriplex semibaccata Australian SaltbushChenopodium album Lamb 's QuartersC. californicum California PigweedSalsola kali Russian Thistle

CistaceaeHelianthemum scoparium var. aldersonii Rock Rose

CompositaeChaetopappa aurea Golden DaisyGnaphalium californicum Green Everlasting

180

G. bicolor EverlastingG. beneolens EverlastingCirsium californicum ThistleBaeria chrysostoma ssp. gracilis GoldfieldsSonchus oleraceus Common Sow-thistleS. asper Prickly Sow-thistleCentaurea melitensis TocaloteSilyburn marianum Milk ThistleStylocline gnaphalioides Everlasting Nest-strawSenecio vulgaris Common GroundselMatricaria matricarioides Pineapple WeedAnthemis cotula MayweedArtemisia californica California or Coastal SagebrushPicris echioides Ox TongueEncelia californica Bush SunflowerEriophyllum confertiflorum Golden YarrowHaplopappus squarrosus Sawtooth GoldenbushH. venetus ssp. uernonioides IsocomaHeterotheca grandiflora Telegraph WeedBaccharis virninea Mule FatB. sarothroides Chaparral BroomB. pilularis var. consanguinea Coyote BrushConyza canadensis HorseweedCotula australis Australian Brass ButtonsCotula coronopifolia Brass ButtonsLactuca serriola Prickly LettuceCichorium intybus ChicoryHolocarpha virgata TarweedAmbrosia psilostachya Western RagweedHemizonia fasciculata Golden Tarweed

ConvolvuiaceaeConvolvulus aridus Morning Glory

Crassulaceae

Cruciferae

Tiiiaea erecta Pigmy Weed

Brassica campestris Field MustardB. geniculata Perennial MustardB. nigra Black MustardStreptanthus heterophyllus Jewel FlowerLepidium lasiocarpum PeppergrassThelypodium lasiophyllum California MustardRaphanus sativus Wild RadishSisymbrium orientale Sisymbrium (pedicels thick)S. irio London Rocket (pedicels filiform)

CucurbitaceaeMarah macro carpus Wild Cucumber

Cuscutaceae

Cyperaceae

Ericaceae

Cuscuta californica California Dodder ( parasitic on Eriogonum)

Cyperus eragrostis Green Sedge (wet seepage area on campus)

Xylococcus bicolor Mission Manzanita

EuphorbiaceaeEuphorbia polycarpa Sand MatE. supina Spotted SpurgeE. peplus Petty SpurgeEremocarpus setigerus Dove Weed

181

GentianaceaeCentaurium venustum Canchalagua

GeraniaceaeErodium cicutarium FilareeE. moschatum FilareeE. obtusiplicatum Long-Beaked FilareeGeranium carolinianum Geranium (E. Botrys)

GramineaeBromus rigidus Ripgut GrassB. rubens Foxtail ChessB. molls Soft ChessB. carinatus California Brome?B. catharticus (B. willdenovii) Rescue Grass (San Marcos area)Avena fatua Wild Oat A. barbata Slender Wild OatMelica imperfecta California MelicPennisetum setaceum (P. ruppelii) Fountain GrassHordeum leporinum (H. murinum) Common FoxtailPoa annua Annual BluegrassPolypogon monspeliensis Rabbitfoot GrassLolium multiflorum Italian RyegrassDistichlis spicata Salt GrassSorghum halepense Johnson GrassCynodon dactylon Bermuda GrassDigitaria sanguinalis Crab GrassHordeum vulgare BarleyLamarchia aurea GoldentopStipa lepida NeedlegrassFestuca megalura Foxtail FescuePhalaris angusta Canary Grass

HydrophyllaceaePholistoma auritum Fiesta FlowerEriodictyon crassifolium Felt-Leaved Yerba SantaEucrypta chrysanthemifolia EucryptaNemophila maculata Fivespot (Introduced)N. menziesii Baby Blue-eyes ( Introduced)Phacelia cicutaria var. hispida Caterpillar PhaceliaP. grandiflora Large-flowered PhaceliaP. parryi Parry PhaceliaP. minor Wild Canterbury Bell

Iridaceae

LabiataeSisyrinchium bellum Blue-eyed Grass

Marrubium vulgare HorehoundSalvia columbariae ChiaS. apiana White SageS. mellifera Black SageScutellaria tuberosa ssp. australis SkullcapTrichostema lanceolatum Vinegar Weed

LeguminosaeLotus scoparius DeerweedL. strigosus LotusLupinus hirsutssimus Hairy LupineL. truncatus Chaparral LupineMedicago hispida Bur CloverLathyrus laetiflorus ssp. alefeldii Wild Sweet PeaTrifolium tridentatum var. aciculare Tomcat CloverTrifolium repens White CloverMelilotus indicus Yellow Sweet CloverAstragalus leucopsis Southern Calif. Locoweed

LiliaceaeChlorogalum pomeridianum Soap Plant (Bulb fibrous)C. parviflorum Amole

182

Malvaceae

Myrtaceae

Malaa paroiflora CheeseweedMalacothamnus fasciculatus Bush MallowSidalcea malvaeflora Wild Hollyhock

Eucalyptus globulus Blue GumNyctaginaceae

Mirabilis laevis Wishbone BushOnagraceae

Oenothera micrantha Sun Cup or Field Sun CupOxalidaceae

Oxalis californica California OxalisPaeoniaceae

Paeonia californica California PeonyPapaveraceae

Eschscholzia californica California PoppyPlatystemon californicus Cream Cups

PlantaginaceaePlantago hookeriana var. californica California PlantainP. lanceolata Narrow -Leaf Plantain

PolemoniaceaeGilia angelensis Blue CiliaLinen thus dianthiflorus Ground PinkNavarretia hamata Prickly NavarretiaEriastrum filifolium Thread-leaf Eriastrum

PolygonaceaePterostegia drymarioides California ThreadstemEriogonum fasciculatum Wild Buckwheat Rumex crisp us Curly Dock

PolypodiaceaePolypodium californicum Polypody Fern

PortulacaceaeCalandrinia ciliata var . menziesii Red MaidsMontia perfoliata Miner 's Lettuce

PrimulaceaeDodecatheon clevelandii Shooting StarAnagallis arvensis PimpernelAnagallis linifolia var. monellii Blue Pimpernel

PteridaceaePityrogramma triangularis Goldenback FernPellaea mucronata Bird 's-foot FernAdiantum jordanii California Maidenhair FernCheilanthes newberryi Cotton Fern

RanunculaceaeClematis sp . (C pauciflora) Southern California Clematis

RhamnaceaeRhamnus crocea Buckthorn

Rosaceae

Rubiaceae

Salicaceae

Heteromeles arbutifolia ToyonAdenostoma fasciculatum Chamise

Galium aparine BedstrawG. nuttallii Climbing Bedstraw

Salix lasiolepis Arroyo WillowScrophulariaceae

Mimulus puniceus Red Bush MonkeyflowerM. brevipes Yellow Hillside MonkeyflowerLinaria canadensis var. texana ToadflaxOrthocarpus purpurascens Owl's CloverCastilleja affinis Indian PaintbrushAntirrhinum nuttallianum Nuttall SnapdragonScrophularia californica Figwort

183

Solanaceae

Typhaceae

Solanum douglasii NightshadeS. parish ii Purple NightshadeS. elaeagnifolium Silverleaf Nettle ( along r.r. track)Nicotiana glauca Tree TobaccoDatura meteloides Jimson Weed

Typha latifolia Cattail

Um bell iferaeSanicula arguta SnakerootS. crassicaulis Yellow-flowered SnakerootApiastrum angustifolium Wild CeleryFoeniculum vulgare Sweet Fennel (leaf stalks edible)

UrticaceaeParietaria floridana Pellitory

VerbenaceaeVerbena lasiostachys VerbenaLippia nodiflora Matgrass ( planted on campus)

ViolaceaeViola pedunculata Johnny-Jump•Up

Also during wet months abundant mosses and liverworts of the genus Conocephalum.

Note: Nomenclature used in this checklist follows A California Flora by P. A. Munz.Many of the species are on file in the Palomar College herbarium.

REFERENCES

Brown, V. 1957. The California wildlife region. Naturegraph Co. , Healdsburg, Calif.125 p.

DeLisle, H. F. 1963. Wildlife of the southern California mountains. Naturegraph Co.,Healdsburg, Calif. 94 p.

Jaeger, E. C., and A. C. Smith. 1966. Introduction to the natural history of southernCalifornia. University of California Press, Berkeley. 104 p.

Munz, P. A. 1959. A California flora. University of California Press, Berkeley.1681 p.

Munz, P. A. 1961. California spring wildflowers. University of California Press,Berkeley. 122 p.

The Appendix contains a list of ways in which native Indians and early settlers usedwild plants found in the area of Palomar College (see p. 233).

184

Rhus diversilobaPoison Oak(lbxicodendron diversilobum)

Mimulus puniceusRed Bush Monkey-flower

Salvia melliferaBlack Sage

Figure 12-1

Reprinted by permission of The Regents of the University of California.

Rhus integrifoliaLemonade Berry

Salvia apianaWhite Sage

185

Marah macrocarPusWild Cucumber

Artemisia californicaCoastal Sagebrush

Eriogonum fasciculatumWild Buckwheat

Figure 12-2

Reprinted by permission of The Regents of the University of California.

188

Heteromeles arbutifoliaToyon or Christmas Berry

Chlorogalum pomeridianumSoap Plant

Encelia californicaBush Sunflower

Eriophyllum confertiflorumGolden Yarrow

Xylococcus bicolorMission Manzanita

Figure 12-3

Reprinted by permission of The Regents of the University of California.

Rhamnus croceaBuckthorn or Redberry

Sambucus coeruleaBlue Elderberry

187

Citellus beecheyiCalifornia Ground Squirrel

14-20" Mottled gray and brown withbushy tail.

Perognathus californicusCalifornia Pocket Mouse

Cheek pouches similar to gopher.

Thomomys bottaePocket Gopher

Shovel-I ike front feetand external cheek pouches,

Sylvilagus bachmaniiBrush Rabbitalso S. auduboniiCottontail

Figure 12-4

Lepus californicusJackrabbit

Black tail and long ears.

Reprinted by permission from Vinson Brown, THE CALIFORNIAN WILDLIFE REGION, Natuegraph Publishers, ©1957 by Vinson Brown.

Neotoma fuscipesWood Rat (Pack or Trade Rat)also N. lepida

Builds piled stick houses under shrubssuch as toyon.

Peromyscus californicusCalifornia Mouse

Conspicuous ears.

188

Lophortyx californicaCalifornia Valley Quail

Chamaea fasciataWren-Tit(voice of the Chaparral)

Sceloporus occidentalisWestern Fence Lizard

Figure 12-5

Geococyx californianusRoadrunner

Speotyto cuniculariaBurrowing Owl

Phrynosoma coronatumCoast Horned Lizard

Reprinted by permission from Vinson Brown, THE CALIFORNIAN WILDLIFE REGION, Naturegraph Publishers, ©1957 by Vinson Brown.

189

Lichanura roseofuscaCalifornia Boa

2-3' Three reddish-brownstripes on bluish back.

Lampropeltis getulusCommon King Snake

2-4' Alternate bands ofblack or brown and white.

Pituophis cateniferGopher Snake

3-8' Dark brown or blackishblotches on yellowish-brown body.

Crotalus viridisWestern or Pacific Rattlesnake

2-5' Dark gray with longitudinal seriesof dark brown or black rectangular blotches.

Mast icophis lateralisStriped Whipsnake (Racer)

2-4' Grayish-black with lightyellow stripe on each side.

Crotalus ruberRed Diamond -Back Rattlesnake

2-6' Pink or reddish- brown with darkerdiamond markings ; black and white ringson tail.

Figure 12-6

Reprinted by permission from Vinson Brown , THE CALIFORNIAN WILDLIFE REGION, Naturegraph publishers. © 1957 by Vinson Boown.

190

Palomar College Arboretum Checklist

SOIL LICHENS:

1. Cladonia chlorophaea Gray-green lichen with podetia2. Diploschistes scruposus Grayish white lichen

BARK LICHENS:

3. Candelaria concolor Lemon-yellow lichen on shrubs4. Flavoparmelia caperata Gray foliose lichen on shrubs5. Flavopunctelia flaventior Greenish foliose lichen

ROCK LICHENS

6. Acarospora bullata Brown rock lichen7. Acarospora socialis (A. schleicheri) Yellow rock lichen8. Buellia pullata See Identification of Buellia pullata9. Caloplaca bolacina Orange rock lichen

10. Dimelaena radiata Gray rock lichen11. Verrucaria nigrescens Pyrenocarpous black rock lichen12. Xanthoparmelia cumberlandia Foliose rock lichen13. Xanthoparmelia mexicana Foliose rock lichen

THE UNUSUAL BIRD'S NEST FUNGUS

FUNGI

14. Calvatea gigantea Giant Puffball15. Cyathus olla Bird's Nest Fungus16. Geastrum sp. Earth Star17. Lysurus cruciatus Lizard's Claw Stinkhorn18. Tulostoma brumale "group" (cf. T. berteroanum) Stalked

Puffball

Wayne's Word Lichen Links Wayne's Word Fungus LinksUnusual Bird's Nest Fungus

file:///C|/1a/pcarbor1.htm (1 of 2) [4/25/2010 8:17:33 AM]

Palomar College Arboretum Checklist

Wayne's Word Internet Links

1. Wayne's Word Home Page: http://waynesword.palomar.edu/

2. Coastal Sage Scrub: http://waynesword.palomar.edu/labman12.pdf

3. Arboretum Plant List: http://waynesword.palomar.edu/pcarbor1.htm

4. Arboretum Plant List: http://waynesword.palomar.edu/arblist1.pdf

5. Botany 100 Plant List: http://waynesword.palomar.edu/armaplst.htm

All text material & images on these pages copyright © W.P. Armstrong

file:///C|/1a/pcarbor1.htm (2 of 2) [4/25/2010 8:17:33 AM]