Rare Plantsof the

Central ValleyCalifornia Native Plant SocietyWorkshop – February 15, 2011

Carol W. Witham

Workshop Outline

• Lecture Presentations– Introduction/Orientation– CNPS Online Inventory

• Handouts/Cheatsheets– Lasthenia– Endangered VP Grasses– Juncus– Limnanthes– Downingia

• Photographic Tours– Delta, Floodplain and Riparian – Alkali Mesic Grasslands– (Non-alkali) Grasslands– Vernal Pools

• Laboratory Exercises– Lasthenia– Endangered Grasses– Juncus (quiz)

• Closing Discussions– Course evaluations

Geographic Orientation

Delta, Floodplain and Riparian

selected rare plants ofbrackish and freshwater marshes

and riparian scrub and forest

Delta, Floodplain and Riparian

Limosella subulata•Scrophulariaceae (???)•Leaves not septated

Lilaeopsis masonii•Apiaceae•Leaves septated

Mixed stand of Lilaeopsis & Limosella•Occurs primarily on intertidal mudflats, butcan occur in rip-rapped areas•Best surveyed for by boat during low tide

© Rob Preston

© Aaron Arthur

Delta, Floodplain and Riparian

Hibiscus lasiocarpusvar. occidentalis•Marshes•Often in areas with tidalinfluence

Cordylanthus mollis ssp. mollis•Coastal salt or brackishmarshes•Suisun Marsh

Cirsium hydrophilumvar. hydrophilum•Salt marshes•Suisun Marsh

© Kristiaan Stuart © Doug Wirtz © Doug Wirtz

Delta, Floodplain and Riparian

Eryngium racemosum•Riparian scrub•Primarily San Joaquin delta,often alkaline

Lathyrus jepsoniivar. jepsonii•Fresh or brackishmarshes•Riparian scrub

Aster lentus(Symphyotrichum lentum)•Fresh and brackishmarshes•Suisun Marsh

© James Reiter© Mark Fogiel

© Chris Winchell

Alkali Mesic Grasslands

selected rare plants ofalkali mesic grasslands

including scalds and slickspots

Alkali Mesic Grassland

Atriplex cordulata•Erect•Branched below•Scalds, playas andalkaline vernal pools

Atriplex erecticaulis•Erect•Branched above & below•Scalds, playas & pools

Atriplex persistens•Erect•Staminate flowers interminal spikes•Alkali vernal pools

© Chris Winchell

© Rob Preston © Rob Preston

Alkali Mesic Grassland

Atriplex miniscula•Prostrate •Scalds, playas & pools

Atriplex depressa•Prostrate•Leaves 2 ranked•Scalds, playas & pools

© Rob Preston

© Rob Preston

Alkali Mesic Grassland

Atriplex joaquiniana•Erect•Fruit resembles fluted vase •Scalds, playas & pools

Atriplex subtilis•Generally prostrate•Scalds, playas & pools

© Rob Preston© Zoya Akulova

Alkali Mesic Grassland

Cordylanthus palmatus•Soft hairs <1mm•Mesic grasslands

Cordylanthus mollis ssp. hispidus•Stiff hairs >1mm•Mesic grasslands and playas

© Rob Preston

© Doug Wirtz

Alkali Mesic Grassland

Astragalus tener•var. tener – short pods•var. ferrisiae – long pods with pseudostipe

Lepidium latipes var. heckardii•stiff hairs >1mm•mesic grasslands

© Carol Witham

© Carol Witham

(Alluvial Terrace) Grasslands

selected rare plants of(non-alkali) grasslands

terraces above the valley floor

Grasslands

Castilleja rubicundulassp. rubicundula•Pink corolla•Open grassland, oftenserpentinite

Monardella douglasiissp. venosa•Open grasslands, usuallyin heavy clay•Recently rediscovered inButte County

Delphinium recurvatum•Mesic grassland, sometimes alkaline

© Vernon Smith

© George Hartwell

© Aaron Schustell

Grasslands

Astragalus rattaniivar. jepsonianus•Grassland, oak woodlandoften serpentinite

Calycadenia hooveri•Grassland, oak woodland,generally rocky•Blooms July-September•Eastern San Joaquin Valley

Calycadenia oppositifolia•Grassland openings invarious habitats•Butte County endemic

© Roxanne Bittman © Neal Kramer

© George Hartwell

Grasslands

Fritillaria agrestis•Style branched•Nectaries prominent•Unpleasant odor

Fritillaria liliacea•Style branched•Nectaries obscure•Odorless or faintly fragrant

Fritillaria pluriflora•Style entire•Odorless

© Kelly Bougher

© Carol Witham

© John Dittes

Grasslands

Lotus rubriflorus(Acmispon rubriflorus)•Red flowers•Grasslands & Woodlands

Paronychia ahartii•Mesic grassland, usuallyvolcanics•Also woodlands & shallow vernal pools

© CNPS

© Carol Witham

Vernal Pools

selected rare plants ofpuddles, pools and playas

typical vernal pools

Vernal Pools

Chamaesyce hooveri•Summer blooming•Large playa-like pools

Grasses in Orcuttieae•Summer blooming•No ligule•Sticky/acidic exudate

© Carol Witham

© Carol Witham

© Carol Witham

© Chris Winchell

Vernal Pools

Downingia pusilla•Flowers < 2 mm•2 color morphs withdifferent corolla shape•Areas of low competition

Legenere limosa•Often apetalus•Note peduncle belowinferior ovary•Multiple pool types

© Carol Witham

© Janell Hillman

Vernal Pools

Gratiola heterosepala•3 sepals form a 2-thumbedmitten•2 corolla lobes yellow•Areas of low competition

Gratiola ebracteata

© Carol Witham

© Carol Witham

Vernal Pools

Limnanthes floccosa ssp. californica•Endemic to Butte County•Petals are supposed to have a ring of hairs at the base•Occurs in vernal pools

Limnanthes floccosa ssp. floccosa•More widespread•Note hairiness of outer sepal surface•Most often occurs in vernal swales

© Carol Witham© Rob Preston

Vernal Pools

Juncus leiospermus var. ahartii•Seeds not striate @ 10x•Single fruits•Mostly vernal swales

Juncus leiospermusvar. leiospermus•Seeds not striate @ 10x•Multiple fruits•Mostly vernal swales

Juncus digitatus•Seeds striate @ 10x•Multiple fruits•Cascade foothills

© Carol Witham

© Carol Witham

© John Dittes

Workshop Wrap-up

• Juncus id quizA. __________________B. __________________C. __________________D. __________________E. __________________F. __________________

• Essay questions– When and how of rare plant

surveys– Take home message is why

• Course evaluation

• Resources– CalPhotos, but user beware!– CNPS Online Inventory