Plant Guide to Cactus Spring Trail, Santa Rosa Mountains

Plant Guide to Cactus Spring Trail, Santa Rosa Mountains

This is a working list, about which we make no guarantees at all until we officially release it. Use at your own risk!

Introduction and Explanation of Plant Trail Guides
Introduction
Highlights of This Trail
Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time
Botanical Trip Reports
The Plant Guide
Comments On Specific Species
Introduction

The Cactus Spring Trail is said to be the only official trail in the Santa Rosa Wilderness; whether that is true or not, it is apparently the main trail. (The Sawmill Trail, which leaves from the same parking lot, is a wide road, which is open to vehicular traffic.)
And what a delightful trail it is! It traverses absolutely beautiful country, beginning at an elevation of ~4045 feet. Surprisingly, the trail travels along drainages for most of the distance to Horsethief Creek. In fact, much of the trail is indistinguishable from a drainage, so one has to be a bit alert when the trail briefly leaves a drainage to go to the next one. The only real non-drainage sections in the portion up to Horsethief Creek are the saddles between drainages.
As a result, the trail has significant ups and downs all along the portion to Horsethief Creek. The net elevation gain going to Horsethief Creek and back is ~1165 feet, not the (net) elevation difference of 900 feet quoted in Ferranti's 100 Great hikes in and near Palm Springs, 2000. It is very surprising that any guidebook would quote the misleading net elevation difference instead of the elevation gain and loss one actually experiences while hiking a trail.
Past Horsethief Creek, the trail briefly ascends a ridge before joining a beautiful wash which leads most of the way to Cactus Spring.
This trail is remarkably rich in species. There are 203 taxa found on the trail itself, and an additional 25 taxa are found just off-trail along it. The richness is due to two main factors. First, the trail contains both low-elevation desert species and higher-elevation montane species, due to its elevation range of 3480 to 4200 feet. The desert species are near their upper elevation ranges, and the montane species are near their lower elevation range. Second, the trail samples many different habitats, including slopes of all aspect ratios (north, south, east and west facing slopes), flat areas, and riparian areas.
The trailhead is 8 miles east of the junction of SR74 and SR371, and is well-signed on SR74. Go south (right if coming from Hemet or Anza) at the sign for 0.4 mile, then turn left onto the wide dirt road. Park in the flat area north of the trash disposal. The class A parking lot, with space for zillions of cars and with a beautiful wood railing all around it, is signed "Sawmill Trailhead".
The parking lot is immediately north of the Riverside County trash transfer station, so if you park and see lots of dumpsters to the south, you're in the right place.
There is a sign at the southeast end of the parking lot that point you toward the Trail, via the southernmost road to the east. Don't take the potentially-confusing "Elk trail", which is simply the driveway to the Elks Lodge, which, for some reason, is just past the northeast corner of the parking lot.
It is 0.15 miles from the east edge of the parking lot to the signed Cactus Spring Trail.
This guide begins at the fire hydrant 0.02 miles past the southeast end of the parking lot.
From the parking lot to Horsethief Creek and back is 4.74 miles roundtrip, with 1165 feet of elevation gain and loss. Of the 1165 feet, 300 feet is gained on the way out, and 865 feet on the way back.
From the parking lot to the creek just beyond Cactus Spring and back is 9.86 miles roundtrip, with 1920 feet of elevation gain and loss. Of the 1902 feet, 1055 feet is gained on the way out, and 865 feet on the way back.
GPS points, all NAD27 and decimal degrees (NOT the archaic degrees - minutes - seconds)

Location Latitude (° N) Longitude (° E) Elevation (feet)
SR74 turnoff 33.58332 -116.45463 4030
Closest parking space at Trailhead parking to the entrance (farthest parking space from the trail side 33.57987 -116.44987 4039
Actual signed Cactus Spring trailhead 33.57930 -116.44618 4013

Highlights of This Trail

Some of the botanical highlights of this trail are:

There are twenty taxa found only here and not in any of the other 127 plant trail guides we've done in southern California. There are an additional twenty taxa found only on this trail and one other plant trail guides.
There is a marble bedrock area on the trail, which is also unusual in southern California. So far, there are no local endemics found on it, although one taxon comes close.
The Sarcostemma cynanchoides on this trail is unusual for having green flowers, very different from the white to pink to purple flowers seen on other southern California specimens. The Utah Flora reports that this species can have such green flowers there.

The taxa found only on this guide, as of 6/1/08, are:

Family Scientific Name Common Name
Apiaceae Lomatium mohavense Mojave lomatium
Boraginaceae Cryptantha decipiens gravel cryptantha
Boraginaceae Pectocarya setosa moth combseed
Campanulaceae Nemacladus sigmoideus small-flowered nemacladus
Euphorbiaceae Tragia ramosa desert noseburn
Fabaceae Astragalus coccineus scarlet milk-vetch
Fabaceae Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii California marina
Hydrophyllaceae Phacelia campanularia ssp. campanularia desert bluebells
Hydrophyllaceae Phacelia cryptantha limestone phacelia
Lamiaceae Salazaria mexicana Mexican bladder sage
Liliaceae Allium fimbriatum var. fimbriatum fringed onion
Liliaceae Calochortus palmeri var. munzii Munz's mariposa lily
Nyctaginaceae Mirabilis pumila trailing four-o'clock
Onagraceae Oenothera californica ssp. avita California evening-primrose
Poaceae Bouteloua curtipendula side-oats grama
Polemoniaceae Gilia diegensis coastal gilia
Polygonaceae Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca white-bracted spineflower
Polygonaceae Eriogonum maculatum spotted buckwheat
Rosaceae Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata desert almond
Rutaceae Thamnosma montana turpentine broom

Number of Unique Taxa On This Trail

The following histogram gives the number of trails in our database that contain each taxon on this trail. We had 128 trails in our database when this histogram was made; 2 of those trails, including this one, are in this area of Santa Rosa Mountain. A number of "1" means the taxon has only been found on this trail among the trails in our database; numbers of "2" or smaller may indicate taxa found only in this area of Santa Rosa Mountains.

Number of Trails
Containing A Taxon Number Of Taxa
On This Trail % of Taxa
On This Trail
1 20 10%
2 20 10%
3 19 10%
4 14 7%
5 4 2%

1-5 77 39%
6-10 44 22%
11-15 24 12%
16-20 11 6%
21-25 11 6%
26-30 9 5%
31-35 8 4%
36-40 4 2%
41-45 4 2%
46-50 3 2%
51-55 2 1%
56-60 0 0%
60-65 1 1%
66-70 2 1%
Total Taxa 200 100%

We found 3 additional species not in the above table, since they have not been fully identified yet. The unidentified ones are marked with ? or sp in the id? column in the guide, and have no entries in the #all column.
Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time

The following table gives the dates the trail was walked and taxa recorded. After each visit, the table gives the total number of taxa on the list and the breakdown of the taxa without positive identification. See Explanation of Plant Trail Guides to understand the symbols below.

Visit Date Visit # # taxa # "?" # "sp" # "~" # "ssp"
10/31/2006 1 92 6 10 24 3
11/12/2006 2 96 2 8 22 1
11/12/2006 2 102 3 8 22 2
11/16/2006 3 102 3 9 17 1
11/16/2006 3 122 3 12 23 1
11/20/2006 4 128 1 10 26 1
3/28/2007 5 127 0 9 23 1
4/30/2008 7
5/24/2008 8
5/28/2008 9 188 1 1 13 0
5/28/2008 9 203 3 1 15 0

The fieldwork on 10/31/06 was only to mile 1.18. There are thus two entries for 11/12/06. The first gives the results only up to mile 1.18; the second gives the results to mile 1.43. Similarly, there are two entries for 11/16/06, which was the first time the guide was extended to Horsethief Creek, and for 5/28/06, which gives the results for the first the guide was extended from Horsethief Creek to the Creek just beyond Cactus Spring.
The numbers were not recorded separately for 4/30/08 and 5/24/08. Most of the new taxa reported on 5/28/08 came from those two previous trips.
Botanical Trip Reports

The Plant Guide

See also Checklist of the species in traditional family order.
The mileages up to mile 2.3 in the guide have been fit to Topo!, which probably means the mileages are a bit on the low side. Mileages post mile 2.3 come from a detailed GPS recording of the trail, but the GPS readings were not terribly accurate due to signal multipath from the many exposed rocks in the area.
Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (12 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (3 double-sided pages). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)

Mile S # id? Common Name Latin Name #here #all
0.00 r Begin guide just past southeast corner of parking lot, at fire hydrant; elevation ~4045 feet (1233 m). Plants in parking lot not seen on trail: Russian thistle, Salsola tragus; thyme-leafed spurge, Chamaesyce serpyllifolia ssp. serpyllifolia; coyote melon, Cucurbita palmata
0.00 b 1 fringed onion Allium fimbriatum var. fimbriatum 20 / 1 1
0.00 b 2 smooth western tansy-mustard Descurainia pinnata ssp. glabra 30 / 5 3
0.00 b 3 whispering bells Emmenanthe penduliflora var. penduliflora 99 / 9 16
0.00 b 4 *redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium 99 / 9 68
0.00 b 5 rattlesnake weed Chamaesyce albomarginata 50 / 9 13
0.00 b 6 Mojave lomatium Lomatium mohavense 10 / 5 1
0.00 b 7 bur-ragweed Ambrosia acanthicarpa 20 / 2 21
0.00 b 8 matchweed Gutierrezia sarothrae⁺ 99 / 9 18
0.00 b 9 Munz's mariposa lily Calochortus palmeri var. munzii 3 / 1 1
0.00 r 10 coastal gilia Gilia diegensis 50 / 9 1
0.00 r 11 red shanks Adenostoma sparsifolium 99 / 9 5
0.00 r 12 bristly bird's beak Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus 99 / 9 37
0.00 l 13 Pima rhatany Krameria erecta 99 / 9 9
0.00 l 14 *Oriental mustard Sisymbrium orientale 30 / 5 15
0.00 l 15 desert scrub oak Quercus cornelius-mulleri 99 / 9 3
0.00 b 16 Vasey's prickly-pear Opuntia vaseyi⁺ 99 / 9 27
0.00 r 17 narrowleaf goldenbush Ericameria linearifolia 99 / 9 8
0.00 r 18 Parish's needlegrass Achnatherum parishii 50 / 9 11
0.00 b 19 Engelmann's hedgehog cactus Echinocereus engelmannii 30 / 9 13
0.00 b 20 ~ Davidson's buckwheat Eriogonum davidsonii⁺ 40 / 9 21
0.00 b 21 *red brome Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens 99 / 9 65
0.00 l 22 cupped-leaf ceanothus Ceanothus greggii var. perplexans 30 / 9 10
0.00 l 23 chaparral yucca Yucca whipplei 50 / 9 37
0.00 End fence
0.00 r 24 moth combseed Pectocarya setosa 30 / 9 1
0.00 b 25 Mojave prickly-pear Opuntia erinacea var. erinacea 30 / 9 3
0.00 r 26 short-winged deerweed Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus 99 / 9 25
0.00 l 27 sugar bush Rhus ovata 50 / 9 31
0.00 l 28 Wallace's woolly daisy Eriophyllum wallacei 99 / 9 4
0.00 l 29 sand cress Calyptridium monandrum 20 / 2 16
0.00 l 30 purple-root cryptantha Cryptantha micrantha 50 / 9 10
0.00 b 31 desert globemallow Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa 99 / 9 3
0.00 r 32 desert needlegrass Achnatherum speciosum 99 / 9 4
0.00 b 33 California buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium 99 / 9 27
0.00 r Signpost: "Please stay on designated routes only"
0.00 l 34 Patagonia plantain Plantago patagonica 20 / 2 3
0.00 l 35 popcorn flower Cryptantha intermedia 99 / 9 31
0.01 b 36 Mohave yucca Yucca schidigera 50 / 9 12
0.01 l 37 brittle spineflower Chorizanthe brevicornu var. brevicornu 30 / 9 9
0.01 r 38 desert agave Agave deserti 30 / 9 13
0.01 l 39 desert woolly-star Eriastrum eremicum ssp. eremicum 99 / 9 4
0.01 r 40 giant four o'clock Mirabilis multiflora var. pubescens 30 / 9 4
0.02 r 41 wire-lettuce Stephanomeria pauciflora var. pauciflora 20 / 3 23
0.02 r 42 common phacelia Phacelia distans 50 / 9 19
0.02 r 43 desert chicory Rafinesquia neomexicana 10 / 5 11
0.02 l 44 oak mistletoe Phoradendron villosum 3 / 3 13
0.02 l (fringed amaranth, Amaranthus fimbriatus; western bernardia, Bernardia myricifolia; silver puffs, Uropappus lindleyi)
0.03 r 45 *downy brome Bromus tectorum 99 / 9 32
0.03 l 46 odora Porophyllum gracile 20 / 9 9
0.03 l 47 San Felipe dogweed Adenophyllum porophylloides 50 / 9 12
0.03 l (fluff grass, Erioneuron pulchellum)
0.03 r 48 Parry's nolina Nolina parryi 30 / 9 3
0.04 r 49 silver puffs Uropappus lindleyi 30 / 9 30
0.04 r 50 Fremont pincushion Chaenactis fremontii 99 / 9 10
0.05 l (California juniper, Juniperus californica; lotebush, Ziziphus parryi var. parryi)
0.07 l 51 turpentine broom Thamnosma montana 40 / 9 1
0.09 r (pinyon pine, Pinus monophylla)
0.10 c 52 chia Salvia columbariae 50 / 9 32
0.10 l 53 Payson's wild cabbage Caulanthus simulans 2 / 1 4
0.11 r 54 ~ Fremont's goosefoot Chenopodium fremontii 20 / 5 14
0.12 l 55 hairy-podded pepper-grass Lepidium lasiocarpum var. lasiocarpum 30 / 1 9
0.12 l 56 desert bitterbrush Purshia tridentata var. glandulosa 10 / 5 2
0.12 l 57 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum 40 / 9 9
0.12 l 58 side-oats grama Bouteloua curtipendula 30 / 9 1
0.12 l 59 pinyon pine Pinus monophylla 40 / 9 4
0.13 r 60 basketbush Rhus trilobata 10 / 5 28
0.13 b 61 smoothleaf yerba santa Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum⁺ 20 / 5 5
0.13 r 62 desert almond Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata 10 / 4 1
0.13 r 63 fringed amaranth Amaranthus fimbriatus 3 / 1 7
0.13 r 64 *shortpod mustard Hirschfeldia incana 2 / 1 54
0.13 r Cross small drainage, which briefly joins road
Check for Poa bigelovii vouchered from someplace between Dolomite Mine and Horsethief Creek (winter ann, cespitose, 4-16 inches high, shady places like next to rocks), and for Camissonia intermedia
0.13 r 65 white mugwort Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. albula 10 / 5 7
0.13 r 66 scarlet bugler Penstemon centranthifolius 20 / 5 12
0.13 l 67 birch-leaf mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides 5 / 3 26
0.13 l 68 Parish three-awn Aristida purpurea var. parishii 10 / 9 2
0.13 l Small drainage exits road
0.14 r 69 climbing milkweed Sarcostemma cynanchoides ssp. hartwegii⁺ 2 / 1 6
0.14 r 70 narrow-leaved brickellia Brickellia oblongifolia var. linifolia 20 / 5 2
0.16 r 71 *foxtail barley Hordeum murinum 10 / 2 9
0.16 (Acton encelia, Encelia actoni)
0.17 T-jct. with road; turn right on it
0.19 l Jct. Cactus Spring Trail; turn left and take it
0.19 l 72 desert lotus Lotus rigidus 99 / 9 8
0.19 r Sign: "Cactus Spring Trail 5E01 (ahead); Sawmill Trail 5E03 (right)"
0.20 l 73 Acton encelia Encelia actoni 10 / 4 3
0.20 r Display board: "Cactus Springs Trail ..."
0.22 r (bigberry manzanita, Arctostaphylos glauca)
0.22 r Sign: "Bikes prohibited in Santa Rosa Wilderness"
0.24 r (slender bedstraw, Galium angustifolium ssp. gracillimum)
0.26 r Jct. small drainage that joins trail
0.27 r 74 desert monardella Monardella nana ssp. arida⁺ 40 / 9 2
0.28 l 75 bigberry manzanita Arctostaphylos glauca 50 / 9 13
0.28 l (hollyleaf redberry, Rhamnus ilicifolia)
0.31 l 76 fluff grass Erioneuron pulchellum 20 / 5 3
0.32 Y-jct; old road continues straight; take trail to right
0.32 r Sign: "Cactus Spring Trail 5E01; Horsethief Creek 2 1/4 mi; Cactus Spring 4 mi; Agua Alta Spring 10 mi"
0.33 r Wilderness Sign-In Box (for permit)
0.33 l 77 hollyleaf redberry Rhamnus ilicifolia 5 / 5 49
0.33 l 78 California popcorn flower Plagiobothrys collinus var. fulvescens 5 / 1 6
0.34 l 79 trailing four-o'clock Mirabilis pumila 20 / 3 1
0.34 r 80 ? telegraph weed? Heterotheca grandiflora? 1 / 1
0.34 l 81 western bernardia Bernardia myricifolia 99 / 9 4
0.34 b 82 California juniper Juniperus californica 20 / 9 4
0.34 r 83 white-bracted spineflower Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca 30 / 3 1
0.34 Local low point on trail; elevation 4000 feet (1219 m)
0.36 Minor local high point on trail
0.36 l 84 Schott's calico Loeseliastrum schottii 50 / 9 4
0.37 l 85 white-margined oxytheca Oxytheca emarginata 50 / 9 2
0.37 l weird popcorn flower variant with almost entirely vegetative growth; probably C. intermedia
0.37 l 86 bajada lupine Lupinus concinnus⁺ 20 / 2 20
0.37 r 87 wing-nut cryptantha Cryptantha pterocarya 10 / 2 3
0.38 l (bird's-foot fern, Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata)
0.38 Jct. small drainage that joins trail
0.40 Trails leaves small drainage; minor local low point on trail
0.40 r 88 bird's-foot fern Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata 5 / 5 35
0.40 b (beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris)
0.40 r (lace-pod, Thysanocarpus laciniatus)
0.40 l 89 intermediate sun-cups Camissonia intermedia 5 / 2 7
0.40 b 90 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. nodosum 20 / 5 7
0.41 l 91 golden-bowl mariposa Calochortus concolor 50 / 9 2
0.42 r (white sage, Salvia apiana)
0.42 Minor local high point on trail
0.43 b 92 beavertail cactus Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris 20 / 9 23
0.44 r 93 Palmer's milk-vetch Astragalus palmeri 50 / 9 2
0.44 r Woodrat's nest
0.45 l 94 star gilia Gilia stellata 50 / 9 9
0.45 r (dense mistletoe, Phoradendron densum, on juniper)
0.46 r 95 Gander's cholla Opuntia ganderi 5 / 5 19
0.47 r 96 woolly Indian paintbrush Castilleja foliolosa 30 / 5 8
0.47 r 97 little-leaved chaparral beard-tongue Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla 30 / 7 3
0.48 l (desert apricot, Prunus fremontii)
0.49 Trail rounds ridge and curves right 90°
0.50 r 98 white sage Salvia apiana 50 / 9 43
0.50 b 99 desert apricot Prunus fremontii 20 / 9 7
0.51 b 100 desert bluebells Phacelia campanularia ssp. campanularia 99 / 9 1
0.51 b (San Jacinto beardtongue, Penstemon clevelandii var. connatus)
0.51 r 101 sweetbush Bebbia juncea var. aspera 20 / 3 25
0.52 r 102 Coulter's snapdragon Antirrhinum coulterianum 2 / 1 8
0.52 b 103 catclaw Acacia greggii 30 / 7 21
0.53 r Jct. use trail; our trail curves left
0.53 r 104 strigose lotus Lotus strigosus 10 / 3 43
0.53 l (California fuchsia, Epilobium canum⁺)
0.53 l 105 common monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus 10 / 1 19
0.53 l 106 ~ horseweed Conyza canadensis 1 / 1 45
0.53 Cross Deep Canyon drainage; local low point; elevation 3880 feet (1183 m)
0.53 b 107 false monkeyflower Mimulus pilosus 10 / 1 9
0.53 l 108 floriferous monkeyflower Mimulus floribundus 10 / 1 11
0.53 r 109 lesser paintbrush Castilleja minor ssp. spiralis 5 / 2 2
0.53 r 110 ~ little spring beauty Claytonia exigua ssp. exigua 10 / 2 5
0.53 l 111 *tocalote Centaurea melitensis 10 / 1 48
0.53 l ~ (spreading fleabane, Erigeron divergens; dwarf lupine, Lupinus bicolor; Lemmon's phacelia, Phacelia lemmonii; western marsh cudweed, Gnaphalium palustre; common bedstraw, Galium aparine; ~Spanish clover, ~Lotus purshianus var. purshianus; ~few-flowered heterocodon, ~Heterocodon rariflorum)
0.53 r sp (canchalagua, Centaurium venustum; scarlet monkeyflower, Mimulus cardinalis; spear-leaved mountain dandelion, Agoseris retrorsa; rigid hedge-nettle, Stachys ajugoides var. rigida; dock, Rumex sp.; toad rush, Juncus bufonius var. bufonius; tumble pigweed, Amaranthus albus; iris-leaved rush, Juncus xiphioides; ~little redstem monkeyflower, ~Mimulus rubellus)
0.53 r 112 baby California brickellbush Brickellia californica 4 / 4 30
0.53 b 113 deergrass Muhlenbergia rigens 30 / 5 31
0.53 r 114 desert baccharis Baccharis sergiloides 99 / 9 6
0.53 r 115 western false-indigo Amorpha fruticosa 30 / 5 2
0.53 b 116 canyon dodder Cuscuta subinclusa 3 / 2 2
0.53 b 117 desert olive Forestiera pubescens 10 / 2 2
0.53 r 118 southern Chinese houses Collinsia concolor 10 / 1 6
0.53 r 119 sticky false-gilia Allophyllum glutinosum 10 / 3 9
0.54 r 120 southern honeysuckle Lonicera subspicata var. denudata 20 / 9 47
0.54 l ~ (red willow, Salix laevigata)
0.55 l 121 interior live oak Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens⁺ 2 / 2 15
0.55 r 122 California thistle Cirsium occidentale var. californicum 2 / 2 16
0.55 l Very old junked car, truck and water tank
0.55 r 123 hollyleaf cherry Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia 3 / 3 16
0.56 Enter marble area and the so-called "Dolomite Mine"
0.56 l (scarlet milk-vetch, Astragalus coccineus, on north side of mine)
0.60 r Jct. road
0.60 r 124 pancake prickly-pear Opuntia chlorotica 10 / 4 2
0.60 l 125 San Jacinto beardtongue Penstemon clevelandii var. connatus 40 / 9 2
0.61 l 126 lotebush Ziziphus parryi var. parryi 30 / 9 3
0.62 b 127 thick-leaved yerba santa Eriodictyon crassifolium var. crassifolium⁺ 10 / 2 11
0.62 l ~ (perennial rock-cress, Arabis perennans)
0.62 Y-jct; stay right; old mine road is to left; local high point; elevation ~3940 feet (1200 m)
0.63 r 128 lace-pod Thysanocarpus laciniatus 10 / 3 7
0.64 Cross small drainage and trail turns left 90°
0.73 Cross small drainage; local low point; elevation ~3900 feet (1190 m)
0.74 l Jct. (short?) road
0.75 b 129 San Jacinto buckwheat Eriogonum apiculatum 50 / 9 10
0.79 r 130 ashy silk tassel Garrya flavescens 4 / 4 8
0.82 l Jct. mine road shaped like a "U" tangent to our trail
0.83 r Jct. road; sign: "Be prepared for hazardous conditions beyond this point"
0.83 r 131 slender bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. gracillimum 10 / 9 6
0.84 Local high point on trail; elevation ~3930 feet (1198 m)
0.85 Minor local low point on trail
0.88 Second of two minor local high points on trail; begin steep downhill - watch your footing!
0.88 r (cane cholla, Opuntia parryi)
0.91 l 132 (young) California spear-leaved brickellia Brickellia arguta var. arguta 3 / 3 3
0.91 l First of several specimens of desert scrub oak, Quercus cornelius-mulleri, with some much-larger leaves that are much-greener above
0.91 r 133 beady lipfern Cheilanthes covillei 20 / 9 3
0.92 b 134 ~ perennial rock-cress Arabis perennans 20 / 5 9
0.94 r 135 limestone phacelia Phacelia cryptantha 50 / 9 1
0.95 Cross small drainage
0.95 l 136 dense mistletoe (on juniper) Phoradendron densum 1 / 1 2
0.96 Now on ridge between the two close drainages; note the normal-looking Eriodictyon crassifolium plants here.
0.97 r 137 Santa Rosa Mtns. linanthus Linanthus floribundus ssp. hallii 20 / 9 2
0.99 Trail zigzags right then left
0.99 r First live San Jacinto beardtongue Penstemon clevelandii var. connatus /
0.99 r (Fremont cottonwood, Populus fremontii ssp. fremontii)
1.00 Cross drainage; local low point; elevation ~3840 feet (1170 m)
1.00 b 138 southern goldenrod Solidago confinis 20 / 3 2
1.01 r 139 phlox-leaved bedstraw Galium andrewsii ssp. andrewsii⁺ 30 / 5 7
1.03 Local high point on trail
1.04 r yellow-flowered woolly Indian paintbrush Castilleja foliolosa /
1.05 r 140 California fuchsia Epilobium canum 50 / 7 22
1.06 r 141 white-flowering currant Ribes indecorum 1 / 1 28
1.06 r 142 rigid hedge-nettle Stachys ajugoides var. rigida 10 / 2 22
1.06 Cross drainage; local low point; elevation ~3820 feet (1165 m)
1.06 b 143 arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis 2 / 2 45
1.06 r adult California brickellbush, Brickellia californica
1.06 l 144 southern California silver-lotus Lotus argophyllus var. argophyllus 2 / 2 4
1.08 l Trap-door spider's door
1.09 l 145 small-flowered nemacladus Nemacladus sigmoideus 20 / 3 1
1.16 l (Bigelow's monkeyflower, Mimulus bigelovii var. bigelovii)
1.17 l Sign: "Santa Rosa Wilderness"
1.18 Local high point on trail; elevation ~3930 feet (1198 m)
1.21 r 146 rock buckwheat Eriogonum saxatile 30 / 7 14
1.29 Cross drainage
1.30 l 147 Hall's caulanthus Caulanthus hallii 1 / 1 2
1.30 l (jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis)
1.34 l 148 jojoba Simmondsia chinensis 10 / 4 12
1.39 b 149 thick-leaved ground cherry Physalis crassifolia 10 / 2 10
1.39 Enter big patch of prickly pear cactus on unusual steep planar slope perhaps caused by undercutting of slope by creek and landsliding
1.41 l 150 Parish's poppy Eschscholzia parishii 50 / 9 8
1.48 Cross small side drainage
1.49 Cross main drainage
1.49 Cross main drainage again
1.50 l 151 cane bluestem Bothriochloa barbinodis 20 / 4 3
1.50 Cross main drainage again
1.50 l ~ (white desert-primrose, Oenothera caespitosa ssp. marginata)
1.51 l 152 narrowleaf willow Salix exigua 5 / 2 11
1.51 l 153 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 5 / 3 66
1.52 l 154 annual malacothrix Malacothrix clevelandii 10 / 2 3
1.52 l 155 western marsh cudweed Gnaphalium palustre 5 / 1 7
1.52 l 156 eucrypta Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia var. bipinnatifida 20 / 5 3
1.52 r 157 slender everlasting Gnaphalium canescens ssp. thermale 10 / 3 10
1.52 r Small drainage joins trail
1.53 l 158 blue dicks Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum 40 / 9 51
1.53 r 159 ~ virgin's bower Clematis pauciflora 2 / 2 12
1.54 l white blue dicks Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum /
1.54 l 160 silky lotus Lotus heermannii var. heermannii 10 / 2 8
1.55 l 161 scarlet milk-vetch Astragalus coccineus 20 / 5 1
1.60 Cross drainage to its left
1.61 r (desert dudleya, Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides)
1.63 Cross drainage to its right
1.67 r 162 desert dudleya Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides 20 / 5 4
1.67 r 163 desert noseburn Tragia ramosa 5 / 1 1
1.68 b 164 smooth scouring rush Equisetum laevigatum 5 / 3 4
1.68 r Cross side drainage
1.70 l 165 narrowleaf monardella Monardella linoides ssp. linoides 5 / 3 2
1.71 Minor local high point on trail
1.73 Cross creek with water; local low point on trail; elevation ~3640 feet (1110 m)
1.73 b 166 Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus 30 / 3 26
1.73 b 167 *rabbits-foot grass Polypogon monspeliensis 1 / 1 31
1.73 l 168 ~ iris-leaved rush Juncus xiphioides 3 / 1 5
1.73 l 169 Hooker's evening-primrose Oenothera elata ssp. hirsutissima 1 / 1 11
1.74 r ~ (southern cattail, Typha domingensis)
1.75 r (stream orchid, Epipactis gigantea)
1.75 r 170 velvet ash Fraxinus velutina 2 / 2 4
1.75 r (wild grape, Vitis girdiana)
1.83 r 171 mountain grape-soda lupine Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus 2 / 1 9
1.84 Local high point on trail; elevation ~3740 feet (1140 m)
1.93 Check mileage to drainage
1.93 Trail joins drainage
1.99 l 172 baby teddy-bear cholla Opuntia bigelovii 1 / 1 13
2.06 Trail leaves drainage to left
2.11 Trail crosses drainage to right
2.13 Cross major drainage which joins Horsethief Creek just downstream; local low point; elevation ~3560 feet (1085 m); (check mileage: is this actually 2.20?)
2.15 Local high point
2.16 l 173 white-stemmed blazing star Mentzelia albicaulis 2 / 1 3
2.20 l (Old horse corral made from manzanita branches)
2.26 l 174 big galleta Pleuraphis rigida 3 / 3 19
2.26 r 175 California filago Filago californica 5 / 1 24
2.26 176 spearleaf Matelea parvifolia 1 / 1 3
2.27 Trail turns left 90°
2.27 l 177 fish-hook cactus Mammillaria tetrancistra 3 / 2 2
2.27 r 178 Parish's viguiera Viguiera parishii 20 / 5 11
2.28 l 179 *Bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon 5 / 1 38
2.28 Switchback right
2.29 r 180 southern gilia Gilia australis / 1 3
2.29 r 181 threadstem Pterostegia drymarioides 1 / 1 37
2.30 Switchback left
2.31 l mature California spear-leaved brickellia Brickellia arguta var. arguta /
2.31 Switchback right
2.32 Switchback left and trail curves right
2.33 l 182 Fremont cottonwood Populus fremontii ssp. fremontii 2 / 2 13
2.33 b 183 *tall fescue Festuca arundinacea 5 / 1 4
2.33 Cross Horsethief Creek; elevation ~3480 feet (1060 m)
2.34 Trail turns right 90°
2.35 l 184 wild tarragon Artemisia dracunculus⁺ 10 / 1 33
2.35 Y-jct; Trail is left branch; Trail to right goes to a shady rest spot; go right
2.36 l 185 honey mesquite Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana 10 / 4 9
2.37 r 186 wild grape Vitis girdiana 1 / 1 8
2.37 r 187 ~ creeping wild rye Leymus triticoides 10 / 1 13
2.37 l 188 Torrey's scrub oak (resembling Engelmann's oak) Quercus acutidens (resembling Q. engelmannii)⁺ 5 / 1 29
(Along Horsethief Creek: blue-eyed grass, Sisyrinchium bellum; ~western columbine, ~Aquilegia formosa; white alder, Alnus rhombifolia; saltcedar, Tamarix ramosissima)
2.37 Return to Y-jct
2.39 Y-jct; go right
2.41 l 189 ? unk annual Asteraceae ? 1 / 1
2.42 Switchback left
2.43 Switchback right
2.44 l 190 Mexican bladder sage Salazaria mexicana 3 / 1 1
2.46 l (desert mistletoe, Phoradendron californicum)
2.49 l 191 pale sun-cup Camissonia pallida ssp. pallida 20 / 5 6
2.51 Switchback right
2.53 Trail turns right 30 degrees
2.53 l 192 gravel cryptantha Cryptantha decipiens 5 / 1 1
2.55 Switchback left
2.55 r 193 California marina Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii 10 / 3 1
2.55 Switchback right
2.60 Saddle
2.62 Smaller saddle
2.66 Saddle
2.71 Trail is now less steep on ridge
2.71 r 194 papillate dodder Cuscuta californica var. papillosa 3 / 1 7
2.74 Saddle; local high point; trail now descends to eventually join wash
2.79 Saddle
2.83 l ~ (Ziegler's aster, Machaeranthera canescens var. ziegleri)
2.86 Join wash
2.88 l (Different Ericameria high on cliff?)
2.97 b 195 *saltcedar Tamarix ramosissima 50 / 9 6
3.06 Y-jct in wash; stay right
3.07 196 slender wreathplant Stephanomeria exigua ssp. exigua 20 / 9 2
3.15 l 197 long-leaved rush Juncus macrophyllus 5 / 2 8
3.31 r 198 blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium bellum 20 / 2 22
3.48 Y-jct in wash; stay right
3.51 Rejoin other branch of wash
3.56 Leave entrenched wash near here
3.64 r 199 ~ California evening-primrose Oenothera californica ssp. avita 10 / 2 1
3.74 l 200 spotted buckwheat Eriogonum maculatum 30 / 3 1
3.95 l Hillside of California marina, Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii
3.96 l Hillside of California marina, Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii
3.97 r Sign: "Trail"
4.05 l Sign: "Trail"
4.09 Local high point
4.14 l Sign: "Trail"; local high point
4.36 r 201 southern mountain woolly-star Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum 30 / 3 17
4.42 r Sign: "Trail"
4.45 r Y-jct; stay right; Sign: "Trail"
4.51 l Sign: "Trail"
4.63 Jct. wash with Cactus Spring; go left to the Spring
4.66 l 202 ? unk similar to Epilobium brachycarpum, but may be perennial
4.66 Cactus Spring; return to trail
4.69 Jct. trail; go left
4.77 l Sign: "Trail"
4.90 r Trail parallels creek for a short distance; next species is in Creek to right
4.93 r 203 desert-willow Chilopsis linearis ssp. arcuata 20 / 1 8
4.93 End Plant Guide; the following are approximate mileages to points farther along the trail
5.32 Cross creek
8.81 Saddle between Deep Canyon and Martinez Canyon

Comments On Specific Species

Gutierrezia sarothrae. The plants here are not stellar examples of this species as described in the floras, although every voucher from this area calls them Gutierrezia sarothrae.
The heads are not very clustered, with 73% of all clusters containing only a single head, and only 4% of all clusters having 4-5 heads. 46% of all heads are found in single clusters. This makes it difficult to key using the clustering properties in Jepson Manual key:
- heads gen solitary ... G. californica
- heads gen in clusters of 2-5 ... G. sarothrae
It is true that 54% of the heads are in clusters of 2-5, so they just barely squeak by the 50% needed to meet the gen criterion for G. sarothrae. However, these heads are distinctly less clustered that the specimens at the Santa Rosa Plateau in western Riverside County which have been called G. californica by Lathrop and Thorne (1985) and by the Western Riverside County Checklist.
At the Santa Rosa Plateau, 61% of all clusters contain only a single head, and 18% of all clusters have 4-5 heads, with only 30% of all heads found in single clusters. With 70% of all heads are in clusters of 2-5, these plants clearly fit the clustering characteristics of G. sarothrae. This is why Chester (2006) determines them as G. sarothrae in the Flora of the Trails of the Santa Rosa Plateau.
If the Santa Rosa Plateau plants are G. californica, these would have to be as well, based on the clustering characteristic. The Flora of North America essentially uses the clustering characteristic to separate these species.
The other parts of the Jepson Manual key are based on the number of flowers in each head. The number of ray flowers is 3-8, median 6; the number of disk flowers is 2-11, median 5; and the number of total flowers is 5-19, median 11. Using the Jepson Manual key, the number of ray flowers fits G. sarothrae, the number of disk flowers doesn't fit either species well, and the number of total flowers fits G. californica best.
So these don't sound much like G. sarothrae, do they?
However, older keys, such as the original Jepson:
- ray flowers 8 to 11; involucre turbinate ... G. californica
- ray flowers 3 to 7; involucre clavate-oblong ... G. sarothrae
give the id as clearly G. sarothrae, with ray flowers 3-8 and a cylindric involucre.
We have given the id here to G. sarothrae, using the following reasoning:

G. sarothrae is a widespread taxon all over the west. It has "fewish" ray flowers per head, a cylindric involucre, and shortish peduncles, possibly generally with bracts on the ultimate branchlets (= peduncles).
G. californica is endemic to mostly coastal California, especially coastal northern California. It has many flowers per head, a campanulate involucre, and longish peduncles, possibly with no bracts on the ultimate branchlets.
Our plants here fit G. sarothrae best, with its "fewish" ray flowers per head and cylindric involucres, but they sure don't seem to be pure G. sarothrae if the floras are correct. This conclusion is not surprising, since it is well-known that G. sarothrae and G. californica cannot easily be separated in southern California (see Jepson Manual and Flora of North America).

Opuntia vaseyi. Not a single flower out of hundreds observed on this trail has the white filaments of O. phaeacantha. The filaments are mostly pure yellow, but some filaments are green, yellow and green, or reddish-salmon. This wide range of colors is typical of O. vaseyi. Also, an examination of the glochids on 11/12/06 found that they were absent from the areoles on the pad surfaces on the single plant surveyed, similar to some of the O. vaseyi plants at the Santa Rosa Plateau.
The online vouchers for this area are all for "O. phaeacantha", but that is true for many specimens that are actually O. vaseyi. Interestingly, Lyman Benson, in his book The Native Cacti of California, places five O. vaseyi specimens in this location, and only two O. phaeacantha specimens here.
If anyone knows of a true O. phaeacantha specimen in southern California with a white style and white filaments, please let Tom know.
Eriogonum davidsonii. We have not observed blooms on the plants at the trailhead, but have a positive determination from blooms and leaves at mile 0.78. The plants at the trailhead look like they are the same species, but only the inflorescence will tell.
Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum. This taxon is close to E. crassifolium var. nigrescens, and the plants here in fact key to that taxon using most keys. However, the upper leaf surface is glabrous to hairy, which matches the Jepson Manual description for E. trichocalyx var. lanatum and not E. crassifolium var. nigrescens.
These plants are surely members of the same w DSon population that are considered to be E. trichocalyx var. lanatum, whereas E. crassifolium var. nigrescens is in western Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The two vouchers of "E. crassifolium var. nigrescens" from Thomas Mountain and Morris Ranch in Garner Valley are probably actually E. trichocalyx var. lanatum, and misdetermined as "E. crassifolium var. nigrescens" due to the close similarity of these taxa.
Sarcostemma cynanchoides ssp. hartwegii. This determination seems secure, since the filament column appendages are free and the hairs on the stems and leaves are appressed. However, the flowers are a very unusual color for southern California: they are green with just a hint of purple! All other southern California specimens we have seen have white to pink to purple flowers. The Utah Flora reports that this species can have such green flowers there.
This plant is also at an unusual elevation for southern California, 4000 feet. Munz only gives it below 2000 feet. Although the Jepson Manual gives it up to 5250 feet, online vouchers in southern California only go up to 2700 feet.
Monardella nana ssp. arida, Galium andrewsii ssp. andrewsii. These two species are intimately associated on this trail. Except for a small number of occurrences of Monardella nana, if you see one of these species, you'll find the other within a few feet.
Lupinus concinnus. The specimens on this trail look very different from most plants of L. concinnus we have seen. When a specimen looks so strikingly different from the low desert version that one cannot even recognize them as L. concinnus at times, it sure seems like there ought to be some split into at least subspecies. The problem, according to the Jepson Manual treatment, is that the named varieties are "+- indistinct" and they "need study".
Zabriskie had two taxa in his Flora of Deep Canyon that are now combined as L. concinnus:

L. concinnus ssp. orcuttii, which has flowers "mostly lilac edged with red-purple", leaflets 4-7 mm wide and flowers 6-8 mm long, and dense spreading hairs; and
L. pallidus = L.c. ssp. pallidus, which has flowers "pale blue to whitish or yellowish", 5-7 mm long, and mostly appressed hairs.

Most of the specimens on the trail have the appressed hairs of ssp. pallidus, but the flower colors are pink to blue to purple, which is a mix of both subspecies. Hence it appears that the Jepson Manual treatment got it right.
Epilobium canum. It isn't clear to us that the subspecies are valid; certainly many plants cannot be reliably determined to a subspecies. Hence we are currently accumulating data on the leaf characteristics, and for now only determining plants to the species level. See Comments on the Jepson Manual and A Flora of Southern California by Munz: Epilobium canum.
Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens. This specimen has an arborescent form, with three main trunks.
Artemisia dracunculus. These specimens have a number of deeply-lobed leaves, extending well up the stem. We have seen this in specimens at Volcan Mountain as well.
Eriodictyon crassifolium var. crassifolium. These plants are growing on marble (metamorphosed limestone), and have much smaller leaves than normal for this taxon. Limestone rock is notoriously difficult for plants to grow on, due to a deficiency of a number of nutrients. Compare these to the next occurrence of these plants at mile 0.96 growing in normal soils.

Location	Latitude (° N)	Longitude (° E)	Elevation (feet)
SR74 turnoff	33.58332	-116.45463	4030
Closest parking space at Trailhead parking to the entrance (farthest parking space from the trail side	33.57987	-116.44987	4039
Actual signed Cactus Spring trailhead	33.57930	-116.44618	4013

Family	Scientific Name	Common Name
Apiaceae	Lomatium mohavense	Mojave lomatium
Boraginaceae	Cryptantha decipiens	gravel cryptantha
Boraginaceae	Pectocarya setosa	moth combseed
Campanulaceae	Nemacladus sigmoideus	small-flowered nemacladus
Euphorbiaceae	Tragia ramosa	desert noseburn
Fabaceae	Astragalus coccineus	scarlet milk-vetch
Fabaceae	Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii	California marina
Hydrophyllaceae	Phacelia campanularia ssp. campanularia	desert bluebells
Hydrophyllaceae	Phacelia cryptantha	limestone phacelia
Lamiaceae	Salazaria mexicana	Mexican bladder sage
Liliaceae	Allium fimbriatum var. fimbriatum	fringed onion
Liliaceae	Calochortus palmeri var. munzii	Munz's mariposa lily
Nyctaginaceae	Mirabilis pumila	trailing four-o'clock
Onagraceae	Oenothera californica ssp. avita	California evening-primrose
Poaceae	Bouteloua curtipendula	side-oats grama
Polemoniaceae	Gilia diegensis	coastal gilia
Polygonaceae	Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca	white-bracted spineflower
Polygonaceae	Eriogonum maculatum	spotted buckwheat
Rosaceae	Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata	desert almond
Rutaceae	Thamnosma montana	turpentine broom

Number of Trails Containing A Taxon	Number Of Taxa On This Trail	% of Taxa On This Trail
1	20	10%
2	20	10%
3	19	10%
4	14	7%
5	4	2%

1-5	77	39%
6-10	44	22%
11-15	24	12%
16-20	11	6%
21-25	11	6%
26-30	9	5%
31-35	8	4%
36-40	4	2%
41-45	4	2%
46-50	3	2%
51-55	2	1%
56-60	0	0%
60-65	1	1%
66-70	2	1%
Total Taxa	200	100%

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
10/31/2006	1	92	6	10	24	3
11/12/2006	2	96	2	8	22	1
11/12/2006	2	102	3	8	22	2
11/16/2006	3	102	3	9	17	1
11/16/2006	3	122	3	12	23	1
11/20/2006	4	128	1	10	26	1
3/28/2007	5	127	0	9	23	1
4/30/2008	7
5/24/2008	8
5/28/2008	9	188	1	1	13	0
5/28/2008	9	203	3	1	15	0

Mile	S	#	id?	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00	r			Begin guide just past southeast corner of parking lot, at fire hydrant; elevation ~4045 feet (1233 m). Plants in parking lot not seen on trail: Russian thistle, Salsola tragus; thyme-leafed spurge, Chamaesyce serpyllifolia ssp. serpyllifolia; coyote melon, Cucurbita palmata
0.00	b	1		fringed onion	Allium fimbriatum var. fimbriatum	20 / 1	1
0.00	b	2		smooth western tansy-mustard	Descurainia pinnata ssp. glabra	30 / 5	3
0.00	b	3		whispering bells	Emmenanthe penduliflora var. penduliflora	99 / 9	16
0.00	b	4		*redstem filaree	Erodium cicutarium	99 / 9	68
0.00	b	5		rattlesnake weed	Chamaesyce albomarginata	50 / 9	13
0.00	b	6		Mojave lomatium	Lomatium mohavense	10 / 5	1
0.00	b	7		bur-ragweed	Ambrosia acanthicarpa	20 / 2	21
0.00	b	8		matchweed	Gutierrezia sarothrae⁺	99 / 9	18
0.00	b	9		Munz's mariposa lily	Calochortus palmeri var. munzii	3 / 1	1
0.00	r	10		coastal gilia	Gilia diegensis	50 / 9	1
0.00	r	11		red shanks	Adenostoma sparsifolium	99 / 9	5
0.00	r	12		bristly bird's beak	Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus	99 / 9	37
0.00	l	13		Pima rhatany	Krameria erecta	99 / 9	9
0.00	l	14		*Oriental mustard	Sisymbrium orientale	30 / 5	15
0.00	l	15		desert scrub oak	Quercus cornelius-mulleri	99 / 9	3
0.00	b	16		Vasey's prickly-pear	Opuntia vaseyi⁺	99 / 9	27
0.00	r	17		narrowleaf goldenbush	Ericameria linearifolia	99 / 9	8
0.00	r	18		Parish's needlegrass	Achnatherum parishii	50 / 9	11
0.00	b	19		Engelmann's hedgehog cactus	Echinocereus engelmannii	30 / 9	13
0.00	b	20	~	Davidson's buckwheat	Eriogonum davidsonii⁺	40 / 9	21
0.00	b	21		*red brome	Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens	99 / 9	65
0.00	l	22		cupped-leaf ceanothus	Ceanothus greggii var. perplexans	30 / 9	10
0.00	l	23		chaparral yucca	Yucca whipplei	50 / 9	37
0.00				End fence
0.00	r	24		moth combseed	Pectocarya setosa	30 / 9	1
0.00	b	25		Mojave prickly-pear	Opuntia erinacea var. erinacea	30 / 9	3
0.00	r	26		short-winged deerweed	Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus	99 / 9	25
0.00	l	27		sugar bush	Rhus ovata	50 / 9	31
0.00	l	28		Wallace's woolly daisy	Eriophyllum wallacei	99 / 9	4
0.00	l	29		sand cress	Calyptridium monandrum	20 / 2	16
0.00	l	30		purple-root cryptantha	Cryptantha micrantha	50 / 9	10
0.00	b	31		desert globemallow	Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa	99 / 9	3
0.00	r	32		desert needlegrass	Achnatherum speciosum	99 / 9	4
0.00	b	33		California buckwheat	Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium	99 / 9	27
0.00	r			Signpost: "Please stay on designated routes only"
0.00	l	34		Patagonia plantain	Plantago patagonica	20 / 2	3
0.00	l	35		popcorn flower	Cryptantha intermedia	99 / 9	31
0.01	b	36		Mohave yucca	Yucca schidigera	50 / 9	12
0.01	l	37		brittle spineflower	Chorizanthe brevicornu var. brevicornu	30 / 9	9
0.01	r	38		desert agave	Agave deserti	30 / 9	13
0.01	l	39		desert woolly-star	Eriastrum eremicum ssp. eremicum	99 / 9	4
0.01	r	40		giant four o'clock	Mirabilis multiflora var. pubescens	30 / 9	4
0.02	r	41		wire-lettuce	Stephanomeria pauciflora var. pauciflora	20 / 3	23
0.02	r	42		common phacelia	Phacelia distans	50 / 9	19
0.02	r	43		desert chicory	Rafinesquia neomexicana	10 / 5	11
0.02	l	44		oak mistletoe	Phoradendron villosum	3 / 3	13
0.02	l			(fringed amaranth, Amaranthus fimbriatus; western bernardia, Bernardia myricifolia; silver puffs, Uropappus lindleyi)
0.03	r	45		*downy brome	Bromus tectorum	99 / 9	32
0.03	l	46		odora	Porophyllum gracile	20 / 9	9
0.03	l	47		San Felipe dogweed	Adenophyllum porophylloides	50 / 9	12
0.03	l			(fluff grass, Erioneuron pulchellum)
0.03	r	48		Parry's nolina	Nolina parryi	30 / 9	3
0.04	r	49		silver puffs	Uropappus lindleyi	30 / 9	30
0.04	r	50		Fremont pincushion	Chaenactis fremontii	99 / 9	10
0.05	l			(California juniper, Juniperus californica; lotebush, Ziziphus parryi var. parryi)
0.07	l	51		turpentine broom	Thamnosma montana	40 / 9	1
0.09	r			(pinyon pine, Pinus monophylla)
0.10	c	52		chia	Salvia columbariae	50 / 9	32
0.10	l	53		Payson's wild cabbage	Caulanthus simulans	2 / 1	4
0.11	r	54	~	Fremont's goosefoot	Chenopodium fremontii	20 / 5	14
0.12	l	55		hairy-podded pepper-grass	Lepidium lasiocarpum var. lasiocarpum	30 / 1	9
0.12	l	56		desert bitterbrush	Purshia tridentata var. glandulosa	10 / 5	2
0.12	l	57		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum	40 / 9	9
0.12	l	58		side-oats grama	Bouteloua curtipendula	30 / 9	1
0.12	l	59		pinyon pine	Pinus monophylla	40 / 9	4
0.13	r	60		basketbush	Rhus trilobata	10 / 5	28
0.13	b	61		smoothleaf yerba santa	Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum⁺	20 / 5	5
0.13	r	62		desert almond	Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata	10 / 4	1
0.13	r	63		fringed amaranth	Amaranthus fimbriatus	3 / 1	7
0.13	r	64		*shortpod mustard	Hirschfeldia incana	2 / 1	54
0.13	r			Cross small drainage, which briefly joins road
				Check for Poa bigelovii vouchered from someplace between Dolomite Mine and Horsethief Creek (winter ann, cespitose, 4-16 inches high, shady places like next to rocks), and for Camissonia intermedia
0.13	r	65		white mugwort	Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. albula	10 / 5	7
0.13	r	66		scarlet bugler	Penstemon centranthifolius	20 / 5	12
0.13	l	67		birch-leaf mountain-mahogany	Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides	5 / 3	26
0.13	l	68		Parish three-awn	Aristida purpurea var. parishii	10 / 9	2
0.13	l			Small drainage exits road
0.14	r	69		climbing milkweed	Sarcostemma cynanchoides ssp. hartwegii⁺	2 / 1	6
0.14	r	70		narrow-leaved brickellia	Brickellia oblongifolia var. linifolia	20 / 5	2
0.16	r	71		*foxtail barley	Hordeum murinum	10 / 2	9
0.16				(Acton encelia, Encelia actoni)
0.17				T-jct. with road; turn right on it
0.19	l			Jct. Cactus Spring Trail; turn left and take it
0.19	l	72		desert lotus	Lotus rigidus	99 / 9	8
0.19	r			Sign: "Cactus Spring Trail 5E01 (ahead); Sawmill Trail 5E03 (right)"
0.20	l	73		Acton encelia	Encelia actoni	10 / 4	3
0.20	r			Display board: "Cactus Springs Trail ..."
0.22	r			(bigberry manzanita, Arctostaphylos glauca)
0.22	r			Sign: "Bikes prohibited in Santa Rosa Wilderness"
0.24	r			(slender bedstraw, Galium angustifolium ssp. gracillimum)
0.26	r			Jct. small drainage that joins trail
0.27	r	74		desert monardella	Monardella nana ssp. arida⁺	40 / 9	2
0.28	l	75		bigberry manzanita	Arctostaphylos glauca	50 / 9	13
0.28	l			(hollyleaf redberry, Rhamnus ilicifolia)
0.31	l	76		fluff grass	Erioneuron pulchellum	20 / 5	3
0.32				Y-jct; old road continues straight; take trail to right
0.32	r			Sign: "Cactus Spring Trail 5E01; Horsethief Creek 2 1/4 mi; Cactus Spring 4 mi; Agua Alta Spring 10 mi"
0.33	r			Wilderness Sign-In Box (for permit)
0.33	l	77		hollyleaf redberry	Rhamnus ilicifolia	5 / 5	49
0.33	l	78		California popcorn flower	Plagiobothrys collinus var. fulvescens	5 / 1	6
0.34	l	79		trailing four-o'clock	Mirabilis pumila	20 / 3	1
0.34	r	80	?	telegraph weed?	Heterotheca grandiflora?	1 / 1
0.34	l	81		western bernardia	Bernardia myricifolia	99 / 9	4
0.34	b	82		California juniper	Juniperus californica	20 / 9	4
0.34	r	83		white-bracted spineflower	Chorizanthe xanti var. leucotheca	30 / 3	1
0.34				Local low point on trail; elevation 4000 feet (1219 m)
0.36				Minor local high point on trail
0.36	l	84		Schott's calico	Loeseliastrum schottii	50 / 9	4
0.37	l	85		white-margined oxytheca	Oxytheca emarginata	50 / 9	2
0.37	l			weird popcorn flower variant with almost entirely vegetative growth; probably C. intermedia
0.37	l	86		bajada lupine	Lupinus concinnus⁺	20 / 2	20
0.37	r	87		wing-nut cryptantha	Cryptantha pterocarya	10 / 2	3
0.38	l			(bird's-foot fern, Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata)
0.38				Jct. small drainage that joins trail
0.40				Trails leaves small drainage; minor local low point on trail
0.40	r	88		bird's-foot fern	Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata	5 / 5	35
0.40	b			(beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris)
0.40	r			(lace-pod, Thysanocarpus laciniatus)
0.40	l	89		intermediate sun-cups	Camissonia intermedia	5 / 2	7
0.40	b	90		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. nodosum	20 / 5	7
0.41	l	91		golden-bowl mariposa	Calochortus concolor	50 / 9	2
0.42	r			(white sage, Salvia apiana)
0.42				Minor local high point on trail
0.43	b	92		beavertail cactus	Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris	20 / 9	23
0.44	r	93		Palmer's milk-vetch	Astragalus palmeri	50 / 9	2
0.44	r			Woodrat's nest
0.45	l	94		star gilia	Gilia stellata	50 / 9	9
0.45	r			(dense mistletoe, Phoradendron densum, on juniper)
0.46	r	95		Gander's cholla	Opuntia ganderi	5 / 5	19
0.47	r	96		woolly Indian paintbrush	Castilleja foliolosa	30 / 5	8
0.47	r	97		little-leaved chaparral beard-tongue	Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla	30 / 7	3
0.48	l			(desert apricot, Prunus fremontii)
0.49				Trail rounds ridge and curves right 90°
0.50	r	98		white sage	Salvia apiana	50 / 9	43
0.50	b	99		desert apricot	Prunus fremontii	20 / 9	7
0.51	b	100		desert bluebells	Phacelia campanularia ssp. campanularia	99 / 9	1
0.51	b			(San Jacinto beardtongue, Penstemon clevelandii var. connatus)
0.51	r	101		sweetbush	Bebbia juncea var. aspera	20 / 3	25
0.52	r	102		Coulter's snapdragon	Antirrhinum coulterianum	2 / 1	8
0.52	b	103		catclaw	Acacia greggii	30 / 7	21
0.53	r			Jct. use trail; our trail curves left
0.53	r	104		strigose lotus	Lotus strigosus	10 / 3	43
0.53	l			(California fuchsia, Epilobium canum⁺)
0.53	l	105		common monkeyflower	Mimulus guttatus	10 / 1	19
0.53	l	106	~	horseweed	Conyza canadensis	1 / 1	45
0.53				Cross Deep Canyon drainage; local low point; elevation 3880 feet (1183 m)
0.53	b	107		false monkeyflower	Mimulus pilosus	10 / 1	9
0.53	l	108		floriferous monkeyflower	Mimulus floribundus	10 / 1	11
0.53	r	109		lesser paintbrush	Castilleja minor ssp. spiralis	5 / 2	2
0.53	r	110	~	little spring beauty	Claytonia exigua ssp. exigua	10 / 2	5
0.53	l	111		*tocalote	Centaurea melitensis	10 / 1	48
0.53	l		~	(spreading fleabane, Erigeron divergens; dwarf lupine, Lupinus bicolor; Lemmon's phacelia, Phacelia lemmonii; western marsh cudweed, Gnaphalium palustre; common bedstraw, Galium aparine; ~Spanish clover, ~Lotus purshianus var. purshianus; ~few-flowered heterocodon, ~Heterocodon rariflorum)
0.53	r		sp	(canchalagua, Centaurium venustum; scarlet monkeyflower, Mimulus cardinalis; spear-leaved mountain dandelion, Agoseris retrorsa; rigid hedge-nettle, Stachys ajugoides var. rigida; dock, Rumex sp.; toad rush, Juncus bufonius var. bufonius; tumble pigweed, Amaranthus albus; iris-leaved rush, Juncus xiphioides; ~little redstem monkeyflower, ~Mimulus rubellus)
0.53	r	112		baby California brickellbush	Brickellia californica	4 / 4	30
0.53	b	113		deergrass	Muhlenbergia rigens	30 / 5	31
0.53	r	114		desert baccharis	Baccharis sergiloides	99 / 9	6
0.53	r	115		western false-indigo	Amorpha fruticosa	30 / 5	2
0.53	b	116		canyon dodder	Cuscuta subinclusa	3 / 2	2
0.53	b	117		desert olive	Forestiera pubescens	10 / 2	2
0.53	r	118		southern Chinese houses	Collinsia concolor	10 / 1	6
0.53	r	119		sticky false-gilia	Allophyllum glutinosum	10 / 3	9
0.54	r	120		southern honeysuckle	Lonicera subspicata var. denudata	20 / 9	47
0.54	l		~	(red willow, Salix laevigata)
0.55	l	121		interior live oak	Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens⁺	2 / 2	15
0.55	r	122		California thistle	Cirsium occidentale var. californicum	2 / 2	16
0.55	l			Very old junked car, truck and water tank
0.55	r	123		hollyleaf cherry	Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia	3 / 3	16
0.56				Enter marble area and the so-called "Dolomite Mine"
0.56	l			(scarlet milk-vetch, Astragalus coccineus, on north side of mine)
0.60	r			Jct. road
0.60	r	124		pancake prickly-pear	Opuntia chlorotica	10 / 4	2
0.60	l	125		San Jacinto beardtongue	Penstemon clevelandii var. connatus	40 / 9	2
0.61	l	126		lotebush	Ziziphus parryi var. parryi	30 / 9	3
0.62	b	127		thick-leaved yerba santa	Eriodictyon crassifolium var. crassifolium⁺	10 / 2	11
0.62	l		~	(perennial rock-cress, Arabis perennans)
0.62				Y-jct; stay right; old mine road is to left; local high point; elevation ~3940 feet (1200 m)
0.63	r	128		lace-pod	Thysanocarpus laciniatus	10 / 3	7
0.64				Cross small drainage and trail turns left 90°
0.73				Cross small drainage; local low point; elevation ~3900 feet (1190 m)
0.74	l			Jct. (short?) road
0.75	b	129		San Jacinto buckwheat	Eriogonum apiculatum	50 / 9	10
0.79	r	130		ashy silk tassel	Garrya flavescens	4 / 4	8
0.82	l			Jct. mine road shaped like a "U" tangent to our trail
0.83	r			Jct. road; sign: "Be prepared for hazardous conditions beyond this point"
0.83	r	131		slender bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. gracillimum	10 / 9	6
0.84				Local high point on trail; elevation ~3930 feet (1198 m)
0.85				Minor local low point on trail
0.88				Second of two minor local high points on trail; begin steep downhill - watch your footing!
0.88	r			(cane cholla, Opuntia parryi)
0.91	l	132		(young) California spear-leaved brickellia	Brickellia arguta var. arguta	3 / 3	3
0.91	l			First of several specimens of desert scrub oak, Quercus cornelius-mulleri, with some much-larger leaves that are much-greener above
0.91	r	133		beady lipfern	Cheilanthes covillei	20 / 9	3
0.92	b	134	~	perennial rock-cress	Arabis perennans	20 / 5	9
0.94	r	135		limestone phacelia	Phacelia cryptantha	50 / 9	1
0.95				Cross small drainage
0.95	l	136		dense mistletoe (on juniper)	Phoradendron densum	1 / 1	2
0.96				Now on ridge between the two close drainages; note the normal-looking Eriodictyon crassifolium plants here.
0.97	r	137		Santa Rosa Mtns. linanthus	Linanthus floribundus ssp. hallii	20 / 9	2
0.99				Trail zigzags right then left
0.99	r			First live San Jacinto beardtongue	Penstemon clevelandii var. connatus	/
0.99	r			(Fremont cottonwood, Populus fremontii ssp. fremontii)
1.00				Cross drainage; local low point; elevation ~3840 feet (1170 m)
1.00	b	138		southern goldenrod	Solidago confinis	20 / 3	2
1.01	r	139		phlox-leaved bedstraw	Galium andrewsii ssp. andrewsii⁺	30 / 5	7
1.03				Local high point on trail
1.04	r			yellow-flowered woolly Indian paintbrush	Castilleja foliolosa	/
1.05	r	140		California fuchsia	Epilobium canum	50 / 7	22
1.06	r	141		white-flowering currant	Ribes indecorum	1 / 1	28
1.06	r	142		rigid hedge-nettle	Stachys ajugoides var. rigida	10 / 2	22
1.06				Cross drainage; local low point; elevation ~3820 feet (1165 m)
1.06	b	143		arroyo willow	Salix lasiolepis	2 / 2	45
1.06	r			adult California brickellbush, Brickellia californica
1.06	l	144		southern California silver-lotus	Lotus argophyllus var. argophyllus	2 / 2	4
1.08	l			Trap-door spider's door
1.09	l	145		small-flowered nemacladus	Nemacladus sigmoideus	20 / 3	1
1.16	l			(Bigelow's monkeyflower, Mimulus bigelovii var. bigelovii)
1.17	l			Sign: "Santa Rosa Wilderness"
1.18				Local high point on trail; elevation ~3930 feet (1198 m)
1.21	r	146		rock buckwheat	Eriogonum saxatile	30 / 7	14
1.29				Cross drainage
1.30	l	147		Hall's caulanthus	Caulanthus hallii	1 / 1	2
1.30	l			(jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis)
1.34	l	148		jojoba	Simmondsia chinensis	10 / 4	12
1.39	b	149		thick-leaved ground cherry	Physalis crassifolia	10 / 2	10
1.39				Enter big patch of prickly pear cactus on unusual steep planar slope perhaps caused by undercutting of slope by creek and landsliding
1.41	l	150		Parish's poppy	Eschscholzia parishii	50 / 9	8
1.48				Cross small side drainage
1.49				Cross main drainage
1.49				Cross main drainage again
1.50	l	151		cane bluestem	Bothriochloa barbinodis	20 / 4	3
1.50				Cross main drainage again
1.50	l		~	(white desert-primrose, Oenothera caespitosa ssp. marginata)
1.51	l	152		narrowleaf willow	Salix exigua	5 / 2	11
1.51	l	153		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	5 / 3	66
1.52	l	154		annual malacothrix	Malacothrix clevelandii	10 / 2	3
1.52	l	155		western marsh cudweed	Gnaphalium palustre	5 / 1	7
1.52	l	156		eucrypta	Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia var. bipinnatifida	20 / 5	3
1.52	r	157		slender everlasting	Gnaphalium canescens ssp. thermale	10 / 3	10
1.52	r			Small drainage joins trail
1.53	l	158		blue dicks	Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum	40 / 9	51
1.53	r	159	~	virgin's bower	Clematis pauciflora	2 / 2	12
1.54	l			white blue dicks	Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum	/
1.54	l	160		silky lotus	Lotus heermannii var. heermannii	10 / 2	8
1.55	l	161		scarlet milk-vetch	Astragalus coccineus	20 / 5	1
1.60				Cross drainage to its left
1.61	r			(desert dudleya, Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides)
1.63				Cross drainage to its right
1.67	r	162		desert dudleya	Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides	20 / 5	4
1.67	r	163		desert noseburn	Tragia ramosa	5 / 1	1
1.68	b	164		smooth scouring rush	Equisetum laevigatum	5 / 3	4
1.68	r			Cross side drainage
1.70	l	165		narrowleaf monardella	Monardella linoides ssp. linoides	5 / 3	2
1.71				Minor local high point on trail
1.73				Cross creek with water; local low point on trail; elevation ~3640 feet (1110 m)
1.73	b	166		Mexican rush	Juncus mexicanus	30 / 3	26
1.73	b	167		*rabbits-foot grass	Polypogon monspeliensis	1 / 1	31
1.73	l	168	~	iris-leaved rush	Juncus xiphioides	3 / 1	5
1.73	l	169		Hooker's evening-primrose	Oenothera elata ssp. hirsutissima	1 / 1	11
1.74	r		~	(southern cattail, Typha domingensis)
1.75	r			(stream orchid, Epipactis gigantea)
1.75	r	170		velvet ash	Fraxinus velutina	2 / 2	4
1.75	r			(wild grape, Vitis girdiana)
1.83	r	171		mountain grape-soda lupine	Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus	2 / 1	9
1.84				Local high point on trail; elevation ~3740 feet (1140 m)
1.93				Check mileage to drainage
1.93				Trail joins drainage
1.99	l	172		baby teddy-bear cholla	Opuntia bigelovii	1 / 1	13
2.06				Trail leaves drainage to left
2.11				Trail crosses drainage to right
2.13				Cross major drainage which joins Horsethief Creek just downstream; local low point; elevation ~3560 feet (1085 m); (check mileage: is this actually 2.20?)
2.15				Local high point
2.16	l	173		white-stemmed blazing star	Mentzelia albicaulis	2 / 1	3
2.20	l			(Old horse corral made from manzanita branches)
2.26	l	174		big galleta	Pleuraphis rigida	3 / 3	19
2.26	r	175		California filago	Filago californica	5 / 1	24
2.26		176		spearleaf	Matelea parvifolia	1 / 1	3
2.27				Trail turns left 90°
2.27	l	177		fish-hook cactus	Mammillaria tetrancistra	3 / 2	2
2.27	r	178		Parish's viguiera	Viguiera parishii	20 / 5	11
2.28	l	179		*Bermuda grass	Cynodon dactylon	5 / 1	38
2.28				Switchback right
2.29	r	180		southern gilia	Gilia australis	/ 1	3
2.29	r	181		threadstem	Pterostegia drymarioides	1 / 1	37
2.30				Switchback left
2.31	l			mature California spear-leaved brickellia	Brickellia arguta var. arguta	/
2.31				Switchback right
2.32				Switchback left and trail curves right
2.33	l	182		Fremont cottonwood	Populus fremontii ssp. fremontii	2 / 2	13
2.33	b	183		*tall fescue	Festuca arundinacea	5 / 1	4
2.33				Cross Horsethief Creek; elevation ~3480 feet (1060 m)
2.34				Trail turns right 90°
2.35	l	184		wild tarragon	Artemisia dracunculus⁺	10 / 1	33
2.35				Y-jct; Trail is left branch; Trail to right goes to a shady rest spot; go right
2.36	l	185		honey mesquite	Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana	10 / 4	9
2.37	r	186		wild grape	Vitis girdiana	1 / 1	8
2.37	r	187	~	creeping wild rye	Leymus triticoides	10 / 1	13
2.37	l	188		Torrey's scrub oak (resembling Engelmann's oak)	Quercus acutidens (resembling Q. engelmannii)⁺	5 / 1	29
				(Along Horsethief Creek: blue-eyed grass, Sisyrinchium bellum; ~western columbine, ~Aquilegia formosa; white alder, Alnus rhombifolia; saltcedar, Tamarix ramosissima)
2.37				Return to Y-jct
2.39				Y-jct; go right
2.41	l	189	?	unk annual Asteraceae	?	1 / 1
2.42				Switchback left
2.43				Switchback right
2.44	l	190		Mexican bladder sage	Salazaria mexicana	3 / 1	1
2.46	l			(desert mistletoe, Phoradendron californicum)
2.49	l	191		pale sun-cup	Camissonia pallida ssp. pallida	20 / 5	6
2.51				Switchback right
2.53				Trail turns right 30 degrees
2.53	l	192		gravel cryptantha	Cryptantha decipiens	5 / 1	1
2.55				Switchback left
2.55	r	193		California marina	Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii	10 / 3	1
2.55				Switchback right
2.60				Saddle
2.62				Smaller saddle
2.66				Saddle
2.71				Trail is now less steep on ridge
2.71	r	194		papillate dodder	Cuscuta californica var. papillosa	3 / 1	7
2.74				Saddle; local high point; trail now descends to eventually join wash
2.79				Saddle
2.83	l		~	(Ziegler's aster, Machaeranthera canescens var. ziegleri)
2.86				Join wash
2.88	l			(Different Ericameria high on cliff?)
2.97	b	195		*saltcedar	Tamarix ramosissima	50 / 9	6
3.06				Y-jct in wash; stay right
3.07		196		slender wreathplant	Stephanomeria exigua ssp. exigua	20 / 9	2
3.15	l	197		long-leaved rush	Juncus macrophyllus	5 / 2	8
3.31	r	198		blue-eyed grass	Sisyrinchium bellum	20 / 2	22
3.48				Y-jct in wash; stay right
3.51				Rejoin other branch of wash
3.56				Leave entrenched wash near here
3.64	r	199	~	California evening-primrose	Oenothera californica ssp. avita	10 / 2	1
3.74	l	200		spotted buckwheat	Eriogonum maculatum	30 / 3	1
3.95	l			Hillside of California marina, Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii
3.96	l			Hillside of California marina, Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii
3.97	r			Sign: "Trail"
4.05	l			Sign: "Trail"
4.09				Local high point
4.14	l			Sign: "Trail"; local high point
4.36	r	201		southern mountain woolly-star	Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum	30 / 3	17
4.42	r			Sign: "Trail"
4.45	r			Y-jct; stay right; Sign: "Trail"
4.51	l			Sign: "Trail"
4.63				Jct. wash with Cactus Spring; go left to the Spring
4.66	l	202	?	unk similar to Epilobium brachycarpum, but may be perennial
4.66				Cactus Spring; return to trail
4.69				Jct. trail; go left
4.77	l			Sign: "Trail"
4.90	r			Trail parallels creek for a short distance; next species is in Creek to right
4.93	r	203		desert-willow	Chilopsis linearis ssp. arcuata	20 / 1	8
4.93				End Plant Guide; the following are approximate mileages to points farther along the trail
5.32				Cross creek
8.81				Saddle between Deep Canyon and Martinez Canyon

Go to:

Checklist of Cactus Spring Trail in traditional family order.
Flora of the Santa Rosa Mountains
Plants of Southern California: Trail Guides

Copyright © 2006-2008 by Tom Chester, James Dillane, Dave Stith, Kay Madore, Erik Blume and Anne Kelly.
Permission is freely granted to reproduce any or all of this page as long as credit is given to us at this source:
http://tchester.org/sb/plants/guides/cactus_spring.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Updated 7 June 2008.