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.
And what a delightful trail it is! It traverses absolutely beautiful country, beginning at an elevation of ~4000 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 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.
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. It has only been surveyed twice so far, in October and November 2006, and hence is very incomplete for annuals and has many uncertain identifications.
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 a large number of taxa found only here and not in any other plant trail guides we've done in southern California. Just in the first 1.4 miles, as of 11/14/06, 17 of the 102 taxa are present only here among all of the 96 trails throughout southern California in our database!
Of course, the vast majority of the 96 trails are on the coastal side of the mountains, so it is not terribly surprising that there would be many taxa here not found in the coastal areas. Of the 96 trails, there are seven trails in similar areas on the desert side of the southern California mountains: one trail on the desert side of the San Gabriel Mountains, and six trails in the Borrego Springs area of the Anza-Borrego Desert.
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 taxa found only on this guide or on only a single other plant trail guide, as of 11/14/06, are:

# Guides Family Scientific Name Common Name
1 Asteraceae Brickellia oblongifolia var. linifolia narrow-leaved brickellia
1 Cactaceae Opuntia erinacea var. erinacea Mojave prickly-pear
1 Fabaceae Amorpha fruticosa western false-indigo
1 Lamiaceae Monardella nana ssp. arida desert monardella
1 Malvaceae Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa desert globemallow
1 Nyctaginaceae Mirabilis pumila trailing four-o'clock
1 Polemoniaceae Eriastrum eremicum ssp. eremicum desert woolly-star
1 Polemoniaceae Linanthus floribundus ssp. hallii Santa Rosa Mtns. linanthus
1 Polygonaceae Eriogonum deflexum var. deflexum flat-topped buckwheat
1 Rosaceae Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata desert almond
1 Rutaceae Thamnosma montana turpentine broom
1 Scrophulariaceae Penstemon clevelandii var. connatus San Jacinto beardtongue
1 Viscaceae Phoradendron densum dense mistletoe
1 Liliaceae Nolina parryi Parry's nolina
1 Poaceae Bouteloua curtipendula side-oats grama
1 Poaceae Erioneuron pulchellum fluff grass
2 Asteraceae Encelia actoni Acton's encelia
2 Asteraceae Solidago confinis southern goldenrod
2 Cuscutaceae Cuscuta subinclusa canyon dodder
2 Fagaceae Quercus cornelius-mulleri desert scrub oak
2 Nyctaginaceae Mirabilis multiflora var. pubescens giant four o'clock
2 Oleaceae Forestiera pubescens desert olive
2 Rosaceae Purshia tridentata var. glandulosa desert bitterbrush
2 Scrophulariaceae Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla little-leaved chaparral beard-tongue
2 Poaceae Aristida purpurea var. parishii Parish three-awn

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 96 trails in our database when this histogram was made; 1 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 "1" or smaller may indicate taxa found only in this area of Santa Rosa Mountains.
Since so far this is the only trail in the Santa Rosa Mountains, there are a large number of species unique to this trail in our database.

Number of Trails
Containing A Taxon Number Of Taxa
On This Trail % of Taxa
On This Trail
1 17 14%
2 11 9%
3 11 9%
4 12 10%
5 6 5%

1-5 57 48%
6-10 21 18%
11-15 10 8%
16-20 6 5%
21-25 6 5%
26-30 7 6%
31-35 3 3%
36-40 2 2%
41-45 1 1%
46-50 1 1%
51-55 1 1%
56-60 3 3%
Total Taxa 118 100%

We found 9 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

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.
We thank Dave Stith for help with the fieldwork on 11/12/06 and 11/16/06.
Botanical Trip Reports

The Plant Guide

The mileages in the guide have been fit to Topo!, which probably means the mileages are a bit on the low side.
Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (8 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (2 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
0.00 b 1 matchweed Gutierrezia sarothrae⁺ 99 / 9 12
0.00 r 2 red shanks Adenostoma sparsifolium 99 / 9 3
0.00 l 3 Pima rhatany Krameria erecta 30 / 9 4
0.00 l 4 desert scrub oak Quercus cornelius-mulleri 99 / 9 2
0.00 b 5 sp Vasey's prickly-pear? Opuntia vaseyi?⁺ 50 / 9
0.00 r 6 ~ narrowleaf goldenbush Ericameria linearifolia 50 / 9 5
0.00 r 7 Parish's needlegrass Achnatherum parishii 50 / 9 8
0.00 b 8 Engelmann's hedgehog cactus Echinocereus engelmannii 30 / 9 6
0.00 b 9 ~ Davidson's buckwheat Eriogonum davidsonii 30 / 9 19
0.00 b 10 ~ *red brome Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens 30 / 1 57
0.00 r 11 ~ bristly bird's beak Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus⁺ 99 / 9 30
0.00 l 12 rattlesnake weed Chamaesyce albomarginata 30 / 9 12
0.00 l 13 *redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium 99 / 9 58
0.00 l 14 cupped-leaf ceanothus Ceanothus greggii var. perplexans 30 / 9 8
0.00 l 15 chaparral yucca Yucca whipplei 50 / 9 33
0.00 l 16 sp peppergrass or tansy-mustard Lepidium or Descurainia sp. 10 / 1
0.00 End fence
0.00 b 17 Mojave prickly-pear Opuntia erinacea var. erinacea 30 / 9 1
0.00 r 18 ~ short-winged deerweed Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus⁺ 99 / 9 25
0.00 l 19 sugar bush Rhus ovata 30 / 9 27
0.00 l 20 sp popcorn flower Cryptantha sp. 10 / 3
0.00 b 21 desert globemallow Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa 20 / 3 1
0.00 b 22 California buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium 50 / 9 20
0.00 r Signpost: "Please stay on designated routes only"
0.01 b 23 Mohave yucca Yucca schidigera 30 / 9 8
0.01 r 24 desert agave Agave deserti 30 / 9 5
0.02 r 25 wire-lettuce Stephanomeria pauciflora var. pauciflora 5 / 1 9
0.02 b 26 ~ *tumble-mustard Sisymbrium altissimum⁺ 20 / 3 11
0.02 l 27 oak mistletoe Phoradendron villosum 1 / 1 6
0.02 l (fringed amaranth, Amaranthus fimbriatus; western bernardia, Bernardia myricifolia)
0.03 r 28 desert needlegrass Achnatherum speciosum 50 / 9 3
0.03 r 29 *downy brome Bromus tectorum 99 / 9 24
0.03 l 30 San Felipe dogweed Adenophyllum porophylloides 30 / 9 5
0.03 r 31 ~ desert woolly-star Eriastrum eremicum ssp. eremicum 5 / 2 1
0.03 l (fluff grass, Erioneuron pulchellum)
0.03 r 32 Parry's nolina Nolina parryi 30 / 9 1
0.05 l (California juniper, Juniperus californica; lotebush, Ziziphus parryi var. parryi)
0.07 l 33 turpentine broom Thamnosma montana 10 / 9 1
0.09 r (pinyon pine, Pinus monophylla)
0.11 34 sp prostrate annual grass ? 1 / 1
0.12 l 35 ~ desert bitterbrush Purshia tridentata var. glandulosa 10 / 2 2
0.12 l 36 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum 40 / 9 3
0.12 l 37 side-oats grama Bouteloua curtipendula 30 / 9 1
0.12 l 38 pinyon pine Pinus monophylla 20 / 9 3
0.13 r 39 basketbush Rhus trilobata 3 / 2 26
0.13 b 40 smoothleaf yerba santa Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum⁺ 10 / 3 4
0.13 r 41 ~ desert almond Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata 5 / 2 1
0.13 r 42 fringed amaranth Amaranthus fimbriatus 3 / 1 6
0.13 r 43 *shortpod mustard Hirschfeldia incana 2 / 1 52
0.13 r (bur-ragweed, Ambrosia acanthicarpa)
0.13 r Cross small drainage, which briefly joins road
0.13 r 44 white mugwort Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. albula 10 / 5 4
0.13 r 45 ~ scarlet bugler Penstemon centranthifolius 5 / 1 10
0.13 l 46 birch-leaf mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides 5 / 3 21
0.13 47 Parish three-awn Aristida purpurea var. parishii 10 / 9 2
0.13 l Small drainage exits road
0.13 l sp (suncup, Camissonia sp.; grass with spreading inflorescence like poa)
0.13 r 48 giant four o'clock Mirabilis multiflora var. pubescens 5 / 3 2
0.14 r 49 climbing milkweed Sarcostemma cynanchoides ssp. hartwegii⁺ 2 / 1 6
0.14 r 50 narrow-leaved brickellia Brickellia oblongifolia var. linifolia 10 / 3 1
0.16 b 51 bur-ragweed Ambrosia acanthicarpa 5 / 1 19
0.16 (Acton's 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 r Sign: "Cactus Spring Trail 5E01 (ahead); Sawmill Trail 5E03 (right)"
0.20 l 52 Acton's encelia Encelia actoni 5 / 2 2
0.20 r Display board: "Cactus Springs Trail ..."
0.21 l 53 desert lotus Lotus rigidus 50 / 9 4
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
0.28 l 54 bigberry manzanita Arctostaphylos glauca 50 / 9 11
0.28 l (hollyleaf redberry, Rhamnus ilicifolia)
0.31 l (chia, Salvia columbariae)
0.31 l 55 fluff grass Erioneuron pulchellum 20 / 5 1
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 56 hollyleaf redberry Rhamnus ilicifolia 5 / 5 46
0.34 l 57 trailing four-o'clock Mirabilis pumila 20 / 3 1
0.34 l 58 western bernardia Bernardia myricifolia 99 / 9 3
0.34 b 59 California juniper Juniperus californica 10 / 9 3
0.34 Local low point on trail; elevation 4000 feet (1219 m)
0.36 Minor local high point on trail
0.38 l (bird's-foot fern, Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata)
0.38 l 60 chia Salvia columbariae 30 / 9 24
0.38 Jct. small drainage that joins trail
0.40 Trails leaves small drainage; minor local low point on trail
0.40 b (beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris)
0.40 l Definite bristly bird's beak, Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus, here
0.40 l 61 odora Porophyllum gracile 20 / 9 9
0.40 b 62 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. nodosum 20 / 5 4
0.42 Minor local high point on trail
0.43 b 63 beavertail cactus Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris 20 / 9 10
0.43 r 64 sp fescue? Vulpia? sp. 20 / 1
0.44 r 65 sp milk-vetch Astragalus sp. 20 / 2
0.44 r Woodrat's nest
0.46 r 66 Gander's cholla Opuntia ganderi 2 / 2 7
0.47 r 67 woolly Indian paintbrush Castilleja foliolosa 30 / 5 7
0.47 r 68 little-leaved chaparral beard-tongue Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla 20 / 5 2
0.48 l (desert apricot, Prunus fremontii)
0.49 Trail rounds ridge and curves right 90°
0.50 r 69 white sage Salvia apiana 30 / 9 39
0.50 b 70 desert apricot Prunus fremontii 20 / 9 4
0.51 b (San Jacinto beardtongue, Penstemon clevelandii var. connatus)
0.51 r 71 sweetbush Bebbia juncea var. aspera 20 / 9 12
0.52 r 72 catclaw Acacia greggii 20 / 5 6
0.53 r Jct. use trail; our trail curves left
0.53 l (California fuchsia, Epilobium canum⁺)
0.53 Cross Deep Canyon drainage; local low point; elevation 3880 feet (1183 m)
0.53 r 73 baby California brickellbush Brickellia californica 3 / 3 29
0.53 b 74 deergrass Muhlenbergia rigens 30 / 5 23
0.53 r 75 desert baccharis Baccharis sergiloides 30 / 5 2
0.53 r 76 ~ western false-indigo Amorpha fruticosa 20 / 4 1
0.53 b 77 canyon dodder Cuscuta subinclusa 3 / 2 2
0.53 b 78 desert olive Forestiera pubescens 10 / 1 2
0.54 r 79 southern honeysuckle Lonicera subspicata var. denudata 10 / 9 42
0.54 l ~ (red willow, Salix laevigata)
0.55 l 80 interior live oak Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens⁺ 1 / 1 10
0.55 l Very old junked car, truck and water tank
0.55 r 81 hollyleaf cherry Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia 2 / 2 13
0.56 Enter marble area and the so-called "Dolomite Mine"
0.59 l (pancake prickly-pear, Opuntia chlorotica)
0.60 r Jct. road
0.60 l 82 San Jacinto beardtongue Penstemon clevelandii var. connatus 20 / 5 1
0.61 l 83 lotebush Ziziphus parryi var. parryi 20 / 9 3
0.62 b 84 thick-leaved yerba santa Eriodictyon crassifolium var. crassifolium⁺ 10 / 2 8
0.62 Y-jct; stay right; old mine road is to left; local high point; elevation ~3940 feet (1200 m)
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 85 ~ flat-topped buckwheat Eriogonum deflexum var. deflexum 20 / 1 1
0.76 r Check for different Cryptantha and Astragalus
0.79 r 86 ashy silk tassel Garrya flavescens 3 / 3 7
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 87 slender bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. gracillimum 10 / 9 4
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 88 sp mariposa lily Calochortus sp. 10 / 5
0.91 r 89 ~ desert monardella Monardella nana ssp. arida⁺ 30 / 5 1
0.91 l 90 ssp California spear-leaved brickellia Brickellia arguta 1 / 1
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 91 beady lipfern Cheilanthes covillei 20 / 9 3
0.92 b 92 ~ perennial rock-cress Arabis perennans 20 / 5 4
0.95 Cross small drainage
0.95 l 93 dense mistletoe (on juniper) Phoradendron densum 1 / 1 1
0.96 Now on ridge between the two close drainages; note the normal-looking Eriodictyon crassifolium plants here.
0.97 r 94 Santa Rosa Mtns. linanthus Linanthus floribundus ssp. hallii 20 / 9 1
0.99 Trail zigzags right then left
0.99 r (Fremont cottonwood, Populus fremontii ssp. fremontii)
1.00 Cross drainage; local low point; elevation ~3840 feet (1170 m)
1.00 b 95 southern goldenrod Solidago confinis 20 / 3 2
1.01 r 96 ~ phlox-leaved bedstraw Galium andrewsii ssp. andrewsii⁺ 30 / 5 5
1.03 Local high point on trail
1.05 r 97 California fuchsia Epilobium canum 50 / 7 17
1.06 r Check if these young stems are Baccharis sergiloides or Solanum sp.
1.06 r 98 white-flowering currant Ribes indecorum 1 / 1 26
1.06 r 99 rigid hedge-nettle Stachys ajugoides var. rigida 10 / 2 18
1.06 Cross drainage; local low point; elevation ~3820 feet (1165 m)
1.06 b 100 arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis 1 / 1 38
1.06 r adult California brickellbush, Brickellia californica
1.06 l 101 ~ southern California silver-lotus Lotus argophyllus var. argophyllus 1 / 1 3
1.08 l Trap-door spider's door
1.11 r 102 bird's-foot fern Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata 3 / 3 31
1.17 l Sign: "Santa Rosa Wilderness"
1.18 Local high point on trail; elevation ~3930 feet (1198 m)
1.21 r 103 rock buckwheat Eriogonum saxatile 20 / 5 12
1.29 Cross drainage
1.30 l (jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis)
1.34 l 104 jojoba Simmondsia chinensis 2 / 2 4
1.39 b 105 thick-leaved ground cherry Physalis crassifolia 10 / 2 5
1.39 Enter big patch of prickly pear cactus on unusual steep planar slope perhaps caused by undercutting of slope by creek and landsliding
1.47 r 106 sp like poa with spreading inflorescence ? /
1.48 Cross small side drainage
1.49 Cross main drainage
1.49 Cross main drainage again
1.50 l 107 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 108 narrowleaf willow Salix exigua 5 / 2 10
1.52 r 109 slender everlasting Gnaphalium canescens ssp. thermale 10 / 3 4
1.52 r Small drainage joins trail
1.60 Cross drainage to its left
1.61 r (desert dudleya, Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides)
1.63 Cross drainage to its right
1.66 r 110 ~ California thistle Cirsium occidentale var. californicum 1 / 1 13
1.67 r 111 ~ desert dudleya Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides 10 / 2 3
1.68 b 112 smooth scouring rush Equisetum laevigatum 5 / 3 4
1.68 r Cross side drainage
1.70 l 113 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 114 Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus 10 / 1 19
1.73 b 115 *rabbits-foot grass Polypogon monspeliensis 1 / 1 27
1.73 l 116 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 117 ~ velvet ash Fraxinus velutina 1 / 1 4
1.75 r (wild grape, Vitis girdiana)
1.77 r 118 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 1 / 1 59
1.83 r 119 mountain grape-soda lupine Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus 2 / 1 7
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 120 baby teddy-bear cholla Opuntia bigelovii 1 / 1 7
2.01 l 121 pancake prickly-pear Opuntia chlorotica 5 / 2 1
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
2.20 l (Old horse corral made from manzanita branches)
2.27 Trail turns left 90°
2.28 Switchback right
2.30 Switchback left
2.31 Switchback right
2.32 Switchback left
2.33 l 122 Fremont cottonwood Populus fremontii ssp. fremontii 1 / 1 12
2.34 Cross Horsethief Creek; elevation ~3480 feet (1060 m)
2.34 Trail turns right 90°
2.35 l 123 ~ wild tarragon Artemisia dracunculus 10 / 1 22
2.35 Y-jct; Trail is left branch; shady rest spot is right branch; go right
2.36 l 124 honey mesquite Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana 1 / 1 5
2.37 r 125 wild grape Vitis girdiana 1 / 1 8
2.37 r 126 *Bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon 10 / 1 35
2.37 l 127 Torrey's scrub oak Quercus acutidens⁺ 5 / 1 27
(Just upstream: ~spreading fleabane, ~Erigeron divergens)

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?. The online vouchers for this area are all for "O. phaeacantha", but that is true for many specimens that are actually O. vaseyi. 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. 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.
Hence we've placed O. vaseyi as the tentative possible identification for these specimens (note the question mark on it above!), but the determination will have to await flowers.
Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus. Almost all the specimens on the trail are dead annuals from 2005; only a few specimens grew in 2006, which were positively identified later on the trail.
Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus. Most specimens were leafless when surveyed; a single specimen at mile 0.04 on the trail was in full bloom and positively identified.
Sisymbrium altissimum. The plants here were all dead when surveyed, but we observed similar dead plants several miles up SR74, along with a live specimen of Sisymbrium altissimum.
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 was based on observing dead flowers in peduncled umbels with 5 pedicelled flowers, along with leaves significantly longer than the leaves of Matelea parvifolia. If this determination is correct, these plants, at 4000 feet elevation, are possibly the highest-elevation specimens of Sarcostemma cynanchoides ssp. hartwegii; Munz only gives it below 2000 feet. These specimens are high even for Matelea parvifolia, which Munz gives only at 2000-3000 feet.
We will try to verify the determination from flowers in the future.
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.
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.
Monardella nana ssp. arida, Galium andrewsii ssp. andrewsii. These two species are intimately associated on this trail. Except for the very first occurrence of Monardella nana, if you see one of these species, you'll find the other within a few feet.

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

# Guides	Family	Scientific Name	Common Name
1	Asteraceae	Brickellia oblongifolia var. linifolia	narrow-leaved brickellia
1	Cactaceae	Opuntia erinacea var. erinacea	Mojave prickly-pear
1	Fabaceae	Amorpha fruticosa	western false-indigo
1	Lamiaceae	Monardella nana ssp. arida	desert monardella
1	Malvaceae	Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa	desert globemallow
1	Nyctaginaceae	Mirabilis pumila	trailing four-o'clock
1	Polemoniaceae	Eriastrum eremicum ssp. eremicum	desert woolly-star
1	Polemoniaceae	Linanthus floribundus ssp. hallii	Santa Rosa Mtns. linanthus
1	Polygonaceae	Eriogonum deflexum var. deflexum	flat-topped buckwheat
1	Rosaceae	Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata	desert almond
1	Rutaceae	Thamnosma montana	turpentine broom
1	Scrophulariaceae	Penstemon clevelandii var. connatus	San Jacinto beardtongue
1	Viscaceae	Phoradendron densum	dense mistletoe
1	Liliaceae	Nolina parryi	Parry's nolina
1	Poaceae	Bouteloua curtipendula	side-oats grama
1	Poaceae	Erioneuron pulchellum	fluff grass
2	Asteraceae	Encelia actoni	Acton's encelia
2	Asteraceae	Solidago confinis	southern goldenrod
2	Cuscutaceae	Cuscuta subinclusa	canyon dodder
2	Fagaceae	Quercus cornelius-mulleri	desert scrub oak
2	Nyctaginaceae	Mirabilis multiflora var. pubescens	giant four o'clock
2	Oleaceae	Forestiera pubescens	desert olive
2	Rosaceae	Purshia tridentata var. glandulosa	desert bitterbrush
2	Scrophulariaceae	Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla	little-leaved chaparral beard-tongue
2	Poaceae	Aristida purpurea var. parishii	Parish three-awn

Number of Trails Containing A Taxon	Number Of Taxa On This Trail	% of Taxa On This Trail
1	17	14%
2	11	9%
3	11	9%
4	12	10%
5	6	5%

1-5	57	48%
6-10	21	18%
11-15	10	8%
16-20	6	5%
21-25	6	5%
26-30	7	6%
31-35	3	3%
36-40	2	2%
41-45	1	1%
46-50	1	1%
51-55	1	1%
56-60	3	3%
Total Taxa	118	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

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
0.00	b	1		matchweed	Gutierrezia sarothrae⁺	99 / 9	12
0.00	r	2		red shanks	Adenostoma sparsifolium	99 / 9	3
0.00	l	3		Pima rhatany	Krameria erecta	30 / 9	4
0.00	l	4		desert scrub oak	Quercus cornelius-mulleri	99 / 9	2
0.00	b	5	sp	Vasey's prickly-pear?	Opuntia vaseyi?⁺	50 / 9
0.00	r	6	~	narrowleaf goldenbush	Ericameria linearifolia	50 / 9	5
0.00	r	7		Parish's needlegrass	Achnatherum parishii	50 / 9	8
0.00	b	8		Engelmann's hedgehog cactus	Echinocereus engelmannii	30 / 9	6
0.00	b	9	~	Davidson's buckwheat	Eriogonum davidsonii	30 / 9	19
0.00	b	10	~	*red brome	Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens	30 / 1	57
0.00	r	11	~	bristly bird's beak	Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus⁺	99 / 9	30
0.00	l	12		rattlesnake weed	Chamaesyce albomarginata	30 / 9	12
0.00	l	13		*redstem filaree	Erodium cicutarium	99 / 9	58
0.00	l	14		cupped-leaf ceanothus	Ceanothus greggii var. perplexans	30 / 9	8
0.00	l	15		chaparral yucca	Yucca whipplei	50 / 9	33
0.00	l	16	sp	peppergrass or tansy-mustard	Lepidium or Descurainia sp.	10 / 1
0.00				End fence
0.00	b	17		Mojave prickly-pear	Opuntia erinacea var. erinacea	30 / 9	1
0.00	r	18	~	short-winged deerweed	Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus⁺	99 / 9	25
0.00	l	19		sugar bush	Rhus ovata	30 / 9	27
0.00	l	20	sp	popcorn flower	Cryptantha sp.	10 / 3
0.00	b	21		desert globemallow	Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa	20 / 3	1
0.00	b	22		California buckwheat	Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium	50 / 9	20
0.00	r			Signpost: "Please stay on designated routes only"
0.01	b	23		Mohave yucca	Yucca schidigera	30 / 9	8
0.01	r	24		desert agave	Agave deserti	30 / 9	5
0.02	r	25		wire-lettuce	Stephanomeria pauciflora var. pauciflora	5 / 1	9
0.02	b	26	~	*tumble-mustard	Sisymbrium altissimum⁺	20 / 3	11
0.02	l	27		oak mistletoe	Phoradendron villosum	1 / 1	6
0.02	l			(fringed amaranth, Amaranthus fimbriatus; western bernardia, Bernardia myricifolia)
0.03	r	28		desert needlegrass	Achnatherum speciosum	50 / 9	3
0.03	r	29		*downy brome	Bromus tectorum	99 / 9	24
0.03	l	30		San Felipe dogweed	Adenophyllum porophylloides	30 / 9	5
0.03	r	31	~	desert woolly-star	Eriastrum eremicum ssp. eremicum	5 / 2	1
0.03	l			(fluff grass, Erioneuron pulchellum)
0.03	r	32		Parry's nolina	Nolina parryi	30 / 9	1
0.05	l			(California juniper, Juniperus californica; lotebush, Ziziphus parryi var. parryi)
0.07	l	33		turpentine broom	Thamnosma montana	10 / 9	1
0.09	r			(pinyon pine, Pinus monophylla)
0.11		34	sp	prostrate annual grass	?	1 / 1
0.12	l	35	~	desert bitterbrush	Purshia tridentata var. glandulosa	10 / 2	2
0.12	l	36		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum	40 / 9	3
0.12	l	37		side-oats grama	Bouteloua curtipendula	30 / 9	1
0.12	l	38		pinyon pine	Pinus monophylla	20 / 9	3
0.13	r	39		basketbush	Rhus trilobata	3 / 2	26
0.13	b	40		smoothleaf yerba santa	Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. lanatum⁺	10 / 3	4
0.13	r	41	~	desert almond	Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata	5 / 2	1
0.13	r	42		fringed amaranth	Amaranthus fimbriatus	3 / 1	6
0.13	r	43		*shortpod mustard	Hirschfeldia incana	2 / 1	52
0.13	r			(bur-ragweed, Ambrosia acanthicarpa)
0.13	r			Cross small drainage, which briefly joins road
0.13	r	44		white mugwort	Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. albula	10 / 5	4
0.13	r	45	~	scarlet bugler	Penstemon centranthifolius	5 / 1	10
0.13	l	46		birch-leaf mountain-mahogany	Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides	5 / 3	21
0.13		47		Parish three-awn	Aristida purpurea var. parishii	10 / 9	2
0.13	l			Small drainage exits road
0.13	l		sp	(suncup, Camissonia sp.; grass with spreading inflorescence like poa)
0.13	r	48		giant four o'clock	Mirabilis multiflora var. pubescens	5 / 3	2
0.14	r	49		climbing milkweed	Sarcostemma cynanchoides ssp. hartwegii⁺	2 / 1	6
0.14	r	50		narrow-leaved brickellia	Brickellia oblongifolia var. linifolia	10 / 3	1
0.16	b	51		bur-ragweed	Ambrosia acanthicarpa	5 / 1	19
0.16				(Acton's 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	r			Sign: "Cactus Spring Trail 5E01 (ahead); Sawmill Trail 5E03 (right)"
0.20	l	52		Acton's encelia	Encelia actoni	5 / 2	2
0.20	r			Display board: "Cactus Springs Trail ..."
0.21	l	53		desert lotus	Lotus rigidus	50 / 9	4
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
0.28	l	54		bigberry manzanita	Arctostaphylos glauca	50 / 9	11
0.28	l			(hollyleaf redberry, Rhamnus ilicifolia)
0.31	l			(chia, Salvia columbariae)
0.31	l	55		fluff grass	Erioneuron pulchellum	20 / 5	1
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	56		hollyleaf redberry	Rhamnus ilicifolia	5 / 5	46
0.34	l	57		trailing four-o'clock	Mirabilis pumila	20 / 3	1
0.34	l	58		western bernardia	Bernardia myricifolia	99 / 9	3
0.34	b	59		California juniper	Juniperus californica	10 / 9	3
0.34				Local low point on trail; elevation 4000 feet (1219 m)
0.36				Minor local high point on trail
0.38	l			(bird's-foot fern, Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata)
0.38	l	60		chia	Salvia columbariae	30 / 9	24
0.38				Jct. small drainage that joins trail
0.40				Trails leaves small drainage; minor local low point on trail
0.40	b			(beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris)
0.40	l			Definite bristly bird's beak, Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus, here
0.40	l	61		odora	Porophyllum gracile	20 / 9	9
0.40	b	62		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. nodosum	20 / 5	4
0.42				Minor local high point on trail
0.43	b	63		beavertail cactus	Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris	20 / 9	10
0.43	r	64	sp	fescue?	Vulpia? sp.	20 / 1
0.44	r	65	sp	milk-vetch	Astragalus sp.	20 / 2
0.44	r			Woodrat's nest
0.46	r	66		Gander's cholla	Opuntia ganderi	2 / 2	7
0.47	r	67		woolly Indian paintbrush	Castilleja foliolosa	30 / 5	7
0.47	r	68		little-leaved chaparral beard-tongue	Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla	20 / 5	2
0.48	l			(desert apricot, Prunus fremontii)
0.49				Trail rounds ridge and curves right 90°
0.50	r	69		white sage	Salvia apiana	30 / 9	39
0.50	b	70		desert apricot	Prunus fremontii	20 / 9	4
0.51	b			(San Jacinto beardtongue, Penstemon clevelandii var. connatus)
0.51	r	71		sweetbush	Bebbia juncea var. aspera	20 / 9	12
0.52	r	72		catclaw	Acacia greggii	20 / 5	6
0.53	r			Jct. use trail; our trail curves left
0.53	l			(California fuchsia, Epilobium canum⁺)
0.53				Cross Deep Canyon drainage; local low point; elevation 3880 feet (1183 m)
0.53	r	73		baby California brickellbush	Brickellia californica	3 / 3	29
0.53	b	74		deergrass	Muhlenbergia rigens	30 / 5	23
0.53	r	75		desert baccharis	Baccharis sergiloides	30 / 5	2
0.53	r	76	~	western false-indigo	Amorpha fruticosa	20 / 4	1
0.53	b	77		canyon dodder	Cuscuta subinclusa	3 / 2	2
0.53	b	78		desert olive	Forestiera pubescens	10 / 1	2
0.54	r	79		southern honeysuckle	Lonicera subspicata var. denudata	10 / 9	42
0.54	l		~	(red willow, Salix laevigata)
0.55	l	80		interior live oak	Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens⁺	1 / 1	10
0.55	l			Very old junked car, truck and water tank
0.55	r	81		hollyleaf cherry	Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia	2 / 2	13
0.56				Enter marble area and the so-called "Dolomite Mine"
0.59	l			(pancake prickly-pear, Opuntia chlorotica)
0.60	r			Jct. road
0.60	l	82		San Jacinto beardtongue	Penstemon clevelandii var. connatus	20 / 5	1
0.61	l	83		lotebush	Ziziphus parryi var. parryi	20 / 9	3
0.62	b	84		thick-leaved yerba santa	Eriodictyon crassifolium var. crassifolium⁺	10 / 2	8
0.62				Y-jct; stay right; old mine road is to left; local high point; elevation ~3940 feet (1200 m)
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	85	~	flat-topped buckwheat	Eriogonum deflexum var. deflexum	20 / 1	1
0.76	r			Check for different Cryptantha and Astragalus
0.79	r	86		ashy silk tassel	Garrya flavescens	3 / 3	7
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	87		slender bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. gracillimum	10 / 9	4
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	88	sp	mariposa lily	Calochortus sp.	10 / 5
0.91	r	89	~	desert monardella	Monardella nana ssp. arida⁺	30 / 5	1
0.91	l	90	ssp	California spear-leaved brickellia	Brickellia arguta	1 / 1
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	91		beady lipfern	Cheilanthes covillei	20 / 9	3
0.92	b	92	~	perennial rock-cress	Arabis perennans	20 / 5	4
0.95				Cross small drainage
0.95	l	93		dense mistletoe (on juniper)	Phoradendron densum	1 / 1	1
0.96				Now on ridge between the two close drainages; note the normal-looking Eriodictyon crassifolium plants here.
0.97	r	94		Santa Rosa Mtns. linanthus	Linanthus floribundus ssp. hallii	20 / 9	1
0.99				Trail zigzags right then left
0.99	r			(Fremont cottonwood, Populus fremontii ssp. fremontii)
1.00				Cross drainage; local low point; elevation ~3840 feet (1170 m)
1.00	b	95		southern goldenrod	Solidago confinis	20 / 3	2
1.01	r	96	~	phlox-leaved bedstraw	Galium andrewsii ssp. andrewsii⁺	30 / 5	5
1.03				Local high point on trail
1.05	r	97		California fuchsia	Epilobium canum	50 / 7	17
1.06	r			Check if these young stems are Baccharis sergiloides or Solanum sp.
1.06	r	98		white-flowering currant	Ribes indecorum	1 / 1	26
1.06	r	99		rigid hedge-nettle	Stachys ajugoides var. rigida	10 / 2	18
1.06				Cross drainage; local low point; elevation ~3820 feet (1165 m)
1.06	b	100		arroyo willow	Salix lasiolepis	1 / 1	38
1.06	r			adult California brickellbush, Brickellia californica
1.06	l	101	~	southern California silver-lotus	Lotus argophyllus var. argophyllus	1 / 1	3
1.08	l			Trap-door spider's door
1.11	r	102		bird's-foot fern	Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata	3 / 3	31
1.17	l			Sign: "Santa Rosa Wilderness"
1.18				Local high point on trail; elevation ~3930 feet (1198 m)
1.21	r	103		rock buckwheat	Eriogonum saxatile	20 / 5	12
1.29				Cross drainage
1.30	l			(jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis)
1.34	l	104		jojoba	Simmondsia chinensis	2 / 2	4
1.39	b	105		thick-leaved ground cherry	Physalis crassifolia	10 / 2	5
1.39				Enter big patch of prickly pear cactus on unusual steep planar slope perhaps caused by undercutting of slope by creek and landsliding
1.47	r	106	sp	like poa with spreading inflorescence	?	/
1.48				Cross small side drainage
1.49				Cross main drainage
1.49				Cross main drainage again
1.50	l	107		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	108		narrowleaf willow	Salix exigua	5 / 2	10
1.52	r	109		slender everlasting	Gnaphalium canescens ssp. thermale	10 / 3	4
1.52	r			Small drainage joins trail
1.60				Cross drainage to its left
1.61	r			(desert dudleya, Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides)
1.63				Cross drainage to its right
1.66	r	110	~	California thistle	Cirsium occidentale var. californicum	1 / 1	13
1.67	r	111	~	desert dudleya	Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides	10 / 2	3
1.68	b	112		smooth scouring rush	Equisetum laevigatum	5 / 3	4
1.68	r			Cross side drainage
1.70	l	113		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	114		Mexican rush	Juncus mexicanus	10 / 1	19
1.73	b	115		*rabbits-foot grass	Polypogon monspeliensis	1 / 1	27
1.73	l	116		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	117	~	velvet ash	Fraxinus velutina	1 / 1	4
1.75	r			(wild grape, Vitis girdiana)
1.77	r	118		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	1 / 1	59
1.83	r	119		mountain grape-soda lupine	Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus	2 / 1	7
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	120		baby teddy-bear cholla	Opuntia bigelovii	1 / 1	7
2.01	l	121		pancake prickly-pear	Opuntia chlorotica	5 / 2	1
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
2.20	l			(Old horse corral made from manzanita branches)
2.27				Trail turns left 90°
2.28				Switchback right
2.30				Switchback left
2.31				Switchback right
2.32				Switchback left
2.33	l	122		Fremont cottonwood	Populus fremontii ssp. fremontii	1 / 1	12
2.34				Cross Horsethief Creek; elevation ~3480 feet (1060 m)
2.34				Trail turns right 90°
2.35	l	123	~	wild tarragon	Artemisia dracunculus	10 / 1	22
2.35				Y-jct; Trail is left branch; shady rest spot is right branch; go right
2.36	l	124		honey mesquite	Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana	1 / 1	5
2.37	r	125		wild grape	Vitis girdiana	1 / 1	8
2.37	r	126		*Bermuda grass	Cynodon dactylon	10 / 1	35
2.37	l	127		Torrey's scrub oak	Quercus acutidens⁺	5 / 1	27
				(Just upstream: ~spreading fleabane, ~Erigeron divergens)

Go to:

Flora of the Santa Rosa Mountains From Vouchers
Plants of Southern California: Trail Guides

Copyright © 2006-2007 by Tom Chester, James Dillane, Kay Madore and Erik Blume.
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 30 March 2007.