Plant Guide to Hermit Trail

Plant Guide to Hermit Trail

Introduction and Explanation of Plant Trail Guides
Introduction
The Plant Guide
Introduction

This page is just a shell to hold a preliminary version of the plant guide.
See Grand Canyon Flora: Hermit, Dripping Springs and Waldron Trail for a list of the species in this guide in traditional family order.
The Plant Guide

Key to Plant Guide Information

Mile: It is like a car odometer. Mile 0.00 includes all mileages from 0.000 to 0.009; 0.01 includes all mileages from 0.010 to 0.019, etc. 0.01 mile is 18 yards = 53 feet, about 18-20 normal-size paces.
Note that species separated by a difference of 0.01 mile in the guide could actually be fairly close together, with the odometer "rolling over" between them. Example: one species is at 1.599 miles, reported as 1.59 miles in the guide, and the next species is at 1.601 miles, reported as 1.60 miles in the guide. The species are actually just 0.002 miles = 10 feet apart. They could also be almost 0.02 miles apart. Example: one species is at 1.601 miles and the next is at 1.619 miles.
The mileage for this guide is nowhere near as accurate as the mileage for the Bright Angel Trail. I primarily relied on GPS points recorded in the field for every location, and for the elevations. Note that GPS readings often have considerable error in canyons, due to poor satellite visibility and errors due to satellite signals taking multiple paths to the receiver due to reflections from the many exposed rock faces here.
In fact, GPS receivers are almost useless in some parts of the trail due to these problems. Be very wary about believing the trip mileage given by a GPS receiver.
Since most people walk without a pedometer or a GPS to give them their rough mileage, enough landmarks are included in the guide that it is not necessary to pay much attention to the mileage. It is mainly useful in telling the reader when there are long intervals without new species, or when new species come fast and furious.
#: Species are numbered in order of first occurrence on trail, or where they are first easily visible from the trail.
id?: Species without an entry in this column are quite confidently identified. "?" means I am just guessing the identification; "sp" means the genera is probably known, but the species name is uncertain even when a potential species name is given in the guide; "~" means I have roughly 95% confidence that this is the determination, but have not yet positively identified it; "ssp" means the subspecies or variety needs to be determined.
(*)Common Name: An asterisk before the common name indicates a species that is non-native to the Grand Canyon, and hence should not be here.
Note that common names are not standardized, and more than one taxa can have the same common name.
Scientific Name: This is the name used to uniquely identify a species by botanists, which enables one to confidently look up more information about each species. All names are as given in the latest Grand Canyon flora online. Synonyms (older, newer, or alternate Scientific Names) are given in the page linked to the common name, usually via the USDA Plants link.
#Plants: This gives the minimum number of on-trail plants of this species on or in the area surrounding this trail.
Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (4 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (1 double-sided page). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)

Mile # id? (*)Common Name Scientific Name #Plants
0.00 Begin guide at the signed trailhead. The first 20 species are given in alphabetical order by scientific name.
0.00 1 desert needlegrass Achnatherum speciosum 99
0.00 2 *tumble pigweed Amaranthus albus 99
0.00 3 ~ Powell's amaranth Amaranthus powellii 3
0.00 4 purple three-awn Aristida purpurea 6
0.00 5 fourwing saltbush Atriplex canescens 1
0.00 6 side-oats grama Bouteloua curtipendula 99
0.00 7 blue grama Bouteloua gracilis 99
0.00 8 California brickellbush Brickellia californica 50
0.00 9 thyme-leafed spurge Chamaesyce serpyllifolia ssp. serpyllifolia 99
0.00 10 *redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium 99
0.00 11 Apache plume Fallugia paradoxa 1
0.00 12 matchweed Gutierrezia sarothrae 99
0.00 13 prairie sunflower Helianthus petiolaris 30
0.00 14 Utah juniper Juniperus osteosperma 99
0.00 15 Fremont barberry Mahonia fremontii 2
0.00 16 desert prickly-pear Opuntia phaeacantha 10
0.00 17 common purslane Portulaca oleracea 99
0.00 18 cliffrose Purshia stansburiana 99
0.00 19 sand dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus 99
0.00 20 banana yucca Yucca baccata 10
Species are now given in trail order
0.02 21 big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata 99
0.02 22 fetid goosefoot Chenopodium graveolens 99
0.02 23 western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata 50
0.02 24 ~ thickleaf beardtongue Penstemon pachyphyllus var. congestus 50
0.02 25 mutton grass Poa fendleriana 99
0.02 26 narrow-leaf four o'clock Mirabilis linearis 10
0.02 27 *ripgut brome Bromus diandrus 2
0.03 28 silver wormwood Artemisia ludoviciana 40
0.03 29 husk tomato Physalis pubescens 10
0.04 30 Fremont's goosefoot Chenopodium fremontii 1
0.04 31 Mojave prickly-pear Opuntia erinacea 2
0.04 32 common pepper-grass Lepidium densiflorum 1
0.04 33 littleleaf globe mallow Sphaeralcea parvifolia 10
0.04 34 Arizona hymenoxys Tetraneuris acaulis var. arizonica 30
0.04 35 Torrey's milkvetch Astragalus calycosus 10
0.04 36 greenstem paperflower Psilostrophe sparsiflora 50
0.05 Switchback right
0.05 37 sp tidy fleabane Erigeron concinnus 15
0.06 38 Whipple cholla Opuntia whipplei 8
0.08 39 green ephedra Ephedra viridis 50
0.08 40 freckled milk-vetch Astragalus lentiginosus var. palans 5
0.09 Switchback left
0.09 41 Kaibab century plant Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis 2
0.10 42 Simpson's buckwheat Eriogonum microthecum var. simpsonii 40
0.10 43 sp Eaton's fleabane Erigeron eatonii x
0.13 Switchback right
0.15 44 rock spiraea Petrophyton caespitosum 50
0.15 45 Drummond's false pennyroyal Hedeoma drummondii 20
0.16 46 Grand Canyon rock-daisy Perityle congesta 99
0.16 47 sp rose heath Chaetopappa ericoides 20
0.16 48 Wright's bedstraw Galium wrightii 15
0.16 49 unk grass like Alopecarus or Setaria x
0.17 50 fern bush Chamaebatiaria millefolium 2
0.17 51 wholeleaf Indian paintbrush Castilleja integra 1
0.18 52 Indian ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides 99
0.19 53 *downy brome Bromus tectorum 15
0.20 54 hairy goldenaster Heterotheca villosa 50
0.20 55 spiny greasebush Glossopetalon spinescens var. aridum 5
0.21 56 needle & thread grass Hesperostipa comata 15
0.22 57 sp Eastwood's sandwort Arenaria eastwoodiae 3
0.22 58 perennial rock-cress Arabis perennans 5
0.22 59 Cooper’s rubberweed Hymenoxys cooperi 10
0.23 60 Arizona thistle Cirsium arizonicum 30
0.24 61 snowberry Symphoricarpos oreophilus 99
0.24 62 squirreltail Elymus elymoides 10
0.24 63 Utah service-berry Amelanchier utahensis 50
0.24 64 wax currant Ribes cereum var. cereum 1
0.24 65 little-leaved mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus intricatus 15
0.26 66 redroot buckwheat Eriogonum racemosum 40
0.26 67 southern mountain phlox Phlox austromontana 99
0.26 68 Basin butterweed Packera multilobata 30
0.26 69 Grand Canyon Goldenweed Ericameria arizonica 1
0.26 70 capitate cryptantha Cryptantha capitata 20
0.27 71 claret cup Echinocereus triglochidiatus 3
0.27 Switchback left
0.32 72 Grand Canyon glowweed Hesperodoria scopulorum 1
0.34 73 Knowlton hop hornbeam Ostrya knowltonii 3
0.36 74 desert gooseberry Ribes velutinum 3
0.36 75 pallid hoptree Ptelea trifoliata ssp. pallida var. pallida 2
0.37 76 mid bladderpod Lesquerella intermedia 4
0.38 77 Wright's thelypody Thelypodium wrightii 40
0.40 78 true mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus montanus 1
0.47 79 pinyon pine dwarf-mistletoe Arceuthobium divaricatum 40
0.49 80 turpentine broom Thamnosma montana 20
0.61 81 threadleaf common rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa var. oreophila 79
0.68 82 brownfoot Acourtia wrightii 1
0.72 83 wallflower Erysimum capitatum var. purshii 2
0.72 84 sp Palmer's penstemon Penstemon palmeri 5
0.75 85 cliff brake Pellaea truncata 5
0.75 86 spike-moss Selaginella mutica 6
0.80 Begin series of switchbacks
0.89 87 Utah fendlerbush Fendlerella utahensis 2
0.91 88 *red brome Bromus rubens 5
0.94 89 shrub live oak Quercus turbinella 10
0.99 90 Macoun's cudweed Pseudognaphalium macounii 13
1.04 91 pancake prickly-pear Opuntia chlorotica 3
1.07 92 Munz's bedstraw Galium munzii ssp. ambivalens 5
1.07 93 Fendler's lipfern Cheilanthes fendleri 50
1.09 94 sp unk grass like hilaria 1
1.19 95 black brush Coleogyne ramosissima 20
1.20 96 black grama Bouteloua eriopoda 30
1.22 97 black sagebrush Artemisia nova 1
1.23 Junction Waldron Trail
1.34 98 juniper mistletoe Phoradendron juniperinum 99
1.41 99 hoary-aster Machaeranthera canescens 2

Additional species on the Waldron Trail in first 0.43 miles
100 Columbia cutleaf Hymenopappus filifolius var. lugens 15
101 Nuttall tarweed Machaeranthera grindelioides 20
102 Arizona bladderpod Lesquerella arizonica 5
103 ~ gooseberryleaf globemallow Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia 2
104 fragrant evening-primrose Oenothera caespitosa 2
105 bush peavine Lathyrus brachycalyx ssp. zionis 3
106 narrow-leaved wire-lettuce Stephanomeria minor var. minor 8
107 Wright's deervetch Lotus wrightii 10
108 Gambel oak Quercus gambelii 2
109 Patagonia plantain Plantago patagonica 5
110 threadstem sandmat Chamaesyce revoluta 2
111 Grand Canyon campion Silene rectiramea 15
112 trailing fleabane Erigeron flagellaris 20
113 sp unk opp lvs twisty leaves orange flower 1
114 James' galleta Pleuraphis jamesii 1

Mile	#	id?	(*)Common Name	Scientific Name	#Plants
0.00			Begin guide at the signed trailhead. The first 20 species are given in alphabetical order by scientific name.
0.00	1		desert needlegrass	Achnatherum speciosum	99
0.00	2		*tumble pigweed	Amaranthus albus	99
0.00	3	~	Powell's amaranth	Amaranthus powellii	3
0.00	4		purple three-awn	Aristida purpurea	6
0.00	5		fourwing saltbush	Atriplex canescens	1
0.00	6		side-oats grama	Bouteloua curtipendula	99
0.00	7		blue grama	Bouteloua gracilis	99
0.00	8		California brickellbush	Brickellia californica	50
0.00	9		thyme-leafed spurge	Chamaesyce serpyllifolia ssp. serpyllifolia	99
0.00	10		*redstem filaree	Erodium cicutarium	99
0.00	11		Apache plume	Fallugia paradoxa	1
0.00	12		matchweed	Gutierrezia sarothrae	99
0.00	13		prairie sunflower	Helianthus petiolaris	30
0.00	14		Utah juniper	Juniperus osteosperma	99
0.00	15		Fremont barberry	Mahonia fremontii	2
0.00	16		desert prickly-pear	Opuntia phaeacantha	10
0.00	17		common purslane	Portulaca oleracea	99
0.00	18		cliffrose	Purshia stansburiana	99
0.00	19		sand dropseed	Sporobolus cryptandrus	99
0.00	20		banana yucca	Yucca baccata	10
			Species are now given in trail order
0.02	21		big sagebrush	Artemisia tridentata	99
0.02	22		fetid goosefoot	Chenopodium graveolens	99
0.02	23		western tansymustard	Descurainia pinnata	50
0.02	24	~	thickleaf beardtongue	Penstemon pachyphyllus var. congestus	50
0.02	25		mutton grass	Poa fendleriana	99
0.02	26		narrow-leaf four o'clock	Mirabilis linearis	10
0.02	27		*ripgut brome	Bromus diandrus	2
0.03	28		silver wormwood	Artemisia ludoviciana	40
0.03	29		husk tomato	Physalis pubescens	10
0.04	30		Fremont's goosefoot	Chenopodium fremontii	1
0.04	31		Mojave prickly-pear	Opuntia erinacea	2
0.04	32		common pepper-grass	Lepidium densiflorum	1
0.04	33		littleleaf globe mallow	Sphaeralcea parvifolia	10
0.04	34		Arizona hymenoxys	Tetraneuris acaulis var. arizonica	30
0.04	35		Torrey's milkvetch	Astragalus calycosus	10
0.04	36		greenstem paperflower	Psilostrophe sparsiflora	50
0.05			Switchback right
0.05	37	sp	tidy fleabane	Erigeron concinnus	15
0.06	38		Whipple cholla	Opuntia whipplei	8
0.08	39		green ephedra	Ephedra viridis	50
0.08	40		freckled milk-vetch	Astragalus lentiginosus var. palans	5
0.09			Switchback left
0.09	41		Kaibab century plant	Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis	2
0.10	42		Simpson's buckwheat	Eriogonum microthecum var. simpsonii	40
0.10	43	sp	Eaton's fleabane	Erigeron eatonii	x
0.13			Switchback right
0.15	44		rock spiraea	Petrophyton caespitosum	50
0.15	45		Drummond's false pennyroyal	Hedeoma drummondii	20
0.16	46		Grand Canyon rock-daisy	Perityle congesta	99
0.16	47	sp	rose heath	Chaetopappa ericoides	20
0.16	48		Wright's bedstraw	Galium wrightii	15
0.16	49			unk grass like Alopecarus or Setaria	x
0.17	50		fern bush	Chamaebatiaria millefolium	2
0.17	51		wholeleaf Indian paintbrush	Castilleja integra	1
0.18	52		Indian ricegrass	Achnatherum hymenoides	99
0.19	53		*downy brome	Bromus tectorum	15
0.20	54		hairy goldenaster	Heterotheca villosa	50
0.20	55		spiny greasebush	Glossopetalon spinescens var. aridum	5
0.21	56		needle & thread grass	Hesperostipa comata	15
0.22	57	sp	Eastwood's sandwort	Arenaria eastwoodiae	3
0.22	58		perennial rock-cress	Arabis perennans	5
0.22	59		Cooper’s rubberweed	Hymenoxys cooperi	10
0.23	60		Arizona thistle	Cirsium arizonicum	30
0.24	61		snowberry	Symphoricarpos oreophilus	99
0.24	62		squirreltail	Elymus elymoides	10
0.24	63		Utah service-berry	Amelanchier utahensis	50
0.24	64		wax currant	Ribes cereum var. cereum	1
0.24	65		little-leaved mountain-mahogany	Cercocarpus intricatus	15
0.26	66		redroot buckwheat	Eriogonum racemosum	40
0.26	67		southern mountain phlox	Phlox austromontana	99
0.26	68		Basin butterweed	Packera multilobata	30
0.26	69		Grand Canyon Goldenweed	Ericameria arizonica	1
0.26	70		capitate cryptantha	Cryptantha capitata	20
0.27	71		claret cup	Echinocereus triglochidiatus	3
0.27			Switchback left
0.32	72		Grand Canyon glowweed	Hesperodoria scopulorum	1
0.34	73		Knowlton hop hornbeam	Ostrya knowltonii	3
0.36	74		desert gooseberry	Ribes velutinum	3
0.36	75		pallid hoptree	Ptelea trifoliata ssp. pallida var. pallida	2
0.37	76		mid bladderpod	Lesquerella intermedia	4
0.38	77		Wright's thelypody	Thelypodium wrightii	40
0.40	78		true mountain-mahogany	Cercocarpus montanus	1
0.47	79		pinyon pine dwarf-mistletoe	Arceuthobium divaricatum	40
0.49	80		turpentine broom	Thamnosma montana	20
0.61	81		threadleaf common rabbitbrush	Ericameria nauseosa var. oreophila	79
0.68	82		brownfoot	Acourtia wrightii	1
0.72	83		wallflower	Erysimum capitatum var. purshii	2
0.72	84	sp	Palmer's penstemon	Penstemon palmeri	5
0.75	85		cliff brake	Pellaea truncata	5
0.75	86		spike-moss	Selaginella mutica	6
0.80			Begin series of switchbacks
0.89	87		Utah fendlerbush	Fendlerella utahensis	2
0.91	88		*red brome	Bromus rubens	5
0.94	89		shrub live oak	Quercus turbinella	10
0.99	90		Macoun's cudweed	Pseudognaphalium macounii	13
1.04	91		pancake prickly-pear	Opuntia chlorotica	3
1.07	92		Munz's bedstraw	Galium munzii ssp. ambivalens	5
1.07	93		Fendler's lipfern	Cheilanthes fendleri	50
1.09	94	sp		unk grass like hilaria	1
1.19	95		black brush	Coleogyne ramosissima	20
1.20	96		black grama	Bouteloua eriopoda	30
1.22	97		black sagebrush	Artemisia nova	1
1.23			Junction Waldron Trail
1.34	98		juniper mistletoe	Phoradendron juniperinum	99
1.41	99		hoary-aster	Machaeranthera canescens	2

			Additional species on the Waldron Trail in first 0.43 miles
	100		Columbia cutleaf	Hymenopappus filifolius var. lugens	15
	101		Nuttall tarweed	Machaeranthera grindelioides	20
	102		Arizona bladderpod	Lesquerella arizonica	5
	103	~	gooseberryleaf globemallow	Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia	2
	104		fragrant evening-primrose	Oenothera caespitosa	2
	105		bush peavine	Lathyrus brachycalyx ssp. zionis	3
	106		narrow-leaved wire-lettuce	Stephanomeria minor var. minor	8
	107		Wright's deervetch	Lotus wrightii	10
	108		Gambel oak	Quercus gambelii	2
	109		Patagonia plantain	Plantago patagonica	5
	110		threadstem sandmat	Chamaesyce revoluta	2
	111		Grand Canyon campion	Silene rectiramea	15
	112		trailing fleabane	Erigeron flagellaris	20
	113	sp		unk opp lvs twisty leaves orange flower	1
	114		James' galleta	Pleuraphis jamesii	1

Go to:

Bright Angel Trail and South Kaibab Trail: Checklist of Species With Pictures
References for Taxa Found on the Bright Angel Trail in traditional family order
Native and Introduced Plants of the Grand Canyon, Arizona
Plants of Southern California: Trail Guides

Copyright © 2016 by Tom Chester, Nancy Accola, Lori Makarick, Michael Charters, Charles Edmondson, Ian Ennis, Owen Hardy, Abby Shapiro, Dan Boughter, Carrie Toth, RT and Shaun Hawke, Mike Crouse, and Adrienne Ballwey.
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/gc/plants/guides/hermit.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Updated 3 October 2016.