Palomar Mountain: Plant Guide To Dripping Springs Trail

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

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

Directions to the trailhead, and much additional information, are given in Field Guide to San Diego County: Trails: Dripping Springs Trail.
The plants on this trail might have been among the most-affected plants in Southern California by the extreme drought of 2001-2002, since this area is a boundary region between coastal and desert regions. In particular, coastal shrubs such as deerweed, California brickellbush, black sage and hoaryleaf ceanothus are at the inland edge of their range here. The extreme drought of 2001-2002, combined with species already barely able to tolerate the heat and lack of rainfall in this area, might have killed many individuals here.
When I surveyed the trail in late December 2002, when it still had not received significant rainfall to break the 2001-2002 extreme drought, the prognosis for those coastal shrubs did not look good. Essentially all the deerweed, 99% of the black sage, and perhaps 80% of the hoaryleaf ceanothus looked to be dead.
In contrast, the yerba santa, chamise and redshanks looked great in December 2002, just as if there had been no drought at all. These species are well within their normal range here, and can exist in much drier, more stressful habitats.
I wasn't able to get back to the trail until a year later, November 2003, but much to my surprise it looks like nearly all of these plants survived!
This webpage gives two separate guides, one for the campground area of the trail, and another for the trail after it crosses the Arroyo Seco and leaves behind most of the influence of the campground area. The major reason for separating them is that the campground is heavily human-influenced and contains species that were planted there by humans.
The campground area was re-landscaped sometime prior to 1998, possibly years before that. The landscaping is superb - it uses almost entirely plants native to the Peninsular Ranges were used, including a number of interesting species. However, note that some of these plants are not native to this specific area of the Agua Tibia Mountains.
For more on this trail, see Field Guide to San Diego County: Trails: Dripping Springs Trail. Note that the mileages given here have not yet been rectified to the ones in the referenced webpage, although they are pretty close.
(More intro to come.)
Highlights of This Trail

Most people would consider this trail to be in chaparral except for the very uppermost portion in mixed forest. However, believe it or not, all but the very lowest portion of this trail is in the Mixed Hardwood Forest vegetation classification of Kuchler. The very lowest portion of this trail is in Kuchler's Chaparral classification.
The numbers in the rest of this section have not been updated since the fieldwork of 1/26/04.
The Campground list contains 84 taxa, of which 72 have so far been identified, in 0.52 miles of trail, including six planted species. Of these 72 taxa, 14 (19%) are non-native.
The Trail list contains 126 taxa, of which 108 have so far been identified, in 4.96 miles of trail. Of these 108 taxa, 12 (11%) are non-native.
I have plotted these numbers against the other trails in my database. The plots show:

The percentage of native taxa is high compared to the other trails in our database, primarily because this area has been among the least disturbed by human activities.
The number of native taxa is lower than many of our other trails. It is possible that this simply reflects the incompleteness of this guide so far. (Note added 11/12/04: this is certainly the case! Look at how dramatically the numbers increased from a survey in April 2004.) It could also be due to the low rainfall along this trail, compared to most of our other trails. This trail is in the rain shadow of the Palomar Range, and Banks maps most of this trail as being primarily influenced by the desert. Only the upper portion is under montane influence.

Some of the botanical highlights of this trail are:

Plant Communities and Floristics

Number of Unique Taxa On This Trail

The following two histograms give the number of trails in my database that contain each taxon on this trail. I had 79 trails in my database when this histogram was made. The two parts of this trail are the only trails in the Agua Tibia Mountains in my database so far. A number of "1" means the taxon has only been found only on one of the portions of this list, among all the trails in my database. A number of "2" may indicate that the taxon is only found on the two portions of this trail.
Two separate histograms are given, one for the campground area of the trail, and another for the trail after it crosses the Arroyo Seco and leaves behind most of the influence of the campground area.
Campground Portion of Trail

Number of Trails
Containing A Taxon Number Of Taxa
On This Trail % of Taxa
On This Trail
1 5 4%
2 4 3%
3 4 3%
4 5 4%
5 1 1%

1-5 19 14%
6-10 30 23%
11-15 16 12%
16-20 21 16%
21-25 16 12%
26-30 8 6%
31-35 11 8%
36-40 4 3%
41-45 6 5%
46-50 1 1%
Total Taxa 132 100%

Trail Past The Campground Area

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

1-5 33 20%
6-10 32 20%
11-15 26 16%
16-20 23 14%
21-25 17 10%
26-30 7 4%
31-35 14 9%
36-40 3 2%
41-45 6 4%
46-50 1 1%
Total Taxa 162 100%

I found 6 additional species for the campground portion, and 13 additional species for the trail past the campground area, that are not in the above histograms since those species have not been identified yet. The unidentified ones are marked with ? or sp in the id? column in the guide, and do not have any number given in the #all column.
The taxa that are truly unique, or almost unique, to this trail, out of my 73 trails on 24 January 2004, are:

#all Latin Name Common Name Distribution in Southern California / Distribution in Trail Guides
1 Trichostema parishii Parish's bluecurls TR, PR; Baja CA
1 Oxytheca trilobata three-lobed oxytheca common; SnGb, SnBr, PR, w DMtns (Little San Bernardino Mountains); Baja CA
2 Adenostoma sparsifolium red shanks TR, PR; Baja CA; found also on Backbone Trail to Saddle Peak in the Santa Monica Mountains. This is an extremely common taxon between this location and the high mountain ridge to the east. Jane Strong and I simply have no other trails in its home territory.
2 Cheilanthes clevelandii Cleveland's lipfern n ChI, PR; Baja CA; found also on the Mt. Woodson Trail in Blue Sky Ecological Reserve, Poway, San Diego County.
2 Calystegia macrostegia ssp. arida southern California morning-glory SnGb, SnBr, n PR; found also in a trail in the San Marcos Hills, north San Diego County.
2 Ericameria parishii var. parishii Parish's goldenbush esp after fires; SnGb, SnBr, PR; found also in the Pioneer Mail old roadbed trail, Laguna Mountains, San Diego County.

The following taxa are listed as being found only on this trail or on one other trail, but are planted specimens:

#all Latin Name Common Name Comment
1 Berberis pinnata ssp. pinnata shiny-leaf barberry WTR, SnGb, PR.
1 Arctostaphylos densiflora Vine Hill manzanita Not native here; Endangered Species in the wild; native only to Vine Hill, near Forestville, Sonomo County; but plentiful in the nursery trade.
1 Euryops pectinatus var. "viridis" euryops Not native here; native to South Africa.
2 Berberis nevinii Nevin's barberry Endangered Species in the wild; SW.
2 Trichostema lanatum woolly bluecurls SCo, WTR, SnGb, PR.

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 tables give 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" Coverage
Campground Portion
12/19/2001 1 40 18
2/7/2002 2 59 23
3/8/2002 3 69 22
12/24/2002 4 79 12 12 4 1
11/13/2003 5 81 9 13 3 1
11/17/2003 6 80 5 13 3 1
11/21/2003 7 83 5 10 5 1
12/3/2003 8 83 5 10 5 1
1/26/2004 9 84 5 9 5 1
4/6/2004 10 130 2 5 6 0
4/18/2004 11 139 2 4 4 0
10/25/2004 12 138 1 4 4 0
Trail Beyond Campground Area
12/19/2001 1 56 32 to mile 4.56
2/7/2002 2 94 29 to mile 4.56
3/8/2002 3 105 35 to mile 2.82
12/24/2002 4 108 33 1 2 1 to mile 3.03
11/13/2003 5 118 19 13 7 3 to mile 2.90
11/17/2003 6 118 16 8 10 2 to mile 3.75
11/21/2003 7 122 17 8 10 1 to mile 4.88
12/3/2003 8 126 19 8 10 1 to mile 5.48
1/26/2004 9 126 18 7 11 1 to mile 4.82
4/6/2004 10 160 13 11 10 1 to mile 2.49
4/18/2004 11 170 10 5 9 0 to mile 4.44
10/25/2004 12 175 8 6 8 0 to the top!

The unknowns were not broken down further than "?" prior to 8/3/02.
James Dillane helped with the fieldwork on 4/6/04; his sharp eyes were the source of many of the new species we found that day. He also correctly identified the Lepidium strictum, despite keying problems for that taxon.
The five new taxa found on 10/25/04 outside the campground area were all beyond mile 5.48, which was the farthest point surveyed previously.
The Plant Guide

Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page (16 pages)

Mile S # id Common Name Latin Name #here #all
0.00 Parking for trail at north end of Dripping Springs Campground, elevation ~1560 feet (475 m). The guide begins at the coast live oak near the south end of the parking area. Separate guides are given to the campground area and the trail after it crosses the Arroyo Seco; the #here refers separately to each guide.
0.00 l 1 coast live oak Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia⁺ 20 / 9 34
0.00 r 2 Fremont cottonwood Populus fremontii ssp. fremontii 5 / 2 8
0.00 l 3 western sycamore Platanus racemosa 5 / 2 19
0.00 r Bulletin Board: "Fee Area. $5 daily use fee or Adventure Pass" and other information.
0.00 r Fee deposit "Iron Ranger"
0.00 r 4 *Mediterranean schismus Schismus barbatus 20 / 3 14
0.00 b 5 *redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium 50 / 5 41
0.00 r 6 *shortpod mustard Hirschfeldia incana 50 / 9 41
0.00 b 7 *slender wild oats Avena barbata 20 / 5 25
0.00 b 8 *downy brome Bromus tectorum 20 / 3 21
0.00 r 9 wild tarragon Artemisia dracunculus 10 / 1 21
0.00 b 10 California filago Filago californica 20 / 2 13
0.00 l 11 *ripgut brome Bromus diandrus 99 / 2 41
0.00 l 12 *soft chess Bromus hordeaceus 30 / 4 29
0.00 l 13 *foxtail barley Hordeum murinum ssp. glaucum 10 / 1 9
0.00 l 14 *pineapple weed Chamomilla suaveolens 10 / 1 14
0.00 l 15 *narrowleaf filago Filago gallica 20 / 2 32
0.00 l 16 common phacelia Phacelia distans 99 / 9 6
0.00 l 17 *sow thistle Sonchus oleraceus 5 / 3 25
0.00 l 18 goldfields Lasthenia californica 10 / 1 7
0.00 b 19 ~ prickly cryptantha Cryptantha muricata 50 / 9 12
0.00 r 20 bur-ragweed Ambrosia acanthicarpa 30 / 9 14
0.00 b 21 silver puffs Uropappus lindleyi 30 / 5 19
0.00 b 22 *California burclover Medicago polymorpha 20 / 3 28
0.00 r 23 telegraph weed Heterotheca grandiflora 30 / 9 26
0.00 r 24 strigose sun-cup Camissonia strigulosa 10 / 2 4
0.00 b 25 *red brome Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens 20 / 2 42
0.00 b 26 *sourclover Melilotus indicus 5 / 1 16
0.00 r ~ (southern mountain woolly-star, Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum)
0.00 b 27 *prickly sow thistle Sonchus asper ssp. asper 3 / 2 16
0.00 r 28 sugar bush Rhus ovata 3 / 2 22
0.00 l 29 *shepherd's purse Capsella bursa-pastoris 10 / 2 6
0.00 l 30 sp comb-bur Pectocarya sp. 3 / 1
0.00 l 31 *Australian brass-buttons Cotula australis 10 / 2 14
0.00 r 32 *Oriental mustard Sisymbrium orientale 30 / 5 10
0.00 r 33 California suncup Camissonia californica 1 / 1 17
0.00 r (California croton, Croton californicus)
0.00 r 34 Davidson's buckwheat Eriogonum davidsonii 30 / 3 18
0.00 r 35 white everlasting Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum 20 / 4 32
36 *hairy rattail fescue Vulpia myuros var. hirsuta / 11
0.00 r 37 western ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya 10 / 1 26
0.00 r 38 slender wreathplant Stephanomeria exigua ssp. deanei 5 / 3 10
0.00 r 39 strigose lotus Lotus strigosus 2 / 1 25
0.00 r 40 common pepper-grass Lepidium densiflorum var. ramosum⁺ 10 / 2 1
0.00 r 41 dwarf lupine Lupinus bicolor 30 / 5 19
0.00 r 42 San Diego birdsfoot lotus Lotus hamatus 5 / 2 8
0.00 r 43 scarlet bugler Penstemon centranthifolius 10 / 3 7
0.01 r (western redbud, Cercis occidentalis)
0.01 l 44 southern honeysuckle Lonicera subspicata var. denudata 6 / 3 34
0.01 r 45 slim vetch Vicia ludoviciana var. ludoviciana 5 / 2 6
0.01 r 46 angel's gilia Gilia angelensis 20 / 2 7
0.01 r 47 Tejon cryptantha Cryptantha microstachys 5 / 1 3
0.01 b 48 white-whorled lupine Lupinus microcarpus var. densiflorus 5 / 1 4
0.01 r 49 California brome Bromus carinatus var. carinatus 5 / 1 17
0.01 r 50 basketbush Rhus trilobata 10 / 2 16
0.02 Gate to campground
0.02 r 51 mugwort Artemisia douglasiana 10 / 2 25
0.02 l (small-flowered melica, Melica imperfecta)
0.02 l 52 California buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum 50 / 3 40
0.02 l 53 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 10 / 5 47
0.02 l 54 black sage Salvia mellifera 1 / 1 34
0.02 l 55 California matchweed Gutierrezia californica 50 / 5 4
0.02 r 56 ocellated Humboldt lily Lilium humboldtii ssp. ocellatum 1 / 1 5
0.02 l 57 blue dicks Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum 10 / 3 32
0.02 l 58 California-aster Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia 20 / 2 42
0.02 l 59 bristly bird's beak Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus 20 / 2 22
0.02 l (Mohave yucca, Yucca schidigera)
0.02 l 60 narrowleaf bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 5 / 5 41
0.02 l 61 short-winged deerweed Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus⁺ 10 / 5 16
0.03 r 62 blue wildrye Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus 10 / 1 17
0.03 l 63 small-flowered melica Melica imperfecta 20 / 3 33
0.03 r 64 southern coast live oak Quercus agrifolia var. oxyadenia⁺ 20 / 9 6
0.03 l 65 nodding needlegrass Nassella cernua 5 / 1 10
0.03 l 66 sp Mariposa lily Calochortus sp. 2 / 1
0.04 r 67 Nevin's barberry Berberis nevinii⁺ 3 / 2 2
0.04 l 68 sp dodder on buckwheat Cuscuta sp. 1 / 1
0.04 r First toilet
0.04 r 69 shiny-leaf barberry Berberis pinnata ssp. pinnata⁺ 2 / 2 1
0.04 r 70 horseweed Conyza canadensis 1 / 1 24
0.04 r 71 California everlasting Gnaphalium californicum 6 / 4 30
0.04 r 72 beavertail cactus Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris 2 / 2 6
0.04 r 73 woolly bluecurls Trichostema lanatum⁺ 5 / 2 3
0.05 r Sign: "Stop. Pay here"
0.05 l 74 southern suncup Camissonia bistorta 10 / 3 10
0.05 l 75 chaparral beard-tongue Keckiella antirrhinoides var. antirrhinoides 5 / 2 7
0.06 r 76 common fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia 10 / 2 11
0.06 r 77 Spanish clover Lotus purshianus var. purshianus 20 / 3 18
0.06 r (blue elderberry, Sambucus mexicana)
0.07 l 78 California sagebrush Artemisia californica 5 / 3 35
0.07 r 79 mule fat Baccharis salicifolia 4 / 2 31
0.07 r 80 hollyleaf redberry Rhamnus ilicifolia 1 / 1 35
0.07 l short-winged deerweed Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus⁺ /
0.08 l 81 Parish's purple nightshade Solanum parishii 15 / 2 13
0.08 l (California chicory, Rafinesquia californica)
0.08 l 82 common bedstraw Galium aparine 5 / 1 25
0.08 l 83 climbing bedstraw Galium nuttallii ssp. nuttallii 1 / 1 23
0.08 r (arroyo willow, Salix lasiolepis)
0.09 r 84 red willow Salix laevigata⁺ 1 / 1 16
0.09 l 85 giant wild-rye Leymus condensatus 5 / 1 24
0.11 l Campground host living quarters
0.11 r Check for different Cryptantha, a decumbent plant.101
0.11 r 86 California croton Croton californicus 20 / 5 6
0.13 r 87 *Vine Hill manzanita Arctostaphylos densiflora⁺ 2 / 1 1
0.13 r 88 ~ popcorn flower Cryptantha intermedia / 22
0.13 l 89 common linanthus Linanthus parviflorus 99 / 9 8
0.13 l 90 red maids Calandrinia ciliata 1 / 1 9
0.15 r 91 blue elderberry Sambucus mexicana 1 / 1 39
0.15 r 92 collar lupine Lupinus truncatus 5 / 2 18
0.19 r 93 yellow pincushion Chaenactis glabriuscula var. glabriuscula 5 / 2 11
94 pygmy-weed Crassula connata 50 / 1 13
95 big leaf mistletoe Phoradendron macrophyllum 1 / 1 3
0.22 r Toilet
0.22 l 96 Coulter's lupine Lupinus sparsiflorus 1 / 1 9
0.23 r 97 foothill needlegrass Nassella lepida 1 / 1 16
0.24 l 98 canyon clarkia Clarkia epilobioides 3 / 1 8
0.24 l 99 *horehound Marrubium vulgare 20 / 3 22
0.25 l 100 annual sunflower Helianthus annuus 1 / 1 9
0.25 l 101 chia Salvia columbariae 1 / 1 18
0.29 r 102 branching phacelia Phacelia ramosissima var. latifolia 10 / 3 25
0.30 r 103 caespitose evening-primrose Oenothera caespitosa ssp. crinita 20 / 1 1
0.30 r (common tidy-tips, Layia platyglossa)
0.30 r (alkali western tansy-mustard, Descurainia pinnata ssp. halictorum)
0.30 r 104 honey mesquite Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana 5 / 1 3
0.31 r 105 *London rocket Sisymbrium irio / 1 8
0.31 r 106 sp suncup C. ignota? /
0.31 r 107 ~ showy penstemon Penstemon spectabilis var. spectabilis 3 / 1 9
0.34 r Toilet
0.34 r 108 *euryops Euryops pectinatus var. "viridis"⁺ 1 / 1
0.34 r 109 *western redbud Cercis occidentalis⁺ 2 / 2 4
0.37 r 110 *Bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon 10 / 2 20
0.37 r 111 goldenrod Solidago californica 5 / 1 27
0.39 r 112 toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia 1 / 1 38
0.39 r 113 vinegar weed Trichostema lanceolatum 10 / 1 4
0.40 l 114 San Diego tarweed Hemizonia paniculata 10 / 1 6
0.40 r 115 poison oak Toxicodendron diversilobum 1 / 1 34
0.41 r 116 volcanic gilia Gilia ochroleuca ssp. exilis 10 / 1 2
0.41 l Jct. road to equestrian camp
0.43 r 117 silky lotus Lotus heermannii var. heermannii 3 / 1 6
0.44 r 118 *hedge mustard Sisymbrium officinale / 1 16
0.44 r (meally white pincushion, Chaenactis artemisiifolia)
0.44 r 119 eucrypta Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia var. chrysanthemifolia 5 / 1 20
0.44 r 120 hoary bowlesia Bowlesia incana 5 / 1 2
0.44 r 121 *common groundsel Senecio vulgaris 1 / 1 12
0.44 r 122 narrow-leaved miner's lettuce Claytonia parviflora ssp. parviflora 3 / 1 13
0.44 r 123 southern goldfields Lasthenia coronaria 1 / 1 2
0.44 r 124 prostrate pepper-grass Lepidium strictum⁺ / 1
0.44 l 125 wild canterbury bells Phacelia minor 3 / 1 14
0.44 l 126 *tumble-mustard Sisymbrium altissimum / 10
0.44 l 127 whispering bells Emmenanthe penduliflora var. penduliflora 3 / 1 9
0.45 r 128 bigberry manzanita (~25' tall) Arctostaphylos glauca 1 / 1 9
0.45 r 129 heartleaf penstemon Keckiella cordifolia 2 / 2 21
0.45 l 130 southern miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana 3 / 1 16
0.45 l 131 Torrey's scrub oak Quercus acutidens 5 / 2 15
0.45 l 132 California chicory Rafinesquia californica 1 / 1 17
0.45 l 133 wild-cucumber Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus 2 / 2 37
0.45 l 134 ? smelly unk like beeplant?
0.46 r 135 chaparral whitethorn Ceanothus leucodermis 1 / 1 12
0.47 r 136 California brickellbush Brickellia californica 1 / 1 26
0.47 l Last toilet
0.48 l DS trailhead, elevation ~1640 feet (500 m).
0.49 r 137 saw-toothed goldenbush Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioides 1 / 1 29
0.49 Jct. trail from equestrian camp; turn right 90°.
0.51 r (scale-broom, Lepidospartum squamatum)
0.51 r 138 bush senecio Senecio flaccidus var. douglasii 1 / 1 10

0.52 Cross Arroyo Seco, elevation ~1640 feet (500 m). Plant list starts over here, to produce a list without planted species.

0.52 l 1 western sycamore Platanus racemosa 5 / 1 19
0.52 l 2 western ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya 10 / 1 26
0.52 l 3 Jepson's blue wildrye Elymus glaucus ssp. jepsonii 5 / 1 8
0.52 l 4 mugwort Artemisia douglasiana 5 / 1 25
0.52 l 5 *ripgut brome Bromus diandrus 20 / 1 41
0.52 l 6 southern coast live oak Quercus agrifolia var. oxyadenia⁺ 5 / 2 6
0.52 l 7 *rabbits-foot grass Polypogon monspeliensis 5 / 1 14
0.52 l 8 slim vetch Vicia ludoviciana var. ludoviciana 1 / 1 6
0.52 b 9 mule fat Baccharis salicifolia 3 / 1 31
0.52 r 10 *red brome Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens 99 / 9 42
0.52 r 11 ? unk ann scroph with clusters of 7 flowers at nodes
0.52 l 12 *Bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon 5 / 2 20
0.52 r 13 ? Durango root? Datisca glomerata? 3 / 1
0.52 r 14 wild tarragon Artemisia dracunculus 1 / 1 21
0.52 r 15 prickly cryptantha Cryptantha muricata 99 / 9 12
0.52 r (bush monkeyflower, Mimulus aurantiacus)
0.52 r 16 Spanish clover Lotus purshianus var. purshianus 10 / 1 18
0.52 b 17 *shortpod mustard Hirschfeldia incana 99 / 9 41
0.53 b 18 Robinson's pepper-grass Lepidium virginicum var. robinsonii 99 / 9 4
0.53 r 19 *sourclover Melilotus indicus / 16
0.53 r 20 yellow pincushion Chaenactis glabriuscula var. glabriuscula (intergrade with var. lanosa)⁺ 99 / 9 11
Look for pure specimens of Chaenactis glabriuscula var. lanosa
0.53 r 21 California everlasting Gnaphalium californicum 99 / 9 30
0.53 l 22 bristly bird's beak Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus 99 / 9 22
0.53 r 23 bush senecio Senecio flaccidus var. douglasii 1 / 1 10
0.53 r 24 California buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum 99 / 9 40
0.53 l 25 short-winged deerweed Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus 30 / 9 16
0.53 r 26 slender cottonweed Micropus californicus var. californicus 10 / 1 6
0.53 r 27 silver puffs Uropappus lindleyi 50 / 9 19
0.53 r 28 fringe-pod Thysanocarpus curvipes 10 / 1 7
0.53 l 29 dwarf lupine Lupinus bicolor 20 / 9 19
0.53 l 30 California-aster Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia 99 / 9 42
0.54 l 31 Davidson's buckwheat Eriogonum davidsonii 10 / 4 18
0.54 l 32 strigose sun-cup Camissonia strigulosa 10 / 1 4
0.54 l 33 slender wreathplant Stephanomeria exigua ssp. deanei⁺ 99 / 9 10
0.54 b 34 *downy brome Bromus tectorum 99 / 4 21
0.54 r Jct. path.
0.54 r 35 *redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium / 41
0.54 b 36 *soft chess Bromus hordeaceus 50 / 2 29
0.54 b 37 angel's gilia Gilia angelensis 30 / 5 7
0.54 r 38 long-stemmed buckwheat Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum 4 / 2 19
0.54 Trail turns left 90°
0.55 r 39 ~ leafy daisy Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus 10 / 9 34
0.54 b 40 common phacelia Phacelia distans 40 / 3 6
0.54 r 41 chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum 99 / 9 31
0.55 r 42 white everlasting Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum 20 / 9 32
0.55 b 43 ~ bush lupine Lupinus excubitus var. hallii 3 / 1 4
0.55 r 44 common linanthus Linanthus parviflorus 40 / 5 8
0.55 r 45 branching phacelia Phacelia ramosissima var. latifolia 5 / 2 25
0.55 r 46 giant wild-rye Leymus condensatus 2 / 2 24
0.55 r 47 basketbush Rhus trilobata 1 / 1 16
0.55 b 48 Ramona clarkia Clarkia similis 10 / 2 2
0.55 l 49 Parish's purple nightshade Solanum parishii 50 / 9 13
0.55 l 50 California brickellbush Brickellia californica 2 / 1 26
0.55 l (California elegant rock-cress, Arabis sparsiflora var. californica)
0.55 r 51 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 50 / 9 47
0.55 l 52 pine goldenbush Ericameria pinifolia 4 / 2 4
0.55 r 53 coast live oak Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia⁺ 1 / 1 34
0.55 r 54 hoaryleaf ceanothus Ceanothus crassifolius 99 / 9 11
0.55 r 55 wild-cucumber Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus 50 / 9 37
0.55 b 56 Torrey's scrub oak Quercus acutidens 99 / 9 15
0.55 b 57 cobwebby thistle Cirsium occidentale var. occidentale 1 / 1 5
0.55 Cross small side stream, elevation ~1690 feet (515 m).
0.56 l 58 California matchweed Gutierrezia californica 3 / 1 4
0.55 l 59 summer snow Linanthus floribundus ssp. glaber 3 / 1 4
0.56 r First of many liverwort areas on trail.
0.56 l "Trip report" post
0.56 l 60 climbing bedstraw Galium nuttallii ssp. nuttallii 5 / 5 23
0.56 b 61 white sage Salvia apiana 2 / 2 30
0.56 l 62 small-flowered melica Melica imperfecta 30 / 9 33
0.56 l 63 poison oak Toxicodendron diversilobum 5 / 1 34
0.56 r 64 bush monkeyflower Mimulus aurantiacus 6 / 4 35
0.56 b 65 southern honeysuckle Lonicera subspicata var. denudata 20 / 9 34
0.56 b 66 saw-toothed goldenbush Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioides 99 / 9 29
0.57 r 67 San Diego pea Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii 10 / 3 15
0.57 l Sign: Agua Tibia Wilderness
0.57 r 68 muilla Muilla maritima 6 / 4 6
0.57 l 69 *narrowleaf filago Filago gallica 99 / 9 32
0.57 l 70 narrowleaf bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 30 / 9 41
0.57 r 71 ? unk scroph with 1 flower per node - Antirrhinum coulterianum?
0.57 r 72 ? goldenstar? Bloomeria crocea? /
0.57 r 73 California chicory Rafinesquia californica 10 / 9 17
0.57 r 74 *smooth cat's ear Hypochaeris glabra / 1 24
0.57 r 75 beavertail cactus Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris 3 / 3 6
0.57 r Post
0.57 l 76 purple clarkia Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera 10 / 2 16
0.57 r 77 California peony Paeonia californica 20 / 2 12
0.57 r 78 *slender wild oats Avena barbata 99 / 9 25
0.58 r 79 red shanks Adenostoma sparsifolium 99 / 9 2
0.58 b 80 redberry Rhamnus crocea 5 / 3 11
0.58 l Woodrat's nest
0.58 l 81 sp pectocarya51
0.58 l 82 bird's-foot fern Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata 99 / 9 22
0.58 l 83 goldback fern Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis 20 / 9 16
0.58 l 84 wild celery Apiastrum angustifolium 5 / 1 6
0.58 l 85 ground pink Linanthus dianthiflorus 3 / 1 8
0.58 b 86 popcorn flower Cryptantha intermedia / 22
0.58 Trail turns left 90°
0.59 b 87 blue dicks Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum 30 / 5 32
0.59 r 88 shiny lomatium Lomatium lucidum 20 / 5 6
0.59 r 89 ~ southern Indian pink Silene laciniata ssp. major 5 / 1 15
0.59 r Check for Pacific sanicle, Sanicula crassicaulis.
0.60 b 90 scaly lipfern Cheilanthes clevelandii 99 / 9 3
0.60 r 91 coast jepsonia Jepsonia parryi 30 / 3 10
0.60 r 92 chaparral beard-tongue Keckiella antirrhinoides var. antirrhinoides 30 / 9 7
0.60 l Check for different small annual.
0.60 Switchback to right, then trail curves left.
0.60 l 93 southern goldfields Lasthenia coronaria 20 / 3 2
0.60 l 94 Pacific fescue Vulpia microstachys var. pauciflora / 3
0.61 l 95 white-flowering currant Ribes indecorum 10 / 9 14
0.61 r 96 California poppy Eschscholzia californica 99 / 3 20
0.61 b 97 sp Mariposa lily Calochortus sp. 99 / 9
0.61 r 98 sugar bush Rhus ovata 10 / 9 22
0.61 r 99 purple owl's clover Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta 5 / 1 8
0.64 l Jct. Wild Horse Trail
0.65 r 100 thick-leaved yerba santa Eriodictyon crassifolium var. crassifolium 99 / 9 5
0.65 l 101 acourtia Acourtia microcephala 10 / 9 12
0.65 l 102 sp Chinese houses Collinsia sp. 2 / 2
0.66 l 103 southern suncup Camissonia bistorta 5 / 1 10
0.66 l (green miner's lettuce, Claytonia parviflora ssp. viridis)
0.66 l 104 southern gilia Gilia australis 10 / 2 2
0.68 b 105 *tocalote Centaurea melitensis 99 / 3 35
0.68 r 106 black sage Salvia mellifera 99 / 9 34
0.68 l 107 canyon clarkia Clarkia epilobioides 10 / 1 8
0.68 l 108 *rattail fescue Vulpia myuros var. myuros 99 / 9 11
0.70 r 109 ~ meally white pincushion Chaenactis artemisiifolia / 12
0.72 Cross small stream and turn left 90°.
0.72 r 110 wild canterbury bells Phacelia minor 99 / 9 14
0.73 l 111 coffee fern Pellaea andromedifolia 2 / 2 19
0.74 r 112 southern California morning-glory Calystegia macrostegia ssp. arida 6 / 6 2
0.74 r 113 California four o'clock Mirabilis californica 6 / 5 15
0.74 Trail turns left 90°
0.75 Trail curves right 90°
0.76 Switchback left.
0.77 Trail curves right 90°
0.78 r 114 horseweed Conyza canadensis 5 / 5 24
0.79 l 115 strigose lotus Lotus strigosus 3 / 3 25
0.79 Long switchback right
0.83 l 116 ~ small-flowered soap plant Chlorogalum parviflorum⁺ 99 / 9 5
0.82 l 117 foothill needlegrass Nassella lepida / 16
0.83 l 118 rockrose Helianthemum scoparium⁺ 50 / 9 10
0.86 l 119 ~ California suncup Camissonia californica 50 / 9 17
0.86 l 120 chia Salvia columbariae 99 / 9 18
0.87 Switchback left.
0.95 r 121 Bigelow's spike-moss Selaginella bigelovii 99 / 4 16
0.95 l 122 chaparral yucca Yucca whipplei 10 / 9 25
0.95 Trail curves right to round ridge.
0.99 r 123 sp stinging lupine Lupinus hirsutissimus 2 / 2 12
0.99 Switchback right.
1.04 Trail curves left 90°.
1.04 l ~ small-flowered soap plant Chlorogalum parviflorum⁺ /
1.04 b 124 twiggy wreath plant Stephanomeria virgata⁺ 99 / 9 8
1.04 l 125 slender sunflower Helianthus gracilentus 30 / 9 12
1.07 Achieve ridge at north end of bend in trail, elevation ~1910 feet (580 m), part of a long switchback left; overlook of lower Arroyo Seco Canyon.
1.08 r Check for windmill pink or similar.
1.17 b 126 everlasting nest-straw Stylocline gnaphaloides⁺ 50 / 4 7
1.23 Trail curves right 45°.
1.25 Trail curves left 45°.
1.29 Long curving bend to right at small double drainage
1.33 North end of long switchback left in trail, elevation ~2000 feet (610 m); after the switchback, trail is on top of flattish ridge.
1.39 l View of (Tule or Beauty Peak?) in distance over ridgeline.
1.41 Trail makes broad curve right 90°, then left 90°.
1.45 Field of soap plants
1.48 r everlasting nest-straw Stylocline gnaphaloides⁺ /
1.49 Trail makes broad curve right ~90°.
1.52 Broad switchback left.
1.53 b 127 ~ fringed spineflower Chorizanthe fimbriata var. fimbriata 40 / 5 4
1.58 Trail curves right 90° and crosses small drainage
1.00 bigberry manzanita Arctostaphylos glauca 99 / 9 9
1.60 l 128 Trail curves left 45°
1.63 Trail curves right 90° and crosses small double drainage
1.64 l First of the tall century-old red shank (Adenostoma sparsifolium) "trees" burned in 1989 fire.
Beginning of transition region for California buckwheat var. foliolosum and polifolium.
1.67 Switchback left.
1.75 Trail crosses very small drainage and curves right 90°.
1.80 Cross small drainage
1.82 Cross small drainage and curve right 90°.
1.82 b 129 eucrypta Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia var. chrysanthemifolia 10 / 2 20
1.85 Long switchback left.
1.89 Cross small drainage and switchback right.
1.93 Cross small drainage.
1.98 Long switchback to left, elevation ~2280 feet (695 m).
1.98 r Jct. path at ridge.
2.03 #1 of 10 switchbacks to gain some quick elevation, to right. Most of the segments between switchbacks curve as they cross the ridge, which won't be explicitly stated here.
2.06 Ending of transition region for California buckwheat var. foliolosum and polifolium.
2.07 Switchback to left, #2.
2.07 b 130 California buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium 99 / 9 14
2.08 r A number of Cleveland's lipferns growing next to bird's beak ferns here.
2.10 r 131 Eastwood manzanita Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. zacaensis 99 / 9 9
2.11 b Check for different species like goldenstar.
2.14 Switchback to right, #3.
2.19 Switchback to left, #4.
2.23 r 132 woolly Indian paintbrush Castilleja foliolosa 5 / 2 4
2.28 l 133 *prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola 5 / 5 28
2.28 Switchback to right, #5.
2.33 l 134 heartleaf penstemon Keckiella cordifolia 20 / 9 21
2.34 r 135 one-sided bluegrass Poa secunda ssp. secunda / 22
2.34 l 136 globe gilia Gilia capitata ssp. abrotanifolia 20 / 2 5
2.38 r 137 purple snapdragon Antirrhinum nuttallianum ssp. nuttallianum 4 / 2 12
2.38 Switchback to left, #6.
2.39 l 138 hollyleaf redberry Rhamnus ilicifolia 10 / 9 35
2.46 r 139 threadstem Pterostegia drymarioides / 1 17
2.46 r 140 small-flowered meconella Meconella denticulata 20 / 1 2
2.46 r 141 narrow-leaved miner's lettuce Claytonia parviflora ssp. parviflora 10 / 1 13
2.46 l 142 common fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia 5 / 1 11
2.49 r 143 giant needlegrass Achnatherum coronatum 20 / 5 20
2.49 r Second location of coast jepsonia, Jepsonia parryi.
2.49 Switchback to right, #7.
2.59 Switchback to left, #8. The trail in some places now is on the reddish Bedford Canyon Formation, with wavy metamorphosed bedding planes, with boulders of Woodson Mountain Granodiorite (white rocks with small black dots all over) on the side of the trail.
2.64 l 144 golden ear drops Dicentra chrysantha 4 / 2 5
2.68 r 145 sp comb-leaved nemacladus? Nemacladus pinnatifidus? 99 / 4
2.70 A birds-foot fern forest alongside the trail. Over 50 plants where the trail was cleared some time ago.
2.72 146 California milkweed Asclepias californica / 1 3
2.75 Switchback to right, #9.
2.81 Check for different peppergrass, Lepidium sp..
2.82 Broad switchback to left, #10, elevation ~2740 feet (835 m); trail now heads south-southwest
2.87 Santa Rosa Plateau Mesas (Burro, Colorado) and others (Avenaloca, Redonda, Miller Mountain) now visible to west.
2.98 b 147 bush poppy Dendromecon rigida 50 / 4 5
3.03 Round ridge; trail now heads southeast; enter tick lane.
3.12 Cross small drainage and curve right.
3.18 Begin moist area with first chaparral whitethorn, Ceanothus leucodermis, and numerous sugar bush, Rhus ovata, elevation ~2800 feet (855 m).
3.18 l 148 chaparral whitethorn Ceanothus leucodermis 99 / 9 12
3.21 End moist area; long switchback left at ridge.
3.25 l 149 tall melica Melica frutescens / 1
3.26 Trail curves right 90° twice at double drainage.
3.49 r 150 *Oriental mustard Sisymbrium orientale / 1 10
3.54 Switchback left up north side of canyon, elevation ~3040 feet (925 m).
3.61 Switchback right.
3.64 l Large rectangular rock made of Woodson Mountain granodiorite, with irregular chunk of Bedford Canyon formation stuck on top. Note the intergrade region where they melted together.
3.65 l Smaller chunk of Bedford completely embedded in granodiorite
3.67 Trail jags left.
3.70 r 151 toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia 2 / 2 38
3.70 r 152 hollyleaf cherry Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia 5 / 1 10
3.71 l Good exposure of Bedford Canyon formation.
3.73 r 153 ashy silk tassel Garrya flavescens 20 / 3 6
3.74 l 154 birch-leaf mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides 5 / 1 17
3.74 b 155 deergrass Muhlenbergia rigens 20 / 1 13
3.74 Cross usually-dry streambed, elevation 3120 feet (950 m).
3.75 l 156 small-flowered fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii / 1 3
3.75 Check for Galium parishii.
3.75 Rest area, flat rock to sit on in only shade around.
3.76 r 157 showy penstemon Penstemon spectabilis var. spectabilis 50 / 9 9
3.76 Begin best field of chaparral whitethorn, Ceanothus leucodermis.
3.79 Cross first of two branches of a little drainage
3.82 r 158 Parish's bluecurls Trichostema parishii 50 / 9 2
3.83 r Field of showy penstemon, Penstemon spectabilis and a number of California peonies, Paeonia californica.
3.86 b 159 ? 2 m tall gilia? Gilia caruifolia? 99 / 5
3.88 Trail makes a long jog right.
3.91 Broad switchback right; end field of chaparral whitethorn.
3.93 l 160 Tejon cryptantha Cryptantha microstachys / 1 3
3.95 Switchback left, elevation ~3240 feet (990 m); visible peaks: High Point of Palomar Mountain; Toro and Rabbit Peak, Santa Rosa Mountains; San Jacinto Peak; San Gorgonio Mountain.
3.97 b 161 three-lobed oxytheca Oxytheca trilobata 20 / 3 2
3.99 Switchback right.
4.02 r Switchback left at blocked-off little side trail (trail is very short and just loops around ridge and rejoins main trail shortly).
4.07 Trail turns right 90° at ridge; 200" telescope on Palomar Mountain visible.
4.09 Enter area with century-old giant manzanita trees still alive (Arctostaphylos glauca).
4.09 Check for a different suncup here, which has very dense flowers.
4.13 Trail turns left 90°.
4.13 r bigberry manzanita, Arctostaphylos glauca, with 35 cm (14") diameter trunk.
4.16 Trail is now on ridge.
4.19 Trail jags right.
4.24 Cross small drainage.
4.27 Trail now below ridge, paralleling drainage to right.
4.37 Trail turns right 90° and crosses the drainage near its head.
4.38 Check for different annual penstemon species.
4.40 l 162 hairy ceanothus Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus 10 / 4 4
4.40 r 163 Cleveland's bush monkeyflower Mimulus clevelandii / 1
4.40 Trail makes first of two 90° turns left at drainage.
4.44 Trail turns right 90°
4.44 r Check for A. glandulosa ssp. adamsii.
4.49 Switchback right.
4.50 Trail turns left 90°
4.52 l 164 Parish's goldenbush Ericameria parishii var. parishii 20 / 9 2
4.54 Switchback right.
4.57 Switchback left.
4.65 Switchback right.
4.66 Trail curves left 90°
4.70 Trail curves right 90° at ridge.
4.72 Trail curves left 90°
4.75 Trail turns left 90° at small drainage, then rounds ridge to right.
4.81 Trail turns left 90° at drainage.
4.82 b 165 ? ann scroph or phacelia with an infl with 3 branches with closely-spaced flowers.
4.82 b 166 poodle-dog bush Turricula parryi 50 / 9 4
4.87 r 167 interior live oak Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens⁺ / 7
4.87 Trail turns right 90°
4.89 Switchback right.
4.92 Small downed tree across trail on 12/3/03; still present on 10/25/04
5.02 Check for tree form of Q. wislizeni.
5.03 Another small tree down.
5.04 b 168 California bee plant Scrophularia californica ssp. floribunda 50 / 9 11
5.06 l 169 ? different grass like vulpia on steroids
5.09 Trail makes long curve left 90° around west side of last ridge before the top; elevation ~3800 feet (1160 m); first view of the area at the top of the trail.
5.19 Trail makes long curve right 90°.
5.20 l 170 ? grass with an infl that sometimes looks like Achnatherum, and sometimes like a thick poa secunda.
5.24 Switchback right.
5.26 Trail turns left 90°
5.29 Trail turns left 90° at swale, which is almost entirely non-native annual grasses; elevation ~3760 feet (1145 m).
5.34 Trail curves right 90° at ridge.
5.36 Trail turns left 90° then jogs right.
5.40 Trail jogs right again.
5.48 Switchback left at drainage.
5.48 171 California wood fern Dryopteris arguta 1 / 1 13
5.51 Trail turns right 90° at ridge.
5.53 Trail curves right 45°.
5.55 Switchback left at drainage.
5.57 Trail turns right 90° at ridge.
5.58 Trail turns left 45° at drainage; nice patch of hairy ceanothus, Ceanothus oliganthus.
5.62 Long switchback right at ridge
5.67 Switchback left at drainage.
5.68 Switchback right at ridge.
5.74 Cross drainage.
5.76 Switchback left; trail becomes steeper.
5.81 Check for a different grass.
5.81 Switchback right.
5.82 l 172 broad-leaved lotus Lotus crassifolius var. crassifolius 5 / 5 6
5.82 Small downed tree across trail on 10/25/04.
5.88 Small downed tree across trail on 10/25/04.
5.89 Trail curves left at ridge.
5.90 Switchback left.
5.91 r 173 Coulter pine Pinus coulteri 4 / 4 10
5.93 b 174 sp dodder Cuscuta sp.⁺ /
5.98 Switchback right.
6.07 Switchback left.
6.14 Switchback right.
6.17 Small downed tree across trail on 10/25/04.
6.18 Switchback left.
6.19 Small downed tree across trail on 10/25/04.
6.21 Switchback right.
6.23 Switchback left.
6.23 Switchback right.
6.27 Switchback left.
6.28 Long switchback right.
6.30 Trail curves right 90° at ridge.
6.34 Switchback right at drainage.
6.35 Long switchback left.
6.40 Trail curves right 90° at ridge.
6.43 Check for Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. adamsii. This specimen has white-glaucous lvs and a burl.
6.44 Switchback left at ridge.
6.51 Switchback left near the head of a large drainage.
6.55 Switchback right at ridge. Trail is now just above the bottom of the main drainage from Agua Tibia ridge, and just below the saddle on the ridge.
6.70 Trail curves left 90° at drainage, then trail curves right 90°. Trail is now quite overgrown beginning here on 10/25/04.
6.72 Tree down on trail on 10/25/04.
6.73 l 175 yellow-stem bush mallow Malacothamnus densiflorus 10 / 2 1
6.94 Enter southern coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia var. oxyadenia, forest on top.
6.96 Large southern coast live oak down across trail on 10/25/04.
6.98 End Dripping Springs Trail at jct. with Palomar-McGee Trail.

Comments On Specific Species

Quercus agrifolia. Many of the coast live oaks in the campground and on the trail appear to be intermediates between var. agrifolia and var. oxyadenia. All of the leaves are at least sparsely hairy, some with the brown trichomes of var. agrifolia and some with the white trichomes of var. oxyadenia.
The specimen at mile 0.00 is a pretty good var. agrifolia, with the lower leaf surface sparsely hairy, with hairs mostly brown, about the same color as the dense hairs in the vein axils.
The specimen at mile 0.03 is mostly a pure var. oxyadenia with a lower leaf surface nearly covered with the stellate trichomes with pure white hairs. However, it also has the tufts of brown hairs of var. agrifolia in the vein axils. The lower leaf surface is fuzzy to the eye, and looks much like the JM pix of var. oxyadenia, without any brown hairs in the vein axils.
The specimen at mile 0.52 is probably the purest var. oxyadenia.
Lepidium densiflorum var. ramosum. This taxon was found by Banks as rare in disturbed sandy soils, Dripping Springs (area), which fits this location well. This is supposedly a fairly rare taxon in Southern California, but the plants here have strong conflicts with any other Lepidium species identification.
L. ruderale is sometimes listed as a synonym for this taxon (see red Munz p. 227), and L. ruderale is in the San Diego County Checklist. However, the little information I can find seems to rule out a L. ruderale identification. First, the Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk webpage says the fruit of L. ruderale is 1.5-2.0 mm wide; the fruit of these plants is 2.7-2.9 mm wide. Second, these plants do not look like this picture.
Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus, Chlorogalum parviflorum, Helianthemum scoparium. The first occurrence of each of these species prior to 2003 was dead in 2003. That first occurrence is still noted, and the first live occurrence in 2004 is also noted.
Berberis pinnata ssp. pinnata (cultivar?). Due to the following differences from the floras, I suspect this is a cultivar, and not the natural taxon. The lower leaf surface is glaucous, contrary to the key of Munz, which says both leaf surfaces are shiny, and is pappillate only at 20X, not at 10X. The number of teeth is a bit smaller than expected for the species.
Salix laevigata. On 4/6/04, this single plant had both the expected acuminate leaves on most new shoots, and also the "symmetric to a bit oblanceolate", mostly elliptic blunt-tipped leaves of S. lasiolepis on other shoots. On previous visits prior to this date, all the older leaves observed have been the expected acuminate ones. However, the fruit is exactly that of red willow.
I have seen this leaf variation before, on another red willow at the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve and on one at the Blue Sky Ecological Reserve. Thus either all of these plants are hybrids, or, more likely, this is simply a normal variation for a red willow.
Lepidium strictum. We had difficulties keying these plants to any identification, but are pretty confident this is the correct id. It keys to L. lasiocarpum var. lasiocarpum because the pedicel in fruit is very flat. However, the most striking thing about these plants are the persistent sepals on the fruit, which is not a trait of L. lasiocarpum. In addition, these plants have leaves that are 1-2 pinnate which are inconsistent with the 1 pinnate leaves of L. lasiocarpum.
It appears simply that the Lepidium key is bad for L. strictum. The floras state that L. strictum has pedicels in fruit that are ± 2x wider than thick. The plants here have pedicels ~3x wider than thick, which is within the ± of the description, and prevents them from keying properly.
Chaenactis glabriuscula var. glabriuscula (intergrade with var. lanosa). The plant in the campground keyed directly to var. glabriuscula, and fit the description of that variety well. However, the plants at mile 0.53 do not key easily to a single variety, and show features of var. lanosa as well as var. glabriuscula. In particular:

the plants were not entirely thinly gray-cobwebby (var. glabriuscula), and not entirely white-woolly (var. lanosa). Although the individual plant I studied was mostly thinly gray-cobwebby, the stem near two flower heads is ~white-woolly.
None of the leaves are lobed; they are all entire, threadlike, typical of var. lanosa.
The pappus scales are not < 75% of the corolla. For example, on the first plant I looked at, the pappus is 3.0 mm long, and the corolla is 3.5 mm long, making the pappus 86% of the corolla.

Thus it appears that these plants are an intergrade between var. glabriuscula and var. lanosa , but mostly on the var. glabriuscula side.
Banks lists var. lanosa as being found near here, on xeric slopes and in sandy washes, mostly to the north, and mostly on the Temecula Arkose. This location is the sandy wash of the Arroyo Seco, and hence would be the most likely location to find var. lanosa, or an intergrade with it.
I'll look for any pure var. lanosa in the future.
Stephanomeria exigua ssp. deanei. The specimens on this trail in 2003 are much larger than given in the floras. See details.
Stephanomeria virgata. The plants on this trail cannot be assigned to either of the subspecies defined in the Jepson Manual. See Stephanomeria virgata.
Berberis nevinii, Berberis pinnata ssp. pinnata (cultivar?), Trichostema lanatum, Arctostaphylos densiflora, Euryops pectinatus var. "viridis", and Cercis occidentalis. Many of the species in the campground were planted, and some of them are not in the flora of Agua Tibia. The ones noted above were clearly planted next to toilets.
Stylocline gnaphaloides. A positive identification for this taxon was made at mile 1.49. It is highly like the plants at mile 1.17 are the same.
Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens. From this point on, most (but not all) of the scrub oaks are this taxon, replacing the Q. acutidens, which is the only scrub oak found below this point.
Calystegia macrostegia ssp. arida. These specimens are very close to ssp. tenuifolia. Young leaves have ~dense hairs that are just visible to the eye, like ssp. arida, whereas older leaves are either puberulent or glabrous, like ssp. tenuifolia. The shape of the middle lobe is narrowly triangular, like that of tenuifolia. It is possible that these two subspecies intergrade here, or that these two subspecies are actually a single one, since I have seen this behavior before.
Cuscuta sp.. Found on Arctostaphylos glandulosa.

Number of Trails Containing A Taxon	Number Of Taxa On This Trail	% of Taxa On This Trail
1	5	4%
2	4	3%
3	4	3%
4	5	4%
5	1	1%

1-5	19	14%
6-10	30	23%
11-15	16	12%
16-20	21	16%
21-25	16	12%
26-30	8	6%
31-35	11	8%
36-40	4	3%
41-45	6	5%
46-50	1	1%
Total Taxa	132	100%

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

1-5	33	20%
6-10	32	20%
11-15	26	16%
16-20	23	14%
21-25	17	10%
26-30	7	4%
31-35	14	9%
36-40	3	2%
41-45	6	4%
46-50	1	1%
Total Taxa	162	100%

#all	Latin Name	Common Name	Distribution in Southern California / Distribution in Trail Guides
1	Trichostema parishii	Parish's bluecurls	TR, PR; Baja CA
1	Oxytheca trilobata	three-lobed oxytheca	common; SnGb, SnBr, PR, w DMtns (Little San Bernardino Mountains); Baja CA
2	Adenostoma sparsifolium	red shanks	TR, PR; Baja CA; found also on Backbone Trail to Saddle Peak in the Santa Monica Mountains. This is an extremely common taxon between this location and the high mountain ridge to the east. Jane Strong and I simply have no other trails in its home territory.
2	Cheilanthes clevelandii	Cleveland's lipfern	n ChI, PR; Baja CA; found also on the Mt. Woodson Trail in Blue Sky Ecological Reserve, Poway, San Diego County.
2	Calystegia macrostegia ssp. arida	southern California morning-glory	SnGb, SnBr, n PR; found also in a trail in the San Marcos Hills, north San Diego County.
2	Ericameria parishii var. parishii	Parish's goldenbush	esp after fires; SnGb, SnBr, PR; found also in the Pioneer Mail old roadbed trail, Laguna Mountains, San Diego County.

#all	Latin Name	Common Name	Comment
1	Berberis pinnata ssp. pinnata	shiny-leaf barberry	WTR, SnGb, PR.
1	Arctostaphylos densiflora	Vine Hill manzanita	Not native here; Endangered Species in the wild; native only to Vine Hill, near Forestville, Sonomo County; but plentiful in the nursery trade.
1	Euryops pectinatus var. "viridis"	euryops	Not native here; native to South Africa.
2	Berberis nevinii	Nevin's barberry	Endangered Species in the wild; SW.
2	Trichostema lanatum	woolly bluecurls	SCo, WTR, SnGb, PR.

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"	Coverage
Campground Portion
12/19/2001	1	40	18
2/7/2002	2	59	23
3/8/2002	3	69	22
12/24/2002	4	79	12	12	4	1
11/13/2003	5	81	9	13	3	1
11/17/2003	6	80	5	13	3	1
11/21/2003	7	83	5	10	5	1
12/3/2003	8	83	5	10	5	1
1/26/2004	9	84	5	9	5	1
4/6/2004	10	130	2	5	6	0
4/18/2004	11	139	2	4	4	0
10/25/2004	12	138	1	4	4	0
Trail Beyond Campground Area
12/19/2001	1	56	32				to mile 4.56
2/7/2002	2	94	29				to mile 4.56
3/8/2002	3	105	35				to mile 2.82
12/24/2002	4	108	33	1	2	1	to mile 3.03
11/13/2003	5	118	19	13	7	3	to mile 2.90
11/17/2003	6	118	16	8	10	2	to mile 3.75
11/21/2003	7	122	17	8	10	1	to mile 4.88
12/3/2003	8	126	19	8	10	1	to mile 5.48
1/26/2004	9	126	18	7	11	1	to mile 4.82
4/6/2004	10	160	13	11	10	1	to mile 2.49
4/18/2004	11	170	10	5	9	0	to mile 4.44
10/25/2004	12	175	8	6	8	0	to the top!

Mile	S	#	id	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00				Parking for trail at north end of Dripping Springs Campground, elevation ~1560 feet (475 m). The guide begins at the coast live oak near the south end of the parking area. Separate guides are given to the campground area and the trail after it crosses the Arroyo Seco; the #here refers separately to each guide.
0.00	l	1		coast live oak	Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia⁺	20 / 9	34
0.00	r	2		Fremont cottonwood	Populus fremontii ssp. fremontii	5 / 2	8
0.00	l	3		western sycamore	Platanus racemosa	5 / 2	19
0.00	r			Bulletin Board: "Fee Area. $5 daily use fee or Adventure Pass" and other information.
0.00	r			Fee deposit "Iron Ranger"
0.00	r	4		*Mediterranean schismus	Schismus barbatus	20 / 3	14
0.00	b	5		*redstem filaree	Erodium cicutarium	50 / 5	41
0.00	r	6		*shortpod mustard	Hirschfeldia incana	50 / 9	41
0.00	b	7		*slender wild oats	Avena barbata	20 / 5	25
0.00	b	8		*downy brome	Bromus tectorum	20 / 3	21
0.00	r	9		wild tarragon	Artemisia dracunculus	10 / 1	21
0.00	b	10		California filago	Filago californica	20 / 2	13
0.00	l	11		*ripgut brome	Bromus diandrus	99 / 2	41
0.00	l	12		*soft chess	Bromus hordeaceus	30 / 4	29
0.00	l	13		*foxtail barley	Hordeum murinum ssp. glaucum	10 / 1	9
0.00	l	14		*pineapple weed	Chamomilla suaveolens	10 / 1	14
0.00	l	15		*narrowleaf filago	Filago gallica	20 / 2	32
0.00	l	16		common phacelia	Phacelia distans	99 / 9	6
0.00	l	17		*sow thistle	Sonchus oleraceus	5 / 3	25
0.00	l	18		goldfields	Lasthenia californica	10 / 1	7
0.00	b	19	~	prickly cryptantha	Cryptantha muricata	50 / 9	12
0.00	r	20		bur-ragweed	Ambrosia acanthicarpa	30 / 9	14
0.00	b	21		silver puffs	Uropappus lindleyi	30 / 5	19
0.00	b	22		*California burclover	Medicago polymorpha	20 / 3	28
0.00	r	23		telegraph weed	Heterotheca grandiflora	30 / 9	26
0.00	r	24		strigose sun-cup	Camissonia strigulosa	10 / 2	4
0.00	b	25		*red brome	Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens	20 / 2	42
0.00	b	26		*sourclover	Melilotus indicus	5 / 1	16
0.00	r		~	(southern mountain woolly-star, Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum)
0.00	b	27		*prickly sow thistle	Sonchus asper ssp. asper	3 / 2	16
0.00	r	28		sugar bush	Rhus ovata	3 / 2	22
0.00	l	29		*shepherd's purse	Capsella bursa-pastoris	10 / 2	6
0.00	l	30	sp	comb-bur	Pectocarya sp.	3 / 1
0.00	l	31		*Australian brass-buttons	Cotula australis	10 / 2	14
0.00	r	32		*Oriental mustard	Sisymbrium orientale	30 / 5	10
0.00	r	33		California suncup	Camissonia californica	1 / 1	17
0.00	r			(California croton, Croton californicus)
0.00	r	34		Davidson's buckwheat	Eriogonum davidsonii	30 / 3	18
0.00	r	35		white everlasting	Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum	20 / 4	32
		36		*hairy rattail fescue	Vulpia myuros var. hirsuta	/	11
0.00	r	37		western ragweed	Ambrosia psilostachya	10 / 1	26
0.00	r	38		slender wreathplant	Stephanomeria exigua ssp. deanei	5 / 3	10
0.00	r	39		strigose lotus	Lotus strigosus	2 / 1	25
0.00	r	40		common pepper-grass	Lepidium densiflorum var. ramosum⁺	10 / 2	1
0.00	r	41		dwarf lupine	Lupinus bicolor	30 / 5	19
0.00	r	42		San Diego birdsfoot lotus	Lotus hamatus	5 / 2	8
0.00	r	43		scarlet bugler	Penstemon centranthifolius	10 / 3	7
0.01	r			(western redbud, Cercis occidentalis)
0.01	l	44		southern honeysuckle	Lonicera subspicata var. denudata	6 / 3	34
0.01	r	45		slim vetch	Vicia ludoviciana var. ludoviciana	5 / 2	6
0.01	r	46		angel's gilia	Gilia angelensis	20 / 2	7
0.01	r	47		Tejon cryptantha	Cryptantha microstachys	5 / 1	3
0.01	b	48		white-whorled lupine	Lupinus microcarpus var. densiflorus	5 / 1	4
0.01	r	49		California brome	Bromus carinatus var. carinatus	5 / 1	17
0.01	r	50		basketbush	Rhus trilobata	10 / 2	16
0.02				Gate to campground
0.02	r	51		mugwort	Artemisia douglasiana	10 / 2	25
0.02	l			(small-flowered melica, Melica imperfecta)
0.02	l	52		California buckwheat	Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum	50 / 3	40
0.02	l	53		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	10 / 5	47
0.02	l	54		black sage	Salvia mellifera	1 / 1	34
0.02	l	55		California matchweed	Gutierrezia californica	50 / 5	4
0.02	r	56		ocellated Humboldt lily	Lilium humboldtii ssp. ocellatum	1 / 1	5
0.02	l	57		blue dicks	Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum	10 / 3	32
0.02	l	58		California-aster	Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia	20 / 2	42
0.02	l	59		bristly bird's beak	Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus	20 / 2	22
0.02	l			(Mohave yucca, Yucca schidigera)
0.02	l	60		narrowleaf bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium	5 / 5	41
0.02	l	61		short-winged deerweed	Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus⁺	10 / 5	16
0.03	r	62		blue wildrye	Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus	10 / 1	17
0.03	l	63		small-flowered melica	Melica imperfecta	20 / 3	33
0.03	r	64		southern coast live oak	Quercus agrifolia var. oxyadenia⁺	20 / 9	6
0.03	l	65		nodding needlegrass	Nassella cernua	5 / 1	10
0.03	l	66	sp	Mariposa lily	Calochortus sp.	2 / 1
0.04	r	67		Nevin's barberry	Berberis nevinii⁺	3 / 2	2
0.04	l	68	sp	dodder on buckwheat	Cuscuta sp.	1 / 1
0.04	r			First toilet
0.04	r	69		shiny-leaf barberry	Berberis pinnata ssp. pinnata⁺	2 / 2	1
0.04	r	70		horseweed	Conyza canadensis	1 / 1	24
0.04	r	71		California everlasting	Gnaphalium californicum	6 / 4	30
0.04	r	72		beavertail cactus	Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris	2 / 2	6
0.04	r	73		woolly bluecurls	Trichostema lanatum⁺	5 / 2	3
0.05	r			Sign: "Stop. Pay here"
0.05	l	74		southern suncup	Camissonia bistorta	10 / 3	10
0.05	l	75		chaparral beard-tongue	Keckiella antirrhinoides var. antirrhinoides	5 / 2	7
0.06	r	76		common fiddleneck	Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia	10 / 2	11
0.06	r	77		Spanish clover	Lotus purshianus var. purshianus	20 / 3	18
0.06	r			(blue elderberry, Sambucus mexicana)
0.07	l	78		California sagebrush	Artemisia californica	5 / 3	35
0.07	r	79		mule fat	Baccharis salicifolia	4 / 2	31
0.07	r	80		hollyleaf redberry	Rhamnus ilicifolia	1 / 1	35
0.07	l			short-winged deerweed	Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus⁺	/
0.08	l	81		Parish's purple nightshade	Solanum parishii	15 / 2	13
0.08	l			(California chicory, Rafinesquia californica)
0.08	l	82		common bedstraw	Galium aparine	5 / 1	25
0.08	l	83		climbing bedstraw	Galium nuttallii ssp. nuttallii	1 / 1	23
0.08	r			(arroyo willow, Salix lasiolepis)
0.09	r	84		red willow	Salix laevigata⁺	1 / 1	16
0.09	l	85		giant wild-rye	Leymus condensatus	5 / 1	24
0.11	l			Campground host living quarters
0.11	r			Check for different Cryptantha, a decumbent plant.101
0.11	r	86		California croton	Croton californicus	20 / 5	6
0.13	r	87		*Vine Hill manzanita	Arctostaphylos densiflora⁺	2 / 1	1
0.13	r	88	~	popcorn flower	Cryptantha intermedia	/	22
0.13	l	89		common linanthus	Linanthus parviflorus	99 / 9	8
0.13	l	90		red maids	Calandrinia ciliata	1 / 1	9
0.15	r	91		blue elderberry	Sambucus mexicana	1 / 1	39
0.15	r	92		collar lupine	Lupinus truncatus	5 / 2	18
0.19	r	93		yellow pincushion	Chaenactis glabriuscula var. glabriuscula	5 / 2	11
		94		pygmy-weed	Crassula connata	50 / 1	13
		95		big leaf mistletoe	Phoradendron macrophyllum	1 / 1	3
0.22	r			Toilet
0.22	l	96		Coulter's lupine	Lupinus sparsiflorus	1 / 1	9
0.23	r	97		foothill needlegrass	Nassella lepida	1 / 1	16
0.24	l	98		canyon clarkia	Clarkia epilobioides	3 / 1	8
0.24	l	99		*horehound	Marrubium vulgare	20 / 3	22
0.25	l	100		annual sunflower	Helianthus annuus	1 / 1	9
0.25	l	101		chia	Salvia columbariae	1 / 1	18
0.29	r	102		branching phacelia	Phacelia ramosissima var. latifolia	10 / 3	25
0.30	r	103		caespitose evening-primrose	Oenothera caespitosa ssp. crinita	20 / 1	1
0.30	r			(common tidy-tips, Layia platyglossa)
0.30	r			(alkali western tansy-mustard, Descurainia pinnata ssp. halictorum)
0.30	r	104		honey mesquite	Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana	5 / 1	3
0.31	r	105		*London rocket	Sisymbrium irio	/ 1	8
0.31	r	106	sp	suncup	C. ignota?	/
0.31	r	107	~	showy penstemon	Penstemon spectabilis var. spectabilis	3 / 1	9
0.34	r			Toilet
0.34	r	108		*euryops	Euryops pectinatus var. "viridis"⁺	1 / 1
0.34	r	109		*western redbud	Cercis occidentalis⁺	2 / 2	4
0.37	r	110		*Bermuda grass	Cynodon dactylon	10 / 2	20
0.37	r	111		goldenrod	Solidago californica	5 / 1	27
0.39	r	112		toyon	Heteromeles arbutifolia	1 / 1	38
0.39	r	113		vinegar weed	Trichostema lanceolatum	10 / 1	4
0.40	l	114		San Diego tarweed	Hemizonia paniculata	10 / 1	6
0.40	r	115		poison oak	Toxicodendron diversilobum	1 / 1	34
0.41	r	116		volcanic gilia	Gilia ochroleuca ssp. exilis	10 / 1	2
0.41	l			Jct. road to equestrian camp
0.43	r	117		silky lotus	Lotus heermannii var. heermannii	3 / 1	6
0.44	r	118		*hedge mustard	Sisymbrium officinale	/ 1	16
0.44	r			(meally white pincushion, Chaenactis artemisiifolia)
0.44	r	119		eucrypta	Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia var. chrysanthemifolia	5 / 1	20
0.44	r	120		hoary bowlesia	Bowlesia incana	5 / 1	2
0.44	r	121		*common groundsel	Senecio vulgaris	1 / 1	12
0.44	r	122		narrow-leaved miner's lettuce	Claytonia parviflora ssp. parviflora	3 / 1	13
0.44	r	123		southern goldfields	Lasthenia coronaria	1 / 1	2
0.44	r	124		prostrate pepper-grass	Lepidium strictum⁺	/	1
0.44	l	125		wild canterbury bells	Phacelia minor	3 / 1	14
0.44	l	126		*tumble-mustard	Sisymbrium altissimum	/	10
0.44	l	127		whispering bells	Emmenanthe penduliflora var. penduliflora	3 / 1	9
0.45	r	128		bigberry manzanita (~25' tall)	Arctostaphylos glauca	1 / 1	9
0.45	r	129		heartleaf penstemon	Keckiella cordifolia	2 / 2	21
0.45	l	130		southern miner's lettuce	Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana	3 / 1	16
0.45	l	131		Torrey's scrub oak	Quercus acutidens	5 / 2	15
0.45	l	132		California chicory	Rafinesquia californica	1 / 1	17
0.45	l	133		wild-cucumber	Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus	2 / 2	37
0.45	l	134	?	smelly unk like beeplant?
0.46	r	135		chaparral whitethorn	Ceanothus leucodermis	1 / 1	12
0.47	r	136		California brickellbush	Brickellia californica	1 / 1	26
0.47	l			Last toilet
0.48	l			DS trailhead, elevation ~1640 feet (500 m).
0.49	r	137		saw-toothed goldenbush	Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioides	1 / 1	29
0.49				Jct. trail from equestrian camp; turn right 90°.
0.51	r			(scale-broom, Lepidospartum squamatum)
0.51	r	138		bush senecio	Senecio flaccidus var. douglasii	1 / 1	10

0.52				Cross Arroyo Seco, elevation ~1640 feet (500 m). Plant list starts over here, to produce a list without planted species.

0.52	l	1		western sycamore	Platanus racemosa	5 / 1	19
0.52	l	2		western ragweed	Ambrosia psilostachya	10 / 1	26
0.52	l	3		Jepson's blue wildrye	Elymus glaucus ssp. jepsonii	5 / 1	8
0.52	l	4		mugwort	Artemisia douglasiana	5 / 1	25
0.52	l	5		*ripgut brome	Bromus diandrus	20 / 1	41
0.52	l	6		southern coast live oak	Quercus agrifolia var. oxyadenia⁺	5 / 2	6
0.52	l	7		*rabbits-foot grass	Polypogon monspeliensis	5 / 1	14
0.52	l	8		slim vetch	Vicia ludoviciana var. ludoviciana	1 / 1	6
0.52	b	9		mule fat	Baccharis salicifolia	3 / 1	31
0.52	r	10		*red brome	Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens	99 / 9	42
0.52	r	11	?	unk ann scroph with clusters of 7 flowers at nodes
0.52	l	12		*Bermuda grass	Cynodon dactylon	5 / 2	20
0.52	r	13	?	Durango root?	Datisca glomerata?	3 / 1
0.52	r	14		wild tarragon	Artemisia dracunculus	1 / 1	21
0.52	r	15		prickly cryptantha	Cryptantha muricata	99 / 9	12
0.52	r			(bush monkeyflower, Mimulus aurantiacus)
0.52	r	16		Spanish clover	Lotus purshianus var. purshianus	10 / 1	18
0.52	b	17		*shortpod mustard	Hirschfeldia incana	99 / 9	41
0.53	b	18		Robinson's pepper-grass	Lepidium virginicum var. robinsonii	99 / 9	4
0.53	r	19		*sourclover	Melilotus indicus	/	16
0.53	r	20		yellow pincushion	Chaenactis glabriuscula var. glabriuscula (intergrade with var. lanosa)⁺	99 / 9	11
				Look for pure specimens of Chaenactis glabriuscula var. lanosa
0.53	r	21		California everlasting	Gnaphalium californicum	99 / 9	30
0.53	l	22		bristly bird's beak	Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus	99 / 9	22
0.53	r	23		bush senecio	Senecio flaccidus var. douglasii	1 / 1	10
0.53	r	24		California buckwheat	Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum	99 / 9	40
0.53	l	25		short-winged deerweed	Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus	30 / 9	16
0.53	r	26		slender cottonweed	Micropus californicus var. californicus	10 / 1	6
0.53	r	27		silver puffs	Uropappus lindleyi	50 / 9	19
0.53	r	28		fringe-pod	Thysanocarpus curvipes	10 / 1	7
0.53	l	29		dwarf lupine	Lupinus bicolor	20 / 9	19
0.53	l	30		California-aster	Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia	99 / 9	42
0.54	l	31		Davidson's buckwheat	Eriogonum davidsonii	10 / 4	18
0.54	l	32		strigose sun-cup	Camissonia strigulosa	10 / 1	4
0.54	l	33		slender wreathplant	Stephanomeria exigua ssp. deanei⁺	99 / 9	10
0.54	b	34		*downy brome	Bromus tectorum	99 / 4	21
0.54	r			Jct. path.
0.54	r	35		*redstem filaree	Erodium cicutarium	/	41
0.54	b	36		*soft chess	Bromus hordeaceus	50 / 2	29
0.54	b	37		angel's gilia	Gilia angelensis	30 / 5	7
0.54	r	38		long-stemmed buckwheat	Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum	4 / 2	19
0.54				Trail turns left 90°
0.55	r	39	~	leafy daisy	Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus	10 / 9	34
0.54	b	40		common phacelia	Phacelia distans	40 / 3	6
0.54	r	41		chamise	Adenostoma fasciculatum	99 / 9	31
0.55	r	42		white everlasting	Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum	20 / 9	32
0.55	b	43	~	bush lupine	Lupinus excubitus var. hallii	3 / 1	4
0.55	r	44		common linanthus	Linanthus parviflorus	40 / 5	8
0.55	r	45		branching phacelia	Phacelia ramosissima var. latifolia	5 / 2	25
0.55	r	46		giant wild-rye	Leymus condensatus	2 / 2	24
0.55	r	47		basketbush	Rhus trilobata	1 / 1	16
0.55	b	48		Ramona clarkia	Clarkia similis	10 / 2	2
0.55	l	49		Parish's purple nightshade	Solanum parishii	50 / 9	13
0.55	l	50		California brickellbush	Brickellia californica	2 / 1	26
0.55	l			(California elegant rock-cress, Arabis sparsiflora var. californica)
0.55	r	51		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	50 / 9	47
0.55	l	52		pine goldenbush	Ericameria pinifolia	4 / 2	4
0.55	r	53		coast live oak	Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia⁺	1 / 1	34
0.55	r	54		hoaryleaf ceanothus	Ceanothus crassifolius	99 / 9	11
0.55	r	55		wild-cucumber	Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus	50 / 9	37
0.55	b	56		Torrey's scrub oak	Quercus acutidens	99 / 9	15
0.55	b	57		cobwebby thistle	Cirsium occidentale var. occidentale	1 / 1	5
0.55				Cross small side stream, elevation ~1690 feet (515 m).
0.56	l	58		California matchweed	Gutierrezia californica	3 / 1	4
0.55	l	59		summer snow	Linanthus floribundus ssp. glaber	3 / 1	4
0.56	r			First of many liverwort areas on trail.
0.56	l			"Trip report" post
0.56	l	60		climbing bedstraw	Galium nuttallii ssp. nuttallii	5 / 5	23
0.56	b	61		white sage	Salvia apiana	2 / 2	30
0.56	l	62		small-flowered melica	Melica imperfecta	30 / 9	33
0.56	l	63		poison oak	Toxicodendron diversilobum	5 / 1	34
0.56	r	64		bush monkeyflower	Mimulus aurantiacus	6 / 4	35
0.56	b	65		southern honeysuckle	Lonicera subspicata var. denudata	20 / 9	34
0.56	b	66		saw-toothed goldenbush	Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioides	99 / 9	29
0.57	r	67		San Diego pea	Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii	10 / 3	15
0.57	l			Sign: Agua Tibia Wilderness
0.57	r	68		muilla	Muilla maritima	6 / 4	6
0.57	l	69		*narrowleaf filago	Filago gallica	99 / 9	32
0.57	l	70		narrowleaf bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium	30 / 9	41
0.57	r	71	?	unk scroph with 1 flower per node - Antirrhinum coulterianum?
0.57	r	72	?	goldenstar?	Bloomeria crocea?	/
0.57	r	73		California chicory	Rafinesquia californica	10 / 9	17
0.57	r	74		*smooth cat's ear	Hypochaeris glabra	/ 1	24
0.57	r	75		beavertail cactus	Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris	3 / 3	6
0.57	r			Post
0.57	l	76		purple clarkia	Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera	10 / 2	16
0.57	r	77		California peony	Paeonia californica	20 / 2	12
0.57	r	78		*slender wild oats	Avena barbata	99 / 9	25
0.58	r	79		red shanks	Adenostoma sparsifolium	99 / 9	2
0.58	b	80		redberry	Rhamnus crocea	5 / 3	11
0.58	l			Woodrat's nest
0.58	l	81	sp	pectocarya51
0.58	l	82		bird's-foot fern	Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata	99 / 9	22
0.58	l	83		goldback fern	Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis	20 / 9	16
0.58	l	84		wild celery	Apiastrum angustifolium	5 / 1	6
0.58	l	85		ground pink	Linanthus dianthiflorus	3 / 1	8
0.58	b	86		popcorn flower	Cryptantha intermedia	/	22
0.58				Trail turns left 90°
0.59	b	87		blue dicks	Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum	30 / 5	32
0.59	r	88		shiny lomatium	Lomatium lucidum	20 / 5	6
0.59	r	89	~	southern Indian pink	Silene laciniata ssp. major	5 / 1	15
0.59	r			Check for Pacific sanicle, Sanicula crassicaulis.
0.60	b	90		scaly lipfern	Cheilanthes clevelandii	99 / 9	3
0.60	r	91		coast jepsonia	Jepsonia parryi	30 / 3	10
0.60	r	92		chaparral beard-tongue	Keckiella antirrhinoides var. antirrhinoides	30 / 9	7
0.60	l			Check for different small annual.
0.60				Switchback to right, then trail curves left.
0.60	l	93		southern goldfields	Lasthenia coronaria	20 / 3	2
0.60	l	94		Pacific fescue	Vulpia microstachys var. pauciflora	/	3
0.61	l	95		white-flowering currant	Ribes indecorum	10 / 9	14
0.61	r	96		California poppy	Eschscholzia californica	99 / 3	20
0.61	b	97	sp	Mariposa lily	Calochortus sp.	99 / 9
0.61	r	98		sugar bush	Rhus ovata	10 / 9	22
0.61	r	99		purple owl's clover	Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta	5 / 1	8
0.64	l			Jct. Wild Horse Trail
0.65	r	100		thick-leaved yerba santa	Eriodictyon crassifolium var. crassifolium	99 / 9	5
0.65	l	101		acourtia	Acourtia microcephala	10 / 9	12
0.65	l	102	sp	Chinese houses	Collinsia sp.	2 / 2
0.66	l	103		southern suncup	Camissonia bistorta	5 / 1	10
0.66	l			(green miner's lettuce, Claytonia parviflora ssp. viridis)
0.66	l	104		southern gilia	Gilia australis	10 / 2	2
0.68	b	105		*tocalote	Centaurea melitensis	99 / 3	35
0.68	r	106		black sage	Salvia mellifera	99 / 9	34
0.68	l	107		canyon clarkia	Clarkia epilobioides	10 / 1	8
0.68	l	108		*rattail fescue	Vulpia myuros var. myuros	99 / 9	11
0.70	r	109	~	meally white pincushion	Chaenactis artemisiifolia	/	12
0.72				Cross small stream and turn left 90°.
0.72	r	110		wild canterbury bells	Phacelia minor	99 / 9	14
0.73	l	111		coffee fern	Pellaea andromedifolia	2 / 2	19
0.74	r	112		southern California morning-glory	Calystegia macrostegia ssp. arida	6 / 6	2
0.74	r	113		California four o'clock	Mirabilis californica	6 / 5	15
0.74				Trail turns left 90°
0.75				Trail curves right 90°
0.76				Switchback left.
0.77				Trail curves right 90°
0.78	r	114		horseweed	Conyza canadensis	5 / 5	24
0.79	l	115		strigose lotus	Lotus strigosus	3 / 3	25
0.79				Long switchback right
0.83	l	116	~	small-flowered soap plant	Chlorogalum parviflorum⁺	99 / 9	5
0.82	l	117		foothill needlegrass	Nassella lepida	/	16
0.83	l	118		rockrose	Helianthemum scoparium⁺	50 / 9	10
0.86	l	119	~	California suncup	Camissonia californica	50 / 9	17
0.86	l	120		chia	Salvia columbariae	99 / 9	18
0.87				Switchback left.
0.95	r	121		Bigelow's spike-moss	Selaginella bigelovii	99 / 4	16
0.95	l	122		chaparral yucca	Yucca whipplei	10 / 9	25
0.95				Trail curves right to round ridge.
0.99	r	123	sp	stinging lupine	Lupinus hirsutissimus	2 / 2	12
0.99				Switchback right.
1.04				Trail curves left 90°.
1.04	l		~	small-flowered soap plant	Chlorogalum parviflorum⁺	/
1.04	b	124		twiggy wreath plant	Stephanomeria virgata⁺	99 / 9	8
1.04	l	125		slender sunflower	Helianthus gracilentus	30 / 9	12
1.07				Achieve ridge at north end of bend in trail, elevation ~1910 feet (580 m), part of a long switchback left; overlook of lower Arroyo Seco Canyon.
1.08	r			Check for windmill pink or similar.
1.17	b	126		everlasting nest-straw	Stylocline gnaphaloides⁺	50 / 4	7
1.23				Trail curves right 45°.
1.25				Trail curves left 45°.
1.29				Long curving bend to right at small double drainage
1.33				North end of long switchback left in trail, elevation ~2000 feet (610 m); after the switchback, trail is on top of flattish ridge.
1.39	l			View of (Tule or Beauty Peak?) in distance over ridgeline.
1.41				Trail makes broad curve right 90°, then left 90°.
1.45				Field of soap plants
1.48	r			everlasting nest-straw	Stylocline gnaphaloides⁺	/
1.49				Trail makes broad curve right ~90°.
1.52				Broad switchback left.
1.53	b	127	~	fringed spineflower	Chorizanthe fimbriata var. fimbriata	40 / 5	4
1.58				Trail curves right 90° and crosses small drainage
1.00				bigberry manzanita	Arctostaphylos glauca	99 / 9	9
1.60	l	128		Trail curves left 45°
1.63				Trail curves right 90° and crosses small double drainage
1.64	l			First of the tall century-old red shank (Adenostoma sparsifolium) "trees" burned in 1989 fire.
				Beginning of transition region for California buckwheat var. foliolosum and polifolium.
1.67				Switchback left.
1.75				Trail crosses very small drainage and curves right 90°.
1.80				Cross small drainage
1.82				Cross small drainage and curve right 90°.
1.82	b	129		eucrypta	Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia var. chrysanthemifolia	10 / 2	20
1.85				Long switchback left.
1.89				Cross small drainage and switchback right.
1.93				Cross small drainage.
1.98				Long switchback to left, elevation ~2280 feet (695 m).
1.98	r			Jct. path at ridge.
2.03				#1 of 10 switchbacks to gain some quick elevation, to right. Most of the segments between switchbacks curve as they cross the ridge, which won't be explicitly stated here.
2.06				Ending of transition region for California buckwheat var. foliolosum and polifolium.
2.07				Switchback to left, #2.
2.07	b	130		California buckwheat	Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium	99 / 9	14
2.08	r			A number of Cleveland's lipferns growing next to bird's beak ferns here.
2.10	r	131		Eastwood manzanita	Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. zacaensis	99 / 9	9
2.11	b			Check for different species like goldenstar.
2.14				Switchback to right, #3.
2.19				Switchback to left, #4.
2.23	r	132		woolly Indian paintbrush	Castilleja foliolosa	5 / 2	4
2.28	l	133		*prickly lettuce	Lactuca serriola	5 / 5	28
2.28				Switchback to right, #5.
2.33	l	134		heartleaf penstemon	Keckiella cordifolia	20 / 9	21
2.34	r	135		one-sided bluegrass	Poa secunda ssp. secunda	/	22
2.34	l	136		globe gilia	Gilia capitata ssp. abrotanifolia	20 / 2	5
2.38	r	137		purple snapdragon	Antirrhinum nuttallianum ssp. nuttallianum	4 / 2	12
2.38				Switchback to left, #6.
2.39	l	138		hollyleaf redberry	Rhamnus ilicifolia	10 / 9	35
2.46	r	139		threadstem	Pterostegia drymarioides	/ 1	17
2.46	r	140		small-flowered meconella	Meconella denticulata	20 / 1	2
2.46	r	141		narrow-leaved miner's lettuce	Claytonia parviflora ssp. parviflora	10 / 1	13
2.46	l	142		common fiddleneck	Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia	5 / 1	11
2.49	r	143		giant needlegrass	Achnatherum coronatum	20 / 5	20
2.49	r			Second location of coast jepsonia, Jepsonia parryi.
2.49				Switchback to right, #7.
2.59				Switchback to left, #8. The trail in some places now is on the reddish Bedford Canyon Formation, with wavy metamorphosed bedding planes, with boulders of Woodson Mountain Granodiorite (white rocks with small black dots all over) on the side of the trail.
2.64	l	144		golden ear drops	Dicentra chrysantha	4 / 2	5
2.68	r	145	sp	comb-leaved nemacladus?	Nemacladus pinnatifidus?	99 / 4
2.70				A birds-foot fern forest alongside the trail. Over 50 plants where the trail was cleared some time ago.
2.72		146		California milkweed	Asclepias californica	/ 1	3
2.75				Switchback to right, #9.
2.81				Check for different peppergrass, Lepidium sp..
2.82				Broad switchback to left, #10, elevation ~2740 feet (835 m); trail now heads south-southwest
2.87				Santa Rosa Plateau Mesas (Burro, Colorado) and others (Avenaloca, Redonda, Miller Mountain) now visible to west.
2.98	b	147		bush poppy	Dendromecon rigida	50 / 4	5
3.03				Round ridge; trail now heads southeast; enter tick lane.
3.12				Cross small drainage and curve right.
3.18				Begin moist area with first chaparral whitethorn, Ceanothus leucodermis, and numerous sugar bush, Rhus ovata, elevation ~2800 feet (855 m).
3.18	l	148		chaparral whitethorn	Ceanothus leucodermis	99 / 9	12
3.21				End moist area; long switchback left at ridge.
3.25	l	149		tall melica	Melica frutescens	/	1
3.26				Trail curves right 90° twice at double drainage.
3.49	r	150		*Oriental mustard	Sisymbrium orientale	/ 1	10
3.54				Switchback left up north side of canyon, elevation ~3040 feet (925 m).
3.61				Switchback right.
3.64	l			Large rectangular rock made of Woodson Mountain granodiorite, with irregular chunk of Bedford Canyon formation stuck on top. Note the intergrade region where they melted together.
3.65	l			Smaller chunk of Bedford completely embedded in granodiorite
3.67				Trail jags left.
3.70	r	151		toyon	Heteromeles arbutifolia	2 / 2	38
3.70	r	152		hollyleaf cherry	Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia	5 / 1	10
3.71	l			Good exposure of Bedford Canyon formation.
3.73	r	153		ashy silk tassel	Garrya flavescens	20 / 3	6
3.74	l	154		birch-leaf mountain-mahogany	Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides	5 / 1	17
3.74	b	155		deergrass	Muhlenbergia rigens	20 / 1	13
3.74				Cross usually-dry streambed, elevation 3120 feet (950 m).
3.75	l	156		small-flowered fiddleneck	Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii	/ 1	3
3.75				Check for Galium parishii.
3.75				Rest area, flat rock to sit on in only shade around.
3.76	r	157		showy penstemon	Penstemon spectabilis var. spectabilis	50 / 9	9
3.76				Begin best field of chaparral whitethorn, Ceanothus leucodermis.
3.79				Cross first of two branches of a little drainage
3.82	r	158		Parish's bluecurls	Trichostema parishii	50 / 9	2
3.83	r			Field of showy penstemon, Penstemon spectabilis and a number of California peonies, Paeonia californica.
3.86	b	159	?	2 m tall gilia?	Gilia caruifolia?	99 / 5
3.88				Trail makes a long jog right.
3.91				Broad switchback right; end field of chaparral whitethorn.
3.93	l	160		Tejon cryptantha	Cryptantha microstachys	/ 1	3
3.95				Switchback left, elevation ~3240 feet (990 m); visible peaks: High Point of Palomar Mountain; Toro and Rabbit Peak, Santa Rosa Mountains; San Jacinto Peak; San Gorgonio Mountain.
3.97	b	161		three-lobed oxytheca	Oxytheca trilobata	20 / 3	2
3.99				Switchback right.
4.02	r			Switchback left at blocked-off little side trail (trail is very short and just loops around ridge and rejoins main trail shortly).
4.07				Trail turns right 90° at ridge; 200" telescope on Palomar Mountain visible.
4.09				Enter area with century-old giant manzanita trees still alive (Arctostaphylos glauca).
4.09				Check for a different suncup here, which has very dense flowers.
4.13				Trail turns left 90°.
4.13	r			bigberry manzanita, Arctostaphylos glauca, with 35 cm (14") diameter trunk.
4.16				Trail is now on ridge.
4.19				Trail jags right.
4.24				Cross small drainage.
4.27				Trail now below ridge, paralleling drainage to right.
4.37				Trail turns right 90° and crosses the drainage near its head.
4.38				Check for different annual penstemon species.
4.40	l	162		hairy ceanothus	Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus	10 / 4	4
4.40	r	163		Cleveland's bush monkeyflower	Mimulus clevelandii	/	1
4.40				Trail makes first of two 90° turns left at drainage.
4.44				Trail turns right 90°
4.44	r			Check for A. glandulosa ssp. adamsii.
4.49				Switchback right.
4.50				Trail turns left 90°
4.52	l	164		Parish's goldenbush	Ericameria parishii var. parishii	20 / 9	2
4.54				Switchback right.
4.57				Switchback left.
4.65				Switchback right.
4.66				Trail curves left 90°
4.70				Trail curves right 90° at ridge.
4.72				Trail curves left 90°
4.75				Trail turns left 90° at small drainage, then rounds ridge to right.
4.81				Trail turns left 90° at drainage.
4.82	b	165	?	ann scroph or phacelia with an infl with 3 branches with closely-spaced flowers.
4.82	b	166		poodle-dog bush	Turricula parryi	50 / 9	4
4.87	r	167		interior live oak	Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens⁺	/	7
4.87				Trail turns right 90°
4.89				Switchback right.
4.92				Small downed tree across trail on 12/3/03; still present on 10/25/04
5.02				Check for tree form of Q. wislizeni.
5.03				Another small tree down.
5.04	b	168		California bee plant	Scrophularia californica ssp. floribunda	50 / 9	11
5.06	l	169	?	different grass like vulpia on steroids
5.09				Trail makes long curve left 90° around west side of last ridge before the top; elevation ~3800 feet (1160 m); first view of the area at the top of the trail.
5.19				Trail makes long curve right 90°.
5.20	l	170	?	grass with an infl that sometimes looks like Achnatherum, and sometimes like a thick poa secunda.
5.24				Switchback right.
5.26				Trail turns left 90°
5.29				Trail turns left 90° at swale, which is almost entirely non-native annual grasses; elevation ~3760 feet (1145 m).
5.34				Trail curves right 90° at ridge.
5.36				Trail turns left 90° then jogs right.
5.40				Trail jogs right again.
5.48				Switchback left at drainage.
5.48		171		California wood fern	Dryopteris arguta	1 / 1	13
5.51				Trail turns right 90° at ridge.
5.53				Trail curves right 45°.
5.55				Switchback left at drainage.
5.57				Trail turns right 90° at ridge.
5.58				Trail turns left 45° at drainage; nice patch of hairy ceanothus, Ceanothus oliganthus.
5.62				Long switchback right at ridge
5.67				Switchback left at drainage.
5.68				Switchback right at ridge.
5.74				Cross drainage.
5.76				Switchback left; trail becomes steeper.
5.81				Check for a different grass.
5.81				Switchback right.
5.82	l	172		broad-leaved lotus	Lotus crassifolius var. crassifolius	5 / 5	6
5.82				Small downed tree across trail on 10/25/04.
5.88				Small downed tree across trail on 10/25/04.
5.89				Trail curves left at ridge.
5.90				Switchback left.
5.91	r	173		Coulter pine	Pinus coulteri	4 / 4	10
5.93	b	174	sp	dodder	Cuscuta sp.⁺	/
5.98				Switchback right.
6.07				Switchback left.
6.14				Switchback right.
6.17				Small downed tree across trail on 10/25/04.
6.18				Switchback left.
6.19				Small downed tree across trail on 10/25/04.
6.21				Switchback right.
6.23				Switchback left.
6.23				Switchback right.
6.27				Switchback left.
6.28				Long switchback right.

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Plants of Southern California: Trail Guides

Copyright © 2002-2004 by Tom Chester.
Permission is freely granted to reproduce any or all of this page as long as credit is given to me at this source:
http://tchester.org/sd/plants/guides/palomar/ds.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Last update: 13 November 2004.