Plant Guide To North Rim Trail, Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve

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

Some of the identifications below were based on dead plant remnants from the previous year, due to the drought in 2002. This trail has still not yet been done in the spring in a normal-rainfall year.
Introduction and Explanation of Plant Trail Guides
Introduction
Highlights of This Trail
Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time
The Plant Guide
Comments On Specific Species
Introduction

Highlights of This Trail

Some of the botanical highlights of this trail are:

Number of Unique Taxa On This Trail

The following histogram gives 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; 4 of those trails, including this one, are at the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve. A number of "1" means the taxon has only been found on this trail among the trails in my database; numbers of "4" or smaller may indicate taxa found only at the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve.

Number of Trails
Containing A Taxon Number Of Taxa
On This Trail % of Taxa
On This Trail
1-5 0 0%
6-10 5 8%
11-15 12 20%
16-20 10 16%
21-25 7 11%
26-30 9 15%
31-35 10 16%
36-40 1 2%
41-45 6 10%
46-50 1 2%
Total Taxa 61 100%

I found 4 additional species not in the above table, since they 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.
Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time

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

Visit Date Visit # # taxa # "?" # "sp" # "~" # "ssp"
3/31/2002 1 57 5
4/25/2002 2 60 3
6/9/2002 3 58 1
12/22/2003 4 63 1 2 0 0
7/9/2004 5 65 2 2 1 0

Prior to 12/22/03, the unknowns were not broken down into categories.
The trail was only surveyed to mile 0.24 on 12/22/03.
The Plant Guide

Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page (3 pages)

mile s # id Common Name Latin Name #here #all
0.00 Beginning of trail at Via Tornado; elevation 1150 feet (350 m)
0.00 c 1 *Bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon / 20
0.00 r 2 California-aster Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia / 42
0.00 r 3 San Diego wreathplant Stephanomeria diegensis / 15
0.00 4 *soft chess Bromus hordeaceus / 29
0.00 5 *white-stemmed filaree Erodium moschatum / 12
0.00 6 *foxtail barley Hordeum murinum ssp. leporinum / 14
0.00 b 7 California sagebrush Artemisia californica / 35
0.00 b 8 *shortpod mustard Hirschfeldia incana / 41
0.00 b 9 bur-ragweed Ambrosia acanthicarpa / 14
0.00 10 *ripgut brome Bromus diandrus / 41
0.00 11 *Russian thistle Salsola tragus / 24
0.00 l 12 telegraph weed Heterotheca grandiflora / 26
0.00 13 *red brome Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens / 42
0.00 14 *wild oats Avena fatua / 16
0.00 b 15 short-winged deerweed Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus / 16
0.00 l 16 *tocalote Centaurea melitensis / 35
0.00 b 17 *California burclover Medicago polymorpha / 28
0.01 r 18 California buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum / 40
0.01 l 19 *creeping Australian saltbush Atriplex semibaccata / 10
0.01 20 yellow pincushion Chaenactis glabriuscula var. glabriuscula / 11
0.01 l Aqueduct structure; trail turns right 45°.
0.02 b 21 western ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya / 26
0.02 22 *narrowleaf filago Filago gallica / 32
0.02 23 *sourclover Melilotus indicus / 16
0.02 b 24 white sage Salvia apiana / 30
0.03 r 25 slender tarweed Hemizonia fasciculata / 11
0.03 26 nodding needlegrass Nassella cernua / 10
0.03 27 *slender wild oats Avena barbata / 25
0.03 28 *scarlet pimpernel Anagallis arvensis / 18
0.03 29 California everlasting Gnaphalium californicum / 30
0.03 l 30 *fountain grass Pennisetum setaceum 10 / 2 9
0.03 l 31 narrowleaf bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium / 41
0.03 b 32 laurel sumac Malosma laurina / 32
0.04 b 33 *nit grass Gastridium ventricosum / 16
0.04 r 34 south coast morning-glory Calystegia macrostegia ssp. intermedia / 14
0.05 35 virgin's bower Clematis pauciflora / 8
0.05 36 bicolored everlasting Gnaphalium bicolor / 26
0.06 r 37 rattlesnake weed Daucus pusillus / 16
0.06 r 38 ? like one-sided bluegrass Poa secunda? /
0.06 r (hollyleaf redberry, Rhamnus ilicifolia)
0.07 l 39 ~ *prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola / 28
0.08 l 40 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum / 47
0.08 41 saw-toothed goldenbush Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioides / 29
0.09 Trail loop jct.; elevation 1120 feet (340 m). Sign: "Trail" with arrows indicating the loop branches; take left branch
0.12 l 42 bristly bird's beak Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus / 22
0.12 l 43 hollyleaf redberry Rhamnus ilicifolia / 35
0.12 r 44 sp Pacific? sanicle Sanicula crassicaulis? /
0.13 b 45 heartleaf penstemon Keckiella cordifolia / 21
0.13 46 bush monkeyflower Mimulus aurantiacus / 35
0.13 r (wild cucumber, Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus)
0.14 r 47 southern honeysuckle Lonicera subspicata var. denudata / 34
0.14 r 48 climbing bedstraw Galium nuttallii ssp. nuttallii / 23
0.15 r 49 black sage Salvia mellifera / 34
0.15 50 small-flowered melica Melica imperfecta / 33
0.15 Trail turns right 90° and begins an ascent.
0.17 51 sp mariposa lily Calochortus sp. /
0.17 Local high point.
0.17 l (coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia)
0.17 l (Torrey's scrub oak, Quercus Xacutidens)
0.18 l View of lower walls of Temecula Gorge; sound of waterfall in tributary to left.
0.18 l (mission manzanita, Xylococcus bicolor)
0.19 52 *redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium / 41
0.20 l 53 Engelmann oak Quercus engelmannii / 15
0.20 l 54 mission manzanita Xylococcus bicolor / 11
0.20 r 55 coast live oak Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia / 34
0.22 l View of waterfall (just after the trail descends a bit); trail continues to descend
0.23 View of Santa Margarita River
0.25 b 56 ? tall dead stem like Stephanomeria or soap plant. ? /
0.26 57 California peony Paeonia californica / 12
0.26 Jct. Observation Point Trail; elevation ~1080 feet (330 m); take left branch.
0.28 58 California four o'clock Mirabilis californica / 15
0.28 r 59 chia Salvia columbariae / 18
0.28 b 60 Bigelow's spike-moss Selaginella bigelovii / 16
0.28 l 61 ladies fingers Dudleya edulis / 7
0.28 Turn around and return to Loop Trail
0.30 Jct. Loop Trail - go left and continue on Loop Trail
0.31 62 coffee fern Pellaea andromedifolia / 19
0.33 63 soap plant Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum / 13
0.33 r Weather station; local high point.
0.36 View of Observation Point on left and Temecula homes in distance
0.38 View of S. road to Temecula Gorge, old railroad bench just east of road, and red wall of Bedford Canyon formation below North Field Station.
0.39 Local low point.
0.41 Local high point.
0.43 Local low point.
64 bird's-foot fern Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata / 22
65 *windmill pink Silene gallica / 22
0.53 View of North Field Station and gate down to Temecula Gorge
0.53 r Pack rat's nest and the rat's trail to it.
0.58 End Loop - go left back to trailhead
0.67 North Rim Trail ends at Via Tornado

Comments On Specific Species

None so far.

Number of Trails Containing A Taxon	Number Of Taxa On This Trail	% of Taxa On This Trail
1-5	0	0%
6-10	5	8%
11-15	12	20%
16-20	10	16%
21-25	7	11%
26-30	9	15%
31-35	10	16%
36-40	1	2%
41-45	6	10%
46-50	1	2%
Total Taxa	61	100%

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
3/31/2002	1	57	5
4/25/2002	2	60	3
6/9/2002	3	58	1
12/22/2003	4	63	1	2	0	0
7/9/2004	5	65	2	2	1	0

mile	s	#	id	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00				Beginning of trail at Via Tornado; elevation 1150 feet (350 m)
0.00	c	1		*Bermuda grass	Cynodon dactylon	/	20
0.00	r	2		California-aster	Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia	/	42
0.00	r	3		San Diego wreathplant	Stephanomeria diegensis	/	15
0.00		4		*soft chess	Bromus hordeaceus	/	29
0.00		5		*white-stemmed filaree	Erodium moschatum	/	12
0.00		6		*foxtail barley	Hordeum murinum ssp. leporinum	/	14
0.00	b	7		California sagebrush	Artemisia californica	/	35
0.00	b	8		*shortpod mustard	Hirschfeldia incana	/	41
0.00	b	9		bur-ragweed	Ambrosia acanthicarpa	/	14
0.00		10		*ripgut brome	Bromus diandrus	/	41
0.00		11		*Russian thistle	Salsola tragus	/	24
0.00	l	12		telegraph weed	Heterotheca grandiflora	/	26
0.00		13		*red brome	Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens	/	42
0.00		14		*wild oats	Avena fatua	/	16
0.00	b	15		short-winged deerweed	Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus	/	16
0.00	l	16		*tocalote	Centaurea melitensis	/	35
0.00	b	17		*California burclover	Medicago polymorpha	/	28
0.01	r	18		California buckwheat	Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum	/	40
0.01	l	19		*creeping Australian saltbush	Atriplex semibaccata	/	10
0.01		20		yellow pincushion	Chaenactis glabriuscula var. glabriuscula	/	11
0.01	l			Aqueduct structure; trail turns right 45°.
0.02	b	21		western ragweed	Ambrosia psilostachya	/	26
0.02		22		*narrowleaf filago	Filago gallica	/	32
0.02		23		*sourclover	Melilotus indicus	/	16
0.02	b	24		white sage	Salvia apiana	/	30
0.03	r	25		slender tarweed	Hemizonia fasciculata	/	11
0.03		26		nodding needlegrass	Nassella cernua	/	10
0.03		27		*slender wild oats	Avena barbata	/	25
0.03		28		*scarlet pimpernel	Anagallis arvensis	/	18
0.03		29		California everlasting	Gnaphalium californicum	/	30
0.03	l	30		*fountain grass	Pennisetum setaceum	10 / 2	9
0.03	l	31		narrowleaf bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium	/	41
0.03	b	32		laurel sumac	Malosma laurina	/	32
0.04	b	33		*nit grass	Gastridium ventricosum	/	16
0.04	r	34		south coast morning-glory	Calystegia macrostegia ssp. intermedia	/	14
0.05		35		virgin's bower	Clematis pauciflora	/	8
0.05		36		bicolored everlasting	Gnaphalium bicolor	/	26
0.06	r	37		rattlesnake weed	Daucus pusillus	/	16
0.06	r	38	?	like one-sided bluegrass	Poa secunda?	/
0.06	r			(hollyleaf redberry, Rhamnus ilicifolia)
0.07	l	39	~	*prickly lettuce	Lactuca serriola	/	28
0.08	l	40		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	/	47
0.08		41		saw-toothed goldenbush	Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioides	/	29
0.09				Trail loop jct.; elevation 1120 feet (340 m). Sign: "Trail" with arrows indicating the loop branches; take left branch
0.12	l	42		bristly bird's beak	Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus	/	22
0.12	l	43		hollyleaf redberry	Rhamnus ilicifolia	/	35
0.12	r	44	sp	Pacific? sanicle	Sanicula crassicaulis?	/
0.13	b	45		heartleaf penstemon	Keckiella cordifolia	/	21
0.13		46		bush monkeyflower	Mimulus aurantiacus	/	35
0.13	r			(wild cucumber, Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus)
0.14	r	47		southern honeysuckle	Lonicera subspicata var. denudata	/	34
0.14	r	48		climbing bedstraw	Galium nuttallii ssp. nuttallii	/	23
0.15	r	49		black sage	Salvia mellifera	/	34
0.15		50		small-flowered melica	Melica imperfecta	/	33
0.15				Trail turns right 90° and begins an ascent.
0.17		51	sp	mariposa lily	Calochortus sp.	/
0.17				Local high point.
0.17	l			(coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia)
0.17	l			(Torrey's scrub oak, Quercus Xacutidens)
0.18	l			View of lower walls of Temecula Gorge; sound of waterfall in tributary to left.
0.18	l			(mission manzanita, Xylococcus bicolor)
0.19		52		*redstem filaree	Erodium cicutarium	/	41
0.20	l	53		Engelmann oak	Quercus engelmannii	/	15
0.20	l	54		mission manzanita	Xylococcus bicolor	/	11
0.20	r	55		coast live oak	Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia	/	34
0.22	l			View of waterfall (just after the trail descends a bit); trail continues to descend
0.23				View of Santa Margarita River
0.25	b	56	?	tall dead stem like Stephanomeria or soap plant.	?	/
0.26		57		California peony	Paeonia californica	/	12
0.26				Jct. Observation Point Trail; elevation ~1080 feet (330 m); take left branch.
0.28		58		California four o'clock	Mirabilis californica	/	15
0.28	r	59		chia	Salvia columbariae	/	18
0.28	b	60		Bigelow's spike-moss	Selaginella bigelovii	/	16
0.28	l	61		ladies fingers	Dudleya edulis	/	7
0.28				Turn around and return to Loop Trail
0.30				Jct. Loop Trail - go left and continue on Loop Trail
0.31		62		coffee fern	Pellaea andromedifolia	/	19
0.33		63		soap plant	Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum	/	13
0.33	r			Weather station; local high point.
0.36				View of Observation Point on left and Temecula homes in distance
0.38				View of S. road to Temecula Gorge, old railroad bench just east of road, and red wall of Bedford Canyon formation below North Field Station.
0.39				Local low point.
0.41				Local high point.
0.43				Local low point.
		64		bird's-foot fern	Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata	/	22
		65		*windmill pink	Silene gallica	/	22
0.53				View of North Field Station and gate down to Temecula Gorge
0.53	r			Pack rat's nest and the rat's trail to it.
0.58				End Loop - go left back to trailhead
0.67				North Rim Trail ends at Via Tornado

Go to:

Field Guide to San Diego County: Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve
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/smer/north_rim_trail.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Last update: 9 November 2004.