Plant Guide to Coyote Trail / N. Trans Preserve Trail / Ranch Road / Oak Tree Trail Loop, Santa Rosa Plateau

Plant Guide to Coyote Trail / N. Trans Preserve Trail / Ranch Road / Oak Tree Trail Loop, Santa Rosa Plateau

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

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

This 3.7 mile loop hike, with 300 feet of elevation gain and loss, begins at the Hidden Valley Parking Area. The Coyote Trail branches off Hidden Valley Road immediately past the locked gate at the southwest end of the parking lot, and heads southeast. It ends at the N. Trans Preserve Trail, which travels along a fairly shady route along a branch of Cole Creek for some distance, then leaves the shade to travel past Poppy Hill and meet the other end of Hidden Valley Road. The return trip is via Ranch Road to the old entrance, where we pick up the Oak Tree Trail and N. Trans Preserve Trail to return to the junction with the Coyote Trail.
Highlights of This Trail

The botanical highlights of this trail are:

Number of Unique Taxa On This Trail

The following histogram gives the number of trails in our database that contain each taxon on this trail. There were 90 trails in our database when this histogram was made; 16 of those trails, including this one, are at the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve. A number of "1" means the taxon has only been found only on this list, among all the trails in our database; numbers of "16" or smaller may indicate taxa found only in this area.

Number of Trails
Containing A Taxon Number Of Taxa
On This Trail % of Taxa
On This Trail
1 0 0%
2 4 2%
3 3 2%
4 7 4%
5 6 3%

1-5 20 11%
6-10 34 19%
11-15 30 16%
16-20 21 11%
21-25 21 11%
26-30 16 9%
31-35 10 5%
36-40 11 6%
41-45 11 6%
46-50 3 2%
51-55 6 3%
Total Taxa 183 100%

We found 0 additional species on this trail not in the above table, since they have not been fully identified yet. The unidentified ones are marked with ?, sp or ssp in the id? column in the guide, and have no entries in the #all column.
Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time

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

Visit Date Visit # # taxa # "?" # "sp" # "~" # "ssp"
11/18/2004 1 65 1 6 12 2
6/4/2005 2 152 0 0 12 5
8/6/2005 3 156 0 0 7 4
8/18/2005 4 157 0 0 7 4
10/2/2005 5 162 0 1 3 4
2/2/2006 6 172 0 1 6 4
4/6/2006 7 183 0 1 6 0

The guide included only the west portion of the Oak Tree Trail and the N. Trans Preserve Trail on 11/18/04. The rest of the loop was added on 6/4/05, with the east portion of the Oak Tree Trail added on 10/2/05. The fieldwork on 8/18/05 was mostly hiking only on the Oak Tree / N. Trans Preserve section.
The Plant Guide

Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (11 pages), or pdf Clickbook booklet (3 double-sided pages). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)
Mileages have been checked against GPS points for most of the guide, and hence typical errors should be ~0.02 miles.

Mile S # id? Common Name Latin Name #here #all
0.00 Begin guide just before gate at Hidden Valley Trailhead, heading south on Hidden Valley Road; elevation ~1880 feet (573 m)
Check for brome fescue, Vulpia bromoides, earlier than mile 1.0
0.00 b 1 *short-fruited filaree Erodium brachycarpum 99 / 9 14
0.00 b 2 *foxtail barley Hordeum murinum ssp. glaucum 99 / 9 15
0.00 b 3 *smooth cat's ear Hypochaeris glabra 99 / 9 35
0.00 b 4 *shortpod mustard Hirschfeldia incana 99 / 9 51
0.00 b 5 nodding needlegrass Nassella cernua 99 / 9 15
0.00 b 6 *narrowleaf filago Filago gallica 99 / 9 45
0.00 b 7 *soft chess Bromus hordeaceus 99 / 9 40
0.00 l 8 *red brome Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens 99 / 9 52
0.00 l 9 Spanish clover Lotus purshianus var. purshianus 99 / 9 31
0.00 b 10 *redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium 99 / 9 55
0.00 b 11 *California burclover Medicago polymorpha 99 / 9 40
0.00 l 12 horseweed Conyza canadensis 99 / 9 35
0.00 b 13 *Italian rye-grass Lolium multiflorum 99 / 9 15
0.00 b 14 *nit grass Gastridium ventricosum 99 / 9 23
0.00 b 15 *wild oats Avena fatua 99 / 9 26
0.00 b 16 *ripgut brome Bromus diandrus 50 / 5 51
0.00 Go through entrance on left of gate across road
0.00 l 17 graceful tarplant Holocarpha virgata ssp. elongata 99 / 9 14
0.00 l 18 *slender wild oats Avena barbata 99 / 9 39
0.00 b 19 *sand spurrey Spergularia bocconei 99 / 9 12
0.00 r Sign: "No mountain bikes; no horseback riding".
0.00 l 20 *knotweed Polygonum arenastrum 40 / 9 17
0.00 l Iron Ranger: "Pay Fees Here"; bench
0.00 b 21 *jointed goatgrass Aegilops cylindrica 10 / 1 4
0.01 l 22 *prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola 99 / 9 42
0.01 r 23 purple clarkia Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera 99 / 9 25
0.01 b 24 *hairy rattail fescue Vulpia myuros var. hirsuta 99 / 9 17
0.01 r 25 checkerbloom Sidalcea malviflora ssp. sparsifolia 99 / 9 25
0.01 r 26 western vervain Verbena lasiostachys var. lasiostachys 3 / 2 8
0.02 r 27 *scarlet pimpernel Anagallis arvensis 50 / 9 32
0.02 l 28 blue dicks Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum 40 / 9 46
0.02 l (prickly sow thistle, Sonchus asper ssp. asper)
0.03 l 29 *spring vetch Vicia sativa ssp. sativa 20 / 2 5
0.04 c 30 toad rush Juncus bufonius var. bufonius 99 / 9 13
0.04 Begin wood plank bridge over drainage
0.04 l 31 *curly dock Rumex crispus 50 / 9 23
0.04 r (autumn willowweed, Epilobium brachycarpum)
0.04 r 32 *grass poly Lythrum hyssopifolia 40 / 7 14
0.04 r 33 common spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya 20 / 3 11
0.04 r 34 wrinkled rush Juncus rugulosus 99 / 9 10
0.04 l 35 *Mediterranean barley Hordeum marinum ssp. gussoneanum 10 / 1 4
0.04 Trail goes uphill
0.04 b 36 johnny jump-up Viola pedunculata 99 / 9 16
0.05 r 37 Indian milkweed Asclepias eriocarpa 20 / 9 16
0.05 r 38 sharp-toothed sanicle Sanicula arguta 30 / 9 17
0.05 r 39 California plantain Plantago erecta 30 / 2 14
0.05 r Sign: "Trail closed" for older portion of trail prior to rerouting
0.05 r 40 shooting star Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. clevelandii 50 / 5 11
0.05 l 41 Palmer's goldenbush Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis 30 / 7 10
0.05 r (big squirreltail, Elymus multisetus)
0.05 r 42 slender cottonweed Micropus californicus var. californicus 2 / 1 7
0.06 l (rattlesnake weed, Daucus pusillus)
0.07 l (sow thistle, Sonchus oleraceus)
0.07 r 43 big squirreltail Elymus multisetus 3 / 3 6
0.07 r 44 blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium bellum 99 / 9 19
0.08 l 45 coast live oak Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia 20 / 9 42
0.09 r Sign: "Trail closed" for upper portion of old trail prior to rerouting.
0.10 r (Engelmann oak, Quercus engelmannii)
0.10 r 46 *sow thistle Sonchus oleraceus 20 / 9 40
0.10 r First of ~4 fields of shooting stars, Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. clevelandii
0.11 b 47 California-aster Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia 50 / 9 51
0.11 Area here and somewhat before are almost pure Nassella.
0.12 Minor local high point on trail
0.13 r 48 *windmill pink Silene gallica 50 / 9 33
0.13 r 49 dove weed Eremocarpus setigerus 30 / 9 24
0.17 Local high point on trail; elevation ~1900 feet (580 m)
0.22 l 50 vinegar weed Trichostema lanceolatum 99 / 9 13
0.22 51 purple needlegrass Nassella pulchra / 19
0.23 r (splendid mariposa lily, Calochortus splendens; coyote bush, Baccharis pilularis)
0.27 l 52 splendid mariposa lily Calochortus splendens 40 / 9 18
0.27 r 53 rattlesnake weed Daucus pusillus 99 / 9 28
0.29 r 54 Engelmann oak Quercus engelmannii 10 / 9 23
0.29 b 55 miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata 20 / 2 24
0.29 b 56 common bedstraw Galium aparine 99 / 9 39
0.29 l 57 common fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia 30 / 7 17
0.31 r 58 earth brodiaea Brodiaea terrestris ssp. kernensis 30 / 6 6
0.31 r (Vasey's prickly-pear, Opuntia vaseyi; white-flowering currant, Ribes indecorum; soap plant, Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum; California everlasting, Gnaphalium californicum)
0.31 l 59 seashore bentgrass Agrostis pallens 5 / 1 9
0.32 r 60 *tocalote Centaurea melitensis 99 / 9 45
0.32 r (hedge parsley, Torilis nodosa)
0.34 r (poison oak, Toxicodendron diversilobum)
0.34 r (Torrey's scrub oak, Quercus acutidens)
0.36 Trail crosses small rock outcrop / dyke and curves right
0.36 l Field of purple clarkia, Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera, with lots of variation in petal coloration, including some with 4 clear spots
0.38 r (darnel, Lolium temulentum)
0.38 Trail crosses rock outcrop / dyke and turns right
0.39 r (wild-cucumber, Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus)
0.39 r 61 fragrant everlasting Gnaphalium canescens ssp. beneolens 40 / 9 23
0.39 r 62 California everlasting Gnaphalium californicum 30 / 9 42
0.40 r (leafy daisy, Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus; blue elderberry, Sambucus mexicana; soap plant, Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum)
0.43 r (bicolored everlasting, Gnaphalium bicolor; white everlasting, Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum; San Diego pea, Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii)
0.44 r 63 California brome Bromus carinatus var. carinatus 20 / 9 24
0.45 r 64 San Diego wreathplant Stephanomeria diegensis 3 / 3 21
0.47 r View of the rock outcrop / dyke almost paralleling trail
0.48 r 65 soap plant Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum 1 / 1 18
0.50 b 66 *goldentop Lamarckia aurea 10 / 2 20
0.51 r Jct. N. Trans Preserve Trail; go right on it; elevation ~1860 feet (567 m). Sign: "Coyote Trail; 0.5 mi to Hidden Valley Trailhead; Trans Preserve Trail (left and right); To Adobes 1.3 mi (right)"
0.52 Cross small drainage
0.52 r 67 rattlesnake weed Chamaesyce albomarginata 30 / 5 8
0.53 r (Italian thistle, Carduus pycnocephalus)
0.56 l (southern California morning-glory, Calystegia macrostegia ssp. arida)
0.56 r 68 dwarf lupine Lupinus bicolor 20 / 3 29
0.56 r 69 San Diego birdsfoot lotus Lotus hamatus 30 / 3 24
0.56 r 70 leafy daisy Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus 50 / 9 43
0.56 l 71 long-stemmed buckwheat Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum 3 / 3 26
0.57 l Curious shallow excavated pit covered with sticks and leaves.
0.57 b 72 *winter vetch Vicia villosa ssp. varia 50 / 5 19
0.57 r 73 western ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya 50 / 9 36
0.57 b 74 deergrass Muhlenbergia rigens 30 / 9 21
0.57 r (California oxalis, Oxalis albicans ssp. californica; hollyleaf redberry, Rhamnus ilicifolia)
0.57 75 California sagebrush Artemisia californica 3 / 3 47
0.57 Begin bridge over drainage of a Cole Creek tributary; elevation ~1835 feet (560 m)
0.57 b 76 common monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus 10 / 2 14
0.57 r 77 *whorled dock Rumex conglomeratus 3 / 2 7
0.57 b 78 spike primrose Epilobium densiflorum 30 / 7 4
0.57 r 79 *mouse-ear chickweed Cerastium glomeratum 5 / 2 19
0.57 l 80 Bolander's water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla var. bolanderi 5 / 2 3
0.57 l (western sycamore, Platanus racemosa)
0.57 l 81 water crowfoot Ranunculus aquatilis var. capillaceus 2 / 1 2
0.57 l 82 *rabbits-foot grass Polypogon monspeliensis 20 / 5 21
0.57 b 83 umbrella sedge Cyperus eragrostis 5 / 2 10
0.57 r 84 willow-leaved dock Rumex salicifolius var. denticulatus 2 / 2 6
0.57 l 85 knot grass Paspalum distichum 3 / 2 5
0.57 l 86 *sourclover Melilotus indicus 3 / 1 23
0.57 End bridge
0.57 l (California peony, Paeonia californica)
0.58 b (annual sunflower, Helianthus annuus)
0.58 Trail begins to ascend
0.58 b 87 western buttercup Ranunculus occidentalis 50 / 9 7
0.58 l 88 blue larkspur Delphinium parryi ssp. parryi 50 / 9 13
0.58 b 89 slender madia Madia gracilis 5 / 1 18
0.58 l 90 owl's-clover Castilleja densiflora 3 / 1 7
0.58 b 91 small-head field clover Trifolium microcephalum 30 / 5 10
0.58 l 92 grand mountain dandelion Agoseris grandiflora 20 / 3 10
0.58 b 93 *cut-leaved geranium Geranium dissectum 20 / 2 13
0.58 l 94 climbing bedstraw Galium nuttallii ssp. nuttallii 20 / 9 30
0.58 b 95 blue wildrye Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus 50 / 9 21
0.58 l 96 *bull thistle Cirsium vulgare 40 / 9 16
0.58 r (basketbush, Rhus trilobata)
0.58 r 97 hollyleaf redberry Rhamnus ilicifolia 4 / 4 43
0.58 r 98 southern honeysuckle Lonicera subspicata var. denudata 2 / 1 40
0.59 l 99 poison oak Toxicodendron diversilobum 10 / 4 43
0.59 b 100 *hedge parsley Torilis nodosa 99 / 9 14
0.59 l 101 giant wild-rye Leymus condensatus 30 / 5 27
0.59 r 102 toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia 4 / 3 44
0.59 b 103 Torrey's scrub oak Quercus acutidens 5 / 1 26
0.59 b 104 wild-cucumber Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus 3 / 2 44
0.59 b 105 coast-range melic Melica imperfecta 20 / 9 43
0.59 b 106 Pacific sanicle Sanicula crassicaulis 20 / 5 20
0.59 b 107 white fairy lantern Calochortus albus 20 / 1 2
0.60 b 108 heartleaf penstemon Keckiella cordifolia 10 / 3 27
0.60 l 109 San Diego pea Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii 2 / 2 22
0.60 r 110 goldback fern Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis 1 / 1 26
0.60 r 111 canchalagua Centaurium venustum / 13
0.60 r 112 coast jepsonia Jepsonia parryi⁺ 5 / 1 15
0.61 r 113 bristly bird's beak Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus / 26
0.61 r (narrowleaf bedstraw, Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium)
0.62 Local high point on trail
0.62 r (white sage, Salvia apiana)
0.62 l 114 chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum 1 / 1 37
0.62 l 115 Eastwood manzanita Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. zacaensis 1 / 1 11
0.63 l (fringed spineflower, Chorizanthe fimbriata var. fimbriata)
0.64 Weed out and voucher the following plant to confirm the id:
0.64 r 116 ~ *little horseweed Conyza bonariensis⁺ 3 / 3 16
0.65 l 117 white everlasting Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum 2 / 2 36
0.66 Local low point on trail
0.69 Local high point on trail; elevation ~1860 feet (567 m)
0.69 r 118 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 5 / 2 54
0.70 Local low point on trail
0.71 b 119 *hedge mustard Sisymbrium officinale 30 / 3 23
0.71 l 120 dead milk maids Cardamine californica var. californica⁺ 20 / 3 6
0.72 Local high point on trail
0.73 r 121 white sage Salvia apiana 2 / 2 37
0.74 l Note old downed flattened tree across stream
0.74 l 122 narrow-leaved miner's lettuce Claytonia parviflora ssp. parviflora 10 / 2 20
0.74 r 123 ~ American vetch Vicia americana var. americana 10 / 3 9
0.76 l 124 bird's-foot fern Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata 3 / 3 30
0.77 l 125 California oxalis Oxalis albicans ssp. californica 5 / 2 4
0.78 b 126 ~ *wall bedstraw Galium parisiense 20 / 1 8
0.78 l 127 *henbit Lamium amplexicaule⁺ 1 / 1 8
0.78 l 128 *common chickweed Stellaria media 10 / 1 26
0.78 r 129 sticky cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa ssp. glandulosa 5 / 3 16
0.78 r 130 narrowleaf bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 2 / 1 48
0.78 Cross small drainage
0.79 l Jct. use trail to creek
0.80 l 131 *bristly ox-tongue Picris echioides 10 / 2 10
0.80 r Check for Italian thistle, Carduus pycnocephalus
0.80 Cross a different Cole Creek tributary; elevation ~1840 feet (560 m)
0.80 l 132 *dallis grass Paspalum dilatatum 50 / 5 8
0.80 r (winged water-starwort, Callitriche marginata)
0.80 r 133 dense sedge Carex densa 5 / 2 2
0.80 r 134 *prickly sow thistle Sonchus asper ssp. asper 1 / 1 31
0.80 r 135 rigid hedge-nettle Stachys ajugoides var. rigida 10 / 2 11
0.80 r 136 ~ cotton-batting plant Gnaphalium stramineum 5 / 2 17
0.80 l 137 variegated clover Trifolium variegatum 20 / 1 5
0.83 l (closest off-trail white-flowering currant, Ribes indecorum)
0.83 l This just off-trail coyote bush, Baccharis pilularis, has a terminal long-branched inflorescence which is more typical of B. emoryi. But it measures out to be a perfect B. pilularis.
0.92 r 138 southern California morning-glory Calystegia macrostegia ssp. arida⁺ 3 / 3 6
0.94 l Jct. cutoff trail to Ranch Road; local high point on trail; elevation ~1880 feet (573 m). Sign: "Cutoff to Ranch Road 0.1 mi (left); to Adobes 0.9 mi (straight)"
0.96 r (yerba mansa, Anemopsis californica, in Cole Creek)
0.97 l (pygmy-weed, Crassula connata)
0.97 r Boulder of Bedford Canyon Formation
0.99 r (Siskiyou aster, Aster lanceolatus ssp. hesperius, in Cole Creek)
1.00 b 139 ~ *brome fescue Vulpia bromoides 99 / 9 5
1.02 r Cross small drainage with deepish hole
1.15 r (California buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum)
1.18 b 140 bush lupine Lupinus excubitus var. hallii 5 / 2 9
1.19 l 141 Pomona locoweed Astragalus pomonensis 4 / 4 11
1.20 r 142 California poppy Eschscholzia californica 3 / 2 28
1.22 l 143 red maids Calandrinia ciliata 30 / 3 21
1.22 l 144 small-flowered fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii 20 / 2 11
1.22 Y-jct; take left branch
1.29 Jct. Hidden Valley Road; elevation ~1880 feet (573 m); go left to Ranch Road
1.29 b 145 *pineapple weed Chamomilla suaveolens 30 / 3 22
1.29 Jct. Ranch Road; go left; sign: "Ranch Road (left-right); To Visitor Center 3.0 mi (left); To Adobes 0.5 mi (right)"
1.29 l 146 *Crete weed Hedypnois cretica 50 / 5 21
1.31 r 147 *long-beaked filaree Erodium botrys 30 / 9 10
1.33 r *little horseweed Conyza bonariensis⁺ /
1.36 l 148 *Bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon 99 / 9 29
1.40 l 149 clustered toad rush Juncus bufonius var. congestus 50 / 5 5
1.40 l 150 telegraph weed Heterotheca grandiflora 20 / 3 34
1.43 l 151 *annual blue grass Poa annua 2 / 2 11
1.56 l 152 clustered field sedge (female) Carex praegracilis 20 / 1 6
1.59 l A white-flowered Spanish clover, Lotus purshianus var. purshianus
1.65 (l: mule fat, Baccharis salicifolia; r: Sign: "Main")
1.67 l Jct. cutoff to Trans Preserve Trail; sign: "To Trans Preserve 0.3 mi"
1.67 r Pass through open gate on Ranch Road; Jct. Monument Hill Road
1.71 Cross drainage
1.75 Local high point
1.80 r (Patch of dallis grass, Paspalum dilatatum that did very well during the 2002 drought due to a spring / seep here. The patch became huge in 2005)
1.80 r 153 *dog-fennel Anthemis cotula⁺ 1 / 1 2
1.87 Cross drainage
1.90 154 baby mule fat Baccharis salicifolia 3 / 2 40
1.91 r 155 elk thistle Cirsium scariosum 5 / 5 10
1.93 Cross drainage
1.94 r 156 seaside heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum 10 / 2 9
2.02 Local high point on road; elevation ~1900 feet (580 m)
2.16 l 157 *darnel Lolium temulentum 5 / 2 4
2.16 b 158 chick lupine Lupinus microcarpus var. microcarpus 50 / 9 9
2.18 r 159 southern miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana 10 / 2 28
2.21 r (goldenrod, Solidago californica)
2.22 b 160 *rose clover Trifolium hirtum 50 / 5 11
2.22 l 161 cobwebby thistle Cirsium occidentale var. occidentale 1 / 1 8
2.22 l 162 slim vetch Vicia ludoviciana var. ludoviciana 3 / 1 9
2.22 l (western sycamore, Platanus racemosa; big leaf mistletoe, Phoradendron macrophyllum)
2.22 b 163 rusty-haired popcorn flower Plagiobothrys nothofulvus 99 / 9 11
2.23 r 164 goldenrod Solidago californica 30 / 3 35
2.29 b 165 cocklebur Xanthium strumarium 10 / 3 15
2.29 l 166 *common cudweed Gnaphalium luteo-album 2 / 2 15
2.29 l 167 arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis 3 / 1 34
2.29 l 168 Hooker's evening-primrose Oenothera elata ssp. hirsutissima 5 / 1 10
2.30 l (Fremont cottonwood, Populus fremontii ssp. fremontii)
2.33 r 169 hybrid wild-rye Leymus Xmultiflorus (L. condensatus X L. triticoides) 3 / 3 3
2.33 r 170 shining willow Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra 2 / 1 3
2.33 r 171 saltgrass Distichlis spicata 30 / 5 15
2.34 l 172 thyme-leafed spurge Chamaesyce serpyllifolia ssp. serpyllifolia 1 / 1 4
2.34 r 173 sand spikerush Eleocharis montevidensis 1 / 1 5
2.36 r 174 autumn willowweed Epilobium brachycarpum 20 / 3 4
2.42 b Field of chick lupine, Lupinus microcarpus var. microcarpus
2.43 Local high point
2.54 r Jct. N. Lomas Trail
2.55 Jct. Tenaja Truck Trail; go left toward gate at old main entrance
2.60 b 175 western sycamore Platanus racemosa 3 / 1 26
2.60 r (big leaf mistletoe, Phoradendron macrophyllum)
2.60 b adult mule fat Baccharis salicifolia /
2.61 Cross branch of Cole Creek; lowest point on route; elevation 1790 feet (545 m)
2.66 l 176 Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus 20 / 2 16
2.67 Begin Oak Tree Trail at its Ranch Road / Tenaja Truck Trail entrance; elevation ~1795 feet (547 m)
2.67 r (just outside gate across Ranch Road: field bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis and white sweetclover, Melilotus albus)
2.67 l (A large tumbleweed of Russian thistle, Salsola tragus, was here on 11/18/04, but no rooted population was seen.)
2.68 r 177 *horehound Marrubium vulgare 10 / 4 31
2.68 r Last fence post of fence
2.68 l Sign: "Oak Tree Trail (straight); to Hidden Valley Trailhead 1.1 mi; to Adobes 2 mi; to Vernal Pool 2.4 mi"
2.69 Y-jct; guide to right path of Oak Tree Loop follows immediately; guide to left path is at the end of this guide

2.69 Guide to western portion of Oak Tree Loop; begin at Y-jct taking right path
2.73 l Badger hole in 2004
2.78 l Bench without a back
2.79 Local high point on trail
2.79 178 purple owl's clover Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta 10 / 4 13
2.81 Local low point on trail
2.85 b 179 tree clover Trifolium ciliolatum 20 / 3 11
2.87 r 180 white-flowering currant Ribes indecorum 2 / 2 22
2.88 Local high point on trail
2.92 Cross small drainage; local low point on trail. Note scoured area in drainage on left lower than rest of drainage.
2.92 l (slender woolly marbles, Psilocarphus tenellus var. tenellus)
2.95 r Trail post "13" (numbers face other direction): " 'The Old Man of the Forest' tree; its interior is rotting"
2.99 r Jct. Trans Preserve Trail; continue on it; sign "Trans Preserve Trail". Trail on left is the other branch of the Oak Tree Loop.
3.20 Local high point on trail
3.25 Jct. Coyote Trail; end plant guide; elevation ~1860 feet (567 m). Return to trailhead via Coyote Trail.
3.73 Hidden Valley Trailhead

2.69 l Guide to eastern portion of Oak Tree Loop; begin at Y-jct taking left path
2.70 l Boulder with mortero
2.72 l Signpost "3": "Outcropping of granite provided perfect growing conditions for this young Engelmann oak"
2.75 l ~ (Schott's sedge, Carex schottii)
2.78 Signpost "4": "The soil remains somewhat moist throughout the year. Listen for Pacific tree frogs in spring and early summer"
2.79 l white-flowering currant Ribes indecorum /
2.79 r 181 narrow-leaf milkweed Asclepias fascicularis 5 / 2 9
2.80 l sp (cattail, Typha sp.)
2.81 Short fence; sign: "Trail Closed"
2.84 r 182 meadow-rue Thalictrum fendleri var. polycarpum 3 / 1 8
2.84 r Signpost "6": "All the trees ahead are Engelmann oaks; behind you in a coast live oak"
2.86 l Signpost "7": "This Engelmann oak blew down in 1991"
2.87 Cross small drainage
2.88 l Signpost "8" with lichen growing on it! "Note the western sycamore tree across the tenaja"
2.88 l (red willow, Salix laevigata)
2.92 l Short fence; sign: "Trail Closed"
2.92 l 183 creeping wild rye Leymus triticoides 10 / 1 9
2.93 r Signpost "10": "Engelmann and coast live oak together. Can you tell which is which?"
2.94 Cross small drainage
2.96 b milk maids Cardamine californica var. californica⁺ /
2.96 r Signpost "11": "Huge coast live oak; listen for birds or the wind in its branches"
2.96 l (Portion of bridge from 0.3 miles upstream carried to this point in the creek)
2.99 Jct. Trans Preserve Trail and other branch of the Oak Tree Loop.
3.20 Local high point on trail
3.25 Jct. Coyote Trail; end plant guide; elevation ~1860 feet (567 m). Return to trailhead via Coyote Trail.
3.73 Hidden Valley Trailhead

Comments On Specific Species

Jepsonia parryi. One of the specimens here is extremely unusual. In late 2005, it had six flower stalks from one point, and each of those stalks had 9 flowers! In February 2005, two leaves came from this specimen. This is very unusual; most jepsonia have a single leaf, and a single flower stalk with fewer than four flowers.
Conyza bonariensis. The first specimen on the trail, observed on 2/2/06, was depauperate, making the id a bit uncertain. The next specimen on the trail, with a definite id, is also noted.
Cardamine californica var. californica. The specimen at mile 0.71 was only seen prior to 2002. We suspect it died when a fallen oak tree covered it. The next occurrence of this species is noted later without a new species number.
Calystegia macrostegia ssp. arida. About half the plants at the SRP appear to be ssp. arida, with the other half split between sspp. "intermedia" and "tenuifolia". It has long troubled Tom to be finding three subspecies in the small area of the SRP. Worse, the classification of a given plant has changed with time, which was extremely puzzling.
These difficulties were resolved when Tom found clear evidence that subspecies "intermedia" and "tenuifolia" are bogus. Hence we assign all the SRP plants to ssp. arida.
Lamium amplexicaule, Anthemis cotula. A single plant of each of these non-native species was found and weeded out. The Anthemis cotula was found on 6/4/05 vouchered.

Number of Trails Containing A Taxon	Number Of Taxa On This Trail	% of Taxa On This Trail
1	0	0%
2	4	2%
3	3	2%
4	7	4%
5	6	3%

1-5	20	11%
6-10	34	19%
11-15	30	16%
16-20	21	11%
21-25	21	11%
26-30	16	9%
31-35	10	5%
36-40	11	6%
41-45	11	6%
46-50	3	2%
51-55	6	3%
Total Taxa	183	100%

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
11/18/2004	1	65	1	6	12	2
6/4/2005	2	152	0	0	12	5
8/6/2005	3	156	0	0	7	4
8/18/2005	4	157	0	0	7	4
10/2/2005	5	162	0	1	3	4
2/2/2006	6	172	0	1	6	4
4/6/2006	7	183	0	1	6	0

Mile	S	#	id?	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00				Begin guide just before gate at Hidden Valley Trailhead, heading south on Hidden Valley Road; elevation ~1880 feet (573 m)
				Check for brome fescue, Vulpia bromoides, earlier than mile 1.0
0.00	b	1		*short-fruited filaree	Erodium brachycarpum	99 / 9	14
0.00	b	2		*foxtail barley	Hordeum murinum ssp. glaucum	99 / 9	15
0.00	b	3		*smooth cat's ear	Hypochaeris glabra	99 / 9	35
0.00	b	4		*shortpod mustard	Hirschfeldia incana	99 / 9	51
0.00	b	5		nodding needlegrass	Nassella cernua	99 / 9	15
0.00	b	6		*narrowleaf filago	Filago gallica	99 / 9	45
0.00	b	7		*soft chess	Bromus hordeaceus	99 / 9	40
0.00	l	8		*red brome	Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens	99 / 9	52
0.00	l	9		Spanish clover	Lotus purshianus var. purshianus	99 / 9	31
0.00	b	10		*redstem filaree	Erodium cicutarium	99 / 9	55
0.00	b	11		*California burclover	Medicago polymorpha	99 / 9	40
0.00	l	12		horseweed	Conyza canadensis	99 / 9	35
0.00	b	13		*Italian rye-grass	Lolium multiflorum	99 / 9	15
0.00	b	14		*nit grass	Gastridium ventricosum	99 / 9	23
0.00	b	15		*wild oats	Avena fatua	99 / 9	26
0.00	b	16		*ripgut brome	Bromus diandrus	50 / 5	51
0.00				Go through entrance on left of gate across road
0.00	l	17		graceful tarplant	Holocarpha virgata ssp. elongata	99 / 9	14
0.00	l	18		*slender wild oats	Avena barbata	99 / 9	39
0.00	b	19		*sand spurrey	Spergularia bocconei	99 / 9	12
0.00	r			Sign: "No mountain bikes; no horseback riding".
0.00	l	20		*knotweed	Polygonum arenastrum	40 / 9	17
0.00	l			Iron Ranger: "Pay Fees Here"; bench
0.00	b	21		*jointed goatgrass	Aegilops cylindrica	10 / 1	4
0.01	l	22		*prickly lettuce	Lactuca serriola	99 / 9	42
0.01	r	23		purple clarkia	Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera	99 / 9	25
0.01	b	24		*hairy rattail fescue	Vulpia myuros var. hirsuta	99 / 9	17
0.01	r	25		checkerbloom	Sidalcea malviflora ssp. sparsifolia	99 / 9	25
0.01	r	26		western vervain	Verbena lasiostachys var. lasiostachys	3 / 2	8
0.02	r	27		*scarlet pimpernel	Anagallis arvensis	50 / 9	32
0.02	l	28		blue dicks	Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum	40 / 9	46
0.02	l			(prickly sow thistle, Sonchus asper ssp. asper)
0.03	l	29		*spring vetch	Vicia sativa ssp. sativa	20 / 2	5
0.04	c	30		toad rush	Juncus bufonius var. bufonius	99 / 9	13
0.04				Begin wood plank bridge over drainage
0.04	l	31		*curly dock	Rumex crispus	50 / 9	23
0.04	r			(autumn willowweed, Epilobium brachycarpum)
0.04	r	32		*grass poly	Lythrum hyssopifolia	40 / 7	14
0.04	r	33		common spikerush	Eleocharis macrostachya	20 / 3	11
0.04	r	34		wrinkled rush	Juncus rugulosus	99 / 9	10
0.04	l	35		*Mediterranean barley	Hordeum marinum ssp. gussoneanum	10 / 1	4
0.04				Trail goes uphill
0.04	b	36		johnny jump-up	Viola pedunculata	99 / 9	16
0.05	r	37		Indian milkweed	Asclepias eriocarpa	20 / 9	16
0.05	r	38		sharp-toothed sanicle	Sanicula arguta	30 / 9	17
0.05	r	39		California plantain	Plantago erecta	30 / 2	14
0.05	r			Sign: "Trail closed" for older portion of trail prior to rerouting
0.05	r	40		shooting star	Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. clevelandii	50 / 5	11
0.05	l	41		Palmer's goldenbush	Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis	30 / 7	10
0.05	r			(big squirreltail, Elymus multisetus)
0.05	r	42		slender cottonweed	Micropus californicus var. californicus	2 / 1	7
0.06	l			(rattlesnake weed, Daucus pusillus)
0.07	l			(sow thistle, Sonchus oleraceus)
0.07	r	43		big squirreltail	Elymus multisetus	3 / 3	6
0.07	r	44		blue-eyed grass	Sisyrinchium bellum	99 / 9	19
0.08	l	45		coast live oak	Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia	20 / 9	42
0.09	r			Sign: "Trail closed" for upper portion of old trail prior to rerouting.
0.10	r			(Engelmann oak, Quercus engelmannii)
0.10	r	46		*sow thistle	Sonchus oleraceus	20 / 9	40
0.10	r			First of ~4 fields of shooting stars, Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. clevelandii
0.11	b	47		California-aster	Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia	50 / 9	51
0.11				Area here and somewhat before are almost pure Nassella.
0.12				Minor local high point on trail
0.13	r	48		*windmill pink	Silene gallica	50 / 9	33
0.13	r	49		dove weed	Eremocarpus setigerus	30 / 9	24
0.17				Local high point on trail; elevation ~1900 feet (580 m)
0.22	l	50		vinegar weed	Trichostema lanceolatum	99 / 9	13
0.22		51		purple needlegrass	Nassella pulchra	/	19
0.23	r			(splendid mariposa lily, Calochortus splendens; coyote bush, Baccharis pilularis)
0.27	l	52		splendid mariposa lily	Calochortus splendens	40 / 9	18
0.27	r	53		rattlesnake weed	Daucus pusillus	99 / 9	28
0.29	r	54		Engelmann oak	Quercus engelmannii	10 / 9	23
0.29	b	55		miner's lettuce	Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata	20 / 2	24
0.29	b	56		common bedstraw	Galium aparine	99 / 9	39
0.29	l	57		common fiddleneck	Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia	30 / 7	17
0.31	r	58		earth brodiaea	Brodiaea terrestris ssp. kernensis	30 / 6	6
0.31	r			(Vasey's prickly-pear, Opuntia vaseyi; white-flowering currant, Ribes indecorum; soap plant, Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum; California everlasting, Gnaphalium californicum)
0.31	l	59		seashore bentgrass	Agrostis pallens	5 / 1	9
0.32	r	60		*tocalote	Centaurea melitensis	99 / 9	45
0.32	r			(hedge parsley, Torilis nodosa)
0.34	r			(poison oak, Toxicodendron diversilobum)
0.34	r			(Torrey's scrub oak, Quercus acutidens)
0.36				Trail crosses small rock outcrop / dyke and curves right
0.36	l			Field of purple clarkia, Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera, with lots of variation in petal coloration, including some with 4 clear spots
0.38	r			(darnel, Lolium temulentum)
0.38				Trail crosses rock outcrop / dyke and turns right
0.39	r			(wild-cucumber, Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus)
0.39	r	61		fragrant everlasting	Gnaphalium canescens ssp. beneolens	40 / 9	23
0.39	r	62		California everlasting	Gnaphalium californicum	30 / 9	42
0.40	r			(leafy daisy, Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus; blue elderberry, Sambucus mexicana; soap plant, Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum)
0.43	r			(bicolored everlasting, Gnaphalium bicolor; white everlasting, Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum; San Diego pea, Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii)
0.44	r	63		California brome	Bromus carinatus var. carinatus	20 / 9	24
0.45	r	64		San Diego wreathplant	Stephanomeria diegensis	3 / 3	21
0.47	r			View of the rock outcrop / dyke almost paralleling trail
0.48	r	65		soap plant	Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum	1 / 1	18
0.50	b	66		*goldentop	Lamarckia aurea	10 / 2	20
0.51	r			Jct. N. Trans Preserve Trail; go right on it; elevation ~1860 feet (567 m). Sign: "Coyote Trail; 0.5 mi to Hidden Valley Trailhead; Trans Preserve Trail (left and right); To Adobes 1.3 mi (right)"
0.52				Cross small drainage
0.52	r	67		rattlesnake weed	Chamaesyce albomarginata	30 / 5	8
0.53	r			(Italian thistle, Carduus pycnocephalus)
0.56	l			(southern California morning-glory, Calystegia macrostegia ssp. arida)
0.56	r	68		dwarf lupine	Lupinus bicolor	20 / 3	29
0.56	r	69		San Diego birdsfoot lotus	Lotus hamatus	30 / 3	24
0.56	r	70		leafy daisy	Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus	50 / 9	43
0.56	l	71		long-stemmed buckwheat	Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum	3 / 3	26
0.57	l			Curious shallow excavated pit covered with sticks and leaves.
0.57	b	72		*winter vetch	Vicia villosa ssp. varia	50 / 5	19
0.57	r	73		western ragweed	Ambrosia psilostachya	50 / 9	36
0.57	b	74		deergrass	Muhlenbergia rigens	30 / 9	21
0.57	r			(California oxalis, Oxalis albicans ssp. californica; hollyleaf redberry, Rhamnus ilicifolia)
0.57		75		California sagebrush	Artemisia californica	3 / 3	47
0.57				Begin bridge over drainage of a Cole Creek tributary; elevation ~1835 feet (560 m)
0.57	b	76		common monkeyflower	Mimulus guttatus	10 / 2	14
0.57	r	77		*whorled dock	Rumex conglomeratus	3 / 2	7
0.57	b	78		spike primrose	Epilobium densiflorum	30 / 7	4
0.57	r	79		*mouse-ear chickweed	Cerastium glomeratum	5 / 2	19
0.57	l	80		Bolander's water-starwort	Callitriche heterophylla var. bolanderi	5 / 2	3
0.57	l			(western sycamore, Platanus racemosa)
0.57	l	81		water crowfoot	Ranunculus aquatilis var. capillaceus	2 / 1	2
0.57	l	82		*rabbits-foot grass	Polypogon monspeliensis	20 / 5	21
0.57	b	83		umbrella sedge	Cyperus eragrostis	5 / 2	10
0.57	r	84		willow-leaved dock	Rumex salicifolius var. denticulatus	2 / 2	6
0.57	l	85		knot grass	Paspalum distichum	3 / 2	5
0.57	l	86		*sourclover	Melilotus indicus	3 / 1	23
0.57				End bridge
0.57	l			(California peony, Paeonia californica)
0.58	b			(annual sunflower, Helianthus annuus)
0.58				Trail begins to ascend
0.58	b	87		western buttercup	Ranunculus occidentalis	50 / 9	7
0.58	l	88		blue larkspur	Delphinium parryi ssp. parryi	50 / 9	13
0.58	b	89		slender madia	Madia gracilis	5 / 1	18
0.58	l	90		owl's-clover	Castilleja densiflora	3 / 1	7
0.58	b	91		small-head field clover	Trifolium microcephalum	30 / 5	10
0.58	l	92		grand mountain dandelion	Agoseris grandiflora	20 / 3	10
0.58	b	93		*cut-leaved geranium	Geranium dissectum	20 / 2	13
0.58	l	94		climbing bedstraw	Galium nuttallii ssp. nuttallii	20 / 9	30
0.58	b	95		blue wildrye	Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus	50 / 9	21
0.58	l	96		*bull thistle	Cirsium vulgare	40 / 9	16
0.58	r			(basketbush, Rhus trilobata)
0.58	r	97		hollyleaf redberry	Rhamnus ilicifolia	4 / 4	43
0.58	r	98		southern honeysuckle	Lonicera subspicata var. denudata	2 / 1	40
0.59	l	99		poison oak	Toxicodendron diversilobum	10 / 4	43
0.59	b	100		*hedge parsley	Torilis nodosa	99 / 9	14
0.59	l	101		giant wild-rye	Leymus condensatus	30 / 5	27
0.59	r	102		toyon	Heteromeles arbutifolia	4 / 3	44
0.59	b	103		Torrey's scrub oak	Quercus acutidens	5 / 1	26
0.59	b	104		wild-cucumber	Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus	3 / 2	44
0.59	b	105		coast-range melic	Melica imperfecta	20 / 9	43
0.59	b	106		Pacific sanicle	Sanicula crassicaulis	20 / 5	20
0.59	b	107		white fairy lantern	Calochortus albus	20 / 1	2
0.60	b	108		heartleaf penstemon	Keckiella cordifolia	10 / 3	27
0.60	l	109		San Diego pea	Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii	2 / 2	22
0.60	r	110		goldback fern	Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis	1 / 1	26
0.60	r	111		canchalagua	Centaurium venustum	/	13
0.60	r	112		coast jepsonia	Jepsonia parryi⁺	5 / 1	15
0.61	r	113		bristly bird's beak	Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus	/	26
0.61	r			(narrowleaf bedstraw, Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium)
0.62				Local high point on trail
0.62	r			(white sage, Salvia apiana)
0.62	l	114		chamise	Adenostoma fasciculatum	1 / 1	37
0.62	l	115		Eastwood manzanita	Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. zacaensis	1 / 1	11
0.63	l			(fringed spineflower, Chorizanthe fimbriata var. fimbriata)
0.64				Weed out and voucher the following plant to confirm the id:
0.64	r	116	~	*little horseweed	Conyza bonariensis⁺	3 / 3	16
0.65	l	117		white everlasting	Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum	2 / 2	36
0.66				Local low point on trail
0.69				Local high point on trail; elevation ~1860 feet (567 m)
0.69	r	118		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	5 / 2	54
0.70				Local low point on trail
0.71	b	119		*hedge mustard	Sisymbrium officinale	30 / 3	23
0.71	l	120		dead milk maids	Cardamine californica var. californica⁺	20 / 3	6
0.72				Local high point on trail
0.73	r	121		white sage	Salvia apiana	2 / 2	37
0.74	l			Note old downed flattened tree across stream
0.74	l	122		narrow-leaved miner's lettuce	Claytonia parviflora ssp. parviflora	10 / 2	20
0.74	r	123	~	American vetch	Vicia americana var. americana	10 / 3	9
0.76	l	124		bird's-foot fern	Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata	3 / 3	30
0.77	l	125		California oxalis	Oxalis albicans ssp. californica	5 / 2	4
0.78	b	126	~	*wall bedstraw	Galium parisiense	20 / 1	8
0.78	l	127		*henbit	Lamium amplexicaule⁺	1 / 1	8
0.78	l	128		*common chickweed	Stellaria media	10 / 1	26
0.78	r	129		sticky cinquefoil	Potentilla glandulosa ssp. glandulosa	5 / 3	16
0.78	r	130		narrowleaf bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium	2 / 1	48
0.78				Cross small drainage
0.79	l			Jct. use trail to creek
0.80	l	131		*bristly ox-tongue	Picris echioides	10 / 2	10
0.80	r			Check for Italian thistle, Carduus pycnocephalus
0.80				Cross a different Cole Creek tributary; elevation ~1840 feet (560 m)
0.80	l	132		*dallis grass	Paspalum dilatatum	50 / 5	8
0.80	r			(winged water-starwort, Callitriche marginata)
0.80	r	133		dense sedge	Carex densa	5 / 2	2
0.80	r	134		*prickly sow thistle	Sonchus asper ssp. asper	1 / 1	31
0.80	r	135		rigid hedge-nettle	Stachys ajugoides var. rigida	10 / 2	11
0.80	r	136	~	cotton-batting plant	Gnaphalium stramineum	5 / 2	17
0.80	l	137		variegated clover	Trifolium variegatum	20 / 1	5
0.83	l			(closest off-trail white-flowering currant, Ribes indecorum)
0.83	l			This just off-trail coyote bush, Baccharis pilularis, has a terminal long-branched inflorescence which is more typical of B. emoryi. But it measures out to be a perfect B. pilularis.
0.92	r	138		southern California morning-glory	Calystegia macrostegia ssp. arida⁺	3 / 3	6
0.94	l			Jct. cutoff trail to Ranch Road; local high point on trail; elevation ~1880 feet (573 m). Sign: "Cutoff to Ranch Road 0.1 mi (left); to Adobes 0.9 mi (straight)"
0.96	r			(yerba mansa, Anemopsis californica, in Cole Creek)
0.97	l			(pygmy-weed, Crassula connata)
0.97	r			Boulder of Bedford Canyon Formation
0.99	r			(Siskiyou aster, Aster lanceolatus ssp. hesperius, in Cole Creek)
1.00	b	139	~	*brome fescue	Vulpia bromoides	99 / 9	5
1.02	r			Cross small drainage with deepish hole
1.15	r			(California buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum)
1.18	b	140		bush lupine	Lupinus excubitus var. hallii	5 / 2	9
1.19	l	141		Pomona locoweed	Astragalus pomonensis	4 / 4	11
1.20	r	142		California poppy	Eschscholzia californica	3 / 2	28
1.22	l	143		red maids	Calandrinia ciliata	30 / 3	21
1.22	l	144		small-flowered fiddleneck	Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii	20 / 2	11
1.22				Y-jct; take left branch
1.29				Jct. Hidden Valley Road; elevation ~1880 feet (573 m); go left to Ranch Road
1.29	b	145		*pineapple weed	Chamomilla suaveolens	30 / 3	22
1.29				Jct. Ranch Road; go left; sign: "Ranch Road (left-right); To Visitor Center 3.0 mi (left); To Adobes 0.5 mi (right)"
1.29	l	146		*Crete weed	Hedypnois cretica	50 / 5	21
1.31	r	147		*long-beaked filaree	Erodium botrys	30 / 9	10
1.33	r			*little horseweed	Conyza bonariensis⁺	/
1.36	l	148		*Bermuda grass	Cynodon dactylon	99 / 9	29
1.40	l	149		clustered toad rush	Juncus bufonius var. congestus	50 / 5	5
1.40	l	150		telegraph weed	Heterotheca grandiflora	20 / 3	34
1.43	l	151		*annual blue grass	Poa annua	2 / 2	11
1.56	l	152		clustered field sedge (female)	Carex praegracilis	20 / 1	6
1.59	l			A white-flowered Spanish clover, Lotus purshianus var. purshianus
1.65				(l: mule fat, Baccharis salicifolia; r: Sign: "Main")
1.67	l			Jct. cutoff to Trans Preserve Trail; sign: "To Trans Preserve 0.3 mi"
1.67	r			Pass through open gate on Ranch Road; Jct. Monument Hill Road
1.71				Cross drainage
1.75				Local high point
1.80	r			(Patch of dallis grass, Paspalum dilatatum that did very well during the 2002 drought due to a spring / seep here. The patch became huge in 2005)
1.80	r	153		*dog-fennel	Anthemis cotula⁺	1 / 1	2
1.87				Cross drainage
1.90		154		baby mule fat	Baccharis salicifolia	3 / 2	40
1.91	r	155		elk thistle	Cirsium scariosum	5 / 5	10
1.93				Cross drainage
1.94	r	156		seaside heliotrope	Heliotropium curassavicum	10 / 2	9
2.02				Local high point on road; elevation ~1900 feet (580 m)
2.16	l	157		*darnel	Lolium temulentum	5 / 2	4
2.16	b	158		chick lupine	Lupinus microcarpus var. microcarpus	50 / 9	9
2.18	r	159		southern miner's lettuce	Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana	10 / 2	28
2.21	r			(goldenrod, Solidago californica)
2.22	b	160		*rose clover	Trifolium hirtum	50 / 5	11
2.22	l	161		cobwebby thistle	Cirsium occidentale var. occidentale	1 / 1	8
2.22	l	162		slim vetch	Vicia ludoviciana var. ludoviciana	3 / 1	9
2.22	l			(western sycamore, Platanus racemosa; big leaf mistletoe, Phoradendron macrophyllum)
2.22	b	163		rusty-haired popcorn flower	Plagiobothrys nothofulvus	99 / 9	11
2.23	r	164		goldenrod	Solidago californica	30 / 3	35
2.29	b	165		cocklebur	Xanthium strumarium	10 / 3	15
2.29	l	166		*common cudweed	Gnaphalium luteo-album	2 / 2	15
2.29	l	167		arroyo willow	Salix lasiolepis	3 / 1	34
2.29	l	168		Hooker's evening-primrose	Oenothera elata ssp. hirsutissima	5 / 1	10
2.30	l			(Fremont cottonwood, Populus fremontii ssp. fremontii)
2.33	r	169		hybrid wild-rye	Leymus Xmultiflorus (L. condensatus X L. triticoides)	3 / 3	3
2.33	r	170		shining willow	Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra	2 / 1	3
2.33	r	171		saltgrass	Distichlis spicata	30 / 5	15
2.34	l	172		thyme-leafed spurge	Chamaesyce serpyllifolia ssp. serpyllifolia	1 / 1	4
2.34	r	173		sand spikerush	Eleocharis montevidensis	1 / 1	5
2.36	r	174		autumn willowweed	Epilobium brachycarpum	20 / 3	4
2.42	b			Field of chick lupine, Lupinus microcarpus var. microcarpus
2.43				Local high point
2.54	r			Jct. N. Lomas Trail
2.55				Jct. Tenaja Truck Trail; go left toward gate at old main entrance
2.60	b	175		western sycamore	Platanus racemosa	3 / 1	26
2.60	r			(big leaf mistletoe, Phoradendron macrophyllum)
2.60	b			adult mule fat	Baccharis salicifolia	/
2.61				Cross branch of Cole Creek; lowest point on route; elevation 1790 feet (545 m)
2.66	l	176		Mexican rush	Juncus mexicanus	20 / 2	16
2.67				Begin Oak Tree Trail at its Ranch Road / Tenaja Truck Trail entrance; elevation ~1795 feet (547 m)
2.67	r			(just outside gate across Ranch Road: field bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis and white sweetclover, Melilotus albus)
2.67	l			(A large tumbleweed of Russian thistle, Salsola tragus, was here on 11/18/04, but no rooted population was seen.)
2.68	r	177		*horehound	Marrubium vulgare	10 / 4	31
2.68	r			Last fence post of fence
2.68	l			Sign: "Oak Tree Trail (straight); to Hidden Valley Trailhead 1.1 mi; to Adobes 2 mi; to Vernal Pool 2.4 mi"
2.69				Y-jct; guide to right path of Oak Tree Loop follows immediately; guide to left path is at the end of this guide

2.69				Guide to western portion of Oak Tree Loop; begin at Y-jct taking right path
2.73	l			Badger hole in 2004
2.78	l			Bench without a back
2.79				Local high point on trail
2.79		178		purple owl's clover	Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta	10 / 4	13
2.81				Local low point on trail
2.85	b	179		tree clover	Trifolium ciliolatum	20 / 3	11
2.87	r	180		white-flowering currant	Ribes indecorum	2 / 2	22
2.88				Local high point on trail
2.92				Cross small drainage; local low point on trail. Note scoured area in drainage on left lower than rest of drainage.
2.92	l			(slender woolly marbles, Psilocarphus tenellus var. tenellus)
2.95	r			Trail post "13" (numbers face other direction): " 'The Old Man of the Forest' tree; its interior is rotting"
2.99	r			Jct. Trans Preserve Trail; continue on it; sign "Trans Preserve Trail". Trail on left is the other branch of the Oak Tree Loop.
3.20				Local high point on trail
3.25				Jct. Coyote Trail; end plant guide; elevation ~1860 feet (567 m). Return to trailhead via Coyote Trail.
3.73				Hidden Valley Trailhead

2.69	l			Guide to eastern portion of Oak Tree Loop; begin at Y-jct taking left path
2.70	l			Boulder with mortero
2.72	l			Signpost "3": "Outcropping of granite provided perfect growing conditions for this young Engelmann oak"
2.75	l		~	(Schott's sedge, Carex schottii)
2.78				Signpost "4": "The soil remains somewhat moist throughout the year. Listen for Pacific tree frogs in spring and early summer"
2.79	l			white-flowering currant	Ribes indecorum	/
2.79	r	181		narrow-leaf milkweed	Asclepias fascicularis	5 / 2	9
2.80	l		sp	(cattail, Typha sp.)
2.81				Short fence; sign: "Trail Closed"
2.84	r	182		meadow-rue	Thalictrum fendleri var. polycarpum	3 / 1	8
2.84	r			Signpost "6": "All the trees ahead are Engelmann oaks; behind you in a coast live oak"
2.86	l			Signpost "7": "This Engelmann oak blew down in 1991"
2.87				Cross small drainage
2.88	l			Signpost "8" with lichen growing on it! "Note the western sycamore tree across the tenaja"
2.88	l			(red willow, Salix laevigata)
2.92	l			Short fence; sign: "Trail Closed"
2.92	l	183		creeping wild rye	Leymus triticoides	10 / 1	9
2.93	r			Signpost "10": "Engelmann and coast live oak together. Can you tell which is which?"
2.94				Cross small drainage
2.96	b			milk maids	Cardamine californica var. californica⁺	/
2.96	r			Signpost "11": "Huge coast live oak; listen for birds or the wind in its branches"
2.96	l			(Portion of bridge from 0.3 miles upstream carried to this point in the creek)
2.99				Jct. Trans Preserve Trail and other branch of the Oak Tree Loop.
3.20				Local high point on trail
3.25				Jct. Coyote Trail; end plant guide; elevation ~1860 feet (567 m). Return to trailhead via Coyote Trail.
3.73				Hidden Valley Trailhead

Go to:

Plant Trail Guides For The Santa Rosa Plateau
Field Guide to the Santa Rosa Plateau: Plants

Copyright © 2004-2006 by Tom Chester and Kay Madore.
Permission is freely granted to reproduce any or all of this page as long as credit is given to us at this source:
http://tchester.org/srp/plants/guides/n_tp.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Updated 9 April 2006.