Marin CNPS Meetings~~
Marin Field Trips~~
Marin CNPS Plant Lists~~
January Newsletter
Links~~Wildflower Reports with Photographs~~
Volunteer Opportunities in Marin
Join the California Native Plant Society
Email Marin CNPS
Upcoming Marin CNPS Events
Monday February 8 Monthly Membership Meeting Jim Shevock: "California Mosses: An Introduction"
Wednesday, February 17 Field Trip Dirca Monitoring with Doreen Smith, Samuel P. Taylor State Park
Wednesday, February 24 Field Trip Early Flowers at Chimney Rock
Rare Plant Monitoring Field Trips
conducted by National Park Service, GGNRA
contact Michael Chassé at (415) 561-2857 or by Email if you would like to join any of these trips
Thursday February 11 9-2 Bolinas Ridge Arctostaphylos virgata
Thursday February 18 9-2 Pirate's Cove, Muir Beach Arabis blepharophylla, Erysimum franscicana
more dates and other volunteer opportunites
April 23-26
Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival
Purchase your tickets now - events are filling up quickly!
Schedule of Events
Wayne Roderick Lectures
East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden (Tilden)
Saturday Mornings 10:30 November through February, Free to the Public
February 13 Wildflower hiking in Del Valle Regional Park, Sunol, and Ohlone Wilderness-Steve Edwards
February20 Some botany and history in coastal Monterey-Steve Edwards
February 27 Shifting baselines in Bay Area oak woodlands & savannas: historical patterns & restoration potential-Alison Whipple
February 2010 Plant of the month by Doreen Smith
Zigadenes of Marin County

"The Zigadenes in this area begin to flower this month. The earliest
species are of the Zigadenus fremontii group, now likely to be put
in a new Family, Melanthiaceae, and called Toxicoscordion fremontii!
The following forms are all lumped into the same species.
"On the S-facing slopes of Mt. Burdell there is a fine population of
large-flowered plants with yellow anthers. This same form is present
in the Marin Headlands along the Bobcat trail and on Ring Mountain .
"On the immediate coast is a dwarf strain that can be seen on the
headlands above Drakes Estero, east of the visitor center, near
Marconi and at Oceana Marin, near Dillon Beach. This is the one
pictured above.
"The most common form in Marin is a tall variety with branching
inflorescences and white anthers that's most usual in chaparral
openings and especially after fires.
"Also in serpentine chaparral, such as on the Carson Ridge, there is
a small-flowered, unbranched form.
"Occasionally a form can be seen in the upper edge of the Pickleweed
zone of salt marshes.
"Zigadenus micranthus var. fontanus = Toxicoscordion fontanum, is much
later to flower (May) and usually is associated with seasonally-wet
serpentine habitats, for example the seeps below Old St. Hilary's
chapel, Tiburon and about Rock Spring, Mt. Tamalpais.
For more information about and photographs of California native plants,
visit
Calflora,
CalPhotos.
or USDA PLANTS
Wildflower reports from Marin County
Report (email us) your
Marin native plant sightings and photographs
All reports from 2003 to present
February 7 Eva Buxton reports: "On the CNPS hike to Cascade Falls today, we saw California
pipevine (Aristolochia californica), a widespread but uncommon plant in Marin. Brad Kelley
sent an article reminding me of its pollination by fungus gnats, which are attracted to the flower that
emits a foul odor. The gnats enter the "bowl" of the pipe and get trapped for a long enough time to
increase the chance of pollination. The flowers form tiny pipes less than a cm before the leaves appear
and then continue to grow to a size of 2 - 4 cm. This is unusual in the plant world; the flowers of
most plants have reached full size before emerging from the bud."
February 7 Wendy Dreskin reports: "
Junior
Botanist Trevor found Indian Warriors at
Cascade Canyon on January 28. He also found Sanicula laciniata at Lake Lagunitas
on February 4."
February 3 Sharon Salisbury reports "Today at Homestead were Hound's Tongues,
Trillium ovatum, hundreds of Fetid-Adder's Tongues, Milkmaids (everywhere).
On the firetrail behind the golf course in MV there were Zigadene Liles just about to
burst last week...2 weeks ago in the Marin Headlands I saw Wall Flowers, Indian paintbrush,
Monkey flowers, California poppies and
Foot-steps-to-spring."
January 23 Bob Sills reports:"Today I saw a lone Trillium ovatum in bloom
(although the flower was folded up) in Muir Woods. I also saw a few milkmaids..."
January 18 Doreen Smith reports:
"Vernon and I did some hiking on the weekend to see early flowers
before the forecast rainstorms.
Mt. Burdell lower slopes: the peppercress, little Blennospermas and
Star-lily Zigadenes are starting to bloom. There are a few goldfields
in the fenced-off area west of the San Carlos Dr. gate.
Pt. Reyes Lighthouse: some baby-blue-eyes, a few giant goldfields and
small goldfields, salal, milkmaids, and grindelia can be seen. A
red-flowering Aloe, left from a light-house-keepers garden, hangs on
to the cliffs."
January 16 Wendy Dreskin reports: "St. Rita
Junior
Botanists Sydney and Grace found and
identified the first buttercup on the hill behind their school on January 15.
Last year students didn't see the first one until February 1! "
January 14 Faith Brown reports: "Hundreds of Indian Warriors (Pedicularis densiflora) on the Wood Oaks Trail
off N. San Pedro Road. Some in full bloom, others not open or just popping up."
Amelia Ryan reports: "More than a dozen Hound's tongue (Cynoglossum grande) were in bloom
already at the Tiburon Uplands Preserve on Saturday, January 9th. I also saw a few Indian warriors (Pedicularis densiflora)
and a milkmaid (Cardamine californica) in bloom and a death camas in bud. Sadly, I neglected to bring my camera."
Dean Kelch reports: "Garrya elliptica and
Arctostaphylos canescens were in full flower on the trail between Mt Theater and West Point Inn on Mt
Tamalpais on Sunday 1/3/10. A. nummularia was flowering along the Matt Davis Trail."
December 29 Doreen Smith reports: "Cardamine californica is blooming in "Marinwood" just
north of the Mt. Lassen Dr. parking spot for Old Lucas Valley Road."
December 21 George McRae & Heidi Rand report: " ...many Brownies (Scoliopus bigelovii) in bloom in
Muir Woods along the main trail just short of
Cathedral Grove on Friday December 18th. We took a trip to Cascade falls yesterday Dec 20, but saw none. "
December 19 Vernon Smith reports: "On David Herlocker's hike today, I saw
Common Manzanita (Arctostaphylos manzanita) and
California Goldenrod (Solidago californica) in bloom on Big Rock Ridge.
Things seem to be somewhat early."
November 8 Dave Strauss reports: "It was surprising to see several plants in bloom in the Marin
Headlands today including: Eschscholzia californica, Mimulus aurantiacus, and Castilleja subinclusa ssp. franciscana.
I also observed Arctostaphylos sp. in bloom high up along Gold Hill Grade in San Rafael yesterday."
For more information about and photographs of California native plants,
visit
Calflora,
CalPhotos.
or USDA PLANTS
Gardening with Native Plants
in the San Francisco Bay Area
Native Plants that Attract Birds
Invasive Alert - Lepidium latifolium -
Pt. Reyes staff have been finding scattered new populations of Perennial Pepperweed in Tomales Bay
and would greatly appreciate reports of any plants seen around Tomales Bay. Please contact Ecologist
Lorraine Parsons at Lorraine_Parsons@nps.gov. with information as to the location (as precise as possible),
size, and life stage (flowering, fruiting, etc).
Lepidium latifolium description and photos
Volunteer Opportunities
GGNRA - Rare Plant Monitoring Field Trips conducted by National Park Service
contact Michael Chassé at (415) 561-2857 or by Email if you would like to join any of these trips
Thursday February 11 9-2 Bolinas Ridge Arctostaphylos virgata, Ceanothus masonii, Ceanothus gloriosus var. exaltatus
Thursday February 18 9-2 Pirate's Cove, Muir Beach Arabis blepharophylla, Erysimum franciscanum, Cirsium andrewsii(?), etc.
Wednesday March 3 1-4 Marin Headlands Arabis blepharophylla, Erysimum franciscanum, locally rare species?
Friday March 12 9-12 Marin Headlands Arabis blepharophylla, Erysimum franciscanum, locally rare species?
Wednesday March 17 1-4 Marin Headlands Arabis blepharophylla, Erysimum franciscanum, locally rare species?
Friday March 29 9-12 Marin Headlands Arabis blepharophylla, Erysimum franciscanum, locally rare species?
Thursday April 8 9-3 Stinson Beach,Bolinas Stebbinoseris decipiens, others?
Thursday April 22 9-3 Nicasio Ridge Castilleja affinis ssp. neglecta, and others
Thursday April 29 9-3 Four Corners Calochortus umbellatus, other rare species?
Marin Audubon Society Marsh Restoration
MAS has scheduled planting days at Bahia in Novato for
February 12, 13, 19 and 20 and March 13, 10 am - 1 pm,
Additional days may follow.
At its marsh restoration projects the Marin Audubon Society (MAS) has frequent opportunities for
volunteers to help both with planting native plants and with controlling invasive non-natives.
During the rainy season MAS volunteers have been planting creeping wild rye grass, Leymus triticoides,
on uplands along the levees at Bahia in Novato. The planting season is coming to an end soon,
but we still have a good supply of Leymus in our plant nursery for transplanting and a large area in
which to plant. We need many hands to help with planting. Everyone is welcome.
Tools, water and snacks will be provided.
Meet at the end of Topaz Drive near Bolero Court.
contact Robert Hinz at (415) 383-8688 or by Email for more information
- MMWD - Mt Tam Watershed Volunteer Opportunities
Embrace the new year by participating in a fun, invigorating, outdoor event on Mt Tamalpais.
Volunteers work with MMWD to restore habitat, improve trails, educate the public or
gain service learning credits for school, all while exploring beautiful Mt Tam.
Individuals are welcome to drop in; groups of ten or more should pre-register.
Dress for changing weather, wear work shoes, bring your lunch, a water bottle and your friends!
We provide snacks, water, instruction and inspiration.
Please note that all events are subject to cancellation due to heavy rain. Please call (415) 945-1128
the morning of the event. It could be raining on Mt. Tam. but sunny 10 miles away or vice versa!
Mt. Tamalpais Habitat Restoration
Generally the 3rd Saturday of each month
Mt. Tamalpais Trail Crew
Generally the 1st Saturday of each month
Frog Docent and Turtle Observer Training
We're looking for volunteers who can dedicate time from March through June to monitor two
vulnerable animal species. Training to become a Frog Docent will be on February 27 and
Turtle Observer training will be on March 13. After training, contribute time on your own schedule.
- Point Reyes National Seashore-
Habitat Restoration Program
Workdays are normally held on the
second and last Sundays of each month.
February 14th will find us returning
to the site to plant native plants in the restored areas.
Please meet us at Bear Valley Visitor Center at 9AM to car pool out to the site.
If you're late and want to meet at the work site, please be sure to check at the
Visitor Center front desk to confirm the location (depending on the size of the group,
an alternate site may be selected). Remember to bring a snack/lunch and water and wear
clothes that can get dirty.
Contact Ellen(Ellen_Hamingson@nps.gov,415-464-5196) for more information.
- Point Reyes Weed Watchers
Point Reyes Weed Watchers patrol park trails, detecting and mapping weeds as they first invade.
If you enjoy leisurely hikes through the parks but also want to help protect the unique natural
resources, then this is the perfect opportunity for you. Weed Watchers is appropriate for adults
and teens.
For more information, call 415-464-5201 or Natalie_Howe@nps.gov.
- Bolinas Lagoon Preserve, Audubon Canyon Ranch
Your help is needed in restoring native plant communities and wildlife habitat in the
coastal riparian
forests of Bolinas Lagoon. Please join us for our weekly Volunteer Work Days:
Thursdays 9am- noon in Volunteer Canyon.
Contact Leslie@egret.org, 415-868-9244 for more information and to RSVP
- SPAWN" (The Salmon Protection and Watershed Network)
Every Saturday, 10am - 1pm, Creekside Habitat Restoration
Join us as we plant, prune, remove invasives, and improve endangered coho
habitat in the San Geronimo Valley! Its a wonderful opportunity to learn
more about salmon and share rewarding experiences with like-minded folks
of all ages while restoring our local ecosystem.
Location varies, please visit SPAWN"S upcoming events for more details!
Every Friday, 10am - 1pm, Native Plant Nursery Day
Come out and help SPAWN volunteers at our very own Native Plant Nursery!
We cultivate beautiful plants destined for restoration sites throughout
the valley - everything from native blackberries and grasses to majestic
redwoods and Douglas fir. Be a part of transforming creekside habitat from
the ground up!
- more Volunteer Opportunities
New and Revised MARIN FLORA
The
new edition of John Thomas Howell's classic 1949 Marin Flora. is co-authored by Wilma Follette, Catherine Best and
Frank Almeda, Senior Curator of Botany at the California Academy
of Sciences in San Francisco, and is a joint project of the Marin
Chapter of the CNPS and the Academy of Sciences. This updated
edition has added 416 line drawings to assist in keying species,
new
well-tested dichotomous keys, and color photos of plant communities
in Marin. There are new maps along with satellite images of Marin
County. As much as possible has been preserved of Howell's original
plant descriptions that have long delighted botanists as well as his
insights and poetic observations.
Hard and soft cover books will be available for purchase at chapter meetings or you can
Order Marin Flora from the Marin Chapter CNPS.
Marin Chapter members have contributed many hours of volunteer
labor andexpertise; work was carried out at the Academy where
plant specimens are retained. Publication was made possible by Tom
Howell's generous remembrance of the chapter in his will when he
died in 1994.
Cover illustration: "Mt. Tamalpais from Corte Madera Creek" by Tom Killion © 2004
Lost Plants of Marin by Doreen Smith
Marin CNPS Photo Gallery
Common Bay Area Spring Wildflowers
Common Bay Area Shrubs
Arctostaphylos species of Marin County
Orobanche species of Marin County
Some Native Orchids of Marin County
Delphinium bakeri pictures and article
Plant Communities of Marin County
Order
Plant Communities of Marin by David Shuford and Irene C. Timossi
CNPS Posters
Junior Botanists Program
E-mail questions or comments to Marin CNPS
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Our logo is the Tiburon Mariposa
Lily (Calochortus tiburonensis).
This extremely rare lily can be seen blooming from the end of May through mid-June among the serpentine rocks of
Ring Mountain in Marin County, California. In fact, this is the
only place in the world it has ever been found growing
in the wild. It was first noticed by botanists in 1971 when the small patch
of land on which it lives passed from private into public hands. The plant is
now in cultivation and can be seen in botanic gardens.
Try your hand at identifying the parts of this flower:
or
View more photographs of this lily in its native habitat or
Visit the College
of Marin's "To See A World Project" to learn more about Ring Mountain
The California Native Plant Society is a non-profit organization
of amateurs and professionals united by an interest in the plants of
California. Its principal aims are to preserve the native flora and
to add to the knowledge of members and the public at large.
It seeks to accomplish these goals in a number of ways, including:
The work of the Society is carried out primarily by the volunteer efforts of the members of
CNPS chapters
throughout the state. Money at the State level is provided by the dues of members. Local chapters raise money through plant sales and poster and book sales.
The California Native Plant Society has 9,000 members statewide.
The Marin Chapter, which was founded in 1973, has approximately 500 members.
Chapter Websites:
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...to other
WEB sites
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2008: The Golden Gate National Recreation Area Endangered Species Big Year
-
California Invasive Plant Council
Protecting California's wildlands through research, restoration, and education
-
California Native Grasslands Association
-
The Bay Institute/STRAW dedicated to restoring the ecosystems of San Francisco Bay
- The Natural Resources DataBase (NRDB)
is a compilation of observations of flora and fauna made at open space and
nature preserves in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. The database can be
searched for available data on flora, mammals, birds, and reptiles-amphibians-
fishes seen at one or more preserves.
- The CalFlora Species Database contains summary geographic and ecological distribution information for 7660 California vascular plant taxa (8363 records including species level taxa where there is more than one var. or ssp.), as well as additional habitat information for rare taxa and species of the Sierra Nevada.
- The Jepson Herbarium's
Jepson Flora Project provides on-line:
- a listing of the plant species included in The Jepson Manual
- state-wide distribution maps of individual species
- a list of all the corrections to the original printing of The Jepson Manual
-
Marin / Sonoma Weed Management Area
- Marin County Open Space District (MCOSD) /
Interpretive walks
- Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD)
-
The Planning and Conservation League Foundation
Protecting California's Environment Through Public Education, Policy Research and Legislation
-
Friends of Corte Madera Creek Watershed, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, was founded in 1995 to protect the remaining natural ecosystems of the area, especially those relating to urbanized creeks and wetlands, and where possible to increase the diversity of these ecosystems.
- California Vernal Pools a collection of
information and resources. Includes field trips to see vernal pools.
- San Francisco Estuary Invasive Spartina Project
has a website with maps of current invasive Spartina locations, as well as
downloadable identification brochures and photos from their 2000-2001
surveys.
- The Watershed Project creates and carries
out involvement and outreach programs on creeks, wetlands and watersheds for the general
public and educators in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- California Oak Mortality Task Force (COMTF)
includes information on symptoms and diagnosis of Sudden Oak Death (SOD) and Associated Diseases Caused by Phytophthora ramorum.
- The Environmental Forum of Marin has a comprehensive list of links to
environmental organizations in Marin County and beyond.
- Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program,
University of California, has valuable information on
oaks and oak woodland related issues in their Publications, On Line Leaflets, and Oaks 'n' Folks links.
- Society for Pacific Coast Native Iris has descriptions
of the native species of California and Marin County. Follow the
links to "wild irises" and to "other western iris" and don't miss Brian Argon's
"Marin Iris" in the photo gallery.
-
Cliff Schmidt's Ceanothus Descriptions, set up and
maintained by Oregon State University's Dr. Clifford Schmidt, touts itself as "the web's only
complete treatment of the genus Ceanothus"
- California Lichen Society
- Mycological Society of San Francisco
- California Native Plants Discussion Group allows members to share their experience, their knowledge, and their questions about California native plants with each other. Topics include habitat restoration, gardening with natives, plant identification, propagation techniques, legal and political action, invasive non-natives, and event announcements
- Gardening With Natives Yahoo! Group for individuals interested in growing California native plants in their home gardens, parking strips, school gardens, parks, and elsewhere. This is a forum for communication, for asking questions, and for providing helpful answers. Members come from all backgrounds, from beginners to experts. This forum is particularly welcoming of those new to native plant gardening; they are encouraged to join and post their questions.
This egroup is a service of the Gardening With Natives group of the California Native Plant Society (Santa Clara Valley Chapter). This egroup carries announcements of major native plant gardening events in the South Bay and Peninsula.
PHOTOGRAPHS AND WILDFLOWER IDENTIFICATION AIDS:
-
CalPhotos
UC Berkeley Digital Library Photo Collection consists of 63,460 images of California plants (native and naturalized) and habitats.
You can search for plants by name, location (there are 1734 plant images taken in
Marin County), or type and color.
- USDA PLANTS Database provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories.
- California Academy of Sciences: California Wildflower Search
- Ron Parson's Flowershots Photographs of Orchids and other Wildflowers
as well as lots of links to orchid sites and sites of general botanical interest
- Reny Parker's Wildflowers An image gallery of wildflower, native plant,
and landscape photographs. Currently over 1,750 images identified to 78 plant families.
- Dpn Bain's Virtual Guidebook to Marin and the North Bay Counties
(and loads of other spots spanning western North America):
Scroll through 360-degree panoramas, each seamlessly stitched together from 12 still photographs.
They even tell you how to create your own. Definitely entertaining if you have QuickTime software already installed
or want to download it.
WILDFLOWER REPORTS:
CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY:
- State CNPS Home Page
A valuable resource with information on a myriad of native plants issues
and related links including:
- Invasive Exotics presents
a comprehensive consideration of the problem of biological pollution.
- CNPS Publications is another State CNPS site with
descriptions and ordering information for books and CD-ROMs of interest to all native plant lovers.
(Many of these titles as well as our popular wildflower posters are for sale at the Marin Chapter membership meetings.)
Past issues of the CNPS Journal
Fremontia and the
Bulletin are available here online.
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