AZALEA HILL/ CARSON RIDGE; by D. L. Smith et al. 3 May 2005, 29April 2007.

         

      The Central Eastern part of this area contains sources of Corte Madera Creek and drains into San Francisco Bay while the Northern, Southern and Western parts drain into Lagunitas Creek, then Tomales Bay and the Pacific Ocean.  Much of the “soil” here is derived from serpentinite-  a complex group of hydrous magnesium silicates (HMgSiO) often with associated chromium, iron  and nickel. It is an uncommon metamorphic rock formed from hydrated peridotite and which originated deep down at the base of the crust or skin of the Earth, from mantle materials.  Our local sites are of rocks of mesozoic age, some 150 million years old. Soils developed from the serpentinite are deficient in important plant nutrients such as potassium while the heavy metals make for a toxic component. Some native plants have evolved a tolerance for these conditions while most introduced weeds grow poorly or not at all on serpentine soils. Several of our rare plants are serpentine endemics. There are patches of soils derived from other Franciscan series rocks- they stand out because the vegetation is more luxuriant and differs in species composition from that on the prevailingly serpentinite soils.

 

ANACARDIACEAE (POISON - OAK FAMILY)

      Toxicodendron diversilobum                                      Poison-oak

 

APIACEAE/UMBELLIFERAE (PARSLEY FAMILY)                                                             

      Daucus pusillus                                                            Wild Carrot

      Lomatium dasycarpum a                                            Hairy-petal Hog-fennel

      Lomatium dasycarpum b                                            Yellow-flowered, glabrous-petal Hog-fennel

      Lomatium utriculatum                                                  Golden Hog-fennel

      Perideridia kelloggii                                                    Yampah

      Sanicula bipinnatifida                                                  Red-purple Sanicle

      Sanicula crassicaulis                                                   Pacific Sanicle

      Sanicula laciniata                                                         Lace-leaf Sanicle

      Sanicula tuberosa                                                        Turkey-pea Sanicle                       

      Scandix pecten-veneris                                               Venus’ needle

      Tauschia kelloggii                                                        Yellow Parsley

      Torilis arvensis                                                             Hiker’s Curse, Hedge Parsley      *

 

ASTERACEAE/COMPOSITAE (SUNFLOWER/COMPOSITE FAMILY)

      Achillea millefolium                                                      Yarrow

      Agoseris grandiflora                                                    Mountain Dandelion

      Agoseris heterophylla                                                  Annual Mountain Dandelion

      Arnica discoidea                                                          Ray-less Arnica

      Artemisia douglasiana                                                Mugwort

      Aster ( Symphyotrichum chilense) chilensis              Aster                                               

      Aster (Eurybia radulina) radulinus                              Broadleaf Aster

      Baccharis pilularis                                                       Coyote Bush

      Calycadenia multiglandulosa                                      Rosin-weed

      Carduus pycnocephalus                                              Italian Thistle                                   *

      Cirsium hydrophilum var. vaseyi                                 Mt. Tamalpais Thistle                    Listed 1B

      Cirsium occidentale                                                     Cobweb thistle

      Cirsium quercetorum                                                   Brownie Thistle

      Cirsium remotifolium                                                   Tall White Thistle

      Cirsium vulgare                                                            Spear Thistle                                  *

      Erigeron reductus var. angustatus                             Pine Erigeron

      Eriophyllum confertiflorum                                           Golden Yarrow

      Eriophyllum lanatum                                                     Woolly Daisy

      Filago (Logfia) californica                                           Ca. Cudweed

      Filago (Logfia) gallica                                                 French Cudweed                           *

      Gnaphalium californicum                                             Ca. Everlasting

      Grindelia hirsutula ssp. hirsutula                                 Hairy Gumplant

      Hemizonia congesta ssp. lutescens                          Hayfield Tarplant                           

      Hesperevax sparsiflora var. sparsiflora                     Hesperevax

      Hypochaeris glabra                                                     Annual Cat’s Ear                            *

      Hypochaeris radicata                                                  Hairy Cat’s Ear                               *

      Lasthenia gracilis                                                         Slender Goldfields

      Layia gaillardioides                                                     Gaillardia Tidytips

      Lessingia micradenia ssp. micradenia                     Mt. Tamalpais Lessingia               Listed 1B

      Madia exigua                                                                Tiny Tar-plant

      Madia gracilis                                                               Slender Tar-plant

      Micropus californicus                                                   Cotton-top

      Microseris douglasii                                                    Douglas’ dandelion

      Psilocarphus tenellus var. tenellus                             Little Woolly- marbles

      Senecio aronicoides                                                   Butterweed

      Rigiopappus leptocladus                                            Rigiopappus

      Senecio vulgaris                                                          Groundsel                                       *

      Soliva sessilis                                                              Soliva                                              *

      Uropappus lindleyi                                                       Silver-puffs

      Wyethia angustifolia                                                    Narrow-leaf Mule’s Ears

 

BORAGINACEAE (BORAGE FAMILY)

      Cryptantha flaccida                                                      Nievitas

      Cynoglossom grande                                                  Hound’stongue

      Plagiobothrys nothofulvus                                           Popcorn Flower

 

BRASSICACEAE/CRUCIFERAE (MUSTARD FAMILY)

      Barbarea orthoceras                                                   Winter-cress                                   *

      Lepidium nitidum                                                         Shining Peppercress

      Cardamine californica var. integrifolia                       Milkmaids

      Streptanthus batrachopus                                           Tamalpais Jewel-flower                Listed 1B

      Streptanthus glandulosus ssp. secundus                  White Jewel-flower                        

      Streptanthus glandulosus ssp. pulchellus                  Mt. Tamalpais Jewel-flower          Listed 1B

     

CAMPANULACEAE (BELLFLOWER FAMILY)

      Githopsis specularioides                                            Blue-cup

 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE (PINK FAMILY)                         

      Minuartia douglasii                                                      Little Baby’s Breath

      Sagina decumbens ssp. occidentalis                       Western Pearlwort

      Silene californica                                                         Indian Pink                                     

      Silene gallica                                                                Windmill Pink                                  *

      Spergularia rubra                                                         Pink Spurrey

      Stellaria nitens                                                              Shining Chickweed

 

CONVOLVULACEAE (MORNING-GLORY FAMILY)

      Calystegia collina ssp. oxyphylla                                Serpentine Morning-glory              LIST4       

      Calystegia purpurata ssp. purpurata                         Trailing Morning Glory

      Calystegia subacaulis                                                 Stem-less Morning-glory

 

CRASSULACEAE (STONECROP FAMILY)

      Crassula connata                                                         Little Stonecrop

      Dudleya cymosa                                                          Rock-lettuce

      Sedum radiatum                                                          Stonecrop

      Sedum spathulifolium                                                  Spoon-leaved Stonecrop

 

CUCERBITACEAE (CUCUMBER FAMILY)

      Marah oreganus                                                           White -flowered Man-root

 

CUPRESSACEAE (CYPRESS FAMILY)

      Cupressus sargentii                                                    Sargent Cypress

     

CYPERACEAE (SEDGE FAMILY)

      Carex serratodens                                                       Serpentine- seep Sedge

      Carex densa                                                                 Dense-flowered Sedge

      Carex  spp.                                                                   Carex species indet.

 

DENNSTAEDTIACEAE (BRACKENFERN FAMILY)

      Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens                          Bracken Fern

 

DRYOPTERIDACEAE (WOODFERN FAMILY)

      Polystichum munitum                                                   Sword fern

 

ERICACEAE (HEATHER FAMILY)

      Arbutus menziesii                                                        Madrone

      Arctostaphylos (hookeri ssp.) montana                     Mt.Tamalpais Manzanita               List 1B

      Arctostaphylos glandulosa                                          Eastwood Manzanita

      Rhododendron occidentale                                        Western Azalea

 

FABACEAE (PEA FAMILY)                                            

      Astragalus gambelianus (& var. elmeri)                    Tiny Locoweed

      Lathyrus vestitus                                                           Hillside pea

      Lotus humistratus                                                         Hairy Hill-Lotus

      Lotus micranthus                                                          Little Lotus

      Lotus wrangelianus                                                      Sub-pinnate Lotus

      Lupinus bicolor                                                             Little Lupine

      Lupinus nanus                                                              Sky Lupine

      Medicago polymorpha                                                Bur-clover                                        *

      Pickeringia montana                                                   Chaparral-pea

      Thermopsis californica                                                False Lupine/ Golden Banner      

      Trifolium albo-purpureum                                            Indian Clover                                  

      Trifolium barbigerum                                                   Bearded Clover

      Trifolium bifidum                                                           Notched-leaf Clover

      Trifolium depauperatum                                              Balloon Clover

      Trifloium dichotomum                                                  Indian Clover

      Trifolium dubium                                                           Little Hop-clover

      Trifolium fucatum                                                          Yellow Sour Clover

      Trifolium gracilentum                                                   Pinpoint Clover

      Trifolium macraei                                                         Macrae’s Clover

      Trifolium microcephalum                                             Roundhead Clover

      Trifolium microdon                                                       Toothed-cup Clover

      Trifolium wildenovii                                                      Tomcat Clover

      Trifolium variegatum                                                    Wetland White-tip Clover

      Vicia americana                                                           American Vetch

      Vicia sativa var. nigra                                                  European Vetch

      Vicia villosa var. varia                                                  Blue-purple vetch                           *

 

FAGACEAE (OAK/BEECH FAMILY)

      Chrysolepis chrysophylla                                             Golden Chinquapin

      Quercus agrifolia                                                          Coast Live Oak

      Quercus chrysolepis (v. small-leaved)                       Canyon Live Oak

      Quercus durata                                                             Leather Oak (shrub)

      Quercus garryana                                                        Oregon Oak

      Quercus wislizeni                                                         Interior Live Oak

      Quercus X (several kinds)                                           Oak hybrids

 

GARYACEAE (SILKTASSEL FAMILY)

      Garrya elliptica                                                             Coast Silk-tassel

 

GENTIANACEAE (GENTIAN FAMILY)

      Centaurium floribundum                                              Serpentine Centaury (often white)

      Cicendia quadrangularis                                             Tiny Timwort

      Gentiana affinis                                                            Oregon Gentian

 

GERANIACEAE (GERANIUM FAMILY)

      Erodium botrys                                                             Broad-leaf Filaree                          *

      Erodium cicutarium                                                      Red-stem Filaree                           *

      Geranium dissectum                                                   Cut-leaf Cranesbill                         *

      Geranium molle                                                            Soft-leaved Cranesbill                   *

 

HIPPOCASTANACEAE (BUCKEYE FAMILY)

      Aesculus californica                                                     Ca. Buckeye

 

HYDROPHYLLACEAE (WATERLEAF FAMILY)

      Eriodictyon californicum                                              Yerba Santa

      Nemophila menziesii var. menziesii                          Baby-blue-eyes

      Phacelia divaricata                                                      Annual Blue Phacelia (Carson Falls area)

 

IRIDACEAE (IRIS FAMILY)

      Iris douglasiana var. major                                          Multi-colored Douglas Iris            

      Sisyrinchium bellum                                                     Blue-eyed-grass

 

JUNCACEAE (RUSH FAMILY)

      Juncus bufonius                                                            Toad Rush

      Juncus effusus                                                              Green rush

      Juncus occidentalis                                                     Western Rush

      Juncus patens                                                              Blue-green Rush

      Juncus sp. “arcticus” group                                         Rhizomatous Rush

      Luzula comosa                                                             Woodrush

 

LAMIACEAE/LABIATAE (MINT FAMILY)

      Lepechinia calycina                                                     Pitcher-sage

      Monardella purpurea                                                   Serpentine Pennyroyal                 

      Monardella villosa var. villosa                                     Hairy Pennyroyal/ Coyote Mint

      Stachys (ajugoides var.) rigida                                   Dry-sites Hedge-nettle

      Stachys pycnantha                                                       Serpentine- seep Hedge-nettle   

 

LAURACEAE (LAUREL FAMILY)

      Umbellularia californica                                               Bay-Laurel

 

LILIACEAE (LILY FAMILY) sensu lato

      Allium amplectens                                                        Paper Onion

      Allium falcifolium                                                          Sickle-leaf Onion

      Brodiaea elegans                                                        Harvest Brodiaea

      Calochortus luteus                                                       Yellow Mariposa                            

      Calochortus umbellatus                                               Oakland Star-tulip                          List 4

      Chlorogalum pomeridianum                                       Straw-lily/ Soap-plant

      Dichelostemma capitatum                                          Blue-dicks

      Fritillaria affinis var. affinis                                          Mission-bells

      Lilium pardalinum                                                         Leopard Lily

      Triteleia hyacinthina                                                     White Brodiaea

      Triteleia laxa                                                                 Ithuriel’s Spear

      Zigadenus fremontii var. fremontii                              Star Lily

      Zigadenus micranthus var. fontanus                          Marsh Zigadene                             List 4

     

LINACEAE (FLAX FAMILY)

      Hesperolinon congestum                                            Western Dwarf Flax                       List 1B

      Hesperolinon micranthum                                           White Dwarf Flax                                 

 

MALVACEAE (MALLOW FAMILY)

      Sidalcea hickmannii  ssp. viridis (not seen recently)Marin Checkerbloom                    List 1B

      Sidalcea malviflora var. laciniata                               Common Checkerbloom

 

MYRICACEAE (MYRTLE FAMILY)

      Myrica (Morella) californica                                         Ca. Wax Myrtle

 

ONAGRACEAE (EVENING-PRIMROSE FAMILY)

      Camissonia ovata                                                        Sun-cups

      Clarkia gracilis var. gracilis                                        Graceful Clarkia

      Clarkia purpurea var. quadrivulnera                           Wine-cup Clarkia

      Clarkia rubicunda                                                         Ruby Chalice Clarkia

      Epilobium ciliatum                                                       Common Willow-herb

      Epilobium minutum                                                      Tiny Pink Willow-herb

     

ORCHIDACEAE (ORCHID FAMILY)

      Epipactis gigantea                                                      Stream Orchid (Carson Falls area)

      Piperia elongata                                                          Green Rein orchid

      Piperia transversa                                                       Rein orchid

 

OROBANCHACEAE (BROOMRAPE FAMILY)

      Boschniakia strobilacea                                             Purple Ground Cone

 

PAPAVERACEAE (POPPY FAMILY)

      Eschscholzia californica                                              Ca. Poppy

      Platystemon californicus                                             Cream-cups

 

PINACEAE (PINE FAMILY)

      Pseudotsuga menziesii                                               Douglas-fir

      Pinus muricata                                                             Bishop Pine

 

PLANTAGINACEAE (PLANTAIN FAMILY)

      Plantago erecta                                                            Annual plantain

 

POACEAE/GRAMINEAE (GRASS FAMILY)

      Aegilops triuncialis                                                      Goat Grass                                     *

      Aira caryophyllea                                                         Silver Hairgrass                             *

      Avena barbata                                                              Wild Oats                                        *

      Briza minima                                                                Little Rattlesnake Grass                *

      Bromus carinatus                                                         Keeled Brome

      Bromus diandrus                                                          Ripgut Brome                                 *

      Bromus hordeaceus                                                    Soft Chess                                      *

      Calamagrostis ophitidis                                              Serpentine Reed-grass                 List 4

      Cynosurus echinatus                                                   Dog-tail Grass                                *

      Danthonia californica                                                   Ca. Oat Grass

      Elymus multisetus                                                        Squirrel-tail Grass

      Festuca californica                                                      Ca. Fescue

      Festuca idahoensis                                                     Idaho Fescue

      Festuca rubra                                                               Red Fescue

      Gastridium ventricosum                                              Nit grass                                          *

      Hainardia cylindrica                                                     Rat-tail grass                                  *

      Koeleria macrantha                                                     June Grass

      Lolium multiflorum                                                        Italian Rye-grass                            *

      Melica californica                                                         Grassland Melica

      Melca torreyana                                                           Woodland Melica

      Nasella lepida                                                              Spotted Needle Grass

      Nasella pulchra                                                             Purple Needle Grass

      Phalaris californica                                                      Ca. Phalaris

      Poa secunda                                                                Malpais Bluegrass

      Scribneria bolanderi                                                    Scribner’s Annual Grass

      Vulpia microstachys                                                    Semaphore Fescue

 

POLEMONIACEAE (GILIA/PHLOX FAMILY)

      Gilia capitata ssp. capitata                                         Blue-headed Gilia

      Gilia clivorum                                                                Small Gilia

      Linanthus acicularis                                                     Needle-leaf Linanthus                    List 4

      Linanthus androsaceus                                               Lavender Baby-stars

      Linanthus parviflorus                                                    Little Baby-stars

      Navarretia heterodoxa                                                 Blue Navarretia

      Navarretia mellita                                                         Small Skunkweed

      Navarretia rosulata                                                      Mt. Tamalpais Navarretia              List1B

      Phlox (Microsteris) gracilis                                         Little Phlox

 

POLYGALACEAE (MILKWORT FAMILY)

      Polygala californica                                                     Ca. Milkwort

     

POLYGONACEAE (DOCK FAMILY)                             

      Chorizanthe polygonoides                                          Creeping Chorizanthe

      Eriogonum luteolum var. caninum                              Tiburon Annual Buckwheat           List 4

      Eriogonum nudum                                                        Nude-stemmed Buckwheat

      Rumex acetosella                                                        Sheep sorrel                                   *

 

POLYPODIACEAE (POLYPODY FERN FAMILY)

      Polypodium calirhiza                                                   Common Polypody

 

PORTULACACEAE (PURSLANE FAMILY)

      Calandrinia ciliata                                                        Red-maids

      Claytonia exigua ssp..exigua                                      White/pink Claytonia                     

      Claytonia gypsophiloides                                            Rosy Pink Claytonia                                       

      Claytonia perfoliata (ssp./ or varieties)                      Miner’s Lettuce

 

PRIMULACEAE (PRIMROSE FAMILY)

      Anagallis arvensis                                                        Scarlet Pimpernel                          *

      Dodecatheon hendersonii                                          Shooting Stars

 

PTERIDACEAE (BRAKE-FERN FAMILY)

      Aspidotis densa                                                           Serpentine Fern/ Indian Dream

      Pellaea andromedifolia                                               Coffee Fern

      Pentagramma triangularis                                          Gold-back Fern

 

RANUNCULACEAE (BUTTERCUP/CROWFOOT FAMILY)

      Delphinium hesperium                                                Western Larkspur

      Ranunculus californicus                                               Ca. Buttercup

 

RHAMNACEAE (BUCKTHORN FAMILY)

      Ceanothus cuneatus                                                    Common Buckbrush

      Ceanothus jepsoni                                                       Serpentine Buckbrush

      Ceanothus X (of 2 above spp.)                                  Hybrid Ceanothus,NOT “rigidus” or “masonii”

      Ceanothus oliganthus v. sorediatus                           Jim-bush

      Ceanothus thyrsiflorus                                                 Blue-blossom

      Rhamnus (Frangula) californica                                 Coffeeberry

 

ROSACEAE (ROSE FAMILY)

      Acaena pinnatifida var. californica                             Acaena

      Adenostoma fasciculatum                                          Chamise

      Aphanes (occidentalis) arvensis                                Parsley Piert

      Crataegus monogyna                                                  Hawthorn                                         *

      Fragaria vesca                                                             Wild Strawberry

      Heteromeles arbutifolia                                               Toyon

      Horkelia tenuiloba                                                        Yarrow-leaved Horkelia                 List 1B (Ext?)

      Rosa gymnocarpa                                                       Wood Rose

      Rosa spithamea var. sonomensis                             Chaparral Rose

 

RUBIACEAE (MADDER FAMILY)

      Galium aparine                                                             Cleavers                                          *

      Galium californicum                                                     Ca. Bedstraw

      Galium divaricatum                                                      Annual Bedstraw                            *

      Galium porrigens                                                         Climbing Bedstraw

      Sherardia arvensis                                                      Pink Madder                                   *

 

SAXIFRAGACEAE (SAXIFRAGE FAMILY)                 

      Saxifraga californica                                                    Ca. Saxifrage

 

 

SCROPHULARIACEAE (FIGWORT FAMILY)

      Antirrhinum vexillo-calyculatum                                   Snapdragon

      Castilleja attenuata                                                      Valley Tassels

      Castilleja densiflora                                                     Owl’s Clover

      Castilleja foliolosa                                                        Chaparral Paintbrush

      Castilleja rubicundula var. lithospermoides              Cream-sacs

      Castilleja subinclusa ssp. franciscana                       Franciscan Paintbrush

      Collinsia sparsiflora var. collina                                  Little Chinese Houses

      Mimulus aurantiacus                                                    Sticky Monkey-flower Bush

      Mimulus douglasii                                                        Chinless Monkey-flower               

      Mimulus guttatus (annual form)                                   Seep-spring Monkey-flower

      Pedicularis densiflora                                                  Indian Warrior (local var.)

      Triphysaria pusilla                                                        Least Owl’s Clover

 

STERCULIACEAE (CACAO FAMILY)

      Fremontodendron californicum                                  Fremontia/ Flannel bush

 

VALERIANACEAE (VALERIAN FAMILY)

      Plectritis ciliosa                                                            Long-spur Plectritis

      Plectritis macrocera                                                    Short-spur Plectritis

 

Notes:

      *= non-native plants:   for  LISTED plants- 1B is the rarest category; 4= limited distribution