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Young poison hemlock, Conium maculatum (Apiaceae, the parsley family), an biennial invasive forb that quickly invades cleared or disturbed riparian areas. Once established, it is highly competitive. Do not allow it to go to seed in or near cleared areas! California Invasive Plant Council profile: http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/plant_profiles/Conium_maculatum.phpThis plant has some value as a larval host for the anise swallowtail, which is adapted to several non-native members of the parsley family. A locally native larval host is Kellogg\'s Yampah, Perideridia kelloggii (Apiaceae, the parsley family).
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This is a close-up of a poison hemlock plant large enough that it will probably flower this year. Note the carrot-like root. Easy to pull in soils that are not too tight.This is an invasive plant which should be removed.
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Coyotebrush, Baccharis pilularis (Asteraceae, the aster family), a native shrub, has grown old and senescent in cleared upland near the riparian zone. Coyotebrush is able to establish in highly disturbed soils devoid of the symbiotic fungi (mycorrhizae) associated with most trees and shrubs. Able to grow with or without mycorrhizae, in time it is inoculated by them, preparing the soil for other species. Toyon and other shrubs often come up through older coyotebrush on formerly disturbed sites. Under this specimen and others at the foot of the dam we found toyon, California gooseberry and redberry shrubs coming along, along with Pacific sanicle and yerba buena and other native forbs underneath. A more diverse plant community could more quickly be achieved by cutting back the coyotebrush to allow more sunlight and room for the toyon and other shrubs coming up through it. This would also reduce the fire hazard. Cut branches could be used to create brushpiles for wildlife or cut up coarasely and scattered around to add to to the coarse woody debris or chipped to make mulch or compost.
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The toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia (Rosaceae, the rose family) is the tall plant coming up in the center. Not generally thought of as a riparian plant, nevertheless it is, especially in situations that don\'t flood. Its growth is being impeded by the old dead coyotebrush. One would not see situations like this back in the recent thousands of years this area was under intensive aboriginal management! Firewood going to waste.
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The plant being pointed to is California gooseberry, Ribes californicum (Grossulariaceae, the gooseberry family), whose growth is being impeded by the senescent coyotebrush overstory. It flowers very early in the year. Well armed with spines, it forms excellent nesting cover when draped by vines. It is a larval host for the tailed copper (Lycaena arota).
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Pacific sanicle, Sanicula crassicaulis (Apiaceae, the parsley family), a highly variable native biennial or perennial, is the native forb in the center of this photograph. It has large seeds which germinate readily and the plant grows well even on disturbed sites. It is one of our most common native plants. The seeds are burs which are readily dispersed by animals. It has not been used in riparian restoration to my knowledge, but is worth a try. On the right is the base of a gooseberry. The stem is rather thin, perhaps because of the excessive shade of the senescent coyotebrush overstory.
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A close-up of the fresh seasonal foliage of the California gooseberry, a deciduous plant.
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This photograph features the finely divided leaves and fruits of California sagebrush, Artemisia californica (Asteraceae, the aster family), a common native shrub. Very adapable, it easily grows in almost any sunny situation, in soils moist or dry of various textures; California sagebrush is often dominant on hot south-facing slopes. There is a sprig of fresh foliage of coyotebrush in the center of the photograph and sprigs of old coyotebrush foliage on the left and in the upper right corner of the photograph.
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The silhouetted branch structure of mountain mahogany, Cercocarpus betuloides (Rosaceae, the rose family), growing at the crest of what may be an old spoils pile near the base of the dam. This native deciduous shrub is usually associated with the chaparral community. It is fairly easy to cultivate, but rarely cultivated since its virtues are not appreciated much. It is a larval host for the western hairstreak (Satyrium californica), the Chaparral hairstreak (Satyrium tetra) and the Orange Hairstreak (Satyrium behrii).
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A sapling hollyleaf cherry, Prunus ilicifolia (Rosaceae, the rose family) coming up under now mostly dead over-grown and senescent coyotebrush. Cutting back the coyotebrush would allow it to more quickly form a large flowering and fruiting plant. The flowers of this species support honeybees and at least twenty-two species of native bees (Moldenke, 1971). It also serves as a larval host for the western tiger swallowtail, the pale swallowtail and possibly the two-tailed swallowtail. The fruits and seeds are eaten by many birds and mammals. It has large seeds which germinate readily en situ -- plant a seed where you want the plant!
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Redberrry, Rhamnus crocea (Rhamnaceae, the buckthorn family) an evergreen native shrub locally more common than its better-known relative, the California coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica). Coming up under a mostly dead and senescent coyotebrush; removing the coyotebrush would facilitate its growth and flowering and fruiting. It is caterpillar food (a larval host) for the pale swallowtail and its fruits feed the birds.
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California Delphinium, Delphinium californicum (Ranunculaceae, the buttercup family) coming up under dead coyotebrush. While more sun would facilitate flowering and fruiting, it would be safest to thin or remove the dead coyotebrush overstory early in the rainy season or in the dry season, to enable the foliage of the Delphinium to more readily accclimate itself to the increased insolation. This is a tall, stout species, but the flowers are usually merely dirty white, so that thus far the species has not been popular in cultivation. Bred into the Pacific Giant hybrids for size and vigor. The flowers are visited by hummingbirds and bumblebees.
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Young Coast Live Oak, Quercus agrifolia (Fagaceae, the beech family) coming up under senescent coyotebrush. Opening the canopy over the oak would allow it to grow faster. Coast live oaks can easily attain more than 20\' in less than ten years. This common native tree supports many species of wildlife, including the California Sister and the Propertius and Mournful Duskywing butterflies.
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Old fruiting stems and few flowers of Summer Mustard, Hirschfeldia incana (Brassicaceae, the mustard family) formerly Brassica geniculata, a common weed of the mustard family. Though non-native, at least 25 species of insects visit the flowers, including 11 species of bees and the Cabbage White, Sandhill Skipper and Acmon Blue butterflies, and it feeds the caterpillars of some of our native white butterflies. That many of our butterflies have adapted to non-native species is a conundrum for ecological restoration and weed management. It would be useful if the seeds of the formerly common native crucifers that are their original hosts were available for revegetation planting, species such as American Wintercress, Barbarea orthoceras, California Mustard, Guillenia lasiophylla, Tower Mustard, Arabis glabra, Milk Maids, Cardamine californica, Shining Peppergrass, Lepidium nitidum, Rorippa curvipes, Rorippa palustris, jewelflower, Streptanthus glandulosus and fringepods, Thysanocarpus curvipes, T. laciniatus and dobie-pod, Tropidocarpum gracile. All of these native species have been losers in the overwhelming invasion of the California floristic province since European contact and occupation by plants from elsewhere in the world. Mustard family plants are mostly easy to grow: the seeds of most, if not all are easy to produce in quantity if the will is present to do so.
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Pacific sanicle, though it seems to have little value for larger forms of wildlife at least supports some of our native insects. Moldenke (1971) collected six species of insects at its flowers, including an unidentified dayflying moth. A native ant, Crematogaster coarctata, a species with a heart-shaped gaster, was very abundant on its flowers and two species of andrenid bees -- solitary native digger bees, Andrena chlorogaster and Andrena auricoma, were abundant.
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The flower head of a dried up gumplant, Grindelia sp. (Asteraceae, the aster family) growing in the disturbed area near the dam. This is likely either Grindelia hirsutula or Grindelia camporum. The flowers attract hoverflies and a few native bees and small butterflies. The great copper specifically favors Grindelia camporum as a nectar plant.
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Hard to make out in the center of the photograph are dried up plants of yellow star thistle, Centaurea solsititialis (Asteraceae, the aster family) an invasive non-native member of the thistle tribe. Those interested in restoring historic habitats are interested in eradicating it, but it is an important pollinator plant in many of the disturbed situations in which it occurs. Moldenke collected 17 species of insects on the flowers, including 7 species of bees and 5 species of butterflies. Seed sources and protocols for establishing now less common native species of the thistle tribe, such as Cirsium brevistylum, Indian thistle, would be useful.
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Leaf rosettes of the Grindelia sp. in early January. The waste land habitat indicates it is likely Grindelia camporum, great valley gumplant.
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Husky seedling of Mexican elderberry, Sambucus mexicana (Caprifoliaceae, the honeysuckle family) near the spillway. The fruits are a favorite food of a huge variety of birds. The roots of this species are reputed to soften up hard soils. Planted in very compacted soil at DeAnza College, a specimen managed to survive and grow fairly well.
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A small specimen of mugwort, Artemisia douglasiana (Asteraceae, the aster family). This nitrophile [nitrogen-lover] grows best in rich, fertile soils and survives frequent and severe flooding. Favorite nesting cover for the Lazuli bunting.
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By its location so high up on the bank and by the time of flowering, the pink Ribes high up the ravine side in 121 is probably Ribes malvaceum.
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Unidentified plant. Possibly Anyone else have a guess?
The plants in 122 on a steep bank that I thought were Sidalcea are more likely Boykinia occidentalis (Saxifragaceae, the saxifrage family) which is typical of wet, shady banks and I did find it in that area, though I don\'t remember it on that particular bank (it was 25 years ago!). I believe I found it on a steep bank downstream from there in a somewhat shadier situation. But, comparing the photograph with the drawing in The Jepson Manual, and recalling that I was surprised to find Boykinia occidentalis (aka Boykinia elata) in the area, that is my new best guess. I don\'t remember finding any Sidalcea in that area.RiparianPlants123
Toyon in fruit. These fruits are eaten by at least 17 species of birds locally, especially robins, cedar waxwings and purple finches (the finches actually eat the seeds out of the fruits). Swan (1952) collected 170 species of insects and 43 species of spiders on this species locally, exclusive of flower-visitors. Moldenke (1971) collected 45 species visiting the plant for nectar and pollen, including many beetles, 12 species of bees and the acmon blue, tailed copper and hairstreak butterflies.
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Chaparral broom, Lotus scoparius (Fabaceae, the pea family), waif on disturbed ground near the spillway. This common legume usually grows on sunny hillsides. Great insect plant. Moldenke (1971) collected 31 species of native bees on the flowers, and it is a favorite nectar plant and larval host for butterfly gardeners.
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Vegetative re-growth on cape ivy after previous eradication efforts. Delairea odorata [aka Senecio mikanoides] (Asteraceae, the aster family). This is one of the most ecologically impactful invasive species and one of the most difficult to eradicate. It can even be toxic to fish! Superficially resembles and sometimes confused with the native manroot, Marah fabaceus (Cucurbitaceae, the cucumber family).
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Unidentified plant, possibly a young stinging nettle, Urtica dioica (Urticaceae, the nettle family).
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Common rush, Juncus patens (Juncaceae, the rush family). This adaptable graminoid is found in mesic situations in many plant communities.
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This is a good riparian plant - Panicled bulrush, Scirpus microcarpus (Cyperaceae, the sedge family).
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Seedling of ivy, Hedera sp. (Araliaceae, the aralia family). In order to retain historic vegetation, particularly in the vicinity of reproducing populations of readily naturalizing species such as ivy, constant maintenance is necessary. Australian restorationists report that forests restored to 100% native vegetation with good cover can be maintained with about 25 hours of sharp-eyed weeding per year. Ivy plants not fully established are easy to eradicate. Birds spread the seeds, which develop when the ivy is allow to branch, flower and fruit -- which usually happens with ungroomed plants allowed to run wild. The cooperation of gardeners and land owners in the vicinity of creeks could be helpful in maintaining historic vegetation with less work. Often in cases where ivy is running wild the landowner would like to get rid of it.
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Small plant of California honeysuckle, Lonicera hispidula var. vacillans (Caprifoliaceae, honeysuckle family). A clambering vine, helps create good cover for nesting birds. The flowers provide nectar for bumblebees and other bees and hummingbirds, and the fruits feed towhees, thrashers and other birds and mammals. This area was cleared of french broom and cape ivy, allowing reproduction and growth of the historic native vegetation.
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Frond of a smallish specimen of wood fern, Dryopteris arguta (Dryopteridaceae, wood fern family). These are among the first summer-dormant plants in the woods to green up and begin growing again when the rainy season commences.
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The white berries of common snowberry, Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus (Caprifoliaceae, the honeysuckle family) provide food for birds in late winter when other foods are scarce. The flowers are visited by bumblebees and it is a larval host for the common checkerspot butterfly and the snowberry clearwing, a day-flying bee mimic moth.
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Rosilla, Helenium puberulum (Asteraceae, the aster family). a native biennial often found along streamsides, near seeps and on flood plains. Note the winged stems. Its flower serves at least 5 species of native bees and is a nectar plant for the field crescent, a small butterfly that develops on our common aster, Aster chilensis.
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The large-leaved plant is coltsfoot, Petasites frigidus var. palmatus (Asteraceae, the aster family), a native perennial from a stout rhizome that typically grows in wet soil. It is a nectar plant for the anise swallowtail and sara orange-tip butterflies. A rosilla flower also appears in the center of the photograph -- the daisy rays are very small and project downward like a skirt, not even visible in the photograph. Some sprigs of California blackberry, Rubus usinus, are also in the picture.
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Unidentified plant, possibly a nightshade, Solanum species. Also in the photograph is the light colored stem and three part leaves of a California blackberry.
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Stems of manroot, Marah fabaceus (Cucurbitaceae, the cucumber family) arise from the lower right corner; the stout stem with tendrils and unopened buds. This is a native vine that goes dormant each year.
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A young oso berry, Oemleria cerasiformis, formerly known as Osmaronia cerasiformis (Rosaceae, the rose family), a native deciduous shrub. This species is mostly dioecious, that is, male and female plants are separate entities. The flowers of most plants combine male and female elements. The flowers are fragrant and pistillate flowers produce 1-5 small bean-shaped fruits.
RiparianPlants139
Cape ivy has grown back from previous weeding efforts and is well in flower on 8 January 2009. Aside from being difficult to kill, growing easily from small pieces of root, it also produces wind-dispersed seeds. Weeds in flower are past due for immediate attention! If it sets seeds, a great many seedlings will likely be coming up in the cleared areas, complicating eradication efforts.
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Cape ivy shades our and smothers native vegetation. Invasives grow unchecked by natural enemies and thus out-compete native vegetation.
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A young plant of sweet cicely, Osmorhiza sp. (Apiaceae, the parsley family), a native perennial forb which typically comes up in open woodland settings.
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One plant of common vinca, Vinca major (Apocynaceae, Indian hemp family) is in flower in the center of the photograph. It is an invasive plant and somewhat difficult to control, though not thought to be reproductive. Destroying satellite specimens of invasive weeds before they begin to expand is particularly worthwhile. Native California blackberry comprises most of the groundcover in the photograph.
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An iris with red seeds revealed by the split open seed pod (which should probably be harvested rather than allowing this plant to spread). Iris foetidissima, Gladwin iris, a European native, is cultivated for the seed capsules with the red seeds for flower arrangements. Many weeds are \"escapes\" from cultivation.
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The green stems with a few leaves appear to be blue witch, Solanum umbelliferum (Solanaceae, the nightshade family) a native shrub. The groundcover underneath is yerba buena, Satureja douglasii (Lamiaceae, the mint family).
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Sprig of the foliage of marsh baccharis, Baccharis douglasii (Asteraceae, the aster family) a native rhizomatous perennial of stream edges and moist salt marshes. Modenke collected 88 species of insects from its flowers, more than from any other herbaceus plant. Flowers best in full sun.
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Marsh baccharis can be quite wispy in the shade, where it may not flower, or flower much. In full sun in moist soil it becomes dense and flowers heavily. No doubt, historically, it flourished in canopy gaps when floods knocked down trees.
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Ferns have very mobile spores which are very small. They often establish on a steep moist slope like this one. The light green groundcover is California maidenhair, Adiantum jordanii (Pteridaceae, the brake family) and the dark triangular fronds mostly on the left half of the photograph are goldback fern, Pentagramma triangularis (Pteridaceae, the brake family). These are perhaps the two most common native ferns locally.
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The fine-bladed grass is Torrey\'s melic, Melica torreyana (Poaceae, the grass family) a native species which typically grows with ferns on moist banks. The foliage of California maidenhair on the left side of the photograph.
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\"Ruins\" from the 20th century: an abandoned automobile. A unique element of structural heterogenity. Don\'t want any more, though.
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A mushroom. Many of the riparian woody plants do not support much in the way of mushrooms. A mushroom is the fruiting body of a fungus -- the body of the fungus is underground, generally threadlike and extensive -- thus it is able to produce the energy to send up a mushroom overnight.
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The seed stalk of blue wild rye, Elymus glaucus (Poaceae, the grass family) -- a distinctive and common native perennial bunch grass usually found near or under trees in the this area. It is easy to grow. The woody plant foliage in the background is California laurel, Umbellularia californica (Lauraceae, the laurel family). The avocado is in the same family.
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Smilo grass, Piptatherum milaceum (formerly Oryzopsis m.) -- a non-native perennial bunchgrass which may take and hold disturbed areas. The blades are pretty hard and fibrous, the seeds small -- seems to have little or no wildlife value. The California Invasive Plants Council notes it seems to be increasing in riparian areas. Eradicate if possible or at least prevent it from spreading seed, especially near areas cleared of other weeds. It has taken over large areas of disturbed streamside habitat in urbanized areas of Santa Clara County. The California Invasive Plants Council profile: http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/plant_profiles/Piptatherum_miliaceum.php
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Fresh foliage of a returning specimen of California figwort, Scrophularia californica (Scrophulariaceae, the figwort family). Also known as bee plant; Moldenke collected 14 species of bees from this plant, and three other species of insects. Hummingbirds also visit the flowers, and common checkerspot caterpillars eat the foliage. Deer often eat the flower buds. Though the seeds are very small, if seeds from a few seed capsules are widely scattered on bare spots a few seedlings usually come up.
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Leaf litter is an fruitful component of habitat for invertebrates and thus for the birds and lizards and such for which invertebrates are prey. Leaves generally have some fertilizer value, more with some plants (such as nitrogen fixers, and those with softer leaves) than others.
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Old flowering stalk of California figwort with seed capsules. Somewhat cup-like, a few to many seeds remain in the capsules for quite awhile, so that the seeds are easy to gather. The square stems of the figwort are more typical of plants of the mint family, and small plants, when not in flower or fruit, may be confused with hedge nettle, Stachys ajugoides var. rigida, also known as wood mint. The two species commonly grow in the same environment.
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The narrow leaves belong to Pacific pea, Lathyrus vestitus (Fabaceae, the bean family), a native perennial legume.
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Smilo grass growing by the waterside. This weed will increase if new bare areas are created when other weeds are removed and smilo grass is allowed to remain and reproduce in the vicinity.
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A lot of panicled bulrush has naturalized along the shore here ... some years ago it was less interesting.
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Fresh foliage leaves of horehound, Marrubium vulgare (Lamiaceae, the mint family) a perennial non-native forb -- a good example of an escape from cultivation. Horehound may become abundant in disturbed areas, though it is not much of an invader. Mainly taking part of the niche of native species that grow in disturbed areas ... which do include many floodplain natives, such as Epilobium brachycarpum, Trifolium microcephalum, and Mimulus pilosus -- many of which have become far less common because introduced species are taking their ecological niche. Horehound at least is a good butterfly nectar plant and Moldenke\'s collections indicated that a hoverfly, the honeybee and a halictid bee were extremely abundant at its flowers and three common species of bumblebees very abundant. The California Invasive Plants Council profile: http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/plant_profiles/Marrubium_vulgare.php
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Seed heads of the marsh baccharis, which flowers and fruits more freely with more sunlight.
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A panicled bulrush in the foreground, Himalayan blackberry, Rubus discolor (Rosaceae, the rose family) on the opposite shore.
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Watercress, Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (Brassicaceae, the mustard family). Native the temperate zone around the world, widely cultivated for greens. Recorded as caterpillar food (aka larval host) for Sara orange-tip, the cabbage white, and the sharp-veined white butterflies.
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Large colony of watercress. Himalayan blackberry in the right foreground -- note the thick purple stems with stout thorns, leaves with 5 leaflets.
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The somewhat heart-shaped leaflets are common on young growth of Indian lettuce, Claytonia perfoliata (Portulacaceae, the purslane family) formerly known as Montia perfoliata, and also known as miner\'s lettuce. They are basal leaves; the cauline leaves, those on stems, are usually equally fused, round looking. Both leaves and seeds are edible for people and wildlife, likely high in omega 3 oils. The seeds are ant-dispersed by native ants mostly extirpated near urban and suburban areas, which may account for the common growth pattern of very thick patches. Years ago I pulled up a fruiting patch from a camellia bed to collect the seeds, letting the plants dry and the seedpods ripen in a pile in my work room. I was amazed at the number and variety of insects that kept coming out of the pile ... Around the edges of the Indian lettuce patch are the clover-like leaves of Bermuda buttercup, Oxalis pes-caprae (Oxalidaceae, oxalis family), a particularly invasive weed; on the left a few young leaves of what is probably plumeless thistle, Carduus sp (Asteraceae, the aster family)., a weed that takes over shady areas, especially those that have been heavily grazed.
