Dwarf Checkermallow (Sidalcea malviflora) Native, perennial plant commonly found in open meadows close to the sea and on lower coastal hills. Flowers have 5 pink petals with prominent veins, squared off at tip. Peak bloom time: March-July.
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 96.
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 204-205.
eJepson's :
https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=44424
Ohlone Uses: food and poultice. Wildflowers of Point Lobos State Reserve, A. Muto, p. 111.
Common Fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii) Native, annual plant that grows in open, disturbed areas at forest/woodland edges. Stems are bristly and ascending to erect. Leaves are linear to oblong, margins entire, surfaces sparsely hispid to hispid-hirsute. Inflorescence is shaped like the head of a fiddle (violin-like instrument). Tubular flowers are yellow and may have orange spots at the base of the 5 lobes. Peak bloom time April-August. Seeds and foliage may be poisonous to cattle.
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 90-91.
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=13145
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 332.
Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/boraginaceae-amsinckia/
Oregon Flora https://oregonflora.org/taxa/index.php?taxon=2726
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Borage (Boraginaceae) Most plants in this family are bristly or sharp-hairy with hairy leaves. Leaves are alternately arranged, or a combination of alternate and opposite leaves. Leaf blades usually have a narrow shape and many are linear or lance-shaped. They are smooth-edged or toothed, and some have petioles. Most species have inflorescences that have a coiling shape (scorpioid cymes). The flower usually has a 5-lobed calyx. The corolla varies in shape from bell-shaped to tubular. There are five stamens and one style with one or two stigmas. The fruit is a drupe, sometimes fleshy.
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=69
Milkmaids (Cardamine californica). Native, annual plant in the Mustard (Brassicaceae) family, that grows in mostly shaded mixed woodland. It is one of the most common shade-loving plants blooming in early spring. Leaves have 3–5 leaflets of varying shapes, from narrow and arrow-shaped to broad to rounded, sometimes with small but distinct lobes. Flowers are loose clusters of pure white (occasionally pink-tinged) 4-petalled flowers on distinct pedicels. Peak bloom time: February-March. Fruits are long, very thin, and cylyndrical.
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 108-109.
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=76456
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 74.
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 203.
Monterey County Wildflowers: a photographic guide https://montereywildflowers.com/brassicaceae-cress/
Oregon Flora https://oregonflora.org/taxa/index.php?taxon=3585
Purple Owl's-Clover (Castilleja exserta) Native, annual plant in Genus Castilleja. It is glandular-puberulent, stiff-hairy, and densely shaggy-hairy overall. Lower leaves are long, linear, and thread-like. Flowers are usually pink-purple, but sometimes white. Tips of beak/galea (upper lip of flower) is hairy and hooked. Peak bloom time: March-May.
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=18200
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 220-221.
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 157.
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, p. 109.
Monterey County Wildflowers, Trees & Ferns https://montereywildflowers.com/orobanchaceae-castilleja/
Excellent extensive photo collection/albums of every described form of Castilleja in North America north of Mexico by Mark Egger:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_egger_castilleja/collections/72157617709816218/
138 beautiful photos of Castilleja exserta by Mark Egger
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_egger_castilleja/sets/72157623802131890/
White Globe Lily (Calochortus albus) Native, CA endemic plant in the Lily (Liliaceae) family. A.k.a. Fairy Lantern. Commonly found in shaded or open woodland. It first appears with a single, strap-like leaf lying prostrate on the ground. Pendulous flowers have three large, delicate, hair fringed, creamy white, occasionally pink-tinged petals. Each petal has a yellowish hump where the nectar gland is found inside the flower. Large, three-sided seed pods. Peak bloom time: April-June.
We once found a Fairy Lantern with two bees sleeping inside. We called it a B&B (for 2 bees). Coined by A.Skinlo.
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 234.
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp.324-325.
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=16710
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 224.
In area that was heavily burned during the August 2020 River Fire. Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, p. 355.
On Earl Moser Trail, in open meadow, in Jack’s Peak County Park, Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, p. 355.
Golden Brodiaea (Triteleia ixioides ssp. ixioides) Native, perennial plant that likes sandy or clay soils. A.k.a. Pretty Face. Leaves 1-2 and grass-like. Single stem with yellow, 6 petalled, star-shaped flowers. Each petal has a dark central vein. 6 flat stamens alternate between long and short, long ones with horn like appendages. After blooming, flowers close and turn a muted orange with reddish-purple tips. Peak bloom time: March-August.
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 379.
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 334-335.
eJepsons: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=53294
White Globe Lily (Calochortus albus) Native, CA endemic plant in the Lily (Liliaceae) family. A.k.a. Fairy Lantern. Commonly found in shaded or open woodland. It first appears with a single, strap-like leaf lying prostrate on the ground. Pendulous flowers have three large, delicate, hair fringed, creamy white, occasionally pink-tinged petals. Each petal has a yellowish hump where the nectar gland is found inside the flower. Large, three-sided seed pods. Peak bloom time: April-June.
We once found a Fairy Lantern with two bees sleeping inside. We called it a B&B (for 2 bees). Coined by A.Skinlo.
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 234.
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp.324-325.
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=16710
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 224.
Pacific Trillium (Trillium ovatum) Native plant growing in a semi-shaded woods near the coast.
This unique wildflower emerges in spring, its distinctive 3-petaled white infloresence brightening the deep shade and dark colors of the moist forest floor. The white petals can fade to pink or even red as they age. Single flowers bloom on a short peduncle, rather than being sessile as in other trilliums, and are framed by three sepals and three broad leaves resulting in a pleasingly balanced composition. The pedicel (flower stalk) is diagnostic. Trillium ovatum has one but T. albidum does not. It grows slowly, spreading from rhizomes and does best in moist acidic soils with high organic matter and dappled sun to full shade. Banana slugs love it. Peak bloom time: Feb-April.
https://oregonflora.org/taxa/index.php?taxon=8936
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 328-329.
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=47239
Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/melanthiaceae/
Violets growing in a shady redwood forest near the creek on 6-mile Trail, Land of Medicine Buddha.
On 6-mile Trail, Land of medicine Buddha. Redwood Sorrel (Oxalis oregana) Native, perennial plant commonly found carpeting redwood forest floors. 3-lobed, heart- shaped leaflets. 5-petaled flowers vary from pure white to pale pink. Peak bloom time: Feb-Aug.
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 244.
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 226-227.
eJepson's :
https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=35641
Miles and miles of beautiful Coast Redwoods on 6-mile Trail at Land of Medicine Buddha. (adjacent to Forest of the Nicene Marks state park in Soquel.
Peak Rushrose (Crocanthemum scoparium) Native, perennial plant that grows in dry, sandy or rocky soils. Leaves are small, linear to narrowly lanceolate. Matures into a small rounded mound with 5-petaled pale yellow flowers. Peak bloom time: March-July.
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p.96
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 135-136.
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=95270
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 340.
Chaparral Pea (Pickeringia montana) Native, large, spiny, evergreen shrub that grows on dry slopes and ridges. It has dense, intricate branches. Leaves are simple or palmately compound, with 2–3 small elliptic to ovate leaflets. Flowers are solitary and bright pink-magenta with a yellowish-brown triangle at the base of the banner. Peak bloom time: April-May.
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p.117.
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=38189
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 168-169.
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 58.
Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/fabaceae-misc/
Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii) Yerba Buena translates to Good Herb in Spanish. Native, perennial, mat-forming plant that grows in shaded woods. Oval, fragrant leaves smell “minty.” Leaves can be used to make tea. Small, white, tubular flowers. Peak bloom time: April-July.
Monterey Pine Forest: Coastal California's Living Legacy, 2nd. ed, Monterey Pine Forest Watch, 2018, p. 118.
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 136.
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=80483
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, p.190-191.
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 232.
Monterey County Wildflowers– a photographic guide https://montereywildflowers.com/lamiaceae-misc/
California has 49 recorded species of Dudleya, many of which are endemic to the state, and some of which are endemic to a only a single county. (I-Nat. California Dudleya Mapping Project)
Genus: Dudleya is characterized by fleshy and glabrous leaves which occur in basal rosettes, and in colors generally ranging from green to gray. The inflorescence are on vertical or inclined stems up to a meter high, but usually much shorter. Stems are topped by a cyme with alternate leaf-like bracts. Both the petals and sepals of the small flowers are 5 in number and fused below. 5 pistils, also fused below, have 10 stamens arranged around them.
Coast Dudleya (Dudleya caespitosa) Native, perennial, common Dudleya in the Stonecrop (Crassulaceae) family that grows on coastal rock and sandy soil. A.k.a. Sea Lettuce. There are usually several basal rosettes of leaves, up to 20 cm long. They are succulent, oblong to lanceolate or roundish, generally with acute tips. Stem are long with greater increased distance between internodes (compared to Bluff Lettuce, Dudleya farinosa). Flowers are a cluster of bright yellow flowers, the petals united for < 1/3 of their length, on curving red peduncles.Peak bloom time: June-August.
D.Styer lists 2 Dudleya species in Fort Ord: D. caespitosa and D. lanceolata.
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 99.
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 140, 143.
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=23643
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 341.
Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/crassulaceae-dudleya/
Occasionally this species of Castilleja is yellow.
Monterey Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja latifolia). Native/endemic on the Central California coast. It is strictly limited to coastal dunes and sandy bluffs, mostly in the general vicinity of Monterey. A.k.a. Seaside Painted Cup. Inflorescence color can be reddish-orange, orange, and occasionally yellow. Entire plant is pubescent--covered with short, soft hairs, but not woolly. Leaves are fleshy, oblong to rounded, less than 2cm, and blunt at tip. Bracts widely wedge-shaped to widely obovate.
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell,p. 155.
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 221-223.
https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=18228
Castilleja photos, grouped by species, by Mark Egger:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_egger_castilleja/collections/72157617709816218/
92 excellent Monterey Indian Paintbrush photos by Mark Egger:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_egger_castilleja/sets/72157624358881361/
A Native thistle. Lower phyllaries are sharply reflexed (down curved), unlike Cobwebby Thistle. Blooms May-July.
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, p. 27.
Jepson eFlora ssp. venustum
https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=56557
A.k.a. Everlasting. Dried flowers make long lasting scented bouquets. Smells like vanilla.
A tall native tarweed. Very sticky to the touch. Blooms Apr-Nov. Flowers are pure yellow in the early season but develop a deep maroon center later on. Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, p. 306.
Growing at top of Hitchcock Loop trail near bench, at Kahn Ranch. Lots of Skippers and other butterflies on it.
Acmispon glaber (previously named Lotus scoparius) Native, perennial subshrub in the Pea family. A.k.a. Common Deerweed, or Deervetch. It is found in many habitats. Stems are generally erect to ascending (more prostrate in dunes). Leaflets 3-6, generally 3 on upper part of stem. Inflorescence is umbrels with 2-7 sessile yellow-orange flowers. Peak bloom time: March-August.
Acmispon is a genus of plants in the Pea (Fabaceae) family. Clovers and Lupines are also in this family. Flowers are 5-petaled consisting of a wide upper banner petal, two wing petals, and two lower petals that are fused to form a boat-shaped keel. The seed pod is a long, flattened pod that splits lengthwise along both top and bottom to disperse the seeds inside.
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=91709
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 156-157.
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 109.
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 344.
Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/fabaceae-acmispon/
Pink Everlasting (Pseudognaphalium ramosissimum) Fragrant, native plant in the Cudweed (Gnaphalieae)Tribe. It has an open and many-branched growth habit which is unlike other members of this genus (Rabbit-Tobaccos). Tall, up to 150cm (4.9ft). Stems are +- tomentose, stalked-glandular. Leaves are narrow, green above and below, not woolly. Inflorescence grows in panicle-like clusters. Phyllaries are pink, occasionally white, and the flowers are yellow. Peak bloom time: July-August.
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 55.
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 64-65.
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=80579
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 189.
Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/asteraceae-cudweeds/
Rabbitfoot Clover (Trifolium arvense) Introduced/naturalized, clover, with ciliated stems and leaves, that grows in disturbed soils. Similar-looking to Narrow-leaved Clover (Trifolium angustifolium), but inflorescence is smaller, 1–3 cm, ovate to short-cylindric, and very soft to the touch. Stems are erect to ascending. Soft inflorescence appears pale pink to white with thin, red lines. Peak bloom time: June.
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p.118.
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 174-175.
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=47041
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 66.
Monterey County Wildflowers– a photographic guide https://montereywildflowers.com/fabaceae-clover-xinv/
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 264.
Flora of Fort Ord, D. Styer, 2019, p.188.
Less frequently seen than wedge leaf Horkelia. My specimen is more likely Horkelia cuneata . . . (pending further study)
This Clarkia was being windblown, to the left :-)
Lewis' Clarkia (Clarkia lewisii) is a native, annual plant found only in Monterey and San Benito Counties. Nodding buds are characteristic. Outer anthers are lavender and longer than white, speckled inner anthers. Long, white stigma is exserted beyond anthers and has a "+" at the tip. Sepals stay fused in 4's. Ring of hairs visible at rim, when looking down into flower (whereas in Clarkia cylindrica, ring of hairs is below the rim). Petals can be lavender or pink. Base of petals sometimes have tiny, dark pink speckles. The entire base of the petals is occasionally deep crimson, similar to Ruby Chalice Clarkia (Clarkia rubicunda), but the plant can be distinguished by its nodding buds, and the two different forms of its anthers. Peak bloom time: May-July.
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 100.
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 214-215.
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, 152.
Monterey County Wildflowers, Trees & Ferns https://montereywildflowers.com/onagraceae-clarkia/
eJepson's https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=19585