Favoritos de rjadams55

There were several dense patches of blue iris along this upper portion of the trail. I believe they are Douglas Iris (Iris douglasiana), but am not certain how to confidently differentiate them from Fernald's Iris (I. fernaldii).

@abr , do you have any insights into this? Thanks!

Around half a dozen of these moths were found this morning near the lights on the walls of the University Inn in San Luis Obispo.

A second individual was submitted here:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29145746

This small Flatcrown Buckweat (family Polygonaceae) was one of several found in a wide,sandy wash south of Cottonwood Springs.

It was identified by its unusual shape and basal rosette of round, hairy leaves.

The trees in this grove were identified using Calflora and the Jepson Guide. Features include the thin, scaly acorn cup, acorns with light fuzz on the inside of their shell, grey bark, and the short, spined leaves.

Of course, this is an extremely complicated genus and if anyone has a good argument for these representing any of the other regional oak species, I would be happy to hear it.

Found on a small granite boulder near the base of Bridal Veil Falls Trail. Identified by its overall coloration and structure, including brown areoles with upturned margins, black prothallus, and black apothecia.

This individual was separated from the similar Bluebanded Hermit Crab (P. samuelis) by its greenish and yellow antennae. The Bluebanded Hermit Crab has red antennae.

The Hairy Hermit Crab is also more inclined to use Olive shells while the Bluebanded is more often found in turban shells. This one is using a Purple Olive (Callianax biplicata) shell.

ID from frass present, per discussion here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/114576540

Very bright red galls made of distorted leaves clumped together. At the apexes of branches, as though they were a bud or a fruit. Host California Fuschia.

Several individual manzanita bushes were growing in a trailside clearing. This one was identified based on its location, lack of a burl, broad, round-based leaves that lack obvious hairs, and leaf-like bracts on the panicles.

A single patch of this parasitic plant was found growing on a Beach Sagewort (Artemisia pycnocephala ). This was identified by the plant's habitat and the structure of the flowers, specifically their bell -like shape and the round tips to the anthers.