Identificaciones de silverpeak

Virgate Eriastrum (Eriastrum virgatum) Endemic to Monterey and San Benito counties. A.k.a. Wand Woollystar. Small, native, annual, rare and endangered plant in the Phlox (Polemoniaceae) family that grows in sandy soil, both coastal and inland. Leaves are woolly and thread-like. Stamens are white, 6-11 mm long, and exserted. Flowers are usually bright blue, funnel-shaped with a yellow tube and throat. Petals are sometimes bluish-purple with darker blue or purplish spot at base. Peak bloom time: May-June. The common name, Wand Woollystar comes from Latin, virgate meaning wand-like, and woollystar referring to the woolly bracts in the inflorescence. Conservation Status: Vulnerable (N3) in the United States.

Calflora (includes species distribution map in CA): https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=3068 and sightings in Monterey County: https://www.calflora.org/entry/observ.html?track=m#srch=t&lpcli=t&taxon=Eriastrum+virgatum&chk=t&cch=t&cnabh=t&inat=r&cc=MNT

Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=24599

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 246-247.

Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 168.

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 8.

Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/polemoniaceae-misc/

Link to confirmed observation nearby: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/162376995

Field Guide: Wildflowers of California, California Native Plant Society, 2024 (easy descriptions, exc. color photos, 600+ pages)

Flora of North America http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Main_Page (search by scientific name) (species not listed as of 4/24/24)

MISC "Eriastrum johnsonii, a new Eriastrum species: https://www.phytoneuron.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20PhytoN-Eriastrumjohnsonii.pdf" per INat dagowen

Leaf Terminology: Simple Diagrams/Definitions: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Leaf_morphology.svg

Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary, 2nd ed., by James G. Harris and M. Harris, 2022

Native American Ethnobotany: Traditional Native Plant Uses (U.S. plants for medicines, fibers, tools): http://naeb.brit.org/

Fort Ord A Love Story, Dorothy E. Denning, 2024 (1,000+ color photos)

5-minute video of Fort Ord Flora and Fauna, produced by David Styer: https://fortordcleanup.com/archives/2020/natural-treasures-of-fort-ord-90-amazing-photographs/

There always seems to be lots of interesting insect activity inside Calochortus flowers. 10-12 Mariposa lilies were growing on open, mountainous, grassy knoll near the coast. The area is an ancient sandstone marine terrace, elevation 280 ft. I don't know much about soil composition, but the soil appears to be hard packed, clay-like, and mostly covered with non-native grasses.

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Clay Mariposa Lily (Calochortus argillosus) Endemic to coastal central California, where it grows in hard clay soils in the local mountains, including south San Francisco Bay area and south-east side of Fort National Monument in Monterey County. It is a native, perennial monocot in the Lilies (Liliaceae) family and in the Mariposa Lilies (Calochortus) genus. It is similar in appearance to Butterfly Mariposa Lily (Calochortus venustus) but:

WITHOUT the pink-maroon blotch/spot at outer end of petal.
Nectaries at base of petals are more rectangular than square.
Hairs on nectary are long, dark purple-maroon, not short-yellow-hairy like C. venustus.

COMPARE to Butterfly Mariposa Lily (Calochortus venustus) observation in Pinnacles Nat'l Park: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/212065882

Calflora (includes species distribution map in CA): https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=1268
Calflora: lists 15 observations of Calochortus argillosus in Monterey County (as of 5/16/24): https://www.calflora.org/entry/observ.html?track=m#srch=t&lpcli=t&taxon=Calochortus+argillosus&chk=t&cch=t&cnabh=t&inat=r&cc=MNT

Jepson eFlora: Clay Mariposa Lily (Calochortus argillosus) (with botanical illustration):
"Stem: 40--60 cm, simple, bulblets present. Leaf: basal 20--30 cm, withering; cauline reduced upward. Inflorescence: +- umbel-like; flowers 1--4, erect; bracts 2--8 cm. Flower: perianth bell-shaped; sepals 20--40 mm; petals 20--40 mm, +- rounded, white to purple or pale yellow, central red spot within pale yellow, sparsely hairy; nectary 1 crescent or chevron, not depressed, densely short-hairy; filaments not dilated at base, anthers purple, pink to yellow-white. Fruit: erect, 4--6 cm, lanceolate. Ecology: Hard clay from volcanic or metamorphic rocks; Elevation: < 800 m. Peak bloom: April-June. Note: Flowers highly variable, generally showy."
Jepson eFlora: Clay Mariposa Lily (Calochortus argillosus) https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=76542

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016--not listed
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015--not listed.
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019--not listed
Monterey County Wildflowers, Trees & Ferns--not listed

See interesting discussion/comments regarding the Clay Mariposa Lilly growing in Monterey County by INat Morgan Stickrod, INat helianthelsa, and others:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/116355161
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49858393
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6185354

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Plants in the Lily (Liliaceae) family are perennial and most arise from bulbs, although some have rhizomes. "Common characteristics include large flowers with parts arranged in threes: with six colored or patterned petaloid tepals (undifferentiated petals and sepals) arranged in two whorls, six stamens and a superior ovary. The leaves are linear in shape, with their veins usually arranged parallel to the edges, single and arranged alternating on the stem, or in a rosette at the base." https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/47328-Liliaceae

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PLANTS (Annotated References)

Calflora (CA native plants, includes species distribution maps, plant communities, links) https://www.calflora.org/search.html
Jepson eFlora (CA native and naturalized plants with botanical illustrations, some videos) https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell ,2015 (2300+ species)
Monterey County Wildflowers (photographic guide of wildflowers, shrubs and trees) https://montereywildflowers.com/index/
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016 (950+ species with photos)
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California , David Styer, 2019 (includes peak bloom times)
Native American Ethnobotany: Traditional Native Plant Uses (U.S. plants for medicines, fibers, tools): http://naeb.brit.org/
Leaf Terminology: Simple Diagrams/Definitions: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Leaf_morphology.svg
Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary, 2nd ed., by James G. Harris and M. Harris, 2022.
Fort Ord A Love Story, Dorothy E. Denning, 2024 (1,000+ color photos, trail maps)
5-minute video of Fort Ord Flora and Fauna, produced by David Styer: https://fortordcleanup.com/archives/2020/natural-treasures-of-fort-ord-90-amazing-photographs/
Flora of North America http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Main_Page (search by scientific name)
Endangered Species Fact Sheets (85+ species in Monterey County) http://www.elkhornsloughctp.org/factsheet/

Clover, with wide spacing between the individual flowers, growing in a drying meadow that was recently very wet (near the picnic tables).

Pacific Grove Clover (Trifolium polyodon) Endemic and rare. Conservation Status: 1B.1 in California, US (CNPS). It is a native, rare/endangered, glabrous, annual clover WITH involucre, that grows in moist meadows, along streams, and in closed-cone pine forests. Involucre is glabrous and wheel-shaped with deep cuts. Calyx lobes are widely spaced apart (you can see between the lobes) and each lobe usually has 3 parts. Looking at flower head from above, you can see through the pink straight to the green bracts. Flowers are pink to white with pink tips. Peak bloom time: April. Leaves are widely elliptic to obovate with rounded tips and bristly margins. Despite the common name Pacific Grove Clover, it is found in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties, Del Monte Forest, Fort Ord National Monument, and in Pacific Grove.

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 172-173.

Jepson eFlora: "involucre wheel-shaped, generally well developed, cut to middle. Flower: calyx 4--7 mm, tube 10--many-veined, lobes +- <= tube, +- 3-parted; corolla 8--10 mm, pink to white with purple tip."
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=47159

Calflor (includes species distribution map) https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=8103

Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 123.

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 63

Monterey County Wildflowers– a photographic guide https://montereywildflowers.com/fabaceae-clover-inv/

Endangered Species Fact Sheets (85+ species in Monterey County) http://www.elkhornsloughctp.org/factsheet/ (species not listed)

Leaf Terminology: Simple Diagrams/Definitions: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Leaf_morphology.svg

Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary, 2nd ed., by James G. Harris and M. W. Harris, 2022.

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Trifolium (Clover) are in the Fabaceae (Pea) family. Trifolium has 3 leaflets per leaf and dense heads of small flowers. Clover are divided into 2 groups: those WITHOUT involucre and those WITH involucre (bracts at the base of the head which are fused to form a cup, bowl or wheel under the flower head).

David Styer regarding Trifolium: Fort Ord (National Monument), "which is roughly the size of San Francisco, has 33 species of wild Trifolium, 17 of which are native, and 5 of which are California endemics! . . ."
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, pp. 117-125.

Jepson eFlora Key to Trifolium: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_keys.php?key=10383
Jepson Taxon Page for Trifolium: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=10383

Irene's "working notes" for Trifolium in CCo, using Jepson eFlora Filter Keys:
Trifolium (Clovers) is divided into 2 groups: those WITH involucre (bowl-shaped cup holding the flowers),
and those WITHOUT involucre.
In CCo (Central Coast of CA) Jepson filter key search lists the following 12 Trifolium species WITH Involucre:
Jepson eFlora https://keybase.rbg.vic.gov.au/keys/show/4182?filter_id=55b17b2b4727a

Trifolium barbigerum
Trifolium depauperatum var. truncatum
Trifolium hydrophilum
Trifolium microdon
Trifolium obtusiflorum
Trifolium polyodon
Trifolium trichocalyx
Trifolium variegatum var. geminiflorum
Trifolium variegatum var. major
Trifolium variegatum var. variegatum
Trifolium willdenovii
Trifolium wormskioldii

20 WITHOUT Involucre in CCo:
Trifolium albopurpureum
Trifolium amoenum
Trifolium angustifolium
Trifolium arvense
Trifolium bifidum var. bifidum
Trifolium bifidum var. decipiens
Trifolium campestre
Trifolium cernuum
Trifolium ciliolatum
Trifolium dubium
Trifolium glomeratum
Trifolium gracilentum
Trifolium hirtum
Trifolium incarnatum
Trifolium macraei
Trifolium pratense
Trifolium repens
Trifolium resupinatum
Trifolium striatum
Trifolium vesiculosum

Calflora lists the following 4 native Trifolium in Monterey County that has an affinity to SERPENTINE soils:
Trifolium gracilentum, Pin point clover
Trifolium fucatum, Bull clover
Trifolium microcephalum, Small-headed Clover
Trifolium willdenovii, Tomcat clover
Calfora https://www.calflora.org/entry/psearch.html?namesoup=trifolium&countylist=MNT&serpentine=t&plantcomm=any&format=photos&orderby=taxon

Marsh Microseris growing in moist meadow that was recently much wetter. It has characteristic black hairs on phyllaries.

Marsh Microseris (Microseris paludosa) A.k.a. Marsh Scorzonella. Genus: Microseris (Silverpuffs). Native, perennial, uncommon plant that grows in wet, marshy meadows, vernal pools, and in moist grasslands. Endemic to California, where it has a scattered distribution between southern Mendocino and northern San Luis Obispo Counties, mainly near the coast. Single inflorescence sits on a long, erect or curving peduncle. The head may be nodding when in bud. Flowers 25-70, ligules yellow with maroon stripe on underside. Flowers close in early afternoon or windy mornings. Phyllaries are narrow, tapered, and not recurved, may have black hairs, +-mealy (hairs drying as minute white scales). Fruit is a spherical seed ball. Peak bloom time: April-June. Conservation Status: 1B.2 in California, US (CNPS).

CNPS Rare Plant Inventory: https://rareplants.cnps.org/Plants/Details/1968

Endangered Species Fact Sheets (85 species in Monterey County) http://www.elkhornsloughctp.org/factsheet/factsheet.php?SPECIES_ID=28

Calflora (with species distribution map in CA) https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=5480

Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=4159

Link to confirmed observation of Marsh Micoseris fruiting, with seeds: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/117932262

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 52-53.

Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 53.

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 320.

Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/asteraceae-silverpuffs/

Cal-IPC: Works to Stop the spread of Invasive Plants across California https://www.cal-ipc.org/plants/profiles/

Small clover, with a flat-bottomed involucre—that looks like a tiny “cupcake.”
Link to better photo/confirmed observation of Thimble Clover nearby: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/162200273

Thimble Clover (Trifolium microdon) A.k.a. Thimble Clover. Native, annual, puberulent small clover WITH involucre, that grows in open, moist or dry, generally disturbed areas. Involucre is flat-bottomed (like a cupcake) with long bristle-tipped bracts that nearly envelop the entire head of white to pale pink flowers. Peak bloom time: May.

Calflora (with species distribution map in CA): https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=8097

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 170-171.

Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=47130

Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 122

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 61

Monterey County Wildflowers (species not listed)

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Trifolium (Clover) are in the Fabaceae (Pea) family. Trifolium has 3 leaflets per leaf and dense heads of small flowers. Clover are divided into 2 groups: those WITHOUT involucre and those WITH involucre (bracts at the base of the head which are fused to form a cup, bowl or wheel under the flower head).

David Styer regarding Trifolium: Fort Ord (National Monument), "which is roughly the size of San Francisco, has 33 species of wild Trifolium, 17 of which are native, and 5 of which are California endemics! . . ."
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, pp. 117-125.

Jepson eFlora Key to Trifolium: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_keys.php?key=10383
Jepson Taxon Page for Trifolium: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=10383

Irene's "working notes" for Trifolium in CCo, using Jepson eFlora Filter Keys:
Trifolium (Clovers) is divided into 2 groups: those WITH involucre (bowl-shaped cup holding the flowers),
and those WITHOUT involucre.
In CCo (Central Coast of CA) Jepson filter key search lists the following 12 Trifolium species WITH Involucre:
Jepson eFlora https://keybase.rbg.vic.gov.au/keys/show/4182?filter_id=55b17b2b4727a

Trifolium barbigerum
Trifolium depauperatum var. truncatum
Trifolium hydrophilum
Trifolium microdon
Trifolium obtusiflorum
Trifolium polyodon
Trifolium trichocalyx
Trifolium variegatum var. geminiflorum
Trifolium variegatum var. major
Trifolium variegatum var. variegatum
Trifolium willdenovii
Trifolium wormskioldii

20 WITHOUT Involucre in CCo:
Trifolium albopurpureum
Trifolium amoenum
Trifolium angustifolium
Trifolium arvense
Trifolium bifidum var. bifidum
Trifolium bifidum var. decipiens
Trifolium campestre
Trifolium cernuum
Trifolium ciliolatum
Trifolium dubium
Trifolium glomeratum
Trifolium gracilentum
Trifolium hirtum
Trifolium incarnatum
Trifolium macraei
Trifolium pratense
Trifolium repens
Trifolium resupinatum
Trifolium striatum
Trifolium vesiculosum

Calflora lists the following 4 native Trifolium in Monterey County that has an affinity to SERPENTINE soils:
Trifolium gracilentum, Pin point clover
Trifolium fucatum, Bull clover
Trifolium microcephalum, Small-headed Clover
Trifolium willdenovii, Tomcat clover
Calfora https://www.calflora.org/entry/psearch.html?namesoup=trifolium&countylist=MNT&serpentine=t&plantcomm=any&format=photos&orderby=taxon

Seriously tiny Timwort growing in wet soil.

Timwort (Cicendia quadrangularis) A.k.a. American Microcala. Native, annual, small glabrous plant in the Gentian (Gentianaceae) family that grows less than 9cm (3.5 inches) tall in wet grassy places, especially around vernal pools. The yellow flower heads are only a few millimeters wide. The name quadrangularis describes the 4 points of the flower head (when viewed from above). Peak bloom time: April-June.

Calflora (with species distribution map) https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=2105

Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=19440

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 182-183.

Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 131.

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 352.

Monterey County Wildflowers– a photographic guide https://montereywildflowers.com/gentianaceae/

Clusters of Oneflower Broomrape, each 3 - 3.5 inches tall, growing along the trail mixed in with grasses, Goldfields, and California Saxifrage.

Oneflower Broomrape (Aphyllon purpureum) Formerly called Naked Broomrape (Orobanche uniflora) or Naked Broom Rape. It has a variety of names in different references. It is a native, small, pubescent, root-parasitic plant in the Broomrape (Orobanchaceae) family that grows 3.5–18cm (up to 7 inches) tall in moist soils. It is parasitic on members of sunflower and saxifrage families. There are no leaves on single stem that bears one long, tubular purple flower with orange filaments. Peak bloom time: April-July.

Monterey County Wildflowers:
"Naked Broomrape – Aphyllon purpureum (formerly Orobanche uniflora) grows in "moist places, parasitic on members of sunflower and saxifrage families. It is a true parasite, without photosynthetic leaves. It has 1-3 beautiful, small bluish-purple flowers, on pedicels 3–12 cm long. Most of the plant’s stem is underground. This species generally has pale purple (occasionally deep violet) to yellowish flowers.
[Note: All native California members of the Orobanche genus have been moved to the Aphyllon genus (see Jepson eFlora Revision 5, December 2017). It is now considered that A. uniflora is not found in California and that California plants previously treated as Orobanche uniflora did not belong to that species.]"
Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/orobanchaceae-xcastilleja/

Jepson eFlora with botanical illustration: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=103312

Calflora https://www.calflora.org/entry/observ.html?track=m#srch=t&lpcli=t&taxon=Aphyllon+purpureum&chk=t&cch=t&cnabh=t&inat=r&cc=MNT and CA distribution: https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=13529

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 110.

Flora of North America (still uses older name as of 3/29/24) http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Orobanche_uniflora_subsp._occidentalis

Tarweed with 8 petals and sticky-glandular buds that have a pleasant fruity smell, less than 12 inches tall, growing in sandy soil near the coast.

San Diego Tarweed (Deinandra paniculata) Synonyms: Grassland Tarweed, Deinandra increscens ssp. increscens, Hemizonia increscens increscens and Paniculate Tarplant (Calflora)
Conservation Status: Vulnerable. 4.2 in California, US (CNPS).
Native, annual, sticky, pleasantly fragrant plant in the Asteraceae family that grows 30-90 cm (up to 35 inches) tall in a coastal grasslands and foothills. Stems are often red. The typically 8 ray flowers are yellow. 11-32 disk flowers have black anthers. Some say Deinandra paniculata smells pleasantly fruity and floral, whereas Deinandra corymbosa, which it closely resembles, smells unpleasant and vinegary. Peak bloom time: July-October.

Good Discussions about the Deinandra paniculata in Monterey County (at Ft Ord National Monument)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61908019
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/131527957
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/134368531
Other confirmed obs. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/135879890
Another San Diego Tarweed I saw in Toro County Park: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/139381845
Good observation by Jon Rebman including a nice shot of the pappus (last photo) https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/120703715

Per Flora of North America: Deinandra paniculata "phenology: Flowering May–Nov. Habitat: Grasslands, openings in chaparral and woodlands, disturbed sites, often sandy soils. Elevation: 10–800 m. Annuals, 10–80(–150) cm. Stems ± solid. Leaves: (basal rosettes present at flowering in South Coast Ranges) proximal blades pinnatifid to toothed, faces hispid-hirsute and sometimes stipitate-glandular. Heads in paniculiform arrays. Bracts subtending heads usually overlapping proximal 0–1/2 of each involucre. Phyllaries ± evenly stipitate-glandular, including margins and apices, often with some non-glandular, non-pustule-based hairs as well. Paleae in 1 series. Ray florets (7–)8(–10); laminae deep yellow, 3–5(–6) mm. Disc florets 8–14(–15), all or mostly functionally staminate; anthers reddish to dark purple. Pappi of 6–12 oblong, fimbriate scales 1–2 mm. 2n = 24."
Flora of North America http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Deinandra_paniculata and http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Main_Page

Per Jepson eFlora: "Ray Flower: (7)8(10); corolla deep yellow, ray 3--7.5 mm. Disk Flower: 8--14(15), all or mostly staminate; anthers +- red to dark purple."
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=80177
Jepson Key to Deinandra https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_keys.php?key=77577

8 records on CalFlora in Monterey County as of 10/6/23. Calfora calls it Paniculate Tarplant:
https://www.calflora.org/entry/observ.html?track=o#srch=t&taxon=Deinandra+paniculata&cols=b&cc=MNT&chk=t&incobs=f&cch=t&cnabh=t&inat=r

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 78-79.
(species listed as Grassland Tarweed, Deinandra increscens ssp. increscens)

Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 39.
(species listed as Grassland Tarweed, Deinandra increscens ssp. increscens)

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 292.
(species listed as Grassland Tarweed, Deinandra increscens ssp. increscens)

GBIF: https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/3947745166
(Global Biodiversity Information Facility)

Monterey County Wildflowers– a photographic guide https://montereywildflowers.com/index/
(species not listed)

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NOT Deinandra corymbosa due to my specimen has up to 8 ray flowers, not 14–35 ray flowers

Coastal Tarweed (Deinandra corymbosa) Native, endemic in California, common, annual, glandular-sticky Deinandra that grows 0.6--10 dm (2.5-39 inches) tall in maritime chaparral, grassland, openings in scrub or woodland, sand dunes, and in disturbed soils. Upper leaves are linear and crowded below the inflorescence while the lower leaves are pinnately-lobed. Buds are sticky and spherical. Yellow flower heads are sticky-glandular, flat-topped, with 15–35 ray flowers, 24–70 disk flowers, and a shallow involucre. Anthers are red to dark purple. Peak bloom time: May-November. It is a sticky and strongly scented Tarweed. Some say the vinegary smell is unpleasant compared to the sweet, pleasantly scented San Diego Tarweed (Deinandra paniculata) that also grows nearby.

Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 39.

Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=77598

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 78-79.

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p.291.

Monterey County Wildflowers– a photographic guide https://montereywildflowers.com/asteraceae-sunflower2a/

5-minute video of Fort Ord Flora and Fauna: https://fortordcleanup.com/archives/2020/natural-treasures-of-fort-ord-90-amazing-photographs/

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NOT

Kellogg's Tarweed (Deinandra kelloggii) Anthers are yellow, not red to dark purple like Coastal Tarweed. (D. corymbosa). Deinandra kelloggii usually has 5 Ray flowers and 6 disk flowers. The 5 bright yellow petals each have 3 rounded "teeth." Peak bloom time: May-November. It grows in sandy or clay soils, grassland, openings in scrub or woodland, and disturbed sites. A.k.a. Kellogg's Spikeweed or Kellogg's Tarweed, it is a North American species of plant in the tarweed tribe within the (sunflower family). It is native to southern and central California (from Sonoma and Calaveras Counties south to San Diego County), Arizona (Pima County) and Baja California. Other Names: Hemizonia kelloggii.

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp.78-79.

Jepson's eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=79196

4 records of it in Monterey County on Calflora https://www.calflora.org/entry/observ.html?track=m#srch=t&lpcli=t&taxon=Deinandra+kelloggii&chk=t&cch=t&cnabh=t&inat=r&cc=MNT

Intricately beautiful blossoms on this native milkweed that is very attractive to many species of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, caterpillars, flies, aphids, lady beetles, and true bugs.

Links to insects observed on this Narrowleaf Milkweek plant:
Link to mating Small Milkweed Bugs: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/181862100
Link to Adult Monarch (Danaus plexippus): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/180633938
Link to Monarch Caterpillar (Danaus plexippus) https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/180721311
Link to Acmon Blue butterfly: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/181694809
Link to Western Honey Bee: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/181855108
Link to Convergent Lady Beetle: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/181838481
Link to Oleander Aphid: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/181859781
Link to Lady Beetle eating Oleander Aphid:
Link to Fiery Skipper butterfly observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/182200770

Milkweed (Genus Asclepias) is one of the only plants where Monarch Butterflies will lay its eggs. Tropical Milkweed, which is sold in most gardening centers, is not acceptable and can be toxic to the caterpillars.

Narrowleaf Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) Native, perennial plant in the Dogbane (Apocynaceae) family that grows in dry, disturbed, sandy, rocky and serpentine soils, dry drainage ditches, and along fire roads. Leaves are narrow, glabrous, opposite, and whorled in 3s or 5s. There are often smaller leaves in the axils. Flowers are similar to those of Woollypod Milkweed (Asclepias eriocarpa), but these appendages are more cup-shaped than hooded, and the horn is strongly exserted. Petals are pink/white. Fruits are erect, long and narrow, then split to release fluffy seeds. Peak bloom time: June-August. It is very attractive to pollinators, especially Monarch butterflies.
Indigenous people had many medicinal and other uses for this plant, including snake bite remedy.
8 traditional uses are described here: http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Asclepias+fascicularis

Native American Ethnobotany: A database of plants used as drugs, foods, dyes, fibers, and more by Native People of North America http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Asclepias+fascicularis and http://naeb.brit.org/

Temalpakh: Cahuilla Indian Knowledge and Usage of Plants, Lowell John Bean and K. Saubel, Malki Museum Press, 1972

Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=14375

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, p. 30-31.

Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p.27.

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 19.

Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/apocynaceae/

Turkey Mullein blooming in dry, sandy soil stream bed of seasonal El Toro Creek.

Turkey Mullein (Croton setiger) A.k.a Dove Weed. Native, annual, hairy plant in the Spurge (Euphorbia) family that grows in dry, open, often disturbed soils. Growth habit is prostrate with larger plants forming low mounds or tall mats up to 8 dm (up to 32 inches) wide. Hairs on stems and leaves are stellate (microscopically branched or star-shaped hairs). Leaves are pale gray-green, felty-hairy, and ovate with rounded tips. Flowers are creamy-white and small. Peak bloom time: July-August.
Herbage is toxic to livestock, but the seeds are attractive to wild turkeys, doves and other seed-eating birds. Indigenous people had many medicinal and other uses for this plant. 17 uses are described here: http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Croton+setiger

Native American Ethnobotany: A database of plants used as drugs, foods, dyes, fibers, and more by Native People of North America. http://naeb.brit.org/

Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=21159

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 150-151.

Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 104.

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 228

Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/euphorbiaceae/

Oregon Flora https://oregonflora.org/taxa/index.php?taxon=15601

Hedgenettle covered in morning dew, growing in a wet, receding vernal pool.

Bugle Hedgenettle (Stachys ajugoides) Native, perennial, soft-hairy plant in the Mint (Lamiaceae) family that grows 60-100cm (up to 39 inches) tall in moist places like vernal pools. Leaves are opposite, oblong with silky hairs, a wedge-shaped base and a rounded tip. Plant is similar in general appearance to the far more common Woodmint (Stachys bullata), but it has much paler flowers that are white to pale pink, with hairy calices. Flowers are in whorls of 3-6. Peak bloom time: April-June. There are several sub species.

On Fort Ord, this is a "vernal pool or pond-edge plant"
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 140.

Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=45338

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 196-197.

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 89.

Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/lamiaceae-mint/

Styer includes for For Ord: campestris and occidentalis, and a single record of californica.

For this area, he maps campestris.

The fruit is too large for occidentalis and californica. And the Corolla only partially wraps the fruit. This points to campestris.

Seriously tiny Timwort growing in wet soil in a grassy, clover-filled meadow.

Timwort (Cicendia quadrangularis) A.k.a. American Microcala. Native, annual, small glabrous plant in the Gentian (Gentianaceae) family that grows less than 9cm (3.5 inches) tall in wet grassy places, especially around vernal pools. The yellow flower heads are only a few millimeters wide. The name quadrangularis describes the 4 points of the flower head (when viewed from above). Peak bloom time: April-June.

Calflora (with species distribution map) https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=2105

Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=19440

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 182-183.

Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 131.

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 352.

Monterey County Wildflowers– a photographic guide https://montereywildflowers.com/gentianaceae/

Dwarf Orthocarpus (Triphysaria pusilla) COMPARED TO Triphysaria versicolor:

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Dwarf Orthocarpus (Triphysaria pusilla) A.k.a. Dwarf Owl's Clover or Little Owl's Clover. Native, hairy, hemi-parasitic plant in the Orobranchaceae (Broomrape) family that grows up to 20cm (8 inches) tall in grasslands, lawns, pastures, roadsides, edges of vernal pools, and woodlands . The foliage is green, turning reddish-brown. The tiny flowers are almost invisible to the naked eye, but under a hand lens, there is a pouch that is dark red on top with lower lips that are also dark red. Peak bloom time: March-April.

Link to confirmed observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/157013964

Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 158.

Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=47296

Calflora (with species distribution map) https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=8133

Flora of North America http://floranorthamerica.org/Triphysaria_pusilla

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 226-227.

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 111.

Monterey County Wildflowers– a photographic guide https://montereywildflowers.com/orobanchaceae-xcastilleja/

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COMPARED TO (less common)

Yellow-beak False Owl's-Clover (Triphysaria versicolor) A.k.a. Smooth Owl's Clover, or Yellow Owl's Clover, or Yellowbeak Owl's Clover. Native, green- to yellow-brown, generally glabrous, hemi-parasitic plant in the Orobanchaceae (Broomrape) family that grows 10--60 cm (up to 24 inches) tall.
There are 3 subspecies listed on Calflora. (The subspecies Triphysaria versicolor subsp. versicolor grows on Fort Ord) Triphysaria versicolor subsp. versicolor grows in grasslands, vernally moist seeps to dry grassy meadows, headlands, rock outcrops, and coastal prairies. Corolla is white fading to rose-pink with age, beak is white or rose pink, and the plant is purple-dotted. Peak bloom time: March-April.

Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 158.
(The subspecies Triphysaria versicolor subsp. versicolor grows on Fort Ord)

Link to confirmed observation of Triphysaria versicolor subsp. versicolor nearby: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2833685

Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=47297 and
Jepson eFlora Triphysaria versicolor subsp. versicolor https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=53282

Calflora (with Triphysaria versicolor distribution map) https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=8134
Calflora, Triphysaria versicolor subsp. versicolor https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=8136

Flora of North America http://floranorthamerica.org/Triphysaria_versicolor_subsp._versicolor

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, p. 225.

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016. (species not listed)

Monterey County Wildflowers– a photographic guide https://montereywildflowers.com (species not listed)