"Native" wildflower mixes as weeds on Fort Ord?

Is Gilia tricolor a weed on Fort Ord?

A theory among a few of us (e.g. @nelsoid) is that there's some kind of imported wildflower seed mix behind some aberrant occurrences on Fort Ord. Some of the species are arguably weeds; native elsewhere in California but not to Fort Ord (*). And some are likely native to Fort Ord, but improbable in the degree to which they co-occur exactly where the presumed non-natives are (+).

Right under the Parker Flats BLM entrance sign to the National Monument, there's:

• Gilia tricolor ssp. tricolor (*) (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/218552292)
• Gilia capitata abrotanifolia (*) (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/218552359)
• Trifolium ciliolatum (*?)
• Collinsia heterophylla (+)
• Layia platyglossa (+)

Parker Flats north of west edge:

• Gilia tricolor ssp. tricolor (*) (large patch: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/215165152)
• Gilia capitata (*) (according to @nelsoid)
• Collinsia heterophylla (+)
• Layia platyglossa (+)

Parker flats, south of west edge:

• Gilia tricolor (*) (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/215165256)

Parker Flats / south of Veterans Cemetery:

• Gilia tricolor (*) (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/215779206)
• Trifolium ciliolatum (*?)

CSUMB Main Campus between 6th and 7th in weedy areas after building demolition in 2017-2018 (and subsequent spray mulching from a truck that I'm pretty sure I remember seeing in progress):

• Gilia capitata ssp. abrotanifolia (*) (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/214292898)
• Trifolium ciliolatum (+) (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111994834)
• Layia platyglossa (+)
• Collinsia heterophylla (+)

Other species could potentially be added to these lists, but they are a bit more common locally, and thus are harder to pin down as being associated with a wildflower seed mix e.g.: Castilleja exserta, Eschscholzia californica, Clarkia purpurea. Henrik might also add Nemophila menziesii to the list, over by CSUMB East Campus.

Just based on personal experience, I feel fairly comfortable saying that the Fort Ord non-natives include G. tricolor and G. capitata, although I haven't researched this specific question in detail yet. I'm less certain about Trifolium ciliolatum. The first CCH record anywhere near Fort Ord appears to be from 201), by Randy Morgan, on Pilarcitos Canyon Rd (perhaps in the "Clover Patch"?).

@nelsoid @aparrot1 @hkibak @yerbasanta

Publicado el mayo 27, 2024 01:21 TARDE por fredwatson