30 plants Commonly Found in and around San Elijo Lagoon

Most PHOTOS TAKEN BY Michael L. Charters, Sierra Madre, CA http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/photographsmainindex.html

Alkali Heath (Frankenia salina)

• Found in high marsh
• Pink summer blooms are insect pollinated
• Edges on small flat leaves are sometimes rolled giving the leaf a needle shape

Arroyo willow (Salix lasiollepsis)

• grows in riparian zone
• aspirin comes from bark
• flexible branches used to make baskets and huts

Black sage (Salvia mellifera)

• Found in coastal sage and chaparral
• Tiny seeds were gathered, ground, and made into meal
• “Mellifera” means “honey bearing”

Bladderpod (Isomeris

• Found along seashore bluffs as well as dry desert sands
• Characteristic disagreeable smell in leaf and blossom
• Fat pea pods are a prominent feature in fall-winter

Broom (Baccharis sarothroides)

• Grows in disturbed chaparral
• Once used for brooms, brushes, toothrbrushes
• Male and female flowers are on different plants

Buckwheat, California (Eriogonum fasciculatum)

• Common in dry uplands
• Blue butterfly especially likes pollen and nectar. Birds eat the seeds
• Tea brewed from leaves used to cure headache and stomach aches
  

Bulrush (Scirpus californicus)

• Mostly found in freshwater but tolerates brackish water
• Seeds, fruits, and stems important food source for mammals and birds
• Light footed clapper rail has adapted to habitat

Bush sunflower (Encelia californica)

• Found on coastal bluffs and slopes
• Flowers have bright yellow rays with brown centers
• Blooms from January-July, excellent nectar source for many insects

Cattail (Typha latifolia)

• Common in freshwater marshes in coastal California
• Blooms in June-July
• Leaves of cattails were made into mats by Indians

Chamise

• Signature plant of chaparral
• Nicknamed greasewood, burns fast and gives off a thick black smoke
• Tea from leaves was said to cure tetanus, rabies, and syphilis

Ceanothus, Wart-Stem (Ceanothus verrucosus)

• Coastal Chaparral and Sage scrub
• Sometimes called popcorn bush b/c of popcorn sound of seeds bursting in summer
• Washing with leaves relieved itching, especially from poison oak

Coastal goldenbush (Isocoma menziesii)

• Common in dry sandy slopes
• Blooms until late fall
• Typically last nectar source for insects, especially butterflies

Coast Prickly Pear (Opuntia littoralis)

• Pads and fruit of this cactus are edible
• Spines were used to apply tattoos
• Plant supports insect cochineal

Cordgrass (Spartina foliosa)

• Grows in low marsh – roots are bathed in salt water
• Male flowers have pollen, stigmas on female flowers catch pollen.
• Home to endangered bird, light footed clapper rail

Cottonwood (populis fremontii)

• Found in riparian habitats
• Deciduous growing to 70’
• Produces a lot of cottony seed litter

Deerweed (Lotus scoparius)

• Common shrub grows on dry disturbed habitat
• Red flowers fading to red after pollination
• Nitrogen-fixing (ba cteria in root change N in air into a form plants can use)

Dodder (Cuscuta californica)

• Absence of green shows a true parasite
• Parasitic on Sage, Buckwheat and Deerweed
• Also known as Love-vine, Devil’s Hair,

Witch Hair and Golden thread

Elderberry (Sambucus caerulea)

• Twigs and branches used to make flutes and whistles

• Late summer berries provide food supply for migrating birds, are also edible

• Tea was made from blossoms to treat fever, colds, flu and stomach disorders

Laurel Sumac (Rhus laurina)

• Indicator of frost-free climate
• Produces seeds for birds and mammals throughout the winter
• Relative of poison oak, some people react to it

Lemonade berry

• Abundant in coastal sage
• Thick waxy leaves
• Summer berries are coated with sticky substance that tastes like lemon

Monkey Flower, Coast (Diplacus puniceus)

• Can you see monkey face in the flower?

• Leaves are sticky and borne in pairs along the pale brown stems
• Tubular, red flowers attract hummingbirds

Mule Fat (Baccharis sp.)

• Found in coastal sage and chaparral
• Blooms all year, has fragrant root
• Thought to be favorite browse of livestock

Pickleweed (sarcocornia sp.)

· Found throughout salt marsh, salt accumulator, also called chicken claws

· Plant is edible and used in salads

· Home to endangered Belding’s Savanah Sparrow – birds nest and eat seeds.

Sagebrush (Artemisia californica)

• One of dominant plants in Coastal Sage
• Smells sagey, but is not related to sage
• Indians and early settlers used it as a flea repellant

Salt grass (Distichlis spicata)

· Grows over a wide area – from middle of salt marsh to wet salty inland places

· Salt excreter

· Endangered butterfly, the wandering skipper, lays eggs on salt grass leaves

Shoregrass (Monanthochloe littoralis)

• Found in high marsh, salt excreter
• Prickly and sharp leaf tips
• Produces seeds for birds and mammals

Spiny rush

• Found in coastal saltmarsh in brackish locales
• Juncus baskets made from plant, when bound tight can hold water
• Tips are very sharp, can be used as needle and thread

Tree Tobacco (Nicotiana glauca)

• Non-native from South America –not typically invasive here
• Long tubular yellow flowers can bloom year-round

• All plant parts are poisonous

Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)

• Found in coastal sage and chaparral
• Also called Christmas berry or CA Holly – Hollywood was named for this bush
• Berries are a favorite food for birds, foxes; were also eaten by Native Americans

Wild cucumber (Marah macrocarpus)

• Found in coastal sage and chaparral
• Also called manroot due to man-sized root, pulverized roots were used to stun fish
• Prickly fruits are inedible, but oil from seeds were believed to cure baldness