Lemon lilies (Lilium parryi) are beginning to bloom in Southern California’s mountains.
The California Native Plant Society lists these showy, fragrant flowers as being rare, threatened, or endangered in California.
From today’s Three Points – Cooper Canyon – Mt. Waterman loop.
Some related posts: Lemon Lily, Three Points – Mt. Waterman Loop
Like Turricula (Poodle-dog bush)*, California bluebell (Phacelia minor) has been shown to cause a contact dermatitis similar to poison oak. The results from one study suggest the “dermatotoxic potential” of California bluebell approaches that of poison ivy/oak and that it is more likely to produce a reaction than Turricula.
Fortunately California bluebell doesn’t appear to be as prolific a fire follower as Turricula and is a much smaller plant.
The photograph is from a trail run in May.
*The taxonomic name for Turricula parryi (Poodle-dog bush) has changed to Eriodictyon parryi. The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California, Second Edition (2012) has returned Turricula to the genus Eriodictyon, as originally described by Gray. According to the Wikipedia entry for Turricula (April 11, 2012), “… molecular phylogenetic analysis carried out by Ferguson (1998) confirms that Turricula should be treated as a separate genus within a clade (Ferguson does not use the term “subfamily”) that includes Eriodictyon, and also the genera Nama and Wigandia; Eriodictyon is the genus to which Turricula is closest in molecular terms, and is its sister taxon.” I use “Turricula” and “Poodle-dog bush” interchangeably as a common name.
Related post: Contact Dermatitis from Turricula parryi – Poodle-dog Bush and these additional posts.
The bright yellow flower above is bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida). A fire follower, it’s blooming extensively in the recovering chaparral along the Gabrielino Trail between Red Box and Switzer Picnic area.
March snow and rain seem to have helped this Spring’s wildflower bloom. Since March 1 the Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) at nearby Clear Creek has recorded 6.5 inches of rain and NWS data shows Opids Camp has recorded 6.64 inches of rain. More rain and snow is forecast in the mountains this week.
Here are a few additional wildflower photos from this morning’s run in the Station Fire burn area:
 Baby Blue Eyes |
 Chaparral Clematis |
 Wavy-leaved Paintbrush |
I would not have guessed these alien-looking thistle plants along the XTERRA race course in Black Mountain Regional Park are a wild form of the cultivated globe artichoke.
In its description of the artichoke thistle, the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) notes the Mediterranean plant was found by Charles Darwin in South America in 1833. It had already escaped cultivation and spread over “several hundred square miles” of the Argentine pampas. Surveys in California from 1860 to 1864 also reported the artichoke as having escaped cultivation. The plant was reported in a pasture in San Diego County as early as 1897.
Another surprise was that the pretty yellow and white flowers along some sections of the course appear to be another Mediterranean plant known as crown daisy or chop-suey greens (Glebionis coronaria). If so, the plant is reportedly used as an ingredient in a number of Asian recipes.
Note: Great care is required when identifying and using wild food plants. Even if the plant is positively identified there can be contamination from herbicides and pesticides, and other potential problems. There may also be conservation concerns, especially if the plant is uncommon, rare or endangered. For example see Safety Guidelines For Edible Wild Food Plants and Foraging Guidelines.
A canyon sunflower (Venegasia carpesioides) in a grove of oaks in Upper Las Virgenes Canyon.
From last Sunday’s run to Cheeseboro Canyon from the Victory Trailhead of Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve (Ahmanson Ranch).
From a New Year’s morning run on the Garapito Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains, near Los Angeles.
Some related posts: Deadly Nightshade, Douglas’ Nightshade