Sky Oaks Field Station

As listed in: Scheid, Gerry and Paul Zedler. 1983. Vegetation and vascular flora at Sky Oaks Ranch. In W. Oechel (ed.), Sky Oaks Biological Field Station: Baseline Studies.

Vascular Flora

The vascular flora of the Sky Oaks property and of adjacent areas was determined by making collections of plant specimens for identification. This collecting was performed between the months of June to early September 1981, spanning the late spring and summer blooming seasons. The species names, both scientific and common, are after Munz (1974) and are listed in the following pages with notes on their relative abundance and distribution at Sky Oaks. Since the location of Chihuahua Valley is transitional between other ecological regions, a few species more common in areas influenced by coastal and desert climates are found on the list. This created an unusual richness of species composition, especially in the shrubs, of which 35 different species have been identified.

The list of plant species which follows has been arranged for convenience into major life form categories, e.g. tree, shrub, sub–shrub, etc. and in each group the families of the genera are also listed. Genera followed by "sp." indicates that the exact species has not yet been determined due to lack of flowers, fruits, etc. which are needed for proper identification, while genera followed by "c.f." indicates that the species listed is very similar to but not positively identified as such due to conflicts with distributional patterns for the species, or the complexity of the character separation from closely related species.

Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle family: Sambucus mexicana Presl. (Elderberry)
A few scattered trees near redwood house, roadside by Comb's Camp and Boden Field.
Fagaceae; Beech family: Quercus agrifolia Nee. var. oxyadenia (Torr.) J. T. Howell (coast live oak).
Most common tree, found along drainage, seeps, springs, roads and sometimes scattered in flat, open areas.

Quercus wislizenii A. DC. var. frutescens Englem (interior live oak).
Found locally in Comb's Camp area.
Juglandaceae - Walnut family: Juglans sp. (walnut).
Single tree found near Boden Field.
Oleacue - Olive family: Fraxinus velutina Torr. (Arizona ash).
A few isolated trees found in SW canyon along San Luis Hey River and near spring by pine house.
Pinaceae - Pine family: Pinus coulteri D. Don. (coulter pine).
Common coniferous tree found on upper mountain slopes and ridges surrounding property; a few scattered trees can be found in the lower canyons and washes.

Pinus edulis Engelm. (pinyon pine).
A single tree was found near a spring by an old dwelling south of the redwood house, most likely planted.
Plantanaceae - Sycamore family: Plantanus racemosa Nutt. (sycamore, plane tree)
A few isolated trees found in SW canyon along San Luis Rey River.
Salicaceae - Willow family: Populus fremontii WatS. (cottonwood).
Occasionally scattered along the drainages and large washes.
Tamaricaceae - Tamarisk family: Tamarix sp. (tamarisk).
A few scattered seedlings found in SW canyon along San Luis Rey River.

Agavaceae - Agave family: Yucca schidigera Roez lex Ortigies (Mohave yucca).
Occasionally found on rocky slopes.

Yucca whipplei Torr. (our lord's candle).
Widely scattered throughout the property, especially on rocky slopes.
Anacardiaceae - Sumac family: Rhus ovata Wats. (sugar bush).
A few scattered shrubs found in canyon running N-S from oak house.

Rhus trilobata Nutt. (squaw bush).
Common throughout property.
Asteraceae - Sunflower family: Artemisia tridentata Nutt. (basin sagebrush).
Commonly found in disturbed areas along road, drainages, cultivated areas, etc.

Artemisia sp.
A less shrubby form than A. tridentata, commonly found along washes, roads, drainages, etc.

Baccharis glutinosa Pers. (mule fat).
Scattered shrubs can be found along the major drainages and washes.

Senecio douglasii DC (groundsel, ragwort).
Occasional. Found along Boy Scout road and open area near redwood house.
Cactaceae - Cactus family: Opuntia basilaris Engelm. & Bigel. (beavertail cactus).
Scattered throughout property on rocky slopes, wooded areas, and occasionally in chaparral.

Opuntia littoralis (Engelm.) Ckll.(prickly pear).
Occasional on rocky slopes.

Opuntia parryi Engelm. (valley cholla).
This form is not as common as the other cacti. A few may be found on rocky slopes.
Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle family: Lonicera subspicata H. & A.(honeysuckle).
A common shrub in wooded areas and drainages often sprawling over other shrubs.
Ericaceae - Heath family: Arctostaphylos glandulosa Eastw. (manzanita).
Common shrub on upper slopes of surrounding mountains.

Arctostaphylos pringlei Parry.
Occurs with A. glandulosa on mountain slopes.

Arctostaphylos pungens HBK.
Scattered throughout valley bottom along washes, drainages and among the chaparral.
Fabaceae - Pea family: Amorpha fruticosa (Abrams.) Kearn. & Peeb. (false indigo).
Common on banks of SW canyon along San Luis Rey River.
Fagaceae - Beech family: Quercus dumosa Nutt. (scrub oak).
Occasional throughout property, usually growing in wooded areas, along washes, and sometimes scattered among the chaparral.
Garryaceae - Silk-tassel family: Garrya veatchii Kell. (silk-tassel bush).
Found mostly on mountain slopes and occasionally in valley chaparral.
Hydrophylaceae - Waterleaf family: Eriodictyon crassifolium Benth. (yerba santa).
A few scattered patches occur on the property-upper Johnson Canyon, near the large boulder east of the redwood house, and near the spring south of the redwood house.
Lamiaceae - Mint family: Salvia apiana Jeps. (white sage).
Found occasionally in disturbed areas near roads, clearings, etc.
Polygonaceae - Buckwheat family: Eriogonum deflexum Torr. (buckwheat).
Found on the California riding and hiking trail near Johnson Canyon.

Eriogonum fasciculatum Benth. (California buckwheat).
A fairly common shrub in open areas-disturbed sites, near edges of chaparral, wooded areas, etc.

Eriogonum wrightii Torr. ex Benth. (wild buckwheat).
Occurs with E. fasciculatum.
Rhamnaceae - Buckthorn family: Ceanothus greggii Gray (California lilac).
A common subdominant shrub of the chaparral; sometimes forms large patches.

Ceanothus leucodermis Greene.
Occurs as a subdominant shrub among the chaparral in the Comb's Camp area, the eastern part of the valley, and on the slopes of Bucksnort Mountain.

Rhamnus californica Esch. (coffeeberry).
Rhamnus ilicifolia Kell. (buckthorn).
Rosaceae - Rose family: Adenostoma fasciculatum H. & A. (chamise, greasewood).
Widespread shrub, co-dcminant in most areas of the valley chaparral with A. sparsifolium, sometimes forming large patches.

Adenostoma sparsifolium Torr. (red shank, ribbon bush).
Widespread shrub throughout the property, co-dominant with A. fasciculatum over most of the valley chaparral, sometimes forming large patches.

Cercocarpus betuloides Nutt. ex T. & G. (mountain mahogany).
Occasional subdominant in valley chaparral but mostly found on the upper slopes of the surrounding mountains.

Heteromeles arbutifolia M. Roem. (toyon, Christmas berry).
A few scattered shrubs were found in the canyon running N-S from the oak house.

Prunus ilicifolia (Nutt.) Walp. (holly-leaved cherry).
A few scattered shrubs occur in the Comb's Camp area and by the boulder east of the redwood house.

Rosa californica C. & S. (wild rose).
Common on moist places in canyons, drainages, near springs, etc.
Salicaceae - Willow family: Salix spp.
Common large shrubs in drainages, large washes, etc.
Saxifragaceae - Saxifrage family: Ribes malvaceum Sm. (chaparral currant).
Found in upper Johnson Canyon.

Asteraceae - Sunflower family: Eriophyllum confertiflorum (DC.) Gray (golden yarrow).
Common throughout property near or under trees and shrubs.

Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh.) Britt. & Rusby (matchweed).
Common in disturbed areas-along roads, grazed and cultivated areas, etc.
Fabaceae - Pea family: Astragalus douglasii (T. & G.) Gray (milkvetch, locoweed, rattleweed).
Common in open areas, disturbed sites and along less traveled roads.

Lathyrus laetiflorus Greene (pea).
Occasional, often twining over other shrubs.

Psoralea c.f. physodes Dougl.
Common, growing near shrubs in chaparral, along roads and upper banks of washes.
Lamiaceae - Mint family: Marrubium vulgare L. (horehound).
Several patches were found near the oak house.

Trichostemma lanatum Benth. (wooly blue-curls, romero).
Occasional-cleared areas on Boy Scout road, along less traveled roads and edges of the chaparral.
Malvaceae - Mallow family: Sphaeralcea ambigua Gray (desert hollyhock, desert mallow).
Most commonly found around disturbed areas-roadsides, cleared areas and dry, rocky slopes.
Nyctaginaceae - Four o'clock family: Mirabilis froebelii (Behr.) Greene (four o'clock).
Occasional along paved road near Boden Field and oak house area.
Scrophulariaceae - Figwort family: Mimulus longiflorus (Nutt.) Grant (monkey flower).
Scattered along steep rocky slopes of surrounding mountains.

Penstemon centranthifolius Benth. (scarlet bugler).
Common in dry disturbed areas-clearing by redwood house, along roads, etc.

Penstemon spectabilis Thurb. ex Gray.
Occasional in dry disturbed places-banks of washes, roadsides and cleared areas on Boy Scout road.
Solanaceae - Nightshade family: Datura meteloides A. DC. (thorn apple, jimsonweed) .
Scattered in gravelly, open places-along roadsides and fences and the Boden Field area.

Amaryllidaceae - Amaryllis family: Dichelostoma pulchella (Salisb.) Heller (blue dicks, wild hyacinth).
Occasionally found growing from beneath low shrubs.

Muilla maritima (Torr.) Wats.
Apiaceae - Carrot family: Tauschia arguta (T. & G.) Macbr.

Allium sp.
Found in upper Johnson Canyon.
Asclepiadaceae - Milkweed family: Asclepias californica Greene (milkweed).
Scattered along drainages, near springs, pine house areas, etc.
Asteraceae - Sunflower: Achillea millefolium L. (yarrow).
Found in canyons and woodland areas.

Cirsium californicum Gray (thistle).
Found along.roads, drainages and near springs.

Cirsium tioganum (Congd.) Petr.
An acaulescent form, not common.

Cirsium vulgare (Savi.) Ten. (bull thistle).
Usually found in moist places-Johnson Canyon, about springs, etc.

Erigeron foliosus Nutt. (fleabane).
Common; usually found under and around trees and shrubs.

Eriophyllum wallacei Gray.

Geraea canescens T. & G. (desert sunflower).
Occasional along roadside of Boy Scout road.

Gnaphalium californicum DC. (cudweed, everlasting).
Common along roads, wooded areas, dry washes, etc.

Helianthus gracilentus Gray (sunflower).
Occasional along roadsides and in cleared areas on Boy Scout road.

Solidago californica Nutt. (California goldenrod) .
Very common throughout property.
Boraginaceae - Borage family: Cryptantha intermedia (Gray) Greene.
Found in sandy, gravelly places-washes, banks of washes, etc.

Cryptantha micrantha (Torr.) Jtn.
Found in open, grassy areas, near roads, along washes, pine house area.

Cryptantha microstachys (Greene ex Gray) Greene.
Occasional along washes, roads, grassy places-Comb's Camp area and near pine house.

Pectocarya penicillata (H. & A.) DC.
Brassicaceae - Mustard family: Arabis pulchra Jones (rock cress).
Found in washes.

Cardamine gambellii Wats.

Erysimum ammophilum(?) Heller (wallflower). ( E. capitatum more likely)
Very common throughout property.

Lepidum virginicum L. (peppergrass).
Common in most wash bottoms and along roads.

Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum,(L.) Schinz. & Thell. (watercress).
Occasional in pools of water near springs and seeps.

Sisymbrium officinale (L.) Scop. (hedge mustard).
Very common throughout property, especially in open, disturbed areas and along roads.
Cistaceae - Rock rose family: Helianthemum scoparium Nutt.
Highly scattered.
Convolvulaceae - Morning glory family
: Convolyus arvensis L. (bindweed).
Found in Comb's Camp area.

Cuscuta sp. (dodder).
Golden-yellow parasite, found on buckwheat and lupine in Comb's Camp and Pinehouse areas.
Crassulaceae - Stone crop family: Dudleya abramsii Rose (live-forever).
Found on rocky slopes in upper Johnson Canyon near the escarpement.

Dudleya arizonica Rose.
Found on rocky ledges in SW canyon along the San Luis Rey River.
Cucurbitaceae - Gourd family: Cucurbita foetidissima HBK. (calabazilia).
Found in Boden Field.
Datiscaceae - Datisca family: Datisca glomerata (Presl.) Baill.
Occasional along washes and canyon bottoms.
Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family: Euphorbia albomarginata T. & G.(rattlesnake weed).
Very common, especially in open areas.
Fabaceae - Pea family: Lotus hamatus Greene (bird's foot trefoil).

Lotus humistratus Greene.

Lotus nevadensis Greene.
Forming dense mats about seeps.

Lotus oblongifolius (Benth.) Greene.
Found about seeps in Johnson Canyon.

Lotus purshianus (Genth.) Clem. & Clem.
Found in dry fields and washes, sometimes about springs.

Lotus strigosus (Nutt. in T. & G.) Greene.

Lupinus adsurgens E. Drew (lupine).
Occasional in drainages.

Lupinus bicolor Lindl.

Lupinus concinnus Agardh.

Lupinus sparsifloris

Trifolium wormskioldii Lehm. (clover).
Moderately common in moist areas about springs and seeps-Johnson Canyon and Comb's Camp.
Gentianaceae - Gentian family: Centaurium venustum (Gray) Rob. (canchalagua).
Common along drainages and washes.

Frasera parryi Torr. (green gentian).
Moderately common in open areas, near shrubs, washes, along less traveled roads, etc.
Geraniaceae - Geranium family: Erodium circutarium (L.) L�Her. (filaree, storksbill).
Very common in open, dry places throughout property.
Hydrophylaceae - Waterleaf family: Phacelia brachyloba (Benth.) Gray.

Phacelia distans Benth. (wild heliotrope).

Turricula parryi (Gray) Macbr.
Found on mountain slope near pine house.
Hypericaceae - St. John's wort family: Hypericum anagelloides Cham. & Schlecht. (tinker's penny).
Found in wet places growing as a more or less mat.

Hypericum formosum HBK. (St. John's wort).
Found in wet places growing erect-spring near pine house.
Lamiaceae - Mint family: Monardella lanceolata Gray.
Occasional-found in dry, disturbed places such as roads, banks of washes, etc.

Monardella nana Gray.
Found growing under manzanita along wash north of redwood hosue.

Salvia columbariae Benth. (chia).
Occasional in dry, sandy places-washes, near less traveled roads, etc.

Stachys rigida Nutt. ex Benth. (hedge nettle).
Found in low, moist places near seeps and springs-Johnson Canyon, Bomb's Camp area, and pine house area.
Liliaceae - Lily family: Calochortus concolor (Baker) Purdy (goldenbowl mariposa).
Found in upper Johnson Canyon.

Calochortus invenustus Greene.
Occasional in grassy or woodland open areas and along less traveled roads.
Onagraceae - Evening primrose family: Camissonia spp.

Epilobium glaberrium Barb. (willow herb).
Common in moist places-stream banks, about springs and seeps, washes, etc.

Oenothera californica Wats. (evening primrose).
Occasional in moist, sandy places-banks of Johnson Canyon, Comb's Camp area, washes, etc.

Oenothera hookeri T. & G.
Found near seep south of redwood house.

Zauschneria californica Pre3l. (California fuschia).
Found in wet places-Johnson Canyon, SW canyon along the San Luis Rey River.
Orobanchaceae - Broom-rape family: Orobanche parshii (Jeps.) Heckard (broom-rape).
Root parasite usually found on Adenostama, Arctostaphylos, Eriodictyon, etc.
Papaveraceae - Poppy family: Argemone munita Dur. & Rilg. (prickly poppy).
Occasional in dry, sandy places-along roadsides and washes.

Dicentra chrysantha (H. & A.) Walp. (golden ear drops).
Found on mountain slope, pine house area.
Plantaginageae - Plantain family: Plantago purshii R. & S. var. oblonga (plantain).
Found near spring south of redwood house.
Polemoniaceae - Phlox family: Eriastrum filifolium (Nutt.) Woot. & Standl.
Very common annual throughout property.

Linanthus androsaceus (Benth.) Greene.
Polygonaceae - Buckwheat family: Chorizanthe sp.
Found along the California riding and hiking trail.

Rumex californicus Rech. (dock, sorrel).
Commonly found in washes, stream beds, etc.
Portulacaceae - Purslane family: Claytonia perfoliata Donn. (miner's lettuce).
Found in shaded and vernally moist places-Comb-'s Camp area.
Ranunculaceae - Crowfoot family: Delphinium parishii Gray (larkspur).
Found in upper Comb's Camp among oaks and mulhenbergia grass.
Rubiaceae - Madder family: Galium andrewsii Gray (bedstraw, cleavers).
Very common, forms prickly mats beneath trees and shrubs.

Galium angustifolium Nutt.
Common;a more erect form than C. andrewsii, found growing under trees and shrubs.
Saururaceae - Lizard tail family: Anemopsis californica Hook. (yerba mansa).
Found in moist places-Johnson Canyon, about seeps, springs, etc.
Scrophulariaceae - Figwort family: Castilleja affinis H. & A. (paint brush).
Found in Comb's Camp area.

Castilleja foliolosa H. & A.
Found in area near pine house.
Castilleja stenantha Gray.
Common along stream bottoms, washes, near seeps, etc.

Collinsia concolor Greene.
Found in Comb's Camp area.

Cordylanthes nevinii Gray (bird's beak).
Very common throughout property-canyons, open areas, along roads, etc.

Mimulus bigelovii Gray (monkey flower).
Occasional in dry, sandy places-washes and open woodlands.

Mimulus guttatus Fisch. ex DC.
Common in moist places-canyons about seeps, springs, etc.

Scrophularia californica C. & S. var. floribunda (figwort).
Solanaceae - Nightshade family: Solanum xantii Gray.(nightshade).
Occasionally found in wash north of redwood house and in Comb�s Camp.

Nicotiana attenuata Torr. (tobacco).
Found in wash north of redwood house.
Typhaceae - Cattail family: Typha domengensis Pers. (cattail).
Found in thickets around ponds in Comb's Camp area, Rocking W road, pond NW of redwood house.
Urticaceae - Nettle family: Urtica holosericea Nutt. (nettle).
Found on banks of SW canyon along the San Luis Rey River.
Viscaceae - Mistletoe family: Phoradendron villosum (Nutt. in T. & G.) Nutt. (mistletoe).
Parasite found on oak species.

Poaceae - Grass family: Aristida longiseta Steud. (triple-awned grass).
Occasional in open areas and under oaks.

Avena fatua L. (wild oat).
Common along Boy Scout road and open woodland.

Avena sativa L. (cultivated oat).
Found in cleared areas on Boy Scout road.

Bromus carinatus H. & A. (California brome).
Occasional along less traveled roads, open woodlands under trees.

Bromus tectorum L. (cheat grass, downy brome).
Most common grass through property, especially in open, disturbed areas.

Elymus glaucus (Buckl.) (ryegrass).
Occasional.

Hordeum sp.

Melica imperfecta Trin. (melic).
Occasional-open woodlands.

Muhlenbergia rigens (Benth.) Hitchc.
Common perennial bunch grass; concentrated along drainages and washes; a few isolated meadows occur in Comb's Camp area and east part of valley.

Phleum pratense L. (Timothy).
Occasional.

Polypogon interruptus HBK. (beardgrass).
Occasional in wet places near seeps and springs.

Polypogon monspliensis (L.) Desf.
Common in moist areas-drainage bottoms, washes, etc.

Sitanion longifolium J.G. Sm. (squirreltail).
Widespread throughout property.

Sporobolis flexuosus (Thurb -) Rydh.(dropseed).
Occasional-open woodlands.

Stipa coronata Thurb. in Wats.(speargrass, needlegrass).
Common along roads, in cleared areas, open woodlands, etc.

Cyperaceae - Sedge family: Carex multicaulis Bailey (sedge).
Common in moist places about seeps, springs, canyon bottoms, etc.

Eleocharis parishii Britton (spike rush).
Found in and about springs, seeps, etc.

Scirpus microcarpus Presl. (bullrush, tule).
Occasional near springs, seeps, ponds, etc.

Equisetaceae - Horsetail family: Equisetum laevigatum A. Br. (horsetail, scouring rush).
Common in canyon bottoms near seeps, springs, washes, etc.

Juncaceae - Rush family: Juncus bufonius L. (toad rush).
Moist, open places-washes, seeps, etc.

Ptericaceae: Cheilenthes covillei Maxon. (lip fern).
Found in upper Johnson Canyon on rocky slopes and among rock piles near wash.

Pellea mucronata (DC. Eat) DC. Eat. (bird�s foot fern).
Dry, rocky places - middle and lower Johnson Canyon.

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