Plants Of San Marcos Vernal Pool Area (1)
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Interesting Plants Of The San Marcos Vernal Pool Area (1)

Brown puffs (Stebbinsoseris heterocarpa), formerly Microseris heterocarpa, an interesting member of the sunflower family. A closely related species is called silver puffs (Uropappus lindleyi syn. Microseris lindleyi). Unlike the weedy dandelions (Taraxacum) and salsify (Tragopogon), this is a native species in California. Click on photo to see another view of this interesting seed head..

Hesperevax sparsiflora var. sparsiflora, a seldom seen, inconspicuous member of the sunflower family (Asteraceae) that grows in the San Marcos Vernal Pools area. The tiny heads have 5 exposed, minute disk flowers. Additional flowers are embedded in the wooly bracts below.

Other Rare Plants Of The San Marcos Vernal Pool Area

Selaginella cinerascens
Pillularia americana
Isoetes orcuttii

The Endemic Mesa Mint (Pogogyne ambramsii) Of Miramar Mesa

Long-beaked filaree (Erodium botrys).

On 2 March 2017 most of leaves of Erodium botrys were colored bright red.

Weed's Mariposa Lily

Weed's Mariposa Lily (Calochortus weedii var. weedii)

Tarweeds

Graceful tarweed (Holocarpha virgata ssp. elongata). This species can be distinguished from another tarweed in the area (Hemizonia fasciculata) by its upper leaves which are truncate (red arrow) and terminated by open pit glands.

Hemizonia fasciculata: A sticky, annual California tarweed that grows in dry coastal foothills and valleys. It belongs to the same subtribe (Madiinae) as the striking silver sword. The upper leaves are not truncate as in Holocarpha virgata. In addition, the flowers are in dense clusters compared with Holocarpha virgata.

Tarweed Relatives Of The Silver Sword Alliance

Golden Stars

Golden stars (Bloomeria crocea) .

Blue-Eyed Grass

Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum).

Interesting Plants Of The Santa Rosa Plateau Vernal Pools

Navarretia prostrata at the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve.

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