kvandevere's Identifications

Flowering interior live oak.

Interior Live Oak (Quercus wislizeni) Native Oak in the High-latitude Oaks (Quercus) Subgenus and in the Red Oaks (Lobatae) Section. It generally occurs in foothills, being most abundant in the lower elevations of the Sierra Nevada, but is also widespread in sand chaparral in the Pacific Coast Ranges of California. Leaves are mostly pliant and flat (not stiff and concave like Coast Live Oak, Quercus agrifolia), evergreen with smooth or spiny margins, dark green above and lighter below, and 1-4 inches long.
Mature acorn is slender, about 1.25 inches long, cup covers almost half the nut, and acorn matures in second year. Acorn diagram: http://floranorthamerica.org/File:FNA03_P83_Quercus_pg_453.jpeg.

Indigenous people had many uses for this plant, medicinally and as food. 23 traditional uses are described here: http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Quercus+wislizeni

Per Jepson eFlora: "Habit: Shrub 2--4(6) m or tree generally 10--22 m, evergreen; trunk bark furrowed, +- checkered, +- gray. Leaf: 2--5 cm; petiole 3--15 mm; blade generally oblong to elliptic or lanceolate, adaxially glabrous, shiny, generally dark green, abaxially glabrous, +- shiny, yellow-green, tip generally acute, abruptly pointed, margin entire to spine-toothed, rarely wavy. Fruit: cup 12--18 mm wide, 12--16 mm deep, cup-shaped to hemispheric, scales not tubercled, +- thin; nut 20--40 mm, cylindric-ovoid, ovoid, or +- obconic, distally acute to +- obtuse, shell woolly inside; mature in year 2."
Jepson eFlora: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=40780

There are 106 records of Interior Live Oak (Quercus wislizeni) in Monterey County (as of 5/21/24)(many of those on east side of Fort Ord): Calflora https://www.calflora.org/entry/observ.html?track=m#srch=t&lpcli=t&taxon=Quercus+wislizeni&chk=t&cch=t&cnabh=t&inat=r&cc=MNT

UC Oak Tree Species I.D. and Ecology, University of California: https://oaks.cnr.berkeley.edu/oak-tree-species-id-ecology/

Oaks of California by Bruce M. Pavlik, P. Muick, S. Johnson, and M. Popper, 1991, pp. 28-30. Acorns in Priofile: p. 45.

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 180-181.

Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 130.

Flora of North America: Acorn diagram: http://floranorthamerica.org/File:FNA03_P83_Quercus_pg_453.jpeg

Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/tree-fagaceae-quercus/

Quercus (Oak) are in the Beech (Fagaceae) family.
Those found in Monterey County are in three groups: Red (or Black) Oaks, Intermediate Oaks, and White Oaks. Red Oaks and Intermediate Oaks have acorns that generally mature over a 2 year period (Coast Live Oak is an exception to this rule). White Oaks have acorns that mature in a single season. Most Red Oaks and Intermediate Oaks are evergreen (California Black Oak being the exception). White Oaks may be either evergreen or deciduous. Hybrid forms are common. All oaks are monoecious, with conspicuous male flowers. Female flowers are found in the axils of the leaves near the tips of the new stems. https://montereywildflowers.com/tree-fagaceae-quercus/

Field Guide to Insects and Diseases of California Oaks, Swiecki, Tedmund J. and Bernhardt, Elizabeth, USDA, 2006

It looks different than our Fort Ord Woodland Stars, but it keys to the same species:

https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=31236

• Cauline leaves >= 1, alternate
• Hypanthium long-obconic, base acutely tapered to pedicel; ovary > 1/2-inferior
• Basal leaves lobed +- 1/2 or less to base; most proximal cauline leaf 3-lobed; petals white

The most basal cauline leaf is 3-lobed but also opposite. The more distal cauline leaves are alternate

COMPARISON of 2 Clarkias: Lewis' Clarkia (Clarkia lewisii) and Speckled Clarkia (Clarkia cylyndrica)

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Lewis' Clarkia (Clarkia lewisii) Native/endemic, annual, erect plant in the Evening Primrose (Onagraceae) family that grows < 5 dm (less than 20 inches) tall in coastal scrub, woodland, and maritime chaparral habitat. It is found only in Monterey and San Benito Counties. Nodding buds are characteristic. Individual flowers vary in appearance. Outer anthers are lavender and longer than the white, sometimes speckled inner anthers. Long, white stigma is exserted beyond anthers and often has a fuzzy-looking cross that looks like "+" at the tip. Sepals stay fused in 4's. Ring of hairs visible at rim, when looking down into flower (whereas in Speckled Clarkia (Clarkia cylindrica), the ring of hairs is below the rim). The 4 petals can be lavender or pink. Base of petals sometimes have tiny, dark pink speckles. The entire base of the petals is occasionally deep crimson, similar to Ruby Chalice Clarkia (Clarkia rubicunda), but the plant can be distinguished by the nodding buds, and the two different lengths of the filaments and colors of the anthers. Peak bloom time: May-July. Conservation Status: Vulnerable (N3) in United States (NatureServe).

Calflora (species distribution map in CA): https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=2197 and sightings in Monterey County: https://www.calflora.org/entry/observ.html?track=m#srch=t&lpcli=t&taxon=Clarkia+lewisii&chk=t&cch=t&cnabh=t&inat=r&cc=MNT

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 214-215.

Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=19585

Flora of North America http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Clarkia_lewisii

Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 152.

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 100.

Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/onagraceae-clarkia/

Leaf Shape and Arrangement diagrams: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Leaf_morphology.svg

Jepson eFlora: " erect, < 5 dm, puberulent or glabrous. Leaf: petiole < 7 mm; blade 2--5 cm, narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate. Inflorescence: axis in bud recurved at tip; buds pendent. Flower: hypanthium 1.5--4 mm, ring of hairs at rim; sepals staying fused in 4s, pink to red-purple; corolla bowl-shaped, petals 10--30 mm, fan-shaped, pink-lavender shading to white near middle, base purple-red or with a red line, often red-purple-flecked; stamens 8, filaments alike, outer anthers lavender, inner smaller, paler; ovary 4-grooved, stigma exserted beyond anthers. Ecology: Coastal scrub, woodland, chaparral"
Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=19585

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COMPARED TO

Speckled Clarkia (Clarkia cylyndrica) Both Lewis' Clarkia and Speckled Clarkia have nodding buds, but Speckled Clarkia Petal: base is bright purple-red, middle +- white, distally purple to pink-lavender.
Jepson eFlora: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=19573
"erect, < 6 dm, puberulent or glabrous. Leaf: petiole < 5 mm; blade 1--6 cm, linear to narrowly lanceolate. Inflorescence: axis in bud recurved at tip; buds pendent. Flower: hypanthium 2--7 mm, ring of hairs below rim; sepals staying fused in 4s, red-purple; corolla bowl-shaped, petals 10--35 mm, fan-shaped, base bright purple-red, middle +- white, distally purple to pink-lavender, middle and distally often red-purple-flecked; stamens 8, width of outer filaments +- 2 × inner, outer anthers lavender, inner smaller, paler; ovary 4-grooved, stigma exserted beyond anthers."

Calflora (species distribution map in CA): https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=2179

10-12 Mariposa lilies were growing on open, mountainous, grassy knoll near the coast. The area is an ancient sandstone marine terrace, elevation 280 ft. I don't know much about soil composition, but the soil appears to be hard packed, clay-like, and mostly covered with non-native grasses.

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Clay Mariposa Lily (Calochortus argillosus) Endemic to coastal central California, where it grows in hard clay soils in the local mountains, including south San Francisco Bay area and south-east side of Fort National Monument in Monterey County. It is a native, perennial monocot in the Lilies (Liliaceae) family and in the Mariposa Lilies (Calochortus) genus. It is similar in appearance to Butterfly Mariposa Lily (Calochortus venustus) but:

WITHOUT the pink-maroon blotch/spot at outer end of petal.
Nectaries at base of petals are more rectangular than square.
Hairs on nectary are long, dark purple-maroon, not short-yellow-hairy like C. venustus.

COMPARE to Butterfly Mariposa Lily (Calochortus venustus) observation in Pinnacles Nat'l Park: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/212065882

Calflora (includes species distribution map in CA): https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=1268
Calflora: lists 16 observations of Calochortus argillosus in Monterey County (as of 5/21/24): https://www.calflora.org/entry/observ.html?track=m#srch=t&lpcli=t&taxon=Calochortus+argillosus&chk=t&cch=t&cnabh=t&inat=r&cc=MNT

Jepson eFlora: Clay Mariposa Lily (Calochortus argillosus) (with botanical illustration):
"Stem: 40--60 cm, simple, bulblets present. Leaf: basal 20--30 cm, withering; cauline reduced upward. Inflorescence: +- umbel-like; flowers 1--4, erect; bracts 2--8 cm. Flower: perianth bell-shaped; sepals 20--40 mm; petals 20--40 mm, +- rounded, white to purple or pale yellow, central red spot within pale yellow, sparsely hairy; nectary 1 crescent or chevron, not depressed, densely short-hairy; filaments not dilated at base, anthers purple, pink to yellow-white. Fruit: erect, 4--6 cm, lanceolate. Ecology: Hard clay from volcanic or metamorphic rocks; Elevation: < 800 m. Peak bloom: April-June. Note: Flowers highly variable, generally showy."
Jepson eFlora: Clay Mariposa Lily (Calochortus argillosus) https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=76542

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016--not listed
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015--not listed.
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019--not listed
Monterey County Wildflowers, Trees & Ferns--not listed

See interesting discussion/comments regarding the Clay Mariposa Lilly growing in Monterey County by INat Morgan Stickrod, INat helianthelsa, and others:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/116355161
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49858393
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6185354

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Plants in the Lily (Liliaceae) family are perennial and most arise from bulbs, although some have rhizomes. "Common characteristics include large flowers with parts arranged in threes: with six colored or patterned petaloid tepals (undifferentiated petals and sepals) arranged in two whorls, six stamens and a superior ovary. The leaves are linear in shape, with their veins usually arranged parallel to the edges, single and arranged alternating on the stem, or in a rosette at the base." https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/47328-Liliaceae

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PLANTS (Annotated References)

Calflora (CA native plants, includes species distribution maps, plant communities, links) https://www.calflora.org/search.html
Jepson eFlora (CA native and naturalized plants with botanical illustrations, some videos) https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell ,2015 (2300+ species)
Monterey County Wildflowers (photographic guide of wildflowers, shrubs and trees) https://montereywildflowers.com/index/
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016 (950+ species with photos)
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California , David Styer, 2019 (includes peak bloom times)
Native American Ethnobotany: Traditional Native Plant Uses (U.S. plants for medicines, fibers, tools): http://naeb.brit.org/
Leaf Terminology: Simple Diagrams/Definitions: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Leaf_morphology.svg
Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary, 2nd ed., by James G. Harris and M. Harris, 2022.
Fort Ord A Love Story, Dorothy E. Denning, 2024 (1,000+ color photos, trail maps)
5-minute video of Fort Ord Flora and Fauna, produced by David Styer: https://fortordcleanup.com/archives/2020/natural-treasures-of-fort-ord-90-amazing-photographs/
Flora of North America http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Main_Page (search by scientific name)
Endangered Species Fact Sheets (85+ species in Monterey County) http://www.elkhornsloughctp.org/factsheet/

Link to confirmed observation of Santa Lucia Bushmallow (Malacothamnus lucianus) nearby: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/217216364

Link to Chimney Bee pollinator observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/216841845

Santa Lucia Bushmallow (Malacothamnus lucianus) is an Endemic plant that grows in interior valley foothills of Monterey County. A.k.a. Arroyo Seco Bushmallow. Synonym: Malacothamnus palmeri var. lucianus. Native, uncommon, fire-follower plant in the Mallow and Hibiscus (Malvaceae) family that grows 1–2.5 m (up to 8ft) tall in Chaparral and Cismontane woodland. Peak bloom time: April-June.
Conservation Status: 1B.2 in California, US (CNPS)

Monterey County Wildflowers: (as of 5/19/24)
"This has typical bush mallow flowers, pale pink and bowl-shaped, generally in a head-like cluster. It has leaf-like bracts. Leaves are pale to gray-green, densely stellate-hairy on both surfaces. A Monterey County endemic, this is known largely from the area around the Indians and towards Arroyo Seco."

Monterey County Wildflowers: https://montereywildflowers.com/malvaceae/
(calls it Arroyo Seco Bush Mallow – Malacothamnus palmeri var. lucianus)

Calflora (includes species distribution map in CA): https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=13679

CNPS Rare Plant Inventory: https://rareplants.cnps.org/Plants/Details/1071

Jepson eFlora: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=84610
(author INat Keir Morse)

INaturalist Project: Bush Mallows - The Genus Malacothamnus https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/bush-mallows-the-genus-malacothamnus

"Malacothamnus lucianus is distinguished from all other species in the genus by the combination of a capitate to subcapitate inflorescence and relatively long glandular trichomes. Malacothamnus lucianus is distinguished from both Malacothamnus palmeri and Malacothamnus involucratus by having many rays of the stellate trichomes on the stem being 1–3 mm long and many of the glandular trichomes being 0.3-1.4 mm long. Conversely, in Malacothamnus palmeri and Malacothamnus involucratus most rays of the stellate trichomes on the stem are less than 1 mm long and the glandular trichomes are less or equals 0.1 mm long. Malacothamnus lucianus also often has somewhat of a rancid odor, which hasn't been recorded in Malacothamnus palmeri and Malacothamnus involucratus." https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1196428-Malacothamnus-lucianus

Native American Ethnobotany: Traditional Native Plant Uses (U.S. plants for medicines, fibers, tools): http://naeb.brit.org/ (no uses listed for this species)

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PLANTS (Annotated References)

Endangered Species Fact Sheets (85+ species in Monterey County) http://www.elkhornsloughctp.org/factsheet/
Calflora (CA native plants, includes species distribution maps, plant communities, links) https://www.calflora.org/search.html
Jepson eFlora (CA native and naturalized plants with botanical illustrations, some videos) https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell ,2015 (2300+ species)
Monterey County Wildflowers (photographic guide of wildflowers, shrubs and trees) https://montereywildflowers.com/index/
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016 (950+ species with photos)
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California , David Styer, 2019 (includes peak bloom times)
Native American Ethnobotany: Traditional Native Plant Uses (U.S. plants for medicines, fibers, tools): http://naeb.brit.org/
Leaf Terminology: Simple Diagrams/Definitions: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Leaf_morphology.svg
Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary, 2nd ed., by James G. Harris and M. Harris, 2022.

Flora of North America http://beta.floranorthamerica.org/Main_Page (search by scientific name)

CNPS Rare Plant Inventory: https://rareplants.cnps.org/Home/

CNPS Calscape--7934+ Native CA Plants for Gardens: https://calscape.org

Mesa Brodiaea (Brodiaea jolonensis) Endemic in California coastal counties. A.k.a. Jolon Brodiaea or Chaparral Cluster-Lily. This native, uncommon plant is noted for violet staminodes that are longer than the stamens. It grows 5-15 cm (up to 6 inches) tall in grassland and foothill woodland. It is similar in color to Dwarf Brodiaea, but grows taller and has violet staminodes. The anthers are white with a V-shaped notch. It is common in the Fort Hunter Leggett/The Indians area, although it is also found in counties farther south. Peak bloom time: April-June.

Jepson eFlora (with botanical illustration): https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=16146

Calflora (include species distribution map in CA): https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=1179

Monterey County Wildflowers: https://montereywildflowers.com/themidaceae/

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PLANTS (Annotated References):

Endangered Species Fact Sheets (85+ species in Monterey County) http://www.elkhornsloughctp.org/factsheet/
Calflora (CA native plants, includes species distribution maps, plant communities, links) https://www.calflora.org/search.html
Jepson eFlora (CA native and naturalized plants with botanical illustrations, some videos) https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/
Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell ,2015 (2300+ species)
Monterey County Wildflowers (photographic guide of wildflowers, shrubs and trees) https://montereywildflowers.com/index/
Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016 (950+ species with photos)
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California , David Styer, 2019 (includes peak bloom times)
Native American Ethnobotany: Traditional Native Plant Uses (U.S. plants for medicines, fibers, tools): http://naeb.brit.org/
Leaf Terminology: Simple Diagrams/Definitions: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Leaf_morphology.svg
Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary, 2nd ed., by James G. Harris and M. Harris, 2022.

Manzanita with young fruits and no burl.

Link to a confirmed, flowering Pointleaf Manzanita (Arctostaphylos pungens) observation in March: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/151969503

Pointleaf Manzanita (Arctostaphylos pungens) A.k.a. Mexican Manzanita. Native, erect shrub without a burl, that grows 1-3m (up to 10ft) tall on rocky slopes and ridges, chaparral, and conifer forests. Stems are sparsely short-nonglandular-hairy. Red brown bark is smooth and has NO burl at base of trunk. Leaves are bright or dark green, elliptic to lance-elliptic, with acute tip. Flowers are white to pink, urn-shaped, and hang in pendulous clusters. Peak bloom time: February-March. Indigenous people used the plant medicinally to treat kidney, prostate, gallbladder, and urinary tract infections. 20+ medicinal and other uses are described here: http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Arctostaphylos+pungens
A. Pungens is one of two Arctostaphylos species that grows in Pinnacles National Park, the other is A. glauca (Big Berry Manzanita). Link to A. glauca observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/151971738

Calflora (includes species distribution map in CA): https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=602

Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=13973

Field Guide to Manzanitas: California, North America, and Mexico, 2nd edition. M.E. Kauffmann, T. Parker, and M. Vasey, p. 121.

Native American Ethnobotany: A database of plants used as drugs, foods, dyes, fibers, and more, by native Peoples of North America: http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Arctostaphylos+pungens

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 223.

Monterey Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/ericaceae-arctostaphylos/

Baja California Plant Field Guide, Jon P. Rebman, Norman C. Roberts, 3rd. ed, 2012, pp. 227-228.

Key to Arctostaphylos: Jepson eFlora: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_keys.php?key=9173
Taxon Page: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=9173

Comparisons of Arctostaphylos in Fort Ord:
Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, pp. xvii, xix, xx, 101.
(Pointleaf Manzanita not listed)

There were interesting insects crawling around inside the Lupine flower. Link to Green Lacewing larva: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/217208398

Harlequin Lupine (Lupinus stiversii) Native, annual, uncommon, sparsely hairy plant in the Legumes (Fabaceae) family that grows 1-5 dm (up to 20 inches) tall in sandy/gravelly soil, in open clearings, chaparral, foothill woodland, and in yellow pine forests. The multi-colored inflorescence has a yellow banner, rose-pink wings, and a whitish keel. The keel is ciliate on both margins, from the middle to the claw. Peak bloom time: April- June.

Jepson eFlora (with botanical illustration): https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=32090

Calflora (includes species distribution map in CA): https://www.calflora.org/app/taxon?crn=5216

Monterey County Wildflowers: https://montereywildflowers.com/fabaceae-lupine-ann/

Leaf Shape and Arrangement diagrams: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Leaf_morphology.svg

Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary, 2nd ed., by James G. Harris and M. W. Harris, 2022.

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Lupine (genus Lupinus) are in the Pea (Fabaceae) family. They are nitrogen fixers and they help sequester carbon in the soil. "The Pea family has 5-petaled flowers, consisting of a wide upper banner petal, two wing petals, plus two lower petals which are fused to form a boat-shaped keel. Many produce heads or spikes, consisting of multiple individual flowers (examples are lupines and clovers). The seed pod is generally a “legume”; a long, flattish pod, swollen by the seeds, and splitting lengthwise along both the top and bottom.
Most lupines have distinct clusters of flowers in spikes, sometimes short, sometimes quite tall. Leaves are typically palmately compound, with leaflets ranging from very narrow to broad. It is useful to note whether the flowers are in whorls around the stem. It can also be critical to look at the keel, to see the pattern of hairs. Some are ciliate on both the top and bottom of the keel; some have hairs only near the claw (base), others only near the tip." https://montereywildflowers.com/fabaceae-lupine-per/

Pictorial Guide to Some Characteristics Needed for Lupine Identification http://tchester.org/plants/analysis/lupinus/identification.html

Key to Lupinus: Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_keys.php?key=9370
Taxon Page for Lupinus: https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=9370

INaturalist Project: Lupines of California https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/lupines-of-california

Lupine I.D. Tips and Links by INat yerbasanta :
"Reveal and photograph the keel petal (hidden within the wings) to document the hairs (if any) on the upper and lower surface along the entire length.
Keel image: https://tchester.org/plants/analysis/lupinus/pix/lupinus_formosus_g4_17_crop_70_label.jpg
Guide to documenting lupines in more detail (including calyx, banner spots, etc): https://tchester.org/plants/analysis/lupinus/identification.html#fig_1_caption