General Subjects > Blogs and Diaries
Plants, Ecosystems, Climate - Northern California 2023
MarcR:
Robert,
This is a very interesting and informative thread. Thank you for posting :D
Beautiful location!
Robert:
Hi Marc,
I am happy that you are enjoying this thread. The last posting is part of a “warm up” to a series of articles for the IRG Journal. Of course, these articles will be much more detailed, in depth and present some of my latest research findings.
MarcR:
Robert,
I look forward to reading them.
Robert:
Trail Plant, Adenocaulon bicolor, is a very common species in lower elevation Transition Zone forests. This perennial Asteraceae species forms rosettes of attractive triangular foliage. The inflorescence consists of panicle-like clusters of inconspicuous white disciform flowers.
Cardamine californica is found in seasonally moist shaded forest. Like Galanthus, it is a harbinger of spring, generally the first species seen blooming in the late winter. At lower elevations it is not unusual to see a few plants in bloom in late December or early January. Cardamine californica is a perennial species, with new growth emerging from a tuber-like rhizome once the autumn rains begin. The white flowers are relatively small but can be produced abundantly and be quite attractive.
As I traveled down the trail, most of the Cardamine plants that I observed had set seed and had well developed seed pods. I found this single specimen with some late flowers. This plant is pictured growing with Viola sheltonii (right). The two species are common companions at this elevation.
The annual species, Claytonia parviflora ssp. grandiflora was growing abundantly along my route. This species appears to have benefited greatly from the fire and the reduction of competition from other plants on the forest floor. The plants were blooming profusely and with its relatively large flowers, the large drifts of plants were very impressive.
As I neared the bottom of the canyon and Camp Creek, the forest began to open and transition to a mix of Canyon Live Oak, Quercus chrysolepis, and chaparral species such as White Leaf Manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida ssp. viscida. Many of the exposed rocky ledges were still saturated with water. Such habitats at this elevation are frequently colonized by dense stands of Erythranthe guttata. When in bloom the whole colony of Erythranthe can become a dense carpet of yellow flowers. I have even observed seasonally wet north facing vertical cliff faces densely covered with blooming plants. It can be an amazing sight.
Robert:
Here Erythranthe guttata is seen growing perched on a moist rock.
Nearby slopes and screes with less moisture were carpeted with Diplacus kelloggii. Diplacus kelloggii is an annual species that can create an impressive display when in bloom.
At this elevation the annual Erythranthe bicolor can frequently share space with Diplacus kelloggii. The light-dark contrast of the two species blooming together is very dramatic.
In drier habitats along this rocky slope Dipterostemon capitatus ssp. capitatus was in bloom. These plants are growing near the high elevation limit for this species. I have observed this colony for decades and the population seems quite stable. In these drier habitats they frequently share space with Gilia capitata ssp. pedemontana, and the rock ferns Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata and Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis.
As I descended farther into the canyon I started to enter a forest dominated by Canyon Live Oak, Quercus chrysolepis. The fire completely skipped this mature climax forest of evergreen trees. Before entering this forest I observed that the fire to various degrees had damaged many of the oaks. Where the tops of the trees had been completely burned out the trees were sprouting vigorously from the base. Such trees will mature into distinctive multi-trunked trees. It is often possible to estimate the date of the last fire through an area by noting this type of growth and estimating the age of the trees.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version