Anza-Borrego: Plant Guide To California Riding and Hiking Trail: Culp Valley to Visitor Center

This is a working list, about which we make no guarantees at all until we officially release it. Use at your own risk!

Introduction and Explanation of Plant Trail Guides
Introduction
Highlights of This Trail
Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time
Botanical Trip Reports
The Plant Guide
Comments On Specific Species
Introduction

This trail begins in Culp Valley near mile 9.2 on S22, the Montezuma Highway. To reach the trailhead, coming from Ranchita, look for milepost 9.0 on the right, and then look for an unpaved dirt road on your left. You'll first see a dirt clearing on the left which does not have a road connected to it; the unpaved dirt road will follow shortly. Beware: the entrance to this dirt road is hard to see approaching from the west, since the entrance to the dirt road angles to the northwest. If you have to turnaround on S22 to go back to the dirt road, be extremely careful in making the U-turn on S22, since this is the passing-lane section on the other side, and cars are going at high speed.
There are numerous places to park along this road that won't block traffic on the road. There is a very wide area immediately on entering the dirt road, but if you park on the left there, you'll force others to drive on the gullied part of the road. There are two other parking areas on the left immediately after that. The first parking area is opposite the trailhead used by this guide, which is at the shaded sign mounted on a rock pillar, which is titled Chaparral ... and the cycle of fire.
The guide then travels farther north on this dirt road, through a primitive campground with more parking areas and a toilet, to a junction with the California Riding and Hiking Trail. The guide then travels down that Trail to the 2600 foot saddle, which is a possible turn-around point if you are not doing a car-shuttle.
The guide continues on to the Visitor Center. In order to avoid duplication in our database, and to give proper species abundance estimates for people doing the trail just to the saddle, we do the following. The estimate of the number of plants and number of locations for each species gives only the numbers appropriate before that saddle. After the saddle, the guides gives the numbers from the other guide. (This paragraph is probably way too confusing; most people can just ignore it.)
This guide has only been done twice in January 2006, and so is incomplete for most annuals and some perennials. The estimates of the abundance for the annuals and perennials in the guide might be severe underestimates of what would be found in February and March of a good rainfall year.
Highlights of This Trail

Number of Unique Taxa On This Trail

The following histogram gives the number of trails in our database that contain each taxon on this trail up to the 2600 foot saddle. We had 93 trails in our database when this histogram was made; 9 of those trails, including this one, are in Anza-Borrego State Park. A number of "1" means the taxon has only been found only on this list, among all the trails in our database; numbers of "9" or smaller may indicate taxa found only in this area. Many of the other Anza-Borrego Trails are very incomplete.

Number of Trails
Containing A Taxon Number Of Taxa
On This Trail % of Taxa
On This Trail
1 9 13%
2 10 14%
3 9 13%
4 8 12%
5 6 9%

1-5 42 61%
6-10 9 13%
11-15 4 6%
16-20 4 6%
21-25 5 7%
26-30 1 1%
31-35 0 0%
36-40 0 0%
41-45 0 0%
46-50 0 0%
51-55 2 3%
56-60 2 3%
Total Taxa 69 100%

We found 13 additional taxa not in the above table, since they have not been fully identified yet. The unidentified ones are marked with ?, sp or ssp in the id? column in the guide, and have no entries in the #all column.
Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time

The following table gives the dates the trail was walked and taxa recorded. After each visit, the table gives the total number of taxa on the list and the breakdown of the taxa without positive identification, up to the 2600 foot saddle. See Explanation of Plant Trail Guides to understand the symbols below.

Visit Date Visit # # taxa # "?" # "sp" # "~" # "ssp"
1/17/2006 1 76 3 12 12 2
1/29/2006 2 82 3 11 12 1

Botanical Trip Reports

The Plant Guide

The mileages are derived from a GPS recording of this trail, but some sections were not accurately GPS'd. Mileages should be accurate to ~0.02 to 0.05 miles.
Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page (8 pages)

mile s # id Common Name Latin Name #here #all
0.00 r Begin guide at shaded sign mounted on a rock pillar: "Chaparral ... and the cycle of fire"
0.00 b 1 *Asian mustard Brassica tournefortii 20 / 3 7
0.00 r 2 *red brome Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens 99 / 9 55
0.00 b 3 fringed amaranth Amaranthus fimbriatus 99 / 9 5
0.00 b 4 *redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium 99 / 9 57
0.00 b 5 California buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium 99 / 9 19
0.00 r 6 *ripgut brome Bromus diandrus 1 / 1 53
0.00 r 7 ~ *Mediterranean schismus Schismus barbatus 10 / 1 24
0.00 r 8 coyote melon Cucurbita palmata 1 / 1 1
0.00 r 9 sp baby annual lupine Lupinus sp. 10 / 1
0.00 r 10 slender buckwheat Eriogonum gracile var. incultum 30 / 9 1
0.00 r 11 sp baby popcorn flower Cryptantha sp. 99 / 9
0.00 r 12 matchweed Gutierrezia sarothrae 99 / 9 11
0.00 b 13 Coulter's spiderling Boerhavia coulteri 40 / 5 2
0.00 r 14 slender wreathplant Stephanomeria exigua ssp. deanei 20 / 4 16
0.01 r 15 gander's cholla Opuntia ganderi 30 / 9 6
0.01 l 16 rattlesnake weed Chamaesyce albomarginata 10 / 2 11
0.01 l ~ (apricot mallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua)
0.02 l 17 wire-lettuce Stephanomeria pauciflora var. pauciflora 20 / 9 8
0.02 l 18 red-gland spurge Chamaesyce melanadenia 99 / 9 2
0.02 r 19 catclaw Acacia greggii 40 / 9 4
0.02 l 20 brittlebush Encelia farinosa 99 / 9 8
0.03 l 21 desert mistletoe Phoradendron californicum 20 / 9 2
0.03 l (short-winged deerweed, Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus; wishbone plant, Mirabilis bigelovii var. retrorsa; Parish's viguiera, Viguiera parishii)
0.04 r 22 sugar bush Rhus ovata 30 / 9 26
0.04 r 23 papillate dodder Cuscuta californica var. papillosa 5 / 1 5
0.04 r 24 Parish's viguiera Viguiera parishii 50 / 9 4
0.04 r 25 short-winged deerweed Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus 30 / 9 24
0.06 r Sign: "No shooting, fire in metal container only"
0.07 r (lotebush, Ziziphus parryi var. parryi)
0.08 r 26 sp annual suncup Camissonia sp. 5 / 1
0.08 r 27 cheesebush Hymenoclea salsola var. salsola 30 / 9 6
0.08 Y-jct.; sign: "Pena Spring (left); "Campground (right)"; stay right
0.09 r 28 sp datura Datura sp.⁺ 1 / 1
0.09 r 29 ~ narrowleaf goldenbush Ericameria linearifolia 50 / 9 3
0.16 r 30 ~ lotebush Ziziphus parryi var. parryi 30 / 9 1
0.16 r 31 beady lipfern Cheilanthes covillei 20 / 9 1
0.16 r sp (Parish's needlegrass?, Achnatherum parishii?)
0.17 r 32 boundary goldenbush Ericameria brachylepis 20 / 9 2
0.21 l First campsite, marked with two short wood posts
0.22 l 33 linear-leaved stillingia Stillingia linearifolia 4 / 2 2
0.22 r Jct. road to toilets
0.23 r Sign: "No wood gathering"
0.26 Y-jct.; stay left
0.27 r (very large jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis)
0.29 Jct. maze of roads; stay straight
0.29 (California juniper, Juniperus californica; Mohave yucca, Yucca schidigera)
0.31 l Sign: "Culp Valley Vista Point 0.6 mi"
0.39 r 34 ~ short-bannered coastal lotus Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus 30 / 9 5
0.39 r 35 chinch-weed Pectis papposa var. papposa 20 / 2 4
0.39 r 36 wishbone plant Mirabilis bigelovii var. retrorsa 20 / 9 4
0.40 r 37 sp annual Eriastrum Eriastrum sp. 99 / 9
0.40 r 38 beavertail cactus Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris 10 / 9 9
0.40 r 39 Pima rhatany Krameria erecta 20 / 9 3
0.41 l 40 California juniper Juniperus californica 10 / 9 2
0.41 l 41 ~ common phacelia Phacelia distans 5 / 1 11
0.41 Trail branches into three paths; stay straight
0.43 l 42 ~ apricot mallow Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua 1 / 1 3
0.44 r 43 desert scrub oak Quercus cornelius-mulleri 20 / 9 1
0.44 l 44 sp Parish's needlegrass? Achnatherum parishii? 50 / 9
0.48 r 45 Mohave yucca Yucca schidigera 20 / 9 7
0.60 Jct. California Riding and Hiking Trail; sign: "Scenic Overlook"; go right
0.61 l (definite apricot mallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua)
0.62 Y-jct.; go right (left goes to minor overlook with a western bernardia, Bernardia myricifolia; white mugwort, Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. albula; and desert dudleya, Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides)
0.62 l Sign: "Vista Point (ahead)"
0.68 l "Turtle Rock" at 8 o'clock
0.69 l 46 birch-leaf mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides 10 / 9 19
0.69 Faint Y-jct; stay right and ascend
0.71 l 47 ~ desert prickly-pear Opuntia phaeacantha 10 / 3 3
0.73 r 48 white mugwort Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. albula 20 / 9 1
0.74 l 49 Vasey's sage Salvia vaseyi 10 / 9 4
0.79 r 50 sweetbush Bebbia juncea var. aspera 20 / 9 11
0.81 r 51 San Felipe dogweed Adenophyllum porophylloides 10 / 9 4
0.81 l 52 desert agave Agave deserti 20 / 9 4
0.81 r 53 small-seeded spurge Chamaesyce polycarpa 20 / 9 17
0.84 l 54 western bernardia Bernardia myricifolia 3 / 3 2
0.85 Vista Point
0.85 r 55 ~ desert dudleya Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides 2 / 2 2
0.85 r 56 Engelmann's hedgehog cactus Echinocereus engelmannii 5 / 5 5
0.85 r 57 fivewing spiderling Boerhavia intermedia 99 / 9 4
0.92 r Jct. use trail to local peak on right
0.99 Y-jct.; stay left
0.99 r Jct. use trail to local peak on right
1.03 r 58 desert lotus Lotus rigidus 40 / 9 3
1.03 r 59 ? unk opposite-leaf per like penstemon ? /
1.03 r 60 sp baby plants like six-weeks three-awn Aristida adscensionis? /
1.05 b 61 shrubby brickellia Brickellia frutescens 10 / 5 2
1.06 b 62 sp pincushion flower Chaenactis sp. 10 / 1
1.08 Switchback left.
1.09 l 63 odora Porophyllum gracile 2 / 2 8
1.09 Trail turns right 90°
1.10 l ? (wild-cucumber?, Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus?)
1.10 l definite six-weeks three-awn Aristida adscensionis /
1.10 r (white-flowering currant, Ribes indecorum)
1.12 l 64 ~ California suncup Camissonia californica / 22
1.12 l 65 chia Salvia columbariae 20 / 2 23
1.12 l 66 sp annual phacelia Phacelia like minor 5 / 1
1.13 r 67 desert apricot Prunus fremontii 20 / 9 3
1.16 r Saddle; Jct. use trail marked with a tall post
1.17 r 68 ~ white-flowering currant Ribes indecorum 1 / 1 24
1.18 r (bigberry manzanita, Arctostaphylos glauca)
1.19 r 69 Borrego bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. borregoense 10 / 9 1
1.20 r 70 bigberry manzanita Arctostaphylos glauca 2 / 2 10
1.20 r 71 ? mustard family like jewelflower Caulanthus sp.? 1 / 1
1.21 r 72 sp coast-range melic? Melica imperfecta? 10 / 1
1.23 r 73 ~ little-leaved chaparral beard-tongue Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla 3 / 2 1
1.26 r 74 Anderson's desert-thorn Lycium andersonii 4 / 3 2
1.26 r Jct. use trail to ridge
1.42 r Check if these specimens are Eriogonum davidsonii.
1.50 b Check this probable L. andersonii specimen when it blooms to make sure it is not desert-thorn, Lycium brevipes var. brevipes
1.63 l 75 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. nodosum 10 / 3 3
1.65 r 76 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 5 / 1 56
1.75 r 77 California spear-leaved brickellia Brickellia arguta var. arguta 10 / 3 1
2.05 b 78 desert plantain Plantago ovata 99 / 9 5
2.08 l 79 sp pepper-grass Lepidium sp. 10 / 1
2.14 r ssp (California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus)
2.19 l 80 jojoba Simmondsia chinensis 1 / 1 3
2.46 l 81 California trixis Trixis californica var. californica 1 / 1 5
2.48 l 82 New Mexico ditaxis Ditaxis neomexicana 1 / 1 3
2.60 Saddle; elevation ~2580 feet (785 m). This is a possible turnaround point if you are not doing a one-way car-shuttle hike. Plant guide now gives species abundance for the rest of the trail, and there may be more specimens of the previously-given species. The first occurrence of species going down has not yet been determined; this guide now gives just the location from the guide going uphill.
2.62 r (teddy-bear cholla, Opuntia bigelovii)
2.72 Enter wash
2.76 Local low point on trail
2.76 Local high point on trail
2.85 Leave wash
2.89 Join wash of this major side drainage
2.89 l 83 desert sage Salvia eremostachya 1 / 1 1
2.91 l 84 woolly Indian paintbrush Castilleja foliolosa 1 / 1 6
3.02 Local low point on trail
3.07 Local high point on trail
3.24 r Check for different shrub with opposite linear short leaves
3.36 r Check for different spike-moss
3.51 b 85 spearleaf Matelea parvifolia 2 / 1 1
3.79 r 86 *Bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon⁺ 1 / 1 34
3.80 l 87 sp per grass like fountain grass ? 1 / 1
3.82 Switchback left
3.87 l 88 ? dead annual like silver puffs ? 1 / 1
3.95 r Check if this nearly-dead plant is a shrubby Eriogonum
3.95 Switchback right.
3.97 Switchback left.
4.00 Switchback right.
4.01 Switchback left.
4.01 l 89 sp heliotrope phacelia? Phacelia crenulata? 1 / 1
4.09 Saddle; elevation ~1540 feet (470 m); jct. with old portion of trail that descends to S22 at milepost 16.0; curve left to Hellhole Canyon
4.10 Cross small drainage
4.10 l 90 star-flowered bedstraw Galium stellatum var. eremicum 3 / 3 2
4.10 r (spearleaf, Matelea parvifolia)
4.11 r 91 California barrel cactus Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus 10 / 9 3
4.12 l Weird gander's cholla, Opuntia ganderi, with one erect main stem with spreading branches, and another prostrate stem with the usual erect strict branches
4.13 Trail forks, take left branch; trail now travels in a more open area; (right branch just goes to interestingly-looking rocks to right?)
4.15 l Old termite tube at base of dead brittlebush, Encelia farinosa.
4.18 r 92 Arizona spurge Chamaesyce arizonica 1 / 1 2
4.24 r 93 ayenia Ayenia compacta 5 / 3 2
4.28 l 94 ~ muilla Muilla maritima 1 / 1 8
4.30 Switchback left.
4.30 l 95 big galleta Pleuraphis rigida 5 / 3 5
4.31 Switchback right.
4.34 Trail turns right 90°
4.36 Cross small drainage
4.37 r Jct. steep use trail to fencepost and USGS Benchmark; trail elevation ~1330 feet (405 m)
4.39 l (Vasey's sage, Salvia vaseyi)
4.39 r 96 Coulter's lyrepod Lyrocarpa coulteri var. palmeri 5 / 3 2
4.39 r 97 broom twinberry Menodora scoparia 2 / 1 1
4.40 l (sweetbush, Bebbia juncea var. aspera)
4.40 l 98 rattlesnake weed Daucus pusillus 10 / 2 30
4.40 l 99 white rhatany Krameria grayi 2 / 2 1
4.42 r 100 ? many unk baby annuals
4.45 l 101 threadstem Pterostegia drymarioides 2 / 1 31
4.46 l 102 ~ white fiesta flower Pholistoma membranaceum 10 / 1 4
4.48 r (Parish's viguiera, Viguiera parishii)
4.48 Check for new annual species
4.52 r (California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus)
4.54 r 103 ~ Mojave ragwort Senecio mohavensis 50 / 9 4
4.56 Jct. ridgeline between two side-drainages; small peak ahead on ridge has a good view and many Mentzelia; trail goes to left of small peak
4.59 r (Pima rhatany, Krameria erecta)
4.59 r 104 sp intermediate larkspur? Delphinium parishii ssp. subglobosum? 10 / 3 3
4.59 r 105 woolly lipfern Cheilanthes parryi 30 / 9 3
4.59 r 106 desert spike-moss Selaginella eremophila 50 / 9 2
4.60 r 107 fish-hook cactus Mammillaria dioica 10 / 9 2
4.62 r 108 small-flowered fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii 20 / 2 9
4.64 l 109 ~ bracted blazing star Mentzelia involucrata 5 / 3 2
4.64 l 110 California barrel cactus Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei⁺ 1 / 1 2
4.73 r 111 California fagonia Fagonia laevis 10 / 9 4
4.76 b Leave huge field of Chaenactis
4.76 r 112 ~ brittle spineflower Chorizanthe brevicornu var. brevicornu 5 / 1 4
4.76 b 113 downy dalea Dalea mollissima 3 / 1 3
4.77 r 114 thick-leaved ground cherry Physalis crassifolia 20 / 9 4
4.81 r 115 sp pebble pincushion? Chaenactis carphoclinia var. carphoclinia? 99 / 9
4.81 l 116 rock hibiscus Hibiscus denudatus 10 / 5 3
4.81 r 117 ? baby annual like suncup Camissonia sp.? /
4.82 l 118 sp combseed Pectocarya sp. 20 / 2
4.82 l 119 yellow-head Trichoptilium incisum 20 / 4 1
4.82 r 120 narrowleaf ditaxis Ditaxis lanceolata 50 / 9 4
4.83 r Sign: "California Riding and Hiking Trail"
4.83 r 121 Nealley three-awn Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi 3 / 3 3
4.83 l (Old termite tube at base of dead plant; small-flowered fiddleneck, Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii)
4.84 Jct. main Hellhole Canyon Trail; elevation ~950 feet (290 m); cross it and continue straight ahead to pick up this trail again
4.88 Cross small wash with 2 branches
4.88 l 122 desert trumpet Eriogonum inflatum 1 / 1 3
4.94 Jct. old road; now horse trail
5.00 r 123 ocotillo Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens 5 / 5 6
5.08 b Enter forest of teddy-bear cholla, Opuntia bigelovii
5.12 r 124 desert lavender Hyptis emoryi 50 / 9 5
5.16 Cross wash
5.18 r Dead ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens next to trail; live one off-trail
5.19 l 125 teddy-bear cholla Opuntia bigelovii 50 / 9 3
5.23 r Dead desert trumpet, Eriogonum inflatum
5.29 Cross faint old road (or buried water pipe) heading toward the hills from the water tanks to left
5.34 Trail jogs left
5.50 l 126 creosote bush Larrea tridentata 40 / 9 5
5.53 l 127 desert twining snapdragon Antirrhinum filipes 4 / 4 2
5.56 r 128 desert thornapple Datura discolor 5 / 5 3
5.56 r 129 Guadalupe cryptantha Cryptantha maritima 99 / 9 2
5.57 Cross small wash
5.58 l Dead desert lavender, Hyptis emoryi
5.60 Trail curves left
5.61 l 130 ssp western tansy-mustard Descurainia pinnata 5 / 1
5.62 l 131 chuparosa Justicia californica 40 / 9 5
5.63 Trail curves left
5.64 Trail curves right
5.64 l 132 small-flowered poppy Eschscholzia minutiflora ssp. minutiflora 10 / 2 5
5.65 l 133 desert dandelion Malacothrix glabrata 5 / 2 5
5.65 l 134 Emory's rock-daisy Perityle emoryi 20 / 9 4
5.66 l 135 burroweed Ambrosia dumosa 40 / 9 7
5.66 b 136 indigo bush Psorothamnus schottii 50 / 9 6
5.66 l Sign: "Riding and Hiking Trail (ahead); No Dogs Past This Point"
5.66 b 137 sp Nemacladus sp. 99 / 9
5.66 End guide at signed trailhead on southeast corner of Visitor Center Parking Lot; elevation ~835 feet (255 m).

Comments On Specific Species

Datura sp.. There is a single dead plant here. The seeds are tan, which would key to D. wrightii, but the plant looks annual, like D. discolor. We'll wait for a bloom before giving a definite id.

Number of Trails Containing A Taxon	Number Of Taxa On This Trail	% of Taxa On This Trail
1	9	13%
2	10	14%
3	9	13%
4	8	12%
5	6	9%

1-5	42	61%
6-10	9	13%
11-15	4	6%
16-20	4	6%
21-25	5	7%
26-30	1	1%
31-35	0	0%
36-40	0	0%
41-45	0	0%
46-50	0	0%
51-55	2	3%
56-60	2	3%
Total Taxa	69	100%

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
1/17/2006	1	76	3	12	12	2
1/29/2006	2	82	3	11	12	1

mile	s	#	id	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00	r			Begin guide at shaded sign mounted on a rock pillar: "Chaparral ... and the cycle of fire"
0.00	b	1		*Asian mustard	Brassica tournefortii	20 / 3	7
0.00	r	2		*red brome	Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens	99 / 9	55
0.00	b	3		fringed amaranth	Amaranthus fimbriatus	99 / 9	5
0.00	b	4		*redstem filaree	Erodium cicutarium	99 / 9	57
0.00	b	5		California buckwheat	Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium	99 / 9	19
0.00	r	6		*ripgut brome	Bromus diandrus	1 / 1	53
0.00	r	7	~	*Mediterranean schismus	Schismus barbatus	10 / 1	24
0.00	r	8		coyote melon	Cucurbita palmata	1 / 1	1
0.00	r	9	sp	baby annual lupine	Lupinus sp.	10 / 1
0.00	r	10		slender buckwheat	Eriogonum gracile var. incultum	30 / 9	1
0.00	r	11	sp	baby popcorn flower	Cryptantha sp.	99 / 9
0.00	r	12		matchweed	Gutierrezia sarothrae	99 / 9	11
0.00	b	13		Coulter's spiderling	Boerhavia coulteri	40 / 5	2
0.00	r	14		slender wreathplant	Stephanomeria exigua ssp. deanei	20 / 4	16
0.01	r	15		gander's cholla	Opuntia ganderi	30 / 9	6
0.01	l	16		rattlesnake weed	Chamaesyce albomarginata	10 / 2	11
0.01	l		~	(apricot mallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua)
0.02	l	17		wire-lettuce	Stephanomeria pauciflora var. pauciflora	20 / 9	8
0.02	l	18		red-gland spurge	Chamaesyce melanadenia	99 / 9	2
0.02	r	19		catclaw	Acacia greggii	40 / 9	4
0.02	l	20		brittlebush	Encelia farinosa	99 / 9	8
0.03	l	21		desert mistletoe	Phoradendron californicum	20 / 9	2
0.03	l			(short-winged deerweed, Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus; wishbone plant, Mirabilis bigelovii var. retrorsa; Parish's viguiera, Viguiera parishii)
0.04	r	22		sugar bush	Rhus ovata	30 / 9	26
0.04	r	23		papillate dodder	Cuscuta californica var. papillosa	5 / 1	5
0.04	r	24		Parish's viguiera	Viguiera parishii	50 / 9	4
0.04	r	25		short-winged deerweed	Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus	30 / 9	24
0.06	r			Sign: "No shooting, fire in metal container only"
0.07	r			(lotebush, Ziziphus parryi var. parryi)
0.08	r	26	sp	annual suncup	Camissonia sp.	5 / 1
0.08	r	27		cheesebush	Hymenoclea salsola var. salsola	30 / 9	6
0.08				Y-jct.; sign: "Pena Spring (left); "Campground (right)"; stay right
0.09	r	28	sp	datura	Datura sp.⁺	1 / 1
0.09	r	29	~	narrowleaf goldenbush	Ericameria linearifolia	50 / 9	3
0.16	r	30	~	lotebush	Ziziphus parryi var. parryi	30 / 9	1
0.16	r	31		beady lipfern	Cheilanthes covillei	20 / 9	1
0.16	r		sp	(Parish's needlegrass?, Achnatherum parishii?)
0.17	r	32		boundary goldenbush	Ericameria brachylepis	20 / 9	2
0.21	l			First campsite, marked with two short wood posts
0.22	l	33		linear-leaved stillingia	Stillingia linearifolia	4 / 2	2
0.22	r			Jct. road to toilets
0.23	r			Sign: "No wood gathering"
0.26				Y-jct.; stay left
0.27	r			(very large jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis)
0.29				Jct. maze of roads; stay straight
0.29				(California juniper, Juniperus californica; Mohave yucca, Yucca schidigera)
0.31	l			Sign: "Culp Valley Vista Point 0.6 mi"
0.39	r	34	~	short-bannered coastal lotus	Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus	30 / 9	5
0.39	r	35		chinch-weed	Pectis papposa var. papposa	20 / 2	4
0.39	r	36		wishbone plant	Mirabilis bigelovii var. retrorsa	20 / 9	4
0.40	r	37	sp	annual Eriastrum	Eriastrum sp.	99 / 9
0.40	r	38		beavertail cactus	Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris	10 / 9	9
0.40	r	39		Pima rhatany	Krameria erecta	20 / 9	3
0.41	l	40		California juniper	Juniperus californica	10 / 9	2
0.41	l	41	~	common phacelia	Phacelia distans	5 / 1	11
0.41				Trail branches into three paths; stay straight
0.43	l	42	~	apricot mallow	Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua	1 / 1	3
0.44	r	43		desert scrub oak	Quercus cornelius-mulleri	20 / 9	1
0.44	l	44	sp	Parish's needlegrass?	Achnatherum parishii?	50 / 9
0.48	r	45		Mohave yucca	Yucca schidigera	20 / 9	7
0.60				Jct. California Riding and Hiking Trail; sign: "Scenic Overlook"; go right
0.61	l			(definite apricot mallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua)
0.62				Y-jct.; go right (left goes to minor overlook with a western bernardia, Bernardia myricifolia; white mugwort, Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. albula; and desert dudleya, Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides)
0.62	l			Sign: "Vista Point (ahead)"
0.68	l			"Turtle Rock" at 8 o'clock
0.69	l	46		birch-leaf mountain-mahogany	Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides	10 / 9	19
0.69				Faint Y-jct; stay right and ascend
0.71	l	47	~	desert prickly-pear	Opuntia phaeacantha	10 / 3	3
0.73	r	48		white mugwort	Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. albula	20 / 9	1
0.74	l	49		Vasey's sage	Salvia vaseyi	10 / 9	4
0.79	r	50		sweetbush	Bebbia juncea var. aspera	20 / 9	11
0.81	r	51		San Felipe dogweed	Adenophyllum porophylloides	10 / 9	4
0.81	l	52		desert agave	Agave deserti	20 / 9	4
0.81	r	53		small-seeded spurge	Chamaesyce polycarpa	20 / 9	17
0.84	l	54		western bernardia	Bernardia myricifolia	3 / 3	2
0.85				Vista Point
0.85	r	55	~	desert dudleya	Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides	2 / 2	2
0.85	r	56		Engelmann's hedgehog cactus	Echinocereus engelmannii	5 / 5	5
0.85	r	57		fivewing spiderling	Boerhavia intermedia	99 / 9	4
0.92	r			Jct. use trail to local peak on right
0.99				Y-jct.; stay left
0.99	r			Jct. use trail to local peak on right
1.03	r	58		desert lotus	Lotus rigidus	40 / 9	3
1.03	r	59	?	unk opposite-leaf per like penstemon	?	/
1.03	r	60	sp	baby plants like six-weeks three-awn	Aristida adscensionis?	/
1.05	b	61		shrubby brickellia	Brickellia frutescens	10 / 5	2
1.06	b	62	sp	pincushion flower	Chaenactis sp.	10 / 1
1.08				Switchback left.
1.09	l	63		odora	Porophyllum gracile	2 / 2	8
1.09				Trail turns right 90°
1.10	l		?	(wild-cucumber?, Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus?)
1.10	l			definite six-weeks three-awn	Aristida adscensionis	/
1.10	r			(white-flowering currant, Ribes indecorum)
1.12	l	64	~	California suncup	Camissonia californica	/	22
1.12	l	65		chia	Salvia columbariae	20 / 2	23
1.12	l	66	sp	annual phacelia	Phacelia like minor	5 / 1
1.13	r	67		desert apricot	Prunus fremontii	20 / 9	3
1.16	r			Saddle; Jct. use trail marked with a tall post
1.17	r	68	~	white-flowering currant	Ribes indecorum	1 / 1	24
1.18	r			(bigberry manzanita, Arctostaphylos glauca)
1.19	r	69		Borrego bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. borregoense	10 / 9	1
1.20	r	70		bigberry manzanita	Arctostaphylos glauca	2 / 2	10
1.20	r	71	?	mustard family like jewelflower	Caulanthus sp.?	1 / 1
1.21	r	72	sp	coast-range melic?	Melica imperfecta?	10 / 1
1.23	r	73	~	little-leaved chaparral beard-tongue	Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla	3 / 2	1
1.26	r	74		Anderson's desert-thorn	Lycium andersonii	4 / 3	2
1.26	r			Jct. use trail to ridge
1.42	r			Check if these specimens are Eriogonum davidsonii.
1.50	b			Check this probable L. andersonii specimen when it blooms to make sure it is not desert-thorn, Lycium brevipes var. brevipes
1.63	l	75		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. nodosum	10 / 3	3
1.65	r	76		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	5 / 1	56
1.75	r	77		California spear-leaved brickellia	Brickellia arguta var. arguta	10 / 3	1
2.05	b	78		desert plantain	Plantago ovata	99 / 9	5
2.08	l	79	sp	pepper-grass	Lepidium sp.	10 / 1
2.14	r		ssp	(California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus)
2.19	l	80		jojoba	Simmondsia chinensis	1 / 1	3
2.46	l	81		California trixis	Trixis californica var. californica	1 / 1	5
2.48	l	82		New Mexico ditaxis	Ditaxis neomexicana	1 / 1	3
2.60				Saddle; elevation ~2580 feet (785 m). This is a possible turnaround point if you are not doing a one-way car-shuttle hike. Plant guide now gives species abundance for the rest of the trail, and there may be more specimens of the previously-given species. The first occurrence of species going down has not yet been determined; this guide now gives just the location from the guide going uphill.
2.62	r			(teddy-bear cholla, Opuntia bigelovii)
2.72				Enter wash
2.76				Local low point on trail
2.76				Local high point on trail
2.85				Leave wash
2.89				Join wash of this major side drainage
2.89	l	83		desert sage	Salvia eremostachya	1 / 1	1
2.91	l	84		woolly Indian paintbrush	Castilleja foliolosa	1 / 1	6
3.02				Local low point on trail
3.07				Local high point on trail
3.24	r			Check for different shrub with opposite linear short leaves
3.36	r			Check for different spike-moss
3.51	b	85		spearleaf	Matelea parvifolia	2 / 1	1
3.79	r	86		*Bermuda grass	Cynodon dactylon⁺	1 / 1	34
3.80	l	87	sp	per grass like fountain grass	?	1 / 1
3.82				Switchback left
3.87	l	88	?	dead annual like silver puffs	?	1 / 1
3.95	r			Check if this nearly-dead plant is a shrubby Eriogonum
3.95				Switchback right.
3.97				Switchback left.
4.00				Switchback right.
4.01				Switchback left.
4.01	l	89	sp	heliotrope phacelia?	Phacelia crenulata?	1 / 1
4.09				Saddle; elevation ~1540 feet (470 m); jct. with old portion of trail that descends to S22 at milepost 16.0; curve left to Hellhole Canyon
4.10				Cross small drainage
4.10	l	90		star-flowered bedstraw	Galium stellatum var. eremicum	3 / 3	2
4.10	r			(spearleaf, Matelea parvifolia)
4.11	r	91		California barrel cactus	Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus	10 / 9	3
4.12	l			Weird gander's cholla, Opuntia ganderi, with one erect main stem with spreading branches, and another prostrate stem with the usual erect strict branches
4.13				Trail forks, take left branch; trail now travels in a more open area; (right branch just goes to interestingly-looking rocks to right?)
4.15	l			Old termite tube at base of dead brittlebush, Encelia farinosa.
4.18	r	92		Arizona spurge	Chamaesyce arizonica	1 / 1	2
4.24	r	93		ayenia	Ayenia compacta	5 / 3	2
4.28	l	94	~	muilla	Muilla maritima	1 / 1	8
4.30				Switchback left.
4.30	l	95		big galleta	Pleuraphis rigida	5 / 3	5
4.31				Switchback right.
4.34				Trail turns right 90°
4.36				Cross small drainage
4.37	r			Jct. steep use trail to fencepost and USGS Benchmark; trail elevation ~1330 feet (405 m)
4.39	l			(Vasey's sage, Salvia vaseyi)
4.39	r	96		Coulter's lyrepod	Lyrocarpa coulteri var. palmeri	5 / 3	2
4.39	r	97		broom twinberry	Menodora scoparia	2 / 1	1
4.40	l			(sweetbush, Bebbia juncea var. aspera)
4.40	l	98		rattlesnake weed	Daucus pusillus	10 / 2	30
4.40	l	99		white rhatany	Krameria grayi	2 / 2	1
4.42	r	100	?	many unk baby annuals
4.45	l	101		threadstem	Pterostegia drymarioides	2 / 1	31
4.46	l	102	~	white fiesta flower	Pholistoma membranaceum	10 / 1	4
4.48	r			(Parish's viguiera, Viguiera parishii)
4.48				Check for new annual species
4.52	r			(California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus)
4.54	r	103	~	Mojave ragwort	Senecio mohavensis	50 / 9	4
4.56				Jct. ridgeline between two side-drainages; small peak ahead on ridge has a good view and many Mentzelia; trail goes to left of small peak
4.59	r			(Pima rhatany, Krameria erecta)
4.59	r	104	sp	intermediate larkspur?	Delphinium parishii ssp. subglobosum?	10 / 3	3
4.59	r	105		woolly lipfern	Cheilanthes parryi	30 / 9	3
4.59	r	106		desert spike-moss	Selaginella eremophila	50 / 9	2
4.60	r	107		fish-hook cactus	Mammillaria dioica	10 / 9	2
4.62	r	108		small-flowered fiddleneck	Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii	20 / 2	9
4.64	l	109	~	bracted blazing star	Mentzelia involucrata	5 / 3	2
4.64	l	110		California barrel cactus	Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei⁺	1 / 1	2
4.73	r	111		California fagonia	Fagonia laevis	10 / 9	4
4.76	b			Leave huge field of Chaenactis
4.76	r	112	~	brittle spineflower	Chorizanthe brevicornu var. brevicornu	5 / 1	4
4.76	b	113		downy dalea	Dalea mollissima	3 / 1	3
4.77	r	114		thick-leaved ground cherry	Physalis crassifolia	20 / 9	4
4.81	r	115	sp	pebble pincushion?	Chaenactis carphoclinia var. carphoclinia?	99 / 9
4.81	l	116		rock hibiscus	Hibiscus denudatus	10 / 5	3
4.81	r	117	?	baby annual like suncup	Camissonia sp.?	/
4.82	l	118	sp	combseed	Pectocarya sp.	20 / 2
4.82	l	119		yellow-head	Trichoptilium incisum	20 / 4	1
4.82	r	120		narrowleaf ditaxis	Ditaxis lanceolata	50 / 9	4
4.83	r			Sign: "California Riding and Hiking Trail"
4.83	r	121		Nealley three-awn	Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi	3 / 3	3
4.83	l			(Old termite tube at base of dead plant; small-flowered fiddleneck, Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii)
4.84				Jct. main Hellhole Canyon Trail; elevation ~950 feet (290 m); cross it and continue straight ahead to pick up this trail again
4.88				Cross small wash with 2 branches
4.88	l	122		desert trumpet	Eriogonum inflatum	1 / 1	3
4.94				Jct. old road; now horse trail
5.00	r	123		ocotillo	Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens	5 / 5	6
5.08	b			Enter forest of teddy-bear cholla, Opuntia bigelovii
5.12	r	124		desert lavender	Hyptis emoryi	50 / 9	5
5.16				Cross wash
5.18	r			Dead ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens next to trail; live one off-trail
5.19	l	125		teddy-bear cholla	Opuntia bigelovii	50 / 9	3
5.23	r			Dead desert trumpet, Eriogonum inflatum
5.29				Cross faint old road (or buried water pipe) heading toward the hills from the water tanks to left
5.34				Trail jogs left
5.50	l	126		creosote bush	Larrea tridentata	40 / 9	5
5.53	l	127		desert twining snapdragon	Antirrhinum filipes	4 / 4	2
5.56	r	128		desert thornapple	Datura discolor	5 / 5	3
5.56	r	129		Guadalupe cryptantha	Cryptantha maritima	99 / 9	2
5.57				Cross small wash
5.58	l			Dead desert lavender, Hyptis emoryi
5.60				Trail curves left
5.61	l	130	ssp	western tansy-mustard	Descurainia pinnata	5 / 1
5.62	l	131		chuparosa	Justicia californica	40 / 9	5
5.63				Trail curves left
5.64				Trail curves right
5.64	l	132		small-flowered poppy	Eschscholzia minutiflora ssp. minutiflora	10 / 2	5
5.65	l	133		desert dandelion	Malacothrix glabrata	5 / 2	5
5.65	l	134		Emory's rock-daisy	Perityle emoryi	20 / 9	4
5.66	l	135		burroweed	Ambrosia dumosa	40 / 9	7
5.66	b	136		indigo bush	Psorothamnus schottii	50 / 9	6
5.66	l			Sign: "Riding and Hiking Trail (ahead); No Dogs Past This Point"
5.66	b	137	sp		Nemacladus sp.	99 / 9
5.66				End guide at signed trailhead on southeast corner of Visitor Center Parking Lot; elevation ~835 feet (255 m).

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Plants of Southern California: Trail Guides

Copyright © 2006 by Tom Chester and Kay Madore
Permission is freely granted to reproduce any or all of this page as long as credit is given to us at this source:
http://tchester.org/sd/plants/guides/anza_borrego/ca_rh_trl_culp.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester | Kay Madore
Last update: 5 February 2006.