Vascular Plants of the Whittier Hills, Los Angeles County

Julie A. Schneider Ljubenkov and Timothy S. Ross, 2002

Introduction

This checklist was published in Crossosoma 27: 1-23, 2001, issued August 2002. See that article for more complete information, including location of the study area, physical description of the study area, land uses past and present, plant communities, methods, floristics and acknowledgements.

This web version conforms to the Jepson Manual taxa and family names to make it easier to use that standard botanical reference with this list. Taxa with subspecies or varieties not accepted in the JM have the subspecies or variety name given here in brackets. See Nomenclatural Changes for a list of the taxa with names in this page that are different from the ones in the printed checklist.

To make the page easier to use, we omit the authors of the names. See the Jepson Manual or the printed version of this checklist for the authors.

In this web version, the common names and bloom periods are those in the Chester and Strong plant database. This was simply for convenience, in order to put the checklist online as quickly as possible.

Area Covered By The Checklist

The Whittier Hills are the northwestern-most portion of the Puente Hills.

Located in eastern Los Angeles County, the Whittier Hills are on the coastal plain, approximately sixteen miles north of the Pacific Ocean, and twelve miles east of the city of Los Angeles. The San Gabriel Valley lies to the north. The Puente Hills arise just east of Whittier Narrows, where the Rio Hondo River and the San Gabriel River flow close together. The hills provide a wildlife corridor from the San Gabriel River to the Santa Ana River and the Santa Ana Mountains in Orange and Riverside Counties.

The portion of the Whittier Hills surveyed consists of about 3,500 acres roughly bounded by the City of Whittier on the west and the south, the City of Industry to the north, and Hacienda Heights to the east. Our survey area was specifically confined on the northwest by Workman Mill Road, the developed parts of Rose Hills Memorial Park, and the Puente Hills Landfill. Colima Road was our southeastern boundary. Lands surveyed included the Rio Hondo College Wildlife Sanctuary, Hellman Park, the Skyline Trail, and other large parcels that are privately owned.

Physical Characteristics of the Region

The Whittier Hills consist of many canyons and ridges with moderate to steep slopes. Elevations range from 300 to 1,388 feet.

Methods

The checklist was compiled from various sources: written materials and specimens available within the Rio Hondo Community College Biology Department, field observations, and additional specimens collected in the northern Puente Hills as herbarium vouchers.

Much of the information contained in the checklist evolved from earlier work done for a field guide of Whittier Hills Plants. Field work for the guide was done between 1986 and 1990.

Voucher specimens were collected between 1990 and 1992, and these are deposited at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden herbaiurm, in Claremont, California. During this time, additional plants were added to the list.

The Checklist

An asterisk before the common name indicates a taxon not-native to California. A bloom period of 1-12 means most months.

Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page (11 pages)

# Latin Name (*)Common Name Bloom
Period

Ferns and Fern Allies

PolypodiaceaePolypody Family
1Polypodium californicumCalifornia polypody-
 
PteridaceaeFern Family
2Pellaea andromedifolia [var. andromedifolia]coffee fern-
3Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularisgoldback fern-
 
SelaginellaceaeSpike Moss Family
4Selaginella bigeloviiBigelow's spike-moss-

Dicots

AmaranthaceaeAmaranth Family
5Amaranthus albus*tumble pigweed4-10
6Amaranthus blitoidesmat amaranth5-11
 
AnacardiaceaeSumac Family
7Malosma laurinalaurel sumac2-5
8Rhus integrifolialemonade berry2-5
9Rhus trilobata [var. pilosissima]basketbush3-4
10Schinus molle*Peruvian pepper tree3-6
11Toxicodendron diversilobumpoison oak4-5
 
ApiaceaeCarrot Family
12Apium graveolens*celery5-7
13Conium maculatum*poison hemlock4-9
14Foeniculum vulgare*fennel5-9
15Sanicula bipinnatifidapurple sanicle3-5
16Torilis nodosa*hedge parsley4-6
 
AsclepiadaceaeMilkweed Family
17Asclepias californicaCalifornia milkweed4-7
18Asclepias eriocarpaIndian milkweed6-8
19Asclepias fascicularisnarrow-leaf milkweed6-8
 
AsteraceaeSunflower Family
20Achillea millefoliumyarrow3-7
21Achyrachaena mollisblow-wives4-5
22Acourtia microcephalaacourtia6-8
23Ambrosia confertifloraweak-leaved burweed5-11
24Ambrosia psilostachya [var. californica]western ragweed7-11
25Anaphalis margaritaceapearly everlasting6-8
26Artemisia californicaCalifornia sagebrush8-12
27Artemisia douglasianamugwort6-10
28Artemisia dracunculuswild tarragon8-10
29Baccharis cf. emoryiEmory's baccharis8-12
30Baccharis douglasiisalt marsh baccharis7-9
31Baccharis pilularis [ssp. consanguinea]coyote bush8-12
32Baccharis salicifoliamule fat1-12
33Brickellia californicaCalifornia brickellbush8-10
34Carduus pycnocephalus*Italian thistle5-7
35Centaurea melitensis*tocalote5-6
36Chamomilla suaveolens*pineapple weed5-9
37Cirsium vulgare*bull thistle6-9
38Conyza bonariensis*little horseweed6-8
39Conyza canadensishorseweed6-9
40Cotula australis*Australian brass-buttons1-5
41Encelia californicaCalifornia encelia2-6
42Encelia farinosabrittlebush3-5
43Erigeron foliosus var. foliosusleafy daisy5-7
44Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorumgolden yarrow1-7
45Filago californicaCalifornia filago3-6
46Filago gallica*narrowleaf filago4-6
47Gazania linearis*gazania1-12
48Gnaphalium bicolorbicolored everlasting1-5
49Gnaphalium californicumCalifornia everlasting1-7
50Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalumwhite everlasting7-10
51Gnaphalium stramineumcotton-batting plant6-10
52Grindelia camporum var. camporumGreat Valley gumweed4-8
53Gutierrezia californicaCalifornia matchweed5-10
54Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioidessaw-toothed goldenbush6-10
55Helianthus gracilentusslender sunflower5-10
56Hemizonia fasciculataslender tarweed5-8
57Heterotheca grandifloratelegraph weed1-12
58Hypochaeris glabra*smooth cat's ear3-6
59Isocoma menziesii var. menziesiicoastal goldenbush4-11
60Isocoma menziesii var. vernonioidescoastal goldenbush4-12
61Lactuca serriola*prickly lettuce5-9
62Lagophylla ramosissima ssp. ramosissimacommon hareleaf5-10
63Lasthenia californica [ssp. californica]goldfields2-6
64Layia platyglossacommon tidy-tips3-5
65Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifoliaCalifornia-aster7-10
66Malacothrix saxatilis var. tenuifoliashort-leaved cliff-aster1-12
67Picris echioides*bristly ox-tongue6-12
68Rafinesquia californicaCalifornia chicory4-7
69Senecio californicusCalifornia groundsel3-5
70Senecio vulgaris*common groundsel1-12
71Silybum marianum*milk thistle4-7
72Solidago californicagoldenrod7-10
73Sonchus oleraceus*sow thistle1-12
74Stephanomeria diegensisSan Diego wreathplant8-11
75Stephanomeria virgata ssp. virgatatwiggy wreath plant7-10
76Stylocline gnaphaloideseverlasting nest-straw3-5
77Xanthium spinosumspiny cocklebur7-10
78Xanthium strumarium [var. canadense]cocklebur7-10
 
BoraginaceaeBorage Family
79Amsinckia menziesii var. intermediacommon fiddleneck3-6
80Cryptantha intermediapopcorn flower3-7
81Pectocarya linearis ssp. feroculaslender combseed3-5
82Plagiobothrys canescensgrey popcorn flower3-5
 
BrassicaceaeMustard Family
83Brassica nigra*black mustard4-7
84Brassica rapa [ssp. sylvestris]*field mustard1-5
85Capsella bursa-pastoris*shepherd's purse1-12
86Hirschfeldia incana*shortpod mustard1-12
87Lepidium lasiocarpum var. lasiocarpumhairy-podded pepper-grass2-5
88Lepidium nitidumshining peppergrass2-5
89Lepidium strictumprostrate pepper-grass3-5
90Lobularia maritima*sweet alyssum1-12
91Raphanus sativus*purple wild radish2-7
92Sisymbrium irio*London rocket1-4
93Sisymbrium officinale*hedge mustard4-7
94Sisymbrium orientale*Oriental mustard1-5
95Thysanocarpus laciniatus [var. laciniatus]lace-pod3-5
 
CactaceaeCactus Family
96Opuntia littoralis [var. littoralis]coast prickly-pear5-6
 
CaprifoliaceaeHoneysuckle Family
97Sambucus mexicanablue elderberry3-9
98Symphoricarpos molliscreeping snowberry4-6
 
CaryophyllaceaePink Family
99Cerastium glomeratum*mouse-ear chickweed2-5
100Silene gallica*windmill pink2-6
101Silene laciniata ssp. majorsouthern Indian pink5-7
102Stellaria media*common chickweed2-9
 
ChenopodiaceaeGoosefoot Family
103Atriplex semibaccata*creeping Australian saltbush4-12
104Chenopodium album*white goosefoot6-10
105Chenopodium berlandieri [var. sinuatum]pit-seed goosefoot-
106Chenopodium californicumCalifornia goosefoot3-6
107Chenopodium murale*nettle-leaved goosefoot1-12
108Salsola tragus*Russian thistle7-10
 
ConvolvulaceaeMorning Glory Family
109Calystegia macrostegia ssp. intermediasouth coast morning-glory5-6
 
CrassulaceaeStonecrop Family
110Crassula connata [var. erectoides]pygmy-weed2-5
111Dudleya lanceolatalanceleaf dudleya5-7
112Dudleya multicaulismany-stemmed dudleya5-6
 
CucurbitaceaeGourd Family
113Cucurbita foetidissimastinking gourd6-8
114Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpuswild-cucumber1-4
 
CuscutaceaeDodder Family
115Cuscuta californicaCalifornia dodder5-8
 
EuphorbiaceaeSpurge Family
116Chamaesyce albomarginatarattlesnake weed4-11
117Chamaesyce melanadeniared-gland spurge12-5
118Chamaesyce polycarpasmall-seeded spurge1-12
119Eremocarpus setigerusdove weed5-10
120Euphorbia peplus*petty spurge2-8
121Ricinus communis*castor bean1-12
 
FabaceaePea Family
122Amorpha californica var. californicaCalifornia false-indigo5-7
123Astragalus gambelianusGambel's dwarf milk-vetch3-6
124Astragalus trichopodus var. trichopodusSanta Barbara milk-vetch2-6
125Coronilla valentina ssp. glauca*crown vetch-
126Lathyrus vestituscommon Pacific pea4-6
127Lotus salsuginosus var. salsuginosuscoastal lotus3-6
128Lotus scoparius var. scopariusdeerweed3-8
129Lotus strigosus [var. strigosus]Bishop's lotus3-6
130Lupinus bicolor [ssp. microphyllus]dwarf lupine3-6
131Lupinus hirsutissimusstinging lupine3-5
132Lupinus longifoliuslong-leaf bush lupine1-12
133Lupinus succulentusarroyo lupine2-5
134Lupinus truncatuscollar lupine3-5
135Medicago polymorpha [ssp. polymorpha]*California burclover3-6
136Melilotus albus*white sweetclover5-9
137Melilotus indicus*sourclover4-10
138Robinia pseudoacacia [ssp. bessoniana]*black locust5-6
139Spartium junceum*Spanish broom4-6
140Trifolium fucatum [var. gambelii]bull clover4-6
141Vicia benghalensis*purple vetch3-5
142Vicia sativa*spring vetch4-7
143Vicia villosa ssp. varia*winter vetch4-7
144Vicia villosa ssp. villosa*hairy vetch4-7
 
FagaceaeOak Family
145Quercus agrifolia var. agrifoliacoast live oak3-4
 
GeraniaceaeGeranium Family
146Erodium botrys*long-beaked filaree3-5
147Erodium brachycarpum*short-fruited filaree4-8
148Erodium cicutarium*redstem filaree2-5
149Erodium moschatum*white-stemmed filaree2-5
150Geranium carolinianumCarolina geranium4-6
 
GrossulariaceaeGooseberry Family
151Ribes aureum var. gracillimumgolden currant2-4
152Ribes malvaceum var. viridifoliumchaparral currant-
153Ribes speciosumfuchsia-flowered gooseberry1-5
 
HydrophyllaceaePhacelia Family
154Emmenanthe penduliflora var. penduliflorawhispering bells4-7
155Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia var. chrysanthemifoliaeucrypta3-6
156Phacelia cicutaria var. hispidacaterpillar phacelia3-5
157Phacelia distanscommon phacelia3-6
158Phacelia grandifloragiant-flowered phacelia4-6
159Phacelia minorwild canterbury bells3-6
160Phacelia parryiParry's phacelia3-5
161Phacelia ramosissima var. latifoliabranching phacelia5-8
162Phacelia tanacetifoliatansy-leafed phacelia3-5
163Phacelia viscidasticky phacelia3-6
164Pholistoma auritum var. auritumfiesta flower3-5
 
JuglandaceaeWalnut Family
165Juglans californica var. californicaSouthern California black walnut4-5
 
LamiaceaeMint Family
166Lamium amplexicaule*henbit4-9
167Marrubium vulgare*horehound5-8
168Salvia apianawhite sage4-7
169Salvia columbariae [ssp. columbariae]chia3-6
170Salvia leucophyllapurple sage5-7
171Salvia leucophylla X S. melliferahybrid sage4-7
172Salvia melliferablack sage4-7
173Stachys ajugoides var. rigidarigid hedge-nettle7-8
174Stachys bullatasouthern hedge-nettle4-9
175Trichostema lanceolatumvinegar weed8-10
 
LauraceaeLaurel Family
176Persea americana var. drymifolia*avocado-
 
MalvaceaeMallow Family
177Malacothamnus fasciculatuschaparral bush mallow4-7
178Malva parviflora*cheeseweed1-12
179Malvella leprosaalkali mallow3-10
180Sidalcea malviflora ssp. malvifloracheckerbloom-
 
MyrtaceaeMyrtle Family
181Eucalyptus globulus*blue gum12-5
182Eucalyptus sp.*Eucalyptus-
 
NyctaginaceaeFour-O'Clock Family
183Mirabilis californicaCalifornia four o'clock12-6
 
OnagraceaeEvening Primrose Family
184Camissonia californicaCalifornia suncup4-5
185Camissonia intermediaintermediate sun-cups-
186Clarkia bottaepunch-bowl godetia4-6
187Clarkia purpureapurple clarkia4-7
188[Epilobium canum ssp. angustifolium]California fuchsia8-10
189Epilobium canum ssp. canumCalifornia fuchsia8-10
 
OxalidaceaeOxalis Family
190Oxalis pes-caprae*Bermuda buttercup11-3
 
PapaveraceaePoppy Family
191Eschscholzia californica [var. peninsularis]California poppy2-9
 
PassifloraceaePassion-Flower Family
192Passiflora caerulea*passion flower-
 
PlantaginaceaePlantain Family
193Plantago major*common plantain4-9
 
PlatanaceaeSycamore Family
194Platanus racemosawestern sycamore2-4
 
PolemoniaceaePhlox Family
195Eriastrum sapphirinum [ssp. dasyanthum]sapphire woolly-star5-8
196Gilia angelensisangel's gilia3-5
 
PolygonaceaeBuckwheat Family
197Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatumlong-stemmed buckwheat8-11
198Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosumCalifornia buckwheat3-10
199Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum approaches polifoliumCalifornia buckwheat3-11
200Polygonum arenastrum*knotweed5-11
201Pterostegia drymarioidesthreadstem3-7
202Rumex crispus*curly dock1-12
 
PortulacaceaePurslane Family
203Calandrinia ciliata [var. menziesii]red maids2-5
204Claytonia parviflora ssp. parvifloranarrow-leaved miner's lettuce2-5
205Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicanasouthern miner's lettuce2-5
 
PrimulaceaePrimrose Family
206Anagallis arvensis*scarlet pimpernel3-7
 
RanunculaceaeButtercup Family
207Delphinium parryi ssp. parryiblue larkspur4-6
 
RhamnaceaeBuckthorn Family
208Rhamnus ilicifoliahollyleaf redberry3-6
 
RosaceaeRose Family
209Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloidesbirch-leaf mountain-mahogany3-4
210Heteromeles arbutifoliatoyon6-7
211Potentilla glandulosa ssp. glandulosasticky cinquefoil5-7
212Prunus persica*peach4-5
213Rosa californicaCalifornia wild rose5-8
214Rosa x hybrida ex hort.*hybrid tea rose-
215Rubus discolor*Himalaya blackberry5-8
216Rubus ursinusCalifornia blackberry3-5
 
RubiaceaeBedstraw Family
217Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifoliumnarrowleaf bedstraw4-7
218Galium aparinecommon bedstraw3-7
219Galium nuttallii ssp. nuttalliiclimbing bedstraw3-7
 
SalicaceaeWillow Family
220Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpablack cottonwood2-4
221Salix laevigatared willow3-5
222Salix lasiolepis [var. lasiolepis]arroyo willow3-5
 
SaxifragaceaeSaxifrage Family
223Lithophragma affine [ssp. mixtum]woodland star2-6
 
ScrophulariaceaeSnapdragon Family
224Antirrhinum kelloggiitwining snapdragon3-5
225Keckiella cordifoliaheartleaf penstemon3-8
226Mimulus aurantiacus [var. pubescens]bush monkeyflower4-7
227Penstemon centranthifoliusscarlet bugler4-7
228Scrophularia californica ssp. floribundaCalifornia bee plant3-5
229Verbascum virgatum*wand mullein5-9
 
SimaroubaceaeQuassia Family
230Ailanthus altissima*tree-of-heaven6-6
 
SolanaceaeNightshade Family
231Datura wrightiisacred datura4-10
232Nicotiana glauca*tree tobacco4-8
233Solanum douglasiiwhite nightshade1-12
 
UlmaceaeElm Family
234Ulmus parvifolia*Chinese elm8-8
 
UrticaceaeNettle Family
235Parietaria hespera var. hesperapellitory2-6
236Urtica dioica ssp. holosericeastinging nettle7-9
237Urtica urens*dwarf nettle1-4
 
ValerianaceaeValerian Family
238Centranthus ruber*Jupiter's beard4-8
 
VerbenaceaeVervain Family
239Verbena lasiostachyswestern vervain4-9
 
ViolaceaeViolet Family
240Viola pedunculatajohnny jump-up2-4
 
VitaceaeGrape Family
241Vitis girdianawild grape5-6

Monocots

ArecaceaePalm Family
242Phoenix canariensis*Canary Island date palm-
 
IridaceaeIris Family
243Sisyrinchium bellumblue-eyed grass3-5
 
LiliaceaeLily Family
244Agave elephantipes*elephant-foot yucca-
245Agave sisalana*sisal-
246Bloomeria croceagoldenstar4-6
247Calochortus plummeraePlummer's mariposa lily5-7
248Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianumsoap plant5-7
249Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatumblue dicks2-5
 
PoaceaeGrass Family
250Agrostis viridis*green bentgrass5-6
251Avena barbata*slender wild oats3-6
252Avena fatua*wild oats4-6
253Bromus catharticus*rescue grass4-11
254Bromus diandrus*ripgut brome4-6
255Bromus hordeaceus ssp. hordaceus*soft chess4-7
256Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens*red brome3-6
257Bromus tectorum*downy brome5-6
258Cynodon dactylon*Bermuda grass6-8
259Digitaria sanguinalis*crabgrass6-9
260Echinochloa crus-galli*barnyard grass7-10
261Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucusblue wildrye6-8
262Festuca arundinacea*tall fescue5-6
263Hordeum murinum ssp. glaucum*foxtail barley4-5
264Hordeum murinum ssp. leporinum*foxtail barley4-7
265Lamarckia aurea*goldentop2-5
266Leptochloa fascicularissprangletop6-10
267Leptochloa uninerviaMexican sprangletop4-12
268Leymus condensatusgiant wild rye6-8
269Lolium multiflorum*Italian rye-grass5-9
270Melica imperfectasmall-flowered melica4-5
271Nassella lepidafoothill needlegrass3-5
272Nassella pulchrapurple needlegrass3-5
273Pennisetum setaceum*fountain grass7-10
274Poa annua*annual blue grass1-7
275Polypogon interruptus*ditch beard grass5-8
276Polypogon monspeliensis*rabbits-foot grass4-10
277Schismus arabicus*Mediterranean grass3-5
278Schismus barbatus*Mediterranean schismus3-4
279Triticum aestivum*common wheat4-7
280Vulpia myuros var. myuros*rattail fescue3-5
 
TyphaceaeCat Tail Family
281Typha latifoliabroadleaf cattail6-7

Epilobium canum ssp. angustifolium is combined in the Jepson Manual with Epilobium canum ssp. canum.


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Copyright © 2004 by Julie A. Schneider Ljubenkov and Timothy S. Ross
Permission is freely granted to reproduce any or all of this page as long as credit is given to us at this source:
Crossosoma 27: 1-23, 2001

http://tchester.org/plants/floras/pr/whittier_hills.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester, who will relay comments to the authors
Last update: 9 February 2004