Flora of Bolsa Chica Marsh

Bob Muns, 1983, 1999

This enhanced version of the Flora of Bolsa Chica Marsh has been created by Mark Bixby. It contains the following additions:

  1. Each Latin name has been hyperlinked into the http://plants.usda.gov/ database.

  2. A column has been added which shows the wetland indicator status (if any) for each species.

  3. A column has been added with links to photographs of each species, usually from CalPhotos.

  4. Some of the Latin names have been updated. Those names have been highlighted in yellow but with the original names retained here.

  5. Red highlighting has been added for wetland status indicators with conflicting information in the USDA PLANTS database; i.e. different varieties of a species are listed with different indicator values, etc.

Latin names in parentheses are probable, but not certain, identifications.

#, Latin Name Common Name Life
Form
Intro
sp*
Flower
Period
Plant Communities Wetland
Indicator
Status
Images

Dicots



Aizoaceae Carpet-Weed Family




1 Carpobrotus chilensis Sea Fig *P 4-9 sand dunes, bluffs, CS, CSS
CalPhotos
2 Carpobrotus chilensis X C. edulis (hybrid) *P - along coast

3 Carpobrotus edulis Hottentot Fig *P 4-10 dunes along coast
CalPhotos
4 Malephora crocea Red Ice Plant *P 11-9 wetlands, coastal bluffs
CalPhotos
5 Mesembryanthemum crystallinum Crystalline Ice Plant *A 3-10 CS, CSS, coastal bluffs
CalPhotos
6 Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum Little Ice Plant *A 4-11 CS, CSS, saline wetlands FACU
CalPhotos
7 Sesuvium verrucosum Sea Purslane P 4-11 margins of saline wetlands FACW
CalPhotos
8 Tetragonia tetragonioides New Zealand Spinach *A 4-9 beaches, near salt marshes
UWM
 

Amaranthaceae Amaranth Family




9 Amaranthus albus Pigweed *A 6-12 cultivated & waste places FACU
CalPhotos
10 Amaranthus deflexus Prostrate Amaranth *A 5-11 W

 

Anacardiaceae Sumac Family




11 Schinus terebinthifolius Brazilian pepper tree *S/T - edges of CSM
CalPhotos
12 Toxicodendron diversilobum Poison Oak S 4-5 canyons, slopes, Ch, OW
CalPhotos
 

Apiaceae Carrot Family




13 Apium graveolens Celery *P 5-7 wet places, edges of marsh FACW*
CalPhotos
14 Ciclospermum leptophyllum Marsh Parsley *A 4-8 weed in gardens, etc. NI
TENN
15 Conium maculatum Poison Hemlock *B 4-9 moist, disturbed places FACW
CalPhotos
16 Foeniculum vulgare Fennel *P 5-9 roadsides, W FACU
CalPhotos
 

Asteraceae Sunflower Family




17 Amblyopappus pusillus Coast Weed A 3-4 coastal bluffs, old dunes FACW-
CalPhotos
18 Ambrosia chamissonis Silver Beach Bur P 7-11 beaches, dunes, CS
CalPhotos
19 Ambrosia psilostachya Western Ragweed P 7-11 roadsides, fields, Ch, CSS FAC
CalPhotos
20 Artemisia douglasiana Mugwort P 6-10 W, drainages FACW
CalPhotos
21 Aster subulatus var. ligulatus - - - -
TENN
22 Baccharis douglasii Marsh Baccharis P 7-10 near streams, CSM, CSS OBL
CalPhotos
23 Baccharis emoryi Emory Baccharis S 8-12 river banks, washes, marshes FACW
Google
24 Baccharis pilularis Coyote Brush S 8-11 coastal, CS, CSS
CalPhotos
25 Baccharis salicifolia Mule Fat S 1-12 streamsides, moist places FACW
CalPhotos
26 Bidens pilosa var. pilosa Beggar-Ticks *A 5-11 W FACW
Google
27 Centaurea melitensis Tocalote *A 5-6 W, along trails
CalPhotos
28 Chrysanthemum sp. Chrysanthemum * - escape from cultivation, coastal

29 Cirsium vulgare Bull Thistle *B 6-9 W FACU
CalPhotos
30 Conyza bonariensis Little Horseweed *A 6-8 W, urban sites
CalPhotos
31 Conyza canadensis Horseweed A 6-9 W FAC
CalPhotos
32 Conyza coulteri Coulter's Horseweed A 5-10 moist flats, CSS FAC+
Google
33 Cotula australis Australian Brassbutton *A 1-5 urban weed, coastal areas
CalPhotos
34 Cotula coronopifolia Brassbutton *A 3-12 CSM, FWM FACW+
CalPhotos
35 Encelia californica California Bush Sunflower S 3-6 coastal bluffs, CSS, Ch
CalPhotos
36 Euthamia occidentalis Western Goldenrod P 7-11 streambanks, CSM, FWM OBL
CalPhotos
37 Gazania linearis - * - -
CalPhotos
38 Gnaphalium californicum Green Everlasting B 1-7 open wooded slopes, CSS, Ch
CalPhotos
39 Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum Felt-Leaf Everlasting B/P 7-10 open slopes, Ch, CSS
CalPhotos
40 Gnaphalium luteo-album Cudweed *A 4-10 fields, W FACW-
CalPhotos
41 Gnaphalium (stramineum) White Everlasting A/B 6-10 W FAC-
CalPhotos
42 Hedypnois cretica Crete Weed *A 3-5 W
CalPhotos
43 Hemizonia fasciculata Tarweed A 5-9 coastal plains, CSS, OW, VG
CalPhotos
44 Hemizonia sp. - - - -

45 Heterotheca grandiflora Telegraph Weed A 1-12 W, dry streams
CalPhotos
46 Hypochaeris glabra Cat's-Ear *A 3-6 W
CalPhotos
47 Isocoma menziesii Coast Goldenbush S 4-12 CS, CSS, CSM FACW
CalPhotos
48 Jaumea carnosa Jaumea P 5-10 CSM, bases of sea cliffs OBL
CalPhotos
49 Lasthenia californica California Goldfields A 2-6 open pl, CSS. VG, etc. FACU
CalPhotos
50 Lasthenia glabrata Marsh Goldfield A 4-5 CSM, AS, vernal pools FACW
CalPhotos
51 Osteospermum fruticosum Freeway Daisy *P - escape from cultivation, coastal
Google
52 Picris echioides Prickly Ox-Tongue *A 6-12 W, fields, etc. FAC
CalPhotos
53 Pluchea odorata Marsh Fleabane A/P 7-11 alkaline wet places, CSM, FWM
CalPhotos
54 Pulicaria paludosa Pulicaria *A/P - along streams, marsh edges
Google
55 Senecio vulgaris Common Groundsel *A 1-12 weed of gardens and waste places NI*
CalPhotos
56 Sonchus asper ssp. asper Prickly Sow Thistle *A 1-12 W FAC
CalPhotos
57 Sonchus oleraceus Sow Thistle *A 1-12 W, garden weed NI*
CalPhotos
58 Stephanomeria sp. Wreath Plant A - -

59 Stephanomeria virgata Wand Chicory A 7-10 W, open slopes
CalPhotos
60 Xanthium strumarium Cocklebur A 7-10 weed of moist disturbed places FAC+
CalPhotos
 

Bataceae Batis Family




61 Batis maritima Saltwort P 7-10 along coast, CSM OBL
CalPhotos
 

Boraginaceae Borage Family




62 Amsinckia spectabilis Seaside Fiddleneck A 3-6 sandy places, edges of marshes FACU
CalPhotos
63 Cryptantha clevelandii Popcorn Flower A 4-6 slopes, rocky places, CSS, CS, Ch
CalPhotos
64 Heliotropium curassavicum Wild Heliotrope P 3-10 moist to dry, saline soils OBL
CalPhotos
 

Brassicaceae Mustard Family




65 Brassica nigra Black Mustard *A 4-7 grassy hills & fields
CalPhotos
66 Brassica rapa Field Mustard *A 1-5 W
CalPhotos
67 Cakile maritima Sea Rocket *A 3-10 sand dunes, CS FACW
CalPhotos
68 Coronopus didymus Wart Cress *A 3-7 W, gardens
TENN
69 Hirschfeldia incana Mediterranean Mustard *B 5-10 weed of waste places, along roads
CalPhotos
70 Lepidium latifolium Perennial Peppergrass *P 6-8 beaches, roadsides, saline places FACW
CalPhotos
71 Lepidium sp. Peppergrass A - -

72 Lobularia maritima Sweet Alyssum *A 1-12 garden escape, coastal
CalPhotos
73 Matthiola incana Purple Stock *P 3-5 sandy pl, bluffs, coastal
Google
74 Raphanus sativus Wild Radish *A 2-7 W
CalPhotos
75 Sisymbrium irio London Rocket *A 1-4 W
CalPhotos
 

Cactaceae Cactus Family




76 Opuntia ficus-indica Mission Cactus *S/T 5-6 -
USF
77 Opuntia prolifera Coast Cholla S 4-6 -
CalPhotos
78 Opuntia sp. Prickly Pear *S - Ch, CSS, VG, YPF

 

Capparaceae Caper Family




79 Isomeris arborea Bladder Pod S 1-12 coastal bluffs, deserts
CalPhotos
 

Caryophyllaceae Pink Family




80 Polycarpon depressum Allseed A 4-6 bluffs, Ch, W

81 Polycarpon tetraphyllum Four-Leaf Allseed *A 5-7 W, along roads
CalPhotos
82 Silene gallica Common Catchfly *A 2-5 W
CalPhotos
83 Spergularia bocconei Boccone's Sand Spurry *A 4-9 CSM, alkaline areas, sandy places
Google
84 Spergularia marina Sand Spurry A 3-9 CSM, mud flats, alkaline places OBL
CalPhotos
 

Chenopodiaceae Goosefoot Family




85 Atriplex californica California Saltbush P 4-11 sandy places, coastal dunes, CSM FAC
Google
86 Atriplex canescens Four Wing Saltbush S 6-8 CS, CSS, along coast, deserts FACU
CalPhotos
87 Atriplex lentiformis Quail Bush S 7-10 CSM, saline places, CSS, deserts FAC
CalPhotos
88 Atriplex (rosea) Annual Saltbush *A 7-10 W FACU
Google
89 Atriplex semibaccata Australian Saltbush *P 4-12 saline waste places, roadsides, etc. FAC
CalPhotos
90 Atriplex sp. Saltbush SS - border of salt marshes

91 Atriplex triangularis Arrow-Leaf Saltbush A 6-11 moist saline pl, AS, CSM
CalPhotos
92 Atriplex watsonii Watson's Saltbush P 2-10 CS, CSM, CSS, coastal bluffs FACW+

93 Bassia hyssopifolia Five-Hook *A 7-10 weed of alkaline places FAC
CalPhotos
94 Beta vulgaris Beet *A/P 7-10 low damp places FACU
CalPhotos
95 Chenopodium album Lamb's Quarters *A 6-10 weed in waste places FAC
UWM
96 Chenopodium ambrosioides Mexican Tea *A/P 6-10 weed in waste & damp places FAC
CalPhotos
97 Chenopodium macrospermum var. halophilum Coast Goosefoot A 7-10 moist places, CSM, CS

98 Chenopodium multifidum Cut-Leaf Goosefoot *A 6-11 wayside weed
Google
99 Chenopodium murale Nettle-Leaved Goosefoot *A 1-12 weed of disturbed places, gardens
TENN
100 Salicornia bigelovii Annual Pickleweed A 7-11 CSM OBL
USF
101 Salicornia subterminalis Bushy Pickleweed P/SS 4-9 CSM OBL

102 Salicornia virginica Pickleweed P/SS 8-11 CSM OBL
CalPhotos
103 Salsola tragus Russian Thistle *A 7-10 weed of disturbed places FACU
CalPhotos
104 Suaeda taxifolia Sea Blite SS 7-10 CSM
CalPhotos
 

Convolvulaceae Morning Glory Family




105 Calystegia soldanella Beach Morning Glory P 4-5 beaches, CS
CalPhotos
106 Cressa truxillensis Alkali Weed P 5-10 saline, alkaline places FACW
CalPhotos
 

Crassulaceae Stonecrop Family




107 Crassula connata Pygmy Weed A 2-5 dry places, after burns
CalPhotos
 

Cucurbitaceae Gourd Family




108 Marah macrocarpus Wild Cucumber P 1-4 dry places, CSS, Ch, OW
CalPhotos
 

Cuscutaceae Dodder Family




109 Cuscuta salina Salt Marsh Dodder A 5-9 CSM
CalPhotos
110 Cuscuta sp. Dodder A - -

 

Euphorbiaceae Spurge Family




111 Chamaesyce prostrata Mat Spurge *A 8-9 W
TENN
112 Chamaesyce (serpens) Mat Spurge A - W FAC*
TENN
 

Fabaceae Pea Family




113 Lotus scoparius Deerweed SS 3-8 CSS, Ch
CalPhotos
114 Lotus strigosus Bishop's Lotus A 3-6 dry, disturbed places
CalPhotos
115 Lupinus bicolor Miniature Lupine A 3-6 CSS, &
CalPhotos
116 Medicago polymorpha Bur Clover *A 3-6 W
CalPhotos
117 Melilotus alba White Sweet Clover *A 5-9 waste and damp places FACU+
CalPhotos
118 Melilotus indica Sour Clover *A 4-10 open disturbed areas FAC
CalPhotos
 

Frankeniaceae Frankenia Family




119 Frankenia salina Alkali Heath P 6-10 CSM, CS FACW+
CalPhotos
 

Geraniaceae Geranium Family




120 Erodium botrys Big Beak Filaree *A 3-5 open, dry, disturbed places
CalPhotos
121 Erodium cicutarium Red Stem Filaree *A 2-5 W
CalPhotos
122 Erodium moschatum White Stem Filaree *A 2-5 W
CalPhotos
 

Hydrophyllaceae Phacelia Family




123 Phacelia distans Fern-Leaf Phacelia A 3-6 fields, slopes, MC
CalPhotos
 

Lamiaceae Mint Family




124 Marrubium vulgare Horehound *P most waste places, old fields, etc. FAC
CalPhotos
 

Lythraceae Loosestrife Family




125 Lythrum hyssopifolium Grass Poly *A/P 4-10 moist places FACW
CalPhotos
 

Malvaceae Mallow Family




126 Malva parviflora Round Leaf Mallow *A most W
CalPhotos
127 Malvella leprosa Alkali Mallow P 5-10 moist, saline places FAC*
CalPhotos
 

Myoporaceae Myoporum Family




128 Myoporum laetum Campground Shrub *S 1-8 W
CalPhotos
 

Nyctaginaceae Four-O'Clock Family




129 Abronia umbellata Pink Sand Verbena P most sandy places, CS
CalPhotos
130 Mirabilis californica Wish Bone Plant P 12-6 grassy areas, Ch, dunes
CalPhotos
 

Onagraceae Evening Primrose Family




131 Camissonia cheiranthifolia Beach Primrose P 4-8 coastal dunes, beaches, CS
CalPhotos
132 Camissonia (lewisii) Suncups A 4-5 grassland, coastal

133 Camissonia (micrantha) Mini Suncups A 3-5 coastal dunes, beaches, sandy places
CalPhotos
134 Oenothera elata Hooker's Evening Primrose B/P 6-8 moist places, Ch, CSS FACW
CalPhotos
135 Oenothera (laciniata) Evening Primrose *A spring - NI*
TENN
 

Oxalidaceae Oxalis Family




136 Oxalis pes-caprae Bermuda buttercup *P 11-3 disturbed, waste places
CalPhotos
 

Papaveraceae Poppy Family




137 Eschscholzia californica California Poppy A/P 2-9 grassy, open places
CalPhotos
 

Plantaginaceae Plantain Family




138 Plantago coronopus Cut-Leaf Plantain *A/B 4-7 sea cliffs, about salt marshes FAC
CalPhotos
139 Plantago indica Sand Plantain *A 7-11 sandy, waste places
CalPhotos
140 Plantago major English Plantain *P 4-9 weed of damp waste places FACW-
CalPhotos
 

Plumbaginaceae Leadwort Family




141 Limonium californicum Sea Lavender P 7-12 CSM, CS OBL
CalPhotos
142 Limonium perezii Marsh Rosemary *P 3-9 coastal sandy places, beaches
CalPhotos
 

Polygonaceae Buckwheat Family




143 Emex spinosa Devil's Thorn *A 7-11 W
Google
144 Nemacaulis denudata Woolly-Heads A 4-9 dunes, CS, deserts
Google
145 Polygonum arenastrum Knotweed *A 5-11 disturbed places
CalPhotos
146 Pterostegia drymarioides Thread Stem A 3-7 shady places, MC
CalPhotos
147 Rumex crispus Curly Dock *P 3-6 W FACW-
CalPhotos
148 Rumex salicifolius Willow Dock P 5-10 moist places OBL
CalPhotos
 

Primulaceae Primrose Family




149 Anagallis arvensis Scarlet Pimpernel *A 2-10 disturbed places, beaches, etc. FAC
CalPhotos
 

Rubiaceae Bedstraw Family




150 Galium aparine Cleavers A 3-5 half-shaded places FACU
CalPhotos
 

Saururaceae Lizard-Tail Family




151 Anemopsis californica Yerba Mansa P 3-9 CSM, saline, alkaline soils OBL
CalPhotos
 

Scrophulariaceae Snapdragon Family




152 Castilleja exserta Owl's Clover A 3-5 open grassy places, CSS, etc.
CalPhotos
153 Linaria canadensis Blue Toadflax A/B 3-5 dry slopes, waste places, CSS, Ch
CalPhotos
 

Solanaceae Nightshade Family




154 Lycium californicum California Box Thorn S 1-3 coastal bluffs, CSS
Google
155 Lycopersicon esculentum Tomato *A/P 7-9 W
CalPhotos
156 Nicotiana glauca Tree Tobacco *S/T 3-9 open disturbed places FAC
CalPhotos
157 Solanum americanum Little Flowered Nightshade A/P 4-11 open disturbed, damp places FAC
CalPhotos
158 Solanum sp. White Nightshade P/SS most CSS, Ch, CS

 

Tamaricaceae Tamarisk Family




159 Tamarix sp. Tamarisk *S - edges of marsh, moist places

 

Tropaeolaceae Nasturtium Family




160 Tropaeolum majus Garden nasturtium *A/P most moist, shaded places
CalPhotos
 

Urticaceae Nettle Family




161 Parietaria hespera Pellitory A 4-5 moist, shaded places
CalPhotos
162 Urtica dioica ssp. holosericea Stinging Nettle P 6-10 moist places, streambanks FACW
CalPhotos
163 Urtica urens Dwarf Nettle *A 1-4 weed of garden, disturbed places
CalPhotos
 

 

Monocots



Arecaceae Palm Family




164 Washingtonia filifera California Fan Palm *T 6 desert springs, other moist places FACW
CalPhotos
 

Cyperaceae Sedge Family




165 Carex sp. Sedge P - wet or moist places

166 Scirpus acutus var. occidentalis Tule P 4-10 marshes, lakes, streambanks
CalPhotos
167 Scirpus americanus Three-Square P 1-8 marshes, ponds OBL
CalPhotos
168 Scirpus californicus California Bulrush P 4-10 marshes, wet places OBL
CalPhotos
169 Scirpus cernuus Low Club Rush A 5-8 moist sandy places, CSM, FWM OBL
CalPhotos
170 Scirpus robustus Bull Tule P 4-8 CSM, FWM, AS OBL
CalPhotos
 

Juncaceae Rush Family




171 Juncus acutus ssp. leopoldii Spiny Rush P 5-6 moist saline places, CSM, alkali seep FACW
CalPhotos
172 Juncus (balticus) Wire Grass P 5-8 moist places, MC OBL
Google
173 Juncus bufonius Toad Rush A 4-9 moist places FACW+
CalPhotos
 

Poaceae Grass Family




174 Arundo donax Giant Reed *P 3-9 moist places, seeps, ditch banks FACW
CalPhotos
175 Avena barbata Slender Oats *A 3-6 disturbed places, grassy fields
CalPhotos
176 Avena fatua Wild Oats *A 4-6 disturbed places, grassy fields
CalPhotos
177 Avena sativa Cultivated Oats *A 4-6 W
CalPhotos
178 Brachypodium distachyon False Brome *A 4-5 W, dry sites
CalPhotos
179 Bromus catharticus Rescue Grass *A/B 4-11 disturbed places, fields
TENN
180 Bromus diandrus Rip Gut *A 4-6 open fields, disturbed sites
CalPhotos
181 Bromus hordeaceus Soft Chess *A 3-6 open, often disturbed places
CalPhotos
182 Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens Red Brome *A 3-6 open, disturbed places NI
Google
183 Cortaderia selloana Pampas Grass *P late summer along coastal bluffs, etc.
CalPhotos
184 Cynodon dactylon Bermuda Grass *P 6-8 W FAC
CalPhotos
185 Distichlis spicata Salt Grass P 4-9 CSM, alkaline places FACW
CalPhotos
186 Hordeum (intercedens) Slender Foxtail A - grassy areas, coastal

187 Hordeum murinum Foxtail *A 3-7 moist, disturbed sites
CalPhotos
188 Lamarckia aurea Goldentop *A 3-5 W, rocky places, trails
CalPhotos
189 Lolium multiflorum Italian Rye *A 4-10 W FAC*
CalPhotos
190 Monanthochloe littoralis Salt-Cedar P 5-6 CSM OBL
CalPhotos
191 Parapholis incurva Sicklegrass *A 4-6 edges of CSM OBL
CalPhotos
192 Paspalum dilatatum Dallis Grass *P 5-11 moist places, ditches, roadsides FAC
CalPhotos
193 Pennisetum clandestinum Kikuyu Grass *P 7-10 roadsides, W FACU+
CalPhotos
194 Poa annua Annual Bluegrass *A 1-7 disturbed, moist places FACW-
CalPhotos
195 Polypogon monspeliensis Rabbitsfoot *A 4-8 moist places, along streams FACW+
CalPhotos
196 Schismus barbatus Abu-Mashi *A 3-4 dry open places, W
CalPhotos
197 Spartina foliosa Cord Grass P 7-11 CSM OBL
Google
198 Stenotaphrum secundatum St. Augustine Grass *P 7-9 fields, roadsides, moist places FAC+
USF
199 Triticum aestivum Wheat *A 4-5 W
TENN
200 Vulpia myuros Rattail Fescue *A 3-4 open places, sandy soils FACU*
TENN
 

Typhaceae Cat-Tail Family




201 Typha sp. Cat-Tail P 6-7 marshy areas OBL

Legend:
T = Tree
S = Shrub
SS = Subshrub
* = Introduced
A = Annual
P = Perennial
B = Biennial
CS = Coastal Strand
CSS = Coastal Sage Scrub
CSM = Coastal Salt Marsh
FWM = Freshwater Marsh
Ch = Chaparral
OW = Oak Woodland
VG = Valley Grassland
AS = Alkali Sink
W = Weedy, Waste and Disturbed Places
& = And Other Communities

Maps showing locations of the following taxa:


Plant list digitized by Tom Chester and Michael Charters 3 November 2002; maps scanned by Michael Charters 3 November 2002; additional information from Mark Bixby 8 June 2004.

The only changes made from the printed edition of 1999 were to incorporate the additional species into the main list, the addition of the non-native designation for #125, Lythrum hyssopifolium, and a re-alphabetization.


Go to:




Copyright (c) 2002-2004 by Bob Muns, Michael Charters, Tom Chester and Bill Bixby
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/plants/muns/coast/bolsa_chica_marsh.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester | Michael Charters, who will relay comments to Bob.
Last update: 8 June 2004