Plant Guide to Aspen Grove / Fish Creek Trail, San Bernardino Mountains

Plant Guide to Aspen Grove / Fish Creek Trail, San Bernardino Mountains

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

See also Plant Voucher Checklist for Fish Creek Area for a plant list in traditional family order, referenced to this guide, the guide to the Upper Fish Creek Trail, and including vouchers.
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

Directions to trailhead: On SR38, go 5 miles east of Barton Flats to the signed entrance road to Heart Bar Campground, 1N02. Do not take the earlier turnoff to Camp Heart Bar! Turn right on 1N02 to a signed junction in 1.2 miles with 1N05. Go right, up 1N05, bearing right at all road forks.
The signed Aspen Grove / Lower Fish Creek Trailhead parking is reached a total distance of 2.6 miles from SR38, which takes about 10 minutes total driving time.
GPS Coordinates:
TOPO! GPS Data Format Deg NAD27 ElevFeet
1N05,34.15088,-116.77093,6991,
FISHLO,34.14764,-116.78898,7409,
FISHUP,34.12466,-116.76495,8079,
FSHSDL,34.11787,-116.80856,9805,
HRTBAR,34.16235,-116.78480,6878,
MNSHFT,34.10986,-116.82262,9935,
SNGORG,34.09907,-116.82393,11468,
1N05 is the junction of 1N02 and 1N05.
FISHLO is the Aspen Grove / Lower Fish Creek Trailhead parking
FISHUP is the Upper Fish Creek Trailhead parking
HRTBAR is the junction of SR38 and 1N05.
MNSHFT is Mine Shaft Saddle
SNGORG is Mount San Gorgonio.
Highlights of This Trail

The botanical highlights of this trail are:

The trail has five Asteraceae taxa with similar-looking flower heads with purple ligules; a key to separate them is given below.
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. We had 77 trails in our database when this histogram was made; two of those trails, including this one, are in the Fish Creek Area, with two others in the San Bernardino Mountains. A number of "1" means the taxon has only been found on this trail among the trails in our database; numbers of "4" or smaller may indicate taxa found only in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Number of Trails
Containing A Taxon Number Of Taxa
On This Trail % of Taxa
On This Trail
1 18 12%
2 29 20%
3 24 16%
4 10 7%
5 10 7%

1-5 91 62%
6-10 28 19%
11-15 14 10%
16-20 6 4%
21-25 2 1%
26-30 3 2%
31-35 0 0%
36-40 1 1%
41-45 1 1%
46-50 1 1%
Total Taxa 147 100%

Every taxon on the trail is included in the above table, although one of the taxa has not yet been keyed to a subspecies.
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. See Explanation of Plant Trail Guides to understand the symbols below.

Visit Date Visit # # taxa # "?" # "sp" # "~" # "ssp"
9/23/2002 1 96 10 25 13 6
9/27/2002 2 95 5 10 16 1
8/5/2003 3 107 6 16 14 4
8/13/2003 4 117 5 14 8 2
5/6/2004 5 119 5 12 6 2
5/27/2004 6 124 4 12 7 3
5/30/2004 7 127 4 14 7 3
6/7/2004 8 137 2 14 5 2
6/11/2004 9 141 2 12 4 1
7/22/2004 10 140 0 2 1 1
8/5/2004 11 145 0 0 1 1
8/10/2004 12 147 0 0 0 1

Only the first 0.24 miles of the trail, before the water crossing, was surveyed on 8/5/2003. Only the first 1.14 miles was surveyed on 5/27/04.
Botanical Trip Reports

27 May 2004
7 June 2004
11 June 2004
22 July 2004
10 August 2004
See also reports from the Upper Fish Creek Trail.
The Plant Guide

Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (8 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (2 double-sided pages). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)

Mile S # id? Common Name Latin Name #here #all
0.00 Trailhead at parking lot in front of kiosk / display board, elevation 7410 feet (2260 m). Trail is in sun for first 1/4 mile, then mostly in shade. (Coville's fleabane, Erigeron breweri var. covillei, is found in the parking area, but not so far on the trail).
0.00 b 1 threadleaf common rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. consimilis 20 / 5 14
0.00 r 2 hoary-aster Machaeranthera canescens var. canescens⁺ 50 / 9 3
0.00 b 3 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum 40 / 6 11
0.00 l 4 California squirreltail Elymus elymoides ssp. californicus 50 / 9 8
0.00 r 5 Nevin's bird's beak Cordylanthus nevinii 30 / 5 5
0.00 l 6 yarrow Achillea millefolium 20 / 4 11
0.00 b 7 Martin's paintbrush Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii⁺ 30 / 4 14
0.00 r Information board
0.00 r 8 Davidson's lotus Lotus nevadensis var. davidsonii 10 / 3 7
0.00 r 9 pinewoods rock-cress Arabis holboellii var. pinetorum 99 / 9 2
0.00 l 10 *desert crested wheatgrass Agropyron desertorum 3 / 1 3
0.00 l 11 matchweed Gutierrezia sarothrae 20 / 1 4
0.00 r 12 spreading fleabane Erigeron divergens⁺ 50 / 9 3
0.00 r 13 California brome Bromus carinatus var. carinatus 10 / 3 14
0.00 l 14 *downy brome Bromus tectorum 99 / 9 19
0.00 l 15 Parish's buckwheat Eriogonum parishii 20 / 3 3
0.00 l 16 groundsmoke Gayophytum diffusum ssp. parviflorum 99 / 9 11
0.00 l 17 San Gabriel beardtongue Penstemon labrosus 30 / 9 6
0.00 r 18 California black oak Quercus kelloggii 1 / 1 11
0.00 r 19 green-leaf manzanita Arctostaphylos patula 99 / 9 10
0.00 r 20 California-aster Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia 30 / 5 41
0.00 r 21 Mojave linanthus Linanthus breviculus 50 / 2 4
0.00 l 22 sulphur buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum var. munzii 30 / 4 9
0.00 r 23 plain mariposa lily Calochortus invenustus 2 / 2 7
0.00 r 24 curl-leaf mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus ledifolius var. intermontanus 5 / 3 8
0.00 l Jct. "scramble path" from parking lot.
0.00 b 25 Fendler's blue grass Poa fendleriana ssp. longiligula 99 / 9 2
0.01 l 26 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 30 / 5 46
0.01 l 27 dense false-gilia Allophyllum gilioides ssp. violaceum 10 / 1 1
0.01 l 28 Johnston's knotweed Polygonum douglasii ssp. johnstonii 10 / 1 1
0.01 l 29 needle & thread grass Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata 5 / 1 1
0.01 l 30 Ross' sedge Carex rossii 30 / 9 2
0.01 l Jct. trail from south end of parking lot.
0.01 l 31 one-sided bluegrass Poa secunda ssp. secunda 30 / 5 21
0.02 r 32 Brewer's fleabane Erigeron breweri var. breweri 30 / 5 1
0.02 r 33 purple-root cryptantha Cryptantha micrantha 99 / 5 6
0.02 r 34 mountain mugwort Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta 99 / 9 5
0.02 r 35 granite prickly phlox Leptodactylon pungens 30 / 5 4
0.03 r 36 Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi 50 / 9 19
0.03 r 37 forest goosefoot Chenopodium atrovirens 99 / 9 3
0.04 r 38 canyon lotus Lotus argyraeus var. argyraeus 4 / 2 1
0.04 l 39 narrowleaf monardella Monardella linoides ssp. stricta 50 / 9 6
0.05 r 40 white fir Abies concolor 99 / 9 18
0.05 l 41 goldenrod Solidago californica 50 / 5 26
r 42 Modoc gilia Gilia modocensis 5 / 1 3
0.09 l 43 canyon live oak Quercus chrysolepis 3 / 2 19
0.09 l 44 mountain whitethorn Ceanothus cordulatus 40 / 9 13
0.09 l 45 western wallflower Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum 99 / 9 15
0.11 l 46 Parry's sunflower Hulsea vestita ssp. parryi 40 / 7 2
0.11 r 47 wild tarragon Artemisia dracunculus 50 / 5 21
0.11 l 48 splendid gilia Gilia splendens ssp. splendens 50 / 2 6
0.12 r 49 purple nightshade Solanum xanti 5 / 1 12
0.12 r (California false-indigo, Amorpha californica var. californica)
0.12 l 50 spear-leaved mountain dandelion Agoseris retrorsa 5 / 2 12
0.13 r 51 Davidson's buckwheat Eriogonum davidsonii 40 / 2 16
0.13 l 52 slender everlasting Gnaphalium canescens ssp. thermale 20 / 3 2
0.14 l 53 southern montane grape lupine Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus 20 / 2 3
0.15 l 54 pine cryptantha Cryptantha simulans 5 / 1 1
0.15 b 55 southern mountain woolly-star Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum⁺ 20 / 3 9
0.16 l 56 Parish's needlegrass Achnatherum parishii⁺ 10 / 2 5
0.16 l (bird's-foot fern, Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata)
0.17 l 57 slender bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. gracillimum⁺ 1 / 1 1
0.17 l 58 Wheeler's common madia Madia elegans ssp. wheeleri 10 / 1 2
0.17 l 59 *yellow salsify Tragopogon dubius⁺ 10 / 2 5
0.17 l 60 incense-cedar Calocedrus decurrens 4 / 3 11
0.22 l 61 California false-indigo Amorpha californica var. californica 2 / 2 2
0.22 b 62 smoothleaf yerba santa Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx 3 / 1 6
0.22 c 63 wild pepper-grass Lepidium virginicum var. pubescens 10 / 3 5
0.22 r 64 woodland spurge Euphorbia palmeri 10 / 3 2
0.27 r 65 interior rose Rosa woodsii var. ultramontana 50 / 5 5
l (spineless horsebrush, Tetradymia canescens)
0.30 Trail turns right to cross stream; the rest of the trail is now almost entirely in shade.
0.30 r Sign: "Wilderness permit required before entry". (free; available from Mill Creek Forest Service Office)
0.31 l 66 mountain pink currant Ribes nevadense 30 / 5 6
0.31 l 67 Richardson's geranium Geranium richardsonii 40 / 5 3
0.31 l 68 mountain sweet-cicely Osmorhiza chilensis 3 / 1 5
0.31 l 69 arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis 30 / 5 28
0.31 l 70 hairy wood rush Luzula comosa 5 / 2 1
0.31 l 71 Kentucky blue grass Poa pratensis ssp. agassizensis 5 / 2 4
0.31 l 72 slender hairgrass Deschampsia elongata 10 / 2 2
0.31 l 73 scarlet monkeyflower Mimulus cardinalis 3 / 1 8
0.31 l 74 western columbine Aquilegia formosa 20 / 5 5
0.31 b 75 willowherb Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum 30 / 3 16
0.31 l 76 winter cress Barbarea orthoceras 20 / 2 6
0.31 l 77 *perennial mouse-ear chickweed Cerastium fontanum ssp. vulgare 20 / 2 2
0.31 l 78 cow parsnip Heracleum lanatum 1 / 1 2
0.31 l 79 fragile sheath sedge Carex fracta 5 / 1 6
0.31 l 80 Southern California draba Draba corrugata var. corrugata 20 / 3 2
0.31 l 81 small white violet Viola macloskeyi 5 / 1 1
0.31 l 82 rigid hedge-nettle Stachys ajugoides var. rigida 3 / 1 3
0.31 l 83 stinging nettle Urtica dioica ssp. holosericea 3 / 2 10
0.31 l 84 lemon lily Lilium parryi 6 / 3 3
0.31 l 85 thyme-leaved speedwell Veronica serpyllifolia ssp. humifusa 10 / 1 1
0.31 r 86 common monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus 30 / 3 2
0.31 r 87 swamp sedge Carex senta 99 / 9 2
0.31 r 88 field horsetail Equisetum arvense 25 / 3 2
0.31 r 89 American speedwell Veronica americana 10 / 1 2
0.31 r 90 Scouler's St. Johnswort Hypericum formosum var. scouleri 10 / 1 3
0.31 l (yellow willow, Salix lutea; large-leaf avens, Geum macrophyllum)
0.31 Cross Fish Creek which has flowing water; elevation ~7280 feet (2220 m), the low point on the trail.
0.32 r 91 quaking aspen Populus tremuloides 30 / 1 1
0.33 l Sign: "San Gorgonio Wilderness".
0.33 l (white bog orchid, Platanthera leucostachys)
0.34 r Jct. Aspen Grove Trail. Go left on Fish Creek Trail
0.34 b 92 smooth scouring rush Equisetum laevigatum 99 / 9 3
0.34 b 93 Parish's snowberry Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii 99 / 9 10
0.36 l 94 *prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola 1 / 1 26
0.36 r 95 wax currant Ribes cereum var. cereum 5 / 2 11
0.36 l 96 alkali western tansy-mustard Descurainia pinnata ssp. halictorum 50 / 4 4
0.36 r 97 Fendler's meadow-rue Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri 10 / 4 3
0.37 r 98 creeping wild rye Leymus triticoides 99 / 9 6
0.39 l 99 Utah service-berry Amelanchier utahensis 2 / 2 7
0.39 Cross small dry drainage
0.41 Switchback left.
0.42 Trail curves right.
0.43 r 100 beaked penstemon Penstemon rostriflorus 30 / 9 10
0.43 r 101 black cottonwood Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa⁺ 99 / 9 6
l 102 3yellow willow tSalix lutea /
0.44 l 103 Grinnell's beardtongue Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii 20 / 4 13
0.45 Trail curves right.
0.46 l Plants here have narrower leaves, almost like those of the former taxon of narrow-leaved black cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa var. ingrata.
0.46 b 104 mountain spray Holodiscus microphyllus var. microphyllus 3 / 1 6
0.48 l 105 Lemmon's willow Salix lemmonii 2 / 2 2
0.48 r 106 Anderson's lupine Lupinus andersonii⁺ 10 / 4 2
0.55 l Optional excursion to descend creek bank 15 steps to creek, which has the second occurrence of lemon lily, and three species also found later on the trail: horsetail, Equisetum hyemale ssp. affine, variegated clover,Trifolium variegatum phase 2, and cobwebby hedge-nettle, Stachys albens.
0.56 r 107 pine lousewort Pedicularis semibarbata 20 / 9 9
0.57 l Jct. path to water. Stay on trail.
0.60 l 108 ranger's buttons Sphenosciadium capitellatum 10 / 2 4
0.65 r Giant incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) with huge lightning scar. It is still alive despite having no visible bark!
0.69 r 109 Parish's bedstraw Galium parishii 10 / 5 4
0.70 l 110 San Bernardino beardtongue Penstemon caesius 10 / 9 3
0.70 l 111 Scouler's willow Salix scouleriana 5 / 4 3
0.73 b (blue elderberry, Sambucus mexicana)
112 scattered blazing star Mentzelia dispersa 10 / 2 3
0.81 l 113 fir dwarf-mistletoe Arceuthobium abietinum / 2
0.82 l 114 blue elderberry Sambucus mexicana 5 / 5 39
0.82 Cross dry drainage.
0.88 b 115 Parish's campion Silene parishii 20 / 4 6
0.88 r 116 perennial rock-cress Arabis perennans 5 / 1 2
0.94 r 117 ragged-leaf bahia Bahia dissecta 2 / 1 1
0.94 r Sign high on tree: "No camping here".
0.99 l 118 bristly-leaved rock-cress Arabis rectissima var. rectissima⁺ 5 / 2 2
1.00 Cross dry drainage.
1.10 b 119 rosy everlasting, pussytoes Antennaria rosea ssp. confinis 20 / 1 1
1.11 r 120 Nevada cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa ssp. nevadensis 20 / 3 9
1.14 r 121 horsetail Equisetum hyemale ssp. affine 30 / 1 3
1.16 Cross small seasonally-moist drainage.
1.16 l (arrowhead butterweed, Senecio triangularis; sparse-flowered bog-orchid, Platanthera sparsiflora)
1.16 l 122 meadow starwort Stellaria longipes var. longipes 3 / 1 1
1.16 b 123 giant red paintbrush Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata 10 / 2 5
1.16 r 124 pearlwort Sagina saginoides /
1.16 r (little false-solomon's-seal, Smilacina stellata)
1.16 r 125 variegated clover Trifolium variegatum phase 2⁺ 50 / 2 2
1.16 r 126 long-anthered rush Juncus macrandrus 20 / 1 2
1.17 Third location of lemon lily.
1.19 r 127 Parish's lupine Lupinus latifolius var. parishii 6 / 1 3
1.19 r 128 fireweed Epilobium angustifolium ssp. circumvagum 10 / 1 3
1.20 r 129 Parish's alumroot Heuchera alpestris 1 / 1 2
1.20 r 130 larger mountain monkeyflower Mimulus tilingii /
1.20 r 131 musk monkeyflower Mimulus moschatus 20 / 2
1.21 132 fir mistletoe Phoradendron pauciflorum 1 / 1 9
1.21 b 133 Idaho bentgrass Agrostis idahoensis 10 / 1 2
1.22 r 134 *common dandelion Taraxacum officinale 25 / 2 4
1.22 r Gopher tunnel "casts" from gophers making tunnels in snow and then filling them with dirt.
r 135 San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus /
1.23 r 136 spike bentgrass Agrostis exarata 5 / 1 3
1.26 l 137 Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus 30 / 5 10
1.28 Cross small drainage and enter Monkey Flower Flat.
1.28 b 138 fringed brome Bromus ciliatus 5 / 1 3
1.28 b 139 Letterman's needlegrass Achnatherum lettermanii 5 / 1 3
1.28 r 140 Big Bear Valley milk-vetch Astragalus lentiginosus var. sierrae 5 / 1 1
1.29 b 141 Wheeler's cinquefoil Potentilla wheeleri 20 / 1 2
1.29 b 142 mat muhly Muhlenbergia richardsonis 2 / 1 2
1.30 r (pussy paws, Calyptridium monospermum)
1.30 r 143 Parry's sand cress Calyptridium parryi var. parryi 20 / 2 3
1.33 b 144 ssp California evening-primrose Oenothera californica⁺ 10 / 1 2
1.33 b 145 fine-flower gilia Gilia leptantha ssp. leptantha 20 / 2 1
1.37 b 146 spineless horsebrush Tetradymia canescens 20 / 9 5
1.48 l Field of young pussypaws, Calyptridium monospermum.
1.48 l 147 pussy paws Calyptridium monospermum 20 / 2 4
1.57 Cross Fish Creek.
1.59 l Jct. (old?) trail; continue straight.
1.59 l A mature short black cottonwood, 5 feet high, trunk 5 cm diameter, with lvs ~2 cm in width in 2002; 2.5-4.5 cm in width, most 3.0 cm, in 2003; and 2.0-3.1 cm in width, most 2.7-3.0 cm, in 2004.
1.61 Trail jags left.
1.64 l Field of mature pussypaws, Calyptridium monospermum.
1.66 b 148 Jepson's blue wildrye Elymus glaucus ssp. jepsonii 10 / 1 9
1.66 r 149 cobwebby hedge-nettle Stachys albens 3 / 1 4
1.66 Cross small drainage.
1.70 b 150 spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium⁺ 10 / 1 3
1.71 Trail jags left.
1.79 Switchback left.
1.80 Switchback right.
1.87 l 151 clustered fleabane Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus⁺ 6 / 2 1
1.93 l Jct. (old trail to Lower Fish Creek Meadow?)
2.00 End trail at jct. with Upper Fish Creek Trail, elevation 7980 feet (2430 m); see its plant trail guide to continue, or return the way you came.

Comments On Specific Species

Machaeranthera canescens var. canescens. Specimens from 9/27/02 had ray flowers that were not fertile - they had no styles, and their fruit was undeveloped. This made the keying to the variety impossible.
Specimens from 8/10/04 had fertile ray flowers with styles present, and hence keyed directly to var. canescens.
The JM description says that var. canescens can have ray flowers that are rarely reduced or 0.
Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii. This taxon in the San Bernardino Mountains is different from the ones elsewhere!
Using Munz, the plants key to Castilleja martinii Abrams var. ewanii (Eastw.) Munz. Munz had three subspecies of C. martinii; this is the one found only in the San Bernardino Mountains.
The most striking distinction of var. ewanii is the leaf, which is linear and not wavy, unlike the lanceolate wavy leaves of var. martinii. There are also minor differences in the lengths of the galea (beak) and the depth of the calyx division. In addition to these distinctions listed in Munz, these plants are also much more glandular than the many specimens of var. martinii we have seen elsewhere.
In the JM, the three varieties of C. martinii were combined into the single subspecies of Castilleja applegatei.
Surprisingly, the name Castilleja martinii Abrams var. ewanii (Eastw.) Munz is listed in the JM as a synonym of C. angustifolia, which is non-glandular! In the JM entry for C. angustifolia, it says "earliest epithet in the widespread C. chromosa complex".
C. chromosa is in Munz, and is indeed non-glandular.
However, other sources, using Kartesz (1996), list Castilleja martinii var. ewanii as a synonym for Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii.
Oddly, IPNI lists no synonyms between Castilleja martinii var. ewanii and Castilleja applegatei.
We are definitely confused about what has happened to the name of Castilleja martinii var. ewanii.
The story gets even more complicated. In 1980, Heckard defined the taxon C. montigena, and classified a voucher from this trail as that identification. In the JM, this taxon is called a hybrid of Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii with C. angustifolia, which is listed as a judgement-reserved taxon under Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii.
Since the JM name for these plants is Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii, we've gone with that name. However, note that the JM description does not include or discuss the characteristics of Castilleja martinii var. ewanii mentioned above, instead leaving the reader to infer that those differences are due to its hybrid nature.
Erigeron divergens. There were no specimens of this species on the trail during our field work in 2002 and 2003! But in 2004, there were at least 50 plants spread along the first 0.20 miles of trail.
Although the JM considers this taxon to be an annual, and we have observed annuals of this species at lower elevations, Munz treats this as a biennial or nearly so. We suspect that the plants on this trail are almost entirely biennials. The severe drought in 2001-2002 killed all the biennial plants that germinated in spring 2001, producing no display in 2002. Plants that germinated in spring 2003 did not bloom in that year, resulting in no display in 2003. Finally, these plants produced their display in spring / summer 2004, surprising us greatly by their presence.
Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum. We treat ssp. elongatum as part of ssp. austromontanum, following blue Munz, since we generally find plants that have bracts that are 3-5 lobed, fitting ssp. elongatum, but have well over 15 flowers per head, fitting ssp. austromontanum. This is usually a symptom that the subspecies are not truly distinct.
Achnatherum parishii. This taxon may not be distinct from A. coronatum. See Achnatherum coronatum / A. parishii for a discussion of the characteristics of the specimens on this trail versus the characteristics of the two taxa given in the floras.
Galium angustifolium ssp. gracillimum. At first glance, these specimens seem identical with ssp. angustifolium. The difference is small, and comes down to this couplet in the JM:

60. Pl tall or low, ± stout, glabrous to white-hairy; lvs not deciduous; widespread in hills, mtns, but not in D ........ ssp. angustifolium
60'. Pl tall, very slender, gen glabrous; lvs deciduous; DMtns..... ssp. gracillimum

Note that for tall, glabrous plants, which fits most ssp. angustifolium, the only difference between the two subspecies is very slender vs. ± stout, and deciduous leaves or not. The leaves on these specimens are indeed deciduous, and the plants are on the slender side, so we have called them as ssp. gracillimum.
There are a handful more specimens off-trail nearby the one plant that is on the trail.
Tragopogon dubius. This non-native invasive species is only present in this portion of the trail. We pull up all plants when we see them, and take the flowers and seedheads back to our car and throw them in the trash. If everyone would do the same, we might be able to eliminate this before it becomes a serious pest, as it has elsewhere.
Populus trichocarpa sspp. trichocarpa and ingrata. Oddly, ssp. ingrata is possibly the second subspecies or variety that we have noticed that has gotten lost or been ignored in the JM. There are many specimens of this variety along the trail.
We were suspicious for some time that these specimens were normal Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa that had simply been cut back, and whose new leaves were much narrower than the usual 3-7 cm quoted in the JM. Our suspicions were allayed when we found the specimen at mile 1.59, that clearly was very old and had not been cut back. Every leaf on that shrub had a width of ~2 cm in 2002, which is very different from the Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa on the trail. Interestingly, the width of the leaves varied in subsequent years; they were 2.5-4.5 cm, most 3.0 cm, in 2003; and 2.0-3.1 cm in width, most 2.7-3.0 cm, in 2004.
Thus either this taxon needs to be restored to the JM, or else the leaf shape and width reported for Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa needs to be extended.
Lupinus andersonii. The first specimen on the trail was too young to bloom in 2002, 2003 and 2004; the id comes from similar specimens that bloomed at mile 1.47 in 2003. We observed blooms from closer specimens in 2004, but did not record their location.
Arabis rectissima var. rectissima. All specimens on this trail and on the Upper Fish Creek Trail were infected with rust fungus, producing a large number of brown dots on almost every surface of the plants. This makes this Arabis easy to identify at any stage!
Potentilla glandulosa ssp. reflexa. All specimens on this trail clearly key to ssp. reflexa, having petals obovate; sepals > petals; st and pedicel hairs gen glandular (some non-glandular); lflet double-toothed, which is essentially the JM key. However, the petals are white, unlike the yellow petals of ssp. reflexa, and the inflorescence branch angles are 5-10°, unlike the gen 20-40° angles of ssp. reflexa. Both these characteristics fits ssp. nevadensis, so perhaps there is some intergradation occurring here.
Trifolium variegatum phase 2. According to a note in the JM, this taxon is commonly confused with T. wormskioldii, and we understand why. These plants look to be perennial, and the leaves and stems are almost the spitting image of the illustration in the JM. Using Munz, the only possible id is in fact T. wormskioldii, since apparently Munz describes only a subset of the T. variegatum population that does not fit these specimens.
However, they key perfectly to T. variegatum in the JM, since the involucres are only 1 cm wide, and there are 1-2 seeds per pod. Confirming the id, the inflorescence widths are 1.5-2.0 cm, and the JM notes that this can be a short-lived perennial. The inflorescence in fact looks much more like the JM illustration for T. variegatum than for T. wormskioldii.
In summary, there are no inconsistencies with a T. variegatum id for these plants, whereas there are five inconsistencies with a T. wormskioldii (the involucre is not gen 2-3 cm wide; the involucre is lobed; the seeds are not 2-6; the inflorescence width is not 2-3 cm; and the corolla tip is not white).
Oenothera californica. The subspecies here is not clear based solely on the taxonomy. The JM key is:

8. cauline lvs gen ± pinnately-lobed; pl ±grayish-green .... ssp. avita
8'. cauline lvs subentire to deeply wavy-dentate; pl green to slightly grayish .... ssp. californica

The leaves probably go with 8', since they are pinnatifid. But with the two weasel words in 8 (gen and ±), they could fit that, too. The leaves appear grayish-green, which would go with 8. However, based on the geography of the subspecies in the JM, the choice of 8 would lead to the wrong ssp, one found only in D in Southern California. However, Munz says of O. californica (presumably ssp. californica based on the geographic range): ashy with short appressed hairs, which fits our samples precisely.
Hence we have left the subspecies indeterminate.
Apocynum androsaemifolium. The specimens on this trail are significantly taller than the heights given in the floras. Tom measured heights of 2.7-5.2 dm for all the nine specimens in one area of the trail, compared to the 1.6-3 dm in the JM key.
Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus. The specimens on this trail have yellow ligules, unlike the orangish ligules for the Pebble Plains version. This taxon has a disjunct distribution in the San Bernardino Mountain, at the Pebble Plains and here in the San Gorgonio alpine zone, 6,000 - 11,000 feet elevation.
Aster separation.
Here is a key to separate the five similar Asteraceae on this trail with purple ligules:

1. phyllary tips appressed; lvs reduced upwards or not; annual to per ... Erigeron
2. phyllaries strongly graded; basal lvs 0, cauline gen evenly sized and spaced; infls arising near st tips; per
3. phyllaries glandular .... var. breweri
3'. phyllaries non-glandular ... var. covillei
2'. phyllaries roughly equal; cauline lvs reduced upwards; infls arising near mid-stem; ann to biennial E. divergens

1'. phyllary tips spreading to reflexed; lvs gen reduced upwards; per to subshrub
2. lvs green, linear, often toothed; resembling those of a penstemon in being rigidly spreading; gen per ..... Machaeranthera canescens
2'. lvs gray, "half-tomentose", usually ascending; subshrub ...... Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia

Number of Trails Containing A Taxon	Number Of Taxa On This Trail	% of Taxa On This Trail
1	18	12%
2	29	20%
3	24	16%
4	10	7%
5	10	7%

1-5	91	62%
6-10	28	19%
11-15	14	10%
16-20	6	4%
21-25	2	1%
26-30	3	2%
31-35	0	0%
36-40	1	1%
41-45	1	1%
46-50	1	1%
Total Taxa	147	100%

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
9/23/2002	1	96	10	25	13	6
9/27/2002	2	95	5	10	16	1
8/5/2003	3	107	6	16	14	4
8/13/2003	4	117	5	14	8	2
5/6/2004	5	119	5	12	6	2
5/27/2004	6	124	4	12	7	3
5/30/2004	7	127	4	14	7	3
6/7/2004	8	137	2	14	5	2
6/11/2004	9	141	2	12	4	1
7/22/2004	10	140	0	2	1	1
8/5/2004	11	145	0	0	1	1
8/10/2004	12	147	0	0	0	1

Mile	S	#	id?	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00				Trailhead at parking lot in front of kiosk / display board, elevation 7410 feet (2260 m). Trail is in sun for first 1/4 mile, then mostly in shade. (Coville's fleabane, Erigeron breweri var. covillei, is found in the parking area, but not so far on the trail).
0.00	b	1		threadleaf common rabbitbrush	Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. consimilis	20 / 5	14
0.00	r	2		hoary-aster	Machaeranthera canescens var. canescens⁺	50 / 9	3
0.00	b	3		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum	40 / 6	11
0.00	l	4		California squirreltail	Elymus elymoides ssp. californicus	50 / 9	8
0.00	r	5		Nevin's bird's beak	Cordylanthus nevinii	30 / 5	5
0.00	l	6		yarrow	Achillea millefolium	20 / 4	11
0.00	b	7		Martin's paintbrush	Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii⁺	30 / 4	14
0.00	r			Information board
0.00	r	8		Davidson's lotus	Lotus nevadensis var. davidsonii	10 / 3	7
0.00	r	9		pinewoods rock-cress	Arabis holboellii var. pinetorum	99 / 9	2
0.00	l	10		*desert crested wheatgrass	Agropyron desertorum	3 / 1	3
0.00	l	11		matchweed	Gutierrezia sarothrae	20 / 1	4
0.00	r	12		spreading fleabane	Erigeron divergens⁺	50 / 9	3
0.00	r	13		California brome	Bromus carinatus var. carinatus	10 / 3	14
0.00	l	14		*downy brome	Bromus tectorum	99 / 9	19
0.00	l	15		Parish's buckwheat	Eriogonum parishii	20 / 3	3
0.00	l	16		groundsmoke	Gayophytum diffusum ssp. parviflorum	99 / 9	11
0.00	l	17		San Gabriel beardtongue	Penstemon labrosus	30 / 9	6
0.00	r	18		California black oak	Quercus kelloggii	1 / 1	11
0.00	r	19		green-leaf manzanita	Arctostaphylos patula	99 / 9	10
0.00	r	20		California-aster	Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia	30 / 5	41
0.00	r	21		Mojave linanthus	Linanthus breviculus	50 / 2	4
0.00	l	22		sulphur buckwheat	Eriogonum umbellatum var. munzii	30 / 4	9
0.00	r	23		plain mariposa lily	Calochortus invenustus	2 / 2	7
0.00	r	24		curl-leaf mountain-mahogany	Cercocarpus ledifolius var. intermontanus	5 / 3	8
0.00	l			Jct. "scramble path" from parking lot.
0.00	b	25		Fendler's blue grass	Poa fendleriana ssp. longiligula	99 / 9	2
0.01	l	26		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	30 / 5	46
0.01	l	27		dense false-gilia	Allophyllum gilioides ssp. violaceum	10 / 1	1
0.01	l	28		Johnston's knotweed	Polygonum douglasii ssp. johnstonii	10 / 1	1
0.01	l	29		needle & thread grass	Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata	5 / 1	1
0.01	l	30		Ross' sedge	Carex rossii	30 / 9	2
0.01	l			Jct. trail from south end of parking lot.
0.01	l	31		one-sided bluegrass	Poa secunda ssp. secunda	30 / 5	21
0.02	r	32		Brewer's fleabane	Erigeron breweri var. breweri	30 / 5	1
0.02	r	33		purple-root cryptantha	Cryptantha micrantha	99 / 5	6
0.02	r	34		mountain mugwort	Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta	99 / 9	5
0.02	r	35		granite prickly phlox	Leptodactylon pungens	30 / 5	4
0.03	r	36		Jeffrey pine	Pinus jeffreyi	50 / 9	19
0.03	r	37		forest goosefoot	Chenopodium atrovirens	99 / 9	3
0.04	r	38		canyon lotus	Lotus argyraeus var. argyraeus	4 / 2	1
0.04	l	39		narrowleaf monardella	Monardella linoides ssp. stricta	50 / 9	6
0.05	r	40		white fir	Abies concolor	99 / 9	18
0.05	l	41		goldenrod	Solidago californica	50 / 5	26
	r	42		Modoc gilia	Gilia modocensis	5 / 1	3
0.09	l	43		canyon live oak	Quercus chrysolepis	3 / 2	19
0.09	l	44		mountain whitethorn	Ceanothus cordulatus	40 / 9	13
0.09	l	45		western wallflower	Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum	99 / 9	15
0.11	l	46		Parry's sunflower	Hulsea vestita ssp. parryi	40 / 7	2
0.11	r	47		wild tarragon	Artemisia dracunculus	50 / 5	21
0.11	l	48		splendid gilia	Gilia splendens ssp. splendens	50 / 2	6
0.12	r	49		purple nightshade	Solanum xanti	5 / 1	12
0.12	r			(California false-indigo, Amorpha californica var. californica)
0.12	l	50		spear-leaved mountain dandelion	Agoseris retrorsa	5 / 2	12
0.13	r	51		Davidson's buckwheat	Eriogonum davidsonii	40 / 2	16
0.13	l	52		slender everlasting	Gnaphalium canescens ssp. thermale	20 / 3	2
0.14	l	53		southern montane grape lupine	Lupinus excubitus var. austromontanus	20 / 2	3
0.15	l	54		pine cryptantha	Cryptantha simulans	5 / 1	1
0.15	b	55		southern mountain woolly-star	Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum⁺	20 / 3	9
0.16	l	56		Parish's needlegrass	Achnatherum parishii⁺	10 / 2	5
0.16	l			(bird's-foot fern, Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata)
0.17	l	57		slender bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. gracillimum⁺	1 / 1	1
0.17	l	58		Wheeler's common madia	Madia elegans ssp. wheeleri	10 / 1	2
0.17	l	59		*yellow salsify	Tragopogon dubius⁺	10 / 2	5
0.17	l	60		incense-cedar	Calocedrus decurrens	4 / 3	11
0.22	l	61		California false-indigo	Amorpha californica var. californica	2 / 2	2
0.22	b	62		smoothleaf yerba santa	Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx	3 / 1	6
0.22	c	63		wild pepper-grass	Lepidium virginicum var. pubescens	10 / 3	5
0.22	r	64		woodland spurge	Euphorbia palmeri	10 / 3	2
0.27	r	65		interior rose	Rosa woodsii var. ultramontana	50 / 5	5
	l			(spineless horsebrush, Tetradymia canescens)
0.30				Trail turns right to cross stream; the rest of the trail is now almost entirely in shade.
0.30	r			Sign: "Wilderness permit required before entry". (free; available from Mill Creek Forest Service Office)
0.31	l	66		mountain pink currant	Ribes nevadense	30 / 5	6
0.31	l	67		Richardson's geranium	Geranium richardsonii	40 / 5	3
0.31	l	68		mountain sweet-cicely	Osmorhiza chilensis	3 / 1	5
0.31	l	69		arroyo willow	Salix lasiolepis	30 / 5	28
0.31	l	70		hairy wood rush	Luzula comosa	5 / 2	1
0.31	l	71		Kentucky blue grass	Poa pratensis ssp. agassizensis	5 / 2	4
0.31	l	72		slender hairgrass	Deschampsia elongata	10 / 2	2
0.31	l	73		scarlet monkeyflower	Mimulus cardinalis	3 / 1	8
0.31	l	74		western columbine	Aquilegia formosa	20 / 5	5
0.31	b	75		willowherb	Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum	30 / 3	16
0.31	l	76		winter cress	Barbarea orthoceras	20 / 2	6
0.31	l	77		*perennial mouse-ear chickweed	Cerastium fontanum ssp. vulgare	20 / 2	2
0.31	l	78		cow parsnip	Heracleum lanatum	1 / 1	2
0.31	l	79		fragile sheath sedge	Carex fracta	5 / 1	6
0.31	l	80		Southern California draba	Draba corrugata var. corrugata	20 / 3	2
0.31	l	81		small white violet	Viola macloskeyi	5 / 1	1
0.31	l	82		rigid hedge-nettle	Stachys ajugoides var. rigida	3 / 1	3
0.31	l	83		stinging nettle	Urtica dioica ssp. holosericea	3 / 2	10
0.31	l	84		lemon lily	Lilium parryi	6 / 3	3
0.31	l	85		thyme-leaved speedwell	Veronica serpyllifolia ssp. humifusa	10 / 1	1
0.31	r	86		common monkeyflower	Mimulus guttatus	30 / 3	2
0.31	r	87		swamp sedge	Carex senta	99 / 9	2
0.31	r	88		field horsetail	Equisetum arvense	25 / 3	2
0.31	r	89		American speedwell	Veronica americana	10 / 1	2
0.31	r	90		Scouler's St. Johnswort	Hypericum formosum var. scouleri	10 / 1	3
0.31	l			(yellow willow, Salix lutea; large-leaf avens, Geum macrophyllum)
0.31				Cross Fish Creek which has flowing water; elevation ~7280 feet (2220 m), the low point on the trail.
0.32	r	91		quaking aspen	Populus tremuloides	30 / 1	1
0.33	l			Sign: "San Gorgonio Wilderness".
0.33	l			(white bog orchid, Platanthera leucostachys)
0.34	r			Jct. Aspen Grove Trail. Go left on Fish Creek Trail
0.34	b	92		smooth scouring rush	Equisetum laevigatum	99 / 9	3
0.34	b	93		Parish's snowberry	Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii	99 / 9	10
0.36	l	94		*prickly lettuce	Lactuca serriola	1 / 1	26
0.36	r	95		wax currant	Ribes cereum var. cereum	5 / 2	11
0.36	l	96		alkali western tansy-mustard	Descurainia pinnata ssp. halictorum	50 / 4	4
0.36	r	97		Fendler's meadow-rue	Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri	10 / 4	3
0.37	r	98		creeping wild rye	Leymus triticoides	99 / 9	6
0.39	l	99		Utah service-berry	Amelanchier utahensis	2 / 2	7
0.39				Cross small dry drainage
0.41				Switchback left.
0.42				Trail curves right.
0.43	r	100		beaked penstemon	Penstemon rostriflorus	30 / 9	10
0.43	r	101		black cottonwood	Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa⁺	99 / 9	6
	l	102		3yellow willow	tSalix lutea	/
0.44	l	103		Grinnell's beardtongue	Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii	20 / 4	13
0.45				Trail curves right.
0.46	l			Plants here have narrower leaves, almost like those of the former taxon of narrow-leaved black cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa var. ingrata.
0.46	b	104		mountain spray	Holodiscus microphyllus var. microphyllus	3 / 1	6
0.48	l	105		Lemmon's willow	Salix lemmonii	2 / 2	2
0.48	r	106		Anderson's lupine	Lupinus andersonii⁺	10 / 4	2
0.55	l			Optional excursion to descend creek bank 15 steps to creek, which has the second occurrence of lemon lily, and three species also found later on the trail: horsetail, Equisetum hyemale ssp. affine, variegated clover,Trifolium variegatum phase 2, and cobwebby hedge-nettle, Stachys albens.
0.56	r	107		pine lousewort	Pedicularis semibarbata	20 / 9	9
0.57	l			Jct. path to water. Stay on trail.
0.60	l	108		ranger's buttons	Sphenosciadium capitellatum	10 / 2	4
0.65	r			Giant incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) with huge lightning scar. It is still alive despite having no visible bark!
0.69	r	109		Parish's bedstraw	Galium parishii	10 / 5	4
0.70	l	110		San Bernardino beardtongue	Penstemon caesius	10 / 9	3
0.70	l	111		Scouler's willow	Salix scouleriana	5 / 4	3
0.73	b			(blue elderberry, Sambucus mexicana)
		112		scattered blazing star	Mentzelia dispersa	10 / 2	3
0.81	l	113		fir dwarf-mistletoe	Arceuthobium abietinum	/	2
0.82	l	114		blue elderberry	Sambucus mexicana	5 / 5	39
0.82				Cross dry drainage.
0.88	b	115		Parish's campion	Silene parishii	20 / 4	6
0.88	r	116		perennial rock-cress	Arabis perennans	5 / 1	2
0.94	r	117		ragged-leaf bahia	Bahia dissecta	2 / 1	1
0.94	r			Sign high on tree: "No camping here".
0.99	l	118		bristly-leaved rock-cress	Arabis rectissima var. rectissima⁺	5 / 2	2
1.00				Cross dry drainage.
1.10	b	119		rosy everlasting, pussytoes	Antennaria rosea ssp. confinis	20 / 1	1
1.11	r	120		Nevada cinquefoil	Potentilla glandulosa ssp. nevadensis	20 / 3	9
1.14	r	121		horsetail	Equisetum hyemale ssp. affine	30 / 1	3
1.16				Cross small seasonally-moist drainage.
1.16	l			(arrowhead butterweed, Senecio triangularis; sparse-flowered bog-orchid, Platanthera sparsiflora)
1.16	l	122		meadow starwort	Stellaria longipes var. longipes	3 / 1	1
1.16	b	123		giant red paintbrush	Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata	10 / 2	5
1.16	r	124		pearlwort	Sagina saginoides	/
1.16	r			(little false-solomon's-seal, Smilacina stellata)
1.16	r	125		variegated clover	Trifolium variegatum phase 2⁺	50 / 2	2
1.16	r	126		long-anthered rush	Juncus macrandrus	20 / 1	2
1.17				Third location of lemon lily.
1.19	r	127		Parish's lupine	Lupinus latifolius var. parishii	6 / 1	3
1.19	r	128		fireweed	Epilobium angustifolium ssp. circumvagum	10 / 1	3
1.20	r	129		Parish's alumroot	Heuchera alpestris	1 / 1	2
1.20	r	130		larger mountain monkeyflower	Mimulus tilingii	/
1.20	r	131		musk monkeyflower	Mimulus moschatus	20 / 2
1.21		132		fir mistletoe	Phoradendron pauciflorum	1 / 1	9
1.21	b	133		Idaho bentgrass	Agrostis idahoensis	10 / 1	2
1.22	r	134		*common dandelion	Taraxacum officinale	25 / 2	4
1.22	r			Gopher tunnel "casts" from gophers making tunnels in snow and then filling them with dirt.
	r	135		San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush	Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus	/
1.23	r	136		spike bentgrass	Agrostis exarata	5 / 1	3
1.26	l	137		Mexican rush	Juncus mexicanus	30 / 5	10
1.28				Cross small drainage and enter Monkey Flower Flat.
1.28	b	138		fringed brome	Bromus ciliatus	5 / 1	3
1.28	b	139		Letterman's needlegrass	Achnatherum lettermanii	5 / 1	3
1.28	r	140		Big Bear Valley milk-vetch	Astragalus lentiginosus var. sierrae	5 / 1	1
1.29	b	141		Wheeler's cinquefoil	Potentilla wheeleri	20 / 1	2
1.29	b	142		mat muhly	Muhlenbergia richardsonis	2 / 1	2
1.30	r			(pussy paws, Calyptridium monospermum)
1.30	r	143		Parry's sand cress	Calyptridium parryi var. parryi	20 / 2	3
1.33	b	144	ssp	California evening-primrose	Oenothera californica⁺	10 / 1	2
1.33	b	145		fine-flower gilia	Gilia leptantha ssp. leptantha	20 / 2	1
1.37	b	146		spineless horsebrush	Tetradymia canescens	20 / 9	5
1.48	l			Field of young pussypaws, Calyptridium monospermum.
1.48	l	147		pussy paws	Calyptridium monospermum	20 / 2	4
1.57				Cross Fish Creek.
1.59	l			Jct. (old?) trail; continue straight.
1.59	l			A mature short black cottonwood, 5 feet high, trunk 5 cm diameter, with lvs ~2 cm in width in 2002; 2.5-4.5 cm in width, most 3.0 cm, in 2003; and 2.0-3.1 cm in width, most 2.7-3.0 cm, in 2004.
1.61				Trail jags left.
1.64	l			Field of mature pussypaws, Calyptridium monospermum.
1.66	b	148		Jepson's blue wildrye	Elymus glaucus ssp. jepsonii	10 / 1	9
1.66	r	149		cobwebby hedge-nettle	Stachys albens	3 / 1	4
1.66				Cross small drainage.
1.70	b	150		spreading dogbane	Apocynum androsaemifolium⁺	10 / 1	3
1.71				Trail jags left.
1.79				Switchback left.
1.80				Switchback right.
1.87	l	151		clustered fleabane	Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus⁺	6 / 2	1
1.93	l			Jct. (old trail to Lower Fish Creek Meadow?)
2.00				End trail at jct. with Upper Fish Creek Trail, elevation 7980 feet (2430 m); see its plant trail guide to continue, or return the way you came.

We thank Mike Crouse, James Dillane, Walt Fidler, and Dave Stith for help with the 2 July 2013 fieldwork.

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Plants With Voucher Records for Heart Bar Area in Calflora
Plants of Southern California: Trail Guides

Copyright © 2002-2013 by Tom Chester, Jane Strong and Michael Charters.
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Updated 14 October 2013.