Flora of Upper Tubb Canyon / Big Spring, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Flora of Upper Tubb Canyon / Big Spring, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Fig. 1. Google Earth View of Upper Tubb Canyon / Big Spring Area. The route surveyed on 17 January 2013 is shown in blue. It is probably only possible to do that loop immediately after a fire. Click on the picture for a larger version with landmarks labeled.

Introduction
Checklist

Introduction

The Big Spring tributary of Upper Tubb Canyon must be one of the best-kept secrets of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. We, and zillions of other people, have driven S22 starting down the Montezuma Grade without having any idea that the very dry landscape around S22 harbors not only a "Big Spring", but a creek with over a half-mile of year-round flowing water! We were simply dumbfounded to discover this the first time we looked at a Google Earth view of the area, and saw the extensive stretch of vegetation along it.
However, the water is normally guarded well by dense vegetation, steep slopes, and waterfalls. Schad (2010, p. 318) comments in describing a hike to Big Spring that:
the water gushes through tall thickets of seepwillow and thorny tangles of catclaw and mesquite - making it hard to reach the water with one's hide intact.

However, a lightning-caused fire burned the entire area in August 2012, which created a window of opportunity to explore the spring and the creek below it before the vegetation grows back and once again make access difficult. However, be warned that there are a number of waterfalls along the creek below Big Spring, so the trip below Big Spring is not for the faint of heart.
Fig. 2 shows a view of Big Spring from 17 January 2013, 5 months after the fire, and a similar view of Big Spring from 27 October 2020, 8 years after the fire. In 2013, it was easy to get into the creek, and walk up and down the creek itself. In 2020, the vegetation blocks easy access to the creek.

Fig. 2. Left: View of part of Big Spring on 17 January 2013. Right: A similar view on 27 October 2020. A number of the boulders on the far wall can easily be matched up in the two pix. The two pix were not taken from exactly the same vantage point, so the foreground is different. Click on the pictures for larger versions showing larger areas.

Checklist for Upper Tubb Canyon / Big Spring

This checklist is compiled from 4.0 days of fieldwork, from vouchers, and from iNat observations:

On 17 January 2013, after a fire burned essentially the entire surveyed area in August 2012. Little rain had fallen so far, and the previous week or two was so cold that ice was present in the creek flowing from Big Spring. Hence the area was surveyed at nearly the worst possible time.
On 5 November 2013, after some good monsoonal rains.
On 19 March 2016, at prime time, as part of a half-day spider field trip, with a brief follow-up visit on 24 March 2016.
On 26 March 2016, at prime time, for a half day, as part of a field trip led by one of the authors, Kate Harper.
On 27 October 2020, Don Rideout and Tom Chester did separate half-day trips. Don went to Big Spring and back. Tom went to Big Spring and came back via Upper Tubb Canyon and Culp Valley.

Vouchers were searched on 26 October 2020. There were 49 vouchers from this area, of which 41 were collected by Mary Jo Churchwell after the fire. She wisely concentrated on documenting the Big Spring area before it became inaccessible again.
iNaturalist observations were searched on 26 October 2020. There were 243 observations from this area, of which 84 were made by Carla Hoegen and Fred Melgert, and 59 were made by Terry Hunefeld.
This preliminary checklist is probably still incomplete for some winter / spring annuals and perennials. Three species that were not definitively determined are indicated in the checklist below by a qualifier in the column with header #Pls.
See:

Notes on the Scientific Names Used At This Site and
Information about the order in which the species are presented, and the links from the Scientific Name and Common Name.

The family name is abbreviated to the first five characters in order to save space in the table rows.
An asterisk before the Common Name indicates a non-native taxon.
The column with label BW links to the photo gallery page for each species at Fred Melgert and Carla Hoegen's BorregoWildflowers site.
The column with label #V gives the number of vouchers from this area.
The column with label #iN gives the number of iNat observations from this area. An "n" in this column indicates the location was on the north side of S22, technically outside the boundary of this flora at S22. Some of those species might be observed on the south side of S22 in the future.
The column labeled #Pls gives a minimum estimate of the number of plants from the field surveys, up to a maximum of 99 plants, for species seen in the field surveys for which abundances were noted. A ~ before the number indicates that the species or subspecies determination is not certain, but instead was just our best guess from the observed plants.
Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (5 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (2 double-sided pages). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)

# Famil Scientific Name
Link goes to the Jepson eflora (*)Common Name
Link goes to Calphotos BW
#V #iN #Pls
Ferns
1 Pteri Cheilanthes covillei beady lipfern BW 2 1 15
2 Pteri Cheilanthes viscida sticky lipfern BW 1
3 Pteri Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata bird's-foot fern BW 1 4
4 Pteri Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis goldback fern BW 2
Gymnosperms
5 Cupre Juniperus californica California juniper BW 1 15
6 Ephed Ephedra aspera Mormon tea BW 1 25
Magnoliids
7 Sauru Anemopsis californica yerba mansa BW 1 1 99
Eudicots
8 Acant Justicia californica chuparosa BW 1 9 99
9 Adoxa Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea blue elderberry BW 1 1 20
10 Amara Amaranthus fimbriatus fringed amaranth BW 1 2 99
11 Anaca Rhus ovata sugar bush BW 2 99
12 Apiac Apium graveolens *celery BW 1 99
13 Apiac Berula erecta cutleaf water-parsnip BW 99
14 Apocy Funastrum cynanchoides var. hartwegii climbing milkweed BW 1 1 75
15 Apocy Matelea parvifolia spearleaf BW 4
16 Aster Adenophyllum porophylloides San Felipe dogweed BW 3 99
17 Aster Ambrosia acanthicarpa bur-ragweed BW n
18 Aster Ambrosia salsola var. salsola cheesebush BW 1 99
19 Aster Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta mountain mugwort BW 1 99
20 Aster Baccharis salicifolia ssp. salicifolia mule fat BW 1 5 20
21 Aster Bahiopsis parishii Parish's goldeneye BW 5 99
22 Aster Bebbia juncea var. aspera sweetbush BW 1 4 99
23 Aster Brickellia californica California brickellbush BW 3
24 Aster Brickellia frutescens shrubby brickellia BW 60
25 Aster Chaenactis fremontii Fremont pincushion BW 1 99
26 Aster Chaenactis glabriuscula var. glabriuscula yellow pincushion BW 1
27 Aster Cirsium vulgare *bull thistle BW 2 6
28 Aster Encelia actoni Acton encelia BW 1 99
29 Aster Encelia farinosa var. farinosa brittlebush BW 1 9 99
30 Aster Ericameria brachylepis boundary goldenbush BW 2 2 25
31 Aster Erigeron canadensis horseweed BW ~3
32 Aster Eriophyllum wallacei var. wallacei Wallace's woolly daisy BW 1 75
33 Aster Gutierrezia sarothrae matchweed BW 1 30
34 Aster Lasthenia gracilis goldfields BW 1 1 99
35 Aster Malacothrix glabrata desert dandelion BW 10
36 Aster Monoptilon bellioides desert star BW 3
37 Aster Pectis papposa var. papposa chinch-weed BW 1 99
38 Aster Perityle emoryi Emory's rock-daisy BW 1 99
39 Aster Pluchea sericea arrow-weed BW 1 3 99
40 Aster Porophyllum gracile odora BW 50
41 Aster Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum *common cudweed BW 1 20
42 Aster Rafinesquia neomexicana desert chicory BW 1
43 Aster Senecio flaccidus var. monoensis Mono ragwort BW 9
44 Aster Solidago velutina ssp. californica goldenrod BW 1
45 Aster Sonchus oleraceus *sow thistle BW 1 2
46 Aster Stephanomeria exigua ssp. exigua slender wreathplant BW 1 n 2
47 Aster Stephanomeria pauciflora wire-lettuce BW 80
48 Aster Trixis californica var. californica California trixis BW 1 3 99
49 Borag Amsinckia intermedia common fiddleneck BW 4 30
50 Borag Cryptantha barbigera var. barbigera bearded cryptantha BW 1 15
51 Borag Cryptantha pterocarya wing-nut cryptantha BW 15
52 Borag Emmenanthe penduliflora var. penduliflora whispering bells BW 99
53 Borag Pectocarya recurvata curvenut combseed BW 2
54 Borag Phacelia cicutaria var. hispida caterpillar phacelia BW 1
55 Borag Phacelia distans common phacelia BW 1 4 30
56 Borag Phacelia minor wild canterbury bells BW 2 6
57 Borag Pholisma arenarium sand plant BW 1 1
58 Borag Pholistoma membranaceum white fiesta flower BW 4 75
59 Borag Plagiobothrys jonesii Jones' popcorn flower BW 1
60 Brass Brassica tournefortii *Sahara mustard BW 1 30
61 Brass Caulanthus lasiophyllus California mustard BW 1
62 Brass Descurainia pinnata western tansy-mustard BW 1
63 Brass Draba cuneifolia wedge-leaved draba BW 1
64 Brass Hirschfeldia incana *shortpod mustard BW 8
65 Brass Lepidium lasiocarpum ssp. lasiocarpum hairy-podded pepper-grass BW 2
66 Brass Nasturtium officinale water cress BW 1 99
67 Brass Sisymbrium irio *London rocket BW 1
68 Brass Sisymbrium orientale *Oriental mustard BW 99
69 Brass Thysanocarpus curvipes ssp. eradiatus fringe-pod BW 1
70 Cacta Cylindropuntia bigelovii teddy-bear cholla BW 1 50
71 Cacta Cylindropuntia ganderi Gander's cholla BW 4 99
72 Cacta Echinocereus engelmannii Engelmann's hedgehog cactus BW 1 10 75
73 Cacta Ferocactus cylindraceus California barrel cactus BW 4 50
74 Cacta Mammillaria dioica California fish-hook cactus BW 4 15
75 Cacta Mammillaria tetrancistra desert fish-hook cactus BW 3
76 Cacta Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris beavertail cactus BW 3 99
77 Cheno Chenopodium fremontii Fremont's goosefoot BW 6
78 Cheno Chenopodium murale *nettle-leaved goosefoot BW 1 40
79 Crass Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides desert dudleya BW 1 10
80 Cucur Cucurbita palmata coyote melon BW 1 15
81 Cucur Marah macrocarpa wild-cucumber BW 5
82 Eupho Bernardia incana western bernardia BW 1
83 Eupho Chamaesyce melanadenia red-gland spurge BW 8 99
84 Eupho Chamaesyce micromera Sonoran spurge BW 99
85 Eupho Chamaesyce serpyllifolia ssp. serpyllifolia thyme-leafed spurge BW 1
86 Eupho Chamaesyce setiloba starfish (Yuma) spurge BW 1 99
87 Eupho Ditaxis lanceolata narrowleaf ditaxis BW 99
88 Eupho Ditaxis neomexicana New Mexico ditaxis BW 1 2 99
89 Eupho Euphorbia eriantha beetle spurge BW 2
90 Eupho Stillingia linearifolia linear-leaved stillingia BW 4 99
91 Fabac Acmispon glaber var. brevialatus short-winged deerweed BW 1 25
92 Fabac Acmispon rigidus desert lotus BW 3 5
93 Fabac Acmispon strigosus strigose lotus BW 2
94 Fabac Lupinus bicolor dwarf lupine BW n
95 Fabac Lupinus concinnus bajada lupine BW 3
96 Fabac Lupinus sparsiflorus Coulter's lupine BW 4 30
97 Fabac Melilotus indicus *sourclover BW ~50
98 Fabac Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana honey mesquite BW 1 30
99 Fabac Senegalia greggii catclaw BW 1 4 99
100 Fouqu Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens ocotillo BW 10
101 Geran Erodium cicutarium *redstem filaree BW 5 99
102 Gross Ribes indecorum white-flowering currant BW 1 20
103 Krame Krameria erecta Pima rhatany BW 1 1 99
104 Lamia Hyptis emoryi desert-lavender BW 1 65
105 Lamia Salvia apiana white sage BW 1 3 4
106 Lamia Salvia columbariae chia BW 3 8
107 Lamia Scutellaria mexicana Mexican bladder sage BW 15
108 Loasa Mentzelia albicaulis white-stemmed blazing star BW 20
109 Loasa Mentzelia veatchiana Veatch's blazing star BW 2
110 Malva Ayenia compacta ayenia BW 40
111 Malva Hibiscus denudatus rock hibiscus BW 5
112 Malva Malacothamnus enigmaticus enigmatic bush mallow BW 1 60
113 Malva Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua apricot mallow BW 2
114 Malva Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa desert globemallow BW 7 99
115 Mollu Mollugo cerviana *carpet-weed BW 2
116 Monti Calyptridium monandrum sand cress BW 10
117 Nycta Boerhavia coccinea scarlet spiderling BW 78
118 Nycta Boerhavia triquetra var. intermedia fivewing spiderling BW 99
119 Nycta Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa Bigelow's desert four-o'clock BW 4 99
120 Onagr Camissonia strigulosa strigose suncup BW 1 4
121 Onagr Camissoniopsis confusa San Bernardino suncup BW ~5
122 Onagr Camissoniopsis pallida ssp. pallida pale suncup BW 20
123 Onagr Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium mountain California-fuchsia BW 1 99
124 Onagr Eulobus californicus California suncup BW 1 3 99
125 Papav Argemone munita prickly poppy BW 1 99
126 Papav Eschscholzia minutiflora ssp. minutiflora small-flowered poppy BW 1 10
127 Papav Eschscholzia parishii Parish's poppy BW 2 1
128 Phrym Mimulus guttatus common monkeyflower BW 1
129 Plant Collinsia concolor southern Chinese houses BW 1
130 Plant Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla little-leaved chaparral beardtongue BW 15
131 Plant Veronica catenata *chain speedwell 1
132 Polem Eriastrum eremicum ssp. eremicum desert woolly-star BW 99
133 Polem Gilia diegensis coastal gilia BW 1
134 Polem Linanthus dichotomus ssp. pattersonii evening-snow BW 1
135 Polyg Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum long-stemmed buckwheat BW n
136 Polyg Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium California buckwheat BW 4 99
137 Polyg Eriogonum gracile var. gracile slender buckwheat BW 2
138 Polyg Eriogonum gracile var. incultum slender buckwheat BW n 50
139 Polyg Eriogonum wrightii var. nodosum Wright's buckwheat BW 1 2 20
140 Portu Portulaca oleracea *common purslane BW 99
141 Ranun Delphinium parishii ssp. subglobosum intermediate larkspur BW 1
142 Rhamn Ziziphus parryi var. parryi lotebush BW 5 20
143 Rosac Prunus fremontii desert apricot BW 11 99
144 Rosac Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia hollyleaf cherry BW 2
145 Rubia Galium angustifolium ssp. borregoense Borrego bedstraw BW 2
146 Rubia Galium stellatum star-flowered bedstraw BW 2
147 Rutac Thamnosma montana turpentine broom BW 1
148 Salic Salix exigua var. exigua narrowleaf willow BW 1 99
149 Salic Salix gooddingii black willow BW 1
150 Salic Salix laevigata red willow BW 1 30
151 Simmo Simmondsia chinensis jojoba BW 4 99
152 Solan Datura wrightii sacred datura BW 99
153 Solan Lycium andersonii Anderson's boxthorn BW 4 60
154 Solan Nicotiana obtusifolia desert tobacco BW 6 85
155 Solan Physalis crassifolia thick-leaved ground cherry BW 1 99
156 Solan Solanum douglasii white nightshade BW 15
157 Solan Solanum parishii Parish's purple nightshade BW 1 20
158 Tamar Tamarix ramosissima *saltcedar BW 15
159 Urtic Parietaria hespera var. hespera pellitory BW 99
160 Urtic Urtica dioica ssp. holosericea stinging nettle BW 25
161 Visca Phoradendron californicum desert mistletoe BW 7 50
162 Zygop Larrea tridentata creosote bush BW 1 10
Monocots
163 Agava Agave deserti var. deserti desert agave BW 5 50
164 Agava Yucca schidigera Mohave yucca BW 6 8
165 Arace Lemna minuta duckweed 99
166 Areca Phoenix dactylifera *date palm BW 1 2
167 Areca Washingtonia filifera California fan palm BW 2 2
168 Cyper Eleocharis parishii Parish's spikerush BW 99
169 Junca Juncus mexicanus Mexican rush BW 99
170 Junca Juncus xiphioides iris-leaved rush BW 99
171 Poace Aristida adscensionis six-weeks three-awn BW 1 8
172 Poace Aristida purpurea purple three-awn BW 2
173 Poace Avena barbata *slender wild oats BW 3 99
174 Poace Bouteloua aristidoides var. aristidoides needle grama BW 25
175 Poace Bouteloua barbata var. barbata six-weeks grama BW 99
176 Poace Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens *red brome BW 1 99
177 Poace Distichlis spicata saltgrass BW 2 99
178 Poace Melica frutescens tall melica BW 1 5
179 Poace Melica imperfecta coast-range melic BW 1
180 Poace Muhlenbergia microsperma littleseed muhly BW 1
181 Poace Schismus barbatus *Mediterranean schismus BW 25
182 Poace Stipa speciosa desert needlegrass BW 1
183 Themi Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum blue dicks BW 7 12
184 Themi Muilla maritima muilla BW 1 2
185 Typha Typha domingensis southern cattail BW 99

#	Famil	Scientific Name Link goes to the Jepson eflora	(*)Common Name Link goes to Calphotos	BW	#V	#iN	#Pls
Ferns
1	Pteri	Cheilanthes covillei	beady lipfern	BW	2	1	15
2	Pteri	Cheilanthes viscida	sticky lipfern	BW			1
3	Pteri	Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata	bird's-foot fern	BW		1	4
4	Pteri	Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis	goldback fern	BW			2
Gymnosperms
5	Cupre	Juniperus californica	California juniper	BW		1	15
6	Ephed	Ephedra aspera	Mormon tea	BW		1	25
Magnoliids
7	Sauru	Anemopsis californica	yerba mansa	BW	1	1	99
Eudicots
8	Acant	Justicia californica	chuparosa	BW	1	9	99
9	Adoxa	Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea	blue elderberry	BW	1	1	20
10	Amara	Amaranthus fimbriatus	fringed amaranth	BW	1	2	99
11	Anaca	Rhus ovata	sugar bush	BW		2	99
12	Apiac	Apium graveolens	*celery	BW	1		99
13	Apiac	Berula erecta	cutleaf water-parsnip	BW			99
14	Apocy	Funastrum cynanchoides var. hartwegii	climbing milkweed	BW	1	1	75
15	Apocy	Matelea parvifolia	spearleaf	BW			4
16	Aster	Adenophyllum porophylloides	San Felipe dogweed	BW		3	99
17	Aster	Ambrosia acanthicarpa	bur-ragweed	BW		n
18	Aster	Ambrosia salsola var. salsola	cheesebush	BW		1	99
19	Aster	Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta	mountain mugwort	BW	1		99
20	Aster	Baccharis salicifolia ssp. salicifolia	mule fat	BW	1	5	20
21	Aster	Bahiopsis parishii	Parish's goldeneye	BW		5	99
22	Aster	Bebbia juncea var. aspera	sweetbush	BW	1	4	99
23	Aster	Brickellia californica	California brickellbush	BW			3
24	Aster	Brickellia frutescens	shrubby brickellia	BW			60
25	Aster	Chaenactis fremontii	Fremont pincushion	BW		1	99
26	Aster	Chaenactis glabriuscula var. glabriuscula	yellow pincushion	BW	1
27	Aster	Cirsium vulgare	*bull thistle	BW	2		6
28	Aster	Encelia actoni	Acton encelia	BW		1	99
29	Aster	Encelia farinosa var. farinosa	brittlebush	BW	1	9	99
30	Aster	Ericameria brachylepis	boundary goldenbush	BW	2	2	25
31	Aster	Erigeron canadensis	horseweed	BW			~3
32	Aster	Eriophyllum wallacei var. wallacei	Wallace's woolly daisy	BW		1	75
33	Aster	Gutierrezia sarothrae	matchweed	BW		1	30
34	Aster	Lasthenia gracilis	goldfields	BW	1	1	99
35	Aster	Malacothrix glabrata	desert dandelion	BW			10
36	Aster	Monoptilon bellioides	desert star	BW			3
37	Aster	Pectis papposa var. papposa	chinch-weed	BW	1		99
38	Aster	Perityle emoryi	Emory's rock-daisy	BW	1		99
39	Aster	Pluchea sericea	arrow-weed	BW	1	3	99
40	Aster	Porophyllum gracile	odora	BW			50
41	Aster	Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum	*common cudweed	BW	1		20
42	Aster	Rafinesquia neomexicana	desert chicory	BW		1
43	Aster	Senecio flaccidus var. monoensis	Mono ragwort	BW			9
44	Aster	Solidago velutina ssp. californica	goldenrod	BW	1
45	Aster	Sonchus oleraceus	*sow thistle	BW	1		2
46	Aster	Stephanomeria exigua ssp. exigua	slender wreathplant	BW	1	n	2
47	Aster	Stephanomeria pauciflora	wire-lettuce	BW			80
48	Aster	Trixis californica var. californica	California trixis	BW	1	3	99
49	Borag	Amsinckia intermedia	common fiddleneck	BW		4	30
50	Borag	Cryptantha barbigera var. barbigera	bearded cryptantha	BW	1		15
51	Borag	Cryptantha pterocarya	wing-nut cryptantha	BW			15
52	Borag	Emmenanthe penduliflora var. penduliflora	whispering bells	BW			99
53	Borag	Pectocarya recurvata	curvenut combseed	BW			2
54	Borag	Phacelia cicutaria var. hispida	caterpillar phacelia	BW		1
55	Borag	Phacelia distans	common phacelia	BW	1	4	30
56	Borag	Phacelia minor	wild canterbury bells	BW		2	6
57	Borag	Pholisma arenarium	sand plant	BW	1		1
58	Borag	Pholistoma membranaceum	white fiesta flower	BW		4	75
59	Borag	Plagiobothrys jonesii	Jones' popcorn flower	BW		1
60	Brass	Brassica tournefortii	*Sahara mustard	BW		1	30
61	Brass	Caulanthus lasiophyllus	California mustard	BW	1
62	Brass	Descurainia pinnata	western tansy-mustard	BW			1
63	Brass	Draba cuneifolia	wedge-leaved draba	BW	1
64	Brass	Hirschfeldia incana	*shortpod mustard	BW			8
65	Brass	Lepidium lasiocarpum ssp. lasiocarpum	hairy-podded pepper-grass	BW			2
66	Brass	Nasturtium officinale	water cress	BW	1		99
67	Brass	Sisymbrium irio	*London rocket	BW		1
68	Brass	Sisymbrium orientale	*Oriental mustard	BW			99
69	Brass	Thysanocarpus curvipes ssp. eradiatus	fringe-pod	BW			1
70	Cacta	Cylindropuntia bigelovii	teddy-bear cholla	BW		1	50
71	Cacta	Cylindropuntia ganderi	Gander's cholla	BW		4	99
72	Cacta	Echinocereus engelmannii	Engelmann's hedgehog cactus	BW	1	10	75
73	Cacta	Ferocactus cylindraceus	California barrel cactus	BW		4	50
74	Cacta	Mammillaria dioica	California fish-hook cactus	BW		4	15
75	Cacta	Mammillaria tetrancistra	desert fish-hook cactus	BW			3
76	Cacta	Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris	beavertail cactus	BW		3	99
77	Cheno	Chenopodium fremontii	Fremont's goosefoot	BW			6
78	Cheno	Chenopodium murale	*nettle-leaved goosefoot	BW	1		40
79	Crass	Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides	desert dudleya	BW		1	10
80	Cucur	Cucurbita palmata	coyote melon	BW		1	15
81	Cucur	Marah macrocarpa	wild-cucumber	BW			5
82	Eupho	Bernardia incana	western bernardia	BW			1
83	Eupho	Chamaesyce melanadenia	red-gland spurge	BW		8	99
84	Eupho	Chamaesyce micromera	Sonoran spurge	BW			99
85	Eupho	Chamaesyce serpyllifolia ssp. serpyllifolia	thyme-leafed spurge	BW			1
86	Eupho	Chamaesyce setiloba	starfish (Yuma) spurge	BW		1	99
87	Eupho	Ditaxis lanceolata	narrowleaf ditaxis	BW			99
88	Eupho	Ditaxis neomexicana	New Mexico ditaxis	BW	1	2	99
89	Eupho	Euphorbia eriantha	beetle spurge	BW			2
90	Eupho	Stillingia linearifolia	linear-leaved stillingia	BW		4	99
91	Fabac	Acmispon glaber var. brevialatus	short-winged deerweed	BW		1	25
92	Fabac	Acmispon rigidus	desert lotus	BW		3	5
93	Fabac	Acmispon strigosus	strigose lotus	BW			2
94	Fabac	Lupinus bicolor	dwarf lupine	BW		n
95	Fabac	Lupinus concinnus	bajada lupine	BW			3
96	Fabac	Lupinus sparsiflorus	Coulter's lupine	BW		4	30
97	Fabac	Melilotus indicus	*sourclover	BW			~50
98	Fabac	Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana	honey mesquite	BW		1	30
99	Fabac	Senegalia greggii	catclaw	BW	1	4	99
100	Fouqu	Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens	ocotillo	BW			10
101	Geran	Erodium cicutarium	*redstem filaree	BW		5	99
102	Gross	Ribes indecorum	white-flowering currant	BW	1		20
103	Krame	Krameria erecta	Pima rhatany	BW	1	1	99
104	Lamia	Hyptis emoryi	desert-lavender	BW		1	65
105	Lamia	Salvia apiana	white sage	BW	1	3	4
106	Lamia	Salvia columbariae	chia	BW		3	8
107	Lamia	Scutellaria mexicana	Mexican bladder sage	BW			15
108	Loasa	Mentzelia albicaulis	white-stemmed blazing star	BW			20
109	Loasa	Mentzelia veatchiana	Veatch's blazing star	BW			2
110	Malva	Ayenia compacta	ayenia	BW			40
111	Malva	Hibiscus denudatus	rock hibiscus	BW			5
112	Malva	Malacothamnus enigmaticus	enigmatic bush mallow	BW		1	60
113	Malva	Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua	apricot mallow	BW			2
114	Malva	Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rugosa	desert globemallow	BW		7	99
115	Mollu	Mollugo cerviana	*carpet-weed	BW			2
116	Monti	Calyptridium monandrum	sand cress	BW			10
117	Nycta	Boerhavia coccinea	scarlet spiderling	BW			78
118	Nycta	Boerhavia triquetra var. intermedia	fivewing spiderling	BW			99
119	Nycta	Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa	Bigelow's desert four-o'clock	BW		4	99
120	Onagr	Camissonia strigulosa	strigose suncup	BW		1	4
121	Onagr	Camissoniopsis confusa	San Bernardino suncup	BW			~5
122	Onagr	Camissoniopsis pallida ssp. pallida	pale suncup	BW			20
123	Onagr	Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium	mountain California-fuchsia	BW		1	99
124	Onagr	Eulobus californicus	California suncup	BW	1	3	99
125	Papav	Argemone munita	prickly poppy	BW		1	99
126	Papav	Eschscholzia minutiflora ssp. minutiflora	small-flowered poppy	BW		1	10
127	Papav	Eschscholzia parishii	Parish's poppy	BW	2	1
128	Phrym	Mimulus guttatus	common monkeyflower	BW	1
129	Plant	Collinsia concolor	southern Chinese houses	BW	1
130	Plant	Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla	little-leaved chaparral beardtongue	BW			15
131	Plant	Veronica catenata	*chain speedwell		1
132	Polem	Eriastrum eremicum ssp. eremicum	desert woolly-star	BW			99
133	Polem	Gilia diegensis	coastal gilia	BW		1
134	Polem	Linanthus dichotomus ssp. pattersonii	evening-snow	BW		1
135	Polyg	Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum	long-stemmed buckwheat	BW		n
136	Polyg	Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium	California buckwheat	BW		4	99
137	Polyg	Eriogonum gracile var. gracile	slender buckwheat	BW			2
138	Polyg	Eriogonum gracile var. incultum	slender buckwheat	BW		n	50
139	Polyg	Eriogonum wrightii var. nodosum	Wright's buckwheat	BW	1	2	20
140	Portu	Portulaca oleracea	*common purslane	BW			99
141	Ranun	Delphinium parishii ssp. subglobosum	intermediate larkspur	BW			1
142	Rhamn	Ziziphus parryi var. parryi	lotebush	BW		5	20
143	Rosac	Prunus fremontii	desert apricot	BW		11	99
144	Rosac	Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia	hollyleaf cherry	BW			2
145	Rubia	Galium angustifolium ssp. borregoense	Borrego bedstraw	BW			2
146	Rubia	Galium stellatum	star-flowered bedstraw	BW			2
147	Rutac	Thamnosma montana	turpentine broom	BW			1
148	Salic	Salix exigua var. exigua	narrowleaf willow	BW		1	99
149	Salic	Salix gooddingii	black willow	BW	1
150	Salic	Salix laevigata	red willow	BW		1	30
151	Simmo	Simmondsia chinensis	jojoba	BW		4	99
152	Solan	Datura wrightii	sacred datura	BW			99
153	Solan	Lycium andersonii	Anderson's boxthorn	BW		4	60
154	Solan	Nicotiana obtusifolia	desert tobacco	BW		6	85
155	Solan	Physalis crassifolia	thick-leaved ground cherry	BW		1	99
156	Solan	Solanum douglasii	white nightshade	BW			15
157	Solan	Solanum parishii	Parish's purple nightshade	BW		1	20
158	Tamar	Tamarix ramosissima	*saltcedar	BW			15
159	Urtic	Parietaria hespera var. hespera	pellitory	BW			99
160	Urtic	Urtica dioica ssp. holosericea	stinging nettle	BW			25
161	Visca	Phoradendron californicum	desert mistletoe	BW		7	50
162	Zygop	Larrea tridentata	creosote bush	BW	1		10
Monocots
163	Agava	Agave deserti var. deserti	desert agave	BW		5	50
164	Agava	Yucca schidigera	Mohave yucca	BW		6	8
165	Arace	Lemna minuta	duckweed				99
166	Areca	Phoenix dactylifera	*date palm	BW	1		2
167	Areca	Washingtonia filifera	California fan palm	BW		2	2
168	Cyper	Eleocharis parishii	Parish's spikerush	BW			99
169	Junca	Juncus mexicanus	Mexican rush	BW			99
170	Junca	Juncus xiphioides	iris-leaved rush	BW			99
171	Poace	Aristida adscensionis	six-weeks three-awn	BW		1	8
172	Poace	Aristida purpurea	purple three-awn	BW			2
173	Poace	Avena barbata	*slender wild oats	BW		3	99
174	Poace	Bouteloua aristidoides var. aristidoides	needle grama	BW			25
175	Poace	Bouteloua barbata var. barbata	six-weeks grama	BW			99
176	Poace	Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens	*red brome	BW		1	99
177	Poace	Distichlis spicata	saltgrass	BW		2	99
178	Poace	Melica frutescens	tall melica	BW		1	5
179	Poace	Melica imperfecta	coast-range melic	BW			1
180	Poace	Muhlenbergia microsperma	littleseed muhly	BW			1
181	Poace	Schismus barbatus	*Mediterranean schismus	BW			25
182	Poace	Stipa speciosa	desert needlegrass	BW			1
183	Themi	Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum	blue dicks	BW		7	12
184	Themi	Muilla maritima	muilla	BW		1	2
185	Typha	Typha domingensis	southern cattail	BW			99

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Plants of Southern California: Regional Floras

Copyright © 2013-2020 by Tom Chester, Kate Harper, Vince Balch, Adrienne Ballwey, Mary Jo Churchwell, Mike Crouse, Don Rideout, Walt Fidler, and Karin Vickars (authors in alphabetical order after first two authors)
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/floras/upper_tubb_canyon.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Last update: 30 October 2020


Fig. 2. Left: View of part of Big Spring on 17 January 2013. Right: A similar view on 27 October 2020. A number of the boulders on the far wall can easily be matched up in the two pix. The two pix were not taken from exactly the same vantage point, so the foreground is different. Click on the pictures for larger versions showing larger areas.