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

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

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

This trail begins at the southeast corner of the Visitor Center parking lot. This trail has guides going in both directions; the other one begins in Culp Valley.
Fieldwork has only been done in December 2005 to February 2006, a severe drought year, and in December 2009, and so this guide is incomplete for most annuals and some perennials. The estimates of the abundance for the annuals and perennials in the guide might be severe underestimates of what would be found in February and March of a good rainfall year.
Without a car shuttle, most people will probably turn around near the halfway point at the 2600 foot saddle. Hence for each of the two guides, we do something that otherwise would seem peculiar. The estimate of the number of plants and number of locations for each species gives only the numbers appropriate to each guide before that saddle. After the saddle, it will give the numbers from the other guide. (This paragraph is probably way too confusing; most people can just ignore it or figure it out when they are on the trail.)
See also the introduction, pictures and maps in Flora of Culp Valley / Hellhole Canyon.
Highlights of This Trail

Number of Unique Taxa On This Trail

The following histogram gives the number of trails in our database that contain each taxon on this trail. We had 189 of our trails and floras in our database when this histogram was made; 51 of those trails, including this one, are in Anza-Borrego State Park. A number of "1" means the taxon has only been found only on this list, among all of our trails and floras in our database.

Number of Trails
Containing A Taxon Number Of Taxa
On This Trail % of Taxa
On This Trail
1 2 2%
2 2 2%
3 3 2%
4 1 1%
5 7 6%

1-5 15 12%
6-10 13 11%
11-15 24 20%
16-20 11 9%
21-25 7 6%
26-30 11 9%
31-35 5 4%
36-40 9 7%
41-45 7 6%
46-50 7 6%
51-55 7 6%
56-60 1 1%
>60 4 3%
Total Taxa 121 100%

We found 14 additional taxa not in the above table, since they have not been fully identified yet. The unidentified ones are marked with ?, sp or ssp in the id? column in the guide, and have no entries in the #all column.
The taxa that are unique to this trail, or found at most in just one or two other guides or floras, are:

# guides / floras Name
1 Menodora scoparia
1 Galium angustifolium ssp. borregoense
2 Chamaesyce arizonica
2 Brickellia frutescens
3 Ditaxis neomexicana
3 Chamaesyce melanadenia
3 Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla

Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time

The following table gives the dates the trail up to the 2600 foot saddle 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"
12/6/2005 1 69 2 7 10 4
12/19/2005 2 80 2 5 10 2
12/23/2005 3 87 4 7 10 1
12/23/2005 3 93 5 9 10 1
1/3/2006 4 104 5 10 11 1
2/6/2006 5 109 5 8 11 1
12/31/2009 6 110 2 5 13 1

The fieldwork on 12/6/05 was only to mile 1.46. On 12/19/05, the fieldwork was to mile 1.57, adding 5 new species to the guide in the new portion.
There are two entries for 12/23/05, since the trail guide was extended from mile 1.57 to mile 2.22. The first entry gives the numbers only up to mile 2.22, so a comparison can be made with previous entries.
The trail guide was extended from mile 2.22 to mile 3.06 on 1/3/06, but no new species were found in the previously-covered portion of the trail.
We thank Paula Knoll for her assistance in the fieldwork on 12/19/05, and James Dillane for his assistance on 12/23/05.
Botanical Trip Reports

The Plant Guide

For a plant list of the species found here in traditional family order, see Flora of Culp Valley / Hellhole Canyon.
The mileages are derived from a GPS recording of this trail, but some sections were not accurately GPS'd. Mileages should be accurate to ~0.02 to 0.05 miles.
The upper part of this guide has not yet been updated from the 3 January 2010 work on the upper part of this trail.
Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (7 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (2 double-sided pages). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)

mile s # id Common Name Scientific Name #here #all
0.00 Begin at signed trailhead on southeast corner of Visitor Center Parking Lot; elevation ~835 feet (255 m). Guide gives species abundance only to saddle at mile 3.06 for those found earlier than that point.
0.00 b 1 *Mediterranean schismus Schismus barbatus 10 / 1 51
0.00 b 2 small-seeded spurge Chamaesyce polycarpa 99 / 7 54
0.00 b 3 sp Nemacladus sp. 99 / 9
0.00 b 4 *redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium 99 / 9 81
0.00 r 5 New Mexico ditaxis Ditaxis neomexicana 50 / 9 3
0.00 l 6 Gander's cholla Opuntia ganderi 99 / 9 39
0.00 b 7 brittlebush Encelia farinosa 99 / 9 52
0.00 r Sign: "Riding and Hiking Trail (ahead); No Dogs Past This Point"
0.00 b 8 indigo bush Psorothamnus schottii 50 / 7 46
0.00 b 9 burroweed Ambrosia dumosa 40 / 9 49
0.00 l 10 common phacelia Phacelia distans 99 / 9 37
0.00 l Check for id of the Cryptantha here
0.01 l 11 chinch-weed Pectis papposa var. papposa 40 / 9 5
0.01 r 12 Emory's rock-daisy Perityle emoryi 20 / 9 28
0.01 r 13 desert dandelion Malacothrix glabrata 5 / 2 17
0.02 b 14 small-flowered poppy Eschscholzia minutiflora ssp. minutiflora 10 / 2 15
0.02 Trail curves left
0.03 r 15 wishbone plant Mirabilis bigelovii var. retrorsa 30 / 9 27
0.03 Trail makes small curve right
0.04 l 16 *Asian mustard Brassica tournefortii 20 / 9 43
0.04 r 17 chuparosa Justicia californica 40 / 7 24
0.05 b (creosote bush, Larrea tridentata)
0.05 r 18 ssp western tansy-mustard Descurainia pinnata 20 / 5
0.05 l (wire-lettuce, Stephanomeria pauciflora var. pauciflora)
0.06 Trail curves right
0.06 l 19 cheesebush Hymenoclea salsola var. salsola 20 / 7 44
0.08 r 20 desert lavender Hyptis emoryi⁺ 50 / 7 44
0.08 l 21 ~ California suncup Camissonia californica 99 / 9 60
0.09 Cross small wash
0.10 l 22 Guadalupe cryptantha Cryptantha maritima 99 / 9 15
0.10 l 23 desert thornapple Datura discolor 5 / 5 9
0.11 r (California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus)
0.13 r 24 desert twining snapdragon Antirrhinum filipes 4 / 4 6
0.16 r 25 creosote bush Larrea tridentata 40 / 7 53
0.32 Trail jogs left
0.37 Cross faint old road (or buried water pipe) heading toward the hills from the water tanks to left
0.37 l (teddy-bear cholla, Opuntia bigelovii)
0.43 l 26 chia Salvia columbariae 1 / 1 53
0.43 l Dead desert trumpet, Eriogonum inflatum
0.47 r 27 teddy-bear cholla Opuntia bigelovii 30 / 5 33
0.48 l Dead ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens next to trail; live one off-trail
0.50 Cross wash
0.54 r 28 wire-lettuce Stephanomeria pauciflora var. pauciflora 30 / 9 49
0.58 l (Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii)
0.58 b Enter forest of teddy-bear cholla, Opuntia bigelovii
0.60 r 29 fringed amaranth Amaranthus fimbriatus 40 / 5 11
0.66 l 30 desert agave Agave deserti 20 / 9 31
0.66 l 31 ocotillo Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens 5 / 3 49
0.72 Jct. old road that is now a horse trail
0.78 r 32 desert trumpet Eriogonum inflatum 1 / 1 38
0.78 Cross small wash with 2 branches
0.82 Jct. main Hellhole Canyon Trail; elevation ~950 feet (290 m); cross it and continue straight ahead to pick up this trail again
0.83 r (Old termite tube at base of dead plant; small-flowered fiddleneck, Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii)
0.83 l 33 Nealley three-awn Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi 3 / 3 4
0.83 l Sign: "California Riding and Hiking Trail"
0.83 b 34 ~ hairy-podded pepper-grass Lepidium lasiocarpum var. lasiocarpum 99 / 9 30
0.83 r 35 desert plantain Plantago ovata 99 / 9 34
0.84 l 36 narrowleaf ditaxis Ditaxis lanceolata 50 / 9 30
0.84 r 37 yellow-head Trichoptilium incisum 20 / 4 5
0.84 r 38 sp combseed Pectocarya sp. 20 / 2
0.84 l 39 ~ desert woolly-star Eriastrum eremicum ssp. eremicum 99 / 9 19
0.85 r 40 six-weeks three-awn Aristida adscensionis 5 / 1 16
0.85 l 41 ? baby annual like suncup Camissonia sp.? /
l 42 fish-hook cactus Mammillaria dioica 10 / 9 22
0.85 r 43 rock hibiscus Hibiscus denudatus 10 / 5 26
0.85 l 44 pebble pincushion Chaenactis carphoclinia var. carphoclinia 99 / 9 12
r (beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris)
0.89 l 45 thick-leaved ground cherry Physalis crassifolia 20 / 9 22
0.90 b 46 downy dalea Dalea mollissima 3 / 1 5
0.90 l 47 brittle spineflower Chorizanthe brevicornu var. brevicornu 5 / 1 30
0.90 b Enter huge field of Chaenactis carphoclinia
r (Pima rhatany, Krameria erecta; California trixis, Trixis californica var. californica)
0.93 l 48 California fagonia Fagonia laevis 20 / 9 25
0.97 r 49 sp fivewing spiderling Boerhavia intermedia 99 / 9 10
1.02 Trail jogs left
1.02 r 50 California barrel cactus Ferocactus cylindraceus⁺ 3 / 3 41
1.02 r 51 ~ bracted blazing star Mentzelia involucrata 5 / 3 20
1.03 l ~ (red brome, Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens)
1.04 r 52 Mojave ragwort Senecio mohavensis 50 / 9 18
1.04 b 53 small-flowered fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii 20 / 2 15
1.05 l 54 Engelmann's hedgehog cactus Echinocereus engelmannii 10 / 9 24
1.05 l (woolly lipfern, Cheilanthes parryi)
1.06 l 55 jojoba Simmondsia chinensis 20 / 9 26
1.07 l 56 desert spike-moss Selaginella eremophila 50 / 9 15
1.07 l 57 woolly lipfern Cheilanthes parryi 30 / 9 27
1.07 l 58 ~ intermediate larkspur Delphinium parishii ssp. subglobosum 10 / 3 13
1.07 r 59 beavertail cactus Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris 10 / 9 46
1.09 r 60 rattlesnake weed Daucus pusillus 20 / 3 31
1.10 Jct. ridgeline between two side-drainages; trail soon veers to right of ridgeline; small peak behind trail on ridge has a good view and many Mentzelia. Trail now zig-zags up the slope, using fairly tight switchbacks.
1.13 l (San Felipe dogweed, Adenophyllum porophylloides)
1.13 l 61 Pima rhatany Krameria erecta 20 / 9 14
1.18 l (Parish's viguiera, Viguiera parishii)
1.19 r 62 desert lotus Lotus rigidus 20 / 9 18
1.20 l 63 ~ bajada lupine Lupinus concinnus 5 / 2 18
1.20 r 64 ~ white fiesta flower Pholistoma membranaceum 50 / 3 15
1.21 r 65 threadstem Pterostegia drymarioides 2 / 1 45
1.21 r 66 San Felipe dogweed Adenophyllum porophylloides 20 / 9 28
1.22 b 67 *red brome Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens 30 / 9 84
1.22 l 68 California trixis Trixis californica var. californica 10 / 9 29
1.23 r 69 Parish's viguiera Viguiera parishii 20 / 9 28
1.26 r 70 white rhatany Krameria grayi 2 / 2 37
1.26 r (sweetbush, Bebbia juncea var. aspera)
1.27 l 71 broom twinberry Menodora scoparia 10 / 6 1
1.27 r (big galleta, Pleuraphis rigida)
1.27 b 72 Coulter's lyrepod Lyrocarpa coulteri var. palmeri 5 / 3 8
1.27 r (Vasey's sage, Salvia vaseyi; California buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium)
1.28 l 73 ~ short-bannered coastal lotus Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus 30 / 9 9
1.29 l Jct. steep use trail to fencepost and USGS Benchmark; trail elevation ~1330 feet (405 m)
1.30 Cross small drainage
1.31 Trail turns left 90°
1.32 Trail turns right 45°
1.34 Trail turns left 45°
1.34 l 74 *downy brome Bromus tectorum 5 / 1 50
1.39 Switchback left
1.39 r 75 sweetbush Bebbia juncea var. aspera 20 / 9 53
1.40 r 76 California buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium 20 / 9 52
1.40 r 77 big galleta Pleuraphis rigida 5 / 3 43
1.41 Switchback right.
1.42 r 78 ~ muilla Muilla maritima 15 / 3 15
1.46 l 79 ayenia Ayenia compacta 5 / 3 10
1.47 r (star-flowered bedstraw, Galium stellatum var. eremicum)
1.50 r 80 ~ desert dudleya Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides 5 / 4 14
1.52 l 81 Arizona spurge Chamaesyce arizonica 1 / 1 2
1.53 r 82 Vasey's sage Salvia vaseyi 10 / 5 24
1.53 r 83 odora Porophyllum gracile 5 / 3 12
1.55 r Old termite tube at base of dead brittlebush, Encelia farinosa.
1.56 r 84 California juniper Juniperus californica⁺ 5 / 5 11
1.57 Trail forks, take right branch; trail now travels in a more open area; (left branch just goes to interestingly-looking rocks to left?)
1.60 l (spearleaf, Matelea parvifolia)
1.60 r 85 star-flowered bedstraw Galium stellatum var. eremicum 4 / 4 17
1.60 Cross small drainage
1.61 Saddle; elevation ~1540 feet (470 m); jct. with old portion of trail that descends to S22 at milepost 16.0; curve right toward Culp Valley
1.65 l (California matchweed, Gutierrezia californica)
1.67 r 86 California matchweed Gutierrezia californica 20 / 5 38
1.69 r 87 sp heliotrope phacelia? Phacelia crenulata? 1 / 1
1.69 Switchback right.
1.70 Switchback left.
1.73 Switchback right.
1.75 Switchback left.
1.83 r 88 ? dead annual like silver puffs ? 1 / 1
1.88 Switchback right; trail now heads a tiny bit north of due west for 0.16 miles
1.90 r 89 sp desert needlegrass? Achnatherum speciosum?? 2 / 2
1.91 l 90 *Bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon⁺ 1 / 1 43
1.92 r (boundary goldenbush, Ericameria brachylepis)
1.94 l 91 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. nodosum 20 / 4 20
2.12 l 92 red-gland spurge Chamaesyce melanadenia 50 / 9 3
2.19 b 93 spearleaf Matelea parvifolia 2 / 1 5
2.26 l (Vasey's prickly-pear, Opuntia vaseyi)
2.34 l Check for different spike-moss
2.38 r 94 boundary goldenbush Ericameria brachylepis 10 / 5 11
2.45 l 95 ~ apricot mallow Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua 2 / 2 20
2.46 l 96 desert needlegrass Achnatherum speciosum 1 / 1 12
2.46 r 97 catclaw Acacia greggii 5 / 3 47
2.46 l 98 beady lipfern Cheilanthes covillei 20 / 3 13
2.63 r (white mugwort, Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. albula)
2.63 Local high point on trail at saddle
2.68 Local low point on trail
2.71 l 99 western bernardia Bernardia myricifolia 2 / 2 6
2.71 l (lotebush, Ziziphus parryi var. parryi)
2.74 b 100 desert sage Salvia eremostachya 10 / 3 6
2.75 l 101 lotebush Ziziphus parryi var. parryi 5 / 2 5
2.77 b 102 desert apricot Prunus fremontii 10 / 2 14
2.77 l 103 rush blue grass Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia 5 / 1 8
2.79 r (woolly Indian paintbrush, Castilleja foliolosa)
2.79 b 104 shrubby brickellia Brickellia frutescens 10 / 2 2
2.80 l 105 woolly Indian paintbrush Castilleja foliolosa 1 / 1 11
2.81 Join wash of this major side drainage
2.82 l 106 Vasey's prickly-pear Opuntia vaseyi 5 / 2 37
2.83 l Check for different seedling with robust leaves
2.85 Leave wash; trail is marked by cairns
2.85 l 107 linear-leaved stillingia Stillingia linearifolia 1 / 1 12
2.92 l 108 narrowleaf goldenbush Ericameria linearifolia 1 / 1 11
2.93 l 109 California spear-leaved brickellia Brickellia arguta var. arguta 1 / 1 5
2.94 Local high point on trail
2.94 Local low point on trail; now in wash again
2.98 Leave wash to right
3.04 r 110 ~ Mormon tea Ephedra aspera 2 / 2 7
3.10 Saddle; elevation ~2580 feet (785 m); plant guide now gives species abundance for remaining trail, and there may be more specimens of previous species.
3.26 l 111 white mugwort Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. albula 20 / 9 11
3.31 l 112 ssp Borrego bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. borregoense 10 / 9 1
3.33 l 113 short-winged deerweed Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus 30 / 9 36
3.57 r 114 desert mistletoe Phoradendron californicum 20 / 9 38
3.74 l (Mohave yucca, Yucca schidigera)
3.81 l 115 desert scrub oak Quercus cornelius-mulleri 20 / 9 5
3.82 l 116 ~ little-leaved chaparral beard-tongue Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla 2 / 2 3
3.82 l 117 ? unk asteraceae with "stillingia" leaf ? /
4.04 r 118 birch-leaf mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides 10 / 9 35
4.05 l 119 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 5 / 1 81
4.05 l 120 Mohave yucca Yucca schidigera 5 / 2 20
4.16 r 121 slender buckwheat Eriogonum gracile var. incultum 30 / 9 7
4.20 l 122 Anderson's desert-thorn Lycium andersonii 2 / 1 10
4.29 r 123 sugar bush Rhus ovata 30 / 9 38
4.50 l 124 bigberry manzanita Arctostaphylos glauca 2 / 2 14
4.50 l 125 ? mustard family like jewelflower Caulanthus sp.? 1 / 1
4.52 l 126 ~ white-flowering currant Ribes indecorum 1 / 1
4.52 r Check for different Boerhavia
4.58 127 sp annual phacelia Phacelia like minor 5 / 1
4.60 r ? (wild-cucumber?, Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus?)
4.67 b 128 sp pincushion flower Chaenactis with 1-pinnate leaf 10 / 1
4.90 High point on trail; elevation 3520 feet (1073 m)
5.31 129 ? unknown annual ? /
5.61 130 sp datura Datura sp. 1 / 1
5.66 l 131 papillate dodder Cuscuta californica var. papillosa 5 / 1 12
5.69 132 rattlesnake weed Chamaesyce albomarginata 10 / 2 14
5.70 l 133 *ripgut brome Bromus diandrus 1 / 1 67
5.70 l 134 ~ coyote melon Cucurbita palmata 1 / 1 6
5.70 135 ssp slender wreathplant Stephanomeria exigua ssp. exigua 20 / 4 22
5.70 End guide in Culp Valley at shaded sign mounted on a rock pillar: "Chaparral ... and the cycle of fire", almost next to the Montezuma Highway, S22; elevation 3330 feet (1015 m)

Comments On Specific Species

Hyptis emoryi. We were certain that this plant was dead as a doornail in 2005-2006; its main stems were dead, and there were no young shoots at its base as late as February 2006. To our complete shock, this plant was alive in January 2010, with a number of young stems that were even blooming.
Ferocactus cylindraceus. The varieties are not recognized in the Flora of North America treatment since they are not consistently distinguishable.
Juniperus californica. There are quite a few more junipers above the location of the first specimen, although most are off-trail. Interestingly, about half of them were dead in December 2005, with some having died recently enough to still have their dead leaves intact. It looks like these specimens are the outpost toward lower elevation of this species, with some past wetter years allowing them to grow at these lower elevations, but recent drier years causing the lower-elevation specimens to die out.
Cynodon dactylon. The single plant seen in December 2005 was weeded out.

Number of Trails Containing A Taxon	Number Of Taxa On This Trail	% of Taxa On This Trail
1	2	2%
2	2	2%
3	3	2%
4	1	1%
5	7	6%

1-5	15	12%
6-10	13	11%
11-15	24	20%
16-20	11	9%
21-25	7	6%
26-30	11	9%
31-35	5	4%
36-40	9	7%
41-45	7	6%
46-50	7	6%
51-55	7	6%
56-60	1	1%
>60	4	3%
Total Taxa	121	100%

# guides / floras	Name
1	Menodora scoparia
1	Galium angustifolium ssp. borregoense
2	Chamaesyce arizonica
2	Brickellia frutescens
3	Ditaxis neomexicana
3	Chamaesyce melanadenia
3	Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
12/6/2005	1	69	2	7	10	4
12/19/2005	2	80	2	5	10	2
12/23/2005	3	87	4	7	10	1
12/23/2005	3	93	5	9	10	1
1/3/2006	4	104	5	10	11	1
2/6/2006	5	109	5	8	11	1
12/31/2009	6	110	2	5	13	1

mile	s	#	id	Common Name	Scientific Name	#here	#all
0.00				Begin at signed trailhead on southeast corner of Visitor Center Parking Lot; elevation ~835 feet (255 m). Guide gives species abundance only to saddle at mile 3.06 for those found earlier than that point.
0.00	b	1		*Mediterranean schismus	Schismus barbatus	10 / 1	51
0.00	b	2		small-seeded spurge	Chamaesyce polycarpa	99 / 7	54
0.00	b	3	sp		Nemacladus sp.	99 / 9
0.00	b	4		*redstem filaree	Erodium cicutarium	99 / 9	81
0.00	r	5		New Mexico ditaxis	Ditaxis neomexicana	50 / 9	3
0.00	l	6		Gander's cholla	Opuntia ganderi	99 / 9	39
0.00	b	7		brittlebush	Encelia farinosa	99 / 9	52
0.00	r			Sign: "Riding and Hiking Trail (ahead); No Dogs Past This Point"
0.00	b	8		indigo bush	Psorothamnus schottii	50 / 7	46
0.00	b	9		burroweed	Ambrosia dumosa	40 / 9	49
0.00	l	10		common phacelia	Phacelia distans	99 / 9	37
0.00	l			Check for id of the Cryptantha here
0.01	l	11		chinch-weed	Pectis papposa var. papposa	40 / 9	5
0.01	r	12		Emory's rock-daisy	Perityle emoryi	20 / 9	28
0.01	r	13		desert dandelion	Malacothrix glabrata	5 / 2	17
0.02	b	14		small-flowered poppy	Eschscholzia minutiflora ssp. minutiflora	10 / 2	15
0.02				Trail curves left
0.03	r	15		wishbone plant	Mirabilis bigelovii var. retrorsa	30 / 9	27
0.03				Trail makes small curve right
0.04	l	16		*Asian mustard	Brassica tournefortii	20 / 9	43
0.04	r	17		chuparosa	Justicia californica	40 / 7	24
0.05	b			(creosote bush, Larrea tridentata)
0.05	r	18	ssp	western tansy-mustard	Descurainia pinnata	20 / 5
0.05	l			(wire-lettuce, Stephanomeria pauciflora var. pauciflora)
0.06				Trail curves right
0.06	l	19		cheesebush	Hymenoclea salsola var. salsola	20 / 7	44
0.08	r	20		desert lavender	Hyptis emoryi⁺	50 / 7	44
0.08	l	21	~	California suncup	Camissonia californica	99 / 9	60
0.09				Cross small wash
0.10	l	22		Guadalupe cryptantha	Cryptantha maritima	99 / 9	15
0.10	l	23		desert thornapple	Datura discolor	5 / 5	9
0.11	r			(California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus)
0.13	r	24		desert twining snapdragon	Antirrhinum filipes	4 / 4	6
0.16	r	25		creosote bush	Larrea tridentata	40 / 7	53
0.32				Trail jogs left
0.37				Cross faint old road (or buried water pipe) heading toward the hills from the water tanks to left
0.37	l			(teddy-bear cholla, Opuntia bigelovii)
0.43	l	26		chia	Salvia columbariae	1 / 1	53
0.43	l			Dead desert trumpet, Eriogonum inflatum
0.47	r	27		teddy-bear cholla	Opuntia bigelovii	30 / 5	33
0.48	l			Dead ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens next to trail; live one off-trail
0.50				Cross wash
0.54	r	28		wire-lettuce	Stephanomeria pauciflora var. pauciflora	30 / 9	49
0.58	l			(Engelmann's hedgehog cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii)
0.58	b			Enter forest of teddy-bear cholla, Opuntia bigelovii
0.60	r	29		fringed amaranth	Amaranthus fimbriatus	40 / 5	11
0.66	l	30		desert agave	Agave deserti	20 / 9	31
0.66	l	31		ocotillo	Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens	5 / 3	49
0.72				Jct. old road that is now a horse trail
0.78	r	32		desert trumpet	Eriogonum inflatum	1 / 1	38
0.78				Cross small wash with 2 branches
0.82				Jct. main Hellhole Canyon Trail; elevation ~950 feet (290 m); cross it and continue straight ahead to pick up this trail again
0.83	r			(Old termite tube at base of dead plant; small-flowered fiddleneck, Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii)
0.83	l	33		Nealley three-awn	Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi	3 / 3	4
0.83	l			Sign: "California Riding and Hiking Trail"
0.83	b	34	~	hairy-podded pepper-grass	Lepidium lasiocarpum var. lasiocarpum	99 / 9	30
0.83	r	35		desert plantain	Plantago ovata	99 / 9	34
0.84	l	36		narrowleaf ditaxis	Ditaxis lanceolata	50 / 9	30
0.84	r	37		yellow-head	Trichoptilium incisum	20 / 4	5
0.84	r	38	sp	combseed	Pectocarya sp.	20 / 2
0.84	l	39	~	desert woolly-star	Eriastrum eremicum ssp. eremicum	99 / 9	19
0.85	r	40		six-weeks three-awn	Aristida adscensionis	5 / 1	16
0.85	l	41	?	baby annual like suncup	Camissonia sp.?	/
	l	42		fish-hook cactus	Mammillaria dioica	10 / 9	22
0.85	r	43		rock hibiscus	Hibiscus denudatus	10 / 5	26
0.85	l	44		pebble pincushion	Chaenactis carphoclinia var. carphoclinia	99 / 9	12
	r			(beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris)
0.89	l	45		thick-leaved ground cherry	Physalis crassifolia	20 / 9	22
0.90	b	46		downy dalea	Dalea mollissima	3 / 1	5
0.90	l	47		brittle spineflower	Chorizanthe brevicornu var. brevicornu	5 / 1	30
0.90	b			Enter huge field of Chaenactis carphoclinia
	r			(Pima rhatany, Krameria erecta; California trixis, Trixis californica var. californica)
0.93	l	48		California fagonia	Fagonia laevis	20 / 9	25
0.97	r	49	sp	fivewing spiderling	Boerhavia intermedia	99 / 9	10
1.02				Trail jogs left
1.02	r	50		California barrel cactus	Ferocactus cylindraceus⁺	3 / 3	41
1.02	r	51	~	bracted blazing star	Mentzelia involucrata	5 / 3	20
1.03	l		~	(red brome, Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens)
1.04	r	52		Mojave ragwort	Senecio mohavensis	50 / 9	18
1.04	b	53		small-flowered fiddleneck	Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii	20 / 2	15
1.05	l	54		Engelmann's hedgehog cactus	Echinocereus engelmannii	10 / 9	24
1.05	l			(woolly lipfern, Cheilanthes parryi)
1.06	l	55		jojoba	Simmondsia chinensis	20 / 9	26
1.07	l	56		desert spike-moss	Selaginella eremophila	50 / 9	15
1.07	l	57		woolly lipfern	Cheilanthes parryi	30 / 9	27
1.07	l	58	~	intermediate larkspur	Delphinium parishii ssp. subglobosum	10 / 3	13
1.07	r	59		beavertail cactus	Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris	10 / 9	46
1.09	r	60		rattlesnake weed	Daucus pusillus	20 / 3	31
1.10				Jct. ridgeline between two side-drainages; trail soon veers to right of ridgeline; small peak behind trail on ridge has a good view and many Mentzelia. Trail now zig-zags up the slope, using fairly tight switchbacks.
1.13	l			(San Felipe dogweed, Adenophyllum porophylloides)
1.13	l	61		Pima rhatany	Krameria erecta	20 / 9	14
1.18	l			(Parish's viguiera, Viguiera parishii)
1.19	r	62		desert lotus	Lotus rigidus	20 / 9	18
1.20	l	63	~	bajada lupine	Lupinus concinnus	5 / 2	18
1.20	r	64	~	white fiesta flower	Pholistoma membranaceum	50 / 3	15
1.21	r	65		threadstem	Pterostegia drymarioides	2 / 1	45
1.21	r	66		San Felipe dogweed	Adenophyllum porophylloides	20 / 9	28
1.22	b	67		*red brome	Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens	30 / 9	84
1.22	l	68		California trixis	Trixis californica var. californica	10 / 9	29
1.23	r	69		Parish's viguiera	Viguiera parishii	20 / 9	28
1.26	r	70		white rhatany	Krameria grayi	2 / 2	37
1.26	r			(sweetbush, Bebbia juncea var. aspera)
1.27	l	71		broom twinberry	Menodora scoparia	10 / 6	1
1.27	r			(big galleta, Pleuraphis rigida)
1.27	b	72		Coulter's lyrepod	Lyrocarpa coulteri var. palmeri	5 / 3	8
1.27	r			(Vasey's sage, Salvia vaseyi; California buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium)
1.28	l	73	~	short-bannered coastal lotus	Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus	30 / 9	9
1.29	l			Jct. steep use trail to fencepost and USGS Benchmark; trail elevation ~1330 feet (405 m)
1.30				Cross small drainage
1.31				Trail turns left 90°
1.32				Trail turns right 45°
1.34				Trail turns left 45°
1.34	l	74		*downy brome	Bromus tectorum	5 / 1	50
1.39				Switchback left
1.39	r	75		sweetbush	Bebbia juncea var. aspera	20 / 9	53
1.40	r	76		California buckwheat	Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium	20 / 9	52
1.40	r	77		big galleta	Pleuraphis rigida	5 / 3	43
1.41				Switchback right.
1.42	r	78	~	muilla	Muilla maritima	15 / 3	15
1.46	l	79		ayenia	Ayenia compacta	5 / 3	10
1.47	r			(star-flowered bedstraw, Galium stellatum var. eremicum)
1.50	r	80	~	desert dudleya	Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides	5 / 4	14
1.52	l	81		Arizona spurge	Chamaesyce arizonica	1 / 1	2
1.53	r	82		Vasey's sage	Salvia vaseyi	10 / 5	24
1.53	r	83		odora	Porophyllum gracile	5 / 3	12
1.55	r			Old termite tube at base of dead brittlebush, Encelia farinosa.
1.56	r	84		California juniper	Juniperus californica⁺	5 / 5	11
1.57				Trail forks, take right branch; trail now travels in a more open area; (left branch just goes to interestingly-looking rocks to left?)
1.60	l			(spearleaf, Matelea parvifolia)
1.60	r	85		star-flowered bedstraw	Galium stellatum var. eremicum	4 / 4	17
1.60				Cross small drainage
1.61				Saddle; elevation ~1540 feet (470 m); jct. with old portion of trail that descends to S22 at milepost 16.0; curve right toward Culp Valley
1.65	l			(California matchweed, Gutierrezia californica)
1.67	r	86		California matchweed	Gutierrezia californica	20 / 5	38
1.69	r	87	sp	heliotrope phacelia?	Phacelia crenulata?	1 / 1
1.69				Switchback right.
1.70				Switchback left.
1.73				Switchback right.
1.75				Switchback left.
1.83	r	88	?	dead annual like silver puffs	?	1 / 1
1.88				Switchback right; trail now heads a tiny bit north of due west for 0.16 miles
1.90	r	89	sp	desert needlegrass?	Achnatherum speciosum??	2 / 2
1.91	l	90		*Bermuda grass	Cynodon dactylon⁺	1 / 1	43
1.92	r			(boundary goldenbush, Ericameria brachylepis)
1.94	l	91		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. nodosum	20 / 4	20
2.12	l	92		red-gland spurge	Chamaesyce melanadenia	50 / 9	3
2.19	b	93		spearleaf	Matelea parvifolia	2 / 1	5
2.26	l			(Vasey's prickly-pear, Opuntia vaseyi)
2.34	l			Check for different spike-moss
2.38	r	94		boundary goldenbush	Ericameria brachylepis	10 / 5	11
2.45	l	95	~	apricot mallow	Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua	2 / 2	20
2.46	l	96		desert needlegrass	Achnatherum speciosum	1 / 1	12
2.46	r	97		catclaw	Acacia greggii	5 / 3	47
2.46	l	98		beady lipfern	Cheilanthes covillei	20 / 3	13
2.63	r			(white mugwort, Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. albula)
2.63				Local high point on trail at saddle
2.68				Local low point on trail
2.71	l	99		western bernardia	Bernardia myricifolia	2 / 2	6
2.71	l			(lotebush, Ziziphus parryi var. parryi)
2.74	b	100		desert sage	Salvia eremostachya	10 / 3	6
2.75	l	101		lotebush	Ziziphus parryi var. parryi	5 / 2	5
2.77	b	102		desert apricot	Prunus fremontii	10 / 2	14
2.77	l	103		rush blue grass	Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia	5 / 1	8
2.79	r			(woolly Indian paintbrush, Castilleja foliolosa)
2.79	b	104		shrubby brickellia	Brickellia frutescens	10 / 2	2
2.80	l	105		woolly Indian paintbrush	Castilleja foliolosa	1 / 1	11
2.81				Join wash of this major side drainage
2.82	l	106		Vasey's prickly-pear	Opuntia vaseyi	5 / 2	37
2.83	l			Check for different seedling with robust leaves
2.85				Leave wash; trail is marked by cairns
2.85	l	107		linear-leaved stillingia	Stillingia linearifolia	1 / 1	12
2.92	l	108		narrowleaf goldenbush	Ericameria linearifolia	1 / 1	11
2.93	l	109		California spear-leaved brickellia	Brickellia arguta var. arguta	1 / 1	5
2.94				Local high point on trail
2.94				Local low point on trail; now in wash again
2.98				Leave wash to right
3.04	r	110	~	Mormon tea	Ephedra aspera	2 / 2	7
3.10				Saddle; elevation ~2580 feet (785 m); plant guide now gives species abundance for remaining trail, and there may be more specimens of previous species.
3.26	l	111		white mugwort	Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. albula	20 / 9	11
3.31	l	112	ssp	Borrego bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. borregoense	10 / 9	1
3.33	l	113		short-winged deerweed	Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus	30 / 9	36
3.57	r	114		desert mistletoe	Phoradendron californicum	20 / 9	38
3.74	l			(Mohave yucca, Yucca schidigera)
3.81	l	115		desert scrub oak	Quercus cornelius-mulleri	20 / 9	5
3.82	l	116	~	little-leaved chaparral beard-tongue	Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla	2 / 2	3
3.82	l	117	?	unk asteraceae with "stillingia" leaf	?	/
4.04	r	118		birch-leaf mountain-mahogany	Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides	10 / 9	35
4.05	l	119		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	5 / 1	81
4.05	l	120		Mohave yucca	Yucca schidigera	5 / 2	20
4.16	r	121		slender buckwheat	Eriogonum gracile var. incultum	30 / 9	7
4.20	l	122		Anderson's desert-thorn	Lycium andersonii	2 / 1	10
4.29	r	123		sugar bush	Rhus ovata	30 / 9	38
4.50	l	124		bigberry manzanita	Arctostaphylos glauca	2 / 2	14
4.50	l	125	?	mustard family like jewelflower	Caulanthus sp.?	1 / 1
4.52	l	126	~	white-flowering currant	Ribes indecorum	1 / 1
4.52	r			Check for different Boerhavia
4.58		127	sp	annual phacelia	Phacelia like minor	5 / 1
4.60	r		?	(wild-cucumber?, Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus?)
4.67	b	128	sp	pincushion flower	Chaenactis with 1-pinnate leaf	10 / 1
4.90				High point on trail; elevation 3520 feet (1073 m)
5.31		129	?	unknown annual	?	/
5.61		130	sp	datura	Datura sp.	1 / 1
5.66	l	131		papillate dodder	Cuscuta californica var. papillosa	5 / 1	12
5.69		132		rattlesnake weed	Chamaesyce albomarginata	10 / 2	14
5.70	l	133		*ripgut brome	Bromus diandrus	1 / 1	67
5.70	l	134	~	coyote melon	Cucurbita palmata	1 / 1	6
5.70		135	ssp	slender wreathplant	Stephanomeria exigua ssp. exigua	20 / 4	22
5.70				End guide in Culp Valley at shaded sign mounted on a rock pillar: "Chaparral ... and the cycle of fire", almost next to the Montezuma Highway, S22; elevation 3330 feet (1015 m)

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Plants of Southern California: Trail Guides

Copyright © 2005-2010 by Tom Chester, Wayne Armstrong, Mike Crouse, Kay Madore and Vince Balch
Permission is freely granted to reproduce any or all of this page as long as credit is given to us at this source:
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Comments and feedback: Tom Chester | Wayne Armstrong
Last update: 22 January 2010.