Anza-Borrego: Plant Guide To Moonlight Canyon Trail,
Agua Caliente County Park

This is a working list, about which we make no guarantees at all until we officially release it. Use at your own risk! In particular, note that this trail guide is very incomplete for annuals and perennials, since the trail has not yet been surveyed after rainfall.

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

The guide has been updated from the 12/23/09 fieldwork, but nothing else on this page has been updated from that trip.
Agua Caliente County Park contains several hiking trails and a campground with two bathing pools fed by water heated by the Elsinore Fault. The County Park is leased from Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and operated by San Diego County. There is a day-use fee of $5 per car, payable at the entrance station.
The Park is located just off S2, 22 miles southeast of SR78 and 27 miles northwest of I-8 at Ocotillo. Day Use parking is immediately south of the glass-walled indoor bathing pool. The Moonlight Trail begins at Campsite 140, next to the Shuffleboard Court, located on the east side of the southernmost portion of the main campground road.
The Moonlight Trail itself is 1.6 miles long, with an additional 0.2 miles of walking in the campground to return to the Day Use Parking Area, and an elevation gain and loss of 350 feet.
Highlights of This Trail

Not updated from 12/23/09 trip.
The following histogram gives the number of trails in our database that contain each taxon on this trail. We had 100 trails in our database when this histogram was made; 6 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 the trails in our database; numbers of "6" or smaller may indicate taxa found only in this area. Some of the other Anza-Borrego Trails are very incomplete.

Number of Trails
Containing A Taxon Number Of Taxa
On This Trail % of Taxa
On This Trail
1 6 8%
2 3 4%
3 11 15%
4 8 11%
5 7 9%

1-5 35 47%
6-10 29 39%
11-15 4 5%
16-20 3 4%
21-25 2 3%
26-30 1 1%
31-35 0 0%
36-40 1 1%
Total Taxa 75 100%

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 found only on this plant trail guide, as of 1/12/07, out of all 100 plant trail guides from all of southern California, are:

Family Scientific Name Common Name
Asteraceae Isocoma acradenia var. eremophila solitary-leaved alkali goldenbush
Chenopodiaceae Suaeda moquinii bush seepweed
Solanaceae Lycium fremontii Fremont box-thorn
Chenopodiaceae Atriplex hymenelytra desert holly
Poaceae Phragmites australis common reed
Solanaceae ~Lycium brevipes var. brevipes ~desert-thorn

Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time

Not updated from 12/23/09 trip.
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"
1/3/2007 1 80 3 12 15 3
1/8/2007 2 89 6 7 15 2

We thank Kate Shapiro for help with the 1/8/07 fieldwork.
Botanical Trip Reports

The Plant Guide

The mileages have been obtained by a detailed GPS recording of the trail, and hence should be accurate to 0.01 miles.
The names mostly conform to the 2012 Second Edition Jepson Manual.
See also list of these species in family order.
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 Latin Name #here #all
0.00 Begin plant guide at edge of campground road pavement; elevation ~1350 feet (411 m)
0.00 r 1 catclaw Senegalia greggii 30 / 9 90
0.00 b 2 solitary-leaved alkali goldenbush Isocoma acradenia var. eremophila 50 / 5 18
0.00 e 3 seaside heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum var. oculatum 1 / 1 14
0.00 r Post "139 & 140"
0.00 r 4 desert mistletoe Phoradendron californicum 50 / 9 79
0.00 l (Shuffleboard court)
0.00 l 5 honey mesquite Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana 40 / 9 49
0.00 r (Fremont box-thorn, Lycium fremontii)
0.01 r (picnic table; common reed, Phragmites australis; arrow-weed, Pluchea sericea; California fan palm, Washingtonia filifera; Mexican rush, Juncus mexicanus)
0.01 r 6 saltgrass Distichlis spicata 99 / 9 35
0.01 b 7 cattle saltbush Atriplex polycarpa 30 / 4 34
0.02 Sign: "Begin Moonlight Canyon Trail"
0.02 r (screw-bean mesquite, Prosopis pubescens)
0.02 b 8 Fremont box-thorn Lycium fremontii 50 / 6 7
0.02 l 9 bush seepweed Suaeda nigra 3 / 1 13
0.03 b 10 arrow-weed Pluchea sericea 99 / 9 20
0.03 r (Water tank)
0.04 l 11 Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus 10 / 2 52
0.05 l Sign: "Danger chlorine"
0.05 b 12 arrow-leaf Pleurocoronis pluriseta 30 / 9 48
0.05 b 13 desert holly Atriplex hymenelytra 10 / 3 24
0.05 l 14 wire-lettuce Stephanomeria pauciflora 30 / 9 89
0.05 r (spiny rush, Juncus acutus ssp. leopoldii)
0.05 l (California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus)
0.05 l (Mormon tea, Ephedra aspera)
0.05 l (teddy-bear cholla, Cylindropuntia bigelovii^)
0.05 l 15 brittlebush Encelia farinosa 99 / 9 92
0.06 r (narrowleaf willow, Salix exigua var. exigua^)
0.06 r (red willow, Salix laevigata)
0.06 l 16 Gander's cholla Cylindropuntia ganderi 40 / 9 71
0.06 r 17 spiny rush Juncus acutus ssp. leopoldii 5 / 3 5
0.06 l (burroweed, Ambrosia dumosa)
0.07 l 18 white-stemmed milkweed Asclepias albicans 5 / 5 10
0.07 l (Emory's indigo-bush, Psorothamnus emoryi)
0.07 l 19 burroweed Ambrosia dumosa 50 / 9 89
0.07 Trail descends, curves right and switchbacks left to cross drainage
0.07 l A big Juncus acutus ssp. leopoldii
0.08 Cross drainage
0.09 r 20 desert trumpet Eriogonum inflatum 50 / 9 76
0.11 r (white rhatany, Krameria bicolor^; jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis; indigo bush, Psorothamnus schottii; western tansy-mustard, Descurainia pinnata)
0.11 r 21 desert lotus Acmispon rigidus 5 / 3 35
0.12 Cross drainage again
0.12 r 22 rambling milkweed Funastrum hirtellum 10 / 9 28
0.12 r 23 Mormon tea Ephedra aspera 20 / 9 21
0.12 r 24 Coulter's lyrepod Lyrocarpa coulteri 20 / 9 22
0.12 r 25 chuparosa Justicia californica 50 / 9 41
0.12 Trail ascends steeply
0.12 l (desert agave, Agave deserti var. deserti^)
0.13 l 26 Engelmann's hedgehog cactus Echinocereus engelmannii 2 / 2 51
0.13 l 27 ssp apricot mallow Sphaeralcea ambigua 20 / 9 10
0.13 l 28 sp pincushion flower Chaenactis sp. 30 / 9
0.13 l 29 white rhatany Krameria bicolor 20 / 9 72
0.13 r Jct. trail to wash; stay left
0.13 l 30 whispering bells Emmenanthe penduliflora var. penduliflora 1 / 1 52
0.14 r 31 jojoba Simmondsia chinensis 30 / 9 53
0.14 r (sweetbush, Bebbia juncea var. aspera)
0.14 l 32 linear-leaved stillingia Stillingia linearifolia 2 / 2 29
0.16 l 33 indigo bush Psorothamnus schottii 20 / 9 74
0.16 l 34 Guadalupe cryptantha Cryptantha maritima 30 / 5 49
0.16 End steep climb
0.17 l 35 Bigelow's desert four-o'clock Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa 10 / 2 69
0.17 r 36 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. nodosum 10 / 9 40
0.17 l (woolly lipfern, Cheilanthes parryi; brittle spineflower, Chorizanthe brevicornu var. brevicornu; little-flowered heliotrope phacelia, Phacelia crenulata var. minutiflora; hairy-podded pepper-grass, Lepidium lasiocarpum ssp. lasiocarpum^)
0.17 l sp (fish-hook cactus, Mammillaria dioica?)
0.17 l (California fagonia, Fagonia laevis)
0.18 r 37 creosote bush Larrea tridentata 50 / 9 97
0.18 l 38 woolly lipfern Cheilanthes parryi 20 / 9 54
0.19 r 39 brittle spineflower Chorizanthe brevicornu var. brevicornu 1 / 1 58
0.19 r 40 San Felipe dogweed Adenophyllum porophylloides 10 / 9 58
0.19 b 41 Mojave ragwort Senecio mohavensis 20 / 5 40
0.19 l 42 rock hibiscus Hibiscus denudatus 10 / 9 52
0.19 l 43 desert agave Agave deserti var. deserti 30 / 5 58
0.19 r 44 narrowleaf ditaxis Ditaxis lanceolata 5 / 5 63
0.20 b 45 hairy-podded pepper-grass Lepidium lasiocarpum ssp. lasiocarpum 99 / 9 70
0.21 l 46 ocotillo Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens 99 / 9 84
0.21 l (Arizona chalk dudleya, Dudleya arizonica)
0.21 l (beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris)
0.22 l 47 little-flowered heliotrope phacelia Phacelia crenulata var. minutiflora 1 / 1 25
0.23 r 48 desert-lavender Hyptis emoryi 20 / 9 79
0.25 l 49 ~ star gilia Gilia stellata 1 / 1 29
0.25 r 50 yellow-head Trichoptilium incisum 10 / 2 25
0.26 l (intermediate larkspur, Delphinium parishii ssp. subglobosum; California suncup, Eulobus californicus)
0.27 r 51 Pima rhatany Krameria erecta 1 / 1 39
0.25 b 52 desert plantain Plantago ovata 99 / 9 63
0.28 r 53 intermediate larkspur Delphinium parishii ssp. subglobosum 20 / 4 31
0.28 r 54 California barrel cactus Ferocactus cylindraceus 50 / 9
0.29 l 55 big galleta Hilaria rigida 5 / 3 73
0.29 l (small-seeded spurge, Chamaesyce polycarpa)
0.30 r 56 California fagonia Fagonia laevis 20 / 9 39
0.32 l 57 desert spike-moss Selaginella eremophila 10 / 9 31
0.34 r 58 sweetbush Bebbia juncea var. aspera 30 / 9 92
0.34 r (California trixis, Trixis californica var. californica)
0.34 Switchback left
0.34 r (star-flowered bedstraw, Galium stellatum^)
0.35 l 59 sp annual phacelia Phacelia sp. 10 / 3
0.36 r Trail turns right; jct. shortcut trail (do not take!); stay left
0.37 Switchback right
0.39 l 60 star-flowered bedstraw Galium stellatum 5 / 2 39
0.44 b 61 teddy-bear cholla Cylindropuntia bigelovii 99 / 9 55
0.44 r 62 California trixis Trixis californica var. californica 5 / 5 54
0.45 l 63 beavertail cactus Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris 3 / 3 83
0.48 l 64 California suncup Eulobus californicus 50 / 3 95
0.48 Saddle; highest point on trail, elevation ~1650 feet (503 m)
0.55 l 65 sp ann upright lotus Lotus sp. 10 / 1
0.58 r 66 ? Thomas' buckwheat Eriogonum thomasii 2 / 2 49
r Wash in (fxx)
r (Parish's viguiera, Bahiopsis parishii)
l 67 bracted blazing star Mentzelia involucrata 1 / 1 40
r 68 *red brome Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens 1 / 1 123
r (wedge-leaved draba, Draba cuneifolia)
0.61 l 69 ? unk low shrub with capsule fruit ? 1 / 1
0.62 l 70 Newberry's velvet mallow Horsfordia newberryi 5 / 3 22
0.65 Join wash from side canyon to Moonlight Canyon
b 71 *Mediterranean schismus Schismus barbatus 2 / 1 94
0.67 r 72 Parish's viguiera Bahiopsis parishii 10 / 3 57
0.67 r (fluff grass, Dasyochloa pulchella^)
r 73 California buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium 2 / 2 84
0.68 l (spearleaf, Matelea parvifolia)
0.68 l 74 small-seeded spurge Chamaesyce polycarpa 30 / 9 89
0.70 l 75 ssp California cloak fern Notholaena californica 1 / 1 21
0.71 r 76 boundary goldenbush Ericameria brachylepis 1 / 1 28
0.71 Join Moonlight Canyon wash; the following two species are found up canyon
77 desert apricot Prunus fremontii 5 / 1 30
78 six-weeks three-awn Aristida adscensionis 1 / 1 40
0.71 l 79 *rabbits-foot grass Polypogon monspeliensis 1 / 1
0.72 l 80 common phacelia Phacelia distans 1 / 1 76
0.75 l 81 purple three-awn Aristida purpurea 10 / 3 35
0.80 r (fish-hook cactus, Mammillaria tetrancistra)
0.84 r 82 ~ desert woolly-star Eriastrum eremicum ssp. eremicum 10 / 2 44
1.01 r 83 thick-leaved ground cherry Physalis crassifolia 1 / 1 53
1.04 Enter spring area
1.04 r 84 mountain California-fuchsia Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium 20 / 2 93
1.06 l 85 *athel Tamarix aphylla 5 / 2 5
1.06 l 86 black willow Salix gooddingii 30 / 1 16
1.07 b 87 common reed Phragmites australis 50 / 2 8
1.07 b 88 ~ southern cattail Typha domingensis 10 / 2 18
1.08 r (stream orchid, Epipactis gigantea)
1.09 r 89 slender-lobed four o'clock Mirabilis tenuiloba 5 / 1 12
1.09 l 90 screw-bean mesquite Prosopis pubescens 5 / 3 5
1.10 l 91 ghost flower Mohavea confertiflora 1 / 1 23
1.10 l 92 *Bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon 2 / 1 46
1.11 r (desert baccharis, Baccharis sergiloides)
1.11 b 93 narrowleaf willow Salix exigua var. exigua 1 / 1 14
1.12 r (southwestern bushy bluestem, Andropogon glomeratus var. scabriglumis; deergrass, Muhlenbergia rigens; Emory's rock-daisy, Perityle emoryi)
1.13 r (Asian mustard, Brassica tournefortii)
1.17 l 94 Bigelow's monkeyflower Mimulus bigelovii var. bigelovii 10 / 1 26
1.24 Trail turns left
1.25 r 95 smoke tree Psorothamnus spinosus 20 / 3 43
1.25 l 96 cheesebush Ambrosia salsola var. salsola 40 / 3 79
1.28 Trail turns right 90°
1.36 Trail turns left 90° to return to campground; lowest elevation on trail, ~1310 feet (399 m)
1.39 l 97 pencil cholla Cylindropuntia ramosissima 20 / 2 26
1.49 l 98 desert tea Ephedra californica / 25
1.51 b 99 sp dodder Cuscuta sp. 2 / 1
1.60 End trail and plant guide at different part of campground
1.78 Day use parking

Species planted in Campground
*golden wattle Acacia pycnantha / 0
*Mexican palo verde Parkinsonia aculeata / 2
blue palo verde Parkinsonia florida / 16

Other species seen in Moonlight Canyon, but not located
California mustard Caulanthus lasiophyllus / 21
Nevada cryptantha Cryptantha nevadensis var. nevadensis / 5
small-flowered poppy Eschscholzia minutiflora ssp. minutiflora / 46
Parish's poppy Eschscholzia parishii / 40
beetle spurge Euphorbia eriantha / 20
Arizona lupine Lupinus arizonicus / 48
California loosestrife Lythrum californicum / 10
white-stemmed blazing star Mentzelia albicaulis / 16
Arizona pholistoma Pholistoma auritum var. arizonicum / 1

Species found in the area just outside the campground
Parish's spikerush Eleocharis parishii / 4
catchfly prairie-gentian Eustoma exaltatum ssp. exaltatum / 2
American tule Schoenoplectus americanus / 12

Species found from mouth of Moonlight Canyon to Airstrip:
desert-willow Chilopsis linearis ssp. arcuata / 35
brown-eyed primrose Chylismia claviformis ssp. peirsonii / 54
California croton Croton californicus / 28
narrow-leaved cryptantha Cryptantha angustifolia / 53
desert dicoria Dicoria canescens / 15
Booth's evening primrose Eremothera boothii ssp. condensata / 49
blackbanded rabbitbrush Ericameria paniculata / 14
toad rush Juncus bufonius / 2
*tree tobacco Nicotiana glauca / 26
desert tobacco Nicotiana obtusifolia / 55
dune primrose Oenothera deltoides ssp. deltoides / 12
ironwood Olneya tesota / 15
desert needle Palafoxia arida var. arida / 47
Thurber's sandpaper-plant Petalonyx thurberi ssp. thurberi / 36
*rabbits-foot grass Polypogon monspeliensis / 46
odora Porophyllum gracile / 25
turtleback Psathyrotes ramosissima / 12
Emory's indigo-bush Psorothamnus emoryi / 34
chia Salvia columbariae / 90
plicate coldenia Tiquilia plicata / 17

Comments On Specific Species

Number of Trails Containing A Taxon	Number Of Taxa On This Trail	% of Taxa On This Trail
1	6	8%
2	3	4%
3	11	15%
4	8	11%
5	7	9%

1-5	35	47%
6-10	29	39%
11-15	4	5%
16-20	3	4%
21-25	2	3%
26-30	1	1%
31-35	0	0%
36-40	1	1%
Total Taxa	75	100%

Family	Scientific Name	Common Name
Asteraceae	Isocoma acradenia var. eremophila	solitary-leaved alkali goldenbush
Chenopodiaceae	Suaeda moquinii	bush seepweed
Solanaceae	Lycium fremontii	Fremont box-thorn
Chenopodiaceae	Atriplex hymenelytra	desert holly
Poaceae	Phragmites australis	common reed
Solanaceae	~Lycium brevipes var. brevipes	~desert-thorn

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
1/3/2007	1	80	3	12	15	3
1/8/2007	2	89	6	7	15	2

mile	s	#	id	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00				Begin plant guide at edge of campground road pavement; elevation ~1350 feet (411 m)
0.00	r	1		catclaw	Senegalia greggii	30 / 9	90
0.00	b	2		solitary-leaved alkali goldenbush	Isocoma acradenia var. eremophila	50 / 5	18
0.00	e	3		seaside heliotrope	Heliotropium curassavicum var. oculatum	1 / 1	14
0.00	r			Post "139 & 140"
0.00	r	4		desert mistletoe	Phoradendron californicum	50 / 9	79
0.00	l			(Shuffleboard court)
0.00	l	5		honey mesquite	Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana	40 / 9	49
0.00	r			(Fremont box-thorn, Lycium fremontii)
0.01	r			(picnic table; common reed, Phragmites australis; arrow-weed, Pluchea sericea; California fan palm, Washingtonia filifera; Mexican rush, Juncus mexicanus)
0.01	r	6		saltgrass	Distichlis spicata	99 / 9	35
0.01	b	7		cattle saltbush	Atriplex polycarpa	30 / 4	34
0.02				Sign: "Begin Moonlight Canyon Trail"
0.02	r			(screw-bean mesquite, Prosopis pubescens)
0.02	b	8		Fremont box-thorn	Lycium fremontii	50 / 6	7
0.02	l	9		bush seepweed	Suaeda nigra	3 / 1	13
0.03	b	10		arrow-weed	Pluchea sericea	99 / 9	20
0.03	r			(Water tank)
0.04	l	11		Mexican rush	Juncus mexicanus	10 / 2	52
0.05	l			Sign: "Danger chlorine"
0.05	b	12		arrow-leaf	Pleurocoronis pluriseta	30 / 9	48
0.05	b	13		desert holly	Atriplex hymenelytra	10 / 3	24
0.05	l	14		wire-lettuce	Stephanomeria pauciflora	30 / 9	89
0.05	r			(spiny rush, Juncus acutus ssp. leopoldii)
0.05	l			(California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus)
0.05	l			(Mormon tea, Ephedra aspera)
0.05	l			(teddy-bear cholla, Cylindropuntia bigelovii^)
0.05	l	15		brittlebush	Encelia farinosa	99 / 9	92
0.06	r			(narrowleaf willow, Salix exigua var. exigua^)
0.06	r			(red willow, Salix laevigata)
0.06	l	16		Gander's cholla	Cylindropuntia ganderi	40 / 9	71
0.06	r	17		spiny rush	Juncus acutus ssp. leopoldii	5 / 3	5
0.06	l			(burroweed, Ambrosia dumosa)
0.07	l	18		white-stemmed milkweed	Asclepias albicans	5 / 5	10
0.07	l			(Emory's indigo-bush, Psorothamnus emoryi)
0.07	l	19		burroweed	Ambrosia dumosa	50 / 9	89
0.07				Trail descends, curves right and switchbacks left to cross drainage
0.07	l			A big Juncus acutus ssp. leopoldii
0.08				Cross drainage
0.09	r	20		desert trumpet	Eriogonum inflatum	50 / 9	76
0.11	r			(white rhatany, Krameria bicolor^; jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis; indigo bush, Psorothamnus schottii; western tansy-mustard, Descurainia pinnata)
0.11	r	21		desert lotus	Acmispon rigidus	5 / 3	35
0.12				Cross drainage again
0.12	r	22		rambling milkweed	Funastrum hirtellum	10 / 9	28
0.12	r	23		Mormon tea	Ephedra aspera	20 / 9	21
0.12	r	24		Coulter's lyrepod	Lyrocarpa coulteri	20 / 9	22
0.12	r	25		chuparosa	Justicia californica	50 / 9	41
0.12				Trail ascends steeply
0.12	l			(desert agave, Agave deserti var. deserti^)
0.13	l	26		Engelmann's hedgehog cactus	Echinocereus engelmannii	2 / 2	51
0.13	l	27	ssp	apricot mallow	Sphaeralcea ambigua	20 / 9	10
0.13	l	28	sp	pincushion flower	Chaenactis sp.	30 / 9
0.13	l	29		white rhatany	Krameria bicolor	20 / 9	72
0.13	r			Jct. trail to wash; stay left
0.13	l	30		whispering bells	Emmenanthe penduliflora var. penduliflora	1 / 1	52
0.14	r	31		jojoba	Simmondsia chinensis	30 / 9	53
0.14	r			(sweetbush, Bebbia juncea var. aspera)
0.14	l	32		linear-leaved stillingia	Stillingia linearifolia	2 / 2	29
0.16	l	33		indigo bush	Psorothamnus schottii	20 / 9	74
0.16	l	34		Guadalupe cryptantha	Cryptantha maritima	30 / 5	49
0.16				End steep climb
0.17	l	35		Bigelow's desert four-o'clock	Mirabilis laevis var. retrorsa	10 / 2	69
0.17	r	36		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. nodosum	10 / 9	40
0.17	l			(woolly lipfern, Cheilanthes parryi; brittle spineflower, Chorizanthe brevicornu var. brevicornu; little-flowered heliotrope phacelia, Phacelia crenulata var. minutiflora; hairy-podded pepper-grass, Lepidium lasiocarpum ssp. lasiocarpum^)
0.17	l		sp	(fish-hook cactus, Mammillaria dioica?)
0.17	l			(California fagonia, Fagonia laevis)
0.18	r	37		creosote bush	Larrea tridentata	50 / 9	97
0.18	l	38		woolly lipfern	Cheilanthes parryi	20 / 9	54
0.19	r	39		brittle spineflower	Chorizanthe brevicornu var. brevicornu	1 / 1	58
0.19	r	40		San Felipe dogweed	Adenophyllum porophylloides	10 / 9	58
0.19	b	41		Mojave ragwort	Senecio mohavensis	20 / 5	40
0.19	l	42		rock hibiscus	Hibiscus denudatus	10 / 9	52
0.19	l	43		desert agave	Agave deserti var. deserti	30 / 5	58
0.19	r	44		narrowleaf ditaxis	Ditaxis lanceolata	5 / 5	63
0.20	b	45		hairy-podded pepper-grass	Lepidium lasiocarpum ssp. lasiocarpum	99 / 9	70
0.21	l	46		ocotillo	Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens	99 / 9	84
0.21	l			(Arizona chalk dudleya, Dudleya arizonica)
0.21	l			(beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris)
0.22	l	47		little-flowered heliotrope phacelia	Phacelia crenulata var. minutiflora	1 / 1	25
0.23	r	48		desert-lavender	Hyptis emoryi	20 / 9	79
0.25	l	49	~	star gilia	Gilia stellata	1 / 1	29
0.25	r	50		yellow-head	Trichoptilium incisum	10 / 2	25
0.26	l			(intermediate larkspur, Delphinium parishii ssp. subglobosum; California suncup, Eulobus californicus)
0.27	r	51		Pima rhatany	Krameria erecta	1 / 1	39
0.25	b	52		desert plantain	Plantago ovata	99 / 9	63
0.28	r	53		intermediate larkspur	Delphinium parishii ssp. subglobosum	20 / 4	31
0.28	r	54		California barrel cactus	Ferocactus cylindraceus	50 / 9
0.29	l	55		big galleta	Hilaria rigida	5 / 3	73
0.29	l			(small-seeded spurge, Chamaesyce polycarpa)
0.30	r	56		California fagonia	Fagonia laevis	20 / 9	39
0.32	l	57		desert spike-moss	Selaginella eremophila	10 / 9	31
0.34	r	58		sweetbush	Bebbia juncea var. aspera	30 / 9	92
0.34	r			(California trixis, Trixis californica var. californica)
0.34				Switchback left
0.34	r			(star-flowered bedstraw, Galium stellatum^)
0.35	l	59	sp	annual phacelia	Phacelia sp.	10 / 3
0.36	r			Trail turns right; jct. shortcut trail (do not take!); stay left
0.37				Switchback right
0.39	l	60		star-flowered bedstraw	Galium stellatum	5 / 2	39
0.44	b	61		teddy-bear cholla	Cylindropuntia bigelovii	99 / 9	55
0.44	r	62		California trixis	Trixis californica var. californica	5 / 5	54
0.45	l	63		beavertail cactus	Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris	3 / 3	83
0.48	l	64		California suncup	Eulobus californicus	50 / 3	95
0.48				Saddle; highest point on trail, elevation ~1650 feet (503 m)
0.55	l	65	sp	ann upright lotus	Lotus sp.	10 / 1
0.58	r	66	?	Thomas' buckwheat	Eriogonum thomasii	2 / 2	49
	r			Wash in (fxx)
	r			(Parish's viguiera, Bahiopsis parishii)
	l	67		bracted blazing star	Mentzelia involucrata	1 / 1	40
	r	68		*red brome	Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens	1 / 1	123
	r			(wedge-leaved draba, Draba cuneifolia)
0.61	l	69	?	unk low shrub with capsule fruit	?	1 / 1
0.62	l	70		Newberry's velvet mallow	Horsfordia newberryi	5 / 3	22
0.65				Join wash from side canyon to Moonlight Canyon
	b	71		*Mediterranean schismus	Schismus barbatus	2 / 1	94
0.67	r	72		Parish's viguiera	Bahiopsis parishii	10 / 3	57
0.67	r			(fluff grass, Dasyochloa pulchella^)
	r	73		California buckwheat	Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium	2 / 2	84
0.68	l			(spearleaf, Matelea parvifolia)
0.68	l	74		small-seeded spurge	Chamaesyce polycarpa	30 / 9	89
0.70	l	75	ssp	California cloak fern	Notholaena californica	1 / 1	21
0.71	r	76		boundary goldenbush	Ericameria brachylepis	1 / 1	28
0.71				Join Moonlight Canyon wash; the following two species are found up canyon
		77		desert apricot	Prunus fremontii	5 / 1	30
		78		six-weeks three-awn	Aristida adscensionis	1 / 1	40
0.71	l	79		*rabbits-foot grass	Polypogon monspeliensis	1 / 1
0.72	l	80		common phacelia	Phacelia distans	1 / 1	76
0.75	l	81		purple three-awn	Aristida purpurea	10 / 3	35
0.80	r			(fish-hook cactus, Mammillaria tetrancistra)
0.84	r	82	~	desert woolly-star	Eriastrum eremicum ssp. eremicum	10 / 2	44
1.01	r	83		thick-leaved ground cherry	Physalis crassifolia	1 / 1	53
1.04				Enter spring area
1.04	r	84		mountain California-fuchsia	Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium	20 / 2	93
1.06	l	85		*athel	Tamarix aphylla	5 / 2	5
1.06	l	86		black willow	Salix gooddingii	30 / 1	16
1.07	b	87		common reed	Phragmites australis	50 / 2	8
1.07	b	88	~	southern cattail	Typha domingensis	10 / 2	18
1.08	r			(stream orchid, Epipactis gigantea)
1.09	r	89		slender-lobed four o'clock	Mirabilis tenuiloba	5 / 1	12
1.09	l	90		screw-bean mesquite	Prosopis pubescens	5 / 3	5
1.10	l	91		ghost flower	Mohavea confertiflora	1 / 1	23
1.10	l	92		*Bermuda grass	Cynodon dactylon	2 / 1	46
1.11	r			(desert baccharis, Baccharis sergiloides)
1.11	b	93		narrowleaf willow	Salix exigua var. exigua	1 / 1	14
1.12	r			(southwestern bushy bluestem, Andropogon glomeratus var. scabriglumis; deergrass, Muhlenbergia rigens; Emory's rock-daisy, Perityle emoryi)
1.13	r			(Asian mustard, Brassica tournefortii)
1.17	l	94		Bigelow's monkeyflower	Mimulus bigelovii var. bigelovii	10 / 1	26
1.24				Trail turns left
1.25	r	95		smoke tree	Psorothamnus spinosus	20 / 3	43
1.25	l	96		cheesebush	Ambrosia salsola var. salsola	40 / 3	79
1.28				Trail turns right 90°
1.36				Trail turns left 90° to return to campground; lowest elevation on trail, ~1310 feet (399 m)
1.39	l	97		pencil cholla	Cylindropuntia ramosissima	20 / 2	26
1.49	l	98		desert tea	Ephedra californica	/	25
1.51	b	99	sp	dodder	Cuscuta sp.	2 / 1
1.60				End trail and plant guide at different part of campground
1.78				Day use parking

				Species planted in Campground
				*golden wattle	Acacia pycnantha	/	0
				*Mexican palo verde	Parkinsonia aculeata	/	2
				blue palo verde	Parkinsonia florida	/	16

				Other species seen in Moonlight Canyon, but not located
				California mustard	Caulanthus lasiophyllus	/	21
				Nevada cryptantha	Cryptantha nevadensis var. nevadensis	/	5
				small-flowered poppy	Eschscholzia minutiflora ssp. minutiflora	/	46
				Parish's poppy	Eschscholzia parishii	/	40
				beetle spurge	Euphorbia eriantha	/	20
				Arizona lupine	Lupinus arizonicus	/	48
				California loosestrife	Lythrum californicum	/	10
				white-stemmed blazing star	Mentzelia albicaulis	/	16
				Arizona pholistoma	Pholistoma auritum var. arizonicum	/	1

				Species found in the area just outside the campground
				Parish's spikerush	Eleocharis parishii	/	4
				catchfly prairie-gentian	Eustoma exaltatum ssp. exaltatum	/	2
				American tule	Schoenoplectus americanus	/	12

				Species found from mouth of Moonlight Canyon to Airstrip:
				desert-willow	Chilopsis linearis ssp. arcuata	/	35
				brown-eyed primrose	Chylismia claviformis ssp. peirsonii	/	54
				California croton	Croton californicus	/	28
				narrow-leaved cryptantha	Cryptantha angustifolia	/	53
				desert dicoria	Dicoria canescens	/	15
				Booth's evening primrose	Eremothera boothii ssp. condensata	/	49
				blackbanded rabbitbrush	Ericameria paniculata	/	14
				toad rush	Juncus bufonius	/	2
				*tree tobacco	Nicotiana glauca	/	26
				desert tobacco	Nicotiana obtusifolia	/	55
				dune primrose	Oenothera deltoides ssp. deltoides	/	12
				ironwood	Olneya tesota	/	15
				desert needle	Palafoxia arida var. arida	/	47
				Thurber's sandpaper-plant	Petalonyx thurberi ssp. thurberi	/	36
				*rabbits-foot grass	Polypogon monspeliensis	/	46
				odora	Porophyllum gracile	/	25
				turtleback	Psathyrotes ramosissima	/	12
				Emory's indigo-bush	Psorothamnus emoryi	/	34
				chia	Salvia columbariae	/	90
				plicate coldenia	Tiquilia plicata	/	17

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Plants of Southern California: Trail Guides

Copyright © 2007-2012 by Tom Chester and James Dillane
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/guides/anza_borrego/moonlight_canyon.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester | James Dillane
Last update: 1 March 2012.

Anza-Borrego: Plant Guide To Moonlight Canyon Trail,Agua Caliente County Park

This is a working list, about which we make no guarantees at all until we officially release it. Use at your own risk! In particular, note that this trail guide is very incomplete for annuals and perennials, since the trail has not yet been surveyed after rainfall.

Introduction

Highlights of This Trail

Fieldwork Dates and Summary of List Changes With Time

Botanical Trip Reports

The Plant Guide

Comments On Specific Species

Anza-Borrego: Plant Guide To Moonlight Canyon Trail,
Agua Caliente County Park