Laguna Mountains: Plant Guide to Volcan Mountain Loop

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

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

Volcan Mountain is an elongate fault-slice block with a northwest to southeast length of about 12 miles and a width of about 4 miles. It covers somewhere between 25,000 and 30,000 acres. It ranges in elevation from about 3000 feet on its west (Santa Ysabel Valley), north (Lake Henshaw / San Jose Valley) and east ends (San Felipe Valley) and about 4000 feet on its south end at Julian, to its ridgeline having elevations of 4700 to 6140 feet.
Geologically, Volcan Mountain similar to the neighboring Palomar Mountains to the northwest. The northwest end of Volcan Mountain is just five miles, across the Lake Henshaw Valley, from the southeast end of the Palomar Mountains. High Point on Palomar, at 6140 feet elevation, is 18.6 miles from Pechacho, the highest peak on Volcan, at 5719 feet elevation.
Floristically, however, Volcan Mountain is probably more similar to the Cuyamaca Mountains, both being ~40 miles from the coast and closer to the desert, compared to the Palomar Mountains ~30 miles from the coast. North Peak, at 5993 feet elevation, is just 6.5 miles from Volcan, the southernmost peak on Volcan with an elevation of 5353 feet. Frank Gander included Volcan Mountain in his Floristic Area #10, which also includes Julian, the Cuyamaca and Laguna Mountains.
However, until recently, very little botanical work has been done at Volcan since it has been privately owned and closed to the public for over a century. Most of the northern part of the Mountain, about 8,000 acres, is part of the 15,500 acre Santa Ysabel Indian Reservation and is not open to the public. Most of the southernmost part of the mountain was the 11,000 acre Rutherford Ranch.
Volcan has become increasingly opened to the public thanks to the preservation efforts of Julian residents after development was proposed for the west face of Volcan in 1988. The Volcan Mountain Preserve Foundation, with the goal of preserving the entire Mountain, was the direct result of this community action. The impressive trailhead Hubbell Gateway was also a community effort, designed by the famous artist and sculptor James Hubbell, who also directed its construction by local volunteers.
In 1989 San Diego County purchased 200 acres for a wilderness park. Subsequent land purchases have increased the total preserved acreage to over 16,800 acres, with the Volcan Mountain Preserve Foundation accounting for 4,754 acres of that total (see link for more information about Volcan Mountain).
Public access to Volcan Mountain is available at two San Diego County Parks: the 2,400 acre Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve, with 3.7 miles of trails open to the public, and the 3,800 acre Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve, with 11 miles of trails. San Dieguito River Park, California Department of Fish and Game, California Division of Forestry and the Bureau of Land Management administer other portions of the acreage on the north and east sides of Volcan Mountain.
See map showing part of the Volcan Mountain Open Space Preserve, along with its fire history.
Botanical work has been done on both county parks. Fred Sproul compiled a checklist of flora for the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve in 2000, from his fieldwork in June and August 2000 and species observed by a few other botanists on separate trips. Virginia Moran did extensive Rare Plants and Vegetation Surveys in 2002-2003 for the Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve.
This plant trail guide covers a 5.0 mile loop of all the public trails of Volcan Mountain, which includes the 2.1 mile main access road show in dark blue on the map below, and the 1.6 mile Five Oaks Trail, opened to the public in 2004, shown in green. The total elevation gain and loss is about 1300 feet, with about 100 feet of up and down in addition to the 1193 feet gain from the 4160 feet elevation of the Hubbell Gateway to the 5353 feet elevation of Volcan peak. The guide takes the trail on the way up, and the road on the way down. However, note that the road is a steep former Jeep road, and some people may find it unpleasant to descend it. If you aren't interested in seeing the species found only on the section of road on the way down, you may wish to take the trail on the way down as well.
Directions to trailhead: from the town of Santa Ysabel on SR79, turn left onto Wynola Road at Wynola, just past the former Tom's Chicken Shack, soon to be a Hungarian Restaurant. The scenic Wynola Road bends and climbs along Jim Green Creek and its canyon, called Juch canyon, which is covered in beautiful flowers in the spring. Note especially the wonderful display of fairy lanterns, Calochortus albus, paintbrush, and strawberries. Continue past Farmer Road on the right at mile 3.3, and turn left on Farmer Road on the left at mile 3.4. The Preserve entrance is on the right 0.1 miles north on Farmer Road. The Volcan Mountain Preserve is signed at its entrance on Farmer Road 0.1 miles north of Wynola Road; park along Farmer Road.
From Julian, take Farmer Road north to its T-junction with Wynola Road, then jog right on Wynola Road to the continuation of Farmer Road and the Preserve entrance.

Highlights of This Trail

Some of the botanical highlights of this trail are:

the wildflower-covered top of Volcan peak; see Wayne Armstrong's pictures.

Species found only on this trail, out of my 103 trails from all of southern California, or at most one other trail, are in the following table:

# Trails Scientific Name
1 *Cynosurus echinatus
1 Gilia sinuata
1 Hymenothrix wrightii
1 *Malus sylvestris
1 Mentzelia veatchiana
1 Salvia apiana X S. clevelandii (S. X palmeri)
1 Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus
1 Vulpia microstachys var. confusa
2 Allophyllum gilioides ssp. violaceum
2 Athysanus pusillus
2 Camissonia confusa
2 *Cnicus benedictus
2 Collinsia childii
2 Elymus trachycaulus
2 Githopsis diffusa ssp. candida
2 Orobanche fasciculata
2 Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus
2 Phlox gracilis
2 Plantago patagonica
2 Platystemon californicus
2 Polystichum imbricans ssp. curtum
2 *Sanguisorba minor ssp. muricata

Number of Unique Taxa On This Trail

The following histogram gives the number of trails in my database that contain each taxon on this trail. There were 103 trails in my database when this histogram was made; of those trails, this is the only one in the Volcan Mountains. A number of "1" means the taxon has only been found on this trail among the trails in my database.

Number of Trails
Containing A Taxon Number Of Taxa
On This Trail % of Taxa
On This Trail
1 8 4%
2 15 8%
3 10 5%
4 6 3%
5 7 4%

1-5 46 24%
6-10 30 16%
11-15 22 12%
16-20 12 6%
21-25 25 13%
26-30 15 8%
31-35 6 3%
36-40 5 3%
41-45 14 7%
46-50 8 4%
51-55 4 2%
56-60 1 1%
60-65 3 2%
Total Taxa 191 100%

I found 4 additional species not in the above table, since they have not been identified yet. The unidentified ones are marked with ? or sp in the id? column in the guide, and do not have any number given in the #all column.
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"
5/16/2007 1 182 5 11 22 9
5/20/2007 2 190 3 5 15 3
5/25/2007 3 193 1 4 10 1

I thank Kate Shapiro for alerting me to the excellent spring bloom on Volcan Mountain in the severe drought year of 2007, and for sharing her knowledge of local flora and the Volcan trail in valuable field assistance on 5/16/07 and 5/20/07. Kate also added the Penstemon heterophyllus from fieldwork on 5/30/07.
I thank Kay Madore, Wayne Armstrong and a person who wishes to remain anonymous for assistance with the fieldwork on 5/20/07.
I thank Jeri Hirshberg for supplying the correct determination for the Erigeron divergens on 6/3/07 that I had misidentified, which led to the discovery of the interesting information on that taxon given below.
Botanical Trip Reports

The Plant Guide

Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (9 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (3 double-sided pages). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)

Mile S # id? Common Name Latin Name #here #all
0.00 Begin trail at Hubbell Gateway; elevation 4160 feet (1268 m)
0.00 b 1 *foxtail barley Hordeum murinum 50 / 3 24
0.00 b 2 California brome Bromus carinatus var. carinatus 50 / 9 27
0.00 b 3 *ripgut brome Bromus diandrus 99 / 9 55
0.00 b 4 *English plantain Plantago lanceolata 99 / 9 21
0.00 b 5 *redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium 99 / 9 62
0.00 b 6 *pineapple weed Chamomilla suaveolens 99 / 5 23
0.00 b 7 *downy brome Bromus tectorum 99 / 9 27
0.00 b 8 *knotweed Polygonum arenastrum 30 / 5 22
0.00 b 9 *California burclover Medicago polymorpha 10 / 2 43
0.00 b 10 California-aster Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia 99 / 9 57
0.00 b 11 *soft chess Bromus hordeaceus 99 / 9 42
0.00 b 12 common fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia⁺ 10 / 3 20
0.00 b 13 *slender wild oats Avena barbata 99 / 9 42
0.00 r 14 western redbud Cercis occidentalis⁺ 1 / 1 5
0.00 l 15 California black oak Quercus kelloggii⁺ 30 / 9 14
0.00 r 16 angel's gilia Gilia angelensis 99 / 9 15
0.00 r 17 dwarf lupine Lupinus bicolor 99 / 9 31
0.00 r 18 purple clarkia Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera 99 / 9 27
0.00 r (leafy daisy, Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus; splendid mariposa lily, Calochortus splendens; blue dicks, Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum; popcorn flower, Cryptantha intermedia)
0.00 r 19 Indian clover Trifolium albopurpureum var. albopurpureum 99 / 9 4
0.00 l Display Board
0.00 b 20 California buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium⁺ 50 / 9 26
0.00 b 21 *wild oats Avena fatua 20 / 5 29
0.00 l 22 *smooth cat's ear Hypochaeris glabra 50 / 9 38
0.00 r (matchweed, Gutierrezia sarothrae)
0.00 b 23 spreading fleabane Erigeron divergens⁺ 99 / 9 48
0.00 r 24 *blessed thistle Cnicus benedictus 5 / 3 2
0.00 r (Spanish clover, Lotus purshianus var. purshianus; flax-flowered linanthus, Linanthus liniflorus)
0.00 r 25 narrowleaf bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 10 / 9 53
0.00 r 26 western ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya 50 / 9 42
0.00 b 27 rusty-haired popcorn flower Plagiobothrys nothofulvus 10 / 1 15
0.00 b 28 *shortpod mustard Hirschfeldia incana 30 / 9 54
0.00 r (bush lupine, Lupinus excubitus var. hallii)
0.00 r Sign: "Entering mountain lion country..."
0.01 l 29 hoary coffeeberry Rhamnus tomentella ssp. tomentella 20 / 9 3
0.01 l 30 *domestic apple Malus sylvestris 1 / 1 1
0.01 r 31 Mexican manzanita Arctostaphylos pungens 30 / 9 5
0.02 r 32 California bee plant Scrophularia californica ssp. floribunda 20 / 5 21
0.02 l 33 white sage Salvia apiana 40 / 9 43
0.02 b 34 popcorn flower Cryptantha intermedia 30 / 9 29
0.02 l 35 imbricate phacelia Phacelia imbricata ssp. patula 30 / 9 9
0.02 l 36 *horehound Marrubium vulgare 1 / 1 36
0.02 l 37 *red brome Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens 50 / 9 62
0.02 r 38 arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis 2 / 1 42
0.02 l 39 fragrant everlasting Gnaphalium canescens ssp. beneolens 10 / 9 27
0.02 r 40 blue dicks Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum 40 / 9 49
0.03 r 41 blue elderberry Sambucus mexicana 10 / 9 53
0.03 r 42 Spanish clover Lotus purshianus var. purshianus 10 / 2 33
0.03 r 43 tomcat clover Trifolium willdenovii 99 / 9 18
0.03 r 44 *narrowleaf filago Filago gallica 20 / 3 46
0.04 r 45 fringed spineflower Chorizanthe fimbriata var. fimbriata 10 / 1 9
0.04 r Sign: "Wildfire..."
0.04 r 46 Patagonia plantain Plantago patagonica 30 / 3 2
0.04 r 47 canyon live oak Quercus chrysolepis 40 / 9 27
0.05 r 48 willow-leaved dock Rumex salicifolius var. denticulatus 2 / 2 10
0.05 l 49 flax-flowered linanthus Linanthus liniflorus 20 / 1 3
0.06 b 50 bush lupine Lupinus excubitus var. hallii 10 / 2 11
0.06 l 51 matchweed Gutierrezia sarothrae 3 / 1 17
0.06 l 52 shining peppergrass Lepidium nitidum var. nitidum 20 / 2 8
0.06 l 53 small-head field clover Trifolium microcephalum 10 / 2 11
0.06 l 54 tree clover Trifolium ciliolatum 30 / 9 13
0.06 l 55 purple owl's-clover Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta 50 / 9 14
0.06 l 56 silver puffs Uropappus lindleyi 40 / 9 29
0.06 l 57 globe gilia Gilia capitata ssp. abrotanifolia 99 / 9 8
0.06 l 58 *windmill pink Silene gallica 40 / 9 35
0.06 l 59 *hairy rattail fescue Vulpia myuros var. hirsuta 99 / 9 21
0.06 l 60 common linanthus Linanthus parviflorus 99 / 9 9
0.07 l 61 bristly bird's beak Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus 10 / 1 34
0.07 l 62 clustered broom-rape Orobanche fasciculata 20 / 3 2
0.07 l (scarlet bugler, Penstemon centranthifolius)
0.07 l 63 *winter vetch Vicia villosa ssp. varia 10 / 2 21
0.08 r 64 gray sage Salvia apiana X S. clevelandii (S. X palmeri) 1 / 1 1
0.08 r 65 scarlet bugler Penstemon centranthifolius 10 / 3 12
0.09 r (yarrow, Achillea millefolium)
0.10 r 66 strigose lotus Lotus strigosus 50 / 9 38
0.12 r 67 ~ sapphire woolly-star Eriastrum sapphirinum 20 / 1 9
0.14 b 68 sp annual buckwheat (round leaf) Eriogonum sp. 10 / 9
0.14 b 69 San Bernardino sun-cup Camissonia confusa 30 / 9 2
0.14 r 70 ~ Wright's thimblehead Hymenothrix wrightii 20 / 1 1
0.15 r 71 ~ twiggy wreath plant Stephanomeria virgata ssp. pleurocarpa 10 / 5 2
0.15 r 72 bristly goldenaster Heterotheca sessiliflora ssp. echioides 2 / 1 9
0.17 r 73 Coulter's snapdragon Antirrhinum coulterianum 30 / 4 7
0.17 l 74 leafy daisy Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus 20 / 9 48
0.20 r 75 California fuchsia Epilobium canum⁺ 5 / 1 18
0.20 b 76 splendid mariposa lily Calochortus splendens 10 / 3 21
0.20 r 77 *garden burnet Sanguisorba minor ssp. muricata 5 / 1 2
0.20 r 78 ~ southern mule's ears Wyethia ovata 3 / 2 5
0.21 r 79 checkerbloom Sidalcea malviflora ssp. sparsifolia 40 / 9 26
0.23 r (June grass, Koeleria macrantha; incense-cedar, Calocedrus decurrens)
0.26 r 80 bajada lupine Lupinus concinnus 20 / 9 12
0.26 r 81 slender cottonweed Micropus californicus var. californicus 10 / 3 8
0.26 r 82 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum 40 / 9 6
0.27 r 83 June grass Koeleria macrantha 5 / 2 3
0.27 r California black oak Quercus kelloggii⁺ /
0.28 r Check for Calochortus weedii
0.28 l Jct. use path to grinding stones
0.30 r 84 wild-cucumber Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus 2 / 2 47
0.31 l (oak mistletoe, Phoradendron villosum)
0.31 l Check for eucrypta
0.31 l 85 volcanic gilia Gilia ochroleuca ssp. exilis 30 / 4 3
0.31 b 86 baby blue eyes Nemophila menziesii var. menziesii 99 / 9 9
0.31 l 87 annual phlox Phlox gracilis 30 / 4 2
0.33 r 88 narrow-leaved miner's lettuce Claytonia parviflora ssp. parviflora 20 / 3 23
0.34 l 89 common bedstraw Galium aparine 99 / 9 43
0.35 b 90 *field hedge-parsley Torilis arvensis 99 / 3 7
0.36 r 91 woodland star Lithophragma affine 40 / 9 7
0.36 l (spear-leaved mountain dandelion, Agoseris retrorsa)
0.36 l Sign: "Wildfire..."
0.36 r 92 coast live oak Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia 4 / 1 45
0.36 l 93 mountain mugwort Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta 10 / 5 8
0.36 r (southern honeysuckle, Lonicera subspicata var. denudata)
0.37 r 94 spear-leaved mountain dandelion Agoseris retrorsa 5 / 3 14
0.37 l 95 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 20 / 9 63
0.37 l 96 Child's collinsia Collinsia childii 99 / 9 2
0.37 l 97 diamond-petaled clarkia Clarkia rhomboidea 99 / 9 5
0.37 r 98 California sweet-cicely Osmorhiza brachypoda 50 / 9 7
0.37 r 99 southern honeysuckle Lonicera subspicata var. denudata 10 / 9 45
0.38 l 100 ~ goldenstar Bloomeria crocea 3 / 2 15
0.38 r Jct. Five Oaks Trail; go right on it, up the steps; elevation 4380 feet (1335 m)
0.39 l 101 phlox-leaved bedstraw Galium andrewsii ssp. andrewsii 5 / 2 7
0.39 r Sign: "Five Oaks Trail..."
0.39 r Woodrat's nest
0.39 b 102 prickly cryptantha Cryptantha muricata 30 / 5 17
0.40 r 103 California chicory Rafinesquia californica 10 / 5 23
0.40 l 104 threadstem Pterostegia drymarioides 30 / 5 33
0.41 l 105 southern coast live oak Quercus agrifolia var. oxyadenia 5 / 1 6
0.42 l 106 white bluecup Githopsis diffusa ssp. candida 20 / 2 2
0.43 b 107 basketbush Rhus trilobata 50 / 9 28
0.47 l 108 California everlasting Gnaphalium californicum 5 / 3 46
0.47 b 109 Torrey's scrub oak Quercus acutidens 10 / 9 29
0.48 l 110 giant needlegrass Achnatherum coronatum⁺ 5 / 1 24
0.48 l 111 wide-throated yellow monkeyflower Mimulus brevipes 20 / 9 13
0.48 l 112 sand cress Calyptridium monandrum 5 / 1 13
0.48 Check for Filago californica
0.49 l 113 chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum 10 / 9 41
0.50 r 114 California peony Paeonia californica 1 / 1 19
0.52 l 115 San Diego pea Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii 5 / 2 24
0.52 b 116 common phacelia Phacelia distans 10 / 3 12
0.52 r (stinging lupine, Lupinus hirsutissimus)
0.52 l 117 snapdragon campion Silene antirrhina 5 / 1 8
0.52 l 118 western wallflower Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum 20 / 3 22
0.53 b 119 fringe-pod Thysanocarpus curvipes 30 / 9 10
0.54 Cross small drainage and curve right
0.54 l 120 *Italian thistle Carduus pycnocephalus 5 / 2 24
0.54 l 121 one-sided bluegrass Poa secunda ssp. secunda 20 / 2 25
0.54 l 122 yarrow Achillea millefolium 30 / 5 17
0.54 l 123 goldenrod Solidago californica 5 / 1 42
0.54 b 124 miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata 30 / 3 26
0.54 l 125 American vetch Vicia americana var. americana 3 / 1 10
0.54 l 126 *mouse-ear chickweed Cerastium glomeratum 20 / 3 21
0.56 r 127 slender wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus⁺ 20 / 2 2
0.57 r 128 blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium bellum 2 / 1 21
0.57 b 129 *Italian rye-grass Lolium multiflorum 10 / 1 20
0.58 b 130 southern Chinese houses Collinsia concolor 99 / 9 5
0.59 r 131 Engelmann oak Quercus engelmannii 5 / 1 25
0.60 r (cliff sword fern, Polystichum imbricans ssp. curtum)
0.61 b 132 poison oak Toxicodendron diversilobum 30 / 9 45
0.61 l 133 *sow thistle Sonchus oleraceus 1 / 1 44
0.64 Switchback left
0.65 Switchback right
0.65 l 134 Laguna manzanita Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. adamsii 10 / 5 3
0.65 r 135 oak mistletoe Phoradendron villosum 1 / 1 8
0.68 Switchback left
0.68 r 136 slender madia Madia gracilis 30 / 9 20
0.68 r 137 *darnel Lolium temulentum 10 / 1 5
0.69 r 138 *hedgehog dogtail-grass Cynosurus echinatus 40 / 1 1
0.72 Switchback right
0.72 b 139 *hedge mustard Sisymbrium officinale 30 / 3 24
0.75 b 140 caterpillar phacelia Phacelia cicutaria var. hispida 20 / 2 17
0.76 l 141 saw-toothed goldenbush Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioides 5 / 1 37
0.76 l 142 graceful bedstraw Galium porrigens var. porrigens 10 / 4 5
0.76 l 143 ~ seashore bentgrass Agrostis pallens 3 / 1 14
0.78 Switchback left
0.78 l 144 white everlasting Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum 3 / 3 39
0.79 b 145 Jepson's blue wildrye Elymus glaucus ssp. jepsonii 30 / 5 8
0.82 l 146 *tumble-mustard Sisymbrium altissimum 20 / 2 12
0.83 r 147 snowberry Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus⁺ 30 / 5 1
0.87 r 148 wild tarragon Artemisia dracunculus 5 / 3 25
0.88 l (hollyleaf redberry, Rhamnus ilicifolia)
0.91 r 149 ~ autumn willowweed Epilobium brachycarpum 10 / 5 6
0.93 r 150 sacred datura Datura wrightii 20 / 9 23
0.95 l 151 red maids Calandrinia ciliata 30 / 9 24
1.09 l 152 elk thistle Cirsium scariosum 2 / 2 13
1.12 l 153 sp western? morning-glory Calystegia (occidentalis ssp. fulcrata?) 10 / 3 8
1.13 Switchback left
1.13 r (bird's-foot fern, Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata)
1.13 b 154 white fairy lantern Calochortus albus 5 / 1 3
1.14 Switchback right
1.17 b 155 coast-range melic Melica imperfecta 2 / 1 45
1.17 l 156 interior live oak Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens 1 / 1 13
1.18 l 157 sp Palmer's? ceanothus Ceanothus (palmeri?) 5 / 1 6
1.18 r 158 bird's-foot fern Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata 1 / 1 35
1.18 l 159 hollyleaf redberry Rhamnus ilicifolia 1 / 1 49
1.19 l 160 dwarf athysanus Athysanus pusillus 20 / 2 2
1.19 l Second occurrence of white bluecup, Githopsis diffusa ssp. candida
1.21 Switchback left
1.21 r 161 ssp little monardella Monardella nana 3 / 2
1.21 Switchback right at blocked-off road
1.23 Switchback left
1.25 Switchback right
1.26 Switchback left
1.28 l 162 *common groundsel Senecio vulgaris 1 / 1 22
1.28 Switchback right
1.33 Switchback left
1.34 l 163 *prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola 2 / 2 46
1.41 b 164 dove weed Eremocarpus setigerus 30 / 5 28
1.41 l 165 Sierra gooseberry Ribes roezlii var. roezlii 5 / 3 12
1.44 l 166 strigose sun-cup Camissonia strigulosa 3 / 1 7
1.44 b 167 sp annual goosefoot Chenopodium sp. 5 / 1
l 168 ~ Payson's wild cabbage Caulanthus simulans⁺ 2 / 1 3
1.49 Trail turns left 90°
1.50 b 169 grand mountain dandelion Agoseris grandiflora 5 / 1 13
1.51 r Jct. Overlook bench
1.51 r (in far distance: bigcone-spruce, Pseudotsuga macrocarpa)
1.54 l 170 western choke-cherry Prunus virginiana var. demissa 5 / 1 7
1.54 Local high point on trail
1.61 T-jct. with road; go right; elevation ~4970 feet (1515 m); sign ahead: "Midsummit (right); midsummit gate 0.3 mi (right); summit 1.2 mi (right); gateway 1.9 mi (left)"
1.61 r 171 *yellow salsify Tragopogon dubius 2 / 2 14
1.61 l 172 ~ Indian milkweed Asclepias eriocarpa 4 / 2 21
1.75 l 173 ? rosette with honking leaves like eriogonum ? 3 / 2
1.77 Cross small drainage; local low point on road
1.78 l 174 bracken Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens 10 / 1 14
1.80 l 175 ~ giant four o'clock Mirabilis multiflora var. pubescens 1 / 1 4
1.85 Pass through gate on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to sunset, April - November; otherwise, turn-around
1.86 r 176 cream cups Platystemon californicus 99 / 9 2
1.96 r 177 common tidy-tips Layia platyglossa 5 / 1 6
1.97 b 178 incense-cedar Calocedrus decurrens 20 / 2 16
2.01 c 179 *common chickweed Stellaria media 20 / 1 29
2.01 c 180 *common dandelion Taraxacum officinale 5 / 1 7
2.14 l Jct. closed road; elevation 5160 feet (1573 m)
2.15 c 181 California meadow barley Hordeum brachyantherum ssp. californicum 2 / 2 4
2.17 r Sign: chimney left from Hale telescope siting expedition
2.35 l 182 confusing fescue Vulpia microstachys var. confusa 20 / 2 1
2.38 l 183 rosy gilia Gilia sinuata 5 / 1 1
2.52 r (bitter cherry, Prunus emarginata)
2.60 Y-jct; go right around loop; elevation 5320 feet (1622 m)
2.72 l Volcan Peak; elevation 5353 feet (1632 m); good resting spot at concrete wall
2.79 l Unusual bank of prostrate Rhus trilobata "groundcover".
2.82 r 184 Veatch's blazing star Mentzelia veatchiana 5 / 1 1
2.84 End of loop; turn right and retrace steps on road to upper trail junction
3.83 Upper trail jct.; continue on road; elevation ~4970 feet (1515 m)
3.92 b 185 *bulbous blue grass Poa bulbosa 30 / 9 3
3.98 l 186 cliff sword fern Polystichum imbricans ssp. curtum 1 / 1 2
4.00 l 187 sticky cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa ssp. glandulosa 20 / 3 18
4.03 l Best field of woodland star, Lithophragma affine
4.03 l 188 long-spurred plectritis Plectritis ciliosa ssp. insignis 5 / 1 4
4.03 l 189 blue-eyed Mary Collinsia parviflora 5 / 1 3
4.03 l 190 goosefoot yellow violet Viola purpurea ssp. quercetorum 10 / 2 3
4.04 Switchback right
4.07 b 191 tuberous sanicle Sanicula tuberosa 10 / 1 4
4.08 Switchback left
4.18 l Unusual wild tarragon, Artemisia dracunculus, with all leaves pubescent and divided halfway into three lobes
4.20 l 192 dense false-gilia Allophyllum gilioides ssp. violaceum 20 / 2 2
4.32 r 193 woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca 10 / 1 4
l 194 foothill penstemon Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus⁺ / 1 2
4.42 l 195 birch-leaf mountain-mahogany Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides 3 / 1 24
4.63 l Sign: "Gateway 0.4 mi (ahead)"
4.63 Lower trail jct.; elevation 4380 feet (1335 m); end guide
5.01 Hubbell Gateway; elevation 4160 feet (1268 m)

Comments On Specific Species

Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia. The plants at the trailhead were weed-whacked before they could bloom. The variety determination comes from plants near mile 2.1.
Cercis occidentalis, Quercus kelloggii. Both of these have probably been planted at the trailhead. Cercis occidentalis is not found elsewhere on the trail; the first non-planted specimen of Quercus kelloggii is noted at mile 0.27.
Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium. The specimens here are somewhat intermediate to var. foliolosum. Since there are not two distinct varieties here, I have somewhat arbitrarily assigned all the plants to var. polifolium.
Erigeron divergens. These plants are robust perennials here, definitely not the "annual" life form given in the Jepson Manual treatment for this species. Further, they do not look anything like the much-smaller specimens of E. divergens I've seen in the San Bernardino Mountains. As a result, I was almost incredulous that this could be the correct determination. But it is!
Jeri Hirshberg keyed the plants out and kindly informed me of my previous misdetermination of these plants, and I verified her keying on an independent sample. A detailed comparison of the plants to the Flora of North America (FNA) treatment finds excellent agreement in every detail except for the shape of the leaves. The observed leaves are linear to very-narrowly oblanceolate, not ± obovate-spatulate.
Fortunately, the FNA treatment reveals the answer to the difficulties I had in accepting this determination.
Apparently E. divergens has three different chromosome numbers (2n = 18, 27, 36), and a number of different races that develop fruit asexually from the tissue surrounding the embryo sac (this form of asexual reproduction is called "agamospermy").
These asexual races of course never interbreed with other E. divergens plants, and hence produce a number of morphological forms. Some of these forms have received separate species names in the past, and are close to other Erigeron species, such as E. lobatus. Other forms have very short ligules that just barely exceed the phyllaries.
In addition, E. divergens is a very widespread species, found in every state in the western half of the continental U.S. except for Kansas, so there are lots of different forms.
Some of these forms are (short-lived) perennials, like the ones at Volcan. The southern California floras don't mention this at all. Munz says E. divergens is "annual to biennial", and the Jepson Manual simply says "annual". Of course, it is not surprising that a taxon that is an annual in Wyoming might be a perennial in southern California. But it is surprising that a California flora would list it only as an annual if it were commonly observed as a perennial in California.
The Jepson Manual does have a clue that something is going on with E. divergens by the simple word "variable" at the end of the description, but that hardly can be construed to include the change in life form from annual to perennial.
There seems to be a distinct gradient in this taxon in southern California, but there is a big caveat on this observation. Since I'm fitting a trend to just three observations, this gradient may simply be an artifact. The SnBr plants I've seen are about 2 dm (8 inches) high, with a single stem. SnJt plants in Garner Valley are about 3 dm (12 inches) high, with a number of stems from base. The Volcan plants are up to 5 dm (20 inches) high, again with a number of stems from base. The large difference in appearance between between the Garner Valley plants and the Volcan plants are shown in this photograph, which shows an entire Garner Valley plant on the left, and just a single branch of a Volcan plant on the right. The SnBr plants are similar to the plant in this photo. Amazing, huh?
Epilobium canum. Plants in southern California are often indeterminate to subspecies, so I give only the species name. See Comments on the Jepson Manual and A Flora of Southern California by Munz: Epilobium canum.
Achnatherum coronatum. The plants here cannot be clearly determined between A. coronatum and A. parishii, which perhaps are not separate species. On 5/20/07, most of the awns on young seeds have just one bend, a few have a fairly clear two bends, and some have one bend plus perhaps another faint bend. I measured two plants in the field. The first had a stem of 10 dm, and infl of 15-24 cm. Its basal leaves had a maximum width of 3 mm, with cauline leaves ranging to 6 mm in width. The second had a stem of 5.0 dm, and an infl of 15 cm. Its maximum basal leaf width was 4 mm.
The Jepson Manual key is indeterminate, since the maximum leaf basal width of 3-4 mm is supposed to go only with awns with 2 bends. In my plots of infl length vs. stem length, these plants fall into the indeterminate region where both 1 and 2 bend plants are found.
For the determination, I simply used the name with priority if there are not two species.
Kate Shapiro found on 5/30/07 that most of the awns had a slight double bend, so perhaps the awns were just immature on 5/20/07, and the plants are completely consistent with A. coronatum.
Elymus trachycaulus. These plants are inconsistent with the only variety in the San Diego County Plant Checklist, var. trachycaulus. They key to ssp. subsecundus since they have an awn length of 16-21 mm. However, that taxon is supposed to be just "SN, MP". I have also found the same long awns at SnJt, where all the eight vouchers are just given to the species. Given this difficulty, I follow the lead of the vouchers and just determine these plants to the species level.
Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus. This is a new species for the San Diego County Plant Checklist, but it turns out it really is not a new species, just a new determination of plants formerly determined as S. mollis.
For pictures and keying of this taxon on this trail, and the strange history of this species in floras of southern California, see Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus.
After finding and determining these plants, I wanted to compare these plants to S. mollis. I analyzed samples taken on 6/11/07 of what was supposed to be S. mollis from just west of Lake Henshaw and from the Inaja Memorial between Santa Ysabel and Julian. Those plants also turned out to be S. albus, with 11 characteristics that fit only S. albus, and zero characteristics that fit only S. mollis. Hence it appears that S. albus is the common montane species in San Diego County.
Thus although this taxon is listed as only being on this trail among all my plant trail guides, that will probably change when I review the determinations made on those trails in the future.
Caulanthus simulans. Kate Shapiro observed this species in 2006, but it wasn't found in May 2007.
Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus. The location of this species is after the strawberry and before the Cercocarpus.

# Trails	Scientific Name
1	*Cynosurus echinatus
1	Gilia sinuata
1	Hymenothrix wrightii
1	*Malus sylvestris
1	Mentzelia veatchiana
1	Salvia apiana X S. clevelandii (S. X palmeri)
1	Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus
1	Vulpia microstachys var. confusa
2	Allophyllum gilioides ssp. violaceum
2	Athysanus pusillus
2	Camissonia confusa
2	*Cnicus benedictus
2	Collinsia childii
2	Elymus trachycaulus
2	Githopsis diffusa ssp. candida
2	Orobanche fasciculata
2	Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus
2	Phlox gracilis
2	Plantago patagonica
2	Platystemon californicus
2	Polystichum imbricans ssp. curtum
2	*Sanguisorba minor ssp. muricata

Number of Trails Containing A Taxon	Number Of Taxa On This Trail	% of Taxa On This Trail
1	8	4%
2	15	8%
3	10	5%
4	6	3%
5	7	4%

1-5	46	24%
6-10	30	16%
11-15	22	12%
16-20	12	6%
21-25	25	13%
26-30	15	8%
31-35	6	3%
36-40	5	3%
41-45	14	7%
46-50	8	4%
51-55	4	2%
56-60	1	1%
60-65	3	2%
Total Taxa	191	100%

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
5/16/2007	1	182	5	11	22	9
5/20/2007	2	190	3	5	15	3
5/25/2007	3	193	1	4	10	1

Mile	S	#	id?	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00				Begin trail at Hubbell Gateway; elevation 4160 feet (1268 m)
0.00	b	1		*foxtail barley	Hordeum murinum	50 / 3	24
0.00	b	2		California brome	Bromus carinatus var. carinatus	50 / 9	27
0.00	b	3		*ripgut brome	Bromus diandrus	99 / 9	55
0.00	b	4		*English plantain	Plantago lanceolata	99 / 9	21
0.00	b	5		*redstem filaree	Erodium cicutarium	99 / 9	62
0.00	b	6		*pineapple weed	Chamomilla suaveolens	99 / 5	23
0.00	b	7		*downy brome	Bromus tectorum	99 / 9	27
0.00	b	8		*knotweed	Polygonum arenastrum	30 / 5	22
0.00	b	9		*California burclover	Medicago polymorpha	10 / 2	43
0.00	b	10		California-aster	Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia	99 / 9	57
0.00	b	11		*soft chess	Bromus hordeaceus	99 / 9	42
0.00	b	12		common fiddleneck	Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia⁺	10 / 3	20
0.00	b	13		*slender wild oats	Avena barbata	99 / 9	42
0.00	r	14		western redbud	Cercis occidentalis⁺	1 / 1	5
0.00	l	15		California black oak	Quercus kelloggii⁺	30 / 9	14
0.00	r	16		angel's gilia	Gilia angelensis	99 / 9	15
0.00	r	17		dwarf lupine	Lupinus bicolor	99 / 9	31
0.00	r	18		purple clarkia	Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera	99 / 9	27
0.00	r			(leafy daisy, Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus; splendid mariposa lily, Calochortus splendens; blue dicks, Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum; popcorn flower, Cryptantha intermedia)
0.00	r	19		Indian clover	Trifolium albopurpureum var. albopurpureum	99 / 9	4
0.00	l			Display Board
0.00	b	20		California buckwheat	Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium⁺	50 / 9	26
0.00	b	21		*wild oats	Avena fatua	20 / 5	29
0.00	l	22		*smooth cat's ear	Hypochaeris glabra	50 / 9	38
0.00	r			(matchweed, Gutierrezia sarothrae)
0.00	b	23		spreading fleabane	Erigeron divergens⁺	99 / 9	48
0.00	r	24		*blessed thistle	Cnicus benedictus	5 / 3	2
0.00	r			(Spanish clover, Lotus purshianus var. purshianus; flax-flowered linanthus, Linanthus liniflorus)
0.00	r	25		narrowleaf bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium	10 / 9	53
0.00	r	26		western ragweed	Ambrosia psilostachya	50 / 9	42
0.00	b	27		rusty-haired popcorn flower	Plagiobothrys nothofulvus	10 / 1	15
0.00	b	28		*shortpod mustard	Hirschfeldia incana	30 / 9	54
0.00	r			(bush lupine, Lupinus excubitus var. hallii)
0.00	r			Sign: "Entering mountain lion country..."
0.01	l	29		hoary coffeeberry	Rhamnus tomentella ssp. tomentella	20 / 9	3
0.01	l	30		*domestic apple	Malus sylvestris	1 / 1	1
0.01	r	31		Mexican manzanita	Arctostaphylos pungens	30 / 9	5
0.02	r	32		California bee plant	Scrophularia californica ssp. floribunda	20 / 5	21
0.02	l	33		white sage	Salvia apiana	40 / 9	43
0.02	b	34		popcorn flower	Cryptantha intermedia	30 / 9	29
0.02	l	35		imbricate phacelia	Phacelia imbricata ssp. patula	30 / 9	9
0.02	l	36		*horehound	Marrubium vulgare	1 / 1	36
0.02	l	37		*red brome	Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens	50 / 9	62
0.02	r	38		arroyo willow	Salix lasiolepis	2 / 1	42
0.02	l	39		fragrant everlasting	Gnaphalium canescens ssp. beneolens	10 / 9	27
0.02	r	40		blue dicks	Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum	40 / 9	49
0.03	r	41		blue elderberry	Sambucus mexicana	10 / 9	53
0.03	r	42		Spanish clover	Lotus purshianus var. purshianus	10 / 2	33
0.03	r	43		tomcat clover	Trifolium willdenovii	99 / 9	18
0.03	r	44		*narrowleaf filago	Filago gallica	20 / 3	46
0.04	r	45		fringed spineflower	Chorizanthe fimbriata var. fimbriata	10 / 1	9
0.04	r			Sign: "Wildfire..."
0.04	r	46		Patagonia plantain	Plantago patagonica	30 / 3	2
0.04	r	47		canyon live oak	Quercus chrysolepis	40 / 9	27
0.05	r	48		willow-leaved dock	Rumex salicifolius var. denticulatus	2 / 2	10
0.05	l	49		flax-flowered linanthus	Linanthus liniflorus	20 / 1	3
0.06	b	50		bush lupine	Lupinus excubitus var. hallii	10 / 2	11
0.06	l	51		matchweed	Gutierrezia sarothrae	3 / 1	17
0.06	l	52		shining peppergrass	Lepidium nitidum var. nitidum	20 / 2	8
0.06	l	53		small-head field clover	Trifolium microcephalum	10 / 2	11
0.06	l	54		tree clover	Trifolium ciliolatum	30 / 9	13
0.06	l	55		purple owl's-clover	Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta	50 / 9	14
0.06	l	56		silver puffs	Uropappus lindleyi	40 / 9	29
0.06	l	57		globe gilia	Gilia capitata ssp. abrotanifolia	99 / 9	8
0.06	l	58		*windmill pink	Silene gallica	40 / 9	35
0.06	l	59		*hairy rattail fescue	Vulpia myuros var. hirsuta	99 / 9	21
0.06	l	60		common linanthus	Linanthus parviflorus	99 / 9	9
0.07	l	61		bristly bird's beak	Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus	10 / 1	34
0.07	l	62		clustered broom-rape	Orobanche fasciculata	20 / 3	2
0.07	l			(scarlet bugler, Penstemon centranthifolius)
0.07	l	63		*winter vetch	Vicia villosa ssp. varia	10 / 2	21
0.08	r	64		gray sage	Salvia apiana X S. clevelandii (S. X palmeri)	1 / 1	1
0.08	r	65		scarlet bugler	Penstemon centranthifolius	10 / 3	12
0.09	r			(yarrow, Achillea millefolium)
0.10	r	66		strigose lotus	Lotus strigosus	50 / 9	38
0.12	r	67	~	sapphire woolly-star	Eriastrum sapphirinum	20 / 1	9
0.14	b	68	sp	annual buckwheat (round leaf)	Eriogonum sp.	10 / 9
0.14	b	69		San Bernardino sun-cup	Camissonia confusa	30 / 9	2
0.14	r	70	~	Wright's thimblehead	Hymenothrix wrightii	20 / 1	1
0.15	r	71	~	twiggy wreath plant	Stephanomeria virgata ssp. pleurocarpa	10 / 5	2
0.15	r	72		bristly goldenaster	Heterotheca sessiliflora ssp. echioides	2 / 1	9
0.17	r	73		Coulter's snapdragon	Antirrhinum coulterianum	30 / 4	7
0.17	l	74		leafy daisy	Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus	20 / 9	48
0.20	r	75		California fuchsia	Epilobium canum⁺	5 / 1	18
0.20	b	76		splendid mariposa lily	Calochortus splendens	10 / 3	21
0.20	r	77		*garden burnet	Sanguisorba minor ssp. muricata	5 / 1	2
0.20	r	78	~	southern mule's ears	Wyethia ovata	3 / 2	5
0.21	r	79		checkerbloom	Sidalcea malviflora ssp. sparsifolia	40 / 9	26
0.23	r			(June grass, Koeleria macrantha; incense-cedar, Calocedrus decurrens)
0.26	r	80		bajada lupine	Lupinus concinnus	20 / 9	12
0.26	r	81		slender cottonweed	Micropus californicus var. californicus	10 / 3	8
0.26	r	82		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. membranaceum	40 / 9	6
0.27	r	83		June grass	Koeleria macrantha	5 / 2	3
0.27	r			California black oak	Quercus kelloggii⁺	/
0.28	r			Check for Calochortus weedii
0.28	l			Jct. use path to grinding stones
0.30	r	84		wild-cucumber	Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus	2 / 2	47
0.31	l			(oak mistletoe, Phoradendron villosum)
0.31	l			Check for eucrypta
0.31	l	85		volcanic gilia	Gilia ochroleuca ssp. exilis	30 / 4	3
0.31	b	86		baby blue eyes	Nemophila menziesii var. menziesii	99 / 9	9
0.31	l	87		annual phlox	Phlox gracilis	30 / 4	2
0.33	r	88		narrow-leaved miner's lettuce	Claytonia parviflora ssp. parviflora	20 / 3	23
0.34	l	89		common bedstraw	Galium aparine	99 / 9	43
0.35	b	90		*field hedge-parsley	Torilis arvensis	99 / 3	7
0.36	r	91		woodland star	Lithophragma affine	40 / 9	7
0.36	l			(spear-leaved mountain dandelion, Agoseris retrorsa)
0.36	l			Sign: "Wildfire..."
0.36	r	92		coast live oak	Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia	4 / 1	45
0.36	l	93		mountain mugwort	Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta	10 / 5	8
0.36	r			(southern honeysuckle, Lonicera subspicata var. denudata)
0.37	r	94		spear-leaved mountain dandelion	Agoseris retrorsa	5 / 3	14
0.37	l	95		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	20 / 9	63
0.37	l	96		Child's collinsia	Collinsia childii	99 / 9	2
0.37	l	97		diamond-petaled clarkia	Clarkia rhomboidea	99 / 9	5
0.37	r	98		California sweet-cicely	Osmorhiza brachypoda	50 / 9	7
0.37	r	99		southern honeysuckle	Lonicera subspicata var. denudata	10 / 9	45
0.38	l	100	~	goldenstar	Bloomeria crocea	3 / 2	15
0.38	r			Jct. Five Oaks Trail; go right on it, up the steps; elevation 4380 feet (1335 m)
0.39	l	101		phlox-leaved bedstraw	Galium andrewsii ssp. andrewsii	5 / 2	7
0.39	r			Sign: "Five Oaks Trail..."
0.39	r			Woodrat's nest
0.39	b	102		prickly cryptantha	Cryptantha muricata	30 / 5	17
0.40	r	103		California chicory	Rafinesquia californica	10 / 5	23
0.40	l	104		threadstem	Pterostegia drymarioides	30 / 5	33
0.41	l	105		southern coast live oak	Quercus agrifolia var. oxyadenia	5 / 1	6
0.42	l	106		white bluecup	Githopsis diffusa ssp. candida	20 / 2	2
0.43	b	107		basketbush	Rhus trilobata	50 / 9	28
0.47	l	108		California everlasting	Gnaphalium californicum	5 / 3	46
0.47	b	109		Torrey's scrub oak	Quercus acutidens	10 / 9	29
0.48	l	110		giant needlegrass	Achnatherum coronatum⁺	5 / 1	24
0.48	l	111		wide-throated yellow monkeyflower	Mimulus brevipes	20 / 9	13
0.48	l	112		sand cress	Calyptridium monandrum	5 / 1	13
0.48				Check for Filago californica
0.49	l	113		chamise	Adenostoma fasciculatum	10 / 9	41
0.50	r	114		California peony	Paeonia californica	1 / 1	19
0.52	l	115		San Diego pea	Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii	5 / 2	24
0.52	b	116		common phacelia	Phacelia distans	10 / 3	12
0.52	r			(stinging lupine, Lupinus hirsutissimus)
0.52	l	117		snapdragon campion	Silene antirrhina	5 / 1	8
0.52	l	118		western wallflower	Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum	20 / 3	22
0.53	b	119		fringe-pod	Thysanocarpus curvipes	30 / 9	10
0.54				Cross small drainage and curve right
0.54	l	120		*Italian thistle	Carduus pycnocephalus	5 / 2	24
0.54	l	121		one-sided bluegrass	Poa secunda ssp. secunda	20 / 2	25
0.54	l	122		yarrow	Achillea millefolium	30 / 5	17
0.54	l	123		goldenrod	Solidago californica	5 / 1	42
0.54	b	124		miner's lettuce	Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata	30 / 3	26
0.54	l	125		American vetch	Vicia americana var. americana	3 / 1	10
0.54	l	126		*mouse-ear chickweed	Cerastium glomeratum	20 / 3	21
0.56	r	127		slender wheatgrass	Elymus trachycaulus⁺	20 / 2	2
0.57	r	128		blue-eyed grass	Sisyrinchium bellum	2 / 1	21
0.57	b	129		*Italian rye-grass	Lolium multiflorum	10 / 1	20
0.58	b	130		southern Chinese houses	Collinsia concolor	99 / 9	5
0.59	r	131		Engelmann oak	Quercus engelmannii	5 / 1	25
0.60	r			(cliff sword fern, Polystichum imbricans ssp. curtum)
0.61	b	132		poison oak	Toxicodendron diversilobum	30 / 9	45
0.61	l	133		*sow thistle	Sonchus oleraceus	1 / 1	44
0.64				Switchback left
0.65				Switchback right
0.65	l	134		Laguna manzanita	Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. adamsii	10 / 5	3
0.65	r	135		oak mistletoe	Phoradendron villosum	1 / 1	8
0.68				Switchback left
0.68	r	136		slender madia	Madia gracilis	30 / 9	20
0.68	r	137		*darnel	Lolium temulentum	10 / 1	5
0.69	r	138		*hedgehog dogtail-grass	Cynosurus echinatus	40 / 1	1
0.72				Switchback right
0.72	b	139		*hedge mustard	Sisymbrium officinale	30 / 3	24
0.75	b	140		caterpillar phacelia	Phacelia cicutaria var. hispida	20 / 2	17
0.76	l	141		saw-toothed goldenbush	Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioides	5 / 1	37
0.76	l	142		graceful bedstraw	Galium porrigens var. porrigens	10 / 4	5
0.76	l	143	~	seashore bentgrass	Agrostis pallens	3 / 1	14
0.78				Switchback left
0.78	l	144		white everlasting	Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum	3 / 3	39
0.79	b	145		Jepson's blue wildrye	Elymus glaucus ssp. jepsonii	30 / 5	8
0.82	l	146		*tumble-mustard	Sisymbrium altissimum	20 / 2	12
0.83	r	147		snowberry	Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus⁺	30 / 5	1
0.87	r	148		wild tarragon	Artemisia dracunculus	5 / 3	25
0.88	l			(hollyleaf redberry, Rhamnus ilicifolia)
0.91	r	149	~	autumn willowweed	Epilobium brachycarpum	10 / 5	6
0.93	r	150		sacred datura	Datura wrightii	20 / 9	23
0.95	l	151		red maids	Calandrinia ciliata	30 / 9	24
1.09	l	152		elk thistle	Cirsium scariosum	2 / 2	13
1.12	l	153	sp	western? morning-glory	Calystegia (occidentalis ssp. fulcrata?)	10 / 3	8
1.13				Switchback left
1.13	r			(bird's-foot fern, Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata)
1.13	b	154		white fairy lantern	Calochortus albus	5 / 1	3
1.14				Switchback right
1.17	b	155		coast-range melic	Melica imperfecta	2 / 1	45
1.17	l	156		interior live oak	Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens	1 / 1	13
1.18	l	157	sp	Palmer's? ceanothus	Ceanothus (palmeri?)	5 / 1	6
1.18	r	158		bird's-foot fern	Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata	1 / 1	35
1.18	l	159		hollyleaf redberry	Rhamnus ilicifolia	1 / 1	49
1.19	l	160		dwarf athysanus	Athysanus pusillus	20 / 2	2
1.19	l			Second occurrence of white bluecup, Githopsis diffusa ssp. candida
1.21				Switchback left
1.21	r	161	ssp	little monardella	Monardella nana	3 / 2
1.21				Switchback right at blocked-off road
1.23				Switchback left
1.25				Switchback right
1.26				Switchback left
1.28	l	162		*common groundsel	Senecio vulgaris	1 / 1	22
1.28				Switchback right
1.33				Switchback left
1.34	l	163		*prickly lettuce	Lactuca serriola	2 / 2	46
1.41	b	164		dove weed	Eremocarpus setigerus	30 / 5	28
1.41	l	165		Sierra gooseberry	Ribes roezlii var. roezlii	5 / 3	12
1.44	l	166		strigose sun-cup	Camissonia strigulosa	3 / 1	7
1.44	b	167	sp	annual goosefoot	Chenopodium sp.	5 / 1
	l	168	~	Payson's wild cabbage	Caulanthus simulans⁺	2 / 1	3
1.49				Trail turns left 90°
1.50	b	169		grand mountain dandelion	Agoseris grandiflora	5 / 1	13
1.51	r			Jct. Overlook bench
1.51	r			(in far distance: bigcone-spruce, Pseudotsuga macrocarpa)
1.54	l	170		western choke-cherry	Prunus virginiana var. demissa	5 / 1	7
1.54				Local high point on trail
1.61				T-jct. with road; go right; elevation ~4970 feet (1515 m); sign ahead: "Midsummit (right); midsummit gate 0.3 mi (right); summit 1.2 mi (right); gateway 1.9 mi (left)"
1.61	r	171		*yellow salsify	Tragopogon dubius	2 / 2	14
1.61	l	172	~	Indian milkweed	Asclepias eriocarpa	4 / 2	21
1.75	l	173	?	rosette with honking leaves like eriogonum	?	3 / 2
1.77				Cross small drainage; local low point on road
1.78	l	174		bracken	Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens	10 / 1	14
1.80	l	175	~	giant four o'clock	Mirabilis multiflora var. pubescens	1 / 1	4
1.85				Pass through gate on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to sunset, April - November; otherwise, turn-around
1.86	r	176		cream cups	Platystemon californicus	99 / 9	2
1.96	r	177		common tidy-tips	Layia platyglossa	5 / 1	6
1.97	b	178		incense-cedar	Calocedrus decurrens	20 / 2	16
2.01	c	179		*common chickweed	Stellaria media	20 / 1	29
2.01	c	180		*common dandelion	Taraxacum officinale	5 / 1	7
2.14	l			Jct. closed road; elevation 5160 feet (1573 m)
2.15	c	181		California meadow barley	Hordeum brachyantherum ssp. californicum	2 / 2	4
2.17	r			Sign: chimney left from Hale telescope siting expedition
2.35	l	182		confusing fescue	Vulpia microstachys var. confusa	20 / 2	1
2.38	l	183		rosy gilia	Gilia sinuata	5 / 1	1
2.52	r			(bitter cherry, Prunus emarginata)
2.60				Y-jct; go right around loop; elevation 5320 feet (1622 m)
2.72	l			Volcan Peak; elevation 5353 feet (1632 m); good resting spot at concrete wall
2.79	l			Unusual bank of prostrate Rhus trilobata "groundcover".
2.82	r	184		Veatch's blazing star	Mentzelia veatchiana	5 / 1	1
2.84				End of loop; turn right and retrace steps on road to upper trail junction
3.83				Upper trail jct.; continue on road; elevation ~4970 feet (1515 m)
3.92	b	185		*bulbous blue grass	Poa bulbosa	30 / 9	3
3.98	l	186		cliff sword fern	Polystichum imbricans ssp. curtum	1 / 1	2
4.00	l	187		sticky cinquefoil	Potentilla glandulosa ssp. glandulosa	20 / 3	18
4.03	l			Best field of woodland star, Lithophragma affine
4.03	l	188		long-spurred plectritis	Plectritis ciliosa ssp. insignis	5 / 1	4
4.03	l	189		blue-eyed Mary	Collinsia parviflora	5 / 1	3
4.03	l	190		goosefoot yellow violet	Viola purpurea ssp. quercetorum	10 / 2	3
4.04				Switchback right
4.07	b	191		tuberous sanicle	Sanicula tuberosa	10 / 1	4
4.08				Switchback left
4.18	l			Unusual wild tarragon, Artemisia dracunculus, with all leaves pubescent and divided halfway into three lobes
4.20	l	192		dense false-gilia	Allophyllum gilioides ssp. violaceum	20 / 2	2
4.32	r	193		woodland strawberry	Fragaria vesca	10 / 1	4
	l	194		foothill penstemon	Penstemon heterophyllus var. heterophyllus⁺	/ 1	2
4.42	l	195		birch-leaf mountain-mahogany	Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides	3 / 1	24
4.63	l			Sign: "Gateway 0.4 mi (ahead)"
4.63				Lower trail jct.; elevation 4380 feet (1335 m); end guide
5.01				Hubbell Gateway; elevation 4160 feet (1268 m)

Go to:

Plants of Southern California: Trail Guides
Vascular Plants of the Cuyamaca and Laguna Mountains, A Checklist, Jerilyn Hirshberg and Duffie Clemons, 2003

Copyright © 2007 by Tom Chester.
Permission is freely granted to reproduce any or all of this page as long as credit is given to me at this source:
http://tchester.org/sd/plants/guides/lagunas/volcan_mtn.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Last update: 14 June 2007.