Plant Guide to PCT East of Blue Ridge Summit

Plant Guide to PCT East of Blue Ridge Summit

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
The Plant Guide
Comments On Specific Species
Introduction

Directions to Trailhead: Park at the Blue Ridge Summit PCT Parking Area at milepost LA78.10 on the Angeles Crest Highway (ACH). There are two parking areas, one on the north side of ACH, with toilets; one on the south side for Inspiration Point. If you park in the north lot, walk carefully across ACH to the east to the beginning of the Blue Ridge Road. The trail is immediately on the left at the beginning of the Road. At the trailhead is a large sign saying "PCT Parking" with a left arrow pointing to the parking area where you parked your car.
This is the first San Gabriel Mountain plant trail guide that we have updated ten years after Jane and Tom did this guide in 2003 and 2004. The scientific name is now from the Jepson Manual Second Edition, and we've corrected four misdeterminations we made back when we were budding botanists. Our other early plant trail guides may still contain similar errors.
The misdeterminations corrected here are:

The correct id is Ribes velutinum, not R. lasianthum. We were not alone in this misdetermination; there are still vouchers that are determined as R. lasianthum!
The correct id is Phacelia imbricata, not P. mutabilis. These, along with P. egena, are very similar taxa.
The correct id is Bromus carinatus, not B. orcuttianus.
The correct id is Cryptantha muricata var. denticulata, not C. intermedia. We got the wrong determination in 2004 since the calyx lengths in flower were 2.0-2.1 mm, which (just barely) fit only C. intermedia in the first edition Jepson Manual.

Highlights of This Trail

Botanical highlights of this trail include:

An ongoing lesson in plant succession after a major fire. The area burned in 1998, and it still contains some of the species that dominate after a fire. The burn may account for the excellent wildflower display here.

Number of Unique Taxa On This Trail

Section not updated yet.
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"
6/26/2003 1 88 2 10 8 4
9/23/2004 2 90 1 2 8 1
9/26/2004 3 90 1 1 6 1
7/18/2013 4 91 1 0 2 0

Only the first 0.23 miles was covered on 9/26/04. The fieldwork on 7/18/13 was confined to the PCT; no work was done on the second half on the guide returning along Guffy Road.
In addition to the visits above, Jane has made a number of visits to this trail previously without recording all the taxa.
The Plant Guide

See also Species list in Traditional Family Order which also includes species found on the PCT farther east.
Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (4 pages) or pdf Clickbook booklet (1 double-sided page). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)
The mileages below have not yet been done reliably. No mileages were recorded in the first fieldwork, and hence the location of some plants found later is uncertain relative to some of those plants. Raw mileages obtained on 9/23/04 and 9/25/04 have been rectified to values obtained from the USGS topographic map at miles 0.28, 0.44, 0.81, and 1.63.

Mile S # id? Common Name Latin Name #here
0.00 Begin PCT east at Angeles Crest Highway and Blue Ridge Road, elevation 7340 feet (2235 m).
0.00 l 1 big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata 99 / 9
0.00 r 2 *tumble-mustard Sisymbrium altissimum 99 / 9
0.00 l Sign: "PCT Parking [left arrow]"
0.00 l 3 *intermediate wheatgrass Elymus hispidus 10 / 4
0.00 b 4 California brome Bromus carinatus var. carinatus 20 / 9
0.00 r 5 bur-ragweed Ambrosia acanthicarpa 5 / 2
0.00 b 6 *downy brome Bromus tectorum 99 / 9
0.00 r 7 bitter cherry Prunus emarginata 99 / 9
0.00 r 8 white fir Abies concolor /
0.00 r 9 desert gooseberry Ribes velutinum 2 / 2
0.00 l 10 plain mariposa lily Calochortus invenustus /
0.00 l 11 western morning-glory Calystegia occidentalis ssp. fulcrata /
0.00 l 12 threadleaf common rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa var. oreophila 20 / 5
0.00 l 13 leafy daisy Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus 50 / 9
0.00 l PCT post.
0.00 l 14 Jeffrey pine Pinus jeffreyi 50 / 9
0.01 b 15 San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa var. bernardina 20 / 5
0.01 l 16 spineless horsebrush Tetradymia canescens 99 / 9
0.01 l 17 interior bush lupine Lupinus excubitus var. johnstonii 20 / 9
0.01 l 18 one-sided bluegrass Poa secunda ssp. secunda 30 / 5
0.01 r 19 Fremont's goosefoot Chenopodium fremontii 20 / 3
0.01 r 20 squirreltail Elymus elymoides 30 / 9
0.01 r (sulphur buckwheat, Eriogonum umbellatum var. munzii)
0.01 l 21 Wright's buckwheat Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum 99 / 9
0.01 r 22 *redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium 4 / 2
0.02 l 23 California dodder Cuscuta californica var. californica 3 / 3
0.02 r (Parish's snowberry, Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii)
0.02 l 24 thorny skeleton-plant Pleiacanthus spinosus 50 / 4
0.03 b 25 imbricate phacelia Phacelia imbricata ssp. patula 20 / 9
0.03 r (Fremont's bush mallow, Malacothamnus fremontii)
0.03 r 26 mountain whitethorn Ceanothus cordulatus 99 / 9
0.03 r 27 smoothleaf yerba santa Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx 99 / 9
0.04 l 28 Fremont's bush mallow Malacothamnus fremontii 99 / 9
0.05 l 29 sulphur buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum var. munzii 99 / 9
0.05 l 30 sapphire woolly-star Eriastrum sapphirinum /
0.05 l 31 forest goosefoot Chenopodium atrovirens /
0.05 Trail slowly curves right 90°.
0.05 l (prickly poppy, Argemone munita)
0.06 r 32 slender wreathplant Stephanomeria exigua ssp. coronaria 3 / 3
0.07 l 33 Mojave linanthus Leptosiphon breviculus /
0.07 l 34 volcanic gilia Gilia ochroleuca ssp. vivida /
0.08 r Great view down the upper part of the East Fork of the San Gabriel River, including Vincent Gulch and Prairie Gulch.
0.08 l 35 prickly poppy Argemone munita 3 / 3
0.10 b 36 California buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium 50 / 9
0.10 First Ribes velutinum in 2013
0.10 l (California thistle, Cirsium occidentale var. californicum)
0.12 r 37 Parish's snowberry Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii 99 / 9
0.12 l 38 mountain blazing star Mentzelia montana /
0.12 l 39 Davidson's phacelia Phacelia davidsonii /
0.12 l 40 purple nightshade Solanum xanti /
0.13 r 41 branching phacelia Phacelia ramosissima 5 / 5
0.15 b 42 Davidson's buckwheat Eriogonum davidsonii /
0.15 l 43 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum /
0.16 r 44 southern mountain woolly-star Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum /
0.19 r (blue elderberry, Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea)
0.20 r (Martin's paintbrush, Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii)
0.23 r PCT post.
0.23 Cross road that leads to the microwave towers on the left.
0.23 r (broad-leaved lotus, Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia)
0.23 b 45 splendid gilia Saltugilia splendens ssp. splendens /
0.24 b 46 broad-leaved lotus Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia 10 / 3
0.25 b 47 pinegrove groundsmoke Gayophytum oligospermum 50 / 4
0.25 l 48 blue elderberry Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea 5 / 5
0.25 r 49 Martin's paintbrush Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii /
0.26 r 50 mountain California-fuchsia Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium 20 / 2
0.26 r 51 California needlegrass Stipa occidentalis var. californica 10 / 5
0.26 l 52 prickly cryptantha Cryptantha muricata var. denticulata /
0.27 l PCT post.
0.27 l 53 *Russian thistle Salsola tragus 10 / 3
0.27 r 54 knotweed Polygonum aviculare ssp. depressum /
0.27 r 55 arched elegant rock-cress Boechera arcuata /
0.28 Cross lower end of microwave tower road, parking lot, and pass the gated access road to Mountain High Ski Area on the left.
0.30 l PCT post.
0.32 l 56 California-aster Corethrogyne filaginifolia 20 / 9
0.33 l 57 California thistle Cirsium occidentale var. californicum /
0.33 r 58 California broomrape Orobanche californica ssp. feudgei /
l 59 clustered broomrape Orobanche fasciculata /
0.42 l (spur lupine, Lupinus arbustus)
0.42 r 60 San Gabriel beardtongue Penstemon labrosus /
0.43 r 61 beaked penstemon Penstemon rostriflorus /
0.43 r 62 wax currant Ribes cereum var. cereum 3 / 3
0.44 r 63 western wallflower Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum /
0.44 l Jct. path to Mountain High Ski Area access road; telephone pole with wires going underground at this point.
0.47 r 64 spur lupine Lupinus arbustus 5 / 2
0.47 r 65 southern mountain phlox Phlox austromontana 20 / 5
0.47 l (poodle-dog bush, Eriodictyon parryi)
0.47 r 66 California black oak Quercus kelloggii 1 / 1
r 67 Sierra gooseberry Ribes roezlii var. roezlii 5 / 1
0.48 l 68 Utah service-berry Amelanchier utahensis 1 / 1
0.49 r 69 sticky cinquefoil Drymocallis glandulosa var. reflexa 4 / 1
r 70 Wright's collinsia Collinsia torreyi var. wrightii 99 / 1
r 71 southern miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana /
0.51 r 72 blue wildrye Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus /
r 73 white catch-fly Silene verecunda /
0.53 l 74 white false-gilia Allophyllum integrifolium 10 / 1
0.53 r 75 low mountain bedstraw Galium bifolium 30 / 1
r 76 ~ Parry's sand cress Calyptridium parryi var. parryi /
0.55 b 77 wild tarragon Artemisia dracunculus 20 / 5
r 78 spreading larkspur Delphinium patens ssp. montanum /
0.60 r 79 naked buckwheat Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum /
r 80 little spring beauty Claytonia exigua ssp. exigua /
r 81 pine lousewort Pedicularis semibarbata /
r 82 whispering bells Emmenanthe penduliflora var. penduliflora /
r 83 spear-leaved mountain dandelion Agoseris retrorsa /
0.64 Round ridge; now on east-facing slope; elevation 7480 feet (2280 m).
0.64 b 84 poodle-dog bush Eriodictyon parryi 30 / 9
0.65 l In 2003, the entire hillside here is poodle-dog bush, Turricula parryi, and Fremont's bush mallow, Malacothamnus fremontii!
0.81 r PCT post; jct. Blue Ridge Road; highest point on loop, elevation 7540 feet (2300 m). Go right on the road, back to the trailhead.
r Jct. road to a parking area.
l 85 ~ Davidson's lotus Acmispon nevadensis var. davidsonii /
l 86 ? unk grass similar to Festuca / Phalaris
0.86 r Jct. road.
0.88 r 87 bitter root Lewisia rediviva var. minor /
r 88 Parish's larkspur Delphinium parishii ssp. parishii /
0.92 l 89 canyon live oak Quercus chrysolepis 5 / 2
0.95 Beautiful view ahead of Punchbowl Fault west of Vincent Gap.
l 90 Grinnell's beardtongue Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii 1 / 1
1.35 r Parking area; road to microwave towers.
1.46 r 91 *desert crested wheatgrass Agropyron cristatum ssp. pectinatum 5 / 1
1.62 r Boulder with very wavy layers.
1.63 Back at Trailhead; end guide

Comments On Specific Species

Eriastrum sapphirinum. These plants were the former ssp. ambiguum, which has a pale blue corolla, not the usual bright blue one.
Orobanche fasciculata. These plants were parasites on Eriogonum wrightii.

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
6/26/2003	1	88	2	10	8	4
9/23/2004	2	90	1	2	8	1
9/26/2004	3	90	1	1	6	1
7/18/2013	4	91	1	0	2	0

Mile	S	#	id?	Common Name	Latin Name	#here
0.00				Begin PCT east at Angeles Crest Highway and Blue Ridge Road, elevation 7340 feet (2235 m).
0.00	l	1		big sagebrush	Artemisia tridentata	99 / 9
0.00	r	2		*tumble-mustard	Sisymbrium altissimum	99 / 9
0.00	l			Sign: "PCT Parking [left arrow]"
0.00	l	3		*intermediate wheatgrass	Elymus hispidus	10 / 4
0.00	b	4		California brome	Bromus carinatus var. carinatus	20 / 9
0.00	r	5		bur-ragweed	Ambrosia acanthicarpa	5 / 2
0.00	b	6		*downy brome	Bromus tectorum	99 / 9
0.00	r	7		bitter cherry	Prunus emarginata	99 / 9
0.00	r	8		white fir	Abies concolor	/
0.00	r	9		desert gooseberry	Ribes velutinum	2 / 2
0.00	l	10		plain mariposa lily	Calochortus invenustus	/
0.00	l	11		western morning-glory	Calystegia occidentalis ssp. fulcrata	/
0.00	l	12		threadleaf common rabbitbrush	Ericameria nauseosa var. oreophila	20 / 5
0.00	l	13		leafy daisy	Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus	50 / 9
0.00	l			PCT post.
0.00	l	14		Jeffrey pine	Pinus jeffreyi	50 / 9
0.01	b	15		San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush	Ericameria nauseosa var. bernardina	20 / 5
0.01	l	16		spineless horsebrush	Tetradymia canescens	99 / 9
0.01	l	17		interior bush lupine	Lupinus excubitus var. johnstonii	20 / 9
0.01	l	18		one-sided bluegrass	Poa secunda ssp. secunda	30 / 5
0.01	r	19		Fremont's goosefoot	Chenopodium fremontii	20 / 3
0.01	r	20		squirreltail	Elymus elymoides	30 / 9
0.01	r			(sulphur buckwheat, Eriogonum umbellatum var. munzii)
0.01	l	21		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum	99 / 9
0.01	r	22		*redstem filaree	Erodium cicutarium	4 / 2
0.02	l	23		California dodder	Cuscuta californica var. californica	3 / 3
0.02	r			(Parish's snowberry, Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii)
0.02	l	24		thorny skeleton-plant	Pleiacanthus spinosus	50 / 4
0.03	b	25		imbricate phacelia	Phacelia imbricata ssp. patula	20 / 9
0.03	r			(Fremont's bush mallow, Malacothamnus fremontii)
0.03	r	26		mountain whitethorn	Ceanothus cordulatus	99 / 9
0.03	r	27		smoothleaf yerba santa	Eriodictyon trichocalyx var. trichocalyx	99 / 9
0.04	l	28		Fremont's bush mallow	Malacothamnus fremontii	99 / 9
0.05	l	29		sulphur buckwheat	Eriogonum umbellatum var. munzii	99 / 9
0.05	l	30		sapphire woolly-star	Eriastrum sapphirinum	/
0.05	l	31		forest goosefoot	Chenopodium atrovirens	/
0.05				Trail slowly curves right 90°.
0.05	l			(prickly poppy, Argemone munita)
0.06	r	32		slender wreathplant	Stephanomeria exigua ssp. coronaria	3 / 3
0.07	l	33		Mojave linanthus	Leptosiphon breviculus	/
0.07	l	34		volcanic gilia	Gilia ochroleuca ssp. vivida	/
0.08	r			Great view down the upper part of the East Fork of the San Gabriel River, including Vincent Gulch and Prairie Gulch.
0.08	l	35		prickly poppy	Argemone munita	3 / 3
0.10	b	36		California buckwheat	Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium	50 / 9
0.10				First Ribes velutinum in 2013
0.10	l			(California thistle, Cirsium occidentale var. californicum)
0.12	r	37		Parish's snowberry	Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii	99 / 9
0.12	l	38		mountain blazing star	Mentzelia montana	/
0.12	l	39		Davidson's phacelia	Phacelia davidsonii	/
0.12	l	40		purple nightshade	Solanum xanti	/
0.13	r	41		branching phacelia	Phacelia ramosissima	5 / 5
0.15	b	42		Davidson's buckwheat	Eriogonum davidsonii	/
0.15	l	43		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	/
0.16	r	44		southern mountain woolly-star	Eriastrum densifolium ssp. austromontanum	/
0.19	r			(blue elderberry, Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea)
0.20	r			(Martin's paintbrush, Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii)
0.23	r			PCT post.
0.23				Cross road that leads to the microwave towers on the left.
0.23	r			(broad-leaved lotus, Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia)
0.23	b	45		splendid gilia	Saltugilia splendens ssp. splendens	/
0.24	b	46		broad-leaved lotus	Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia	10 / 3
0.25	b	47		pinegrove groundsmoke	Gayophytum oligospermum	50 / 4
0.25	l	48		blue elderberry	Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea	5 / 5
0.25	r	49		Martin's paintbrush	Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii	/
0.26	r	50		mountain California-fuchsia	Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium	20 / 2
0.26	r	51		California needlegrass	Stipa occidentalis var. californica	10 / 5
0.26	l	52		prickly cryptantha	Cryptantha muricata var. denticulata	/
0.27	l			PCT post.
0.27	l	53		*Russian thistle	Salsola tragus	10 / 3
0.27	r	54		knotweed	Polygonum aviculare ssp. depressum	/
0.27	r	55		arched elegant rock-cress	Boechera arcuata	/
0.28				Cross lower end of microwave tower road, parking lot, and pass the gated access road to Mountain High Ski Area on the left.
0.30	l			PCT post.
0.32	l	56		California-aster	Corethrogyne filaginifolia	20 / 9
0.33	l	57		California thistle	Cirsium occidentale var. californicum	/
0.33	r	58		California broomrape	Orobanche californica ssp. feudgei	/
	l	59		clustered broomrape	Orobanche fasciculata	/
0.42	l			(spur lupine, Lupinus arbustus)
0.42	r	60		San Gabriel beardtongue	Penstemon labrosus	/
0.43	r	61		beaked penstemon	Penstemon rostriflorus	/
0.43	r	62		wax currant	Ribes cereum var. cereum	3 / 3
0.44	r	63		western wallflower	Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum	/
0.44	l			Jct. path to Mountain High Ski Area access road; telephone pole with wires going underground at this point.
0.47	r	64		spur lupine	Lupinus arbustus	5 / 2
0.47	r	65		southern mountain phlox	Phlox austromontana	20 / 5
0.47	l			(poodle-dog bush, Eriodictyon parryi)
0.47	r	66		California black oak	Quercus kelloggii	1 / 1
	r	67		Sierra gooseberry	Ribes roezlii var. roezlii	5 / 1
0.48	l	68		Utah service-berry	Amelanchier utahensis	1 / 1
0.49	r	69		sticky cinquefoil	Drymocallis glandulosa var. reflexa	4 / 1
	r	70		Wright's collinsia	Collinsia torreyi var. wrightii	99 / 1
	r	71		southern miner's lettuce	Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana	/
0.51	r	72		blue wildrye	Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus	/
	r	73		white catch-fly	Silene verecunda	/
0.53	l	74		white false-gilia	Allophyllum integrifolium	10 / 1
0.53	r	75		low mountain bedstraw	Galium bifolium	30 / 1
	r	76	~	Parry's sand cress	Calyptridium parryi var. parryi	/
0.55	b	77		wild tarragon	Artemisia dracunculus	20 / 5
	r	78		spreading larkspur	Delphinium patens ssp. montanum	/
0.60	r	79		naked buckwheat	Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum	/
	r	80		little spring beauty	Claytonia exigua ssp. exigua	/
	r	81		pine lousewort	Pedicularis semibarbata	/
	r	82		whispering bells	Emmenanthe penduliflora var. penduliflora	/
	r	83		spear-leaved mountain dandelion	Agoseris retrorsa	/
0.64				Round ridge; now on east-facing slope; elevation 7480 feet (2280 m).
0.64	b	84		poodle-dog bush	Eriodictyon parryi	30 / 9
0.65	l			In 2003, the entire hillside here is poodle-dog bush, Turricula parryi, and Fremont's bush mallow, Malacothamnus fremontii!
0.81	r			PCT post; jct. Blue Ridge Road; highest point on loop, elevation 7540 feet (2300 m). Go right on the road, back to the trailhead.
	r			Jct. road to a parking area.
	l	85	~	Davidson's lotus	Acmispon nevadensis var. davidsonii	/
	l	86	?	unk grass similar to Festuca / Phalaris
0.86	r			Jct. road.
0.88	r	87		bitter root	Lewisia rediviva var. minor	/
	r	88		Parish's larkspur	Delphinium parishii ssp. parishii	/
0.92	l	89		canyon live oak	Quercus chrysolepis	5 / 2
0.95				Beautiful view ahead of Punchbowl Fault west of Vincent Gap.
	l	90		Grinnell's beardtongue	Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii	1 / 1
1.35	r			Parking area; road to microwave towers.
1.46	r	91		*desert crested wheatgrass	Agropyron cristatum ssp. pectinatum	5 / 1
1.62	r			Boulder with very wavy layers.
1.63				Back at Trailhead; end guide

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Plants of Southern California: Trail Guides

Copyright © 2003-2014 by Jane Strong, Tom Chester, Walt Fidler, Adrienne Ballwey, and Michael Charters.
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/sgm/plants/guides/pct_east_of_lr.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Updated 29 June 2014.