Plant Guide to Mortero Trail / Sylvan Meadows Road Loop, Santa Rosa Plateau

Plant Guide to Mortero Trail / Sylvan Meadows Road Loop, Santa Rosa Plateau

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

This guide is especially incomplete since the trail has not been surveyed in the spring yet.
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

This hike is a 2.6 mile round-trip loop hike beginning and ending at the Sylvan Meadows Parking Lot, with ~150 feet of elevation gain and loss. This guide formally covers only the first 2.0 miles up to the junction with the Shivela Trail, since the remaining 0.6 miles is covered in the Shivela Plant Trail Guide. However, species not seen previously on the Guide are still given in the last 0.6 miles, but not numbered as new species. The only significant effect of this formal coverage is that the estimate of the number of the plants on this loop applies only to the first 2.0 miles.
Highlights of This Trail

The botanical highlights of this trail are:

Number of Unique Taxa On This Trail

The following histogram gives the number of trails in our database that contain each taxon on this trail. There were 90 trails in our database when this histogram was made; 16 of those trails, including this one, are at the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve. A number of "1" means the taxon has only been found only on this list, among all the trails in our database; numbers of "16" or smaller may indicate taxa found only in this area.

Number of Trails
Containing A Taxon Number Of Taxa
On This Trail % of Taxa
On This Trail
1 1 1%
2 1 1%
3 0 0%
4 1 1%
5 3 2%

1-5 6 4%
6-10 17 11%
11-15 33 22%
16-20 26 17%
21-25 19 12%
26-30 13 8%
31-35 9 6%
36-40 10 7%
41-45 10 7%
46-50 3 2%
51-55 7 5%
All 153 100%

We found 1 additional species 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.
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"
12/22/2004 1 94 3 9 13 2
7/5/2005 2 138 2 3 9 2
9/3/2005 3 141 1 0 6 2
2/10/2006 4 143 1 0 2 2
4/12/2006 5 154 0 1 2 0

We thank Dick Newell for assistance with the 2/10/06 fieldwork, and Jim Adams for assistance with the 4/12/06 fieldwork.
The Plant Guide

Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (8 pages), pdf Clickbook booklet (2 double-sided pages), or Large Type pdf Clickbook booklet (8 double-sided pages). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)
The mileages are within ~0.06 miles of a GPS measurement of the entire route, but the GPS measurement was only accurate to about that value. Hence the raw pedometer readings have not been adjusted. They should have an absolute accuracy of ~0.06 miles and a relative accuracy of ~0.01-0.02 miles.

Mile s # id? Common Name Latin Name #here #all
0.00 Begin Mortero Trail from Sylvan Meadows Parking Area; trailhead is close to parking entrance gate; elevation ~1870 feet (570 m)
0.00 (cheeseweed, Malva parviflora in parking lot)
0.00 b 1 *soft chess Bromus hordeaceus 99 / 9 40
0.00 b 2 telegraph weed Heterotheca grandiflora 30 / 9 35
0.00 b 3 *little horseweed Conyza bonariensis 4 / 1 17
0.00 b 4 *pineapple weed Chamomilla suaveolens 20 / 2 19
0.00 b 5 *short-fruited filaree Erodium brachycarpum 99 / 9 14
0.00 b 6 *prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola 99 / 9 42
0.00 b 7 *foxtail barley Hordeum murinum ssp. glaucum 99 / 9 16
0.00 b 8 Spanish clover Lotus purshianus var. purshianus 99 / 9 31
0.00 b 9 *California burclover Medicago polymorpha 99 / 9 40
0.00 b 10 *narrowleaf filago Filago gallica 99 / 9 45
0.00 l Sign: "Open sunrise, closed sunset; Day Use Fee Area"
0.00 b 11 nodding needlegrass Nassella cernua 99 / 9 17
0.00 l 12 *Italian rye-grass Lolium multiflorum 99 / 9 18
0.00 b 13 *redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium 50 / 9 55
0.00 b 14 dove weed Eremocarpus setigerus 99 / 9 24
0.00 r 15 graceful tarplant Holocarpha virgata ssp. elongata 99 / 9 14
0.00 r 16 *white-stemmed filaree Erodium moschatum 20 / 4 20
0.00 b 17 *tocalote Centaurea melitensis 99 / 9 45
0.00 b 18 *shortpod mustard Hirschfeldia incana 99 / 9 51
0.00 b 19 *Bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon 20 / 3 31
0.00 b 20 *prickly sow thistle Sonchus asper ssp. asper 20 / 9 30
0.00 r Sign: "Mortero Trail"; pass through open gate
0.00 r 21 *cut-leaved geranium Geranium dissectum 30 / 4 13
0.00 l 22 *scarlet pimpernel Anagallis arvensis 10 / 3 33
0.00 r 23 *wild oats Avena fatua 99 / 9 28
0.00 l 24 common bedstraw Galium aparine 99 / 9 38
0.00 b 25 *annual blue grass Poa annua 20 / 2 12
0.00 b 26 purple clarkia Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera 99 / 9 26
0.00 b 27 *slender wild oats Avena barbata 99 / 9 40
0.00 r 28 *Crete weed Hedypnois cretica 10 / 1 20
0.00 b 29 *red brome Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens 99 / 9 53
0.00 r 30 rusty-haired popcorn flower Plagiobothrys nothofulvus 99 / 9 13
0.00 b 31 *long-beaked filaree Erodium botrys 99 / 9 12
0.00 b 32 *smooth cat's ear Hypochaeris glabra 99 / 9 35
0.00 r 33 *hairy rattail fescue Vulpia myuros var. hirsuta 20 / 2 19
0.00 l 34 *sand spurrey Spergularia bocconei 20 / 2 14
0.00 r 35 *ripgut brome Bromus diandrus 50 / 5 52
0.01 b 36 *windmill pink Silene gallica 99 / 9 33
0.01 b 37 small-flowered fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii 99 / 9 12
0.01 b 38 checkerbloom Sidalcea malviflora ssp. sparsifolia 99 / 9 25
0.01 b 39 southern miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana 99 / 9 25
0.01 r 40 sharp-toothed sanicle Sanicula arguta 99 / 9 16
0.01 l 41 Engelmann oak Quercus engelmannii 30 / 9 23
0.01 l 42 *sow thistle Sonchus oleraceus 5 / 3 42
0.02 r 43 blue dicks Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum 20 / 9 46
0.02 r 44 johnny jump-up Viola pedunculata 99 / 9 16
0.02 l 45 California-aster Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia 50 / 9 51
0.03 l Jct. path to picnic tables and Nighthawk Loop Trailhead
0.03 r 46 *hedge parsley Torilis nodosa / 14
0.04 r 47 *hedge mustard Sisymbrium officinale 99 / 9 20
0.04 r 48 California everlasting Gnaphalium californicum 2 / 1 43
0.05 r 49 *nit grass Gastridium ventricosum 99 / 9 25
0.05 r 50 shooting star Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. clevelandii 10 / 2 11
0.06 l 51 common fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia 99 / 9 18
0.06 l 52 vinegar weed Trichostema lanceolatum 20 / 5 14
0.07 r (white everlasting, Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum)
0.08 b 53 *winter vetch Vicia villosa ssp. varia 99 / 9 19
0.09 r 54 dwarf lupine Lupinus bicolor 99 / 9 29
0.10 l 55 *curly dock Rumex crispus 5 / 5 23
0.11 r 56 toad rush Juncus bufonius var. bufonius 99 / 9 14
0.11 l 57 clustered toad rush Juncus bufonius var. congestus 99 / 5 7
0.11 l 58 *rabbits-foot grass Polypogon monspeliensis 20 / 3 23
0.12 b 59 *grass poly Lythrum hyssopifolia 99 / 9 15
0.12 r 60 pit-seed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri 2 / 2 7
0.12 l 61 Indian milkweed Asclepias eriocarpa 20 / 9 18
0.12 r (fragrant everlasting, Gnaphalium canescens ssp. beneolens)
0.12 r 62 Pomona locoweed Astragalus pomonensis 20 / 9 11
0.13 l 63 rattlesnake weed Daucus pusillus 99 / 9 29
0.14 r 64 horseweed Conyza canadensis 30 / 9 36
0.15 l (Telephone Pole)
0.15 r 65 California buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum 30 / 9 51
0.16 r 66 purple needlegrass Nassella pulchra / 20
0.17 c 67 *knotweed Polygonum arenastrum 50 / 9 19
0.17 r Culvert
0.18 r 68 red maids Calandrinia ciliata 10 / 3 22
0.18 69 fragrant everlasting Gnaphalium canescens ssp. beneolens 10 / 5 23
0.18 l (Dead tree, looking like a Chinese New Year Dragon)
0.19 Field of purple needlegrass, Nassella pulchra
0.19 r (Palmer's goldenbush, Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis)
0.20 r 70 long-stemmed buckwheat Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum 1 / 1 28
0.20 r 71 common lomatium Lomatium utriculatum 10 / 2 5
0.20 r (leafy daisy, Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus)
0.20 l Jct. use connector trail to Nighthawk Loop Trail
0.22 l Sign: "Nighthawk Loop Trail [left]; Mortero Trail [ahead and back]"
0.22 l Jct. connector trail to Nighthawk Loop Trail
0.23 l Sign: "No Trespassing", facing Tenaja Road, from prior to construction of this trail
0.24 r 72 western ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya 50 / 5 37
0.24 b 73 Palmer's goldenbush Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis 20 / 4 10
0.25 l (Telephone Pole)
0.27 r 74 coastal goldenbush Isocoma menziesii⁺ 10 / 4 15
0.30 l (coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia)
0.38 b 75 Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus 99 / 4 16
0.44 r 76 *rose clover Trifolium hirtum 50 / 3 13
0.45 r 77 goldenrod Solidago californica 5 / 1 35
0.45 l 78 *yellow salsify Tragopogon dubius 3 / 1 13
0.45 l (western sycamore, Platanus racemosa)
0.46 b 79 autumn willowweed Epilobium brachycarpum 10 / 2 4
0.46 r (on road shoulder and usually whacked: mule fat, Baccharis salicifolia; across road: blue elderberry, Sambucus mexicana)
0.49 b 80 hybrid wild-rye Leymus Xmultiflorus (L. condensatus X L. triticoides) 20 / 2 5
0.51 Trail curves left around a coast live oak
0.52 r 81 coast live oak Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia 10 / 5 42
0.52 r 82 *common chickweed Stellaria media 30 / 2 25
0.52 r 83 narrow-leaved miner's lettuce Claytonia parviflora ssp. parviflora 20 / 2 19
0.52 r 84 Jepson's blue wildrye Elymus glaucus ssp. jepsonii 20 / 5 11
0.52 r (poison oak, Toxicodendron diversilobum; hollyleaf redberry, Rhamnus ilicifolia)
0.52 l 85 Pacific sanicle Sanicula crassicaulis 1 / 1 20
0.54 l (deergrass, Muhlenbergia rigens; big leaf mistletoe, Phoradendron macrophyllum; clustered field sedge, Carex praegracilis)
0.54 l 86 California popcorn flower Plagiobothrys collinus var. fulvescens 99 / 9 5
0.57 l (California fuchsia, Epilobium canum ssp. canum)
0.57 l (tenaja with seasonal water)
0.58 b 87 giant wild-rye Leymus condensatus 2 / 1 27
0.58 l (wild-cucumber, Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus)
0.60 r 88 hollyleaf redberry Rhamnus ilicifolia 5 / 5 43
0.60 r 89 poison oak Toxicodendron diversilobum 2 / 2 43
0.61 b Field of prickly lettuce, Lactuca serriola, interspersed with huge field of creeping wild rye, Leymus triticoides
0.62 b 90 creeping wild rye Leymus triticoides 40 / 2 11
0.63 l 91 chick lupine Lupinus microcarpus var. microcarpus 20 / 5 9
0.63 Trail curves left 45°
0.65 b (bull thistle, Cirsium vulgare)
0.65 Beginning of bridge over this branch of Cole Creek; local low point on trail, elevation ~1800 feet (549 m)
0.65 b 92 *whorled dock Rumex conglomeratus 3 / 1 10
0.65 b 93 willowherb Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum 5 / 1 18
0.65 l 94 mule fat Baccharis salicifolia 3 / 3 39
0.65 r 95 *milk thistle Silybum marianum⁺ 5 / 1 9
0.65 b 96 common monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus 5 / 1 15
0.65 b 97 deergrass Muhlenbergia rigens 5 / 2 21
0.65 l 98 California sagebrush Artemisia californica⁺ 1 / 1 47
0.65 l 99 willow-leaved dock Rumex salicifolius var. denticulatus 2 / 1 8
0.65 b 100 common spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya 10 / 2 12
0.65 b 101 wrinkled rush Juncus rugulosus 50 / 5 12
0.66 End bridge
0.67 r (white sage, Salvia apiana, dead in late 2004)
0.68 Jct. Sylvan Meadows Road; go left. Sign: "Mortero Trail [back]; to Sylvan Meadows Trailhead 0.5 mi [back]"
0.70 l 102 *shepherd's purse Capsella bursa-pastoris 2 / 1 10
0.71 l 103 *goose grass Eleusine indica 5 / 1 1
0.71 Local low point
0.73 l 104 young arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis 1 / 1 35
0.73 l 105 canchalagua Centaurium venustum 50 / 9 15
0.73 l 106 holly-leaf navarretia Navarretia atractyloides 99 / 9 9
0.74 Road curves left 45°
0.78 l 107 San Diego tarweed Hemizonia paniculata 99 / 9 8
0.84 r 108 short-winged deerweed Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus 5 / 2 23
0.84 r Jct. old use trail, now closed by a fence a bit farther on that trail
0.85 b (Torrey's scrub oak, Quercus acutidens)
0.85 l 109 three spot Osmadenia tenella 50 / 9 14
0.85 l 110 chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum 20 / 9 37
0.86 r 111 slender combseed Pectocarya linearis ssp. ferocula 50 / 9 6
0.87 b 112 prickly cryptantha Cryptantha muricata 99 / 9 16
0.87 r 113 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 3 / 3 55
0.88 l 114 strigose lotus Lotus strigosus 10 / 3 34
0.88 l 115 *Mediterranean schismus Schismus barbatus 20 / 2 25
0.88 l 116 pygmy-weed Crassula connata 20 / 2 28
0.89 r 117 *goldentop Lamarckia aurea 10 / 1 22
0.89 r 118 San Diego birdsfoot lotus Lotus hamatus 99 / 9 24
0.89 r 119 goldfields Lasthenia californica 50 / 5 13
0.90 r 120 everlasting nest-straw Stylocline gnaphaloides 20 / 3 12
0.90 r 121 Torrey's scrub oak Quercus acutidens 10 / 4 26
0.90 r 122 ~ blue larkspur Delphinium parryi ssp. parryi 2 / 1 14
0.90 r 123 climbing bedstraw Galium nuttallii ssp. nuttallii 10 / 9 30
0.90 r (southern honeysuckle, Lonicera subspicata var. denudata)
0.91 l 124 narrowleaf bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 4 / 3 49
0.91 r 125 wild-cucumber Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus 3 / 3 44
0.92 r 126 coast-range melic Melica imperfecta 10 / 2 43
0.92 r (California sagebrush, Artemisia californica)
0.92 r 127 collar lupine Lupinus truncatus 10 / 1 24
0.92 l 128 miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata 20 / 1 22
0.94 l (California peony, Paeonia californica)
0.95 Road curves right
0.95 l (horehound, Marrubium vulgare)
0.96 l 129 California squirreltail Elymus elymoides ssp. californicus / 1 12
0.97 Road jags right
0.98 r (bird's-foot fern, Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata)
1.02 l Jct. bicycle use trail
1.03 l (goldback fern, Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis)
1.04 Local high point on road, elevation ~1840 feet (561 m)
1.04 r 130 California peony Paeonia californica 10 / 3 17
1.04 r 131 threadstem Pterostegia drymarioides 10 / 1 30
1.04 r 132 baby blue eyes Nemophila menziesii var. menziesii 5 / 2 8
1.04 Jct. other end of bicycle use trail
1.04 l 133 sp clover Trifolium sp. 3 / 1
1.06 r (Note thick vines of poison oak that have grown up the trunk of the Engelmann oak)
1.06 Long curve right; road is in deep sand; local low point on road
1.08 l Sign: "Trail closed" at use trail
1.09 r Jct. east connector to Torino Trail
1.10 r Sign: "Torino Trail [right], to Visitor Center 0.8 mi; Sylvan Meadows Road [ahead and back], to Clinton Keith 0.5 mi, to Sylvan Meadows Trailhead 1.6 mi"
1.10 l Jct. use trail
1.10 r Jct. west connector to Torino Trail
1.11 l 134 goldback fern Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis 10 / 2 24
1.11 l 135 coast jepsonia Jepsonia parryi 20 / 2 15
1.11 r 136 southern honeysuckle Lonicera subspicata var. denudata 3 / 2 40
1.14 r (Vasey's prickly-pear, Opuntia vaseyi)
1.14 r Local high point on road; road curves right
1.14 r 137 triangular-fruit sedge Carex triquetra 1 / 1 17
1.14 r 138 foothill needlegrass Nassella lepida 1 / 1 21
1.16 r Jct. use trail
1.17 Begin long switchback left.
1.20 Cross wide shallow drainage at center of switchback
1.23 l Jct. use trail
1.23 r (Beautiful outcrop of Woodson Mountain granodiorite)
1.24 l (white-flowering currant, Ribes indecorum)
1.27 r (Note huge boulder "holding up" a tree!)
1.28 Local high point on road
1.32 Local low point on road; road is in sand; begin long switchback right.
1.34 l Jct. use trail
1.35 l (branching phacelia, Phacelia ramosissima var. latifolia)
1.35 l (laurel sumac, Malosma laurina)
1.36 r Check for different popcorn flower
1.36 r 139 white sage Salvia apiana 5 / 1 38
1.36 r 140 woolly-fruited lomatium Lomatium dasycarpum ssp. dasycarpum 3 / 1 8
1.36 r 141 bristly bird's beak Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus 3 / 1 27
1.36 Road turns left 90°
1.37 l ~ (Chinese houses, Collinsia heterophylla)
1.37 r 142 yellow mariposa lily Calochortus weedii var. weedii 5 / 1 11
1.38 l 143 redberry Rhamnus crocea 1 / 1 15
1.40 Local high point on road, elevation ~1875 feet (572 m)
1.41 l (meadow-rue, Thalictrum fendleri var. polycarpum)
1.42 l Jct. use trail
1.43 Local low point on road
1.45 Local high point on road
1.47 r Jct. use trail to Tovashal Trail
1.49 l 144 *tumble pigweed Amaranthus albus 1 / 1 13
1.49 l Jct. use trail
1.49 r Jct. Tovashal Trail; sign: "Tovashal Trail [right], to visitor center 0.9 mi; Sylvan Meadows Road [ahead and back], to Clinton Keith Road 0.9 mi [back], to Sylvan Meadows Trailhead 1.2 mi [ahead]"
1.60 Road jags right; highest elevation on road, 1920 feet (585 m)
1.63 Local high point
1.66 r (black sage, Salvia mellifera)
1.68 Cross small drainage with culvert; the open drainage is lined with yellow mariposa lily, Calochortus weedii var. weedii
1.70 l 145 rattlesnake weed Chamaesyce albomarginata 3 / 1 10
1.72 r Small pit (origin?)
1.75 r 146 soap plant Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum 1 / 1 18
1.77 r Closed use trail to Sylvan Ranch homes
1.77 l 147 common hareleaf Lagophylla ramosissima ssp. ramosissima 20 / 3 2
1.78 Cross wide drainage
1.81 l Sign: "Trail [ahead]"
1.81 r 148 elk thistle Cirsium scariosum 3 / 3 11
1.83 r Jct. Manzanita Trail, opened in 2006, which leads to La Cresta homes
1.88 Cross drainage with culvert
1.88 l 149 female clustered field sedge Carex praegracilis 10 / 1 8
1.88 r 150 slender tarweed Hemizonia fasciculata 99 / 9 18
1.88 r 151 saltgrass Distichlis spicata 99 / 9 16
1.91 r (Engelmann oak X valley oak, Quercus engelmannii X Q. lobata; the third or fourth tree to the right, about 100 feet off-trail)
1.93 l 152 *Mediterranean barley Hordeum marinum ssp. gussoneanum 99 / 3 6
1.94 Road curves left to cross drainage
1.95 b 153 muilla Muilla maritima 30 / 1 9
2.00 Cross drainage with culvert
2.01 l 154 silver puffs Uropappus lindleyi 1 / 1 27
2.03 r Jct. Shivela Trail; end formal plant trail guide since remaining road is covered in another guide. New species are still noted, but not numbered
2.19 Cross drainage with culvert
2.21 r (Coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia, died in early 2006; it fell right over)
2.22 r California meadow barley Hordeum brachyantherum ssp. californicum 10 / 1
2.29 Cross drainage
2.30 l (Planted toyons, Heteromeles arbutifolia, with chicken wire around them at base)
2.35 r Jct. old road; Sign: "Authorized personnel only"
2.36 r Coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia, died in early 2005, probably from a weak crotch
2.46 (Granite outcrop on top of hill directly ahead)
2.50 (Dam on drainage)
2.50 Cross drainage with culvert
2.60 Cross seasonally-wet drainage
2.62 End guide back at Sylvan Meadows Parking Area

Comments On Specific Species

Isocoma menziesii. In our experience, the subspecies are not separable in Southern California. See Comments on the Jepson Manual and A Flora of Southern California by Munz: Isocoma menziesii.
Artemisia californica. This specimen was alive in December 2004, but dead (and still present) in July 2005, presumably killed by high water from the very wet early 2005 rains.
Silybum marianum. We try to remove this noxious weed regularly, so we hope that you will not encounter any specimens of this species here!

Number of Trails Containing A Taxon	Number Of Taxa On This Trail	% of Taxa On This Trail
1	1	1%
2	1	1%
3	0	0%
4	1	1%
5	3	2%

1-5	6	4%
6-10	17	11%
11-15	33	22%
16-20	26	17%
21-25	19	12%
26-30	13	8%
31-35	9	6%
36-40	10	7%
41-45	10	7%
46-50	3	2%
51-55	7	5%
All	153	100%

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
12/22/2004	1	94	3	9	13	2
7/5/2005	2	138	2	3	9	2
9/3/2005	3	141	1	0	6	2
2/10/2006	4	143	1	0	2	2
4/12/2006	5	154	0	1	2	0

Mile	s	#	id?	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00				Begin Mortero Trail from Sylvan Meadows Parking Area; trailhead is close to parking entrance gate; elevation ~1870 feet (570 m)
0.00				(cheeseweed, Malva parviflora in parking lot)
0.00	b	1		*soft chess	Bromus hordeaceus	99 / 9	40
0.00	b	2		telegraph weed	Heterotheca grandiflora	30 / 9	35
0.00	b	3		*little horseweed	Conyza bonariensis	4 / 1	17
0.00	b	4		*pineapple weed	Chamomilla suaveolens	20 / 2	19
0.00	b	5		*short-fruited filaree	Erodium brachycarpum	99 / 9	14
0.00	b	6		*prickly lettuce	Lactuca serriola	99 / 9	42
0.00	b	7		*foxtail barley	Hordeum murinum ssp. glaucum	99 / 9	16
0.00	b	8		Spanish clover	Lotus purshianus var. purshianus	99 / 9	31
0.00	b	9		*California burclover	Medicago polymorpha	99 / 9	40
0.00	b	10		*narrowleaf filago	Filago gallica	99 / 9	45
0.00	l			Sign: "Open sunrise, closed sunset; Day Use Fee Area"
0.00	b	11		nodding needlegrass	Nassella cernua	99 / 9	17
0.00	l	12		*Italian rye-grass	Lolium multiflorum	99 / 9	18
0.00	b	13		*redstem filaree	Erodium cicutarium	50 / 9	55
0.00	b	14		dove weed	Eremocarpus setigerus	99 / 9	24
0.00	r	15		graceful tarplant	Holocarpha virgata ssp. elongata	99 / 9	14
0.00	r	16		*white-stemmed filaree	Erodium moschatum	20 / 4	20
0.00	b	17		*tocalote	Centaurea melitensis	99 / 9	45
0.00	b	18		*shortpod mustard	Hirschfeldia incana	99 / 9	51
0.00	b	19		*Bermuda grass	Cynodon dactylon	20 / 3	31
0.00	b	20		*prickly sow thistle	Sonchus asper ssp. asper	20 / 9	30
0.00	r			Sign: "Mortero Trail"; pass through open gate
0.00	r	21		*cut-leaved geranium	Geranium dissectum	30 / 4	13
0.00	l	22		*scarlet pimpernel	Anagallis arvensis	10 / 3	33
0.00	r	23		*wild oats	Avena fatua	99 / 9	28
0.00	l	24		common bedstraw	Galium aparine	99 / 9	38
0.00	b	25		*annual blue grass	Poa annua	20 / 2	12
0.00	b	26		purple clarkia	Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera	99 / 9	26
0.00	b	27		*slender wild oats	Avena barbata	99 / 9	40
0.00	r	28		*Crete weed	Hedypnois cretica	10 / 1	20
0.00	b	29		*red brome	Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens	99 / 9	53
0.00	r	30		rusty-haired popcorn flower	Plagiobothrys nothofulvus	99 / 9	13
0.00	b	31		*long-beaked filaree	Erodium botrys	99 / 9	12
0.00	b	32		*smooth cat's ear	Hypochaeris glabra	99 / 9	35
0.00	r	33		*hairy rattail fescue	Vulpia myuros var. hirsuta	20 / 2	19
0.00	l	34		*sand spurrey	Spergularia bocconei	20 / 2	14
0.00	r	35		*ripgut brome	Bromus diandrus	50 / 5	52
0.01	b	36		*windmill pink	Silene gallica	99 / 9	33
0.01	b	37		small-flowered fiddleneck	Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii	99 / 9	12
0.01	b	38		checkerbloom	Sidalcea malviflora ssp. sparsifolia	99 / 9	25
0.01	b	39		southern miner's lettuce	Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana	99 / 9	25
0.01	r	40		sharp-toothed sanicle	Sanicula arguta	99 / 9	16
0.01	l	41		Engelmann oak	Quercus engelmannii	30 / 9	23
0.01	l	42		*sow thistle	Sonchus oleraceus	5 / 3	42
0.02	r	43		blue dicks	Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum	20 / 9	46
0.02	r	44		johnny jump-up	Viola pedunculata	99 / 9	16
0.02	l	45		California-aster	Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia	50 / 9	51
0.03	l			Jct. path to picnic tables and Nighthawk Loop Trailhead
0.03	r	46		*hedge parsley	Torilis nodosa	/	14
0.04	r	47		*hedge mustard	Sisymbrium officinale	99 / 9	20
0.04	r	48		California everlasting	Gnaphalium californicum	2 / 1	43
0.05	r	49		*nit grass	Gastridium ventricosum	99 / 9	25
0.05	r	50		shooting star	Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. clevelandii	10 / 2	11
0.06	l	51		common fiddleneck	Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia	99 / 9	18
0.06	l	52		vinegar weed	Trichostema lanceolatum	20 / 5	14
0.07	r			(white everlasting, Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum)
0.08	b	53		*winter vetch	Vicia villosa ssp. varia	99 / 9	19
0.09	r	54		dwarf lupine	Lupinus bicolor	99 / 9	29
0.10	l	55		*curly dock	Rumex crispus	5 / 5	23
0.11	r	56		toad rush	Juncus bufonius var. bufonius	99 / 9	14
0.11	l	57		clustered toad rush	Juncus bufonius var. congestus	99 / 5	7
0.11	l	58		*rabbits-foot grass	Polypogon monspeliensis	20 / 3	23
0.12	b	59		*grass poly	Lythrum hyssopifolia	99 / 9	15
0.12	r	60		pit-seed goosefoot	Chenopodium berlandieri	2 / 2	7
0.12	l	61		Indian milkweed	Asclepias eriocarpa	20 / 9	18
0.12	r			(fragrant everlasting, Gnaphalium canescens ssp. beneolens)
0.12	r	62		Pomona locoweed	Astragalus pomonensis	20 / 9	11
0.13	l	63		rattlesnake weed	Daucus pusillus	99 / 9	29
0.14	r	64		horseweed	Conyza canadensis	30 / 9	36
0.15	l			(Telephone Pole)
0.15	r	65		California buckwheat	Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum	30 / 9	51
0.16	r	66		purple needlegrass	Nassella pulchra	/	20
0.17	c	67		*knotweed	Polygonum arenastrum	50 / 9	19
0.17	r			Culvert
0.18	r	68		red maids	Calandrinia ciliata	10 / 3	22
0.18		69		fragrant everlasting	Gnaphalium canescens ssp. beneolens	10 / 5	23
0.18	l			(Dead tree, looking like a Chinese New Year Dragon)
0.19				Field of purple needlegrass, Nassella pulchra
0.19	r			(Palmer's goldenbush, Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis)
0.20	r	70		long-stemmed buckwheat	Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum	1 / 1	28
0.20	r	71		common lomatium	Lomatium utriculatum	10 / 2	5
0.20	r			(leafy daisy, Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus)
0.20	l			Jct. use connector trail to Nighthawk Loop Trail
0.22	l			Sign: "Nighthawk Loop Trail [left]; Mortero Trail [ahead and back]"
0.22	l			Jct. connector trail to Nighthawk Loop Trail
0.23	l			Sign: "No Trespassing", facing Tenaja Road, from prior to construction of this trail
0.24	r	72		western ragweed	Ambrosia psilostachya	50 / 5	37
0.24	b	73		Palmer's goldenbush	Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis	20 / 4	10
0.25	l			(Telephone Pole)
0.27	r	74		coastal goldenbush	Isocoma menziesii⁺	10 / 4	15
0.30	l			(coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia)
0.38	b	75		Mexican rush	Juncus mexicanus	99 / 4	16
0.44	r	76		*rose clover	Trifolium hirtum	50 / 3	13
0.45	r	77		goldenrod	Solidago californica	5 / 1	35
0.45	l	78		*yellow salsify	Tragopogon dubius	3 / 1	13
0.45	l			(western sycamore, Platanus racemosa)
0.46	b	79		autumn willowweed	Epilobium brachycarpum	10 / 2	4
0.46	r			(on road shoulder and usually whacked: mule fat, Baccharis salicifolia; across road: blue elderberry, Sambucus mexicana)
0.49	b	80		hybrid wild-rye	Leymus Xmultiflorus (L. condensatus X L. triticoides)	20 / 2	5
0.51				Trail curves left around a coast live oak
0.52	r	81		coast live oak	Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia	10 / 5	42
0.52	r	82		*common chickweed	Stellaria media	30 / 2	25
0.52	r	83		narrow-leaved miner's lettuce	Claytonia parviflora ssp. parviflora	20 / 2	19
0.52	r	84		Jepson's blue wildrye	Elymus glaucus ssp. jepsonii	20 / 5	11
0.52	r			(poison oak, Toxicodendron diversilobum; hollyleaf redberry, Rhamnus ilicifolia)
0.52	l	85		Pacific sanicle	Sanicula crassicaulis	1 / 1	20
0.54	l			(deergrass, Muhlenbergia rigens; big leaf mistletoe, Phoradendron macrophyllum; clustered field sedge, Carex praegracilis)
0.54	l	86		California popcorn flower	Plagiobothrys collinus var. fulvescens	99 / 9	5
0.57	l			(California fuchsia, Epilobium canum ssp. canum)
0.57	l			(tenaja with seasonal water)
0.58	b	87		giant wild-rye	Leymus condensatus	2 / 1	27
0.58	l			(wild-cucumber, Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus)
0.60	r	88		hollyleaf redberry	Rhamnus ilicifolia	5 / 5	43
0.60	r	89		poison oak	Toxicodendron diversilobum	2 / 2	43
0.61	b			Field of prickly lettuce, Lactuca serriola, interspersed with huge field of creeping wild rye, Leymus triticoides
0.62	b	90		creeping wild rye	Leymus triticoides	40 / 2	11
0.63	l	91		chick lupine	Lupinus microcarpus var. microcarpus	20 / 5	9
0.63				Trail curves left 45°
0.65	b			(bull thistle, Cirsium vulgare)
0.65				Beginning of bridge over this branch of Cole Creek; local low point on trail, elevation ~1800 feet (549 m)
0.65	b	92		*whorled dock	Rumex conglomeratus	3 / 1	10
0.65	b	93		willowherb	Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum	5 / 1	18
0.65	l	94		mule fat	Baccharis salicifolia	3 / 3	39
0.65	r	95		*milk thistle	Silybum marianum⁺	5 / 1	9
0.65	b	96		common monkeyflower	Mimulus guttatus	5 / 1	15
0.65	b	97		deergrass	Muhlenbergia rigens	5 / 2	21
0.65	l	98		California sagebrush	Artemisia californica⁺	1 / 1	47
0.65	l	99		willow-leaved dock	Rumex salicifolius var. denticulatus	2 / 1	8
0.65	b	100		common spikerush	Eleocharis macrostachya	10 / 2	12
0.65	b	101		wrinkled rush	Juncus rugulosus	50 / 5	12
0.66				End bridge
0.67	r			(white sage, Salvia apiana, dead in late 2004)
0.68				Jct. Sylvan Meadows Road; go left. Sign: "Mortero Trail [back]; to Sylvan Meadows Trailhead 0.5 mi [back]"
0.70	l	102		*shepherd's purse	Capsella bursa-pastoris	2 / 1	10
0.71	l	103		*goose grass	Eleusine indica	5 / 1	1
0.71				Local low point
0.73	l	104		young arroyo willow	Salix lasiolepis	1 / 1	35
0.73	l	105		canchalagua	Centaurium venustum	50 / 9	15
0.73	l	106		holly-leaf navarretia	Navarretia atractyloides	99 / 9	9
0.74				Road curves left 45°
0.78	l	107		San Diego tarweed	Hemizonia paniculata	99 / 9	8
0.84	r	108		short-winged deerweed	Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus	5 / 2	23
0.84	r			Jct. old use trail, now closed by a fence a bit farther on that trail
0.85	b			(Torrey's scrub oak, Quercus acutidens)
0.85	l	109		three spot	Osmadenia tenella	50 / 9	14
0.85	l	110		chamise	Adenostoma fasciculatum	20 / 9	37
0.86	r	111		slender combseed	Pectocarya linearis ssp. ferocula	50 / 9	6
0.87	b	112		prickly cryptantha	Cryptantha muricata	99 / 9	16
0.87	r	113		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	3 / 3	55
0.88	l	114		strigose lotus	Lotus strigosus	10 / 3	34
0.88	l	115		*Mediterranean schismus	Schismus barbatus	20 / 2	25
0.88	l	116		pygmy-weed	Crassula connata	20 / 2	28
0.89	r	117		*goldentop	Lamarckia aurea	10 / 1	22
0.89	r	118		San Diego birdsfoot lotus	Lotus hamatus	99 / 9	24
0.89	r	119		goldfields	Lasthenia californica	50 / 5	13
0.90	r	120		everlasting nest-straw	Stylocline gnaphaloides	20 / 3	12
0.90	r	121		Torrey's scrub oak	Quercus acutidens	10 / 4	26
0.90	r	122	~	blue larkspur	Delphinium parryi ssp. parryi	2 / 1	14
0.90	r	123		climbing bedstraw	Galium nuttallii ssp. nuttallii	10 / 9	30
0.90	r			(southern honeysuckle, Lonicera subspicata var. denudata)
0.91	l	124		narrowleaf bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium	4 / 3	49
0.91	r	125		wild-cucumber	Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus	3 / 3	44
0.92	r	126		coast-range melic	Melica imperfecta	10 / 2	43
0.92	r			(California sagebrush, Artemisia californica)
0.92	r	127		collar lupine	Lupinus truncatus	10 / 1	24
0.92	l	128		miner's lettuce	Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata	20 / 1	22
0.94	l			(California peony, Paeonia californica)
0.95				Road curves right
0.95	l			(horehound, Marrubium vulgare)
0.96	l	129		California squirreltail	Elymus elymoides ssp. californicus	/ 1	12
0.97				Road jags right
0.98	r			(bird's-foot fern, Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata)
1.02	l			Jct. bicycle use trail
1.03	l			(goldback fern, Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis)
1.04				Local high point on road, elevation ~1840 feet (561 m)
1.04	r	130		California peony	Paeonia californica	10 / 3	17
1.04	r	131		threadstem	Pterostegia drymarioides	10 / 1	30
1.04	r	132		baby blue eyes	Nemophila menziesii var. menziesii	5 / 2	8
1.04				Jct. other end of bicycle use trail
1.04	l	133	sp	clover	Trifolium sp.	3 / 1
1.06	r			(Note thick vines of poison oak that have grown up the trunk of the Engelmann oak)
1.06				Long curve right; road is in deep sand; local low point on road
1.08	l			Sign: "Trail closed" at use trail
1.09	r			Jct. east connector to Torino Trail
1.10	r			Sign: "Torino Trail [right], to Visitor Center 0.8 mi; Sylvan Meadows Road [ahead and back], to Clinton Keith 0.5 mi, to Sylvan Meadows Trailhead 1.6 mi"
1.10	l			Jct. use trail
1.10	r			Jct. west connector to Torino Trail
1.11	l	134		goldback fern	Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis	10 / 2	24
1.11	l	135		coast jepsonia	Jepsonia parryi	20 / 2	15
1.11	r	136		southern honeysuckle	Lonicera subspicata var. denudata	3 / 2	40
1.14	r			(Vasey's prickly-pear, Opuntia vaseyi)
1.14	r			Local high point on road; road curves right
1.14	r	137		triangular-fruit sedge	Carex triquetra	1 / 1	17
1.14	r	138		foothill needlegrass	Nassella lepida	1 / 1	21
1.16	r			Jct. use trail
1.17				Begin long switchback left.
1.20				Cross wide shallow drainage at center of switchback
1.23	l			Jct. use trail
1.23	r			(Beautiful outcrop of Woodson Mountain granodiorite)
1.24	l			(white-flowering currant, Ribes indecorum)
1.27	r			(Note huge boulder "holding up" a tree!)
1.28				Local high point on road
1.32				Local low point on road; road is in sand; begin long switchback right.
1.34	l			Jct. use trail
1.35	l			(branching phacelia, Phacelia ramosissima var. latifolia)
1.35	l			(laurel sumac, Malosma laurina)
1.36	r			Check for different popcorn flower
1.36	r	139		white sage	Salvia apiana	5 / 1	38
1.36	r	140		woolly-fruited lomatium	Lomatium dasycarpum ssp. dasycarpum	3 / 1	8
1.36	r	141		bristly bird's beak	Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus	3 / 1	27
1.36				Road turns left 90°
1.37	l		~	(Chinese houses, Collinsia heterophylla)
1.37	r	142		yellow mariposa lily	Calochortus weedii var. weedii	5 / 1	11
1.38	l	143		redberry	Rhamnus crocea	1 / 1	15
1.40				Local high point on road, elevation ~1875 feet (572 m)
1.41	l			(meadow-rue, Thalictrum fendleri var. polycarpum)
1.42	l			Jct. use trail
1.43				Local low point on road
1.45				Local high point on road
1.47	r			Jct. use trail to Tovashal Trail
1.49	l	144		*tumble pigweed	Amaranthus albus	1 / 1	13
1.49	l			Jct. use trail
1.49	r			Jct. Tovashal Trail; sign: "Tovashal Trail [right], to visitor center 0.9 mi; Sylvan Meadows Road [ahead and back], to Clinton Keith Road 0.9 mi [back], to Sylvan Meadows Trailhead 1.2 mi [ahead]"
1.60				Road jags right; highest elevation on road, 1920 feet (585 m)
1.63				Local high point
1.66	r			(black sage, Salvia mellifera)
1.68				Cross small drainage with culvert; the open drainage is lined with yellow mariposa lily, Calochortus weedii var. weedii
1.70	l	145		rattlesnake weed	Chamaesyce albomarginata	3 / 1	10
1.72	r			Small pit (origin?)
1.75	r	146		soap plant	Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum	1 / 1	18
1.77	r			Closed use trail to Sylvan Ranch homes
1.77	l	147		common hareleaf	Lagophylla ramosissima ssp. ramosissima	20 / 3	2
1.78				Cross wide drainage
1.81	l			Sign: "Trail [ahead]"
1.81	r	148		elk thistle	Cirsium scariosum	3 / 3	11
1.83	r			Jct. Manzanita Trail, opened in 2006, which leads to La Cresta homes
1.88				Cross drainage with culvert
1.88	l	149		female clustered field sedge	Carex praegracilis	10 / 1	8
1.88	r	150		slender tarweed	Hemizonia fasciculata	99 / 9	18
1.88	r	151		saltgrass	Distichlis spicata	99 / 9	16
1.91	r			(Engelmann oak X valley oak, Quercus engelmannii X Q. lobata; the third or fourth tree to the right, about 100 feet off-trail)
1.93	l	152		*Mediterranean barley	Hordeum marinum ssp. gussoneanum	99 / 3	6
1.94				Road curves left to cross drainage
1.95	b	153		muilla	Muilla maritima	30 / 1	9
2.00				Cross drainage with culvert
2.01	l	154		silver puffs	Uropappus lindleyi	1 / 1	27
2.03	r			Jct. Shivela Trail; end formal plant trail guide since remaining road is covered in another guide. New species are still noted, but not numbered
2.19				Cross drainage with culvert
2.21	r			(Coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia, died in early 2006; it fell right over)
2.22	r			California meadow barley	Hordeum brachyantherum ssp. californicum	10 / 1
2.29				Cross drainage
2.30	l			(Planted toyons, Heteromeles arbutifolia, with chicken wire around them at base)
2.35	r			Jct. old road; Sign: "Authorized personnel only"
2.36	r			Coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia, died in early 2005, probably from a weak crotch
2.46				(Granite outcrop on top of hill directly ahead)
2.50				(Dam on drainage)
2.50				Cross drainage with culvert
2.60				Cross seasonally-wet drainage
2.62				End guide back at Sylvan Meadows Parking Area

Go to:

Plant Trail Guides For The Santa Rosa Plateau
Field Guide to the Santa Rosa Plateau: Plants

Copyright © 2004-2006 by Tom Chester and Kay Madore
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/srp/plants/guides/mortero_sylvan_road_loop.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Updated 15 April 2006.