Plant Guide to Nighthawk Loop Trail, Santa Rosa Plateau

Plant Guide to Nighthawk Loop Trail, 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 trail is incomplete for annuals only noticeable in the spring since it has not been covered during spring.
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 is a 0.6 mile round-trip loop hike beginning and ending at the Sylvan Meadows Parking Lot, with ~50 feet of elevation gain and loss.
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 0 0%
2 0 0%
3 1 2%
4 0 0%
5 0 0%

1-5 1 2%
6-10 3 5%
11-15 8 13%
16-20 6 10%
21-25 12 20%
26-30 7 12%
31-35 5 8%
36-40 5 8%
41-45 7 12%
46-50 1 2%
51-55 5 8%
All 60 100%

We found 3 additional species not in the above table, since they have not been fully identified yet. The unidentified ones are marked with ? or sp 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"
12/18/2004 1 34 1 2 4 2
6/26/2005 2 61 0 4 2 2
8/30/2005 3 62 0 3 2 2
2/10/2006 4 63 0 2 2 2

The beginning 0.01 miles was also covered on 2/2/06.
The Plant Guide

Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (3 pages), pdf Clickbook booklet (1 double-sided page), or Large Type pdf Clickbook booklet (2 double-sided pages). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)
The mileages are within 0.05 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 ~0.05 miles and a relative accuracy of ~0.01-0.02 miles.

Mile s # id? Common Name Latin Name #here #all
0.00 Begin trail on east side of Sylvan Meadows Parking Area at opening in fence; elevation ~1870 feet (570 m)
0.00 l Sign: "Nighthawk Loop Trail 0.6 mi"
0.00 b 1 ssp *foxtail barley Hordeum murinum 20 / 2
0.00 b 2 *soft chess Bromus hordeaceus 99 / 9 40
0.00 l 3 sp needlegrass Nassella sp. /
0.00 r 4 *ripgut brome Bromus diandrus 10 / 2 52
0.00 b 5 *slender wild oats Avena barbata 99 / 9 40
0.00 l 6 ~ *knotweed Polygonum arenastrum 5 / 1 19
0.00 r 7 *sand spurrey Spergularia bocconei 5 / 1 14
0.00 r 8 Engelmann oak Quercus engelmannii 10 / 9 23
0.00 l: Display board; iron ranger "Pay Fees Here"; r: picnic tables
0.00 l 9 rusty-haired popcorn flower Plagiobothrys nothofulvus⁺ / 13
0.00 l 10 ~ *short-fruited filaree Erodium brachycarpum 99 / 9 14
0.00 l 11 *redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium / 55
0.00 l 12 *narrowleaf filago Filago gallica 99 / 9 45
0.01 Y-Jct to begin the loop; go right
0.01 r 13 ssp fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii 50 / 5
0.01 r 14 Spanish clover Lotus purshianus var. purshianus 99 / 9 31
0.01 r 15 dove weed Eremocarpus setigerus 50 / 9 24
0.01 b 16 rattlesnake weed Daucus pusillus 50 / 9 29
0.01 r (coast-range melic, Melica imperfecta)
0.01 b 17 checkerbloom Sidalcea malviflora ssp. sparsifolia 50 / 9 25
0.01 r 18 dwarf lupine Lupinus bicolor 10 / 3 29
0.02 r 19 purple clarkia Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera 99 / 9 26
0.02 r 20 *Australian brome Bromus arenarius 99 / 9 3
0.02 b 21 Pomona locoweed Astragalus pomonensis 20 / 9 11
0.02 r 22 *red brome Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens / 53
0.02 r 23 San Diego birdsfoot lotus Lotus hamatus / 24
0.03 l (horseweed, Conyza canadensis)
0.03 r 24 Indian milkweed Asclepias eriocarpa 30 / 9 18
0.04 l (telegraph weed, Heterotheca grandiflora)
0.04 b 25 *prickly sow thistle Sonchus asper ssp. asper 2 / 2 30
0.05 r 26 common bedstraw Galium aparine / 41
0.05 r 27 southern miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana 99 / 9 25
0.07 b 28 *prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola 99 / 9 42
0.07 b 29 graceful tarplant Holocarpha virgata ssp. elongata 99 / 9 14
0.08 r 30 *smooth cat's ear Hypochaeris glabra 99 / 9 35
0.09 b 31 western ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya 10 / 1 37
0.09 r 32 *sow thistle Sonchus oleraceus / 42
0.10 r 33 *nit grass Gastridium ventricosum / 25
0.10 r 34 toad rush Juncus bufonius var. bufonius 10 / 1 14
0.10 r 35 clustered toad rush Juncus bufonius var. congestus 10 / 1 7
0.10 r 36 *curly dock Rumex crispus 1 / 1 23
0.11 l 37 horseweed Conyza canadensis 1 / 1 36
0.11 r (poison oak, Toxicodendron diversilobum)
0.12 r 38 miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata / 22
0.13 r (yellow salsify, Tragopogon dubius)
0.15 r nodding needlegrass Nassella cernua⁺ / 17
0.16 r (leafy daisy, Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus)
0.17 r (Vertical slabs of rock; fragrant everlasting, Gnaphalium canescens ssp. beneolens; California everlasting, Gnaphalium californicum)
0.19 l 39 sharp-toothed sanicle Sanicula arguta / 16
0.19 l 40 *shortpod mustard Hirschfeldia incana 20 / 5 51
0.20 r 41 purple needlegrass Nassella pulchra / 20
0.21 b 42 Palmer's goldenbush Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis 10 / 3 10
0.22 l 43 California-aster Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia 20 / 7 51
0.23 l 44 California squirreltail Elymus elymoides ssp. californicus / 9
0.24 r 45 long-stemmed buckwheat Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum 20 / 3 28
0.24 r (California fuchsia, Epilobium canum ssp. canum)
0.24 r Jct. use connector trail to Motrero Trail
0.24 r (common lomatium, Lomatium utriculatum)
0.25 r Jct. official connector trail to Motrero Trail; trail begins long curve to left
0.26 l (coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia)
0.29 r Bench with back, in memory of Ken Jacobs / Frank Gray, with a great quotation on it
0.29 r 46 California fuchsia Epilobium canum ssp. canum 5 / 1 21
0.29 r 47 lanceleaf dudleya Dudleya lanceolata 5 / 1 20
0.29 Switchback left; near low point on trail, elevation 1840 feet (561 m)
0.33 r 48 purple sanicle Sanicula bipinnatifida 1 / 1 11
0.33 r 49 *California burclover Medicago polymorpha 5 / 1 40
0.33 r 50 *scarlet pimpernel Anagallis arvensis 5 / 1 33
0.33 l 51 *goldentop Lamarckia aurea 5 / 1 22
0.35 Cross dike made of what looks like melted Bedford Canyon formation
0.36 l 52 sp strigose lotus? Lotus strigosus? /
0.39 l 53 *wild oats Avena fatua 5 / 1 26
0.40 l 54 *common chickweed Stellaria media 20 / 1 25
0.40 l 55 *hedge parsley Torilis nodosa 10 / 1 14
0.40 l 56 coast live oak Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia 1 / 1 43
0.42 l Bench with back
0.43 l 57 silver puffs Uropappus lindleyi 1 / 1 26
0.44 l 58 blue wildrye Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus 3 / 1 21
0.44 l (California peony, Paeonia californica)
0.46 b 59 *tocalote Centaurea melitensis 5 / 1 45
0.46 r (bird's-foot fern, Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata)
0.46 r 60 leafy daisy Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus 1 / 1 44
0.46 b 61 blue dicks Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum / 46
0.47 r 62 branching phacelia Phacelia ramosissima var. latifolia 2 / 2 34
0.47 l 63 goldenrod Solidago californica 5 / 1 35
0.47 r Bench with back; view of small waterfall in season in drainage straight ahead
0.48 r (California bee plant, Scrophularia californica ssp. floribunda; purple head, Acourtia microcephala; basketbush, Rhus trilobata)
0.50 Cross shallow drainage
0.53 r (climbing bedstraw, Galium nuttallii ssp. nuttallii)
0.55 Jct. beginning of loop; end guide
0.56 Back at trailhead

Comments On Specific Species

Plagiobothrys nothofulvus. The id for the specimen at mile 0.00 comes from a specimen at mile 0.05.
Nassella cernua. This taxon is not numbered unless the previous Nassella sp. turns out to be a different taxon than N. cernua.

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

1-5	1	2%
6-10	3	5%
11-15	8	13%
16-20	6	10%
21-25	12	20%
26-30	7	12%
31-35	5	8%
36-40	5	8%
41-45	7	12%
46-50	1	2%
51-55	5	8%
All	60	100%

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
12/18/2004	1	34	1	2	4	2
6/26/2005	2	61	0	4	2	2
8/30/2005	3	62	0	3	2	2
2/10/2006	4	63	0	2	2	2

Mile	s	#	id?	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00				Begin trail on east side of Sylvan Meadows Parking Area at opening in fence; elevation ~1870 feet (570 m)
0.00	l			Sign: "Nighthawk Loop Trail 0.6 mi"
0.00	b	1	ssp	*foxtail barley	Hordeum murinum	20 / 2
0.00	b	2		*soft chess	Bromus hordeaceus	99 / 9	40
0.00	l	3	sp	needlegrass	Nassella sp.	/
0.00	r	4		*ripgut brome	Bromus diandrus	10 / 2	52
0.00	b	5		*slender wild oats	Avena barbata	99 / 9	40
0.00	l	6	~	*knotweed	Polygonum arenastrum	5 / 1	19
0.00	r	7		*sand spurrey	Spergularia bocconei	5 / 1	14
0.00	r	8		Engelmann oak	Quercus engelmannii	10 / 9	23
0.00				l: Display board; iron ranger "Pay Fees Here"; r: picnic tables
0.00	l	9		rusty-haired popcorn flower	Plagiobothrys nothofulvus⁺	/	13
0.00	l	10	~	*short-fruited filaree	Erodium brachycarpum	99 / 9	14
0.00	l	11		*redstem filaree	Erodium cicutarium	/	55
0.00	l	12		*narrowleaf filago	Filago gallica	99 / 9	45
0.01				Y-Jct to begin the loop; go right
0.01	r	13	ssp	fiddleneck	Amsinckia menziesii	50 / 5
0.01	r	14		Spanish clover	Lotus purshianus var. purshianus	99 / 9	31
0.01	r	15		dove weed	Eremocarpus setigerus	50 / 9	24
0.01	b	16		rattlesnake weed	Daucus pusillus	50 / 9	29
0.01	r			(coast-range melic, Melica imperfecta)
0.01	b	17		checkerbloom	Sidalcea malviflora ssp. sparsifolia	50 / 9	25
0.01	r	18		dwarf lupine	Lupinus bicolor	10 / 3	29
0.02	r	19		purple clarkia	Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera	99 / 9	26
0.02	r	20		*Australian brome	Bromus arenarius	99 / 9	3
0.02	b	21		Pomona locoweed	Astragalus pomonensis	20 / 9	11
0.02	r	22		*red brome	Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens	/	53
0.02	r	23		San Diego birdsfoot lotus	Lotus hamatus	/	24
0.03	l			(horseweed, Conyza canadensis)
0.03	r	24		Indian milkweed	Asclepias eriocarpa	30 / 9	18
0.04	l			(telegraph weed, Heterotheca grandiflora)
0.04	b	25		*prickly sow thistle	Sonchus asper ssp. asper	2 / 2	30
0.05	r	26		common bedstraw	Galium aparine	/	41
0.05	r	27		southern miner's lettuce	Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana	99 / 9	25
0.07	b	28		*prickly lettuce	Lactuca serriola	99 / 9	42
0.07	b	29		graceful tarplant	Holocarpha virgata ssp. elongata	99 / 9	14
0.08	r	30		*smooth cat's ear	Hypochaeris glabra	99 / 9	35
0.09	b	31		western ragweed	Ambrosia psilostachya	10 / 1	37
0.09	r	32		*sow thistle	Sonchus oleraceus	/	42
0.10	r	33		*nit grass	Gastridium ventricosum	/	25
0.10	r	34		toad rush	Juncus bufonius var. bufonius	10 / 1	14
0.10	r	35		clustered toad rush	Juncus bufonius var. congestus	10 / 1	7
0.10	r	36		*curly dock	Rumex crispus	1 / 1	23
0.11	l	37		horseweed	Conyza canadensis	1 / 1	36
0.11	r			(poison oak, Toxicodendron diversilobum)
0.12	r	38		miner's lettuce	Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata	/	22
0.13	r			(yellow salsify, Tragopogon dubius)
0.15	r			nodding needlegrass	Nassella cernua⁺	/	17
0.16	r			(leafy daisy, Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus)
0.17	r			(Vertical slabs of rock; fragrant everlasting, Gnaphalium canescens ssp. beneolens; California everlasting, Gnaphalium californicum)
0.19	l	39		sharp-toothed sanicle	Sanicula arguta	/	16
0.19	l	40		*shortpod mustard	Hirschfeldia incana	20 / 5	51
0.20	r	41		purple needlegrass	Nassella pulchra	/	20
0.21	b	42		Palmer's goldenbush	Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis	10 / 3	10
0.22	l	43		California-aster	Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia	20 / 7	51
0.23	l	44		California squirreltail	Elymus elymoides ssp. californicus	/	9
0.24	r	45		long-stemmed buckwheat	Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum	20 / 3	28
0.24	r			(California fuchsia, Epilobium canum ssp. canum)
0.24	r			Jct. use connector trail to Motrero Trail
0.24	r			(common lomatium, Lomatium utriculatum)
0.25	r			Jct. official connector trail to Motrero Trail; trail begins long curve to left
0.26	l			(coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia)
0.29	r			Bench with back, in memory of Ken Jacobs / Frank Gray, with a great quotation on it
0.29	r	46		California fuchsia	Epilobium canum ssp. canum	5 / 1	21
0.29	r	47		lanceleaf dudleya	Dudleya lanceolata	5 / 1	20
0.29				Switchback left; near low point on trail, elevation 1840 feet (561 m)
0.33	r	48		purple sanicle	Sanicula bipinnatifida	1 / 1	11
0.33	r	49		*California burclover	Medicago polymorpha	5 / 1	40
0.33	r	50		*scarlet pimpernel	Anagallis arvensis	5 / 1	33
0.33	l	51		*goldentop	Lamarckia aurea	5 / 1	22
0.35				Cross dike made of what looks like melted Bedford Canyon formation
0.36	l	52	sp	strigose lotus?	Lotus strigosus?	/
0.39	l	53		*wild oats	Avena fatua	5 / 1	26
0.40	l	54		*common chickweed	Stellaria media	20 / 1	25
0.40	l	55		*hedge parsley	Torilis nodosa	10 / 1	14
0.40	l	56		coast live oak	Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia	1 / 1	43
0.42	l			Bench with back
0.43	l	57		silver puffs	Uropappus lindleyi	1 / 1	26
0.44	l	58		blue wildrye	Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus	3 / 1	21
0.44	l			(California peony, Paeonia californica)
0.46	b	59		*tocalote	Centaurea melitensis	5 / 1	45
0.46	r			(bird's-foot fern, Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata)
0.46	r	60		leafy daisy	Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus	1 / 1	44
0.46	b	61		blue dicks	Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum	/	46
0.47	r	62		branching phacelia	Phacelia ramosissima var. latifolia	2 / 2	34
0.47	l	63		goldenrod	Solidago californica	5 / 1	35
0.47	r			Bench with back; view of small waterfall in season in drainage straight ahead
0.48	r			(California bee plant, Scrophularia californica ssp. floribunda; purple head, Acourtia microcephala; basketbush, Rhus trilobata)
0.50				Cross shallow drainage
0.53	r			(climbing bedstraw, Galium nuttallii ssp. nuttallii)
0.55				Jct. beginning of loop; end guide
0.56				Back at trailhead

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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/nighthawk.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Updated 4 April 2006.