Plant Guide to Sylvan Meadows Road / Shivela / Stevenson Canyon / Fenceline Trails, Santa Rosa Plateau

Plant Guide to Sylvan Meadows Road / Shivela / Stevenson Canyon / Fenceline Trails, 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!

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 guide begins at the Sylvan Meadows parking area, which is across Clinton Keith Road from the Hidden Valley parking area. This is on the north side of Clinton Keith, and is where the horse trailers park. This parking area is 0.7 miles southwest from the Visitor Center along Clinton Keith Road.
The guide includes the first 0.60 miles of the Sylvan Meadows Road, to its junction with the Shivela Trail. The Shivela Trail meets the Stevenson Canyon Trail after 0.39 miles. This guide then follows the Stevenson Canyon Trail to near its end, including the alternate trail in the middle, and then resumes on the Shivela Trail to its end at Sierra Elena Road. It crosses Clinton Keith Road, and then takes the Fenceline Trail back to the parking area.
The entire loop trip is ~3.9 miles, with about 500 feet of elevation gain. Most of that gain, 400 feet, is on the Stevenson Canyon Trail.
Ranger Kevin Smith pronounces Shivela as shiv a lah, and we follow his lead.
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 2 1%
2 3 1%
3 2 1%
4 8 3%
5 6 3%

1-5 21 9%
6-10 29 13%
11-15 43 19%
16-20 37 16%
21-25 31 13%
26-30 21 9%
31-35 12 5%
36-40 12 5%
41-45 14 6%
46-50 3 1%
51-55 7 3%
Total Taxa 230 100%

We found 1 additional species not in the above table, since it has not been positively 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"
11/27/2004 1 114 6 15 16 4
12/23/2004 2 115 6 14 17 4
5/10/2005 3 200 2 0 6 1
7/29/2005 4 213 0 0 6 1
9/19/2005 5 219 0 1 5 1
1/7/2006 6 220 0 2 3 1
3/27/2006 7 231 0 2 7 0

The fieldwork was incomplete after mile 2.25 on 11/27/04, since it began raining on us then. Only the last 0.84 miles was covered on 12/23/04. The walk on 1/7/06 was fast-paced, so little botanical work was done.
The Plant Guide

Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (10 pages), or pdf Clickbook booklet (3 double-sided pages). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)
The mileages have been adjusted to GPS measurements of these trails, up to mile 3.02. Typical errors should be 0.01-0.02 miles.

Mile S # id? Common Name Latin Name #here #all
0.00 Begin Sylvan Meadows Road on nw side of parking lot; elevation 1880 feet (573 m). Guide begins at gate. The first three off-trail species are best seen just before the gate.
0.00 r (California buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum; Emory's baccharis, Baccharis emoryi; mule fat, Baccharis salicifolia)
0.00 l (California peony, Paeonia californica)
0.00 b 1 *soft chess Bromus hordeaceus 99 / 9 40
0.00 b 2 *wild oats Avena fatua 99 / 9 26
0.00 b 3 *shortpod mustard Hirschfeldia incana 99 / 9 51
0.00 r 4 California-aster Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia 50 / 9 51
0.00 b 5 *foxtail barley Hordeum murinum ssp. leporinum 50 / 3 15
0.00 l 6 Spanish clover Lotus purshianus var. purshianus 99 / 9 31
0.00 l 7 *short-fruited filaree Erodium brachycarpum 99 / 9 14
0.00 r 8 small-flowered fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii 50 / 9 8
0.00 b 9 *red brome Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens 99 / 9 53
0.00 l 10 *ripgut brome Bromus diandrus 99 / 9 52
0.00 b 11 *prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola 99 / 9 42
0.00 l 12 rusty-haired popcorn flower Plagiobothrys nothofulvus 99 / 9 13
0.00 l 13 *narrowleaf filago Filago gallica 99 / 9 45
0.00 l 14 sharp-toothed sanicle Sanicula arguta 20 / 9 16
0.00 r 15 vinegar weed Trichostema lanceolatum 40 / 9 15
0.00 l 16 California poppy Eschscholzia californica 10 / 2 29
0.00 l 17 checkerbloom Sidalcea malviflora ssp. sparsifolia 99 / 9 25
0.00 l 18 graceful tarplant Holocarpha virgata ssp. elongata 99 / 9 15
0.00 l (splendid mariposa lily, Calochortus splendens)
0.00 l 19 purple needlegrass Nassella pulchra 99 / 9 20
0.00 r 20 *knotweed Polygonum arenastrum 30 / 9 21
0.00 r 21 *sand spurrey Spergularia bocconei / 14
0.00 l 22 coast-range melic Melica imperfecta 50 / 9 43
0.00 r 23 *scarlet pimpernel Anagallis arvensis 99 / 9 33
0.00 l 24 California fuchsia Epilobium canum ssp. canum 20 / 4 21
0.00 l 25 *smooth cat's ear Hypochaeris glabra 99 / 9 35
0.00 r 26 *windmill pink Silene gallica 99 / 9 33
0.00 b 27 *redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium 99 / 9 55
0.00 l 28 *California burclover Medicago polymorpha 99 / 9 40
0.00 l 29 *hairy rattail fescue Vulpia myuros var. hirsuta 99 / 9 19
0.00 l 30 common bedstraw Galium aparine 99 / 7 38
0.00 l 31 low barley Hordeum depressum 10 / 2 1
0.00 l 32 purple clarkia Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera 99 / 9 26
0.00 l 33 johnny jump-up Viola pedunculata 99 / 9 16
0.00 r 34 Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus 99 / 5 16
0.00 b 35 western ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya 50 / 9 38
0.00 l 36 *Italian rye-grass Lolium multiflorum 99 / 9 18
0.00 l 37 *rose clover Trifolium hirtum 10 / 1 13
0.01 l 38 *smilo grass Piptatherum miliaceum⁺ 1 / 1 20
0.01 b 39 *cut-leaved geranium Geranium dissectum 99 / 5 13
0.01 b 40 clustered field sedge Carex praegracilis 99 / 5 5
0.01 c 41 toad rush Juncus bufonius var. bufonius 99 / 9 14
0.01 l 42 *weak blue grass Poa infirma 10 / 1 6
0.01 b 43 *curly dock Rumex crispus 50 / 9 23
0.01 b 44 *grass poly Lythrum hyssopifolia 99 / 9 15
0.01 l 45 *prickly sow thistle Sonchus asper ssp. asper 20 / 9 30
0.01 l 46 wrinkled rush Juncus rugulosus 20 / 3 13
0.01 r 47 *Bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon 30 / 3 32
0.01 l 48 *whorled dock Rumex conglomeratus 20 / 3 11
0.01 r Check for saltgrass
0.01 l 49 common spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya 99 / 5 12
0.01 Cross drainage, seasonally wet and very muddy
0.01 r 50 *common cudweed Gnaphalium luteo-album 2 / 2 17
0.01 l 51 wire rush Juncus balticus 10 / 1 2
0.01 l 52 *goldentop Lamarckia aurea 30 / 5 22
0.01 l 53 *rabbits-foot grass Polypogon monspeliensis 20 / 2 24
0.01 l (Engelmann oak, Quercus engelmannii)
0.02 l 54 common fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia 30 / 9 15
0.03 l 55 San Diego birdsfoot lotus Lotus hamatus 20 / 5 24
0.03 l 56 dove weed Eremocarpus setigerus 10 / 3 25
0.03 l Check for wild celery, Apiastrum angustifolium
0.03 l 57 rattlesnake weed Daucus pusillus / 29
0.04 l 58 dwarf lupine Lupinus bicolor 99 / 9 29
0.05 l 59 Indian milkweed Asclepias eriocarpa 30 / 9 18
0.05 l 60 tree clover Trifolium ciliolatum / 12
0.08 r 61 elk thistle Cirsium scariosum 50 / 9 12
0.08 l 62 long-stemmed buckwheat Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum 50 / 9 28
0.08 l 63 Pomona locoweed Astragalus pomonensis 30 / 9 11
0.09 l Sign: "Trail closed"
0.10 r 64 *slender wild oats Avena barbata / 40
0.10 l 65 saltgrass Distichlis spicata 50 / 3 16
0.11 l 66 deergrass Muhlenbergia rigens 30 / 5 21
0.11 Cross drainage (check trees upstream for id, cottonwood or willows)
0.11 l (willow-leaved dock, Rumex salicifolius var. denticulatus)
0.11 l 67 seaside heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum 10 / 1 10
0.11 l (Vasey's prickly-pear, Opuntia vaseyi)
0.11 l 68 ~ Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum 10 / 1 5
0.11 r 69 *hedge mustard Sisymbrium officinale 99 / 5 20
0.11 70 *horehound Marrubium vulgare 1 / 1 32
0.12 r (Palmer's goldenbush, Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis)
0.14 c 71 *pineapple weed Chamomilla suaveolens 5 / 1 19
0.15 l 72 Engelmann oak Quercus engelmannii 20 / 9 23
0.15 l 73 miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata 99 / 4 22
0.17 l About 30 plants of the unusual purple clarkia, Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera, variant without petals and with a very congested terminal inflorescence.
0.19 r (mouse-ear chickweed, Cerastium glomeratum)
0.22 r (western sycamore, Platanus racemosa; big leaf mistletoe, Phoradendron macrophyllum)
0.22 r A dense field of long-stemmed buckwheat, Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum
0.24 r 74 western sycamore Platanus racemosa 3 / 3 27
0.24 r 75 chaparral yucca Yucca whipplei 3 / 3 31
0.25 l Jct. old road; Sign: "Authorized personnel only"
0.25 l 76 pin-point clover Trifolium gracilentum var. gracilentum / 8
0.25 l 77 chick lupine Lupinus microcarpus var. microcarpus 50 / 9 9
0.25 l 78 silver puffs Uropappus lindleyi / 26
0.26 l 79 California lotus Lotus wrangelianus / 4
0.27 l 80 Palmer's goldenbush Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis 10 / 3 10
0.30 Cross drainage
0.30 b 81 *bull thistle Cirsium vulgare 20 / 4 20
0.30 r 82 *milk thistle Silybum marianum⁺ 1 / 1 11
0.30 r (weeded out gazania, Gazania X (mounding hybrid))
0.31 r 83 splendid mariposa lily Calochortus splendens 50 / 9 20
0.39 l 84 variegated clover Trifolium variegatum / 5
0.39 l 85 balloon clover Trifolium depauperatum var. truncatum / 7
0.42 l 86 *annual blue grass Poa annua / 12
0.42 Cross drainage
0.42 l 87 clustered toad rush Juncus bufonius var. congestus 20 / 1 9
0.44 l 88 owl's-clover Castilleja densiflora 10 / 1 7
0.46 l 89 blue dicks Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum 50 / 9 46
0.49 l 90 slender tarweed Hemizonia fasciculata 99 / 9 18
0.60 l Jct. Shivela Trail; go left on it; elevation 1920 feet (585 m). Sign: "Shivela Trail to Sierra Elena Road 1.2 mi (left); Sycamore Meadows Road to Visitor Center 1.4 mi (right)"
0.63 r (yerba mansa, Anemopsis californica)
0.63 r 91 horseweed Conyza canadensis 30 / 9 39
0.64 r 92 *nit grass Gastridium ventricosum 99 / 9 26
0.64 r (A field of rigid hedge-nettle, Stachys ajugoides var. rigida, in the drainage)
0.64 Long switchback left
0.67 r 93 soap plant Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum 50 / 9 19
0.69 r (chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum)
0.71 r (black sage, Salvia mellifera)
0.77 r 94 Gambel's dwarf milk-vetch Astragalus gambelianus 10 / 1 4
0.77 r 95 *sow thistle Sonchus oleraceus 3 / 1 42
0.78 r 96 leafy daisy Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus 20 / 9 44
0.79 The bush lupine makes a fabulous display here when it is in full bloom:
0.79 r 97 bush lupine Lupinus excubitus var. hallii 30 / 9 10
0.79 b 98 *tocalote Centaurea melitensis 99 / 9 45
0.79 r 99 angel's gilia Gilia angelensis 20 / 3 14
0.82 r (coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia)
0.82 l 100 black sage Salvia mellifera 20 / 5 40
0.82 r 101 strigose lotus Lotus strigosus / 33
0.83 Cross drainage
0.86 r 102 California sagebrush Artemisia californica 20 / 5 47
0.86 Cross small drainage and curve right
0.86 l 103 *hedge parsley Torilis nodosa 99 / 9 14
0.87 l 104 stinking gourd Cucurbita foetidissima 3 / 2 8
0.87 r 105 southern miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana 30 / 3 27
0.87 r 106 coast live oak Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia 10 / 9 42
0.87 r 107 chaparral beard-tongue Keckiella antirrhinoides var. antirrhinoides 2 / 2 10
0.88 Trail curves left
0.89 r (purple head, Acourtia microcephala)
0.91 (closest California peony, Paeonia californica, so far)
0.91 r 108 tomcat clover Trifolium willdenovii / 17
0.94 r (short-winged deerweed, Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus)
0.94 r 109 San Diego tarweed Hemizonia paniculata 30 / 5 8
0.94 r 110 California buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum 20 / 5 51
0.94 Cross small wide drainage
0.95 r 111 popcorn flower Cryptantha intermedia 10 / 1 27
0.95 r 112 red maids Calandrinia ciliata 1 / 1 20
0.97 b 113 small-head field clover Trifolium microcephalum / 10
0.97 Leave last of grassland; enter solid chaparral
0.97 r 114 chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum 50 / 9 37
0.97 r 115 *common chickweed Stellaria media 10 / 1 27
0.98 r 116 wild-cucumber Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus 10 / 4 44
0.98 r 117 hollyleaf redberry Rhamnus ilicifolia 10 / 5 43
0.98 b 118 Pacific sanicle Sanicula crassicaulis 40 / 9 20
0.98 r 119 purple everlasting Gnaphalium purpureum 5 / 1 5
0.98 r 120 threadstem Pterostegia drymarioides 20 / 5 30
0.99 r Jct. Stevenson Canyon Trail; go right on it; elevation ~1960 feet (597 m).
0.99 l Sign: "Shivela Trail (to left and to right); to Sylvan Meadows Road 0.4 mi (right); to Sierra Elena Road 0.8 mi (left): Stevenson Canyon Trail (forward); to Calle de Suenos Road 0.8 mi"
1.00 l 121 short-winged deerweed Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus 20 / 9 23
1.00 l 122 Torrey's scrub oak Quercus acutidens 5 / 2 26
1.00 l 123 poison oak Toxicodendron diversilobum 30 / 9 43
1.01 r 124 foothill needlegrass Nassella lepida 20 / 9 21
1.01 r 125 intermediate sun-cups Camissonia intermedia / 6
1.01 r 126 California filago Filago californica / 21
1.02 r 127 ~ woolly-fruited lomatium Lomatium dasycarpum ssp. dasycarpum 3 / 1 7
1.02 r 128 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum 20 / 7 55
1.02 r 129 prostrate spineflower Chorizanthe procumbens 10 / 1 4
1.02 r 130 everlasting nest-straw Stylocline gnaphaloides / 12
1.02 r 131 climbing bedstraw Galium nuttallii ssp. nuttallii 10 / 9 30
1.02 r 132 southern honeysuckle Lonicera subspicata var. denudata 3 / 3 40
1.03 r 133 sapphire woolly-star Eriastrum sapphirinum 50 / 3 7
1.04 r 134 white sage Salvia apiana 5 / 5 38
1.04 l 135 saw-toothed goldenbush Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioides 10 / 3 35
1.04 Switchback left.
1.04 l 136 white-flowering currant Ribes indecorum 8 / 5 23
1.04 r ~ (poison sanicle, Sanicula bipinnata)
1.04 r 137 ~ seashore bentgrass Agrostis pallens 10 / 1 12
1.04 r 138 goldenrod Solidago californica 50 / 5 35
1.04 r 139 purple snapdragon Antirrhinum nuttallianum ssp. nuttallianum / 19
1.06 l 140 *crabgrass Digitaria sanguinalis⁺ 1 / 1 1
1.06 Cross drainage
1.06 b 141 *sourclover Melilotus indicus / 24
1.08 b 142 bristly bird's beak Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus 30 / 5 28
1.08 Cross old fenceline
1.09 r 143 redberry Rhamnus crocea 2 / 2 15
1.09 r 144 fragrant everlasting Gnaphalium canescens ssp. beneolens 5 / 3 23
1.10 l 145 three spot Osmadenia tenella 20 / 1 15
1.10 b 146 fringed spineflower Chorizanthe fimbriata var. fimbriata 30 / 4 8
1.11 l Jct. old lower end of alternate trail, now closed.
1.14 l Jct. new lower end of alternate trail; stay right.
1.15 l 147 bush monkeyflower Mimulus aurantiacus 10 / 9 42
1.20 r 148 ~ *Mediterranean schismus Schismus barbatus 20 / 2 22
1.22 l 149 prickly cryptantha Cryptantha muricata / 16
1.25 b 150 hooked skunkweed Navarretia hamata ssp. hamata 99 / 7 11
1.28 r 151 canchalagua Centaurium venustum 40 / 5 15
1.28 r 152 purple head Acourtia microcephala 2 / 2 19
1.31 l 153 goldfields Lasthenia californica 3 / 1 12
1.34 Local high point on trail
1.35 l 154 yellow pincushion Chaenactis glabriuscula var. glabriuscula 3 / 1 13
1.36 l (California chicory, Rafinesquia californica)
1.36 l 155 slender woolly marbles Psilocarphus tenellus var. tenellus 10 / 1 5
1.36 l 156 common skullcap Scutellaria tuberosa 10 / 1 4
1.36 l 157 *mouse-ear chickweed Cerastium glomeratum / 19
1.36 l 158 pygmy-weed Crassula connata 10 / 1 28
1.36 l 159 *Italian thistle Carduus pycnocephalus⁺ 1 / 1 20
1.36 l 160 Tejon cryptantha Cryptantha microstachys / 6
1.36 Local low point on trail
1.36 l 161 California peony Paeonia californica 5 / 2 17
1.36 l 162 blue wildrye Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus 30 / 9 21
1.36 r 163 canyon clarkia Clarkia epilobioides 5 / 1 11
1.36 r 164 California chicory Rafinesquia californica 1 / 1 22
1.36 r 165 snapdragon campion Silene antirrhina 5 / 1 7
1.36 r 166 eucrypta Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia var. chrysanthemifolia 5 / 1 25
1.37 b 167 laurel sumac Malosma laurina 5 / 5 42
1.38 l Jct. upper end of alternate trail; stay right
1.38 l 168 *little horseweed Conyza bonariensis 1 / 1 23
1.38 r 169 toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia 5 / 5 44
1.38 b 170 San Diego pea Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii 10 / 3 21
1.38 r 171 slender madia Madia gracilis 20 / 9 19
1.40 Trail turns left 90°
1.40 r 172 California everlasting Gnaphalium californicum 20 / 9 43
1.40 r 173 narrowleaf bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 3 / 3 50
1.40 b 174 grand mountain dandelion Agoseris grandiflora 3 / 2 11
1.40 Fencepost and old fence
1.40 r 175 California chalk lettuce Dudleya pulverulenta ssp. pulverulenta 5 / 1 10
1.40 r 176 goldback fern Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis 5 / 2 24
1.40 r 177 Bigelow's spike-moss Selaginella bigelovii 2 / 2 19
1.40 r 178 bird's-foot fern Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata 3 / 2 30
1.40 r 179 caterpillar phacelia Phacelia cicutaria var. hispida 20 / 2 16
1.40 r 180 California four o'clock Mirabilis californica 1 / 1 23
1.40 r 181 purple owl's clover Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta / 13
1.40 r (wild canterbury bells, Phacelia minor)
1.40 r 182 gray sage Salvia apiana X S. mellifera 1 / 1 5
1.42 r 183 coffee fern Pellaea andromedifolia 2 / 2 22
1.43 Local high point on trail
1.43 r 184 wide-throated yellow monkeyflower Mimulus brevipes 5 / 1 12
1.43 r 185 wild canterbury bells Phacelia minor 2 / 1 21
1.43 r 186 mustang mint Monardella lanceolata 10 / 1 7
1.43 r 187 Ramona clarkia Clarkia similis 5 / 1 3
1.44 r 188 meadow-rue Thalictrum fendleri var. polycarpum 50 / 5 6
1.44 l 189 California brome Bromus carinatus var. carinatus 10 / 3 24
1.44 r 190 *tumble pigweed Amaranthus albus⁺ 1 / 1 14
1.44 r 191 witchgrass Panicum capillare 5 / 1 3
1.44 Begin first of three Stevenson Canyon Stream crossings on wooden planks.
1.44 r 192 *Crete weed Hedypnois cretica 2 / 1 20
1.44 l The arroyo willows at each of the next 3 stream crossings are extremely old. Note their very thick trunks and height.
1.44 l 193 arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis 20 / 2 35
1.44 r 194 willowherb Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum 1 / 1 18
1.44 End first Stream crossing
1.44 b Many green 6 inch to 1 foot high baby arroyo willow plants in July 2005, but most were dead in September 2005 and 2 were left on 3/27/06.
1.44 r 195 *green bentgrass Agrostis viridis 5 / 1 4
1.46 Second Stevenson Canyon Stream crossing
1.46 r 196 mule fat Baccharis salicifolia 2 / 2 39
1.49 r 197 slender sunflower Helianthus gracilentus 1 / 1 14
1.49 Third Stevenson Canyon Stream crossing
1.49 l 198 sand spikerush Eleocharis montevidensis 1 / 1 7
1.49 l 199 rigid hedge-nettle Stachys ajugoides var. rigida 3 / 1 13
1.49 l (sticky cinquefoil, Potentilla glandulosa ssp. glandulosa)
1.49 b 200 basketbush Rhus trilobata 1 / 1 24
1.53 l 201 *English plantain Plantago lanceolata 1 / 1 19
1.53 l 202 ~ wild celery Apiastrum angustifolium 5 / 1 13
1.53 l 203 heartleaf penstemon Keckiella cordifolia 5 / 3 28
1.53 l 204 giant wild-rye Leymus condensatus 5 / 5 27
1.54 l Cross through open gate; sign: "Stephenson Canyon Trail (facing other direction)"; stake: "Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve Boundary".
1.55 Trail curves left 45°
1.55 r 205 *purple wild radish Raphanus sativus 2 / 1 11
1.57 r Sign: "Harold Davis Hill"
1.59 Large infestation of bull thistle, Cirsium vulgare
1.59 l Sign: End Sylvan Meadows; Private Property Ahead"; elevation ~2200 feet (670 m). Turnaround here and descend the way you came.
1.80 r Jct. upper end of alternate trail; take it to the right.
1.80 Fourth Stevenson Canyon Stream crossing
1.80 l Check for different clover
r 206 coast jepsonia Jepsonia parryi 30 / 3 15
1.82 l (common monkeyflower, Mimulus guttatus)
1.84 r 207 slender vetch Vicia hassei / 6
1.84 l 208 ~ poison sanicle Sanicula bipinnata 99 / 9 2
1.85 l 209 sticky cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa ssp. glandulosa 1 / 1 17
1.86 l 210 long-leaved rush Juncus macrophyllus 5 / 1 6
1.90 Fifth Stevenson Canyon Stream crossing
1.93 l 211 California oxalis Oxalis albicans ssp. californica 1 / 1 4
1.95 l 212 Parish's purple nightshade Solanum parishii 1 / 1 20
1.96 Cross first of two small side drainages
1.97 Cross second of two small side drainages
1.97 l 213 southern Indian pink Silene laciniata ssp. major 2 / 1 20
2.00 l 214 triangular-fruit sedge Carex triquetra 1 / 1 17
2.06 r (An infestation of ~200 soap aloe, Aloe saponaria, was removed in 2005, that probably came from a single plant just 5-11 years earlier.)
2.07 T-jct. with main Stevenson Canyon Trail; go right on it.
2.22 T-jct. with Shivela Trail; go right on it; elevation ~1960 feet (597 m).
2.25 Large bridge; sixth Stevenson Canyon Stream crossing
2.25 l 215 willow-leaved dock Rumex salicifolius var. denticulatus 1 / 1 9
2.26 r 216 Chinese houses Collinsia heterophylla / 12
2.27 r 217 sp spurge Euphorbia sp. 1 / 1
2.30 b 218 *darnel Lolium temulentum / 4
2.30 r 219 sp vetch Vicia villosa ssp. varia or V. sativa /
2.32 Cross small drainage
2.32 r 220 blue larkspur Delphinium parryi ssp. parryi 10 / 1 14
2.35 l (A huge western sycamore with 5 big trunks)
2.35 Trail curves right 90°
2.45 Trail curves right and briefly goes uphill
2.47 Local high point on trail
2.48 Trail curves left
2.53 l 221 nodding needlegrass Nassella cernua / 18
Trail is close to Tenaja Road now; trail curves right
2.56 Local low point on trail
2.63 l 222 *Australian brome Bromus arenarius 10 / 1 4
2.65 Cross seasonally-wet drainage
2.65 r 223 bicolored everlasting Gnaphalium bicolor 1 / 1 34
2.69 l Second patch of jepsonia
2.74 Local low point on trail
2.75 Local high point on trail; second common skullcap, Scutellaria tuberosa location
2.79 Local low point on trail
2.80 Local high point on trail
2.86 Cross seasonally-moist drainage and go uphill
2.90 Local high point on trail
2.92 Trail turns left 90° and crosses bridge over another drainage
2.92 b 224 common monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus 10 / 1 15
3.02 End Shivela Trail at T-jct. with Sierra Elena Road. Go left; elevation ~1975 feet (600 m).
3.05 c 225 pit-seed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri 3 / 2 8
3.06 Cross Tenaja Road
3.07 Jct. Fenceline Trail; go left
3.13 l 226 telegraph weed Heterotheca grandiflora 10 / 5 37
3.18 b *winter vetch Vicia villosa ssp. varia⁺ 50 / 3 19
3.23 r (blue elderberry, Sambucus mexicana)
3.33 Cross small drainage from right
3.34 l (Large patch of Italian thistle, Carduus pycnocephalus)
3.36 b 227 *spring vetch Vicia sativa ssp. sativa 10 / 1 6
3.44 Begin short uphill on trail
3.48 Second of two closely-spaced local high points on trail
3.53 r 228 *Russian thistle Salsola tragus 1 / 1 25
3.55 r 229 coyote bush Baccharis pilularis 1 / 1 25
3.58 r 230 *yellow salsify Tragopogon dubius⁺ 1 / 1 13
3.62 l 231 *Harding grass Phalaris aquatica 2 / 1 2
3.78 Cross wood-plank bridge at drainage
3.83 Pass through open gate; jct. Hidden Valley Parking Lot; cross Tenaja Road to return to trailhead
3.86 End guide back at Sylvan Meadows Parking Area

Comments On Specific Species

Piptatherum miliaceum, Silybum marianum, Digitaria sanguinalis, Carduus pycnocephalus, Amaranthus albus, Tragopogon dubius. These weeds are eliminated when seen, so we hope you do not see any of them. If you do, yank them out!
Vicia villosa ssp. varia. This specimen is not numbered, since it is highly likely that the previous Vicia sp. is this species.

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

1-5	21	9%
6-10	29	13%
11-15	43	19%
16-20	37	16%
21-25	31	13%
26-30	21	9%
31-35	12	5%
36-40	12	5%
41-45	14	6%
46-50	3	1%
51-55	7	3%
Total Taxa	230	100%

Visit Date	Visit #	# taxa	# "?"	# "sp"	# "~"	# "ssp"
11/27/2004	1	114	6	15	16	4
12/23/2004	2	115	6	14	17	4
5/10/2005	3	200	2	0	6	1
7/29/2005	4	213	0	0	6	1
9/19/2005	5	219	0	1	5	1
1/7/2006	6	220	0	2	3	1
3/27/2006	7	231	0	2	7	0

Mile	S	#	id?	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00				Begin Sylvan Meadows Road on nw side of parking lot; elevation 1880 feet (573 m). Guide begins at gate. The first three off-trail species are best seen just before the gate.
0.00	r			(California buckwheat, Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum; Emory's baccharis, Baccharis emoryi; mule fat, Baccharis salicifolia)
0.00	l			(California peony, Paeonia californica)
0.00	b	1		*soft chess	Bromus hordeaceus	99 / 9	40
0.00	b	2		*wild oats	Avena fatua	99 / 9	26
0.00	b	3		*shortpod mustard	Hirschfeldia incana	99 / 9	51
0.00	r	4		California-aster	Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia	50 / 9	51
0.00	b	5		*foxtail barley	Hordeum murinum ssp. leporinum	50 / 3	15
0.00	l	6		Spanish clover	Lotus purshianus var. purshianus	99 / 9	31
0.00	l	7		*short-fruited filaree	Erodium brachycarpum	99 / 9	14
0.00	r	8		small-flowered fiddleneck	Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii	50 / 9	8
0.00	b	9		*red brome	Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens	99 / 9	53
0.00	l	10		*ripgut brome	Bromus diandrus	99 / 9	52
0.00	b	11		*prickly lettuce	Lactuca serriola	99 / 9	42
0.00	l	12		rusty-haired popcorn flower	Plagiobothrys nothofulvus	99 / 9	13
0.00	l	13		*narrowleaf filago	Filago gallica	99 / 9	45
0.00	l	14		sharp-toothed sanicle	Sanicula arguta	20 / 9	16
0.00	r	15		vinegar weed	Trichostema lanceolatum	40 / 9	15
0.00	l	16		California poppy	Eschscholzia californica	10 / 2	29
0.00	l	17		checkerbloom	Sidalcea malviflora ssp. sparsifolia	99 / 9	25
0.00	l	18		graceful tarplant	Holocarpha virgata ssp. elongata	99 / 9	15
0.00	l			(splendid mariposa lily, Calochortus splendens)
0.00	l	19		purple needlegrass	Nassella pulchra	99 / 9	20
0.00	r	20		*knotweed	Polygonum arenastrum	30 / 9	21
0.00	r	21		*sand spurrey	Spergularia bocconei	/	14
0.00	l	22		coast-range melic	Melica imperfecta	50 / 9	43
0.00	r	23		*scarlet pimpernel	Anagallis arvensis	99 / 9	33
0.00	l	24		California fuchsia	Epilobium canum ssp. canum	20 / 4	21
0.00	l	25		*smooth cat's ear	Hypochaeris glabra	99 / 9	35
0.00	r	26		*windmill pink	Silene gallica	99 / 9	33
0.00	b	27		*redstem filaree	Erodium cicutarium	99 / 9	55
0.00	l	28		*California burclover	Medicago polymorpha	99 / 9	40
0.00	l	29		*hairy rattail fescue	Vulpia myuros var. hirsuta	99 / 9	19
0.00	l	30		common bedstraw	Galium aparine	99 / 7	38
0.00	l	31		low barley	Hordeum depressum	10 / 2	1
0.00	l	32		purple clarkia	Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera	99 / 9	26
0.00	l	33		johnny jump-up	Viola pedunculata	99 / 9	16
0.00	r	34		Mexican rush	Juncus mexicanus	99 / 5	16
0.00	b	35		western ragweed	Ambrosia psilostachya	50 / 9	38
0.00	l	36		*Italian rye-grass	Lolium multiflorum	99 / 9	18
0.00	l	37		*rose clover	Trifolium hirtum	10 / 1	13
0.01	l	38		*smilo grass	Piptatherum miliaceum⁺	1 / 1	20
0.01	b	39		*cut-leaved geranium	Geranium dissectum	99 / 5	13
0.01	b	40		clustered field sedge	Carex praegracilis	99 / 5	5
0.01	c	41		toad rush	Juncus bufonius var. bufonius	99 / 9	14
0.01	l	42		*weak blue grass	Poa infirma	10 / 1	6
0.01	b	43		*curly dock	Rumex crispus	50 / 9	23
0.01	b	44		*grass poly	Lythrum hyssopifolia	99 / 9	15
0.01	l	45		*prickly sow thistle	Sonchus asper ssp. asper	20 / 9	30
0.01	l	46		wrinkled rush	Juncus rugulosus	20 / 3	13
0.01	r	47		*Bermuda grass	Cynodon dactylon	30 / 3	32
0.01	l	48		*whorled dock	Rumex conglomeratus	20 / 3	11
0.01	r			Check for saltgrass
0.01	l	49		common spikerush	Eleocharis macrostachya	99 / 5	12
0.01				Cross drainage, seasonally wet and very muddy
0.01	r	50		*common cudweed	Gnaphalium luteo-album	2 / 2	17
0.01	l	51		wire rush	Juncus balticus	10 / 1	2
0.01	l	52		*goldentop	Lamarckia aurea	30 / 5	22
0.01	l	53		*rabbits-foot grass	Polypogon monspeliensis	20 / 2	24
0.01	l			(Engelmann oak, Quercus engelmannii)
0.02	l	54		common fiddleneck	Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia	30 / 9	15
0.03	l	55		San Diego birdsfoot lotus	Lotus hamatus	20 / 5	24
0.03	l	56		dove weed	Eremocarpus setigerus	10 / 3	25
0.03	l			Check for wild celery, Apiastrum angustifolium
0.03	l	57		rattlesnake weed	Daucus pusillus	/	29
0.04	l	58		dwarf lupine	Lupinus bicolor	99 / 9	29
0.05	l	59		Indian milkweed	Asclepias eriocarpa	30 / 9	18
0.05	l	60		tree clover	Trifolium ciliolatum	/	12
0.08	r	61		elk thistle	Cirsium scariosum	50 / 9	12
0.08	l	62		long-stemmed buckwheat	Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum	50 / 9	28
0.08	l	63		Pomona locoweed	Astragalus pomonensis	30 / 9	11
0.09	l			Sign: "Trail closed"
0.10	r	64		*slender wild oats	Avena barbata	/	40
0.10	l	65		saltgrass	Distichlis spicata	50 / 3	16
0.11	l	66		deergrass	Muhlenbergia rigens	30 / 5	21
0.11				Cross drainage (check trees upstream for id, cottonwood or willows)
0.11	l			(willow-leaved dock, Rumex salicifolius var. denticulatus)
0.11	l	67		seaside heliotrope	Heliotropium curassavicum	10 / 1	10
0.11	l			(Vasey's prickly-pear, Opuntia vaseyi)
0.11	l	68	~	Carolina geranium	Geranium carolinianum	10 / 1	5
0.11	r	69		*hedge mustard	Sisymbrium officinale	99 / 5	20
0.11		70		*horehound	Marrubium vulgare	1 / 1	32
0.12	r			(Palmer's goldenbush, Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis)
0.14	c	71		*pineapple weed	Chamomilla suaveolens	5 / 1	19
0.15	l	72		Engelmann oak	Quercus engelmannii	20 / 9	23
0.15	l	73		miner's lettuce	Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata	99 / 4	22
0.17	l			About 30 plants of the unusual purple clarkia, Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera, variant without petals and with a very congested terminal inflorescence.
0.19	r			(mouse-ear chickweed, Cerastium glomeratum)
0.22	r			(western sycamore, Platanus racemosa; big leaf mistletoe, Phoradendron macrophyllum)
0.22	r			A dense field of long-stemmed buckwheat, Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum
0.24	r	74		western sycamore	Platanus racemosa	3 / 3	27
0.24	r	75		chaparral yucca	Yucca whipplei	3 / 3	31
0.25	l			Jct. old road; Sign: "Authorized personnel only"
0.25	l	76		pin-point clover	Trifolium gracilentum var. gracilentum	/	8
0.25	l	77		chick lupine	Lupinus microcarpus var. microcarpus	50 / 9	9
0.25	l	78		silver puffs	Uropappus lindleyi	/	26
0.26	l	79		California lotus	Lotus wrangelianus	/	4
0.27	l	80		Palmer's goldenbush	Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis	10 / 3	10
0.30				Cross drainage
0.30	b	81		*bull thistle	Cirsium vulgare	20 / 4	20
0.30	r	82		*milk thistle	Silybum marianum⁺	1 / 1	11
0.30	r			(weeded out gazania, Gazania X (mounding hybrid))
0.31	r	83		splendid mariposa lily	Calochortus splendens	50 / 9	20
0.39	l	84		variegated clover	Trifolium variegatum	/	5
0.39	l	85		balloon clover	Trifolium depauperatum var. truncatum	/	7
0.42	l	86		*annual blue grass	Poa annua	/	12
0.42				Cross drainage
0.42	l	87		clustered toad rush	Juncus bufonius var. congestus	20 / 1	9
0.44	l	88		owl's-clover	Castilleja densiflora	10 / 1	7
0.46	l	89		blue dicks	Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum	50 / 9	46
0.49	l	90		slender tarweed	Hemizonia fasciculata	99 / 9	18
0.60	l			Jct. Shivela Trail; go left on it; elevation 1920 feet (585 m). Sign: "Shivela Trail to Sierra Elena Road 1.2 mi (left); Sycamore Meadows Road to Visitor Center 1.4 mi (right)"
0.63	r			(yerba mansa, Anemopsis californica)
0.63	r	91		horseweed	Conyza canadensis	30 / 9	39
0.64	r	92		*nit grass	Gastridium ventricosum	99 / 9	26
0.64	r			(A field of rigid hedge-nettle, Stachys ajugoides var. rigida, in the drainage)
0.64				Long switchback left
0.67	r	93		soap plant	Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum	50 / 9	19
0.69	r			(chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum)
0.71	r			(black sage, Salvia mellifera)
0.77	r	94		Gambel's dwarf milk-vetch	Astragalus gambelianus	10 / 1	4
0.77	r	95		*sow thistle	Sonchus oleraceus	3 / 1	42
0.78	r	96		leafy daisy	Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus	20 / 9	44
0.79				The bush lupine makes a fabulous display here when it is in full bloom:
0.79	r	97		bush lupine	Lupinus excubitus var. hallii	30 / 9	10
0.79	b	98		*tocalote	Centaurea melitensis	99 / 9	45
0.79	r	99		angel's gilia	Gilia angelensis	20 / 3	14
0.82	r			(coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia)
0.82	l	100		black sage	Salvia mellifera	20 / 5	40
0.82	r	101		strigose lotus	Lotus strigosus	/	33
0.83				Cross drainage
0.86	r	102		California sagebrush	Artemisia californica	20 / 5	47
0.86				Cross small drainage and curve right
0.86	l	103		*hedge parsley	Torilis nodosa	99 / 9	14
0.87	l	104		stinking gourd	Cucurbita foetidissima	3 / 2	8
0.87	r	105		southern miner's lettuce	Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana	30 / 3	27
0.87	r	106		coast live oak	Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia	10 / 9	42
0.87	r	107		chaparral beard-tongue	Keckiella antirrhinoides var. antirrhinoides	2 / 2	10
0.88				Trail curves left
0.89	r			(purple head, Acourtia microcephala)
0.91				(closest California peony, Paeonia californica, so far)
0.91	r	108		tomcat clover	Trifolium willdenovii	/	17
0.94	r			(short-winged deerweed, Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus)
0.94	r	109		San Diego tarweed	Hemizonia paniculata	30 / 5	8
0.94	r	110		California buckwheat	Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum	20 / 5	51
0.94				Cross small wide drainage
0.95	r	111		popcorn flower	Cryptantha intermedia	10 / 1	27
0.95	r	112		red maids	Calandrinia ciliata	1 / 1	20
0.97	b	113		small-head field clover	Trifolium microcephalum	/	10
0.97				Leave last of grassland; enter solid chaparral
0.97	r	114		chamise	Adenostoma fasciculatum	50 / 9	37
0.97	r	115		*common chickweed	Stellaria media	10 / 1	27
0.98	r	116		wild-cucumber	Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus	10 / 4	44
0.98	r	117		hollyleaf redberry	Rhamnus ilicifolia	10 / 5	43
0.98	b	118		Pacific sanicle	Sanicula crassicaulis	40 / 9	20
0.98	r	119		purple everlasting	Gnaphalium purpureum	5 / 1	5
0.98	r	120		threadstem	Pterostegia drymarioides	20 / 5	30
0.99	r			Jct. Stevenson Canyon Trail; go right on it; elevation ~1960 feet (597 m).
0.99	l			Sign: "Shivela Trail (to left and to right); to Sylvan Meadows Road 0.4 mi (right); to Sierra Elena Road 0.8 mi (left): Stevenson Canyon Trail (forward); to Calle de Suenos Road 0.8 mi"
1.00	l	121		short-winged deerweed	Lotus scoparius var. brevialatus	20 / 9	23
1.00	l	122		Torrey's scrub oak	Quercus acutidens	5 / 2	26
1.00	l	123		poison oak	Toxicodendron diversilobum	30 / 9	43
1.01	r	124		foothill needlegrass	Nassella lepida	20 / 9	21
1.01	r	125		intermediate sun-cups	Camissonia intermedia	/	6
1.01	r	126		California filago	Filago californica	/	21
1.02	r	127	~	woolly-fruited lomatium	Lomatium dasycarpum ssp. dasycarpum	3 / 1	7
1.02	r	128		golden yarrow	Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum	20 / 7	55
1.02	r	129		prostrate spineflower	Chorizanthe procumbens	10 / 1	4
1.02	r	130		everlasting nest-straw	Stylocline gnaphaloides	/	12
1.02	r	131		climbing bedstraw	Galium nuttallii ssp. nuttallii	10 / 9	30
1.02	r	132		southern honeysuckle	Lonicera subspicata var. denudata	3 / 3	40
1.03	r	133		sapphire woolly-star	Eriastrum sapphirinum	50 / 3	7
1.04	r	134		white sage	Salvia apiana	5 / 5	38
1.04	l	135		saw-toothed goldenbush	Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioides	10 / 3	35
1.04				Switchback left.
1.04	l	136		white-flowering currant	Ribes indecorum	8 / 5	23
1.04	r		~	(poison sanicle, Sanicula bipinnata)
1.04	r	137	~	seashore bentgrass	Agrostis pallens	10 / 1	12
1.04	r	138		goldenrod	Solidago californica	50 / 5	35
1.04	r	139		purple snapdragon	Antirrhinum nuttallianum ssp. nuttallianum	/	19
1.06	l	140		*crabgrass	Digitaria sanguinalis⁺	1 / 1	1
1.06				Cross drainage
1.06	b	141		*sourclover	Melilotus indicus	/	24
1.08	b	142		bristly bird's beak	Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus	30 / 5	28
1.08				Cross old fenceline
1.09	r	143		redberry	Rhamnus crocea	2 / 2	15
1.09	r	144		fragrant everlasting	Gnaphalium canescens ssp. beneolens	5 / 3	23
1.10	l	145		three spot	Osmadenia tenella	20 / 1	15
1.10	b	146		fringed spineflower	Chorizanthe fimbriata var. fimbriata	30 / 4	8
1.11	l			Jct. old lower end of alternate trail, now closed.
1.14	l			Jct. new lower end of alternate trail; stay right.
1.15	l	147		bush monkeyflower	Mimulus aurantiacus	10 / 9	42
1.20	r	148	~	*Mediterranean schismus	Schismus barbatus	20 / 2	22
1.22	l	149		prickly cryptantha	Cryptantha muricata	/	16
1.25	b	150		hooked skunkweed	Navarretia hamata ssp. hamata	99 / 7	11
1.28	r	151		canchalagua	Centaurium venustum	40 / 5	15
1.28	r	152		purple head	Acourtia microcephala	2 / 2	19
1.31	l	153		goldfields	Lasthenia californica	3 / 1	12
1.34				Local high point on trail
1.35	l	154		yellow pincushion	Chaenactis glabriuscula var. glabriuscula	3 / 1	13
1.36	l			(California chicory, Rafinesquia californica)
1.36	l	155		slender woolly marbles	Psilocarphus tenellus var. tenellus	10 / 1	5
1.36	l	156		common skullcap	Scutellaria tuberosa	10 / 1	4
1.36	l	157		*mouse-ear chickweed	Cerastium glomeratum	/	19
1.36	l	158		pygmy-weed	Crassula connata	10 / 1	28
1.36	l	159		*Italian thistle	Carduus pycnocephalus⁺	1 / 1	20
1.36	l	160		Tejon cryptantha	Cryptantha microstachys	/	6
1.36				Local low point on trail
1.36	l	161		California peony	Paeonia californica	5 / 2	17
1.36	l	162		blue wildrye	Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus	30 / 9	21
1.36	r	163		canyon clarkia	Clarkia epilobioides	5 / 1	11
1.36	r	164		California chicory	Rafinesquia californica	1 / 1	22
1.36	r	165		snapdragon campion	Silene antirrhina	5 / 1	7
1.36	r	166		eucrypta	Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia var. chrysanthemifolia	5 / 1	25
1.37	b	167		laurel sumac	Malosma laurina	5 / 5	42
1.38	l			Jct. upper end of alternate trail; stay right
1.38	l	168		*little horseweed	Conyza bonariensis	1 / 1	23
1.38	r	169		toyon	Heteromeles arbutifolia	5 / 5	44
1.38	b	170		San Diego pea	Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii	10 / 3	21
1.38	r	171		slender madia	Madia gracilis	20 / 9	19
1.40				Trail turns left 90°
1.40	r	172		California everlasting	Gnaphalium californicum	20 / 9	43
1.40	r	173		narrowleaf bedstraw	Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium	3 / 3	50
1.40	b	174		grand mountain dandelion	Agoseris grandiflora	3 / 2	11
1.40				Fencepost and old fence
1.40	r	175		California chalk lettuce	Dudleya pulverulenta ssp. pulverulenta	5 / 1	10
1.40	r	176		goldback fern	Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis	5 / 2	24
1.40	r	177		Bigelow's spike-moss	Selaginella bigelovii	2 / 2	19
1.40	r	178		bird's-foot fern	Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata	3 / 2	30
1.40	r	179		caterpillar phacelia	Phacelia cicutaria var. hispida	20 / 2	16
1.40	r	180		California four o'clock	Mirabilis californica	1 / 1	23
1.40	r	181		purple owl's clover	Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta	/	13
1.40	r			(wild canterbury bells, Phacelia minor)
1.40	r	182		gray sage	Salvia apiana X S. mellifera	1 / 1	5
1.42	r	183		coffee fern	Pellaea andromedifolia	2 / 2	22
1.43				Local high point on trail
1.43	r	184		wide-throated yellow monkeyflower	Mimulus brevipes	5 / 1	12
1.43	r	185		wild canterbury bells	Phacelia minor	2 / 1	21
1.43	r	186		mustang mint	Monardella lanceolata	10 / 1	7
1.43	r	187		Ramona clarkia	Clarkia similis	5 / 1	3
1.44	r	188		meadow-rue	Thalictrum fendleri var. polycarpum	50 / 5	6
1.44	l	189		California brome	Bromus carinatus var. carinatus	10 / 3	24
1.44	r	190		*tumble pigweed	Amaranthus albus⁺	1 / 1	14
1.44	r	191		witchgrass	Panicum capillare	5 / 1	3
1.44				Begin first of three Stevenson Canyon Stream crossings on wooden planks.
1.44	r	192		*Crete weed	Hedypnois cretica	2 / 1	20
1.44	l			The arroyo willows at each of the next 3 stream crossings are extremely old. Note their very thick trunks and height.
1.44	l	193		arroyo willow	Salix lasiolepis	20 / 2	35
1.44	r	194		willowherb	Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum	1 / 1	18
1.44				End first Stream crossing
1.44	b			Many green 6 inch to 1 foot high baby arroyo willow plants in July 2005, but most were dead in September 2005 and 2 were left on 3/27/06.
1.44	r	195		*green bentgrass	Agrostis viridis	5 / 1	4
1.46				Second Stevenson Canyon Stream crossing
1.46	r	196		mule fat	Baccharis salicifolia	2 / 2	39
1.49	r	197		slender sunflower	Helianthus gracilentus	1 / 1	14
1.49				Third Stevenson Canyon Stream crossing
1.49	l	198		sand spikerush	Eleocharis montevidensis	1 / 1	7
1.49	l	199		rigid hedge-nettle	Stachys ajugoides var. rigida	3 / 1	13
1.49	l			(sticky cinquefoil, Potentilla glandulosa ssp. glandulosa)
1.49	b	200		basketbush	Rhus trilobata	1 / 1	24
1.53	l	201		*English plantain	Plantago lanceolata	1 / 1	19
1.53	l	202	~	wild celery	Apiastrum angustifolium	5 / 1	13
1.53	l	203		heartleaf penstemon	Keckiella cordifolia	5 / 3	28
1.53	l	204		giant wild-rye	Leymus condensatus	5 / 5	27
1.54	l			Cross through open gate; sign: "Stephenson Canyon Trail (facing other direction)"; stake: "Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve Boundary".
1.55				Trail curves left 45°
1.55	r	205		*purple wild radish	Raphanus sativus	2 / 1	11
1.57	r			Sign: "Harold Davis Hill"
1.59				Large infestation of bull thistle, Cirsium vulgare
1.59	l			Sign: End Sylvan Meadows; Private Property Ahead"; elevation ~2200 feet (670 m). Turnaround here and descend the way you came.
1.80	r			Jct. upper end of alternate trail; take it to the right.
1.80				Fourth Stevenson Canyon Stream crossing
1.80	l			Check for different clover
	r	206		coast jepsonia	Jepsonia parryi	30 / 3	15
1.82	l			(common monkeyflower, Mimulus guttatus)
1.84	r	207		slender vetch	Vicia hassei	/	6
1.84	l	208	~	poison sanicle	Sanicula bipinnata	99 / 9	2
1.85	l	209		sticky cinquefoil	Potentilla glandulosa ssp. glandulosa	1 / 1	17
1.86	l	210		long-leaved rush	Juncus macrophyllus	5 / 1	6
1.90				Fifth Stevenson Canyon Stream crossing
1.93	l	211		California oxalis	Oxalis albicans ssp. californica	1 / 1	4
1.95	l	212		Parish's purple nightshade	Solanum parishii	1 / 1	20
1.96				Cross first of two small side drainages
1.97				Cross second of two small side drainages
1.97	l	213		southern Indian pink	Silene laciniata ssp. major	2 / 1	20
2.00	l	214		triangular-fruit sedge	Carex triquetra	1 / 1	17
2.06	r			(An infestation of ~200 soap aloe, Aloe saponaria, was removed in 2005, that probably came from a single plant just 5-11 years earlier.)
2.07				T-jct. with main Stevenson Canyon Trail; go right on it.
2.22				T-jct. with Shivela Trail; go right on it; elevation ~1960 feet (597 m).
2.25				Large bridge; sixth Stevenson Canyon Stream crossing
2.25	l	215		willow-leaved dock	Rumex salicifolius var. denticulatus	1 / 1	9
2.26	r	216		Chinese houses	Collinsia heterophylla	/	12
2.27	r	217	sp	spurge	Euphorbia sp.	1 / 1
2.30	b	218		*darnel	Lolium temulentum	/	4
2.30	r	219	sp	vetch	Vicia villosa ssp. varia or V. sativa	/
2.32				Cross small drainage
2.32	r	220		blue larkspur	Delphinium parryi ssp. parryi	10 / 1	14
2.35	l			(A huge western sycamore with 5 big trunks)
2.35				Trail curves right 90°
2.45				Trail curves right and briefly goes uphill
2.47				Local high point on trail
2.48				Trail curves left
2.53	l	221		nodding needlegrass	Nassella cernua	/	18
				Trail is close to Tenaja Road now; trail curves right
2.56				Local low point on trail
2.63	l	222		*Australian brome	Bromus arenarius	10 / 1	4
2.65				Cross seasonally-wet drainage
2.65	r	223		bicolored everlasting	Gnaphalium bicolor	1 / 1	34
2.69	l			Second patch of jepsonia
2.74				Local low point on trail
2.75				Local high point on trail; second common skullcap, Scutellaria tuberosa location
2.79				Local low point on trail
2.80				Local high point on trail
2.86				Cross seasonally-moist drainage and go uphill
2.90				Local high point on trail
2.92				Trail turns left 90° and crosses bridge over another drainage
2.92	b	224		common monkeyflower	Mimulus guttatus	10 / 1	15
3.02				End Shivela Trail at T-jct. with Sierra Elena Road. Go left; elevation ~1975 feet (600 m).
3.05	c	225		pit-seed goosefoot	Chenopodium berlandieri	3 / 2	8
3.06				Cross Tenaja Road
3.07				Jct. Fenceline Trail; go left
3.13	l	226		telegraph weed	Heterotheca grandiflora	10 / 5	37
3.18	b			*winter vetch	Vicia villosa ssp. varia⁺	50 / 3	19
3.23	r			(blue elderberry, Sambucus mexicana)
3.33				Cross small drainage from right
3.34	l			(Large patch of Italian thistle, Carduus pycnocephalus)
3.36	b	227		*spring vetch	Vicia sativa ssp. sativa	10 / 1	6
3.44				Begin short uphill on trail
3.48				Second of two closely-spaced local high points on trail
3.53	r	228		*Russian thistle	Salsola tragus	1 / 1	25
3.55	r	229		coyote bush	Baccharis pilularis	1 / 1	25
3.58	r	230		*yellow salsify	Tragopogon dubius⁺	1 / 1	13
3.62	l	231		*Harding grass	Phalaris aquatica	2 / 1	2
3.78				Cross wood-plank bridge at drainage
3.83				Pass through open gate; jct. Hidden Valley Parking Lot; cross Tenaja Road to return to trailhead
3.86				End guide back at Sylvan Meadows Parking Area

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