Plant Guide to Vista Grande / Monument Hill Road / N. Lomas / Tenaja Truck Trail 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!
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 covers the following route:
- The entire Vista Grande Trail, from its northern end at the Granite Loop Trail (1.52 miles);
- Monument Hill Road, from the Vista Grande Trail to the N. Lomas Trail, including the brief side-trip to Monument Hill (1.40 miles);
- N. Lomas Trail (0.51 miles); and
- Tenaja Truck Trail from the N. Lomas Trail to Waterline Road (0.77 miles)
Walking this route from the Visitor Center requires an additional 0.20 miles to reach the beginning of this guide (along Waterline Road and Granite Loop Trail), and an additional 0.83 miles to return to the Visitor Center along Waterline Road. The additional segments have their own plant guides: see Waterline Loop and Granite Loop Trail.
Thus the total walking distance is 5.23 miles for the entire loop from the Visitor Center, with an elevation gain and loss of 400 feet.
Prior to 11 June 2005, this Loop was defined differently. Instead of heading west on Monument Hill Road, the loop headed east, and then returned to the Visitor Center via Fault and Waterline Roads.
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 TaxonNumber Of Taxa
On This Trail% of Taxa
On This Trail1 3 1% 2 3 1% 3 11 5% 4 5 2% 5 7 3% 1-5 29 13% 6-10 37 17% 11-15 37 17% 16-20 33 15% 21-25 27 12% 26-30 14 6% 31-35 11 5% 36-40 9 4% 41-45 13 6% 46-50 3 1% 51-55 6 3% 56-60 1 0% All 220 100% We found 0 additional species not in the above table, since it has 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" 1/30/2003 1 74 7 8 10 3 10/11/2003 2 83 7 8 10 4 12/4/2004 3 107 7 7 12 5 12/9/2004 4 125 7 8 13 7 3/30/2005 5 4/5/2005 6 129 6 7 9 6 5/3/2005 7 139 2 3 7 6 6/11/2005 8 198 0 3 8 3 8/14/2005 9 201 0 1 7 3 10/8/2005 10 206 0 1 6 3 1/7/2006 11 204 0 0 5 3 3/14/2006 12 211 0 0 5 3 5/27/2006 13 219 0 0 3 1 11/8/2007 14 220 0 0 3 1 The trail was only walked to mile 0.29 on 1/30/03, to mile 0.34 on 10/11/03, to mile 0.44 on 12/4/04, and to mile 0.25 on 5/3/05. The first complete survey of the old loop (returning via Fault Road) was on 12/9/04.
The walk on 3/30/05 was fast-paced, and only a few updates were made. They weren't tracked separately from the 4/5/05 updates. The walk on 1/7/06 was just to check the identification of the Ribes at mile 0.45. The drop in number of taxa by two then was due to combining the three Calystegia macrostegia subspecies formerly given in the guide.
Prior to 6/11/05, the numbers above referred to the previous loop returning from Monument Hill Road via Fault Road.
In addition to the above dates, the N. Vista Grande trail was covered on a quick walk on 9/8/05, with two new species found.
We thank Darryl Medley for assistance with the 5/27/06 fieldwork.
The Plant Guide Version for printing, without lines and other text on this page: html (10 pages), pdf Clickbook booklet (3 double-sided pages). (See printing instructions for an explanation of these options)
Mile S # id? Common Name Latin Name #here #all 0.00 Begin at the jct. of the Granite Loop and N. Vista Grande Trails; elevation 1760 feet (536 m). Sign: "Granite Loop Trail [ahead]; To Visitor Center 0.6 mile; Vista Grande Trail [right]; Tenaja Truck Trail 0.9 mile". Go right, on the Vista Grande Trail. 0.00 b 1 *windmill pink Silene gallica 99 / 9 33 0.00 l 2 *smooth cat's ear Hypochaeris glabra 99 / 9 35 0.00 b 3 purple needlegrass Nassella pulchra 99 / 9 19 0.00 l 4 *scarlet pimpernel Anagallis arvensis 99 / 9 32 0.00 b 5 *short-fruited filaree Erodium brachycarpum 99 / 9 14 0.00 b 6 variegated clover Trifolium variegatum 10 / 2 5 0.00 l 7 *narrowleaf filago Filago gallica 99 / 9 45 0.00 b 8 *nit grass Gastridium ventricosum 99 / 9 24 0.00 l 9 *ripgut brome Bromus diandrus 99 / 9 51 0.00 b 10 purple clarkia Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera 99 / 9 25 0.00 r 11 nodding needlegrass Nassella cernua / 16 0.00 b 12 San Diego tarweed Hemizonia paniculata 99 / 9 7 0.00 b 13 graceful tarplant Holocarpha virgata ssp. elongata 99 / 9 14 0.00 l 14 *rattail fescue Vulpia myuros var. myuros 99 / 9 20 0.00 l 15 tree clover Trifolium ciliolatum 50 / 9 11 0.00 b 16 Spanish clover Lotus purshianus var. purshianus 99 / 9 31 0.00 b 17 *California burclover Medicago polymorpha 99 / 9 40 0.00 b 18 *soft chess Bromus hordeaceus 99 / 9 40 0.00 r 19 vinegar weed Trichostema lanceolatum 50 / 9 14 0.00 b 20 *yellow salsify Tragopogon dubius 10 / 3 12 0.00 l 21 toad rush Juncus bufonius var. bufonius 99 / 9 13 0.00 b 22 canchalagua Centaurium venustum 50 / 5 14 0.00 b 23 rattlesnake weed Daucus pusillus 99 / 9 28 0.00 l 24 rattlesnake weed Chamaesyce albomarginata 20 / 5 9 0.00 l 25 ~ sharp-toothed sanicle Sanicula arguta+ 3 / 2 16 0.00 l 26 California-aster Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia 99 / 9 51 0.00 b 27 checkerbloom Sidalcea malviflora ssp. sparsifolia 99 / 9 25 0.00 r 28 balloon clover Trifolium depauperatum var. truncatum / 7 0.00 l 29 ssp *foxtail barley Hordeum murinum ssp. glaucum+ 30 / 4 13 0.00 r 30 *prickly sow thistle Sonchus asper ssp. asper 20 / 9 29 0.00 l 31 Mexican rush Juncus mexicanus 99 / 5 16 0.00 r 32 wrinkled rush Juncus rugulosus 99 / 9 11 0.00 r 33 horseweed Conyza canadensis 99 / 9 35 0.00 r 34 cocklebur Xanthium strumarium 50 / 7 15 0.00 r 35 *shortpod mustard Hirschfeldia incana 99 / 9 51 0.00 b 36 *grass poly Lythrum hyssopifolia 99 / 7 14 0.00 b 37 common spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya 50 / 7 11 0.00 r 38 *prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola 50 / 9 42 0.00 b 39 deergrass Muhlenbergia rigens 50 / 9 21 0.00 r 40 common bedstraw Galium aparine 99 / 9 38 0.00 l 41 owl's-clover Castilleja densiflora 10 / 2 7 0.00 r 42 *weak blue grass Poa infirma 5 / 1 6 0.00 b 43 hybrid wild-rye Leymus Xmultiflorus (L. condensatus X L. triticoides) 10 / 9 4 0.00 r 44 dove weed Eremocarpus setigerus 50 / 9 24 0.00 l 45 wire rush Juncus balticus 10 / 2 2 0.00 r 46 angel's gilia Gilia angelensis 99 / 9 14 0.00 r 47 dwarf lupine Lupinus bicolor 99 / 9 29 0.01 r 48 pin-point clover Trifolium gracilentum var. gracilentum / 8 0.01 r (goldenrod, Solidago californica) 0.01 r 49 *redstem filaree Erodium cicutarium 99 / 9 55 0.01 l 50 *cut-leaved geranium Geranium dissectum 99 / 9 13 0.01 Leave grassland; enter oak woodland 0.01 l 51 southern miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana / 25 0.01 r 52 *slender wild oats Avena barbata 99 / 9 39 0.01 l 53 blue wildrye Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus 30 / 9 21 0.01 l 54 *hedge mustard Sisymbrium officinale 50 / 4 20 0.01 l 55 coast live oak Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia 30 / 9 42 0.01 l 56 *mouse-ear chickweed Cerastium glomeratum 30 / 4 19 0.01 l 57 *sow thistle Sonchus oleraceus 10 / 9 41 0.01 l 58 *bull thistle Cirsium vulgare 3 / 2 17 0.02 r (hollyleaf redberry, Rhamnus ilicifolia) 0.02 l 59 wild-cucumber Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus 10 / 9 44 0.02 l Benches without backs under coast live oak 0.02 r 60 southern honeysuckle Lonicera subspicata var. denudata 20 / 9 40 0.02 b 61 *tocalote Centaurea melitensis 99 / 9 45 0.02 r 62 western ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya 99 / 9 36 0.03 b 63 poison oak Toxicodendron diversilobum 30 / 9 43 0.03 r (Vasey's prickly-pear, Opuntia vaseyi) 0.03 l 64 hollyleaf redberry Rhamnus ilicifolia 30 / 9 43 0.03 r 65 collar lupine Lupinus truncatus 5 / 1 24 0.03 b 66 blue dicks Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum 50 / 9 46 0.03 r (long-stemmed buckwheat, Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum) 0.03 r 67 leafy daisy Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus 50 / 9 43 0.04 l 68 climbing bedstraw Galium nuttallii ssp. nuttallii 30 / 9 30 0.04 r (mule fat, Baccharis salicifolia; arroyo willow, Salix lasiolepis; scarlet monkeyflower, Mimulus cardinalis; Durango root, Datisca glomerata; rabbits-foot grass, Polypogon monspeliensis; pit-seed goosefoot, Chenopodium berlandieri) 0.04 l 69 Pacific sanicle Sanicula crassicaulis 20 / 5 20 0.05 l 70 coast-range melic Melica imperfecta 20 / 9 43 0.05 l 71 American vetch Vicia americana var. americana 5 / 2 8 0.05 l 72 California buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum 2 / 2 51 0.05 l 73 purple sanicle Sanicula bipinnatifida 50 / 9 11 0.05 l 74 goldenrod Solidago californica 20 / 9 35 0.05 l 75 Indian milkweed Asclepias eriocarpa 30 / 9 17 0.05 r 76 Fish's milkwort Polygala cornuta var. fishiae 5 / 2 5 0.07 l 77 slender madia Madia gracilis 30 / 5 18 0.07 b 78 saltgrass Distichlis spicata 99 / 9 15 0.07 l 79 basketbush Rhus trilobata 10 / 9 24 0.08 b 80 chick lupine Lupinus microcarpus var. microcarpus 50 / 9 9 0.10 Trail turns 90° left. 0.10 l (California everlasting, Gnaphalium californicum; saw-toothed goldenbush, Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioides) 0.11 r (California peony, Paeonia californica) 0.11 r 81 *hedge parsley Torilis nodosa 99 / 9 14 0.11 l 82 California chicory Rafinesquia californica 2 / 2 22 0.11 l 83 silver puffs Uropappus lindleyi 5 / 3 26 0.11 l 84 Chinese houses Collinsia heterophylla 50 / 3 11 0.11 Trail turns 90° right. 0.11 l 85 johnny jump-up Viola pedunculata 99 / 9 16 0.11 l 86 chamise Adenostoma fasciculatum 5 / 2 37 0.11 Y-junction for alternate trail section; go right (see end of guide for two species found only on the alt trail) 0.12 r 87 *common chickweed Stellaria media 10 / 1 25 0.12 r 88 California peony Paeonia californica 5 / 5 17 0.14 r (toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia) 0.14 r 89 soap plant Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum+ 2 / 2 18 0.14 r 90 meadow nemophila Nemophila pedunculata 30 / 3 2 0.15 l 91 Vasey's prickly-pear Opuntia vaseyi 7 / 7 24 0.16 l 92 long-stemmed buckwheat Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum 10 / 2 27 0.17 l 93 Pomona locoweed Astragalus pomonensis 5 / 3 11 0.17 r 94 basket rush Juncus textilis 5 / 1 5 0.18 r 95 fringe-pod Thysanocarpus curvipes 10 / 1 9 0.19 r 96 *wild oats Avena fatua 99 / 9 26 0.19 Trail curves left; low bridge under fallen tree limb 0.23 l 97 fragrant everlasting Gnaphalium canescens ssp. beneolens 50 / 9 23 0.23 l Jct. with other branch of loop; go right. 0.23 b 98 holly-leaf navarretia Navarretia atractyloides 1 / 1 8 0.23 b 99 slender buckwheat Eriogonum gracile var. gracile 20 / 1 3 0.23 l 100 creeping wild rye Leymus triticoides 3 / 3 11 0.23 b 101 strigose lotus Lotus strigosus 10 / 2 33 0.23 l Field of angel's gilia, Gilia angelensis 0.23 r 102 purple owl's clover Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta 10 / 2 13 0.23 r 103 strigose sun-cup Camissonia strigulosa 10 / 1 6 0.23 r 104 *winter vetch Vicia villosa ssp. varia 30 / 3 19 0.24 l 105 *Mediterranean schismus Schismus barbatus 10 / 1 22 0.24 Trail curves right toward bridge. 0.24 l 106 bristly goldenaster Heterotheca sessiliflora ssp. echioides 3 / 2 7 0.25 l Sign: "Sensitive Wetland Area; Do Not Enter". 0.25 l (California poppy, Eschscholzia californica; floriferous monkeyflower, Mimulus floribundus; false monkeyflower, Mimulus pilosus; *sweet alyssum, Lobularia maritima; western marsh cudweed, Gnaphalium palustre; slender wreathplant, Stephanomeria exigua ssp. deanei; mugwort, Artemisia douglasiana) 0.25 l Check unusual Leymus hybrid down drainage with lobed lemmas in 2005 0.25 r 107 San Diego birdsfoot lotus Lotus hamatus 30 / 9 24 0.25 b 108 willow-leaved dock Rumex salicifolius var. denticulatus 2 / 1 7 0.25 r 109 *tumble pigweed Amaranthus albus 5 / 1 10 0.25 r 110 spike primrose Epilobium densiflorum 20 / 3 5 0.25 r 111 *sourclover Melilotus indicus 20 / 2 24 0.25 r 112 *rabbits-foot grass Polypogon monspeliensis 10 / 2 22 0.25 r 113 *Italian rye-grass Lolium multiflorum 99 / 9 17 0.25 r 114 common monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus 5 / 1 15 0.25 r 115 pit-seed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri 2 / 1 4 0.25 r 116 *common cudweed Gnaphalium luteo-album 5 / 1 16 0.25 r 117 hooked skunkweed Navarretia hamata ssp. hamata / 11 0.25 r (tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea; sand spikerush, Eleocharis montevidensis; southern skullcap, Scutellaria bolanderi ssp. austromontana; mule fat, Baccharis salicifolia) 0.25 b (arroyo willow, Salix lasiolepis; rigid hedge-nettle, Stachys ajugoides var. rigida) 0.25 b 118 umbrella sedge Cyperus eragrostis 5 / 1 10 0.25 b 119 *curly dock Rumex crispus 3 / 2 23 0.25 l 120 narrow-leaf milkweed Asclepias fascicularis 5 / 1 7 0.25 Beginning of bridge over Cole Creek; elevation 1730 feet (527 m) 0.26 l 121 cotton-batting plant Gnaphalium stramineum 2 / 1 17 0.26 b 122 clover fern Marsilea vestita ssp. vestita 20 / 1 3 0.26 r 123 southern cattail Typha domingensis 5 / 1 1 0.26 r (needle spikerush, Eleocharis acicularis var. bella) 0.26 l 124 brown-headed rush Juncus phaeocephalus var. phaeocephalus 10 / 1 1 0.26 b 125 knot grass Paspalum distichum 5 / 1 6 0.26 b 126 *whorled dock Rumex conglomeratus 5 / 1 8 0.26 r 127 *dallis grass Paspalum dilatatum 5 / 1 9 0.26 r 128 Bolander's water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla var. bolanderi 5 / 1 3 0.26 End of bridge 0.26 r 129 Siskiyou aster Aster lanceolatus ssp. hesperius+ 10 / 2 3 0.26 r 130 witchgrass Panicum capillare 5 / 1 3 0.26 r 131 Hooker's evening-primrose Oenothera elata ssp. hirsutissima 2 / 1 10 0.26 r (annual sunflower, Helianthus annuus; red willow, Salix laevigata) 0.26 l 132 ~ narrow-leaved miner's lettuce Claytonia parviflora ssp. parviflora 20 / 2 19 0.26 r 133 California sagebrush Artemisia californica 3 / 1 47 0.26 r Jct short path to bench overlooking Cole Creek; take it 0.26 l 134 chaparral currant Ribes malvaceum var. viridifolium+ 1 / 1 4 0.26 l 135 California maidenhair fern Adiantum jordanii 10 / 3 6 0.27 l 136 giant wild-rye Leymus condensatus 10 / 9 27 0.27 l 137 cobwebby thistle Cirsium occidentale var. occidentale 2 / 1 9 0.27 b 138 blue larkspur Delphinium parryi ssp. parryi 50 / 8 13 0.27 r (white sage, Salvia apiana; western sycamore, Platanus racemosa; common tule, Scirpus acutus var. occidentalis; olive, Olea europaea) 0.27 Bench; turnaround and rejoin trail 0.28 Turn right on main trail; trail briefly climbs steeply uphill. 0.28 l 139 seashore bentgrass Agrostis pallens 10 / 1 10 0.28 r 140 Torrey's scrub oak Quercus acutidens 5 / 2 26 0.28 r 141 rusty-haired popcorn flower Plagiobothrys nothofulvus 10 / 9 12 0.28 r 142 one-sided bluegrass Poa secunda ssp. secunda 10 / 1 23 0.28 l 143 splendid mariposa lily Calochortus splendens 99 / 9 19 0.30 r 144 toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia 2 / 2 44 0.30 r 145 Parish's purple nightshade Solanum parishii 10 / 5 20 0.30 Top of steep uphill; elevation 1760 feet (536 m). Trail now descends gently. 0.30 b Oak moss lichen, Evernia prunastri, is the unusual foliose (leaf-like) lichen growing on the hollyleaf redberry, Rhamnus ilicifolia and chamise, Adenostoma fasciculatum. 0.30 l 146 goldfields Lasthenia californica 5 / 1 14 0.30 r 147 goldback fern Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis 2 / 1 25 0.31 b 148 three spot Osmadenia tenella 5 / 1 13 0.31 b 149 slender cottonweed Micropus californicus var. californicus 20 / 1 9 0.31 Trail jags left. 0.31 l 150 golden yarrow Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum / 55 0.31 l Jct. closed trail signed: "Trail closed to protect habitat ..." (sign gone in 2006) 0.32 r (California lace fern, Aspidotis californica; many California maidenhair ferns, Adiantum jordanii, at base of beautiful boulder) 0.32 r (milk maids, Cardamine californica var. californica) 0.33 b 151 branching phacelia Phacelia ramosissima var. latifolia 2 / 2 34 0.33 l 152 Ramona clarkia Clarkia similis 2 / 2 4 0.33 l 153 bush monkeyflower Mimulus aurantiacus 2 / 1 42 0.33 l 154 California everlasting Gnaphalium californicum 20 / 5 42 0.33 l 155 saw-toothed goldenbush Hazardia squarrosa var. grindelioides 1 / 1 35 0.33 r 156 purple head Acourtia microcephala 1 / 1 19 0.33 l 157 ground pink Linanthus dianthiflorus 5 / 1 9 0.34 r 158 redberry Rhamnus crocea 1 / 1 15 0.35 l Jct. view rock on left. Take ten steps to the top of the rock and enjoy the view down into a deeper branch of Cole Creek. 0.35 b 159 narrowleaf bedstraw Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium 20 / 9 48 0.35 l Top of overlook rock 0.35 Back on trail. 0.35 r 160 deerweed Lotus scoparius var. scoparius 5 / 1 29 0.35 r 161 bristly bird's beak Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. setigerus 10 / 2 26 0.36 l 162 bird's-foot fern Pellaea mucronata var. mucronata 1 / 1 30 0.37 l 163 purple snapdragon Antirrhinum nuttallianum ssp. nuttallianum 1 / 1 18 0.37 Leave chapparal / oak woodland; enter grassland 0.38 r 164 earth brodiaea Brodiaea terrestris ssp. kernensis 10 / 2 7 0.38 l Cross creek on wood-plank bridge 0.38 r (dense sedge, Carex densa) 0.38 l Field of deergrass, Muhlenbergia rigens. 0.38 l 165 western vervain Verbena lasiostachys var. lasiostachys 5 / 1 10 0.38 l 166 elk thistle Cirsium scariosum 3 / 3 11 0.38 l 167 blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium bellum 30 / 9 19 0.39 l 168 clustered field sedge Carex praegracilis 10 / 1 4 0.39 r (sticky cinquefoil, Potentilla glandulosa ssp. glandulosa) 0.43 r 169 Palmer's goldenbush Ericameria palmeri var. pachylepis 6 / 4 10 0.45 l (white-flowering currant, Ribes indecorum) 0.45 Cross creek on wood-plank bridge 0.46 l (blue elderberry, Sambucus mexicana) 0.47 l 170 miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata 40 / 2 21 0.48 r 171 *Italian thistle Carduus pycnocephalus 10 / 1 21 0.49 r 172 Engelmann oak Quercus engelmannii 23 / 9 23 0.51 l (Hundreds of Italian thistle, Carduus pycnocephalus) 0.52 r Jct. loop around rocks for trail maintenance mower 0.53 l 173 threadstem Pterostegia drymarioides 2 / 1 30 0.53 l 174 *red brome Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens 40 / 9 56 0.53 r Jct. other end of loop 0.59 Trail curves left 20° 0.59 l (white everlasting, Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum) 0.61 Trail curves left 20° 0.66 Trail curves right 45° 0.71 l 175 rough-seeded blue toad-flax Linaria canadensis var. texana 1 / 1 10 0.72 Trail turns left 90° 0.73 l 176 big squirreltail Elymus multisetus 2 / 2 7 0.75 b 177 *goldentop Lamarckia aurea 99 / 9 21 0.79 r (California fuchsia, Epilobium canum ssp. canum) 0.82 l Sign: "Vista Grande Trail; to Granite Loop Trail .9 mi (back); to Monument Hill Road .6 mi (forward)" 0.82 c 178 *knotweed Polygonum arenastrum 99 / 9 18 0.82 r 179 mule fat Baccharis salicifolia 2 / 1 40 0.82 Jct. Waterline Road; elevation 1770 feet (539 m); Vista Grande Trail jogs right; continue on it 0.82 l 180 *Mediterranean barley Hordeum marinum ssp. gussoneanum 20 / 1 5 0.82 r 181 common hareleaf Lagophylla ramosissima ssp. ramosissima 10 / 1 3 0.85 r 182 common fiddleneck Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia 10 / 1 21 0.89 l 183 *Bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon 99 / 9 30 0.93 r Sign: "Area Closed"; trail begins ascending 0.95 b 184 shooting star Dodecatheon clevelandii ssp. clevelandii 50 / 9 11 1.13 r 185 white everlasting Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum 10 / 9 36 1.17 l 186 *little horseweed Conyza bonariensis 2 / 2 17 1.18 Huge field of purple needlegrass, Nassella pulchra, with few weeds other than an understory of ripgut, Bromus diandrus. 1.18 b 187 coast jepsonia Jepsonia parryi 99 / 9 15 1.19 End steepest ascent; trail now gently ascending 1.19 r (California four o'clock, Mirabilis californica; imbricate phacelia, Phacelia imbricata ssp. patula) 1.23 r Boulders of Bedford Canyon Formation; note how different they are from the white smooth rounded Woodson Mountain Granodiorite boulders 1.23 r (southern California morning-glory, Calystegia macrostegia ssp. arida) 1.24 The ridge here separates the Cole Creek drainage to the north from the Sandia Creek / De Luz Creek drainage to the south 1.27 Minor local low point on trail 1.32 Local high point on trail; elevation 1940 feet (591 m). 1.33 l soap plant Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum / 1.35 r Good field of purple needlegrass, Nassella pulchra 1.37 r Check for different rhizomed Agrostis 1.40 l 188 *hairy rattail fescue Vulpia myuros var. hirsuta 99 / 9 20 1.45 r 189 southern California morning-glory Calystegia macrostegia ssp. arida+ 5 / 4 18 1.47 Cross drainage; local low point on trail 1.50 Local high point on trail 1.52 r Jct. shortcut use trail to Monument Hill Road 1.53 l 190 California four o'clock Mirabilis californica 1 / 1 24 1.53 End Vista Grande Trail at T-Jct. with Monument Hill Road, go right; elevation 1920 feet (585 m); sign (directions as you face the sign on Vista Grande Trail from Monument Hill Road): "(ahead) Vista Grande Trail; To Visitor Center 1.7 mi; (right) To Punta Mesa Trail 0.2 mi; (left) To Monument Hill 0.5 mi" 1.54 b 191 *Crete weed Hedypnois cretica 50 / 5 19 1.57 r 192 *long-beaked filaree Erodium botrys 50 / 9 11 1.67 Road curves left 90° 1.68 r Sign: "Area Closed; Wildlife habitat area" 1.71 l An unusual Engelmann oak, Quercus engelmannii, tag #0417, with entire to toothed leaves with only Engelmann trichomes underneath 1.77 r An unusual Engelmann oak, Quercus engelmannii with all leaves oblanceolate and with only Engelmann trichomes underneath 1.79 b 193 *sand spurrey Spergularia bocconei 99 / 9 13 1.97 l Jct. Monument Hill Spur Road; go left on it 2.04 b 194 bush lupine Lupinus excubitus var. hallii 3 / 1 10 2.05 r 195 California fuchsia Epilobium canum ssp. canum 3 / 1 20 2.07 Monument Hill; two benches with backs; elevation 2046 feet (624 m); enjoy the view and then return to Monument Hill Road 2.07 r (laurel sumac, Malosma laurina; San Diego pea, Lathyrus vestitus var. alefeldii; bicolored everlasting, Gnaphalium bicolor) 2.17 Jct. Monument Hill Road; go left on it 2.18 c 196 shining peppergrass Lepidium nitidum var. nitidum 2 / 1 7 2.21 l 197 telegraph weed Heterotheca grandiflora 10 / 5 35 2.23 Local low point 2.26 Local high point 2.37 c 198 red maids Calandrinia ciliata 30 / 9 19 2.48 Local low point 2.48 c 199 *annual blue grass Poa annua 5 / 1 14 2.48 b foxtail barley Hordeum murinum ssp. glaucum / 2.50 r (Tin shade structure) 2.58 l 200 *horehound Marrubium vulgare 1 / 1 32 2.60 Local high point 2.62 l Local low point; note curving linear granite (~apalite) dike on two hills 2.69 Local high point 2.81 r Jct. N. Lomas Trail; go right on it 2.81 l Sign: "(left) Lomas Trail to Adobes .9 mi; (left) to Ranch Road 0.5 mi; (ahead) to Visitor Center 2.2 mi" 2.82 l 2.92 Trail turns right 2.93 Local high point 2.94 Switchback left. 2.98 r An unusual Engelmann oak, Quercus engelmannii with most leaves entire and oblanceolate and with only Engelmann trichomes underneath 3.02 r 201 ~ Indian clover Trifolium albopurpureum var. albopurpureum 10 / 1 3 3.02 Begin steep downhill 3.03 Switchback right. 3.07 l leafy daisy, Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus, plants with deformed inflorescence, very crowded near top 3.18 Trail curves left 3.21 Trail curves right 3.26 Trail curves left 3.27 b 202 *brome fescue Vulpia bromoides 20 / 1 6 3.30 203 California meadow barley Hordeum brachyantherum ssp. californicum 10 / 1 3 3.32 Jct. Ranch Road; go right on it, then right again on Tenaja Truck Trail 3.32 r 204 seaside heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum 30 / 3 10 3.33 c 205 *pineapple weed Chamomilla suaveolens 30 / 5 21 3.40 r Siskiyou aster Aster lanceolatus ssp. hesperius+ / 3.41 Local low point 3.44 r Wide turnout at local high point 3.47 Local low point 3.54 r 206 *dog-fennel Anthemis cotula+ 1 / 1 2 3.55 Minor local high point 3.58 Minor local low point 3.98 Local high point 3.98 l 207 hook three-awn Aristida ternipes var. hamulosa 3 / 1 1 4.02 l Jct. Waterline Road; go left on it to return to Visitor Center; see its plant trail guide for additional species on that trail 4.87 End Plant Trail Guide at Visitor Center Additional species on alternate trail not found elsewhere on guide; mileage from jct at mile 0.11 0.11 l 208 mustang mint Monardella lanceolata 10 / 2 6 0.11 l 209 papillate dodder Cuscuta californica var. papillosa 3 / 2 3 0.12 r 210 canyon clarkia Clarkia epilobioides 10 / 1 12 0.13 b 211 southern Indian pink Silene laciniata ssp. major 10 / 2 20 0.14 l 212 virgin's bower Clematis pauciflora 1 / 1 12 0.14 Trail descends slightly 0.15 r 213 slender vetch Vicia hassei 1 / 1 7 0.15 r 214 warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata 5 / 1 5 0.16 r 215 Venus looking-glass Triodanis biflora 3 / 1 3 0.16 r 216 showy plectritis Plectritis ciliosa ssp. insignis 20 / 1 3 0.16 l 217 willowherb Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum 1 / 1 19 0.16 Trail turns right 90° 0.16 l 218 *shepherd's purse Capsella bursa-pastoris 1 / 1 11 0.17 r (Tejon cryptantha, Cryptantha microstachys) 0.17 l 219 purple everlasting Gnaphalium purpureum 1 / 1 6 0.21 c 220 thyme-leafed spurge Chamaesyce serpyllifolia ssp. serpyllifolia 1 / 1 5 0.21 Jct. with other branch of loop
Comments On Specific Species Sanicula arguta. Definite identification at mile 0.12.
Hordeum murinum ssp. glaucum. The first plant on the trail has not yet been keyed to a subspecies; the specimens at mile 2.48 have been keyed to this subspecies, and are given in the guide without a number.
Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum. The first plant on the trail died between 2003 and 2005; the second plant is given in the guide without a number.
Calystegia macrostegia ssp. arida. About half the plants at the SRP appear to be ssp. arida, with the other half split between sspp. "intermedia" and "tenuifolia". It has long troubled Tom to be finding three subspecies in the small area of the SRP. Worse, the classification of a given plant has changed with time, which was extremely puzzling.
These difficulties were resolved when Tom found clear evidence that subspecies "intermedia" and "tenuifolia" are bogus. Hence we assign all the SRP plants to ssp. arida.
Aster lanceolatus ssp. hesperius. The first occurrence at mile 0.26 wasn't seen in 2005; the other occurrence at mile 3.35 is thus noted, but not numbered.
Ribes malvaceum var. viridifolium. This single specimen died in 2006. This was the only specimen of this species on all the trails at the Santa Rosa Plateau.
Anthemis cotula. The single occurrence of this non-native plant was weeded out.
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Copyright © 2002-2007 by Tom Chester and Kay Madore.
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Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Updated 10 November 2007