Vascular Plants of the Coastal Dunes of Humboldt County, California

Home , Abronia latifolia, Artemisia pycnocephala, Brodiaea terrestris, Cakile maritima, Camissonia strigulosa, Carex pansa

Humboldt State University Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University

Botanical Studies Open Educational Resources and Data

4-2019

James P. Smith Jr Humboldt State University, [email protected]

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Recommended Citation Smith, James P. Jr, "Vascular Plants of the Coastal Dunes of Humboldt County, California" (2019). Botanical Studies. 41. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/botany_jps/41

This Flora of Northwest California-Checklists of Local Sites is brought to you for free and open access by the Open Educational Resources and Data at Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Botanical Studies by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. VASCULAR PLANTS OF THE COASTAL DUNES OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Compiled by James P. Smith, Jr. Professor Emeritus of Botany Department of Biological Sciences Humboldt State University Arcata, California

Ninth Edition • August 2019

Amaryllidaceae — Onion or Amaryllis Family F E R N S Allium unifolium •One-leaved onion

Dennstaedtiaceae — Bracken Fern Family Anacardiaceae — Cashew Family Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens • Bracken fern Toxicodendron diversilobum • Poison-oak

Ophioglossaceae — Adder’s-tongue Family Apocynaceae — Dogbane or Milkweed Family Botrychium multifidum • Leathery grape fern Vinca major • Greater periwinkle

Polypodiaceae — Polypody Family Aquifoliaceae — Holly Family Polypodium californicum • California polypody Ilex aquifolium • English holly Polypodium glycyrrhiza • Licorice fern Polypodium scouleri • Coast polypody Araceae — Aroid or Philodendron Family Lysichiton americanum • Skunk-cabbage Pteridaceae — Brake Fern Family Zantedeschia aethiopica • Calla-lily Polystichum munitum • Western sword fern Pentagramma triangularis • Goldback fern Araliacea — Ginseng Family Hedera helix • English ivy C O N I F E R S Asparagaceae — Hyacinth Family Brodiaea terrestris ssp. t. • Dwarf brodiaea Pinaceae — Pine Family Maianthemum dilatatum • False lily-of-the-valley Abies grandis • Grand fir Picea sitchensis • Sitka spruce Betulaceae — Birch Family Pinus contorta var. contorta • Beach pine Alnus rubra • Red or Oregon alder Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii • Douglas-fir Tsuga heterophylla • Western hemlock Boraginaceae — Borage Family Cryptantha leiocarpa * • Coast cryptantha F L O W E R I N G P L A N T S Buddlejaceae — Butterfly Bush Family Buddleja davidii • Butterfly bush, summer-lilac Aizoaceae — Ice Plant Family Carpobrotus aequilaterus • Sea-fig Caprifoliaceae — Honeysuckle Family Carpobrotus edulis • Hottentot-fig Linnaea borealis ssp. longiflora • Twin flower Lonicera involucrata • Honeysuckle, twinberry Amaranthaceae — Amaranth or Pigweed Family Chenopodium album • Lamb’s quarters Caryophyllaceae — Carnation or Pink Family Chenopodium polyspermum • Many-seeded goosefoot Cardionema ramosissima • Sand mat Salicornia depressa • Glasswort, pickle weed Cerastium glomeratum • Mouse-ear chickweed Polycarpon tetraphyllum • Four-leaved allseed

-1- Sagina decumbens ssp. occidentalis • Pearlwort Cyperaceae — Sedge Family Silene gallica • Common catchfly Carex obnupta • Slough sedge Spergula arvensis • Corn spurry Carex pansa • Sand dune sedge Stellaria littoralis • Beach starwort Cyperus eragrostis • Umbrella sedge Eleocharis microstachya • Pale spike-rush Compositae — Sunflower or Aster Family Schoenoplectus californicus • California bulrush Achillea millefolium • Common yarrow Agoseris grandiflora • Big-flowered agoseris Dipsacaceae — Teasel Family Ambrosia chamissonis • Beach bur Dipsacus sativus • Teasel Anaphalis margaritacea • Pearly everlasting Artemisia pycnocephala • Beach sage Ericaceae — Heath Family Baccharis pilularis • Dwarf baccharis Arbutus menziesii • Madrone Bellis perennis • English daisy Arctostaphylos columbiana • Manzanita Cirsium vulgare • Bull thistle Arctostaphylos uva-ursi • Bear-berry Cotula australis • Australian brass buttons Chimaphila umbellata ssp. occidentalis • Pipsissiwa Cotula coronopifolia • Common brass buttons Gaultheria shallon • Salal Erigeron glaucus • Seaside daisy Vaccinium ovatum • Evergreen huckleberry Gnaphalium palustre • Lowland cudweed Gnaphalium purpureum • Purple cudweed Garryacea — Silk Tassel Family Gnaphalium stramineum • Cotton batting plant Garrya elliptica • Coast silk tassel Hesperevax sparsiflora • Dwarf cudweed Hieracium albiflorum • White hawkweed Geraniaceae — Geranium Family Hypochoeris glabra • Smooth cat’s-ear Erodium cicutarium • Red-stemmed filaree Hypochoeris radicata • Hairy cat’s-ear Geranium dissectum • Cut-leaved geranium Layia carnosa • Beach layia Geranium molle • Dove’s-foot geranium Leontodon taraxacoides • Lesser hawkbit Leucanthemum vulgare • Ox-eye daisy Gramineae — Grass Family Logfia gallica • Narrow-leaved cotton-rose Aira caryophyllea • Silver hair grass Madia sativa • Chilean tarweed Aira praecox • Little hair grass Psilocarphus brevissimus • Dwarf woolly-heads Ammophila arenaria • European beach grass Senecio elegans • Purple ragwort Anthoxanthum odoratum • Sweet vernal grass Senecio glomeratus • Australian fireweed Avena fatua • Wild oat Senecio minimus • Coastal fireweed Briza maxima • Rattlesnake grass Senecio vulgaris • Common groundsel Briza minor • Small quaking grass Solidago simplex • Dune groundsel Bromus diandrus • Ripgut brome Soliva sessilis • Prickly soliva Bromus hordeaceus ssp. hordeaceus • Soft brome Sonchus oleraceus • Common sow thistle Cortaderia selloana ssp. selloana • Pampas grass Symphyotrichum chilense * • Pacific-aster Dactylis glomerata • Orchard grass Tanacetum bipinnatum • Dune tansy Deschampsia caespitosa • Tufted hair grass Elymus mollis • American dune grass Convolvulaceae — Morning Glory Family Elymus x vancouverensis • Vancouver wild rye Calystegia soldanella • Beach morning glory Festuca arundinacea • Tall fescue Festuca bromoides • Six weeks fescue Crassulaceae — Stonecrop Family Festuca microstachys • Annual fescue Crassula aquatica • Water pigmy Festuca perennis • Perennial rye grass Crassula connata • Sand pigmy weed Festuca rubra • Red fescue Hierochloë occidentalis • Vanilla grass Cruciferae — Mustard or Crucifer Family Holcus lanatus • Velvet grass Brassica rapa • Black mustard Hordeum murinum var. leporinum • Hare barley Cakile edentula • California sea rocket Poa annua • Annual blue grass Cakile maritima • Sea rocket Poa confinis • Dune blue grass Cardamine oligosperma • Few-seeded bitter cress Poa douglasii • Seashore blue grass Coincya monensis • Star mustard Poa macrantha • Large-flowered sand-dune blue grass Erysimum menziesii * • Menzies’ wallflower Poa pratensis • Kentucky blue grass Lepidium nitidum • Common pepper-grass Polypogon maritimus • Maritime beard grass Lobularia maritima • Sweet alyssum Polypogon monspeliensis • Annual beard grass Raphanus raphanistrum • Wild radish

-2- Grossulariaceae — Gooseberry Family Ribes menziesii • Canyon gooseberry Nyctaginaceae — Four O’clock Family Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum Abronia latifolia • Coastal sand-verbena • Pink-flowered currant Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora • Sand-verbena

Hydrocotylaceae — Water-Parsnip Onagraceae — Evening-Primrose Family Hydrocotyle ranunculoides • Water-parsnip Camissonia cheiranthifolia • Dune sun-cups Camissonia strigulosa • Sandy soil sun-cups Juncaceae — Rush Family Chamerion angustifolium • Fire weed Juncus bufonius var. bufonius • Toad rush Clarkia davyi • Davy’s clarkia Juncus effusus var. brunneus • Bog rush Epilobium ciliatum • Fringed willow herb Juncus falcatus • Falcate rush Juncus lescurii • Salt rush Orchidaceae — Orchid Family Luzula subsessilis • Wood rush Calypso bulbosa • Calypso orchid Goodyera oblongifolia • Rattlesnake plantain Labiatae — Mint Family Neottia banksiana • Northwestern twayblade Lamium purpureum • Red dead-nettle Piperia elegans • Elegant piperia Prunella vulgaris • Self-heal Piperia transversa • Royal rein orchid Satureja douglasii • Yerba buena Spiranthes romanzoffiana • Hooded ladies’-tresses Stachys chamissonis • Coast hedge-nettle Papaveraceae — Poppy Family Leguminosae — Bean, Pea or Legume Family Eschscholzia californica • California-poppy Cytisus monspessulanus • French broom Platystemon californicus • Cream cups Cytisus scoparius • Scotch broom Lathyrus littoralis • Beach pea Pittosporaceae — Parchment Bark Family Lathyrus palustris var. palustris • Marsh pea Pittosporum tenuifolium • Tawhiwhi Lotus micranthus • Desert deer vetch Lotus unifoliatus var. unifoliatus Plantaginaceae — Plantago or Plantain Family • American bird’s-foot Plantago erecta • Dwarf plantain Lupinus arboreus var. arboreus • Bush lupine Plantago lanceolata • English plantain Lupinus bicolor • Lindley’s annual lupine Lupinus littoralis • Seashore lupine Plumbaginaceae — Leadwort or Thrift Family Medicago polymorpha • Bur clover Armeria maritima ssp. californica • Sea thrift Trifolium dubium • Suckling clover Trifolium macraei • Chile clover Polemoniaceae — Phlox Family Trifolium microcephalum • Small-headed clover Gilia millefoliata • Many-leaved gilia Trifolium microdon • Valparaiso clover Navarretia squarrosa • Skunkweed Trifolium wormskioldii • Coast clover Vicia hirsuta • Hairy vetch Polygonaceae — Knotweed or Smartweed Family Vicia sativa ssp. nigra • Narrow-leaved vetch Eriogonum latifolium • Coast buckwheat Vicia tetrasperma • Slender tare Polygonum paronychia • Beach knotweed Rumex acetosella ssp. acetosella • Sheep sorrel Lemnaceae — Duckweed Family Rumex salicifolius var. crassus • Willow dock Lemna minuta • Least duckweed Rumex crispus • Curly dock Lemna valdiviana • Valdivia duckweed Spirodela polyrhiza • Common duckmeat Primulaceae — Primrose Family Spirodela punctata • Dotted duckmeat Anagallis arvensis • Scarlet pimpernel

Lythraceae — Loosestrife Family Ranunculaceae — Buttercup Family Lythrum hyssopifolia • Loosestrife Myosurus minimus • Tiny mousetail Ranunculus muricatus • Spiny-fruited buttercup Montiacaceae — Miner’s-Lettuce Family Ranunculus repens • Low buttercup Calandrinia ciliata • Red maids Claytonia perfoliata • Miner’s-lettuce Rhamnaceae — Buckthorn Family Claytonia exigua • Spring beauty Frangula purshiana • Cascara

Myricaceae — Sweet Gale Family Rosaceae — Rose Family Myrica californica • California wax myrtle Aphanes occidentalis • Lady’s mantle

-3- Fragaria chiloensis • Beach strawberry This edition incorporates plants suggested by John O. Malus fusca • Oregon crab apple Sawyer, Jr., Sue Sweet Van Hook, and several listed Malus sylvestris • European crab apple by Janeway (1985). Potentilla anserina ssp. pacifica • Pacific silverweed Rubus discolor • Himalaya berry *This plant is rare at these sites. Please do not take Rubus parviflorus • Thimble berry specimens. Rubus spectabilis • Salmon berry Rubus ursinus • California blackberry SOURCES Spiraea douglasii ssp. douglasii • Douglas’ spirea Barker, L. M. 1976. A vascular plant inventory and Rubiaceae — Madder Family vegetation map of the Lanphere-Christensen Dunes. Galium aparine • Bedstraw, sticky willy The Nature Conservancy, National Science Galium triflorum • Fragrant bedstraw Foundation, and Humboldt State University Foundation. 10 pp. + map. Salicaceae — Willow Salix hookeriana • Coastal willow Janeway, L. P. 1985. List of vascular plants of the Salix lasiolepis • Arroyo willow North Spit, Samoa Peninsula. [7 pp.] Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra • Pacific willow LaBanca, T. 1993. Species list for Clam Beach coastal Scrophulariaceae — Scroph or Snapdragon Family dunes. In, Vegetation changes at coastal dunes Castilleja affinis ssp. littoralis • Coast paintbrush between Mad River and Little River, Humboldt County, Castilleja attenuata • Narrow-leaved owl’s-clover California. M. A. thesis. Humboldt State University. Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta • Common owl’s-clover Arcata, CA. Pp. 48-54. Linaria canadensis * • Blue toadflax Mimulus aurantiacus var. aurantiacus Parker, J. 1974. Species list. In, Coastal dune systems • orange bush monkey monkey flower between Mad River and Little River[,] Humboldt Parentucellia viscosa • Yellow weed County, California. M. A. thesis. Humboldt State Scrophularia californica ssp. c. • California bee plant College. Arcata, CA. Pp. 63-67. Triphysaria eriantha ssp. rosea • Butter-and-eggs Triphysaria pusilla • Dwarf owl’s-clover Veronica peregrina ssp. xalapensis • Speedwell Veronica scutellata • Marsh speedwell

Solanaceae — Potato or Nightshade Family Solanum aviculare • New Zealand nightshade

Umbelliferae — Umbel or Carrot Family Anthriscus caucalis • Bur-chervil Daucus pusillus • Wild carrot Glehnia littoralis ssp. leiocarpa • Beach silvertop Oenanthe sarmentosa • Water dropwort Sanicula arctopoides • Footsteps-of-spring Sanicula crassicaulis • Pacific sanicle

Urticaceae — Nettle Family Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis • American stinging nettle

Valerianaceae — Valerian Family Plectritis congesta ssp. congesta • Pink plectritis

NOTES

The focus of this checklist is the plants found at Clam Beach, Luffenholtz Beach, the McKinleyville Dunes, on the Samoa Peninsula and the Lanphere- Christensen Dunes. While many of the plants are typical of this habitat, others are more wide ranging.

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