Floristic Survey of Malibu Lagoon State Beach

Floristic Survey of Malibu Lagoon State Beach Pursuant to a contract with the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, Carl Wishner, Principal Biologist of Envicom Corporation, conducted a botanical survey over the entirety of Malibu Lagoon on July 1, and July 12, 2005. The purpose of the survey was to perform “a one-time inventory during spring/early summer season to document the plants present within the lagoon environment and to link plants to previously mapped vegetation communities.” The area examined was essentially that shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 of the report entitled Malibu Lagoon Vegetation Communities and Wetland Delineation (Merkel & Associates, October 14, 2004). The vegetation communities are also those discussed by Merkel & Associates, as follows: 1 Southern Willow Scrub 2 Atriplex Scrub 3 Baccharis Scrub 4 Mule Fat Scrub 5 Venturan Coastal Sage Scrub 6 Mixed Scrub 7 Southern Coastal Salt Marsh 8 Coastal and Valley Freshwater Marsh 9 Brackish Marsh 10 Southern Sycamore/Alder Riparian Woodland 11 Disturbed Coastal Dunes 12 Non-Native Grassland 13 Disturbed Habitat 14 Mud Flat 15 Sand Beach/Sand Bar 16 Open Water 17 Urban/Developed Methods involved a walking survey of all terrestrial habitats, and adjacent aquatic (open water) habitats as they could be observed. An attempt was made to inventory all vascular plant species in all habitats, and in some cases, voucher specimens were collected to confirm identifications, and to provide a permanent record of unusual species, or those previously unreported from the lagoon, or the Santa Monica Mountains in general. During the course of the survey, 131 species of vascular plants were observed, including: one conifer (alien); and 130 flowering plants, comprised of 97 dicots (50 alien), and 33 monocots (21 alien). Thus, an unusually high percentage (54 percent) of species observed in the current survey are alien species. The previous report by Merkel & Associates (2004) reported an additional four species that were not observed in the present survey. These include two native dicots, namely, California dodder (Cuscuta californica), Southern California black walnut (Juglans californica), and two alien grasses, salt-cedar (Monanthochloe littoralis), and wild oat (Avena fatua). Art Gibson, in the course of reviewing the draft manuscript of the present report, conducted an additional field survey, and added four additional native dicot species, namely, wild cucumber (Marah macrocarpus), Mexican elderberry (Sambucus mexicana), marsh dodder (Cuscuta salina), and fog- or frog-fruit (Phyla lanceolata). He also observed six additional alien dicot species, namely, Boccone’s sand spurry (Spergularia bocconei), English plantain (Plantago lanceolata), tumbleweed (Amaranthus albus), white-leaved strict goosefoot (Chenopodium strictum var. glaucophyllum), nettle-leaved goosefoot (Chenopodium cf. murale), and snake spurge (Chamaesyce serpens). This amounts to a total of 145 species, of which 79 (54 percent) are alien. The compilation of all species is provided in the attached Table 1, with appropriate footnotes.

Malibu Lagoon Floristic Survey 1 Floristic Survey of Malibu Lagoon State Beach

No species observed are considered rare, threatened, or endangered. One species is on the California Native Plant Society’s List 4 “Watch List,” or plants of “limited distribution.” Southern California black walnut was observed in the Sycamore Alder Riparian Woodland by Merkel & Associates (2004), but was not seen by the present observer. Two other alien species are of interest, because they are heretofore unreported, at least in popular floras including A California Flora (Munz and Keck 1959, 1968) and The Jepson Manual (Hickman [ed.] 1993), or the local Flora of the Santa Monica Mountains by Raven, Thompson and Prigge (1986). A brief discussion is provided below.

Swamp saltbush (Atriplex amnicola) This shrub of Australia is reported in Flora of North America, vol. 4, p. 344 [FNA] as “abundant at Malibu Beach.” In communications with Barry Prigge of the UCLA Herbarium, it was collected there by Art Gibson of UCLA in 2004. According to Barry Prigge, there could be some confusion on distinguishing A. rhagodioides from A. amnicola. In Flora of Australia 4:93, the reference to the latter species refers to an illustration (in D.G. Wilcox & J. Morrisey, 1977 Pasture Pl. W. Austral. Shrublands 48) for A. rhagodioides. It seems that prior to the description of A. amnicola in 1984, plants that are now called A. amnicola were sometimes called A. rhagodioides. Either the species must be difficult to distinguish [however, the key in Fl. Aust. distinguishes the two by “leaves entire—A. rhagodioides; leaves dentate or denticulate—A. amnicola], or A. rhagodioides was considered to have variable leaf margins. The formal description of A. amnicola by Paul G. Wilson in the appendix of Flora of Australia, vol. 4:322 is purely descriptive, and makes no reference to related or similar species, and no comment on the previous treatment of the taxon. In the species account in Fl. Aust., it says A. amnicola “possibly grades into A. cinerea on the west coast of W. Australia, but may be generally distinguished from the latter by the shape and texture of the leaves and by the shape of the fruiting bracteoles. There is no comment or reference to A. rhagodioides. However, the synonymy are listed as A. cinerea subsp. rhagodioides auct. non (F. Muell.) Aellen; A. rhagodioides auct. non F. Muell.

The collection has been included in Flora of North America as A. amnicola, and so it is provisionally determined as such here. Prigge suggests that a specimen should be sent to Stan Welsh at BYU, and to Paul G. Wilson for confirmation of this determination.

Mr. Wishner found this shrub to be very abundant throughout the Lagoon in areas classified as Atriplex Scrub. It can be recognized by its distinctive fruits with rhomboid bracteoles that have three blunt points at their apices, and by leaves that range from entire in the upper parts of the plant, to leaves with one or two proximal teeth in the lower parts of the plant.

Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum) A perennial grass with distinctive two-branched infloresences was found to be abundant just above the high water line in areas classified as brackish marsh, brackish marsh, and coastal and valley freshwater marsh. Attempts to identify the grass using the local and regional floras invariably lead one to conclude that it is Paspalum distichum, a native plant of freshwater marshes and streams known to occur in the region. However, the conspicuous absence of the diagnostic character of sparse hairs on the upper glumes and lemmas left Mr. Wishner with considerable doubt about this determination. Using keys in Flora of North America vol 26, it appears more likely that it is instead, seashore Paspalum. According to Richard Duble, Extension Turfgrass Specialist at Texas A&M University1, “Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum

1 http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/turf Malibu Lagoon Floristic Survey 2 Floristic Survey of Malibu Lagoon State Beach vaginatum) is native to tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America. In the United States, it is found from Texas to Florida and North Carolina southward, and used for turf in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Adalayd (also called Excalibre) is a selection found in Australia in the 1970s, and grown and distributed by Intersol in Palm Desert, California. It is sold elsewhere in Texas and Georgia. It is tolerant of saline soils, and tolerates brackish sites much better than Bermuda grass.” It is possible that the material at Malibu Lagoon is this cultivar, or another cultivar that has been introduced into the Malibu watershed, or directly during previous landscape activities that have been performed at the Lagoon. In any case, it is provisionally determined to be this species, pending further examination by an expert.

The present investigator wishes to acknowledge the careful review of the draft manuscript for technical accuracy, and significant contributions of Mssrs. Barry Prigge and Art Gibson of the UCLA Herbarium.

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Table 1 Vascular Plants Observed at Malibu Lagoon State Beach July 2005

GROUP Occurs in Family Communities Scientific Name Common Name (see codes below) CONIFERS Cupressaceae *Cupressus macrocarpa Monterey cypress 17 FLOWERING PLANTS --DICOTS Aizoaceae *Carpobrotus edulis hottentot-fig 2, 7, 11 *Mesembryanthemum slender-leaved iceplant nodiflorum *Tetragonia tetragonioides New Zealand spinach 11 Amaranthaceae *Amaranthus albus2 tumbleweed 13 Anacardiaceae Malosma laurina laurel-leaf sumac 6, 17 Rhus integrifolia lemonade berry 6 Apiaceae *Apium graveolens celery 8 *Ciclospermum leptophyllum ciclospermum 17 *Foeniculum vulgare fennel 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 17 Asclepiadaceae Asclepias fascicularis narrow-leaf milkweed 6 Asteraceae Ambrosia chamissonis beach-bur 11 Ambrosia psilostachya western ragweed 6, 12 *Anthemis cotula mayweed 13 Artemisia californica California sagebrush 3, 5 Artemisia douglasiana mugwort 8, 13 Baccharis pilularis var. coyote bush 2, 3, 4, 6, 9 consanguinea Baccharis salicifolia mule fat 1, 3, 4, 6 *Carduus pycnocephalus Italian thistle 12, 17 *Centauria melitensis yellow star-thistle 2, 5, 6, 12, 13 *Chrysanthemum coronarium Garland chrysanthemum 3, 5, 13 *Cirsium vulgare bull thistle 5, 6, 17 *Conyza bonariensis Buenos Aires horseweed 2, 3, 6, 12, 17 Conyza canadensis horseweed 2, 3, 6, 12, 17 *Cotula coronopifolia brass buttons 8 Coreopsis gigantea giant coreopsis 5 Encelia californica California encelia 5

2 Reported by Art Gibson, July 2005, along both sides of lagoon road

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GROUP Occurs in Family Communities Scientific Name Common Name (see codes below) Asteraceae (cont’d) Gnaphalium bicolor two-tone everlasting 2, 3, 6, 12 *Gnaphalium luteo-album weedy cudweed 2, 3, 8, 13, 17 Gnaphalium stramineum straw everlasting 5 Heterotheca grandiflora telegraph weed 17 Jaumea carnosa marsh jaumea 7, 9 *Lactuca serriola prickly lettuce 2, 3, 5, 13, 17 Malacothrix saxatilis cliff-aster 5, 6, var. tenuifolia *Picris echioides bristly ox-tongue 2, 3, 5, 6, 12, 13, 17 Solidago californica California goldenrod 8 *Sonchus asper prickly sow-thistle 2, 3, 5, 6, 12, 13, 17 *Sonchus oleraceus sow-thistle 2, 3, 5, 6, 12, 13, 17 Stephanomeria cf. virgata3 wand chicory 5, 6 *Taraxacum officinale dandelion 17 Xanthium strumarium cocklebur 8, 9 Betulaceae Alnus rhombifolia white alder 10 Boraginaceae Heliotropium curassavicum salt heliotrope 8, 9 Brassicaceae *Brassica nigra4 7 *Cakile maritima sea rocket 11, 15 *Hirschfeldia incana Mediterranean mustard 2, 3, 5, 6, 12, 13, 17 *Lepidium latifolium perennial peppergrass 7, 8, 9, 13 *Raphanus sativus wild radish 11, 12, 13, 17 Caprifoliaceae Sambucus mexicana5 Mexican elderberry 17 Caryophyllaceae *Polycarpon tetraphyllum four-leaved polycarp 17 *Spergularia bocconei6 Boccone’s sand spurry 13 Spergularia marina salt marsh spurry 8, 9 Chenopodiaceae *Atriplex amnicola7 swamp saltbush 2,

3 Flowering and fruiting material was not available at the time of the survey, which is necessary in order to correctly distinguish this species from S. exigua. 4 Reported observed by Merkel & Associates 2004, but not observed in the present survey. Possibly mis-identified, and may actually be Hirschfeldia incana. 5 Reported by Art Gibson, July 2005, 1 specimen (flowering) on coastal side of lagoon road. 6 Reported by Art Gibson, July 2005, growing directly in dirt trail between grassy area and PCH. 7 Native of Australia, newly introduced and reported “abundant at Malibu Beach” in Flora North America.

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GROUP Occurs in Family Communities Scientific Name Common Name (see codes below) Chenopodiaceae (cont’d) Atriplex lentiformis big saltbush 1, 3, 4, 6 ssp. lentiformis Atriplex triangularis spearscale 7, 8, 9 *Beta vulgaris garden beet 7, 8, 9 *Chenopodium macrospermum coast goosefoot 7, 8, 9 var. halophilum *Chenopodium cf. murale8 nettle-leaved goosefoot 13 *Chenopodium strictum 13 var. glaucophyllum9 *Dysphania (Chenopodium) Mexican tea 11 ambrosioides Salicornia virginica pickleweed 7, 9 Convolvulaceae Calystegia macrostegia morning glory 5 ssp. cyclostegia Cressa truxillensis alkali weed 7, 8, 9 Cucurbitaceae Marah macrocarpus10 wild cucumber 13 Cuscutaceae Cuscuta california11 California dodder 7, 8, 9 Cuscuta salina12 marsh dodder 7, 8, 9 Euphorbiaceae *Chamaesyce serpens13 snake spurge 13 *Euphorbia terracina Terracina spurge 17 *Ricinus communis castor-bean 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13 Fabaceae *Acacia sp.14 wattle 2 Lathyrus vestitus var. vestitus pea 2 Lotus scoparius var. scoparius deer weed 5 Lupinus longifolius bush lupine 5

8 Reported by Art Gibson, July 2005, at the edge of the PCH overpass. 9 Art Gibson, (July 2005) reports that he has formerly observed this species from the coastal side of lagoon road, close to the beach entrance, but this year it is not present. 10 Reported by Art Gibson, July 2005, on coastal side of lagoon road. 11 Reported observed by Merkel & Associates 2004, but not observed in the present survey. Possibly mis-identified, and may actually be Cuscuta salina, given the species association. 12 Reported by Art Gibson, July 2005, on Jaumea, etc. He indicates that he has not seen C. californica at Malibu Lagoon. 13 Reported by Art Gibson, July 2005, “along lagoon road, but [he has] seen it (or another Chamaesyce) elsewhere near the Juncus.” 14 One specimen among Atriplex scrub, in south-central area of the lagoon.

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GROUP Occurs in Family Communities Scientific Name Common Name (see codes below) Fabaceae (cont’d) Lupinus succulentus arroyo lupine 5, 6 *Medicago polymorpha bur-clover 13, 17 *Melilotus albus white sweetclover 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 13 *Melilotus indicus yellow sweet clover 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 13 *Trifolium sp. lawn clover 17 Frankeniaceae Frankenia salina alkali heath 7 Juglandaceae Juglans californica15 southern California black 10 walnut Lamiaceae *Marrubium vulgare horehound 2, 17 *Mentha sp. mint 7 Nyctaginaceae Abronia umbellata sand verbena 11 Malvaceae *Hibiscus sp.16 hibiscus 7 *Lavatera cretica crete weed 17 Malacothamnus fasciculatus bush mallow 3 Myoporaceae *Myoporum laetum ngaio tree 2, 17 Onagraceae Epilobium ciliatum willow herb 8 ssp. ciliatum17 Plantaginaceae *Plantago lanceolata18 ribwort 13 *Plantago major common plantain 7, 8, 13, 17 Platanaceae Platanus cf. racemosa western sycamore 10 Plumbaginaceae Limonium californicum western marsh-rosemary 7 Polygonaceae Eriogonum fasciculatum California buckwheat 5 var. foliolosum *Eriogonum giganteum Santa Catalina Island 3, 5, 6 var. giganteum buckwheat *Polygonum arenastrum common knotweed 17

15 Reported observed by Merkel & Associates 2004, but not observed in the present survey. 16 One specimen at edge of coastal salt marsh, in south-central area of the lagoon. 17 The glabrous type formerly referred to Epilobium adenocaulon var. parishii. 18 Reported by Art Gibson, July 2005, along edge of grassy area/coastal side; numerous plants.

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GROUP Occurs in Family Communities Scientific Name Common Name (see codes below) Polygonaceae (cond’t) *Rumex crispus curly dock 7, 8, 9 Polygonaceae (cont’d) Rumex maritimus golden dock 7, 8, 9 Rumex salicifolius var. crassus willow dock 7, 8 Primulaceae *Anagallis arvensis scarlet pimpernel 2, 12, 13, 17 Rhamnaceae Ceanothus spinosus greenbark ceanothus 6 Rosaceae *Lyonothamnus floribundus fern-leaved Catalina 17 ssp. asplenifolius ironwood *Prunus sp.19 17 Salicaceae Salix exigua narrow-leaf willow 1 Salix laevigata red willow 1 Salix lasiolepis20 arroyo willow 1 Scrophulariaceae Castilleja affinis ssp. affinis Lay-and-Collie’s Indian 5 paintbrush *Galvezia speciosa showy island snapdragon 2, 5 *Veronica anagallis-aquatica water speedwell 8 Solanaceae Solanum cf. americanum American nightshade 9 Solanum douglasii white nightshade 6 Tropaeolaceae *Tropaeolum majus garden nasturtium 11 Verbenaceae Phyla lanceolata21 fog- or frog-fruit 7

FLOWERING PLANTS -- MONOCOTS Arecaceae *Phoenix canariensis Canary Island date palm 11 *Washingtonia robusta Mexican fan palm 11 Cyperaceae Carex praegracilis clustered field sedge 8 Cyperus eragrostis tall cyperus 17 Scirpus acutus bulrush 8, 9 Scirpus californicus tule 8, 9

19 Introduced “Laurocerastes” type. 20 Reported observed by Merkel & Associates 2004, but not observed in the present survey.

21 Reported by Art Gibson, July 2005, just above Spergularia marina, in Jaumea carnosa.

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GROUP Occurs in Family Communities Scientific Name Common Name (see codes below) Cyperaceae (cond’t) Scirpus maritimus maritime sedge 7, 8, 9 Juncaceae Juncus balticus Baltic rush 9 Juncus mexicanus Mexican rush 9 Juncaginaceae Triglochin concinna var. concinna arrow-grass 7 Liliaceae *Asparagus asparagoides climbing asparagus 2 Poaceae *Agrostis viridis water bentgrass 17 *Arundo donax giant reed 7 *Avena barbata slender wild oats 17 *Avena fatua22 wild oat 12 *Bromus catharticus rescue grass 17 *Bromus diandrus ripgut brome 12 *Bromus hordeaceus soft chess 12 *Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens red brome 12 *Cynodon dactylon Bermuda grass 11 Distichlis spicata Bermuda grass 7, 8, 9 *Ehrharta erecta -- 17 Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus blue wildrye 6 *Festuca sp. lawn fescue 17 *Hordeum murinum ssp. ? foxtail barley 17 Leymus condensatus giant wildrye 3 *Lolium multiflorum Italian ryegrass 3, 17 *Monanthochloe littoralis23 salt-cedar 9 *Paspalum dilitatum Dallis grass 17 *Paspalum vaginatum24 seashore paspalum 7, 9 *Pennisetum clandestinum Kikiyu grass 13, 17 *Piptatherum miliaceum smilo grass 17 *Polypogon monspeliensis annual beard grass 8 *Vulpia myuros var. hirsuta rat-tail fescue 12 Potamogetonaceae Ruppia maritima25 ditch-grass 16

22 Reported observed by Merkel & Associates 2004, but not observed in the present survey. 23 Reported observed by Merkel & Associates 2004, but not observed in the present survey. 24 Plants closely resembling Paspalum distichum, but without hairs on upper glume and lemma. Previously unreported, but sold as turfgrass by at least one vendor in California under the name “Adalayd.” 25 Art Gibson (July 2005) suggested this material might be Ruppia cirrhosa. Mr. Wishner examined material in the field, and found that fruiting peduncles were short (<25mm). Therefore, the correct determination is believed to be, in fact, R. maritima.

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GROUP Occurs in Family Communities Scientific Name Common Name (see codes below) Typhaceae Typha dominguensis southern cattail 8, 9

Community Codes: 1 Southern Willow Scrub 2 Atriplex Scrub 3 Baccharis Scrub 4 Mule Fat Scrub 5 Venturan Coastal Sage Scrub 6 Mixed Scrub 7 Southern Coastal Salt Marsh 8 Coastal and Valley Freshwater Marsh 9 Brackish Marsh 10 Southern Sycamore/Alder Riparian Woodland 11 Disturbed Coastal Dunes 12 Non-Native Grassland 13 Disturbed Habitat 14 Mud Flat 15 Sand Beach/Sand Bar 16 Open Water 17 Urban/Developed

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