Down Memory Lane: The Los Angeles Coastal Prairie and Its Vernal Pools Rudi Mattoni, Travis Longcore, Jeremiah George and Catherine Rich Urban Wildlands Group, UCLA Department of Geography, Box 951524, Los Angeles, 90095−1524

Abstract Historical Description Extent and The last major remnant of the Lay people have long recognized the unique character Edaphic Conditions Los Angeles Coastal Prairie was of the Los Angeles Coastal Prairie. The plains rolling Based on a map developed by Cooper (1967) a portion of a 300−acre site to the sea are described in many travelers’ accounts of for his comprehensive review of the coastal destroyed as habitat in the late early Los Angeles (Brewer 1930). Historian Roy sand dunes of California, this map shows the 1960s. Unfortunately the unique Rosenberg writes of the time before the prairie was extent of the prairie and its vernal pools. The community was lost before it converted from ranching to dry farming in the 1800s prairie was defined edaphically by pre− could be thoroughly studied. The by Inglewood founder Daniel Freeman: Flandrian dunes, which coincide with the substrate, which defined the Oakley Sand formation shown by the U.S. prairie, was consolidated sand of It is recorded that the Freeman children rode over the rancho through fields of wildflowers that extended to the Pacific. The sight of these Bureau of Soils survey (Nelson 1919). The the pre−Flandrian sand dune undrained vernal pools presumably were formation established during the fields, suddenly confronting a person as he neared the top of Baldwin Hills, brought as enthusiastic exclamations of surprise and wonder as created by coastal ridges degraded over time. Pleistocene. The prairie covered does the present panorama which greets the traveler as he speeds over rivers of concrete en route from the metropolitan district of Inglewood. To the south, the prairie was bounded by the about 36 square miles, extending Palos Verdes uplift and an extensive marsh north−south from the crest of Where flowers once grew with abandon‚ poppies, lupin, mustard, horseradish and ‚ there now appears a sea of lights which that system. To the east the Torrance Plain was the Ballona Bluffs to Palos great raconteur, Alexander Wolcott, has aptly likened to "the babble of a million tungstens" (Rosenberg 1938). characterized by sage scrub, while the Verdes and inland from the lee northern boundary was formed by the Ballona of the El Segundo sand dunes for Bluffs. The western edge of the prairie was three to six miles. The area was A Manhattan Beach resident wrote of his childhood in the 1920s: formed by the the active Flandrian sand dunes rich with vernal pools and some along the immediate coast. In contrast, the marshy areas. It was renowned sand of the earlier dune system, created during for spectacular wildflower While living at 3116 Alma, we almost always walked to school. We walked over the sanddunes, through the area where Grandview School the last glaciation, had become more or less displays. The historical is located, across the fields, over the railroad tracks, past the Catholic Church property. Quite often we would pick wild flowers like Lupins, consolidated, presenting the soil conditions community of the prairie is that defined the prairie. The enormous reconstructed using herbarium Indian Paint Brush, and mustard flower, which grew everywhere, to take to our teachers (Dow 1976:27). quantities of sand contained in both dune records and historical sources systems were provided by alluvial sand carried and illustrated using anecdotal Although the landscape that inspired it is now largely gone, there remains a Prairie Avenue in Inglewood. by Ballona Creek, which until the 1800s was records. fed by the Los Angeles River.

Botanical Diversity Native of the Los Angeles Coastal Prairie and Its Vernal Pools. Habitats: D, dunes and prairie; P, prairie (not dunes); V, vernal pools. 1Southern California vernal pool indicator . 2Vernal pool associates, found also in aquatic, marsh, or seepage areas. 3Found in vernal pool basins, but common in other habitats (Zedler 1987). *Species or examples of genera listed by Keeley (1989) as composing pristine native California grasslands. Nomenclature according to The Jepson Manual (Hickman 1993).

Scientific Name Common Name Habitat FRANKENIACEAE Frankenia salina [F. grandifolia] Alkali Heath V2 DICOTYLEDONES HYDROPHYLLACEAE AIZOACEAE Phacelia distans P* Sesuvium verrucosum Western Sea−Purslane V Phacelia stellaris [P. douglasii var. ] Brand’s Phacelia P* APIACEAE LAMIACEAE Apiastrum angustifolium P Salvia carduacea Thistle Sage D Eryngium aristulatum parishii San Diego Button−Celery V1 Salvia columbariae Chia P ASTERACEAE Stachys ajugoides Hedge Nettle V2 Achyrachaena mollis Blow−Wives P3 LIMNANTHACEAE Ambrosia acanthicarpa Annual Bur−Sage P Limnanthes douglasii Meadowfoam V Ambrosia psilostachya Western Ragweed P LOASACEAE Aster subulatus var. ligulatus Aster V Mentzelia affinis Blazing Star D Baccharis emoryi V 1 Blennosperma nanum V 2 * Malvella leprosa [ hederaca] Alkali−Mallow V Chaenactis glabriuscula Yellow Pincushion D malviflora malviflora Checker Mallow P* Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. virgata Sidalcea neomexicana [S. parviflora]V [Lessingia f., C. virgata] California−Aster D Purple Owl’s−Clover (Castilleja ex− Filago californica Herba Impia D3 serta), Goldfields (Lasthenia sp.), ONAGRACEAE Gnaphalium decurrens D and Pectocarya sp. as they might Camissonia bistorta California Sun Cup P* Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum Cudweed, Everlasting P have appeared together on the Los Camissonia cheiranthifolia Beach Evening Primrose D* Gnaphalium palustre V1 Angeles Coastal Prairie. Camissonia lewisii Lewis’ Evening Primrose D* Grindelia camporum var. bracteosum Gumplant P3 Camissonia micrantha D* Hemizonia fasciculata [Deinandra f.] Tarplant, Tarweed P*3 Epilobium pygmaeum [Boisduvalia glabella] Fireweed V1 Heterotheca grandiflora Telegraph Weed D Oenothera elata hirsutissima Evening Primrose P This March 1938 photograph by W.D. Pierce shows the prairie floor. Distinguishable Heterotheca villosa [Chrysopsis fastigiata]D PAPAVERACEAE species and cover, based on three transects with a microscope across the photograph, Isocoma menziesii var. vernonioides Eschscholzia californica California Poppy D* include Lupinus bicolor (39%), Camissonia bistorta (18%), Phacelia stellaris (14%), Lotus [Haplopappus venetus ssp. vernonioides] Goldenbush P Platystemon californicus Cream Cups P* strigosus (8%), Festuca megalura (4%), Cryptantha intermedia (1%) and open soil (16%). Lasthenia californica Goldfields P* PLANTAGINACEAE Lasthenia glabrata coulteri Goldfields V* Plantago elongata [P. bigelovii] Plantain P*3 Layia platyglossa Tidy−Tips P* Plantago erecta [P. hookeriana] Dwarf Plantain P*3 Malacothrix saxatilis D Micropus californicus Slender Cottonweed P POLEMONIACEAE Psilocarphus brevissimus Woolly−Heads V1 Gilia angelensis P Psilocarphus tenellus Woolly−Heads V1 Gilia capitata abrotanifolia P Linanthus dianthiflorus P* Rafinesquia californica California Chicory D 1 Senecio californicus Ragwort D Navarretia prostrata V Stebbinsoseris heterocarpa [Microseris h.] P Stephanomeria exigua coronaria D Eriogonum gracile Wild Buckwheat P* A lush carpet of Linanthus Stephanomeria virgata [Ptiloria v.] D Mucronea californica dianthaflorus indicates a drying [ c. var. suksdorfii] California Spineflower D* vernal pool on the prairie in a Amsinckia spectabilis Fiddleneck D* Rumex hymenosepalus Wild−Rhubarb D 1938 W.D. Pierce photograph. Cryptantha clevlandii florosa D* Blue Toadflax (Linaria canadensis), PORTULACACEAE Cryptantha intermedia P* one of many annuals of the prairie. Calandrinia ciliata [C. caulescens, C. menziesii] Red Maids P* Fifteen vernal pool indicator Cryptantha muricata D* RANUNCULACEAE species (Zedler 1987) were Heliotropium curassavicum var. oculatum Heliotrope D Ranunculus californicus Buttercup P*3 found on the prairie, including Pectocarya linearis ssp. ferocula P * ROSACEAE P Horkelia cuneata D Orcuttia californica, Phalaris Plagiobothrys nothofulvus Popcornflower P* lemmonii, Elatine brachysperma, Plagiobothrys trachycarpus [Allocarya t.] Popcornflower V* SCROPHULARIACEAE Epilobium pygmaeum, Psilo− Antirrhinum nuttallianum Snapdragon P BRASSICACEAE Castilleja exserta [Orthocarpus purpurascens] Purple Owl’s−Clover P* carphus brevissimus and Nava− Erysimum insulare [E. angustata] Wallflower D Linaria canadensis var. texana Blue Toadflax P rettia prostrata. Descriptions of Hutchinsia procumbens [Hymenolobus p.] V Veronica peregrina Purslane Speedwell P2 Lepidium dictyotum [L. acutidens] Peppergrass V collection locations on voucher Lepidium latipes Peppergrass V3 SOLANACEAE specimens of these species Lepidium nitidum Peppergrass P3 Datura wrightii [D. meteloides] Jimson Weed D indicate "Desiccated pools in the Sibara virginica [Arabis v.] V1 Petunia parviflora V1 coastal district of Los Angeles," CALLITRICHACEAE VERBENACEAE 1 Verbena bracteata V "Exsiccated places" in Ingle− Callitriche marginata Water−Starwort V CARYOPHYLLACEAE MONOCOTYLEDONES wood and "On margin of vernal Cardionema ramosissimum P pool; near junction of Sepul− Loeflingia squarrosa D Cyperus eragrostis Nutsedge V veda Blvd. and W. Railroad, Polycarpon depressum Polycarp V 3 Cyperus esculentus Nutsedge V Manhattan Beach vicinity" Spergularia marina Sand−Spurrey D Eleocharis acicularis Spikerush V2 (RSA Herbarium). Also in CHENOPODIACEAE A wallflower (Erysimum sp.) similar Spikerush V2 Manhattan Beach, "Pollywog Atriplex lentiformis [A. breweri] Big Saltbush P to the one found on the prairie. IRIDACEAE CONVOLVULACEAE Sisyrinchium bellum Blue−Eyed Grass P Park" earned its name from the Calystegia macrostegia [Convolvulus m.] Morning−Glory D 2 yearly hatch of western Cressa truxillensis Alkali Weed V balticus V spadefooted toads. One highly CRASSULACEAE Juncus bufonius Toad Rush V2 degraded vernal pool persists in Crassula connata [C. erecta, Tillaea minima] Pygmy−Weed D Juncus mexicanus V2 Lomita, but it is threatened by CUCURBITACEAE Juncus phaeocephalus V2 Cucurbita foetidissima Calabazilla D LEMNACEAE residential development. The 2 Lomita pool harbored popula− CUSCUTACEAE Lemna gibba Duckweed V Cuscuta californica Dodder D LILAEACEAE tions of fairy shrimp as recently ELATINACEAE Bloomeria crocea [B. aurea] Common Goldenstar P* as 1997. Elatine brachysperma Waterwort V1 Calochortus catalinae Catalina Mariposa−Lily P EUPHORBIACEAE Dichelostemma capitatum [Brodiaea pulchella] Blue Dicks D* Chamaesyce albomarginata Prostrate Spurge D POACEAE Croton californicus D Alopecurus saccatus [A. howellii, A. californicus]Foxtail V1 Eremocarpus setigerus Turkey Mullein P*3 Bromus carinatus California Brome D Deschampsia danthonioides Annual Hairgrass V1 FABACEAE Distichlis spicata Saltgrass P2 Astragalus didymocarpus var. milesianus Two−seeded Milkvetch P* * Elymus triticoides [Leymus t.]D Astragalus tener titi Coastal Dunes Milkvetch P Festuca megalura [Vulpia microstachys hirsuta] Fescue D3 Astragalus trichopodus lonchus [A. leucopsis]D* * Hordeum intercedens Barley V Lotus purshianus [L. americanus, L. unifoliolatus]PThe endangered Quino checkerspot Koeleria macrantha [K. cristata] Junegrass P* Lotus salsuginosus P butterfly was found on the prairie; * Leptochloa uninervia Mexican Sprangletop V Lotus scoparius Deerweed D Dwarf Plantain (Plantago erecta) 1 * Orcuttia californica California Orcutt Grass V Lotus strigosus D was its principal larval foodplant. 1 * Phalaris lemmonii V Lupinus bicolor Miniature Lupine D Stipa cernua [Nassella c.] Nodding Needlegrass P* Lupinus truncatus D* Trifolium gracilentum Clover P*

Literature Cited Brewer, W.H. 1930. Up and Down California: The Journal of Restoration Efforts William H. Brewer. New Haven, Yale University Press. Cooper, W.S. 1967. Coastal Dunes of California. Geological Society of America Memoir 104. Dow, F. 1976. Manhattan Beach Yesterdays: Personal Recollections. The most significant remnant fragment of the prairie is 30 acres, located in the lee of the El Manhattan Beach Historical Series Publication No. 4. Hickman, J.C. 1993 (1996 printing with corrections). The Jepson Segundo dunes at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Preliminary restoration efforts Manual: Higher Plants of California. Berkeley, University of California Press. Keeley, J.E. 1989. The California Valley Grassland. Pp. 2−23 in were undertaken by Mattoni for the least disturbed areas from 1988−1994. Non−native plants Endangered Plant Communities of Southern California. A.A. Schoenherr, Editor. Proceedings of the 15th Annual Symposium, were cleared by hand. Three of the extirpated annuals of the prairie floor were successfully Southern California Botanists, Special Publication No. 3. Nelson, J.W. 1919. Soil Survey of the Los Angeles Area, California. reintroduced from local stock: Phacelia distans, Castilleja exserta and Plantago erecta. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Soils. Washington: Government Printing Office. Rosenberg, R. 1938. The History of Inglewood. Inglewood: Arthur restoration project led by Mattoni was terminated in 1994 when LAX hired a consultant to Cawston. Zedler, P.H. 1987. The Ecology of Southern California Vernal explore expansion of the airport; access to the site for further research has not been allowed. Pools: A Community Profile. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report 85(7.11). The description and historical composition of the coastal prairie is important to future Acknowledgements A manuscript version of this poster was reviewed by Tim Ross restoration efforts. Because of published errors about the historical extent of the El Segundo (Rancho Santa Ana Herbarium), whose suggestions improved it immeasurably. The impetus to investigate the coastal priarie was dunes, some restoration efforts have attempted to re−establish dune vegetation across areas of given by a plant list assembled by Andrew Sanders (UCR Herbarium). Barry Prigge, Allan Schoenherr, Chris Nagano, Fred Roberts, Gary Wallace and Dorothy Lyndes have given Taken by W.D. Pierce in July 1938, this photograph shows the later−growing components the prairie. The description of the Los Angeles Coastal Prairie given here should inform encouragement and helpful suggestions. The UCLA Herbarium and Rancho Santa Ana Herbarium gave gracious access to of the prairie community, of which Heterotheca grandiflora, Mucronea californica and restoration efforts, as well as aid in the identification of previously overlooked fragments of collections and primary materials. Research reported here was Gnaphalium canescens ssp. microcephalum are distinguishable. Others included Eriogonum supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship. these habitats in the urban mosaic. All errors are the responsibility of the authors. gracile, Ambrosia acanthicarpa, and Eremocarpus setigerus. Note that the community was The poster was created using Showcase 3.3 on a Silicon not dominated by bunchgrasses. Graphics Indigo 2 workstation and printed on an HP 750c DesignJet plotter. Chase Langford and William Zhang gave technical assistance.