PLANTS OF THE BALLONA WESTBLUFFS

The Ballona Westbluffs are a 44 acre parcel located immediately south of the State-owned Ballona Wetlands and west of Lincoln Blvd/Highway 1. The land is currently being developed with 114 luxury homes (2006), and BEEP challenged the development plans all the way to the California Supreme Court. Unfortunately, the Court ruled in favor of the developer, Catellus Corporation. Their decision, however, overturned an Appeals Court decision which was harmful to sensitive habitats along the entire coast.

As compensation for the destruction of habitat on the blufftop, the Coastal Commission required the bluff face, which is immediately adjacent to the Ballona Wetlands, to be not graded and also to be completely restored with native plants. The results are quite spectacular, and despite that the development has wiped-out a significant area of coastal-prairie habitat on the bluff top, the restoration includes a bluff-top trail the runs the full length of the development and allows the public un-blocked views of wildlife, the mountains and the city. We urge you to come out and see the natural restored area here. Parking is available on the project's access road, located at the intersection of LMU Drive and Lincoln Blvd.

This list includes plants found in developer botany surveys from 1989 to 1992 and our survey dated July 14, 2006.

(We also note some unidentified plants similar to rush and dudleya, and some with yellow-flowers that might be goldfields, which we will identify later.)

SUMAC FAMILY

lemonade berry (rhus integrifolia)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=rhus+integrifolia

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laurel-leaved sumac (rhus laurina)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=rhus+laurina

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SUNFLOWER FAMILY

Yarrow, (Achillea millefolium)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=Achillea+millefolium&btnG=Search

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spiny-fruited ragweed (ambrosia acanthicarpa)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=ambrosia+acanthicarpa

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coastal sagebrush or Calif. sagebrush (artemisia Californica)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=artemisia+Californica

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Douglas' mugwort (artemisia douglasiana)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=artemisia+douglasiana&btnG=Search

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Mugwort also called wild tarragon or dragon sagewort (artemisia dracunculus)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=artemisia+dracunculus

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coyote bush (baccharis pilularis, subspecies consanguinea)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=baccharis+pilularis

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mulefat - or seep willow (baccharis salicifolia or glutinosa)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=baccharis+salicifolia+

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horseweed (conyza canadensis)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=conyza+canadensis

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bush aster (corethrogyne filaginifolia, variety: virgata)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=corethrogyne+filaginifolia

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bush sunflower, (encelia Californica)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=encelia+Californica&btnG=Search

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gnaphalium chilense,

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=gnaphalium+chilense

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gnaphalium microcephalum,

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=gnaphalium+microcephalum&btnG=Search

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gnaphalium ramosissimum (“pink”)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=gnaphalium+ramosissimum

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cudweed (gnaphalium Californicum “Calif. Everlasting”,

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=gnaphalium+Californicum+

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fascicled or slender tarweed (hemizonia fasciculata)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=hemizonia+fasciculata

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telegraph weed (heterotheca grandiflora)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=heterotheca+grandiflora

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cliff aster (malcothrix saxatilis)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=malacothrix+saxatilis&btnG=Search

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wand chicory or tall stephanomeria or twiggy wreathplant (stephanomeria virgata)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=stephanomeria+virgata&btnG=Search

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CACTUS FAMILY

coastal tuna cactus (opuntia littoralis)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=opuntia+littoralis

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CAPER FAMILY

bladderpod (isomeris arborea)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=isomeris+arborea

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HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY

elderberry (sambucus mexicana)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=sambucus+mexicana

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GOOSEFOOT FAMILY

goosefoot (chenopodium album)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=chenopodium+album&spell=1

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GOURD FAMILY

calabazilla or coyote melon (cucurbita foetidissima)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=cucurbita+foetidissima

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wild cucumber, marah macrocarpus

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=marah+macrocarpus&btnG=Search

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SPURGE FAMILY

croton (croton Californicus)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=croton+Californicus

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serpentine spurge (euphorbia serpens)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=euphorbia+serpens

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BEAN OR PEA FAMILY

deerweed, lotus scoparius,

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=lotus+scoparius

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lupinus albifrons, bush lupine, http://images.google.com/images?q=lupinus+albifrons&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images

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annual lupine (lupinus bicolor subspecies microphyllus, “Dove”;

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=lupinus+bicolor

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lupinus longiflorus

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=lupinus+longiflorus

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Hall’s bush lupine (lupinus excubitus subspecies hallii)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=hall%27s+bush+lupine

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lupinus sparsiflorus, Coulter’s lupine

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=lupinus+sparsiflorus&btnG=Search

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WATERLEAF FAMILY

wild heliotrope (phacelia ramosissima, variety austrolitoralis)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=phacelia+ramosissima

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IRIS FAMILY

blue-eyed grass, (Sisyrinchium bellum)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=Sisyrinchium+bellum&btnG=Search

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MINT FAMILY

Purple sage (salvia leucophylla)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=salvia+leucophylla

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LILY FAMILY

Catalina mariposa lily, (calochortus catalinae)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=calochortus+catalinae&btnG=Search

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EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY

southern sun cup (camissonia bistorta)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=camissonia+bistorta

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beach evening primrose (camissonia cheiranthifolia, subspecies suffrutescens)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=camissonia+cheiranthifolia

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Hooker's evening primrose (oenothera hookeri, subspecies grisea)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=Hooker%27s+evening+primrose+

POPPY FAMILY

California poppy (eschscholzia Californica)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=eschscholzia+Californica

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SYCAMORE FAMILY

western sycamore (platanus racemosa)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=platanus+racemosa

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LEADWORT FAMILY

Statice, Sea Lavender, (limonium californicum) on bluff face west of Westbluff

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=limonium+californicum&btnG=Search

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BUCKWHEAT FAMILY

annual buckwheat (eriogonum gracile)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=eriogonum+gracile

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dune buckwheat or sea cliff buckwheat (eriogonum parvifolium)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=eriogonum+parvifolium

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willow-leaved dock (rumex salicifolius)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=rumex+salicifolius

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FERN FAMILY

Golden-backed fern, pityrogramma triangularis

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=pityrogramma+triangularis&btnG=Search

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CROWFOOT FAMILY

Virgen's bower (clematis ligusticifolia)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=clematis+ligusticifolia

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ROSE FAMILY

California rose (rosa californica)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=rosa+californica

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toyon (heteromeles arbutifolia)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=heteromeles+arbutifolia

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MADDER FAMILY

Narrow leaved bedstraw (gallium angustifolium)

http://images.google.com/images?q=galium+angustifolium&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images

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WILLOW FAMILY

arroyo willow (salix lasiolepis)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=salix+lasiolepis

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FIGWORT FAMILY

Sticky monkey flower, (mimulus aurantiacus)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=mimulus+aurantiacus&btnG=Search

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POTATO FAMILY

jimson weed or tolguacha (datura wrightii or datura meteloides)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=datura+wrightii+

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Douglas' or white nightshade (solanum douglasii)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=solanum+douglasii

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Purple nightshade (solanum xantii, variety intermedia)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=solanum+xantii

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VERVAIN FAMILY

Western verbena or common vervain (verbena lasiostachys)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=verbena+lasiostachys

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GRASS FAMILY

giant rye-grass (elymus condensatus)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=elymus+condensatus

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melic grass or small flowered melica (melica imperfecta)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=melica+imperfecta

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needlegrass (stipa cernua)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=stipa+cernua

Ballona Parcel A. Trail is west of Lincoln Blvd. and just north of Ballona Creek

Ballona parcel B: the saltmarsh with the Westbluffs in the background. View from Jefferson Blvd. looking south.

NATIVE PLANTS THAT ARE FOUND IN ONLY ONE SECTION OF BALLONA

The Ballona Wetlands and uplands have been plowed, filled, drilled for oil and otherwise modified by man over the last century. Despite all of this disturbance, well over 150 kinds of native plants are found here. Two of the parcels now owned by the State Department of Fish and Game, A and C, are approximately 10 feet higher than their original elevation because they were used as dumping sites for wetland soil that was dug out of the marsh when Marina Del Rey yacht harbor was constructed in the early 1960's. Forty-five years later, these parcels have been recolonized by native wetland and upland plants, although with a smaller number of different types of plants. On the other hand, parcel B, which was not filled in with dredged mud and is mostly at its original elevation, has a very large number of native plants and plants that are exclusively found there. Finally, parcel D, which is the only parcel being developed by the Playa Vista company, and had been highly modified at the time plant surveys were done, still had a high number of natives although it had a small number of plants found only there.

Summary:

Parcel A: 53 total natives, 2 exclusive to parcel Parcel B: 139 total natives, 38 exclusive to parcel Parcel C: 40 total natives, 4 exclusive to parcel Parcel D: 96 total natives, 13 exclusive to parcel

______________________________________________________________

A total of 53 native plant species have been found in Ballona parcel A; two have only been found at parcel A:

sugar bush (rhus ovata)

http://images.google.com/images?q=rhus+ovata&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images

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chaparral currant (ribes malvaceum)

(one plant found near Ballona Creek in 1981)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=ribes+malvaceum

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139 TYPES OF PLANTS ARE FOUND AT PARCEL B;

38 PLANTS ARE FOUND EXCLUSIVELY AT PARCEL B:

yellow pincushion (chaenactis glabriuscula, variety tenuifolia)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=chaenactis+glabriuscula&btnG=Search

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gnaphalium ramosissimum (“pink”)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=gnaphalium+ramosissimum

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gumplant (grindelia robusta) found by Gustafson and brandman

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=grindelia+robusta&btnG=Search

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golden bush or mock heather (haplopappus ericoides)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=haplopappus+ericoides

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=ericameria+ericoides

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fleshy or marsh jaumea (jaumea carnosa)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=jaumea+carnosa

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smooth lasthenia (lasthenia glabrata)

Brandman said it was extirpated, but could be in B saltmarsh and dune

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=lasthenia+glabrata

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perezia (perezia microcephala or acorta microcephala)

B bluffs

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=perezia+microcephala+

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Sea rocket (cakile maritima) found by Brandman

B sand dune

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=cakile+maritima

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suffrutescent wallflower (erysimum suffrutescens)

B sand dune

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=erysimum+suffrutescens

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bladderpod (isomeris arborea)

B slopes near Hastings canyon

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=isomeris+arborea

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spergularia macrotheca “large flowered”,

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=spergularia+macrotheca

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spergularia marina “salt marsh”,

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=spergularia+marina

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goosefoot (chenopodium album)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=chenopodium+album&spell=1

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Coast goosefoot (chenopodium macrospermum)

Brandman described it as extirpated from B

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=chenopodium+macrospermum&btnG=Search

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pickleweed, (Salicornia subterminalis) called “samphire”)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=salicornia+subterminalis

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suaeda depressa, variety erecta, also called annual sea-blite)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=suaeda+depressa

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dodder (cuscuta Californica)

B coastal dunes

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=cuscuta+Californica

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cuscuta campestris,

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=cuscuta+campestris

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salt marsh dodder (cuscuta salina)

Brandman described as extirpated from B

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=cuscuta+salina

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perennial spurge or golondrina (euphorbia polycarpa)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=euphorbia+polycarpa

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lotus strigosus

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=lotus+strigosus

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lupinus truncatus “collar”

B

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=lupinus+truncatus

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bush lupine (lupinus chamissonis)

B sand dune

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=lupinus+chamissonis

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beach or pink sand verbena (abronia umbellata)

B coastal dune

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=abronia+umbellata

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Arizona ash (fraxinus velutina, variety coriacea)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=fraxinus+velutina

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Virgen's bower (clematis ligusticifolia)

B central area by bluffs

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=clematis+ligusticifolia

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yerba mansa (anemopsis californica)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=anemopsis+californica

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California arrowhead (sagittaria calycina)

B freshwater marshes

http://www.missouriplants.com/Whitealt/Sagittaria_montevidensis_page.html

Clustered field sedge (carex praegracilis)

http://images.google.com/images?q=carex+praegracilis&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images

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nut sedge or yellow nut grass (cyperus esculentus)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=cyperus+esculentus

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robust sedge or Pacific coast bulrush (scirpus robustus)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=scirpus+robustus

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rush (juncus --two species: balticus “wire rush”

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=juncus+balticus

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and sphaerocarpus)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=juncus+sphaerocarpus&btnG=Search

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small rush or toad rush (juncus bufonius)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=juncus+bufonius

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Mountain brome (bromus marginatus)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=Bromus+marginatus+

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shoregrass (monanthochloe littoralis)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=monanthochloe+littoralis

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ditchgrass (ruppia maritima)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=ruppia+maritima

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and latifolia “broad leaved cattail” )

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=typha+latifolia

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PARCEL C EXCLUSIVES, TOTAL: 3

filago (filago)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=filago+plant

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Southern tarplant (hemizonia parryi subspecies Australis)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=hemizonia+parryi

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Frog fruit (lippia lanceolata) found by Brandman

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=lippia+lanceolata

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PARCEL D EXCLUSIVES: TOTAL: 13

microseris

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=microseris

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coastal tuna cactus (opuntia littoralis)

D slopes

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=opuntia+littoralis

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cuscuta indecora

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=cuscuta+indecora

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western dichondra (dichondra occidentalis)

D by large pile of dirt

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=dichondra+occidentalis

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loco weed (astragalus trichopodus, subspecies leucopsis)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=astragalus+trichopodus

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small canterberry bell or parry’s phacelia (phacelia parryi)

D sandy flats along Jefferson

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=phacelia+parryi

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Purple sage (salvia leucophylla)

D bluffs (offsite)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=salvia+leucophylla

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Black sage (salvia mellifera)

D bluffs (offsite)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=salvia+mellifera

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willow herb (epilobium ciliatum, also called epilobium adenocaulon, variety prishii)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=epilobium+ciliatum

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western sycamore (platanus racemosa)

D, near old hangar buildings. Has been added in freshwater marsh restoration project

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=platanus+racemosa

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toyon (heteromeles arbutifolia)

D slopes (offsite below LMU)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=heteromeles+arbutifolia

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petunia (petunia parviflora)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=petunia+parviflora

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needlegrass (stipa cernua)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=stipa+cernua