Native Plants of the Route 90 Median

25 native plants are found in the median of the Marina Freeway, which includes both wetlands and uplands. The plant lists are from studies by the California Department of Transportation in 1995 and 2002.

The Route 90 median is a 300 foot wide by 1/2 mile long site between the highway lanes at which we discovered the wetland in 2002. This discovery forced CalTrans to elevate their bridge project, leaving several acres open for additional habitat or recreational use. BEEP sued CalTrans over the permits and secured restoration of additional wetlands. The unpaved portion of the CalTrans median land totals around 18 acres and is bounded by Culver Blvd. and Mindanao Way and we are working to design a way to reconnect this long "finger" of natural open space back to the rest of the Ballona Wetlands. The Route 90 open space is vegetated with Willow trees and mulefat, which are native to freshwater marshes, on the end nearest Culver Blvd., while the western portion is densely covered with saltbush and coyote bush which are native in drier uplands which surround marshes.

MILKWEED FAMILY

Milkweed (species unknown)

-----------------------------------------------

SUNFLOWER FAMILY

Mulefat, baccharis salicifolia

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

-----------------------------------------------

Coyote brush, baccharis pilularis

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

-----------------------------------------------

Horseweed/mare’s tail, conyza Canadensis

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

-----------------------------------------------

Gnaphalium (species unknown)

-----------------------------------------------

Sunflower, helianthus annus

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

-----------------------------------------------

Telegraph weed, heterotheca grandiflora

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

-----------------------------------------------

Cocklebur, xanthium strumarium

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

BORAGE FAMILY

Popcorn flower, cryptantha (species unknown)

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

-----------------------------------------------

Seaside heliotrope, heliotropium curassivicum

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

PINK FAMILY

Sand spurrey, spergularia marina

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

GOOSEFOOT FAMILY

Big saltbush, atriplex lentiformis

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

-----------------------------------------------

lamb’s quarters, Chenopodium album

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

-----------------------------------------------

BEAN FAMILY

Lupine (species unknown)

-----------------------------------------------

EVENING PRIMROSE FAMILY

Willow herb, epilobium ciliatum

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

-----------------------------------------------

PLAINTAIN FAMILY

Plantago (species unknown)

-----------------------------------------------

BUCKWHEAT FAMILY

Dock (Rumex species unknown)

-----------------------------------------------

WILLOW FAMILY

Arroyo willow, salix lasiolepis

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

-----------------------------------------------

POTATO FAMILY

Douglas nightshade, solanum douglasii

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

-----------------------------------------------

Purple nightshade, solanum xantii

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

RUSH FAMILY

Bulrush, scirpus californicus

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

-----------------------------------------------

SEDGE FAMILY

Flatsedge, cyperus eragrostis

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

-----------------------------------------------

GRASS FAMILY

Saltgrass, distichlis spicata http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=distichlis+spicata&btnG=Search

-----------------------------------------------

CATTAIL FAMILY

Cattail, typha latifolia

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