Call for assistance with the Sugarloaf State Park Plant List

Hello folks!

As some of you may already be aware, I've been volunteering with @dlevitis at Sugarloaf State Park in an attempt to build a new plant list for the park.

The current list we have was published over two decades ago, contained only 400 species, and was restricted to only vascular plants. Since that time, the park's boundaries have expanded considerably, adding some interesting new habitats, and it has also burned multiple times resulting in some pretty major vegetation shifts. We're also hoping to add as many mosses, liverworts, and other non-vascular plants to the list as we can, since those appear to have never been surveyed at all.

We have a project for collecting observations taken within the park boundaries. However, species that are considered threatened usually don't get caught by the geographically-based projects since their locations are obscured. We have a second project for manually adding observations of threatened species.

It would be an enormous help if you all could see if you have any relevant observations, and if so, add them to the project. This link should show you any observations that would qualify:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?not_in_project=biodiversity-at-sugarloaf-ridge-state-park&place_id=91302&subview=table&taxon_geoprivacy=obscured&verifiable=any

Other ways you could assist, if you feel so inclined:
Going to the park and helping to fill in some of the gaps in observations:
Test image

Dan (@dlevitis) and I will be going on some expeditions to the more rugged areas of the park in the coming weeks, including some spots not generally accessible to the public - if you're interested in joining in those, please message him.

Identifications, including correcting inaccurate RG observations - if there's a species or genus you're particularly familiar with, it would be great if you could review any observations posted of it and make sure they're correct. Especially for things that have only rarely been recorded in the park.
This will take you to the Identify page for all the plants in the park: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?quality_grade=needs_id%2Cresearch&iconic_taxa=Plantae&verifiable=any&project_id=sugarloaf-ridge-state-park-umbrella-project&place_id=any

So far, we've nearly doubled the number of plants on the list from 400 to about 775! We have set a deadline of the end of June for the "final" list (though we will of course continue to add species to the spreadsheet as we come across them).

We also have a number of species that were listed in the original Bowcutt list or have been mentioned on Calflora or CNPS checklists, which we have been unable to locate so far -or which may have already been observed, but not yet identified (this may be the case with a lot of the grasses, rushes, and sedges, in particular).
If you feel like going on a quest, you could search for:

Agoseris aparagoides var. aparagoides // Seaside Agoseris - I'm skeptical, since this is usually a coastal dune plant. However, an herbarium specimen exists at UC Davis identified as this.
Agrostis capillaris // Colonial bentgrass - notes just say "In grassland"
Agrostis pallens // Seashore bentgrass - "Adobe Canyon N of Sonoma Creek, N of Adobe Canyon Road, at Pony Gate trail juncture."
Allophyllum divaricatum // Purple False Gilia - on a checklist, no herbarium specimens recorded, though there's one from Cavedale Rd not too far away.
Ancistrocarphus filagineus // Woolly Fishhooks - notes say "grassland; disturbed sites"
Aphyllon fasciculatum // Clustered Broomrape - probably actually Aphyllon franciscanum, but we haven't found that species yet either. A fasciculatum tends to parasitize Artemesia species, and A franciscanum has a wider variety of hosts
Aphyllon tuberosum // Chaparral broomrape - Almost certainly exists in the park, but parasitizes chamise roots, so it's hard to find unless you're crawling around in chamise thickets
Arctostaphylos canescens ssp. canescens // Hoary Manzanita - been recorded from Hood Mountain in the north and Cavedale Rd in the south, and mentioned in the Bowcutt list
Arctostaphylos stanfordiana ssp. stanfordiana // Stanford's Manzanita - same as above
Barbarea orthoceras // Wintercress - We have two observations of Barbarea, but they have not been identified to species level and I can't tell if they're B vulgaris or B orthoceras.
Boechera breweri ssp. breweri // Brewer's Rockcress - Reported in Hood Mountain in 1902, and reputedly also found in the McCormick Addition of the park.
Brassica nigra // Black Mustard - on the CNPS checklist, and reported on Hood Mountain as recently as 2021
Brodiaea leptandra // Narrow-flowered California Brodiaea - Willis Jepson and Milo Baker both recorded this from near the mouth of Adobe Canyon, outside of current park boundaries. However, it's certainly possible it could be within the park as well, and it'd be really cool to find if so.
Bromus caroli-henrici - notes say "Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, McCormick Addition, along power line maint. road, directly under power lines, ~ 1 km WSW of NE property boundary at gate". Have not been to the area to look.
Bromus orcuttianus - "At Goodspeed trailhead pullout. On bank edge above Sonoma Creek."
Calamagrostis rubescens - on CNPS checklist, herbarium records from near Trinity Road in the 1940s.
Carex brevicaulis - Somewhere in McCormick Addition?
Carex densa - on Bowcutt's list, "In main campground. Ca. 150 yards south of Sonoma Creek; 1/4 mile NW of confluence with Rattlesnake Creek at toe of Sugarloaf Ridge."
Carex leptopoda - On several CNPS checklists. "Moist woodland along South Fork Santa Rosa Creek"
Carex simulata - On CNPS checklists. "Riparian".
Carex subfusca - Somewhere in McCormick, "Woodland"
Clarkia rhomboidea - reported 1930s, "3 mi w Kenwood; Adobe Canyon, 500 ft elevation, dry ground"
Conium maculatum - reported in 1994, "Just S of Adobe Canyon Road and kiosk, Along ephemeral swale, Wild oat grassland" Hopefully no longer present!
Crepis pleurocarpa - on CNPS checklist for McCormick Addition
Cryptantha muricata - on CNPS checklist, also reported from Hood Mtn in the past
Cymopterus terebinthinus var. californicus
Cynodon dactylon // Bermuda grass - "Adobe Canyon just NW of Sonoma/Rattlesnake Creek confluence"
Cytisus scoparius // Scotch broom - Hopefully no longer present . Single plant found in 1993, along Goodspeed Trail
Delphinium hesperium - several old records in the area, could already be observed and just not correctly identified, buried among the other observations of blue delphiniums from the park.
Didymodon rigidulus - moss. "Along trail near headquarters of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. On seasonally moist, sunny soil among grasses in area of sheet drainage, in grassland with patches of Quercus agrifolia, Baccharis and Umbellularia."
Diplacus congdonii - Serpentine areas, no details.
Diplacus douglasii - same as above
Diplacus kelloggii - same as above
Eleocharis macrostachya - marshy areas?
Erigeron biolettii - on the Bowcutt list, recorded from Mt Hood and from Adobe canyon
Erigeron greenei - Calflora record from 2018 from in park
Eriocoma lemmoni (Stipa lemmoni) - on CNPS checklist, no details
Eriogonum compositum var. compositum - "Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, McCormick Addition, on steep slope above small canyon at sharp U-curve in powerline road, near W park boundary"
Erythranthe microphylla - old record from "Adobe canyon"
Erythranthe moschata - "Near pond"
Festuca elmeri - On Bowcutt's list, "Various habitats" -extremely useful description!
Fragaria vesca // wild strawberry - seriously, there are still zero iNat observations of a strawberry plant ANYWHERE in the park! There's gotta be one out there somewhere.
Fritillaria recurva // scarlet fritillary - found on hood mtn, might be in McCormick area too.
Galium divaricatum // Lamarck's Bedstraw - "Along Meadow trail about 3/4 mile from trailhead. East from trail about 100 yards."
Garrya flavescens - several observations of Garrya from inside the park but none have been identified to species level yet.
Harmonia nutans // Nodding Tarweed - several historical reports around the general area
Juncus nevadensis
Juncus occidentalis
Juncus oxymeris
Lemna minuta - I've found lemna in a bunch of the marshy/damp areas of the park but haven't managed to key any of them out yet.
Linanthus dichotomus ssp. meridianus - "rock outcrop above S fork, near logged grassland"
Lolium arundinaceum (Festuca arundinacea) - herbarium specimen originally reported as Festuca elmeri, but has since been reidentified. Reported in 1993, "At lower camping area, 50 m east of foot bridge."
Lolium multiflorum - possibly actually L perenne?
Lupinus adsurgens - One herbarium record, "near junction of Meadow, Hillside, and Gray Pine Trails, east of bridge across Sonoma Creek"
Lupinus affinis - on a CNPS checklist for the park, but no specimens or specific locations.
Lythrum hyssopifolia - "On Hillside Trail 1 mile from junction with Grey Pine Trail. Ruderal (middle of dirt road) near oak woodland of Quercus agrifolia and Q. kelloggii."
Melica subulata - "Adobe Canyon, campground S of Sonoma Creek about 150 yds. 1/4 mile NW of confluence with Rattlesnake Creek, toe of Sugarloaf Ridge."
Myriopteris gracillima - M intertexta and M covillei have been found, in difficult to reach rocky outcrops. M gracillima is probably out there somewhere as well.
Navarretia leucocephala ssp. leucocephala - Bowcutt only says "In Adobe Canyon"
Olea europaea // Olive - one mention of it in "woodland, lower Vista trail". Possibly a misidentification, or possibly it was killed in the fires?
Oxalis pilosa - On CNPS checklist
Oxalis suksdorfii - Also on CNPS checklist
Paspalum dilatatum - "Entrance to campground in Adobe Canyon." in 1996.
Persicaria amphibia - on CNPS list
Persicaria hydropiper - On CNPS list
Phoradendron villosum // oak mistletoe - Bowcutt reported this species, but the herbarium specimens have been synonymized with Phoradendron leucarpum ssp. tomentosum, in line with Jepson. We have iNat records identified as Phoradendron leucarpum ssp. tomentosum. However, POWO is in disagreement with Jepson, and considers Phoradendron leucarpum ssp. tomentosum to be native to the southeastern US and mexico, while Phoradendron villosum is the California species. So I'm not sure which name to follow or if all reports refer to a single species or not.
Pinus attenuata - on CNPS checklist, no other records
Platanthera elegans - "Brushy peaks trail"
Platanthera elongata - specimen collected from park in 1989, no further location details given
Poa nemoralis - on the park CNPS checklist, but has never been recorded elsewhere in the county and no specimens seem to exist. May be a misidentification.
Polygonum aviculare - reported as "growing in gravel road bed". Probably one of those species nobody bothers to photograph.
Polygonum douglasii - another one from the CNPS checklists with no further details
Polygonum spergulariiforme - somewhere in McCormick Addition
Polypogon interruptus - on CNPS checklist, and herbarium specimen exists from 1885..
Polystichum dudleyi - on CNPS checklist, and records exist for specimens from Hood Mountain and Bouverie.
Prunus emarginata - McCormick somewhere
Pseudognaphalium beneolens - perhaps already recorded and just not identified, who knows
Psilocarphus oregonus - on CNPS list
Pyracantha angustifolia - Possibly eliminated from park. "one plant seen along S fork, Sta. Rosa Cr."
Raphanus sativus - "disturbed grassland"
Ribes inerme - "Campground S of Sonoma Creek approx. 150 yds 1/4 mile NW of confluence with Rattlesnake Creek, toe of Sugarloaf Ridge."
Ribes quercetorum - Supposedly in McCormick, but no observations of this species anywhere else in the region
Ribes victoris - multiple old records, but no specimens collected since 1947.
Robinia pseudoacacia - old homestead sites, may not have survived fires
Rubus leucodermis - on checklists, but no location details given
Sairocarpus virga - on checklists, old records exist from hoot mtn and adobe canyon
Salix breweri - "Sonoma creek canyon" in 1933
Solanum americanum - CNPS checklist
Stebbinsoseris heterocarpa - serpentine areas
Trifolium glomeratum - "Trails, roads"
Trifolium incarnatum - "Disturbed sites"
Trifolium obtusiflorum - "seeps"
Trifolium oliganthum - "grassland; oak woodland, on Hillside Trail."
Trifolium striatum- "Near corral and service area/office. Along trail/old dirt road used for commercial horse rides."
Trillium ovatum - recorded as "Vegetative plant observed in redwood forest". No herbarium specimen, and quite likely was actually a young T albidum, which is common there. Still worth looking for though!
Triphysaria eriantha ssp. eriantha - reportedly collected near the park, might be within as well.
Viola pedunculata - McCormick somewhere
Whipplea modesta - Another one I'm surprised hasn't been observed yet.
Zeltnera davyi - "N-facing flat, old ranch road, S. of S. fk.Sta. Rosa Cr."
Zeltnera trichantha - "0.75 air mile S of Red Mountain, 0.5 air miles NNW of confluence of the Malm Fork, 1.0 air miles WSW of Brushy Peaks."

Some wildcard species that have been found in areas nearish to the park, and would be really cool to find if they exist in the park at all:
Amorpha californica var. napensis // Napa false indigo
Astragalus claranus Clara hunt's milk vetch
Calochortus uniflorus Large flowered star tulip
Hesperolinon clevelandii Allen springs western flax
Leptosiphon acicularis Bristly leptosiphon
Minuartia californica Sandwort
Navarretia heterodoxa Calistoga navarretia
Navarretia pubescens Purple navarretia
Odontostomum hartwegii Hartweg's odontostomum
Packera greenei Flame ragwort
Penstemon newberryi var. sonomensis Sonoma beardtongue
Trichostema ruygtii Napa bluecurls
Viburnum ellipticum Common viburnum
Xerophyllum tenax Beargrass

הועלה ב-מאי 7, 2022 05:53 לפנה"צ על ידי graysquirrel graysquirrel

תגובות

@nelruzam @ten_salamanders @catchang @susanfawcett @cjs041 @morganstickrod @jenniferlchandler @gyrrlfalcon @dloarie @loarie @rogerraiche @mpkw @lilyboy @dgreenberger @leptonia @tgosliner @wild-by-nature-db @lilredhen @lithostrotionella @caenvsci @c_michael_hogan @yargeritaville @amyruegg @pinesnake @easmeds @arvel @brock @damontighe @luca_hickey @coffearobusta42 @evelynch @charlescrussell @bjoelle @emilyearthquake @marivillasol @curiousgeorge61 @jeffbisbee @kestrel

I'm tagging you because you've observed threatened species in the general Napa / Sonoma areas - if you would check your observations for anything observed in Sugarloaf and consider adding it to the project, I would be very grateful! And if you know anyone else who might be interested in helping with any aspects of this effort, please tag them as well.

Thank you!

פורסם על-ידי graysquirrel לפני כמעט 2 שנים

Hi Krissa

ive searched my sugarloaf findings this morning and cant find any matches on your species list. good luck with your expedition. long time since ive been to sugarloaf. what a magical place.

best, michael hogan

פורסם על-ידי c_michael_hogan לפני כמעט 2 שנים

Done and best of luck with the list. Sounds like fantastic work. I’ll make my way up there soon!

פורסם על-ידי catchang לפני כמעט 2 שנים

Wait - there are areas in this park with NO observations? You can see them on a map? Do you enjoy baiting me? I'm game to go anywhere, but you know that botany is my Achilles heel (more like Achilles lower torso, it is so weak for me)

פורסם על-ידי gyrrlfalcon לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@gyrrlfalcon lets do it.

פורסם על-ידי catchang לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@gyrrlfalcon Yes, no observations of anything, so even non-botanical things would be interesting!

Mind you, those places tend to be a bit hard to get to. But perhaps @dlevitis could be persuaded to take an expedition to the further reaches of the park in a park vehicle, so that more energy can be spent on observing and less on getting there.

(Plus, with @gyrrlfalcon and me on the same outing, we'd never even get there walking- we'd still be trying to catch butterflies by the parking lot ten hours after we arrived)

פורסם על-ידי graysquirrel לפני כמעט 2 שנים

I've never been to this park but it's on my list. Thanks!

פורסם על-ידי marivillasol לפני כמעט 2 שנים

I'd be down for an excursion with help from a park vehicle and will focus on botany! @dlevitis
That said, I'm pretty useless on carex, grasses, and some of the others listed but I do know most of the ones on the vulnerable list.

פורסם על-ידי jenniferlchandler לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@merav @chilipossum Just noticed you guys were out there observing - tagging you in case you're interested!

פורסם על-ידי graysquirrel לפני כמעט 2 שנים

I was just there camping this weekend but only casually observing. I wish I'd known about the project!! I'd be very interested in an excursion! I am a botany newbie but would love to be an extra set of eyes and optics!

פורסם על-ידי chilipossum לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@chilipossum I mainly focus on plants because we're trying to put the list together (and it's the group I know most about!) but the overall goal is to document as much of biodiversity of the place as possible, so honestly, any observations of anything and everything are very welcomed!

I'm also up for just wandering the park iNatting everything we see with anyone who wants to join me :) I go up there about once a week at the moment. Although, I tend to move at a pace that would embarrass the average snail.

פורסם על-ידי graysquirrel לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@graysquirrel you know I would never turn away, or refuse to aid, a naturalist, especially if they wanted to explore Sugarloaf. I just need a where and a when, and if the roads are passable (some are currently too wet to drive) we will make it happen. Thank you!

פורסם על-ידי dlevitis לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@dlevitis - I want to naturalize more with you at Sugarloaf!

פורסם על-ידי gyrrlfalcon לפני כמעט 2 שנים

I've added my handful of obscured observations and will take that TO FIND LIST with me next time I"m up at Sugar Loaf. Building on @gyrrlfalcon and @catchang's conversation. How are there not observations on this serpentine slope: 38.456244201616, -122.52903847024072 !?

פורסם על-ידי damontighe לפני כמעט 2 שנים

Hey Damon- let's carpool up there.

פורסם על-ידי catchang לפני כמעט 2 שנים

Yes - let's find a date and DO IT!

פורסם על-ידי gyrrlfalcon לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@graysquirrel I would love to go exploring with you! My schedule is always a little too full but usually flexible Mon-Weds. And your pace sounds perfect! My family refuses to hike with me anymore. Even my dog that likes to sniff every blade of grass thinks I’m too distracted 😂

פורסם על-ידי chilipossum לפני כמעט 2 שנים

Those who can make it, please consider coming to Sugarloaf Monday May 16th. Where in the park we go will depend on how wet the roads are, but there are several good options to explore.

פורסם על-ידי dlevitis לפני כמעט 2 שנים

Can someone tell me when Brushy Peaks trail is open again? I made a loop but had to exclude that trail and would like to return when it opens.

פורסם על-ידי marivillasol לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@marivillasol it is going to be a long time before the last part of Brushy Peaks is open. There were steps on some sections of it because the footing is pretty dangerous without. But those steps got bulldozed during the 2017 fire. We rebuilt them, and they got bulldozed again during the 2020 fire. Turns out the trail, and therefore the steps, had been built on top of an important fire break. State Parks has advised us not to rebuild the trail on the fire break, but a new route has not yet been approved. So that piece of Brushy Peaks will likley be closed for at least a couple more years.

פורסם על-ידי dlevitis לפני כמעט 2 שנים

Thank you @dlevitis !

פורסם על-ידי marivillasol לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@graysquirrel thanks for including me. I visited the preserve for the first time last weekend, but would love to come back. I don't think I found anything that could get obscured, but I did enjoy some new plants and bugs! And I would love to join in for an expedition with @gyrrlfalcon et al.

פורסם על-ידי merav לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@damontighe @catchang @gyrrlfalcon @dlevitis @rosacalifornica Many areas of the park without observations do not have public access or are hard to get to. The serpentine slide pointed to by Damon can be accessed off Pierson Rd - a private rd with no public access - and then following an old historic road. I'd be happy to facilitate a hike to that area. The month or so should be interesting botanically. I made a map of serpentine areas of the park once. I'll see if I can find it.

פורסם על-ידי coffearobusta42 לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@dlevitis I'll be there on the 16th!
@coffearobusta42 I'd love to explore that serpentine slide @damontighe was pointing out, I was looking at it recently and scheming about how best to get there!

I'm pretty sure with some dedicated effort we could get the plant list up over the 1,000 species mark, Especially if we can find someone who's really good at grasses, sedges, or mosses :P

פורסם על-ידי graysquirrel לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@coffearobusta42 I'd like to join on that serpentine outing.

פורסם על-ידי jenniferlchandler לפני כמעט 2 שנים
פורסם על-ידי coffearobusta42 לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@coffearobusta42 Cool map. Let us know when you want to lead that hike. If I'm available, I'll gladly join!

פורסם על-ידי catchang לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@chyroptera might be up for camping and blitzing.

פורסם על-ידי catchang לפני כמעט 2 שנים

I am up for a trip up to the slide on Mon (5/23) before noon, or on Tuesday (5/24). Let me know if you are available.

פורסם על-ידי coffearobusta42 לפני כמעט 2 שנים

I’ll have to demure- have to be at work next week. Thanks!

פורסם על-ידי catchang לפני כמעט 2 שנים

I'd be glad to join either day!

פורסם על-ידי dlevitis לפני כמעט 2 שנים

I’m available Tuesday the 24th if you could use an extra set of eyes!

פורסם על-ידי chilipossum לפני כמעט 2 שנים

For those that are interested, let's meet at the Goodspeed parking lot at 7:45 AM on Tuesday. Then we'll head over to the Hurd Rd. We plan to be back to the vehicles by noon.

פורסם על-ידי coffearobusta42 לפני כמעט 2 שנים

Sounds like fun!

פורסם על-ידי graysquirrel לפני כמעט 2 שנים
פורסם על-ידי chilipossum לפני כמעט 2 שנים

I am totally interested, but have to be at work Tuesday the 24th....next time!

פורסם על-ידי chyroptera לפני כמעט 2 שנים

Ugh, work

פורסם על-ידי chilipossum לפני כמעט 2 שנים

Thanks - would have done it but have a podcast interview scheduled.

פורסם על-ידי naturesarchive לפני כמעט 2 שנים

Can't make the 24th, but keep me on the list

פורסם על-ידי gyrrlfalcon לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@coffearobusta42 do you mean Pierson Rd rather than Hurd Rd?

פורסם על-ידי dlevitis לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@nancyje @direbecca - in case you're interested :)

פורסם על-ידי graysquirrel לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@graysquirrel Hey Krissa! Thanks much for the invite. Would love to join in a serpentine outing at Sugarloaf, but not available through mid-June. I'll be in touch when I'm back from my midwestern adventure! Cheers!

פורסם על-ידי direbecca לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@jennifercandler @dlevitis @graysquirrel @chilipossum Seems like it's us for tomorrow at 7:30. Nice! We should be able to fit in my truck. It's going to be hot tomorrow, and we'll be going cross-country with lots of sun exposure. Please plan accordingly.

פורסם על-ידי coffearobusta42 לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@coffearobusta42 I've unfortunately had a family emergency come up, and won't be able to make it tomorrow :( I'm really bummed out, but there's no way around it. Please take as many pictures as humanly possible, and I'll at least be able to help with identifications. And let me know if you're up for another outing sometime in the future.

פורסם על-ידי graysquirrel לפני כמעט 2 שנים

Unfortunately I’m going to have to bow out too. Sorry for the last minute cancellation but I ended up having to work late last night and I don’t feel like I’d be much of a contributor with so little sleep! I’m available next Tuesday is anyone feels like another outing!

פורסם על-ידי chilipossum לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@graysquirrel --Rarely look at iNaturalist website, so I missed this. I would have joined today on the slope. Be sure to text me for an excursion: 559-217-1872

פורסם על-ידי nancyje לפני כמעט 2 שנים

@coffearobusta42 and I ended up going for an almost five hour hike this morning, out to the slide, up it, along the ridge, and back down to Pierson Rd. It was great fun! I'm sure there would have been rare plants to find if I knew plants better, as we went through a variety of serpentine and chaparral habitats. It will be some days before all my observations are uploaded, hopefully I accidentally observed something useful.

פורסם על-ידי dlevitis לפני כמעט 2 שנים

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