In general, the trail and the areas near the trail have
been "disturbed" for many
years: graded as a road, dug and chewed up by vehicles, with plant seeds and
pieces brought in from elsewhere. Therefore, the plants near the trail now are
mostly fast-growing non-natives (that is, "weeds"), and the native plants that
have
survived are away from the trail, the upland natives being usually on the side
of the trail that is farther from the water, that is, higher and drier.
|
|
| Common Name: | Coyote Brush |
| Scientific Name: | Baccharis pilularis |
| Size/Location: | 4-12 feet; often in previously disturbed areas (grows fast--for a native shrub, that is) |
| Native? | yes |
| Comments: | Small toothed leaves that are aromatic and resinous. The separate male and female plants bloom in the late summer and early winter producing beautiful fluffy white female flowers and yellowish male flowers. Since they bloom late, these plants remain bright green when most others around them are brown and dead-looking. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Goldenbush |
| Scientific Name: | Isocoma menziesii |
| Size/Location: | Grows by side of trail; 2-3 feet tall |
| Native? | yes |
| Comments: | Blooms yellow late in summer; flowers similar to dandelion; in this picture, there is an invader in the middle: Pampas Grass. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Mulefat |
| Scientific Name: | Baccharis salicifolia |
| Size/Location: | Up to 12 feet tall. Grows in moist places (fresh water), especially to the northeast of the lagoon. |
| Native? | yes |
| Comments: | Often mistaken for willow. |
|
|
| Common Name: | California (or Coastal) Sagebrush |
| Scientific Name: | Artemesia californica |
| Size/Location: | Usually less than four feet tall. The most common chaparral bush/plant of the dry slopes around the Lagoon (coastal sage scrub) but not common along the disturbed edges of the trail. |
| Native? | yes |
| Comments: | The feathery gray-green leaves grow from the woody stems and have a strong pleasant sagelike smell. These plants turn brown and appear dead by midsummer, but the leaves reappear with the rains in winter and spring. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Deer Weed |
| Scientific Name: | Lotus scoparius |
| Size/Location: | About 3 feet tall. Not common near disturbed areas of trail. A big clump above trail on upland side near the pump station. |
| Native? | yes |
| Comments: | Yellow, pea-like flowers which turn orange-red. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Lemonadeberry |
| Scientific Name: | Rhus integrifolia |
| Size/Location: | Bush: grows to 10 feet high but sprawls to 10 feet wide as well. Near trail in Aviara Cove. |
| Native? | yes |
| Comments: | Leathery evergreen leaves. Pink flowers. Fruits (see inset) have sharp-flavored coating. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Wild Hyacinth or Blue Dicks |
| Scientific Name: | Dichelostemma pulchellum |
| Size/Location: | 1- or 2-foot stem with purple cluster flower in spring seen to upland side of trail |
| Native? | yes |
| Comments: | Farmed by the Indians. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Coastal Boxthorn |
| Scientific Name: | Lycium californicum |
| Size/Location: | Spreading bush: 2-3 feet high and much wider. On upland side of trail, especially cliffs. |
| Native? | yes |
| Comments: | Bare and dead-looking much of year since small leaves drop off in early summer. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Flattop (or California) Buckwheat |
| Scientific Name: | Eriogonum fasciculatum |
| Size/Location: | Spreading: about 2' tall and 2-3' wide. Especially on upland side of trail near east parking lot. |
| Native? | yes |
| Comments: | Flowers used by bees to make honey. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Mohave Yucca |
| Scientific Name: | Yucca schidigera |
| Size/Location: | High above trail on hillsides |
| Native? | yes |
| Comments: | Showy white spike bloom in early spring; leaves are made up of strong fibers which were used by Native Americans to make ropes and other things |
|
|
| Common Name: | Bush Sunflower |
| Scientific Name: | Encelia californica |
| Size/Location: | 4-5 foot bushes on hillsides |
| Native? | yes |
| Comments: | Hillsides covered with yellow blooms in spring; dried out plants later in summer |
|
|
| Common Name: | Mission Cactus or Prickly Pear |
| Scientific Name: | Opuntia littoralis |
| Size/Location: | Usually less than about eight feet but spreading. High above trail in drier soil. |
| Native? | yes |
| Comments: | Pads and fruit used for food. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Chalk-leafed Live-forever |
| Scientific Name: | Dudleya pulverulenta |
| Size/Location: | Low rosette with tall flower stalks (about 2-1/2 feet) |
| Native? | yes |
| Comments: | Chalky surface of leaves, stems, and flowers. Likes drier areas, especially up from trail near pump station. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Arroyo Willow |
| Scientific Name: | Salix lasiolepsis |
| Size/Location: | Bushy small trees in several wet, low areas of the trail: new ones growing where water crosses trail at big Aviara desiltation basin |
| Native? | yes |
| Comments: | Willows have catkins, not normal flowers. |
|
|
| Common Name: | (Black) Mustard |
| Scientific Name: | Brassica nigra |
| Size/Location: | Some species up to 6 feet. |
| Native? | no |
| Comments: | There are several species of mustard which look similar. Probably planted by missionaries as feed for their draft animals. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Wild Radish |
| Scientific Name: | Raphanus sativus |
| Size/Location: | Up to 4 feet tall; all along trail |
| Native? | no |
| Comments: | Many-colored blooms (many lavender) in spring then seed pods. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Poison Hemlock |
| Scientific Name: | Conium maculatum |
| Size/Location: | 6-8 feet; near trail Aviara Cove. |
| Native? | no |
| Comments: | Often mistaken for wild fennel, but be careful! All parts are poisonous! Note purple blotches on stems. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Sweet Fennel |
| Scientific Name: | Foeniculum vulgare |
| Size/Location: | Up to about 6 feet. Many places along trail. |
| Native? | no |
| Comments: | Leaves, seeds, and stems smell and taste like licorice or anise. Fluffy leaves in spring then stalks with flowers and seeds in fall. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Common (or Crystalline) Iceplant |
| Scientific Name: | Mesembryanthenum crystallinum |
| Size/Location: | Very low but spreading. Many places along trail. |
| Native? | no |
| Comments: | White flower open mid-day. Clear, shining droplets all over leaves and stems. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Brass Buttons |
| Scientific Name: | Cotula coronopifolia |
| Size/Location: | Low and spreading like the native wetland plants; found alongside wet spots in the trail. |
| Native? | no |
| Comments: | Yellow flowers. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Tree Tobacco |
| Scientific Name: | Nicotiana glauca |
| Size/Location: | Up to about 15-20 feet. There are many on the Lagoon side of the trail below the east parking lot (disturbed and high above the water) |
| Native? | no |
| Comments: | Yellow tube-shaped flowers attract Anna's Hummingbirds. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Castor Bean |
| Scientific Name: | Ricinus communis |
| Size/Location: | Spreading big bush/little tree. By trail near big settling basin and flow control structure. |
| Native? | no |
| Comments: | Attractive but poisonous seeds in pods. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Cocklebur |
| Scientific Name: | Xanthium spinosum |
| Size/Location: | 2-3' plants, especially on west part of trail. |
| Native? | no |
| Comments: | Burs stick to clothes and fur because of their hooked ends, and so seeds inside are carried to other places. |
|
|
| Common Name: | Eucalyptus (or Gum) trees |
| Scientific Name: | Eucalyptus spp. |
| Size/Location: | The only trees on the trail and the slopes above. |
| Native? | no |
| Comments: | Brittle wood so the limbs often break off. Regrowth from stumps and spreading roots. |
P.O. Box 130491,
Carlsbad, CA 92013
Info: 760 931-0800
