WILDFLOWERS OF
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIA
PLANT NAMES
FIELD TRIP
PHOTO GALLERIES
EPONYM DICTIONARY OF
SOUTHERN AFRICAN PLANTS


FLOWERING PLANTS OF FISH CANYON
SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS


Photographs by Michael Charters





Fish Canyon above the city of Azusa is and has been for generations one of the most popular hiking destinations in the front range of the San Gabriels. Unlike canyons elsewhere such as the Arroyo Seco where cabins were destroyed by the great flood of 1938, Fish Canyon's 100 or so cabins survived until a fire in 1958 and subsequent winter flooding. Today all the cabins are gone and little remains to indicate their former presence. Although some introduced vegetation has flourished there, much of the area has reverted to its wild state, and the canyon is even host to extremely rare native plants. From the mid-1980's until recently, access to this area was either non-existent or severely curtailed due to operations of a rock quarry at the mouth of the canyon. For some years the only way into the canyon was on a brutal and poorly-maintained trail high over Van Tassel Ridge. That trail is now closed, but thanks to a cooperative effort of the Vulcan Materials Company and the City of Azusa, fueled in no small part by public demands for greater access, a trail that passes through the Vulcan property has now been set aside which leads directly to the Fish Canyon trailhead, and once again the canyon is open to everyone. Hours are October-Mar 7-5 and April-September 7-7.

Almost all the taxa represented here have been observed by me in Fish Canyon, whether blooming or not. The five with a (V) after the Latin name are included based on vouchers that were collected May 18, 2000 by Scott White and Pam DeVries. Taxa with a (VTR) next to the name were seen on the trail up Van Tassel Ridge. Visits to Fish Canyon were made on 5/7/05, 6/9/05, 5/10/13, 2/23/15, 2/27/15, 3/3/15, 3/13/15, 3/19/15, 3/23/15, 4/10/15, 4/22/15, 5/21/15, 6/12/15 and 4/6/16. An asterisk next to the common name indicates a non-native taxon. Names followed by V were vouchered May 18, 2000 by Scott White and Pam DeVries and havot yet been observed by me. This list also includes ferns, trees and spike-moss which are not flowering species.

For more information about the trail and descriptions of his many hikes in Fish Canyon, check out Dan Simpson's page here. A complete list of species we have seen in Fish Canyon is here.

UPDATE: Regrettably, Fish Canyon was consumed in the Fish Fire on May 20, 2016, and undoubtedly the trail was heavily damaged and will continue to be damaged due to erosion from the steep slopes and debris flow, so it will probably be years before it is once again open to the public.


Acer
 
Big-leaf maple
Acer macrophyllum
Sapindaceae
(Soapberry family)
April-May


Achillea
 
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
March-September


Acmispon
     
Short-winged deerweed
Acmispon glaber var. brevialatus
Fabaceae
(Pea family)
March-August
Common deerweed
Acmispon glaber var. glaber
Fabaceae
(Pea family)
March-August

     
Coastal lotus
Acmispon maritimus var. maritimus
Fabaceae
(Pea family)
March-June
Strigose lotus
Acmispon strigosus
Fabaceae
(Pea family)
March-June


Acourtia
   
Sacapellote, Purple Heads
Acourtia microcephala
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
June-August


Adenostoma
 
Chamise
Adenostoma fasciculatum var. fasciculatum
Rosaceae
(Rose family)
May-June


Adiantum
   
Maidenhair fern
Adiantum capillus-veneris
Pteridaceae
(Brake family)


Agave
 
American agave *
Agave americana
Agavaceae
(Agave family)
Fall


Ageratina
   
Thoroughwort *
Ageratina adenophora
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
Most months


Ailanthus
   
Tree of heaven *
Ailanthus altissima
Simaroubaceae
(Quassia family)
June


Allium
 
Peninsular onion
Allium peninsulare var. peninsulare
Alliaceae
(Onion family)
March-June


Alnus
     
White alder
Alnus rhombifolia
Betulaceae (Birch family)
January-April


Anthriscus
 
Bur-chervil *
Anthriscus caucalis
Apiaceae
(Carrot family)
April-June


Artemisia
     
California sagebrush
Artemisia californica
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
August-December
Mugwort
Artemisia douglasiana
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
June-October


Asclepias
 
Indian milkweed
Asclepias eriocarpa
Apocynaceae
(Dogbane family)
June-August


Aspidotis
 
California lace fern
Aspidotis californica
(Brake family)
Pteridaceae


Avena
 
Slender oats *
Avena barbata
Poaceae
(Grass family)
March-June


Baccharis
   
Mulefat (L: female flowers; R: male flowers)
Baccharis salicifolia ssp. salicifolia
Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
February-October


Bidens
   
Common beggar-ticks *
Bidens pilosa
Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
May-November


Bloomeria
 
Golden stars
Bloomeria crocea var. crocea
Themidaceae
(Brodiaea family)
April-June


Brickellia
   
California brickellbush
Brickellia californica
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
August-October


Bromus
 
Ripgut brome *
Bromus diandrus
Poaceae
(Grass family)
April-June


Calochortus
     
Fairy lantern, White globe lily
Calochortus albus
Liliaceae
(Lily family)
April-June
Plummer's mariposa lily
Calochortus plummerae
Liliaceae
(Lily family)
May-July


Calystegia
   
Southern California morning glory
Calystegia macrostegia var. arida
Convolvulaceae
(Morning glory family)
May-June


Cardamine
     
Milkmaids
Cardamine californica
Brassicaceae
(Mustard family)
February-May
Bitter cress
Cardamine oligosperma
Brassicaceae
(Mustard family)
March-July


Carduus
 
Italian thistle *
Carduus pycnocephalus ssp. pycnocephalus
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
May-July


Ceanothus
   
Hairy ceanothus
Ceanothus oliganthus var. oliganthus
Rhamnaceae
(Buckthorn family)
February-April


Centaurea
 
Tocalote *
Centaurea melitensis
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
May-June


Cercocarpus
     
Birch-leaf mountain mahogany
Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides
Rosaceae
(Rose family)
March-April


Chaenactis
     
White pincushion (VTR)
Chaenactis artemisiifolia
Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
April-July
Yellow pincushion
Chaenactis glabriuscula var. glabriuscula
Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
March-June


Cirsium
 
California thistle
Cirsium occidentale var. californicum
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
April-July


Clarkia
     
Farewell-to-spring
Clarkia bottae
Onagraceae
(Evening primrose family)
April-June
Dudley's clarkia (V)
Clarkia dudleyana
Onagraceae (Evening primrose family)
May-July

 
Elegant clarkia
Clarkia unguiculata
Onagraceae (Evening primrose family)
May-June


Claytonia
 
Miner's lettuce
Claytonia perfoliata ssp. ?
Montiaceae
(Miner's lettuce family)
February-June


Clematis
   
Pipestems
Clematis lasiantha
Ranunculaceae
(Buttercup family)
Mar-June


Corethrogyne
 
California-aster
Corethrogyne filaginifolia
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
June-December


Cotula
 
Australian brass buttons * (V)
Cotula australis
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
January-May


Crassula
 
Jade plant *
Crassula ovata
Crassulaceae
(Stonecrop family)
December-February


Cryptantha
     
Large-flowered cryptantha
Cryptantha intermedia var. intermedia
Boraginaceae
(Borage family)
March-July
Tejon cryptantha (V)
Cryptantha microstachys
Boraginaceae
(Borage family)
March-June


Cuscuta
 
Canyon dodder
Cuscuta subinclusa
Convolvulaceae
(Morning glory family)
June-October


Datura
   
Sacred datura
Datura wrightii
Solanaceae
(Nightshade family)
April-October


Delairea
 
Cape-ivy*
Delairea odorata
Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
December-March


Delphinium
     
Scarlet larkspur
Delphinium cardinale
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup family)
May-July
Spreading larkspur
Delphinium patens ssp. hepaticoideum
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup family)
February-May


Diplacus (formerly Mimulus)
   
   
Bush or sticky monkeyflower
Diplacus longiflorus
Phrymaceae
(Lopseed family)
March-June
The case of what used to be called Mimulus aurantiacus in Fish Canyon well illustrates the difficulty of determining what variants of a species are being observed, or whether in fact the separation of plants into variants is in all cases a legitimate process. The pictures in the second row were all taken from plants that were practically touching each other. In the Jepson Manual 1st edition the Mimulus author David Thompson says "Highly complex, with many intergrading, hybridizing, local forms," then lists five of the most distinct forms. The same author in JM2 says only "Complex, vars. intergrading, hybridizing," and lists six recognized variants. The most recent Jepson eflora raised all six of these variants to species level. According to the key, only vars. parviflorus (a Channel Island taxon) and puniceus have red flowers, but they both key under "Lower leaf surface glabrous, not paler than upper," neither of which characteristic apply to the above plants. The two variants that key under "Lower leaf surface puberulent to densely hairy, generally paler than upper" are var. aurantiacus which is not supposed to be in Southern California and var. pubescens which has a hairy calyx that the above plants don't have. However the new eflora key includes red as a color for D. longiflorus, so this seems to be a good identity for all the local (L.A. and Ventura County monkeyflowers.
   


Dipterostemon (formerly Dichelostemma)
 
Blue dicks
Dipterostemon capitatus ssp. capitatus
Themidaceae (Brodiaea family)
February-May


Dryopteris
 
Coastal wood fern
Dryopteris arguta (Wood fern family)
Dryopteridaceae


Dudleya
     
San Gabriel River dudleya (RARE SPECIES) (V)
Dudleya cymosa ssp. crebrifolia
Crassulaceae (Stonecrop family)
June-July
Low canyon dudleya
Dudleya cymosa ssp. pumila
Crassulaceae
(Stonecrop family)
April-July

 
San Gabriel Mountains dudleya (RARE SPECIES)
Dudleya densiflora
Crassulaceae
(Stonecrop family)
June-July
 
 
Lanceleaf dudleya
Dudleya lanceolata
Crassulaceae
(Stonecrop family)
May-July


Encelia
     
Brittlebush
Encelia farinosa
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
March-May


Epilobium
 
Hoary fuchsia
Epilobium canum ssp. canum
Onagraceae
(Evening primrose family)
August-October


Eriastrum
   
Sapphire woolstar
Eriastrum sapphirinum
Polemoniaceae
(Phlox family)
June-August


Erigeron
     
Leafy daisy
Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
May-July


Eriodictyon
     
Thickleaf yerba santa
Eriodictyon crassifolium var. crassifolium
Boraginaceae
(Borage family)
April-June


Eriogonum
   
Long-stemmed buckwheat
Eriogonum elongatum var. elongatum
Polygonaceae
(Buckwheat family)
August-November

   
Leafy buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum
Polygonaceae
(Buckwheat family)
April-November


Eriophyllum
   
Golden yarrow
Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum
Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
March-August


Erodium
 
Red-stem filaree *
Erodium cicutarium
Geraniaceae
(Geranium family)
February-May


Erysimum
   
Western wallflower
Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum
Brassicaceae
(Mustard family)
March-July


Erythranthe (formerly Mimulus)
     
Scarlet monkeyflower
Erythranthe cardinalis
Phrymaceae
(Lopseed family)
April-October
Creek monkeyflower
Erythranthe guttata
Phrymaceae
(Lopseed family)
March-August


Eschscholzia
     
Tufted poppy
Eschscholzia caespitosa
Papaveraceae
(Poppy family)
March-June
California poppy
Eschscholzia californica
Papaveraceae
(Poppy family)
February-September


Eucrypta
 
Common eucrypta
Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia var. chrysanthemifolia
Boraginaceae
(Borage family)
March-June


Eulobus
   
California sun cup, Mustard evening primrose
Eulobus californicus
Onagraceae
(Evening primrose family)
April-May


Euphorbia
     
Red-gland spurge
Euphorbia melanadenia
Euphorbiaceae
(Spurge family)
December-May
Petty spurge *
Euphorbia peplus
Euphorbiaceae
(Spurge family)
May-July


Ficus
 
Edible fig *
Ficus carica
Moracea
(Mulberry family)
February-March


Frangula
   
Coffeeberry
Frangula californica ssp. californica
Rhamnaceae
(Buckthorn family)
May-July


Fraxinus
 
California ash
Fraxinus dipetala
Oleaceae
(Olive family)
March-June


Funastrum
   
Climbing milkweed (VTR)
Funastrum cynanchoides var. hartwegii
Apocynaceae
April-July


Galium
     
Narrow-leaved bedstraw
Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium
Rubiaceae
(Madder family)
April-June
Annual bedstraw
Galium aparine
Rubiaceae (Madder family)

March-July


Gilia
   
Globe gilia
Gilia capitata ssp. abrotanifolia
Polemoniaceae
(Phlox family)
April-July


Helianthus
     
Common sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
February-October


Hesperoyucca
   
Chaparral yucca
Hesperoyucca whipplei
Agavaceae
(Agave family)
April-June


Heteromeles
 
Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia
Rosaceae
(Rose family)
June-July


Heterotheca
     
Telegraph weed
Heterotheca grandiflora
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
June-October


Hirschfeldia
   
Shortpod mustard, Mediterranean mustard *
Hirshcfeldia incana
Brassicaceae
(Mustard family)
May-October


Hypochaeris
     
Smooth cat's ear *
Hypochaeris glabra
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
March-June
Rough cat's ear *
Hypochaeris radicata
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
May-November


Keckiella
   
Heartleaf penstemon
Keckiella cordifolia
Plantaginaceae
(Plantain family)
May-July


Lactuca
 
Prickly lettuce *
Lactuca serriola
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
May-September


Lamarckia
 
Goldentop grass
Lamarckia aurea
Poaceae
(Grass family)
February-May


Lathyrus
   
Canyon sweet pea, Pacific pea
Lathyrus vestitus var. vestitus
Fabaceae
(Pea family)
April-June


Lepidium
   
Wild peppergrass
Lepidium virginicum ssp. menziesii
Brassicaceae
(Mustard family)
March-August


Lilium
     
Humboldt lily
Lilium humboldtii ssp. ocellatum
Liliaceae
(Lily family)
June-July


Lithophragma
     
Woodland star (V)
Lithophragma affine
Saxifragaceae
(Saxifrage family)
February-June
Bolander's woodland star
Lithophragma bolanderi
Saxifragaceae
(Saxifrage family)
February-July


Lomatium
     
Shiny lomatium
Lomatium lucidum
Apiaceae
(Carrot family)
January-April


Lonicera
   
Southern honeysuckle
Lonicera subspicata var. denudata
Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle family)
April-June


Lupinus
     
Stinging lupine
Lupinus hirsutissimus
Fabaceae
(Pea family)
March-May

     
Collar lupine
Lupinus truncatus
Fabaceae
(Pea family)
March-May


Malacothamnus
   
Bush mallow
Malacothamnus fasciculatus
Malvaceae

April-July


Malacothrix
 
Short-leaved cliff aster
Malacothrix saxatilis var. tenuifolia
Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
April-August


Malosma
   
Laurel sumac
Malosma laurina
Anacardiaceae
(Sumac family)
June-July


Marah
     
Wild cucumber
Marah macrocarpa
Cucurbitaceae
(Gourd family)
January-April


Medicago
 
Black medick *
Medicago lupulina
Fabaceae
(Pea family)
April-July


Melilotus
     
White sweetclover *
Melilotus albus
Fabaceae
(Pea family)
May-September
Sourclover *
Melilotus indica
Fabaceae
(Pea family)
April-October


Mentzelia
   
Giant blazing star
Mentzelia laevicaulis
Loasaceae
(Loasa family)
June-October

   
Stickleaf
Mentzelia micrantha
Loasaceae
(Loasa family)
April-May


Micranthes
   
California saxifrage
Micranthes californica
Saxifragaceae
(Saxifrage family)
February-June


Mirabilis
     
Wishbone bush
Mirabilis laevis var. crassifolia
Nyctaginaceae
(Four o'clock family)
December-June


Nasturtium
 
Watercress
Nasturtium officinale
Brassicaceae (Mustard family)
March-November


Nemophila
   
Baby blue eyes
Nemophila menziesii var. menziesii
Boraginaceae
(Borage family)
February-June


Nerium
 
Common oleander *
Nerium oleander
Apocynaceae
(Dogbane family)
June-September


Nicotiana
 
Tree tobacco *
Nicotiana glauca
Solanaceae
April-September


Opuntia
   
Vasey's prickly pear
Opuntia vaseyi
Cactaceae (Cactus family)
May-June


Oxalis
     
California oxalis
Oxalis californica
Oxalidaceae
(Oxalis family)
February-June
Bermuda buttercup *
Oxalis pes-caprae
Oxalidaceae (Oxalis family)
November-March


Pennisetum
 
Fountaingrass *
Pennisetum setaceum
Poaceae (Grass family)
July-October


Penstemon
     
Foothill penstemon
Penstemon heterophyllus
Plantaginaceae
(Plantain family)
April-June
Showy penstemon (VTR)
Penstemon spectabilis
Plantaginaceae (Plantain family)
April-June


Pentagramma
   
Goldback fern
Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis
Pteridaceae
(Brake family)


Phacelia
     
Caterpillar phacelia
Phacelia cicutaria var. hispida
Boraginaceae (Borage family)
March-June
Large-flowered phacelia
Phacelia grandiflora
Boraginaceae
(Borage family)
April-June

 
Longstalk phacelia
Phacelia longipes
Boraginaceae
(Borage family)
April-July
 
 
Canterbury bells
Phacelia minor
Boraginaceae
(Borage family)
March-June

 
Branching phacelia
Phacelia ramosissima
Boraginaceae (Borage family)
March-September


Platanus
   
Western Sycamore
Platanus racemosa
Platanaceae (Sycamore family)
February-April


Polypodium
   
California polypody
Polypodium californicum
Polypodiaceae
(Polypody family)


Prunus
     
Hollyleaf cherry
Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia
Rosaceae
(Rose family)
April-May


Pseudognaphalium
   
Two-tone everlasting
Pseudognaphalium biolettii
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
January-May

   
California everlasting
Pseudognaphalium californicum
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
January-July

 
Feltleaf everlasting
Pseudognaphalium microcephalum
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
July-October


Pseudotsuga
     
Big-cone douglas fir
Pseudotsuga macrocarpa
Pinaceae
(Pine family)


Pteris
   
Ladder brake *
Pteris vittata
Pteridaceae
(Brake family)


Pterostegia
     
Threadstem
Pterostegia drymarioides
Polygonaceae
(Buckwheat family)
March-July


Quercus
     
Coast live oak
Quercus agrifolia var. agrifolia
Fagaceae (Oak family)
March-April
Canyon live oak
Quercus chrysolepis
Fagaceae (Oak family)
April-May


Rafinesquia
   
California chicory
Rafinesquia californica
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
April-July


Rhamnus
   
Hollyleaf redberry
Rhamnus ilicifolia
Rhamnaceae
(Buckthorn family)
March-June


Rhus
     
Lemonadeberry
Rhus integrifolia
Anacardiaceae
(Sumac family)
February-May
Sugar bush
Rhus ovata
Anacardiaceae
(Sumac family)
March-May


Ribes
     
Hillside gooseberry
Ribes californicum var. hesperium
Grossulariaceae
(Gooseberry family)
January-March
Chaparral currant
Ribes malvaceum var. viridifolium
Grossulariaceae
(Gooseberry family)
January-May


Ricinus
   
Castor bean (Above center: female flowers; Above R: male flowers) *
Ricinus communis
Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)
Most months
   


Romneya
 
Matilija poppy
Romneya coulteri
Papaveraceae (Poppy family)
May-July


Rubus
     
Himalaya-berry *
Rubus armeniacus
Rosaceae (Rose family)
May-July


Salix
   
Goodding's black willow
Salix gooddinigii
Salicaceae
(Willow family)
March-April


Saltugilia
   
Southern woodland-gilia
Saltugilia australis
Polemoniaceae
(Phlox family)
March-June


Salvia
     
White sage
Salvia apiana
Lamiaceae
(Mint family)
April-July
Black sage
Salvia mellifera
Lamiaceae
(Mint family)
April-July


Sambucus
   
Mexican elderberry
Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea
Adoxaceae
(Muskroot family)
March-September


Sanicula
     
Snakeroot (V)
Sanicula arguta
Apiaceae (Carrot)
March-April
Turkey pea
Sanicula tuberosa
Apiaceae
(Carrot family)
March-June


Schinus
 
Peruvian pepper *
Schinus molle
Anacardiaceae
(Sumac family)
Spring


Selaginella
   
Bigelow's spike-moss
Selaginella bigelovii
Selaginellaceae
(Spike-moss family)


Senecio
 
Common groundsel *
Senecio vulgaris
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
Most months


Silene
     
Windmill pink *
Silene gallica
Caryophyllaceae
(Pink family)
February-June
Mexican pink
Silene laciniata ssp. laciniata
Caryophyllaceae
(Pink family)
May-July


Sisymbrium
     
Hedge mustard *
Sisymbrium officinale
Brassicaceae
(Mustard family)
April-July
Oriental mustard *
Sisymbrium orientale
Brassicaceae
(Mustard family)
April-July


Solanum
     
White nightshade
Solanum douglasii
Solanaceae
(Nightshade family)
Most of the year
Purple nightshade
Solanum xanti
Solanaceae (Nightshade family)
February-June


Solidago
   
California goldenrod
Solidago velutina ssp. californica
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
July-October


Sonchus
 
Sow-thistle *
Sonchus oleraceus
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
Most months


Spartium
 
Spanish broom *
Spartium junceum
Fabaceae
(Pea family)
April-June


Stachys
   
White hedge-nettle
Stachys albens
Lamiaceae (Mint family)
May-October


Stellaria
 
Chickweed *
Stellaria media
Caryophyllaceae
(Pink family)
February-September


Stephanomeria
   
Chicory-leaved stephanomeria
Stephanomeria cichoriacea
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
August-October


Stipa
 
Giant stipa
Stipa coronata
Poaceae
(Grass family)
April-June


Thysanocarpus
     
Fringe-pod
Thysanocarpus curvipes
Brassicaceae
(Mustard family)
March-May


Torilis
   
Field hedge-parsley *
Torilis arvensis
Brassicaceae
(Mustard family)
March-May


Toxicodendron
     
Western poison oak
Toxicodendron diversilobum
Anacardiaceae
(Sumac family)
March-May


Turritis
   
Tower mustard
Turritis glabra
Brassicaceae
(Mustard family)
March-July


Umbellularia
     
California bay
Umbellularia californica
Lauraceae
(Laurel family)
December-May


Uropappus
   
Silver puffs
Uropappus lindleyi
Asteraceae
(Sunflower family)
April-June


Vinca
 
Periwinkle *
Vinca major
Apocynaceae
(Dogbane family)
March-July



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