Category: Plants

May 2012

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A New Treasure
This month, MMPC celebrates its twelfth anniversary. Often, in the course of those twelve years, we have made reference to the many “treasures” on More Mesa – birds, animals, plants, habitats, views etc. And now, just in time to celebrate our anniversary, we are delighted to report that yet another treasure has been found!

The discoverer is Richard Figueroa, a restoration ecologist with UCSB’s Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration (CCBER). Richard was out on More Mesa looking for seeds. Why seeds? Because More Mesa is a valuable seed bank for plants used in the restoration of coastal areas on, or around, the University. Therefore, Richard and his colleagues visit More Mesa on a regular basis. On one of these visits, Richard found Juncus balticus, or Baltic Rush, in the area of the historical eastern kite nesting territory (G4, H4 on our sighting map).

Baltic Rush or Wire Rush is native to California, and found elsewhere in North America and beyond. It is a perennial wetland plant that grows in wet depressions, swales, moist meadows, sloughs, and around springs. It is most often found in areas that are flooded in spring and dry in fall. Moreover, Baltic Rush fixes atmospheric nitrogen, which makes it important in the nutrient dynamics of wetland plant communities.

Although Baltic Rush is often widespread, there is only limited anecdotal evidence for its occurrence in our area.  Specifically, this species has never appeared on any More Mesa plant list, including that of the recent Updated Biological Resources study (2008-2009).  Furthermore, there are no specimens, nor on-line e-records, for this species from Carpinteria to Point Conception on the mainland.  (There are specimens from the Channel Islands). All of the above make this a very exciting find!

Currently, Richard is collaborating with Dieter Wilkin of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden to gather the necessary specimens and data for inclusion of Juncus balticus in the herbarium at UCSB/CCBER. He has also provided a gallery of photos for our records, a few of which are shown below.

Thank you Richard … for your photos … and most especially for this new More Mesa treasure! .

Baltic Rush, Juncus balticus, on More Mesa
rush 1
rush 2
rush 3

March 2012

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Despite the lack of rain, signs of spring are beginning to appear on More Mesa. This Sunday, two butterfly species and two flowering plants were photographed.

More Mesa Native Plants – March, 2012
Lacy Phacelia Chaparral Clematis
clematis phacelia

Lacy Phacelia is a native annual, found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The common name is inspired by the lacy leaves, that consist of many deeply lobed leaflets. It is grows in a wide variety of habitat types, and tolerates dry conditions well. The nectar-rich flowers, opening sequentially along the coiled heads, provide a long flowering time for the many pollinators the flower attracts. Included in this group are honeybees, and hoverflies; the latter valuable because they eat aphids and other pests.

Chapparal (or Pipestem) Clematis is a deciduous vine, growing to 20 feet over other plants on slopes, chaparral, and woodland. It is found along the coast from San Francisco to Baja California, and inland to the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada at elevations less than 2000 meters. It prefers its roots to be in shady areas, and flowers in sunshine. It should not be confused with the other California native clematis, Creek Clematis, which as its names suggests, grows along the sides of creeks and in other moist areas.
More Mesa Native Butterflies – March, 2012
Bramble Green Hairstreak Marine Blue
clematis phacelia

The Bramble (or Coastal) Green Hairstreak is found along coastal California, rarely inland. The range is small and thus population sites should be protected. On More Mesa, it has been seen perched on Deer Weed, which grows in great number in the sandy soils of the southwestern corner of More Mesa. Adults fly in spring from March to May/June. Caterpillar host plants include Deer Weed and Buckwheats. Cliff Buckwheat grows in the same area in abundance. Another butterfly, Acmon Blue, also uses these hosts, and is also found in this area.

Marine (or Striped) Blue butterflies are found in the southwest deserts, and on the south and central coast of California. In the north, they fly from April to September, and in the south for most of the year. Flowers and seedpods of host plants are eaten by caterpillars, after eggs have been laid singly on flower buds. Host plants include many legumes, of which Deer Weed and non-native Vetch (Vicia) species can be found on More Mesa. An imported plant, Plumbago, is a frequent host. It is a globally secure species, with few sparse populations in its range.

December 2011

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As another fairly quiet year on More Mesa draws to a close, and as has been our custom, we offer highlights of 2011.

  • Updated Biological Resources Study
    More than eighteen months after field work for the Updated Biological Resources Study was completed, a draft report was issued by Santa Barbara County. The 429 page report, prepared by Rincon Consultants, concludes More Mesa is just as environmentally sensitive as was reported in the original 1981 study by UCSB.  Details of the report can be found here. In general, Rincon found the following:

    • An equivalent assemblage of plants and plant species
    • More bird species.
    • Kite activity on More Mesa is just as important as ever, especially from a regional perspective.
    • Kite prey are abundant.
    • Wetlands persist in the same areas as previously reported, and are more extensive.

  • More Mesa For Sale
    As we have reported for several years, More Mesa remains for sale, with the asking price still at $40 Million.  As far as we know, it has not been sold.  As always, we will keep you informed of any developments in this area.

  • Vernal Pool Feature
    In May of this year we introduced a new “Vernal Pool” feature on our web site here. This feature includes general information on vernal pools (definition, life forms in pools etc.) and some specific details on vernal pools of California, Santa Barbara and More Mesa.

As always, thank you all for your wonderful support, and for loving this very special place.
Our warmest holiday wishes.

More Mesa Native Plants – December
Deerweed Dune Primrose
deerweed beach primrose

Deerweed is a small branching perennial shrub growing to a height of about three to four feet. It is drought tolerant, helps to reduce erosion, and is often one of the first pioneer species after a fire, before it is eventually replaced by other natives. It is found in coastal strand, coastal sage scrub and chaparral below 5000′, from Baja California to Humboldt County.

As a member of the pea family, Deeerweed is able to fix nitrogen. The flowers are typical of the pea family, with yellow flowers that bloom starting from the first rains through August.

The flowers are attractive to many butterflies such as Silvery Blue, Gray Hairstreak, Acmon Blue, Funereal Duskywing, Orange Sulfur, and Bramble Hairstreak (in photo).

Dune or Beach Evening Primrose grows naturally on beach dunes, and thus requires well-drained sandy soils. It is low spreading, with a maximum height of about sixteen inches. It can take both full sun and partial shade, and is drought-tolerant.

Flowering for several months from the first rains to August, it opens during the day, and thrives over a wide range of weather conditions (foggy to sunny). As the blooms die, they turn an attractive orange. The leaves are grayish-green.

This plant grows in the southwest corner of More Mesa where marine sands have been-deposited by the wind creating a “coastal dune scrub habitat” that includes other plants typical of that habitat type.

November 2011

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Plant List
An online plant list for More Mesa has now been compiled and loaded onto the web site. The entries on the list are derived from the 1982 and 2010 Biological Resources Studies, a list from the Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens, and a few other observations. Please click here for the list.

Native Plants Blooming on More Mesa
Whenever possible, the monthly news will feature some of the plants blooming on More Mesa at that time. Plants blooming in November are for the most part those that bloom year round, and are not limited to spring and summer flowerings.

More Mesa Native Plants – November
California Poppy – Coastal Variety California Bush Sunflower
poppy sunflower

California Poppies have showy flowers and fine gray-green leaves. The flowers unfurl from a pointed cap, after which the petals open in sunshine, and close in the evening or cooler weather. Sometimes bees rest in the closed petals overnight. In warmer areas especially with coastal fog, they grow as several-year perennials. This variety is resistant to powdery mildew, and has yellowish edging to the petals. On seeding, the long and pointed capsules twist as they dry, to pop and scatter the seeds.

Bush Sunflower is a perennial shrub growing mostly on coastal bluffs and open slopes in coastal sage scrub and chaparral below 2000 feet. This shrub grows to a height of about four feet. Flowering can start as early as the first rains in fall, and continue through the moist months of spring. Under the right conditions, some flowering can even extend throughout the whole year. In hot and dry conditions, the plant ceases flowering and may lose leaves. Seeds are set during summer, and attract many native birds.

September 2011

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Stories of More Mesa
Last month we shared one of our “Stories of More Mesa”; stories that tell the world what More Mesa means to the people who cherish it.  This month we present a second story, a different story, but the same theme. (If you, too, have a story you would like to share, please contact us here.)

In my “other life” when I held a job, raised three kids and lived in the hustle and bustle of L.A., I hurried off to the mountains, the desert, or an peaceful seaside community every chance I could.  I drove one way for 5-20 hours, threw out a sleeping bag, slept, hiked, climbed, ran rivers and reveled in the wilderness … trees, free flowing rivers, wild flowers, wild animals and magnificent birds.  There were few structures, no traffic, few people and the whole outdoors to admire, appreciate and soak in. Now that I am twice as old as I was then, I still need the wilderness I sought in that other life.  But, my body is not as willing to jump into cars and drive 20 hours, sleep on the ground, climb, hike or run rivers.  But it’s more than happy to walk on More Mesa.  And although there are places where houses can be seen, there are also many places where you see only the mountains and the ocean.  And there are trees and wild flowers and wild animals.  There are magnificent oaks, incredible raptors, snakes, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks and bobcats. I can feel the rhythm of the seasons, the wind, the sun, and experience the quiet.  In short, it feels just like a wilderness … a wilderness in my backyard.

kestrel
sunset