Jack's Pond, part 2

There was one last plant we learned about before we went home from Jack's Pond....

Jack's Pond

Today, our family had a lovely time visiting Jack's Pond! Here are some native plants that we saw along the way:

Artemisia californica, also known as California sagebrush.

Timothy correctly identified this aromatic plant as a plant that Native Americans used to make tea. It was also used as a spice in foods. We have a small specimen growing in our front yard and I love to smell it!

Heteromeles arbutifolia, also known as Toyon, Christmas berry or California holly.

This plant grew in large bushes all around the park. They were very lovely and would make a wonderful addition to a yard. Native Americans also used to eat the berries of this plant. I suppose many other people thought they were nice plants as well, because there is a special law protecting it! According to Wikipedia, "In the 1920s, collecting toyon branches for Christmas became so popular in Los Angeles, California that the State of California passed a law forbidding collecting on public land or on any land not owned by the person picking the plant without the landowner's written permission (CA Penal Code § 384a)." It's a good thing we didn't try to take any home!

Mimulus aurantiacus, the Sticky monkey-flower.

We can tell you from experience that the Stick Monkey-flower is, indeed, very sticky.

Opuntia occidentalis, also known as a Prickly pear.

The thick flat structure you see pictured is called a "cladode". It looks like a leaf, and indeed it carries out photosynthesis like a leaf, but it is actually part of the stem!

Xylococcus bicolor, also known as a Mission manzanita.

This is a lovely member of the chaparral plant species. Apparently, coyotes will eat it's berries. I didn't even know coyotes ate berries.

Marah macrocarpus, also known as manroot, wild cucumber, or "Old man in the ground".

Timothy identified this one as well, I would not have noticed it if he hadn't! This is a very strange plant; vines grow from a large, bulbous central root which can weigh over 200 pounds. It grows large spiny fruits, but it is poisonous.

My family may want to look at the list of plants that grow at Jack's Pond to see if you can remember any other plants we saw!