Botanizing Mt. Diablo

I hit the peak of Mt. Diablo with some real botanists on Sunday. The mountain was seriously brown, but there was still plenty of floral action happening, along with some cool butterflies and birds. Saw all manner of new things, including a new Clarkia, and some gilia-like things I'm still not sure of. We saw some Mt. Diablo Jewelflower that was big and green and almost nothing like the little red guys I saw on Eagle Peak a month ago. Also, the endemic Mt. Diablo Phacelia! Good day all around.

Posted on 29 April, 2009 06:38 by kueda kueda

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Purple False Gilia (Allophyllum gilioides)

Observer

kueda

Date

April 26, 2009 01:22 PM PDT

Description

One of two gilia-like plants we saw and couldn't decide on. Calyx maybe 8mm.

I just stepped through my key again (Beidleman & Kozloff), and I got to Allophyllum gilioides. Anyone care to confirm? Wish I'd gotten a better pic of the leaves. Check out the CalPhoto pics.

Photos / Sounds

What

California Gilia (Gilia achilleifolia)

Observer

kueda

Date

April 26, 2009 11:25 AM PDT

Description

Fairly small flowers. Calyx maybe 8mm.

Photos / Sounds

What

Purple Chinese Houses (Collinsia heterophylla)

Observer

kueda

Date

April 26, 2009 01:08 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

No photos or sounds

What

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)

Observer

kueda

Date

April 26, 2009 02:52 PM PDT

Description

Pretty cool. Haven't seen this bird in years.

Photos / Sounds

What

Checker Lily (Fritillaria affinis)

Observer

kueda

Date

April 26, 2009 01:01 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Edith's Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha)

Observer

kueda

Date

April 26, 2009 01:46 PM PDT

Description

Plenty of checkerspots flitting around the mountain.

Photos / Sounds

What

Red Larkspur (Delphinium nudicaule)

Observer

kueda

Date

April 26, 2009 12:58 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

Observer

kueda

Date

April 26, 2009 12:46 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Divaricate Phacelia (Phacelia divaricata)

Observer

kueda

Date

April 26, 2009 12:44 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon)

Observer

kueda

Date

April 26, 2009 12:26 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Interior Live Oak (Quercus wislizeni)

Observer

kueda

Date

April 26, 2009 12:13 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Brewer's Phacelia (Phacelia breweri)

Observer

kueda

Date

April 26, 2009 12:07 PM PDT

Description

ID based on the pinately lobed lower leaves.

Photos / Sounds

What

Mount Diablo Jewelflower (Streptanthus hispidus)

Observer

kueda

Date

April 2009

Photos / Sounds

What

Canyon Live Oak (Quercus chrysolepis)

Observer

kueda

Date

April 26, 2009 01:28 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Winecup Clarkia (Clarkia purpurea)

Observer

kueda

Date

April 26, 2009 11:42 AM PDT

Description

One of many cool flowers along the North Peak Trail, but pretty much the only one I was able to photograph to my satisfaction.

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