Plants of Shelf Road/Valley View Trail, Ojai

Below are photographs of most of the plants found growing along the Valley View Trail/Shelf Road just north of Ojai, California.   The native and naturalized plants are the primary focus of this webpage, with emphasis on those that are native.

Shelf Road is located on the south toe of Nordhoff Ridge starting at the north end of Signal Street and ending at Gridley Road.   Nordhoff Ridge is the western part of the Topatopa Mountains, an east-west trending mountain range that is part of the Western Transverse Ranges.   The plants are listed alphabetically, grouped by basic flower color (whitish, yellowish, reddish, bluish, greenish, to brownish).

All photographs are by David L. Magney.

This webpage was created on 2 March 2010, and last updated on 18 March 2010.

Whitish Flowers

Botanical Name:   Adenostoma fasciculatum Common Name:   Chamise Family:   Rosaceae (Rose family) Habit:   evergreen shrub Leaves:   narrow and relatively long, needle-like, in fascicles (little bundles attached at base) Inflorescence:   dense panicle Flowers:   complete, actinomorphic (radial pattern), 5 sepals, 5 petals, numerous stamens Blooming Period:   MAY-JUN Fruit:   Seeds:   numerous, tiny Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   If you see this shrub, you know you are in chaparral habitat as it is the most common shrub of chaparral vegetation, and is the most widespread chaparral shrub species in California.
Botanical Name:   Astragalus pomonensis Common Name:   Pomona Locoweed Family:   Fabaceae (Pea family) Habit:   Perennial herb, with multiple stems emerging from the roots Leaves:   Pinnately compound, with over 22 sepals per leaf.   The leaves are long and glabrous (hairless), and dark green in color. Inflorescence:   Raceme Flowers:   Blooming Period:   (FEB)APR-MAY Fruit:   Inflated seed pods Seeds:   Abundance:   RARE in Ventura County Notes:   Its stems are hollow.
Botanical Name:   Baccharis pilularis ssp. consanguinea Common Name:   Coyote Brush Family:   Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Habit:   Evergreen shrub to 3 m high Leaves:   entire to toothed, 8-55 mm long, oblanceolate to obovate Inflorescence:   cluster of small heads in a leafy panicle Flowers:   white, monoeceous, incomplete (male and female flowers in differnt heads on same plant) Blooming Period:   AUG-DEC Fruit:   ribbed achenes 1-2 mm long with plumose papus 5.5-9 mm long Seeds:   1-2 mm long achene Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Baccharis salicifolia Common Name:   Mulefat Family:   Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Habit:   Erect evergreen shrub Leaves:   lanceolate to linear, toothed Inflorescence:   pyramid-shaped to rounded panicle of heads Flowers:   staminate flowers (10)17-48; corollas (3)4-6 mm long; pistillate flowers 50-150, corollas 2.2-3.5 mm Blooming Period:   FEB-DEC Fruit:   0.8-1.3 mm, glabrous with 5 ribs; pappus 4.2-6 mm long Seeds:   0.8-1.3 mm-long achenes with 4.2-6 mm-long pappus Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   A wetland shrub of riparian (streamside) and seep habitats.
Botanical Name:   Brickellia californica Common Name:   California Brickellbush Family:   Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Habit:   Evergreen shrub, 5-10 dm high Leaves:   triangular-ovate sometimes with a cordate (heart-shaped) base, alternate Inflorescence:   heads in leafy panicle Flowers:   8-18 per head Blooming Period:   (JUL)AUG-OCT Fruit:   plomose achenes to 3 mm long Seeds:   Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Often on rocky banks, in shale and sandstone.
Botanical Name:   Calystegia macrostegia ssp. cyclostegia Common Name:   Coastal Scrub Morning-glory Family:   Convolvulaceae (Morning-glory family) Habit:   Perennial vine to 9 m long from a woody caudex (underground stem). Leaves:   <13 cm-long triangular shaped, with leaf-lobes 2-tipped Inflorescence:   1-several-flowered axillary raceme Flowers:   rotate to funnel-shaped, white fading pink, pink tinged along pleats; 2 round leafy bracts cover sepals Blooming Period:   APR-JUL Fruit:   capsule Seeds:   Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   climbing over shrubs, very similar looking to other Calystegia macrostegia subspecies and Calystegia purpurata; bracts are key identification feature..
Botanical Name:   Calystegia purpurata ssp. purpurata Common Name:   Climbing Morning-glory Family:   Convolvulaceae (Morning-glory family) Habit:   Perennial vine Leaves:   1.5-5 cm-long triangular to cordate Inflorescence:   1-5-flowered axillary raceme Flowers:   rotate to funnel-shaped, white with purplish stripe along pleats; 2 small, linear, leafy bracts below sepals Blooming Period:   FEB-JUL Fruit:   capsule Seeds:   Abundance:   Scattered in Ventura County Notes:   climbing over shrubs, very similar looking to Calystegia macrostegia; bracts are key identification feature..
Botanical Name:   Ceanothus megacarpus ssp. megacarpus Common Name:   Bigpod Ceanothus Family:   Rhmnaceae (Buckhorn family) Habit:   Evergreen shrub to 4 m high Leaves:   Entire to toothed, obovate, thick, dark green, under2.6 cm long, alternate Inflorescence:   Dense axillary and terminal racemes, each less than 2 cm long Flowers:   tiny (2-3 mm across) white to pale lavender Blooming Period:   JAN-APR Fruit:   3-12 mm (which is large) capsule lacking any distinct ridges but with prominant horns near tip. Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Looks very much like C. crassifolius and C. cuneatus except for size of fruit and receptacle.
Botanical Name:   Cercocarpus betuloides ssp. betuloides Common Name:   Birchleaf Mountain Mahogany Family:   Rosaceae (Rose family) Habit:   Large evergreen shrub to 8 m high Leaves:   Simple, obovate to round blade, finely toothed to serrate margins, with 4-7 prominant lateral leaf veins; grayish green above, paler beneath Inflorescence:   1-3 flowered in auxillary clusters Flowers:   Whitish Blooming Period:   MAR-APR Fruit:   Plumose, twisted achene Abundance:   Common in Ventura County
Botanical Name:   Clematis lasiantha Common Name:   Pipestem Clematis Family:   Ranunculaceae (Crowfoot family) Habit:   Deciduous perennial vine 3-4 m long Leaves:   Pinnately compound with 3-5 leaflets, each with 3 lobes, toothed, to 3-5 cm long Inflorescence:   Solitary, axillary Flowers:   Cream colored; 4 sepals 10-21 mm long, hairy on both surfaces; 50-100 stamens/staminodes, each 7-13 mm long Blooming Period:   JAN(APR)-(MAY)JUN Fruit:   Numerous hairy achenes with plumose style Seeds:   achenes Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   climbing over large shrubs.
Botanical Name:   Cryptantha decipiens Common Name:   Gravel Forget-Me-Not Family:   Boraginaceae (Borage family) Habit:   Slender loosely branched strigose to rough-hairy annual herb growing between 10 and 40 cm high Leaves:   Linear, entire, alternate, gray-green, spiny Inflorescence:   Scorpoid raceme Flowers:   White Blooming Period:   MAR-MAY Fruit:   Nutlets, usually 1 to 2 per flower Seeds:   same as for fruit Abundance:   Uncommon in Ventura County Notes:   Found in open, sandy areas of grasslands and shrublands <1,500 m.
Botanical Name:   Cryptantha intermedia Common Name:   Common Forget-Me-Not Family:   Boraginaceae (Borage family) Habit:   Strigose and rough-hairy to bristly annual herb, 10-60 cm, branched from base Leaves:   Linear, entire, alternate, gray-green, spiny Inflorescence:   Scorpoid raceme Flowers:   White, corolla appendages yellow Blooming Period:   MAR-MAY Fruit:   Nutlets, usually 1 to 4 per flower Seeds:   same as for fruit Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Found in open, sandy to rocky soils of woodlands and coniferous forests <2,800 m.
Botanical Name:   Cuscuta californica var. californica Common Name:   Dodder Family:   Convolvulaceae (Morning-glory family), sometimes separated into the Cuscutaceae (Dodder family) Habit:   Vining/twining, stingy, parasite on herbs and shrubs Leaves:   None, stems orange, lacks chlorophyll Inflorescence:   Axillary cymes (originating from a leaf-stem axil). Flowers:   White, corolla with 4 to 5 lobes, complete, superior Blooming Period:   MAY-AUG Fruit:   Capsules or berry-like Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   While this plant germinates from seed in the ground, as soon as the stems make contact with a host plant the ground connection wilts.   It gets all of its nutrients from the host plant, a true parasite.
Botanical Name:   Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum Common Name:   Leafy California Buckwheat Family:   Polygonaceae (Knotweed family) Habit:   Spreading, rounded, evergreen shrub to 20 dm high Leaves:   Linear, entire, alternate, gray-green, 0.6-1.2 cm long, 0.1-0.4 cm wide Inflorescence:   Compound umbel Flowers:   White to rose, hairy outside, 2.5-3 mm Blooming Period:   YEARROUND Fruit:   Achenes, 1.8–2.5 mm, glabrous Seeds:   same as for fruit Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Important honey plant (Buckwheat Honey).
Botanical Name:   Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia var. chrysanthemifolia Common Name:   Common Eucrypta Family:   Boraginaceae (Borage family, formerly in the Hydrophyllaceae) Habit:   Annual herb to 9 dm high Leaves:   Pinnagely compound (1-3 times), lobes 7-13, lower cauline (on the stem) leaves opposite, clasping Inflorescence:   Terminal or axillary relaxed cyme with 8-15 flowers Flowers:   White to yellowish to 8 mm Blooming Period:   MAR-JUN Fruit:   Capsule Seeds:   5-15 per capsule Abundance:   Scattered in Ventura County Notes:   Very common in burn areas.
Botanical Name:   Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium Common Name:   Chaparral Bedstraw Family:   Rubiaceae (Madder family) Habit:   Perennial herb, sprawling, often over other plants Leaves:   Simple, hooked hairs on edges of leaves, in whorls of 4 per node Inflorescence:   dioeceous (male and female flowers on separate plants), axillary Flowers:   cream to yellowish, incomplete, 4 merous Blooming Period:   (FEB)APR-AUG(OCT) Fruit:   tiny hairy (spiny) balls Seeds:   Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   The fruit is generally needed to be able to identify Galium species.
Botanical Name:   Hesperoyucca whipplei Common Name:   Our Lord's Candle Family:   Agavaceae (Agave family) Habit:   Cespitose evergreen shrub to 100 cm high; with flowering stalk it reaches another 3 m Leaves:   Gray-green spine-tipped linear to 100 cm long Inflorescence:   Terminal many-flowered panicle Flowers:   White to cream, 3-merous, actinomorphic, complete, to xx cm across Blooming Period:   MAY-JUL Fruit:   Capsule Seeds:   numerous, flat, often sterile Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   The flowers and young flower stalks are edible.   The leaves can be used for fiber; I have made a small rope out of the leaves.   The Yucca Moth is the primary pollinator, with specific moth species that are host specific to each species of Yucca.   Typically found on rocky, exposed, south-facing slopes.
Botanical Name:   Heteromeles salicifolia [mostly commonly referred to as Heteromeles arbutifolia] Common Name:   Toyon Family:   Rosaceae (Rose family) Habit:   Evergreen shrub to 5 m Leaves:   Glossy dark green with serrated leaf margins, elliptic to oblong, 4-11 cm long Inflorescence:   Terminal many-flowered panicle Flowers:   White to cream, actinomorphic, complete, to xx cm across Blooming Period:   APR-JUN Fruit:   Pome, bright red when ripe, mealy, fruits are long lasting, from NOV-JAN. Seeds:   brown, compressed, 3 to 6 per fruit Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:
Botanical Name:   Malacothrix saxatilis var. tenuifolia Common Name:   Tenuated Cliff Desertdandelion Family:   Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Habit:   Sprawling perennial herb from woody root to 60 dm high Leaves:   cauline narrow, generally toothed or lobes sharp, tip acute Inflorescence:   Terminal and axillary heads Flowers:   White with purplish central strip, ligulate flowers only, 13-20 mm long, outer corollas exserted 8-14 mm long Blooming Period:   MAR-SEP Fruit:   1.3-2.5 mm, minutely spiny, straw-colored to purple-brown; outer pappus of irregular teeth, bristles 0 Seeds:   same as fruit Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   A member of the chicory tribe, which has only ligulate (strap-shaped) flowers.   The head actually contains many individual flowers, which look like petals, but look at the tips of the "petals" and you will see 5 small points, representing the original 5 petals that are now all fused together into one lopsided corolla.
Botanical Name:   Malosma laurina Common Name:   Laural Sumac Family:   Anacardiaceae (Sumac family) Habit:   Large evergreen shrub to 6 m high Leaves:   Green with red veins and petioles, young leaves bronze to red, leathery, simple, elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, 2-4.5 cm wide, trough shaped Inflorescence:   Terminal panicle Flowers:   White bisexual or unisexual Blooming Period:   JUN-JUL Fruit:   Capsule, 2-3 mm diameter Seeds:   Tiny Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Frost sensitive, often on southerly facing slopes.
Botanical Name:   Marah fabaceus var. agrestis Common Name:   California Man-root Family:   Cucurbitaceae (Cucumber family) Habit:   Perennial vine climbing over shrubs and trees, with stems to 5 m long from a large tuber Leaves:   Palmately lobed, cordate to rounded with 3-5 lobes, to 10 cm long Inflorescence:   Raceme Flowers:   White to cream, rotate, complete, to 12 mm across Blooming Period:   FEB-APR Fruit:   Spiny capsule, spheric, 4-5 cm across Seeds:   2-4 seeds per capsule, 18-24 mm long, ovate to oblong Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Often dominates site after wildfire; seeds are high in protein and valuable food source for woodrats and other small mammals.   The little white blooms on the leaves are from the Ceanothus bush above the vine and are not to be confused with the Man-root flowers.
Botanical Name:   Marah macrocarpus var. macrocarpus Common Name:   Large-fruited Man-root Family:   Cucurbitacaceae (Cucumber family) Habit:   Perennial vine, sprawling, often over other plants Leaves:   palmately lobed, large Inflorescence:   terminal raceme Flowers:   White to cream, complete, rotate Blooming Period:   FEB-APR Fruit:   large spiny balls (capsules) Seeds:   2-4 large oval, high in protein Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   The root can be the size of a man, hence the common name.   This vine is dominant in chaparral and coastal scrub the first couple of years following a wildfire and is a major source of protein for small mammals such as the Long-eared Woodrat.
Botanical Name:   Marrubium vulgare * Common Name:   White Horehound Family:   Lamiaceae (Mint family) Habit:   Perennial herb,subshrub to 6 dm high Leaves:   ovate to round, crenate, blade 1.5-5.5 cm, grayish, tomentose Inflorescence:   head-like cyme, in lf axils Flowers:   White, calyx 10-lobed, petals bilabiate, complete Blooming Period:   MAR-NOV Fruit:   Nutlets, tip truncate Seeds:   Abundance:   Common weed in Ventura County Notes:   Cultivated for flavoring, tea, candy.
Botanical Name:   Phacelia viscida var. albiflora Common Name:   White-flowered Viscid Phacelia Family:   Boraginaceae (Borage family) - formally in the Hydrophyllaceae Habit:   Erect annual herb to 70 cm high, with glandular (sticky) pubescence on the stems. Leaves:   Ovate outline with irregularly toothed margin, green, 10-100 mm long. Inflorescence:   Open scorpoid cyme Flowers:   Corolla limb 10-15 mm across, rotate to bell-shaped, white; style 3–10 mm long Blooming Period:   MAR-JUN Fruit:   Capsule 5-12 mm long, ovoid, beaked, puberulent; tip short-glandular-hairy Seeds:   Tiny (about 1 mm), pitted, 40-200/capsule Abundance:   Rare in Ventura County Notes:   A California endemic; glandular pubescence may cause dermititis, so don't touch this plant!   The "sap" from the glandular hairs will also stain clothing and paper brownish.   May be abundant in disturbed areas and after fires.
Botanical Name:   Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia Common Name:   Hollyleaf Cherry Family:   Rosaceae (Rose family) Habit:   Evergreen shrub to 9 m high Leaves:   Glossy green, ovate to round shaped, with spiny and wavy leaf margins, leaf blade is 16 to 120 mm long Inflorescence:   Dense panicle Flowers:   White, petal 1-3 mm long Blooming Period:   MAR-JUN Fruit:   Berry (cherry), bright red, pulp fleshy (edible), with large stone (seed) Seeds:   Large (about 1 cm diameter), 1/fruit Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Pulp of fruit and seed are both edible, but the seed needs to be ground up into a flower and cooked.
Botanical Name:   Pseudognaphalium biolettii Common Name:   Bicolored Everlasting Family:   Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Habit:   Perennial herb Leaves:   Entire, bicolored, pubescent, greenish above, white beneath, leaf base clasping stem. Inflorescence:   terminal raceme Flowers:   complete. Flowers are yellow; however, they are hidden by pearly white phyllaries Blooming Period:   JAN-MAY(JUN) Fruit:   plumose achene Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   Scattered in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Rafinesquia californica Common Name:   California Chicory Family:   Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Habit:   Erect annual herb to 15 dm high from a stout taproot. Leaves:   Leaves glabrous (lacking hairs); basal leaves oblong to oblanceolate, pinnately lobed; cauline leaves sessile, clasping, entire or toothed. Inflorescence:   Heads in cyme or panicle-like clusters Flowers:   White (dandelion - all ligulate flowers) or cream, often rose-tinged Blooming Period:   APR-JUL Fruit:   Beaked achenes with plumose bristles on top Seeds:   9-12 mm long achenes with seed part 4-5 mm long Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Like most species in the Chicory Tribe of the Sunflower family, it has milky sap.
Botanical Name:   Salvia apiana Common Name:   White Sage Family:   Lamiaceae (Mint family) Habit:   Spreading, open drought-deciduous shrub to 2 m high Leaves:   White eliptic to 10 cm long, very fragrant Inflorescence:   Open raceme Flowers:   White, zygomorphic, complete Blooming Period:   APR-JUL Fruit:   Capsule Seeds:   Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   This is the sage most desired by Native Americans for use in their ceremonies, such as saging to cleanse a person or place in preparation for a ceremony.
Botanical Name:   Sambucus mexicana [new name is Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis] Common Name:   Blue Elderberry Family:   Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle family) [sometimes placed in the Adoxaceae] Habit:   Large shrubs/small tree, to 8 m long high Leaves:   Palmately compound, with 3-7 leaflets, to 30 cm long Inflorescence:   Terminal panicle of cymes, ± flat-topped, 4-33 cm across Flowers:   Pale yellow to creamy white, complete, to 8 mm across Blooming Period:   MAR-SEP Fruit:   nearly black berry covered with densely white powder, making the fruit look bluish Seeds:   >6 seeds per capsule, 13-33 mm long, ovoid to oblong Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   The Chumash used the branches for flutes, drills (to start fires), and bows; the bark was used for fiber.   The fruit can be used to make jelly and wine.
Botanical Name:   Solanum douglasii Common Name:   Douglas Nightshade Family:   Solanaceae (Tomato family) Habit:   Erect perennial herb to 20 dm high Leaves:   Ovate, margins serrate to shallowly lobed, sometimes wavy Inflorescence:   Umbel Flowers:   White corolla with green dots at base, deeply lobed Blooming Period:   FEB-OCT Fruit:   Berry Seeds:   Numerous, approximately 2 mm long Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Fruit and foliage are toxic.
Botanical Name:   Toxicodendron diversilobum Common Name:   Western Poison Oak Family:   Anacardiaceae (Sumac family) Habit:   Deciduous vine to 25 m long, often climbing over shrubs and up tree trunks, or in dense thickets. Leaves:   Trifoliate, pinnately compound, glossy green above, turning deep red in fall/winter Inflorescence:   Auxillary panicle Flowers:   Yellow- to white-green, sepals green; ovate shaped, complete Blooming Period:   APR-MAY Fruit:   Drupe-like, spheric to ± compressed, glabrous to fine-bristly, creamy white, 1.5-6 mm in diameter Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Touching any part of the plant can cause mild to severe dermititus.   It is found in canyons and on slopes in chaparral, coastal scrub, and oak woodland habitats below 1,650 m.   Unsually found in shaded areas.

Yellowish Flowers

Botanical Name:   Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia Common Name:   Rancher's Fire, Common Fiddleneck Family:   Boraginaceae (Borage family) Habit:   Erect annual herb to 12 dm high, stems hirsute (stiff long hairs) on green stems Leaves:   Narrowly lanceolate to linear, entire, hirsute hairy, alternately arranged, sessile to short-petioled Inflorescence:   Scorpoid cyme Flowers:   Yellow, with orange dot at the base of each corolla lobe at throat Blooming Period:   FEB-APR Fruit:   Nutlets, generally 4 nutlets per flower, 2-3.5 mm long Seeds:   Same as for fruit, each nutlet surface tubercled and sometimes ridged Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:
Botanical Name:   Bloomeria crocea ssp. crocea Common Name:   Goldenstars Family:   Themidiaceae (Brodiaea family) Habit:   Perennial graminoid bulb Leaves:   entire, linear, strap-like Inflorescence:   Umbel Flowers:   3 sepals, 3 petals, golden yellow Blooming Period:   APR-JUN Fruit:   capsule Seeds:   Abundance:   Occasional in Ventura County Notes:
Botanical Name:   Brassica nigra * Common Name:   Black Mustard Family:   Brassicaceae (Mustard family) Habit:   Erect annual herb to 2 m high Leaves:   pinnately divided and lobed Inflorescence:   Terminal panicle Flowers:   4-merous (4 petals, 4 sepals), bright yellow Blooming Period:   (FEB)APR-JUL Fruit:   capsule Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   Common weed in Ventura County Notes:   seeds sown in the mid-1700s by Franciscan monks to mark their path up California coast between missions.
Botanical Name:   Camissonia californica Common Name:   Mustard Primrose Family:   Onagraceae (Evening Primrose family) Habit:   Erect annual herb to 180 cm high Leaves:   Linear Inflorescence:   Flowers:   4-merous (4 petals, 4 sepals), yellow, tinged red Blooming Period:   APR-MAY Fruit:   capsule Seeds:   Abundance:   Scattered in Ventura County Notes:   Grows in talus scree.
Botanical Name:   Centaurea solstitialis * Common Name:   Yellow Star-thistle Family:   Asteraceae:Cynareae (Sunflower family:Thistle tribe) Habit:   Erect annual herb to 10 dm high Leaves:   scabrous-bristly beneath tomentose hairs, 5-15 cm long, 1-2× lobed or dissected, generally lacking or withered at flowering Inflorescence:   heads disciform, 1–many, peduncled, in open, cyme-like clusters, subtended by stout yellow spines Flowers:   Yellow, actinomorphic, complete (outer flowers sterile), 13-20 mm long Blooming Period:   MAY-OCT Fruit:   Plumose achenes Seeds:   Glabrous achenes 2-3 mm long, dark brown, with white 2-4-mm-long pappus bristles on inner fruits only Abundance:   Common invasive exotic in Ventura County; native of southern Europe and Mediterranean Region Notes:   The thick 1-2-cm-long, yellow spines go right through your pants.   DANGEROUS plant to brush up against.
Botanical Name:   Chamomilla suaveolens [Matricaria discoidea] Common Name:   Pineapple Weed, Rayless Chamomile, Manzanilla Family:   Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Habit:   Pineapple-scented annual herb to 30 cm high Leaves:   Narrow, glabrous (hairless), sessile (lacking a petiole) to 5 cm long Inflorescence:   Conic discoid heads about 1 cm across Flowers:   Yellowish green, actinomorphic, 1-2 mm long (tiny) Blooming Period:   MAY-JUN Fruit:   Achenes with pappus crown narrow Seeds:   Achenes with 3-5 nerves, with linear brown glands.   The tip is truncate with a narrow pappus crown Abundance:   Scattered in Ventura County Notes:   There is debate over what name to use, Chamomilla suaveolens or Matricaria discoidea, as well as whether it is naturalized in California or a cosmopolitan species (native).
Botanical Name:   Deinandra fasciculata Common Name:   Fascicled Tarplant Family:   Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Habit:   Erect annual herb to 10 dm high Leaves:   Narrowly linear to needle-like, fascicled (grouped) along stem Inflorescence:   Terminal solitary head radiate Flowers:   5 ray flowers yellow; 6 disk flowers yellow Blooming Period:   MAY-SEP Fruit:   Achenes Seeds:   Achenes Abundance:   Common in south half of Ventura County Notes:
Botanical Name:   Emmenanthe penduliflora var. penduliflora Common Name:   Whispering Bells Family:   Boraginaceae (Borage family) Habit:   Erect annual herb with basal rosette, to 85 cm high Leaves:   Elipitic, alternate, crenately lobed Inflorescence:   Open scorpoid cyme Flowers:   Pale yellow, pendulous Blooming Period:   APR-JUL Fruit:   Capsule Seeds:   Abundance:   Occasional in Ventura County Notes:
Botanical Name:   Encelia californica Common Name:   California Bush Sunflower Family:   Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Habit:   Drought-deciduous shrub to 15 dm high Leaves:   Diamond-shaped to narrowly ovate, entire, leaf blade 3-6 cm long Inflorescence:   Terminal solitary head radiate Flowers:   15-25 ray flowers deep yellow, 15-35 mm long; numerous disk flowers brownish purple, 5-6 mm long Blooming Period:   FEB-JUN Fruit:   Achenes 5-7 mm long Seeds:   Achenes Abundance:   Common in south half of Ventura County Notes:   A dominant shrub of California Coastal Scrub on coastal southern California, usually on south-facing slopes.   It extends northward into San Luis Obispo County.
Botanical Name:   Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum Common Name:   Golden Yarrow Family:   Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Habit:   Rounded evergreen perennial herb/subshrub to 7 dm high Leaves:   Green to grayish-green, tomentose to glabrous above with age, obovate in shape and deeply 3-5 lobed to nearly 2-pinnately compund, leaf margins rolled under, 1-5 cm long Inflorescence:   Dense cluster of heads in a panicle, 10-30 or more heads per inflorescence Flowers:   Deep yellow, 4-6 ray flowers and 10-35 disk flowers per head; ligules of ray flowers 2-5 mm long, petals of disk flowers 2-3 mm long Blooming Period:   (FEB)APR-AUG(SEP) Fruit:   2-3 mm, pappus scales 5-14 Seeds:   Achenes, same as for fruit Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Widespread, throughout Ventura County.
Botanical Name:   Foeniculum vulgare Common Name:   Sweet Fennel Family:   Apiaceae (Carrot family) Habit:   Erect perennial herb/subshrub with multiple still, straight stems to 2 m high Leaves:   finely pinnately divided, bright green Inflorescence:   Umbel of umbells Flowers:   Pale yellow Blooming Period:   (Feb)May-Sep Fruit:   Ribbed achenes 3.5-4 mm long Seeds:   Same as above Abundance:   Common invasive exotic in Ventura County Notes:   Leaves and seeds are edible; leaves taste like licorice, seeds are anise.
Botanical Name:   Hazardia squarrosa var. obtusa [Haplopappus squarrosus var obtusus] Common Name:   Prickly Sawtooth Goldenbush Family:   Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Habit:   Erect, glabrous, resinous (sticky to the touch) evergreen shrub to 23 dm high Leaves:   Obovate (wider above the middle than below), alternate, toothed Inflorescence:   Raceme of heads of 18-30 flowers each with abruptly pointed and erect phyllaries Flowers:   Yellow, actinomorphic, complete Blooming Period:   SEP-NOV Fruit:   Achenes with a tan-colored pappus Seeds:   Achenes Abundance:   Occasional in Ventura County Notes:   Like many of the shrubs in the sunflower family, this shrub is a late summer-fall-blooming plant that attracts many insects.
Botanical Name:   Helianthus annuus Common Name:   Common Sunflower Family:   Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Habit:   Erect annual herb to 3 m high Leaves:   long-petioled, blade 10-40 cm, widely lanceolate to widely ovate, base generally ± cordate, tip obtuse to acute, margin serrate Inflorescence:   few to many terminal heads Flowers:   Yellow zygomorphic (15-many) ray flowers, ligules over 2.5 cm long, and golden yellow actinomorphic disk flowers (numerous), 5-8 mm long Blooming Period:   JUL-OCT Fruit:   Oblong and angled achenes Seeds:   Achenes (sunflower seeds), 3-15 mm long Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   This is the same plant found in gardens, from which Sunflower seeds come from.
Botanical Name:   Hirschfeldia incana * [Erucastrum incanum, Brassica geniculata] Common Name:   Summer Mustard Family:   Brassicaceae (Mustard family) Habit:   Biennial herb to 1 m high Leaves:   Pinnately divided, mostly basal Inflorescence:   Panicle Flowers:   Yellow, 4 merous (4 sepals, 4 petals, 8 stamens), complete, actinomorphic Blooming Period:   YEARROUND Fruit:   Silique Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   Common weed in Ventura County Notes:   Not to be confused with Black Mustard, this plant is widespread but much smaller in stature than the Black Mustard.
Botanical Name:   Lotus scoparius var. scoparius Common Name:   Deerweed Family:   Fabaceae (Pea family) Habit:   Evergreen to sometimes deciduous perennial herb/shrub to 20 dm high Leaves:   Pinnately compound with 3-6 leaflets, 6-15 mm long Inflorescence:   2-7-flowered raceme Flowers:   Yellow, 7-12 mm long Blooming Period:   MAR-AUG Fruit:   Curved, long-beaked pod, 1-1.5 cm long, spreading to pendant Seeds:   2 per pod Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Occupies many habitats from the coast to the northern reaches of the County.   There are two varieties in Ventura County, the common one, var. scoparius, and a rare variety, brevialatus, known from Circle X Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Botanical Name:   Medicago polymorpha * Common Name:   Common Bur-clover Family:   Fabaceae (Pea family) Habit:   Spreading, prostrate annual herb to 4 dm long Leaves:   Tri-foliate, leaflets generally 10-20 mm Inflorescence:   Spike, 2-6-flowered Flowers:   Yellow, bilabiate, complete, 3.5-6 mm long Blooming Period:   FEB(MAR)-JUN Fruit:   Loose spirl, coiled 2-6 turns, ovoid to short-cylindric, gray to black, prickly Seeds:   Several Abundance:   Common weed in Ventura County Notes:   Fruit readily attach to socks and fur, an effective dispersal mechanism.
Botanical Name:   Mimulus brevipes Common Name:   Short or Lemon Monkeyflower Family:   Phrymaceae (Lopseed family) Habit:   Erect annual herb to 80 cm high Leaves:   linear-lanceolate, clasping, opposite Inflorescence:   Terminal spike Flowers:   Corolla lemon yellow, sepals green, ribbed Blooming Period:   APR-JUN Fruit:   Capsule Seeds:   Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Most often seen after wildfires.
Botanical Name:   Mimulus longiflorus ssp. longiflorus Common Name:   Sticky Bush Sunflower Family:   Phrymaceae (Lopseed family) Habit:   Evergreen shrub to 1 m high Leaves:   Lanceolate, serrate, lower leaf surfaces densely pubescent and glandular-hairy, glossy green above Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   Calyx tube gradually expanded upward, corolla salmon, orange, apricot, buff, or whitish; lower corolla throat with 2 deep-orange stripes Blooming Period:   MAR-JUL Fruit:   Capsule Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   There is much confusion and disagreement about the taxonomy of this species and Mimulus aurantiacus, which looks very similar.   The 2 parallel strips on the flowers offer a simple and distinct field identification key for Mimulus longiflorus.
Botanical Name:   Common Name:   Family:   xxxaceae (xxxx family) Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Common Name:   Family:   xxxaceae (xxxx family) Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Common Name:   Family:   xxxaceae (xxxx family) Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Common Name:   Family:   xxxaceae (xxxx family) Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Common Name:   Family:   xxxaceae (xxxx family) Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.

Reddish Flowers

Botanical Name:   Anagallis arvensis * Common Name:   Scarlet Pimpernel Family:   Primulaceae (Primrose family) Habit:   prostrate annual herb 5-40 cm Leaves:   simple, entire, opposite Inflorescence:   axillary, solitary Flowers:   salmon colored petals, complete, actinomorphic Blooming Period:   MAR-JUL Fruit:   capsule Seeds:   Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Native to Europe, naturalized in California.
Botanical Name:   Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens * [B. rubens] Common Name:   Red Brome Family:   Poaceae (Grass family) Habit:   Erect annual grass to 50 cm high Leaves:   Blades linear, glabrous to short-soft-hairy, blade 1-4 mm wide Inflorescence:   Dense spike 3-8 cm long, ovoid in outline Flowers:   Reddish to tawny, with awns, to xxx cm long, spikelet cylindric to slightly compressed, awn 10-25 mm long Blooming Period:   MAR-JUN Fruit:   Achenes Seeds:   same as for fruit Abundance:   Common invasive weed in Ventura County Notes:   Nasty invasive grass from Mediterranean region that has invaded grassland, desert, and scrub habitats.
Botanical Name:   Carduus pycnocephalus ssp. pycnocephalus * Common Name:   Italian Thistle Family:   Asteraceae:Cynurae (Sunflower family:Thistle tribe) Habit:   Erect annual herb to 2 m high Leaves:   Alternate, pinnately lobed (lower leaves with 4-10 lobes), spiny, mottled green, glabrescent (mostly without hairs) above, white-tomentose beneath Inflorescence:   Terminal head, 2-5 per inflorescence, with spiny involucres enclosing flowers Flowers:   Reddish-purple, radiate/actinophorphic, complete Blooming Period:   (APR)MAY-JUL Fruit:   Plumose achenes Seeds:   Achenes Abundance:   Common invasive exotic in Ventura County Notes:   Native to the Mediterranean region.   "Pycnocephalus" means fuzzy head, but I think it makes a great swear word, which sounds nasty but simply means you have hair on your head.   Try it, call someone a "pycnocephalus" (pronounced pick-no-cef-a-lus).
Botanical Name:   Erodium cicutarium * Common Name:   Redstem Filaree Family:   Geraniaceae (Geranium family) Habit:   Prostrate annual herb to 5 dm across Leaves:   Pinnately compound, finely dissected with 9-13 leaflets per leaf Inflorescence:   Solitary or panicle Flowers:   Sepals 5, green to reddish, petals red-lavender, 5 petals Blooming Period:   FEB-MAR (but can be found blooming almost anytime in moist areas) Fruit:   body 4-7 mm long with 2-5-cm long style column Seeds:   Achene with long style column that remains attached, and curls when dry Abundance:   Common invasive weed in Ventura County Notes:   The seed, with the attached style column, drills itself into the soil when it drys, and will drill into your socks too (very irritating).
Botanical Name:   Erodium moschatum * Common Name:   Whitestem Filaree Family:   Geraniaceae (Geranium family) Habit:   Prostrate annual herb to 6 dm across Leaves:   Pinnately compound, with 11-15 leaflets per leaf, leaflets 1-4 mm wide Inflorescence:   Solitary Flowers:   Sepals green, petals red-lavender, 5 petals, 10-15 mm long Blooming Period:   FEB-MAY Fruit:   body 4-6 mm long with 2-4-cm long style column Seeds:   Achene with long style column that remains attached, and curls when dry Abundance:   Occasional invasive weed in Ventura County Notes:   The seed, with the attached style column, drills itself into the soil when it drys, and will drill into your socks too (very irritating).
Botanical Name:   Keckiella cordifolia Common Name:   Heart-leaved Penstemon Family:   Plantaginaceae (Plantain family) [formerly in the Scrophulariaceae] Habit:   Evergreen shrub to 3 m high Leaves:   Glossy dark green, ± opposite; blade 20-65 mm, ovate, base rounded, truncate, or cordate (heart-shaped), margin generally shortly 3-11-toothed Inflorescence:   Terminal raceme Flowers:   Red, tubular, zygomorphic, bilabiate, complete Blooming Period:   APR-JUN Fruit:   capsule Seeds:   many, irregularly angled Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Attracts hummingbirds, and the blooms can be profuse.
Botanical Name:   Lupinus hirsutissimus Common Name:   Nettle Lupine Family:   Fabaceae (Pea family) Habit:   Erect annual herb with long stiff hairs Leaves:   Palmately divided, hirsute (stiffly hairy) Inflorescence:   terminal raceme Flowers:   pink to magenta, zygomorphic (bilateral), complete Blooming Period:   (FEB)MAR-MAY Fruit:   pea pod Seeds:   3-6 per pod Abundance:   Scattered in Ventura County Notes:   This lupine is usually found in sunny locations in talus (shale).   While the stems are spiny, the hairs are not stinging, even though the common name implies that.
Botanical Name:   Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. fasciculatus Common Name:   Chaparral Bushmallow Family:   Malvaceae (Mallow family) Habit:   Erect shrub to 5 m high Leaves:   Gray-green, tomentose, pinnately lobed with 3-5 lobes Inflorescence:   terminal and axillary panicle 1-1.3 cm long Flowers:   Rose to lavender, petals 1-1.5 cm long Blooming Period:   APR-JUL Fruit:   loculicidal capsule of 2.5-3.2-mm long segments Seeds:   Wedge-shaped Abundance:   Occasional in Ventura County Notes:   The leaves are "fasciculed" (bundled), which means that two or more leaves appear to originate from the same spot on the stem.
Botanical Name:   Malva verticillata var. crispa * Common Name:   Crisped or Curled Mallow Family:   Malvaceae (Mallow family) Habit:   Erect annual/biennial herb to 30 dm high Leaves:   Palmately lobed, blade to 5 cm long, lobes usually 5, margins wavy Inflorescence:   Axillary with 2-8 flowers Flowers:   Rose, with white at base of petals, 5-7 mm long Blooming Period:   FEB-APR Fruit:   longitudinal segmented capsule 7-8 mm diameter Seeds:   8-11 wedge-shaped 3 mm long Abundance:   Rare weed in Ventura County Notes:   Sometimes cultivated for salad greens.
Botanical Name:   Mirabilis laevis var. crassifolia[Mirabilis californica] Common Name:   California Wishbone Bush Family:   Nyctaginaceae (Four O'Clock family) Habit:   Low evergreen shrub to 8 dm high Leaves:   Ovate, puberulent or glandular-hairy, leaf blades 1-4.5 x 0.4-3.5 cm, somewhat succulent Inflorescence:   Umbel-like clusters or solitary Flowers:   Magenta, 5-14 mm long, broadly funnel-shaped, rarely white Blooming Period:   JAN-DEC Fruit:   Achene, ± 5 mm, ovoid, generally lightly dotted or wrinkled (smooth), glabrous Seeds:   same as for fruit Abundance:   Scattered in Ventura County Notes:   Flowers open in evening, close in morning.
Botanical Name:   Paeonia californica Common Name:   California Peony Family:   Paeoniaceae (Peony family) Habit:   Erect perennial herb to 75 cm high Leaves:   Light green and withering by early spring, palmately dissected Inflorescence:   Pendulous Flowers:   Brick red Blooming Period:   JAN-MAR Fruit:   Two-lobed capule Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   Scattered in Ventura County Notes:   Prefers shaded, protected habitats below 1,500 meters elevation.
Botanical Name:   Common Name:   Family:   xxxaceae (xxxx family) Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Common Name:   Family:   xxxaceae (xxxx family) Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.

Bluish Flowers

Botanical Name:   Antirrhinum kelloggii Common Name:   Kellogg Snapdragon Family:   Veronicaceae (Speedwell family; formerly in the Scrophulariaceae) Habit:   annual vine Leaves:   opposite below, alternate above, reduced upward, veins pinnate Inflorescence:   solitary Flowers:   zygomorphic, complete; lavender to deep blue-purple Blooming Period:   (FEB)MAR-MAY Fruit:   capsule, dehiscent (opening) by 2 slits at tip Seeds:   tubercles scattered, block-like Abundance:   Scattered in Ventura County Notes:   often climbing over other plants.   The genus name is Greek for "nose-like", describing the appearance of the flowers.   Often seen in burn areas.
Botanical Name:   Ceanothus spinosus Common Name:   Greenbark Ceanothus, Jim Brush Family:   Rhamnaceae (Buckhorn family) Habit:   Erect evergreen shrub to 6 m high Leaves:   Entire, oval to ovate-eliptic, thin, glossy green to 5 cm long Inflorescence:   Terminal panicle to 15 cm long Flowers:   tiny (up to 5 mm across) pale blue to almost white Blooming Period:   FEB-MAY Fruit:   capsules 4-5 mm across, smooth, shiny Seeds:   Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Bark is greenish (hence the common name); twigs are VERY stiff and function as spines (hence the species name).
Botanical Name:   Dichelostemma capitatum ssp.capitatum Common Name:   Blue Dicks Family:   Themidaceae (Brodiaea family) Habit:   Perennial graminoid bulb Leaves:   linear, 2-3 leaves per bulb, withering early Inflorescence:   dense (capitate) umbel Flowers:   3-merous, sepals blue to purple, petals same as sepals but sometimes paler; flowers rarely pinkish or white Fruit:   capsule Blooming Period:   (JAN)MAR-MAY(JUL) Seeds:   black, sharply angled Abundance:   Occasional in Ventura County Notes:   the bulbs are edible and somewhat sweet; Chumash harvested the bulbs.
Botanical Name:   Eriodictyon crassifolium var. nigrescens Common Name:   Thickleaf Yerba Santa Family:   Boraginaceae (Borage family, formerly in the Hydrophyllaceae) Habit:   Erect evergreen shrub to 3 m high Leaves:   entire to toothed, 3-17 cm long by 1-6 cm wide, upper leaf surface sparsely to densely hairy, greenish, lower surfact tomentose, greenish Inflorescence:   Terminal panicle Flowers:   lavender, petal 5-16 mm long, densely hairy, styles 3-8 mm long Blooming Period:   APR-JUN Fruit:   Capsules Seeds:   8-14 Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   A tea from steeping the leaves is said to be medicinal.
Botanical Name:   Gilia capitata ssp. abrotanifolia Common Name:   Blue Field Gilia Family:   Polemoniaceae (Phlox family) Habit:   Erect annual herb to 80 cm high Leaves:   linear Inflorescence:   dense head Flowers:   Pale blue Blooming Period:   APR-MAY Fruit:   Capsule Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Locally abundant after wildfire.
Botanical Name:   Lobelia dunnii var. serrata Common Name:   Ojai Lobelia Family:   Lobeliaceae (Lobeliaceae family) Habit:   Decumbent rhizomatous semi-aquatic perennial herb growing 2 to 8.5 dm across Leaves:   linear-lanceolate to elliptic, 1 to 2 cm long with serrated margins; 0.5-1.5 cm wide, sessile, margins with small, gland-tipped teeth Inflorescence:   Dense terminal raceme Flowers:   Bilateral (zygomorphic), deep blue, flower tube 12-19 mm long Blooming Period:   JUL-SEP Fruit:   Capsule Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   Scattered in Ventura County Notes:   The Type Locality for this variety is Ojai, probably along Stewart Canyon Creek on the south side of the city.   It is found at the small waterfall on the north side of Shelf Road in the upper part of Ayers Creek (not named on topo maps).   Typically found on bedrock of waterfalls and seeps of cliff faces.
Botanical Name:   Lupinus succulentus Common Name:   Fleshy Lupine Family:   Fabaceae (Pea family) Habit:   Erect annual herb to 10 dm, hollow stems Leaves:   Palmately compound on long (6-15 cm long) with 7-9 leaflets 20-60 mm long by 7-20 mm wide, upper surface glabrous and somewhat fleshy Inflorescence:   Terminal spike 9-15 cm long with flowers in distinct whorls Flowers:   Bilabiate/zygomorphic, complete, blue with white central spot on banner (turning pink after anthesis) Blooming Period:   FEB-MAY Fruit:   3.5-5 cm long by 8-10 mm wide, coarsely hairy to tomentose pods Seeds:   6-9 per pod Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Stems are hollow.
Botanical Name:   Lupinus truncatus Common Name:   Truncate-leaved Lupine Family:   Fabaceae (Pea family) Habit:   Erect annual herb to 3 dm high Leaves:   Palmately compound with 5-8 leaflets, with each leaflet tip truncated (hence its common name and species name) Inflorescence:   Open spike to 25 cm long Flowers:   Indigo to purple, 3-13 mm long Blooming Period:   MAR-JUN Fruit:   3 cm long by 5 mm wide pod Seeds:   6-8 seeds per pod Abundance:   Scattered in Ventura County Notes:   Stems are finely hairy but appear glabrous.
Botanical Name:   Lupinus bicolor Common Name:   Bicolored or Miniature Lupine Family:   Fabaceae (Pea family) Habit:   Erect annual herb 1-4 dm high Leaves:   Palmately compound with 5 to 7 linear leaflets, each 1-5 mm wide; leaf petiole 1-7 cm long Inflorescence:   Terminal spike with flowers in usually 5 whorls, 1-8 cm long Flowers:   Bilabiate (zygomorphic), blue, sometimes light blue, pink, or white; banner with white spot, becoming magenta after anthesis; keel whitish Blooming Period:   MAR-JUN Fruit:   Pod, hairy, 1-3 cm long, 3-6 mm wide, hairy Seeds:   5-8 per pod Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   This is a delicate, small lupine that can be quite abundant locally.
Botanical Name:   Lupinus nanus Common Name:   Sky Lupine Family:   Fabaceae (Pea family) Habit:   Erect annual herb 1-6 dm high, stems hairy Leaves:   Palmately compound with 5-9 leaflets, each 10-40 mm long and 1-12 mm wide, linear Inflorescence:   Spike of whorled flowers 2-20 cm long Flowers:   Blue, 6-15 mm long, sometimes lavendar, pink, or white, banner spot is white, turning magenta after anthesis Blooming Period:   APR-MAY Fruit:   Pod, hairy, 2-4 cm long, 4-7 mm wide Seeds:   4-12 per pod Abundance:   Uncommon in Ventura County Notes:   very similar to Lupinus bicolor, but larger.
Botanical Name:   Phacelia cicutaria var. cicutaria Common Name:   Caterpillar Phacelia Family:   Boraginaceae (Borage family), formerly in the Hydrophyllaceae Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Phacelia cicutaria var. hispida Common Name:   Hispid Caterpillar Phacelia Family:   Boraginaceae (Borage family), formerly in the Hydrophyllaceae Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Phacelia ramosissima Common Name:   Branching Phacelia Family:   Boraginaceae (Borage family), formerly in the Hydrophyllaceae Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Pholistoma auritum var. auritum Common Name:   Blue Fiesta Flower Family:   Boraginaceae (Borage family), formerly in the Hydrophyllaceae Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Salvia columbariae Common Name:   Chia Family:   Lamiaceae (Mint family) Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Salvia leucophylla Common Name:   Purple Sage Family:   Lamiaceae (Mint family) Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Salvia mellifera Common Name:   Black Sage Family:   Lamiaceae (Mint family) Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Scutellaria tuberosa Common Name:   Danny Skullcap Family:   Lamiaceae (Mint family) Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Solanum xanti var. xanti Common Name:   Chaparral Nightshade Family:   Solanaceae (Potato family) Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Stephanomeria virgata var. virgata Common Name:   Twiggy Wreath Plant Family:   Asteraceae (Sunflower family) Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.

Greenish Flowers

Botanical Name:   Avena barbata * Common Name:   Slender Wild Oat Family:   Poaceae (Grass family) Habit:   Annual grass, erect Leaves:   linear Inflorescence:   panicle Flowers:   light green, turning tawny, florets with long awns Blooming Period:   FEB-MAY Fruit:   achene Seeds:   achene (oat) Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Seeds are edible, but much smaller then cultivated species of oats; native of Europe.
Botanical Name:   Melica imperfecta Common Name:   Coast Melic Grass Family:   Poaceae (Grass family) Habit:   Erect, clumping perennial grass to 120 cm high Leaves:   Linear with blades 1-6 mm wide, liguels 0.8-6.5 mm long Inflorescence:   Narrow panicle 5-36 cme long, branches 2.5-9 cm long Flowers:   Green to purplish, spikelets 3.5-7 mm long, awnless Blooming Period:   APR-MAY Fruit:   Achenes Seeds:   same as for fruit Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:
Botanical Name:   Nassella lepida [Stipa lepida] Common Name:   Foothill Needlegrass Family:   Poaceae (Grass family) Habit:   Perennial bunchgrass to 10 dm high Leaves:   Narrow, linear to 2 dm long Inflorescence:   Arching spike Flowers:   Greenish with long, bent awns Blooming Period:   APR-JUN Fruit:   Achenes Seeds:   Same as for fruit Abundance:   Scattered in Ventura County Notes:
Botanical Name:   Common Name:   Family:   xxxaceae (xxxx family) Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Common Name:   Family:   xxxaceae (xxxx family) Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Common Name:   Family:   xxxaceae (xxxx family) Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.

Brownish Flowers

Botanical Name:   Elymus condensatus Common Name:   Giant Wildrye Family:   Poaceae (Grass family) Habit:   Clumping, rhizomotous perennial grass to 30 dm high Leaves:   Linear Inflorescence:   Spike Flowers:   Greenish when flowering, turning brown to tawny after anthesis, persistant Blooming Period:   JUN-AUG Fruit:   Achenes Seeds:   same as for fruit Abundance:   Common in Ventura County Notes:   Rustles in the wind; makes excellent erosion control plant for hillsides; grows very well from seed.
Botanical Name:   Common Name:   Family:   xxxaceae (xxxx family) Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.
Botanical Name:   Common Name:   Family:   xxxaceae (xxxx family) Habit:   xxxx Leaves:   xxxxx Inflorescence:   xxxxx Flowers:   xxxxxxxx Blooming Period:   xxx-xxx Fruit:   xxxx Seeds:   xxxxx Abundance:   xxxxx in Ventura County Notes:   xxxxx.