|
Flora of the Kern River
Preserve |
|
Species diversity in the Kern
River Valley watershed when all living groups are combined is
unparalleled in North America north of Mexico. The region's flora makes
up a large part of this with over 2000 species of plants documented.
Just a portion of the amazing diversity of the Kern River Watershed is
reflected in this plant list. The table contains 306 species that have been recorded
growing on the Kern River Preserve. If you have found other species or see
errors please contact us right away. Photos and research courtesy
Nature Ali. |
| DIVISION/CLASS/FAMILY |
Scientific Name |
Common Name(s) |
|
ORIGIN |
PTEROPHYTA TRUE FERNS
|
AZOLLACEAE
|
Azolla filiculoides
|
mosquito
fern
|
|
Native
|
PTERIDACEAE
|
Cheilanthes covillei
|
scaly fern
|
 |
Native
|
|
Pellaea mucronata
|
bird's foot fern
|
 |
Native
|
SPHENOPHYTA
|
|
|
|
|
EQUISETACEAE
|
Equisetum arvense
|
horsetail
|
 |
Native
|
|
Division Coniferophyta --
gymnosperms,
Class Pinopsida
CONIFERS |
|
|
|
|
| CUPRESSACEAE CYPRESS
FAMILY |
Cupressus arizonica E. Greene |
Arizona Cypress |
 |
planted |
| |
Juniperus californica Carrière |
California Juniper |
 |
Native |
| PINACEAE PINE FAMILY |
Pinus monophylla |
Single-needle Pinyon
Pine |
 |
Native |
| |
Pinus sabiniana Douglas |
Gray Pine |
 |
Native |
| GNETOPHYTA
|
|
|
|
|
EPHEDRACEAE
|
Ephedra nevadensis nevadensis S. Watson
|
Mormon
tea
|
 |
Native
|
|
Ephedra viridis
Cov. |
green
ephedra
|
 |
Native
|
ANTHOPHYTA - FLOWERING PLANTS
|
DICOTYLEDONES - DICOTS
|
|
|
|
|
| AMARANTHACEAE |
Amaranthus albus |
pigweed
amaranth |
 |
S. America |
APIACEAE (UMBELLIFERAE)
|
Apium graveolens
|
celery
|
|
Eurasia
|
|
Berula erecta
|
cut-leaved water parsnip
|
Brother Alfred Brousseau
Prof. R. P.
Olowin St. Mary's College
|
Native
|
|
Cicuta douglasii
|
water hemlock
|
Brad Kelley
|
Native
|
| ASCLEPIADACEAE |
Asclepias erosa |
desert
milkweed |
|
Native |
|
Asclepias fascicularis |
narrow leaf milkweed
|
Brother Alfred Brousseau
Prof. R. P.
Olowin St. Mary's College
|
Native
|
ASTERACEAE (COMPOSITAE)
|
Ambrosia acanthicarpa
|
annual bur-sage
|
 |
Native
|
|
Anisocoma acaulis
|
scale bud
|
 |
Native
|
|
Artemisia douglasiana
|
mugwort
|
 |
Native
|
|
Artemisia dracunculus
|
tarragon
|
|
Native
|
|
Artemisia tridentata
|
great basin sagebrush
|
|
Native
|
|
Aster frondosus
|
short-rayed alkali
aster
|
|
Native
|
|
Aster subulatus (A.exilis)
|
slender aster
|
|
Native
|
|
Baccharis salicifolia (B. glutinosa, B. viminea)
|
mule fat
|
 |
Native
|
|
Baccharis sergiloides
|
desert baccharis
|
|
Native
|
|
Bidens frondosa
|
sticktight
|
|
Native
|
|
Chaenactis fremontii
|
desert pincushion
|
 |
Native
|
| |
Chaenactis glabriuscula |
Yellow
Pincushion |
|
Native |
|
Chamomilla suaveolens
|
pineapple weed
|
 |
NW N.A.
|
|
Chrysothamnus nauseosus
|
rabbit brush
|
 |
Native
|
|
Cichorium intybus
|
chicory
|
 |
Europe
|
|
Cirsium occidentale var. venustum (C.proteanum)
|
Venus thistle
|
 |
Native
|
|
Cirsium vulgare
|
bull thistle
|
 |
Europe
|
|
Cnicus benedictus
|
blessed thistle
|
|
Europe
|
|
Conyza coulteri
|
Coulter's
horseweed
|
|
Native
|
|
Conyza canadensis
|
horseweed
|
|
Native
|
|
Coreopsis bigelovii
|
Bigelow's coreopsis
|
 |
Native
|
|
Cotula australis
|
Australian brass-buttons
|
|
Australia
|
|
Cotula coronopifolia
|
brass buttons
|
|
S. Africa
|
|
Encelia actoni (E.virginensis ssp. a.)
|
mountain bush sunflower
|
 |
Native
|
|
Ericameria linearifolia
|
interior goldenbush
|
|
Native
|
|
Erigeron foliosus
|
leafy daisy, fleabane
|
 |
Native
|
|
Eriophyllum ambiguum
|
woolly sunflower
|
|
Native
|
| |
Eriophyllum confertiflorum
|
yellow
yarrow |
|
Native |
|
Eriophyllum pringlei
|
bud eriophyllum
|
|
Native
|
|
Euthamia occidentalis
(Solidago o.)
|
western goldenrod
|
|
Native
|
|
Filago californica
|
herba impia
|
|
Native
|
|
Gnaphalium luteo-album
|
weedy cudweed
|
|
Eurasia
|
|
Gnaphalium palustre
|
lowland cudweed
|
|
Native
|
|
Helenium puberulum
|
sneezeweed
|
|
Native
|
|
Helianthus annuus ssp. lenticularis
|
common sunflower
|
 |
Native
|
| |
Hemizonia fasciculata |
Slender
Tarweed |
 |
Native
|
|
Hemizonia pungens
|
prickly tarplant
|
|
Native
|
|
Hymenoclea salsola
|
burrobush, cheesebush
|
|
Native
|
|
Isocoma acradenia (Haplopappus a.)
|
goldenbush, desert
isocoma
|
|
Native
|
|
Lactuca serriola
|
prickly lettuce
|
|
Europe |
|
Lasthenia californica
|
goldfields
|
|
Native
|
|
Layia glandulosa
|
white layia
|
|
Native
|
|
Lepidospartum squamatum
|
scale broom
|
|
Native
|
|
Lessingia glandulifera
|
vinegar plant
|
|
Native
|
| |
Lessingia
lemmonii |
Lemmon's
vinegar weed |
 |
Native |
|
Malacothrix californica
|
wild marigold
|
|
Native
|
|
Malacothrix glabrata
|
desert dandelion
|
|
Native
|
|
Microseris campestris
|
San
Joaquin silverpuffs
|
|
Native
|
|
Microseris douglasii
|
Douglas'
silverpuffs
|
|
Native
|
|
Pyrrocoma racemosa var. paniculata
|
racemose pyrracoma
|
|
Native
|
|
Sonchus asper
|
prickly sow-thistle
|
|
Europe |
| |
Stephanomeria exigua |
small
wirelettuce |
 |
Native |
|
Stephanomeria virgata
|
wand chicory
|
|
Native
|
|
Taraxacum officinale
|
dandelion
|
 |
Europe |
|
Tetradymia axillaris var. longispina
|
cottonthorn
|
|
Native
|
| |
Tetradymia glabrata |
Little-leaf Horsebrush |
|
|
|
Uropappus lindleyi
|
silver puffs
|
|
Native
|
|
Xanthium spinosum
|
spiny cocklebur
|
|
Native
|
|
Xanthium strumarium
|
cocklebur
|
|
Native
|
BETULACEAE
|
Alnus rhombifolia
|
white alder
|
 |
Native
|
BORAGINACEAE
|
Amsinckia tessellata
|
fiddleneck, Devil's
lettuce
|
 |
Native
|
|
Cryptantha dumetorum
|
popcorn flower
|
|
Native
|
|
Cryptantha micrantha
|
popcorn flower
|
 |
Native
|
|
Heliotropium curassavicum (var. oculatum)
|
salt heliotrope
|
|
Native
|
|
Pectocarya penicillata
|
winged pectocarya
|
|
Native
|
|
Plagiobothrys canescens
|
valley popcorn flower
|
© 2004 Laura Ann Eliassen |
Native
|
BRASSICACEAE (CRUCIFERAE)
|
Capsella bursa-pastoris
|
shepherd's purse
|
 |
Europe
|
|
Cardaria chalepensis
|
lens-podded hoary
cress
|
© 2004 Steve Matson
|
Asia |
|
Cardaria pubescens var. elongata
|
white-top
|
 |
Asia |
|
Caulanthus coulteri
|
Coulter's jewelflower
|
 |
Native
|
|
Descurainia incana (D. richardsonii ssp. viscosa)
|
tansy mustard
|
© 2004 Steve Matson |
Native
|
|
Descurainia sophia
|
herb Sophia
|
|
Eurasia
|
|
Draba cuneifolia
|
wedge-leaved draba
|
|
Native
|
|
Hirschfeldia incana (Brassica geniculata)
|
Mediterranean mustard
|
 |
Mediterranean
|
|
Lepidium densiflorum
|
pepper-grass
|
|
Native
|
| |
Lepidium strictum |
prostrate
pepper-grass |
|
Native |
|
Rorippa palustris ssp. occidentalis
|
marsh yellow-cress
|
© David Smith
|
Native
|
| |
Sisymbrium irio |
London
rocket |
© 2004 James M. Andre |
Europe |
|
Thysanocarpus curvipes
|
fringepod
|
 |
Native
|
|
Tropidocarpum gracile
|
slender keel fruit
|
 |
Native
|
CACTACEAE
|
Opuntia basilaris
|
beavertail
|
 |
Native
|
|
Opuntia echinocarpa
|
silver cholla
|
 |
Native
|
CALLITRICHACEAE
|
Callitriche heterophylla
|
water starwort
|
© Michael Charters
|
Native
|
CAPRIFOLIACEAE
|
Sambucus mexicana
|
blue elderberry
|
 |
Native
|
|
Caryophyllaceae |
Stellaria pallida |
pale
starwort |
 |
SW Europe |
CERATOPHYLLACEAE
|
Ceratophyllum demersum
|
hornwort
|
|
Native
|
CHENOPODIACEAE
|
Atriplex canescens ssp.linearis
|
four-wing saltbush
|
 |
Native
|
|
Atriplex patula ssp. hastata
|
spear oracle
|
|
Native
|
|
Atriplex rosea |
redscale, tumbling
oracle
|
|
Eurasia
|
|
Atriplex semibaccata
|
Australian saltbush |
|
Australia
|
|
Atriplex serenana |
bractscale
|
|
Native
|
|
Bassia hyssopifolia |
five-hook bassia
|
|
Eurasia
|
|
Chenopodium berlandieri |
pitseed goosefoot
|
|
Native
|
|
Chenopidium botrys |
Jerusalem oak
|
|
Europe
|
|
Chenopodium dessiccatum
(var. leptophylloides)
|
narrow-leaved goosefoot
|
|
Native
|
|
Chenopodium pumilio |
Tasmanian goosefoot
|
|
Australia
|
|
Grayia spinosa |
hop sage
|
|
Native
|
|
Salsola tragus
(S. australis) |
Russian thistle
|
 |
Eurasia
|
CONVOLVULACEAE
|
Convolvulus arvensis |
bindweed
|
 |
Europe
|
| |
Dichondra donelliana |
Dichondra |
|
|
CRASSULACEAE
|
Crassula connata
(Tillaea erecta)
|
pigmy weed
|
|
Native
|
|
Dudleya calcicola
|
limestone dudleya |
 |
Native
|
CUCURBITACEAE
|
Cucurbita foetidissima
|
calabazilla, stinking
gourd
|
 |
Native
|
| |
Cucurbita
palmata |
coyote
gourd, coyote melon |
 |
Native |
|
Marah fabaceus
(M. fabens)
|
California man-root
|
|
Native
|
|
Marah
horridus |
Sierra man-root
|
 |
Native
|
CUSCUTACEAE
|
Cuscuta
californica |
chaparral dodder
|
|
Native
|
EUPHORIBACEAE
|
Chamaesyce polycarpa
(Euphorbia p.) |
sand spurge
|
|
Native
|
|
Chamaesyce serpyllifolia
|
thyme-leaved spurge
|
|
Native
|
FABACEAE
|
Astragalus didymocarpus
|
two seeded milkvetch
|
|
Native
|
|
Glycyrrhiza lepidota
|
wild licorice
|
|
Native
|
|
Lotus argophyllus
|
silver birdsfoot trefoil
|
 |
Native
|
|
Lotus corniculatus
|
broadleaf birdsfoot
trefoil
|
|
Eurasia
|
|
Lotus oblongifolius
|
copper-flowered birdsfoot
trefoil
|
|
Native
|
|
Lotus purshianus
var. purshianus
|
Spanish clover
|
|
Native
|
|
Lotus scoparius |
California broom
|
 |
Native
|
|
|
Lotus
strigosus |
Bishop
Lotus |
|
Native |
|
Lupinus albifrons
|
silver lupine
|
 |
Native
|
|
Lupinus benthamii
|
spider lupine
|
|
Native
|
|
Lupinus bicolor
(ssp. microphyllus)
|
miniature lupine
|
 |
Native
|
|
Lupinus concinnus
(ssp. orcuttii) |
bajada lupine
|
 |
Native
|
| |
Lupinus microcarpus var. densiflorus |
chick
lupine |
 |
Native |
| |
Lupinus odoratus |
Mojave
lupine |
|
Native |
| |
Medicago lupulina |
black medick |
|
Europe |
| |
Medicago sativa
|
alfalfa
|
|
Eurasia
|
|
Melilotus alba
|
white sweetclover
|
 |
Eurasia
|
|
Melilotus indica
|
sourclover
|
 |
Mediterranean
|
| |
Trifolium repens |
white clover |
 |
Eurasia |
| |
Trifolium wormskioldii |
cow's clover |
 |
Native |
| FAGACEAE |
Quercus wislizenii |
interior
live oak |
 |
Native |
FRANKENIACEAE
|
Frankenia salina
(F. grandifolia var. campestris) |
alkali heath |
|
Native |
| GERANIACEAE
|
Erodium botrys |
broadleaf
filaree |
 |
S. Europe |
|
Erodium cicutarium
|
red-stemmed filaree
|
|
Eurasia
|
GROSSULARIACEAE
|
Ribes quercetorum
|
oak gooseberry
|
|
Native
|
HYDROPHYLLACEAE
|
Emmenanthe penduliflora |
whispering bells
|
 |
Native
|
|
Nama demissum
|
purple mat
|
|
Native
|
|
Phacelia cicutaria
|
caterpillar phacelia
|
 |
Native
|
|
Phacelia distans
|
fern phacelia
|
|
Native
|
|
Phacelia fremontii
|
Fremont's
phacelia
|
|
Native
|
| |
Phacelia ramosissima |
branching
phacelia |
|
Native |
|
Phacelia tanacetifolia
|
lacy phacelia
|
 |
Native
|
|
Pholistoma membranaceum |
white fiesta flower
|
|
Native
|
JUGLANDACEAE
|
Juglans californica
var. hindsii
|
California black walnut
|
 |
N. CA |
LAMIACEAE
|
Lamium amplexicaule
|
common henbit
|
 |
Eurasia
|
| |
Mentha arvensis |
field mint |
 |
Native |
| |
Monardella candicans |
Sierra pennyroyal |
 |
Native |
|
Salvia carduacea
|
thistle sage
|
 |
Native
|
|
Salvia columbariae
|
chia
|
|
Native
|
| |
Stachys albens |
hedge nettle |
 |
Native |
| |
Trichostema lanceolatum |
vinegarweed |
 |
Native |
| LOASACEAE |
Mentzelia affinis |
Yellow
Comet |
 |
Native |
| LYTHRACEAE |
Lythrum californicum |
California loosestrife |
|
Native |
| |
Lythrum salicaria |
Purple
Loosestrife |
 |
Europe |
MALVACEAE
|
Eremalche exilis
|
desert mallow
|
 |
Native
|
|
Malva neglecta
|
common mallow
|
 |
Eurasia
|
|
Malva parviflora |
little mallow, cheeseweed |
|
Eurasia |
|
Sphaeralcea ambigua
|
apricot mallow
|
|
Mojave
|
| NYCTAGINACEAE
|
Mirabilis californica
(M. laevis) |
wishbone bush
|
|
Native
|
OLEACEAE
|
Fraxinus velutinus
|
velvet ash
|
|
Native
|
ONAGRACEAE
|
Camissonia campestris |
Mojave sun cup
|
 |
Native
|
|
Camissonia claviformis |
brown-eyed evening-primrose |
|
Native
|
|
Camissonia kernensis |
Kern sun cups
|
 |
Native
|
| |
Camissonia strigulosa |
evening primrose |
|
Native |
|
Clarkia xantiana
|
gunsight fairyfan
|
 |
Native
|
|
Epilobium canum
ssp. latifolium
|
California fuchsia
|
 |
Native
|
|
Epilobium ciliatum
ssp. ciliatum |
willow herb
|
|
Native
|
| |
Ludwigia peploides |
yellow water weed |
|
