Spring Break Extra Credit

This spring break I went on a hike at the Jasper Ridge Reserve located on the campus of Stanford University. There, I was able to see the serpentine grassland we discussed in class. The serpentine grassland contains toxic metals in the soil from minerals of the serpentine rock that inhibit the growth of many plants. This was evident as I looked across the field and saw patches of California goldfields, but at some spots noticed an interrupting appearance of a dry, gray, brush-like grass. Also, alongside the goldfields were a few California poppies and tidy tips.

Posted on April 3, 2013 06:51 AM by asiamott