Common yarrow is variable in forms and is regarded at times as consisting of multiple distinct species rather than a single distinct species. It is a perennial native plant to California, but several hybrids are growing abundantly in the state now as well. Though today it is used largely as a decorative species, it does have medicinal uses: it has been used as a tea to treat stomach disorders, as a soothing plant for rashes, and to stop hemorrhaging, nose-bleeds, and fevers. It has also been chewed to cure toothache, but it can increase sensitivity to the sun when applied to the skin and occasionally cause skin rashes as well. Its flowers and leaves can also be used to make liquor, and its leaves can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable. It grows in dry soil with partial shade, and though it tends to use moderate amounts of water, it is also very drought tolerant. This makes it useful in helping prevent soil erosion in some areas. The plant has complex alternate leaves and clusters of small white flowers. The flowers grow in cluster of around 25 individual flowers making up larger bunches at the top of stems. The plant altogether reaches about three feet in height. It is propagated by seed. Some birds use narrow in nest-building as a liner, and studies suggest that doing so may inhibit parasitic growth in the nest. It is also valued as a pollen source to native California bees. Furthermore, since its leaves are rich in minerals, the plant can be fed to ruminants in order to help prevent nutrient deficiencies.
I went on a hike yesterday and took at least 50 different observations. I'm still uploading all of the photos but the link follows: http://www.inaturalist.org/calendar/nataliemarisa/2014/5/7
Earlier today, I visited and compared two ecosystems types: an estuary ecosystem and a chaparral ecosystem. The two are located within 40 minutes driving distance of each other in Long Beach, California. At the estuary ecosystem, I walked along marshes, sandy area, and immediately next to the ocean. There are a few very tall palms growing in the ecosystem, but very few other tall trees. I suspect that this is because of the high wind exposure here as well as the lack of nutrient-rich soil. Most of the other plants I noticed were succulents - they has dense leaves and stems that could hold a lot of water, and grew with bright flowers low to the ground. It seems that they are seeking protection from the climate and a way to stay up without roots that can reach too far down. The few other trees (besides the palms) were growing sideways, at almost horizontal angles, with dense coverings of leaves and a lot of cone-like structures. These two features are likely due to the difficult growing environment - the dense shrubbery offers some protection for cones and young seedlings, and the high production quantity creates a higher likelihood that at least one individual will survive.
In the chaparral ecosystem, I noticed a hugely more diverse and abundant array of plants and animals. Insects were easier to find and had created homes very close to the open path and open elements, as had plants - most species seemed significantly less concerned about protection from climate. Nonetheless, many plants had narrow leaves, perhaps to save water or prevent excess sun exposure. There was an abundance of flowers, likely corresponding to the large number of insect pollinators that I also saw. The wind was less harsh here, allowing plants to grow more directly up and allowing for canopy-like layers to form in some areas. There is also what seems to be good soil here, and many plants have apparently set fairly deep roots in it, as they grow much taller than on the estuary.
A few days ago, I went for a hike in Canyon, California. The area where I was exploring is densely vegetated and dark, because there is a lot of tree cover. Some of my favorite finds were the tiny flowering plants that were growing close to the soil in some areas, almost buried by the larger plants. For example, there were some very small blue flowers growing on one plant close to a waiter drain. The flowers are baby blue and each have five petals. The buds on this plant are green with just a bit of blue poking out at the tips, and the leaves are slightly fuzzy and comparatively very large. There were plenty of larger plants low to the ground as well, like some cool bright green ferns. The ferns are smooth, with no visible spores that I could see. They are growing densely in the area, with many leaves overlapping each other and only a few baby growths visible. Another cool find was some strange white fungus. It is hairy and bright white, spread out on a decaying old log. It branches out almost like muscles or veins. Perhaps my favorite species to see was a very tiny, bright yellow spider hanging out in its web. It curled up very tightly when I got close, and then after a minute it started running along a nearby log. It has longer front legs, and its back two pairs are short. It has a fat, round body and the same great yellow coloring throughout.
