Guide to Mono Lake

The Bat star (Asterina miniata), also known as Sea bat, Webbed star and Broad-disk star, is an echinoderm of class Asteroidea (commonly known as sea stars). It typically has five arms or starms, with the center disk of the animal being much wider than the stubby arms are in length. Although the bat star usually has five arms, it sometimes has as many as nine. Bat stars occur in many of colors, including green, purple, red,... less ↑

Myosotis latifolia is a species of forget-me-not known by the common name broadleaf forget-me-not. It is native to northwestern Africa, and it is known elsewhere as an introduced species, including the west coast of the United States. It grows in many types of habitat, including moist, shaded, disturbed areas. It is a perennial herb sometimes exceeding half a meter in height. The leaves are generally oval in shape, the largest at the woody base of the... less ↑

Cynoglossum grande is a species of flowering plant in the borage family known by the common name Pacific hound's tongue. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, where it grows in shady areas in woodland and chaparral. On the forest floor of California oak woodlands typical plant associates are Calochortus luteus, Delphinium variegatum and Calochortus amabilis.It is a perennial herb producing an erect stem 30 to 90 centimeters tall from a... less ↑

The Gulf Fritillary or Passion Butterfly (Agraulis vanillae) is a striking, bright orange butterfly of the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Heliconiinae. These were formerly classified in a separate family, the Heliconiidae or longwing butterflies, and like other longwings this species does have long, rather narrow wings in comparison with other butterflies. It is not closely related to the true fritillaries. It is a medium to large butterfly, with a wingspan of from 6—9.5 cm. Its underwings are buff,... less ↑

Dodecatheon hendersonii is a species of Dodecatheon native to western North America, from California north to southern British Columbia and Idaho. In California, it occurs in the northwest (except the north coast), the Cascade Range, the Sierra Nevada foothills, the Central Valley, the San Francisco Bay Area, the north Inner South Coast Ranges, and the San Bernardino Mountains. It is generally found in open woodlands, from sea level in British Columbia, up to 1900 m altitude... less ↑

Carpobrotus edulis is a creeping, mat-forming succulent species and member of the Stone Plant family Aizoaceae, one of about 30 species in the genus Carpobrotus. It is also known as Ice Plant, Highway Ice Plant, Pigface or Hottentot Fig and in South Africa as the Sour Fig, on account of its edible fruit. It was previously classified in genus Mesembryanthemum and is sometimes referred to by this name. The species is native to South Africa but... less ↑

Trillium ovatum, the Western Wake Robin or Western White Trillium, is a member of the Trilliaceae family. It occurs in parts of the western United States and western Canada, usually in rich forest. In the northern part of its range, which includes southern British Columbia, extreme southwestern Alberta, Washington, Oregon and east to Montana, Wyoming and northern Colorado, it often grows under Douglas-fir. Other trees which frequently shade this trillium include grand fir, western red cedar,... less ↑

The Pisaster ochraceus, generally known as the Purple Sea Star or Ochre Sea Star, is a common sea star found among the waters of the Pacific Ocean. This sea star has five rays that range in length from 10 to 25 cm. While most individuals are purple, colour variations include ochre, pink, and brown. They typically live in the intertidal like other pisasters, and are easily found during low tide clinging to rocks singly and in large... less ↑

The Western Blue-eyed Grass or Californian Blue-eyed Grass, Sisyrinchium bellum, is the common blue-eyed grass of California and Oregon west of the Sierra Nevadas, its range extending south into Baja California. It grows as a perennial plant in open places where there is some moisture, particularly grassy areas, though it can also be found in woodlands and at altitudes up to 2400 metres. Like other species of blue-eyed grasses that are locally dominant, it is generally... less ↑

Lupinus bicolor is a species of lupine known as the miniature lupine, Lindley's annual lupine, or bicolor lupine. It is a showy flowering plant native to western North America from California to British Columbia. It is an annual lupine which often shares a habitat with the California poppy. It has a short, hairy stem and thin, palmately-arranged leaves. The inflorescence is short for a lupine at up to 8 centimeters tall. As its name suggests the... less ↑

Dichelostemma capitatum (syn. D. pulchellum), called Blue dicks, Purplehead and Brodiaea (alternate spellings, Brodiea, Brodeia ) occur in Arizona, California, Oregon, Utah, New Mexico, and northern Mexico. There are two recognized subspecies: Dichelostemma capitatum subsp. capitatum and Dichelostemma capitatum subsp. pauciflorum. less ↑

The West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella) is one of three North American species of brush-footed butterflies known colloquially as the "painted ladies". V. annabella occurs throughout much of the western US and south western Canada. The other two species are the cosmopolitan Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady) and the eastern Vanessa virginiensis (American Painted Lady). This species has also been considered a subspecies of the South American Vanessa carye, and is frequently misspelled as anabella. less ↑

Triphysaria eriantha is a species of flowering plant in the broomrape family known by the common names Johnny Tuck and butter and eggs. It is native to Oregon and California, where it grows in many types of habitat, becoming quite common in some areas. This is an annual herb producing a hairy purple stem up to about 35 centimeters in maximum height. Like many species in its family it is a facultative root parasite on other... less ↑

Calochortus tolmiei is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common names Tolmie star-tulip and pussy ears. It is native to the west coast of the United States from Washington to California, where it is a common member of the flora in several types of habitat. It is a perennial herb producing a slender stem, branched or unbranched, to 40 centimeters in maximum height. There is a basal leaf up to... less ↑

The annual wildflower Layia platyglossa is called coastal tidy tips. Its outer ray flowers are bright golden yellow with distinct, sharp-margined white tips. It is native to California and is a member of spring wildflower blooms in meadows and grasslands. Its daisy-like flowers are attractive, making it a popular garden ornamental and ingredient in commercial wildflower seed mixes. Tidy tips is found throughout California's low-elevation dry habitats, from the coast to the low foothills and desert... less ↑

Lasthenia californica is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name California goldfields. It is native to California and Oregon and surrounding areas, where it is a very common member of the flora in a number of habitat types. This is an annual herb approaching a maximum height near 40 centimeters but generally staying much smaller. The plant is quite variable in appearance across subspecies and climates. The leaves are... less ↑

Toxicodendron diversilobum (syn. Rhus diversiloba; Western Poison-oak or Pacific Poison-oak) is a plant best known for its ability to cause allergic rashes after contact. Western Poison-oak is found only on the Pacific Coast of the United States and of Canada. It is extremely common in that region, where it is the predominant species of the genus; the closely related Atlantic Poison-oak (T. pubescens) occurs on the Atlantic Coast. The hyphenated form "Poison-oak" is used, rather than... less ↑

Triteleia laxa (previously Brodiaea laxa) is a triplet lily known by several common names, including Ithuriel's spear and grassnut. It is native to California where it is a common wildflower, and it is occasionally found in Oregon. It bears a tall, naked stem topped with a spray of smaller stalks, each ending in a purple or blue flower. The flower is tubular, opening into a sharply six-pointed star. The plant grows from a corm which is... less ↑

Eucalyptus (pronounced /ËŒjuːkəˈlɪptÉ™s/ ) is a diverse genus of flowering trees (and a few shrubs) in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia. There are more than 700 species of Eucalyptus, mostly native to Australia, and a very small number are found in adjacent parts of New Guinea and Indonesia and one as far north as the Philippines islands. Only 15 species occur outside Australia, and only 9 do... less ↑

Dudleya farinosa is a succulent plant known by several common names, including bluff lettuce, powdery liveforever, and powdery dudleya. This dudleya is variable in appearance from drab to spectacular. It grows from a branching caudex and forms a basal rosette of wide, pointed, spade-shaped leaves, each up to about six centimeters across. The leaves are generally very pale green but they often have edges or tips of bright colors, particularly bright reds. The plant erects a... less ↑

Monardella villosa is a plant in the mint family which is known by the common name coyote mint. This is a perennial wildflower found only California, except for one subspecies, which sometimes occurs in Oregon. It forms a small bush or matted tangle of hairy mint-scented foliage. It produces rounded inflorescences of small, thready, bright lavender or pink flowers. The flowers are attractive to butterflies. This plant was used by Native American groups as a remedy... less ↑

The leopard shark, Triakis semifasciata, is a species of houndshark, family Triakidae, found along the Pacific coast of North America from the U.S. state of Oregon to Mazatlán in Mexico. Typically measuring 1.2–1.5 m (3.9–4.9 ft) long, this slender-bodied shark is immediately identifiable by the striking pattern of black saddle-like markings and large spots over its back, from which it derives its common name. Large schools of leopard sharks are a common sight in bays and estuaries, swimming... less ↑

Anthopleura elegantissima, also known as the aggregating anemone or clonal anemone, is the most abundant species of sea anemone found on rocky, tide swept shores along the Pacific coast of North America. This cnidarian hosts endosymbiotic algae called zooxanthellae that contribute substantially to primary productivity in the intertidal zone. A. elegantissima has become a model organism for the study of temperate cnidarian-algal symbioses. less ↑

Cirsium occidentale is a species of thistle known by the common name cobwebby thistle. This plant may be short or quite tall, forming low clumps or towering to heights approaching 3 meters. The leaves are dull gray-green to bright white due to a coating of hairs, and the most basal ones on large plants may be nearly half a meter in length. The petioles are winged and spiny and the leaves are toothed or edged with... less ↑

Stachys chamissonis is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name coastal hedgenettle. It is native to the west coast of North America, where it grows in moist coastal habitat from Alaska to central California. This mint produces an erect stem well over one meter in maximum height, and often over two meters. It is hairy, glandular, and aromatic. The oppositely arranged leaves have pointed, wavy-edged blades up to 18... less ↑

Brackens (Pteridium) are a genus comprising several species of large, coarse ferns. Ferns (Pteridophyta) are vascular plants that have alternating generations, large plants that produce spores and small plants that produce sex cells (eggs and sperm). Brackens are in the family Dennstaedtiaceae, which are noted for their large, highly divided leaves. They are commonly found on moorland. Brackens are cosmopolitan, being found on all continents except Antarctica and in all environments except deserts. The genus probably... less ↑

Prunella vulgaris, known as common selfheal, heal-all, heart-of-the-earth or hạ khô thảo in Vietnamese, is a medicinal plant in the genus Prunella. It grows from 1 to 2 feet high, with creeping, self-rooting, tough, square, reddish stems branching at leaf axis. The leaves are lance shaped, serrated and reddish at tip, about an inch long and 1/2 inch broad, grow on short stalks in opposite pairs down the square stem. The flowers grow from a clublike,... less ↑

Achillea millefolium or yarrow is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the Northern Hemisphere. In New Mexico and southern Colorado, it is called plumajillo, or "little feather", for the shape of the leaves. In antiquity, yarrow was known as herbal militaris, for its use in staunching the flow of blood from wounds. Other common names for this species include common yarrow, gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man's pepper, devil's nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier's woundwort,... less ↑

Scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis; also known as red pimpernel, red chickweed, poorman's barometer, shepherd's weather glass or shepherd's clock) is a low-growing annual plant found in Europe, Asia and North America. Although traditionally included in the family Primulaceae, Anagallis is now considered to be better placed within the related family Myrsinaceae (Källersjö et al., 1999). The barometer (weather glass) common names have their origin in the fact that the flowers close when atmospheric pressure decreases and... less ↑

Anapahlis margaritacea, commonly known as the Western Pearly Everlasting, is a perennial herb in the composite family. Since it is the only North American species it is often simply called Pearly Everlasting in the United States and Canada. However, it is also native in Asia and has been widely introduced in Europe. It grows erect up to heights of about 1 metre and has narrow, alternate leaves. One salient feature is that the undersides of the... less ↑

Cirsium vulgare (Spear Thistle, Bull thistle, Plumed thistle, Roadside thistle; syn. C. lanceolatum) is a species of the genus Cirsium, native throughout Europe, Asia and northern Africa, but also present in North America as an invasive weed. It is designated an "injurious weed" under the UK Weeds Act 1959 and a noxious weed in nine US states. less ↑

Claytonia perfoliata (Miner's lettuce, Winter Purslane, Spring Beauty, or Indian lettuce; syn. Montia perfoliata) is a fleshy annual plant native to the western mountain and coastal regions of North America from southernmost Alaska and central British Columbia south to Central America, but most common in California in the Sacramento and northern San Joaquin valleys. less ↑

Helenium puberulum is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name rosilla. It is native to California and Baja California, where it can be found in moist habitats such as riverbanks and meadows. This is an annual or perennial herb varying in size and shape from a low stem with few branches to an erect, spindly stem nearing 1.5 meters tall. Most of the leaves are on the lower part... less ↑

The Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum also known as Indian Celery or Pushki) is the only member of the Hogweed genus native to North America. Its classification has caused some difficulty, with recent authoritative sources referring to it variously as Heracleum maximum or Heracleum lanatum , as H. linatum, or as either a subspecies, H. sphondylium subsp. montanum, or a variety, H. sphondylium var. linatum, of the Common Hogweed (H. sphondylium). The classification given here follows ITIS. less ↑

Lotus scoparius (Common Deerweed, Deer Weed, Deervetch, California Broom or Western Bird's-Foot Trefoil) is a perennial subshrub in the family Fabaceae (pea family). The plant is a pioneer species found in dry areas of California, Arizona, and Mexico. It is commonly found in many areas including chaparral, coastal sand and roadsides at elevations below 1500 m. less ↑

The manroots, wild cucumbers, or cucumber gourd (genus Marah) are flowering plants in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), native to western North America. They are also commonly called Old man in the ground. The genus name comes from Hebrew מָרָ֔א (mara, "bitter" - e.g. Ruth 1:20), and was given because all parts of these plants tend to have a bitter taste. less ↑

Navarretia squarrosa (skunkweed, California stinkweed ) is a spreading annual plant from North America which is noted for its skunk-like odour. It grows to between 10 and 60 cm in height and has tubular lilac pink to deep blue flowers up to 12 mm in diameter in dense terminal heads, encircled by a spiny sepals and bracts. The leaves are pinnately lobed and spiny. less ↑

Oxalis pes-caprae (Bermuda buttercup, African wood-sorrel, Bermuda sorrel, Buttercup oxalis, Cape sorrel, English weed, Goat's-foot, Sourgrass, Soursob and Soursop; (Afrikaans: Suring) ) is a species of tristylous flowering plant in the wood sorrel family Oxalidaceae. Oxalis cernua is a less common synonym for this species. less ↑

Rumex acetosella is a species of sorrel bearing the common names sheep's sorrel, red sorrel, sour weed, and field sorrel. The plant and its subspecies are common perennial weeds. It has green arrowhead-shaped leaves and red-tinted deeply ridged stems, and it sprouts from an aggressive rhizome. The flowers emerge from a tall, upright stem. Female flowers are maroon in color. less ↑

The Hedge Nettle (Stachys ajugoides) is a nettle found in lowland or swampy areas along the coast of California and Oregon. It has serrate leaves, about 4 inches long, and grows straight up from the ground. Its most identifiable characteristic is its strong musky odor, hence the nickname "stinky stachys". It attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, who feed on the nectar. It grows in the sun or shade and its roots form a dense mat that makes... less ↑

Corylus cornuta (Beaked Hazel) is a deciduous shrubby hazel found in most of North America, from southern Canada south to Georgia and California. It grows in dry woodlands and forest edges and can reach 4 - 8 m tall with stems 10 - 25 cm thick with smooth gray bark. The leaves are rounded oval, coarsely double-toothed, 5-11 cm long and 3 - 8 cm broad, with hairy undersides. The flowers are catkins that form in... less ↑

Lupinus albifrons, Silver lupine, white-leaf bush lupine, or evergreen lupine, is a species of lupine (lupin). It is native to California and Oregon, where it grows along the coast and in dry and open meadows, prairies and forest clearings. It is a member of several plant communities, including coastal sage scrub, chaparral, northern coastal scrub, foothill woodland, and yellow pine forest. less ↑

The California wild rose (Rosa californica) is a species of rose native to the US states of California and Oregon. It is a bush or thicket-forming shrub with prickly, curving stems. The fragrant flowers may grow singly or in inflorescences of several blooms. Each rose is open-faced and generally flat, with five petals in any shade of pink from almost white to deep magenta. It produces typical rose hips containing yellow seeds. The plant is native... less ↑

Rubus ursinus is a species of blackberry or dewberry known by the common names California blackberry and Pacific blackberry. It is native to western North America. This is a wide, spreading shrub or vine-bearing bush with prickly branches. Its white flowers may be distinguished from those of other blackberries by their narrow petals. The sweet, edible fruits are dark purple to black and up to 2 centimeters in length. One theory surmises that this species is... less ↑

Jerusalem crickets (genus Stenopelmatus) are a group of large (body length up to 69 millimetres (2.7 in)), flightless insects native to the western United States, along the Pacific Coast, and south into Mexico. Because of their large, human-like head, they are commonly called niño de la tierra (Spanish for "child of the earth"), Earth baby, cara de niño (Spanish for "child's face"), wó see ts'inii (Navajo for "skull insect"), or old bald-headed man. They are also often called... less ↑

Trifolium fucatum is a species of clover known by the common names bull clover and sour clover. It is native to Oregon and California, where it grows in many types of habitat, becoming common to abundant in some areas. It is an annual herb growing decumbent to erect in form, the stem often thick-walled and hollow. The leaf blades are made up of oval or rounded leaflets with smooth or toothed edges, and the leaves have... less ↑

California Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus californicus, is a subspecies of Mule Deer whose range covers much of the state of California. This species is widespread throughout northern and central California in the California coastal prairie as well as inner coastal ranges and interior mountains, especially the Sierra Nevada. This deer will much less frequently be found on the floor of the interior valleys, and then it will mostly frequent riparian zones. Generally this species has a... less ↑

Laccaria amethystina, commonly known as the Amethyst Deceiver is a small brightly colored, edible mushroom, that grows in deciduous as well as coniferous forests. Because its bright amethyst coloration fades with age and weathering, it becomes difficult to identify, hence the common name ‘Deceiver’. This common name is shared with its close relation Laccaria laccata that also fades and weathers. It is found mainly in Northern temperate zones, though it is reported to occur in tropical... less ↑

Grindelia hirsutula is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names hairy gumplant and hairy gumweed. It is native to North America, including much of the west coast of the United States and the southern half of Canada. It grows in many habitats and climates. This is an erect perennial herb forming patches of herbage 20 centimeters high to sprawling stands of weedlike erect stems exceeding a meter in height.... less ↑

Grindelia is a genus of plants native to the Americas belonging to the family Asteraceae, (Compositae). G. squarrosa, a plant with bright yellow flowers indigenous to much of the United States, is commonly called curlycup gumweed. G. robusta, found in the western states, is a coastal scrub bush that is reputed to have several medicinal uses. Hairy gumweed, Grindelia cuneifolia, occurs in brackish coastal marshes of western North America, such as in some portions of the... less ↑

The beach strawberry, Chilean strawberry, or coastal strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) is one of two species of strawberry that were hybridized to create the modern garden strawberry (F. × ananassa). It is noted for its large berries. Its natural range is the Pacific Ocean coasts of North and South America, and also HawaiÊ»i. Migratory birds are thought to have dispersed F. chiloensis from the Pacific coast of North America to the mountains of HawaiÊ»i, Chile, and Argentina. less ↑

The radish (Raphanus sativus) is an edible root vegetable of the Brassicaceae family that was domesticated in Europe in pre-Roman times. They are grown and consumed throughout the world. Radishes have numerous varieties, varying in size, color and duration of required cultivation time. There are some radishes that are grown for their seeds; oilseed radishes are grown, as the name implies, for oil production. less ↑

Sanicula arctopoides is a species of sanicle known commonly as footsteps of spring or bear's foot sanicle. It is a perennial herb found on the west coast of the United States, especially near the ocean. The branches are short and thick and may be prostrate or slightly erect. The leaves are yellowish-green and carrot-like or maple-shaped, and the tiny yellow flowers are borne in umbels with prominent bracts. The plants grow in low matted patches along... less ↑

Allium triquetrum (also known as three-cornered leek, angled onion, onion weed and three-cornered garlic) is a Mediterranean plant in the family Alliaceae, but can also be found along the coasts of Oregon and California. Many parts of the plant are edible and taste somewhat like garlic or onion. The plant spreads rapidly and is locally common/invasive, particularly in disturbed areas. less ↑

Papilio eurymedon, the pale swallowtail or pallid swallowtail is a relatively common swallowtail butterfly found throughout much of the western United States. It is found on the Pacific coast from northern Baja California to southernmost British Columbia and inland to New Mexico and the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is present from the coast to western Montana and Wyoming to northern New Mexico. It is absent from most of Nevada and western Utah. It prefers... less ↑

Zantedeschia aethiopica (common names Lily of the Nile, Calla lily, Easter lily, Arum lily); syn. Calla aethiopica L., Richardia africana Kunth, Richardia aethiopica (L.) Spreng., Colocasia aethiopica (L.) Spreng. ex Link) is a species in the family Araceae, native to southern Africa in Lesotho, South Africa, and Swaziland. less ↑