John McLaren Park - San Francisco, CA

The spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata) is a major agricultural pest insect (see also cucumber beetle). In the adult form it eats and damages leaves of many crops, including cucumbers, soybeans, cotton, beans and many others. In the larval form, which is known as the southern corn rootworm, it tunnels through the roots of young plants, stunting or killing them. These native pests have a wide range of host plants, but will readily infest a field... 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 ↑

Bellis perennis is a common European species of Daisy, often considered the archetypal species of that name. Many related plants also share the name "Daisy", so to distinguish this species from other daisies it is sometimes qualified as Common Daisy, Lawn Daisy or occasionally English daisy. It is native to western, central and northern Europe. The species is widely naturalised in North America, and also in South America. less ↑

Xanthoria parietina is a foliose, or leafy, lichen. It has wide distribution, and many common names such as common orange lichen, yellow scale, maritime sunburst lichen and shore lichen. It can be found near the shore on rocks or walls (hence the epithet parietina meaning "on walls"), and also on inland rocks, walls, or tree bark. It was chosen as a model organism for genomic sequencing (planned in 2006) by the US Department of Energy Joint... less ↑

Lunularia cruciata or Crescent-cup liverwort is a liverwort of order Marchantiales, and the only species in the genus Lunularia and family Lunulariaceae. The name refers to the moon-shaped cups, from Latin luna, moon. It occurs commonly in western Europe, where it is native the the region around the Mediterranean. It is also common in California, where it now grows "wild", and is known as an introduced weed in gardens and greenhouses in Australia. In America, the... less ↑

Geranium robertianum, (syn. Robertiella robertiana) commonly known as Herb Robert, Red Robin, or (in North America) Robert Geranium, is a common species of cranesbill in Europe, Asia, North America, and North Africa. It can grow at altitudes of up to 1,500 metres (4,921 ft). It grows as an annual or biennial plant, producing small, pink, five-petalled flowers (about 1 cm in diameter) from April until the autumn. The leaves are fern-like, and the stems often reddish; the leaves... 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 ↑

Chasmanthe floribunda is a species of flowering plant in the crocus family which is known by the common name African flag. This plant is native to southern Africa, particularly South Africa, but it has been introduced to other areas of similar climate, such as California, where it is naturalized. This is a perennial sprouting from a corm and producing clumps of long, narrow leaves. It erects one thin, tall stem which may approach a meter in... less ↑

Calystegia occidentalis is a species of morning glory known by the common name chaparral false bindweed. It is native to California and Oregon, where it grows in hilly and mountain habitat, such as woodland and chaparral slopes. It is a woody perennial herb producing spreading or twisting and climbing branches, usually quite hairy in texture. The small leaves are up to 4 centimeters long and lobed into various spade or arrowhead shapes. The inflorescence is one... less ↑

Lomatium caruifolium is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name alkali desertparsley. It is endemic to California, where it grows in wet, grassy areas in the northern foothills and plains, such as vernal pools and other temporary and alkaline puddles. It is a perennial herb growing 15 to 45 centimeters tall from a taproot. It generally lacks a stem, producing erect leaves and inflorescences from ground level. The leaves... less ↑

The Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon) is a North American butterfly. It ranges mainly in California but can be seen north to Oregon and south through Baja California. The tops of the wings are blue with dark edges in males and brown in females. Its underside is white with black spots for both sexes with a red-orange band on the hindwing. Adults feed on nectar while caterpillars can feed on buckwheats, lupines, trefoils, and milkvetches. less ↑

Clathrus ruber is a saprobic species of fungus in the family Phallaceae. It is commonly known as the latticed stinkhorn, the basket stinkhorn, or the red cage, alluding to the fruiting bodies that are shaped somewhat like a round or oval ball with interlaced or latticed branches. Covered with a slime layer on the inner surfaces, this inedible species has a fetid odor, described by some as rotting meat, that attracts flies and other insects to... less ↑

Lomatium utriculatum is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name common lomatium. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, where it grows in many types of habitat. It is a hairless to lightly hairy perennial herb growing up to half a meter tall from a slender taproot. The leaves are basal and also grow from the middle and upper sections of the stem. Each... less ↑

Nymphalis antiopa, known as the Mourning Cloak in North America and the Camberwell Beauty in Britain, is a large butterfly native to Eurasia and North America. See also Anglewing butterflies. The immature form of this species is sometimes known as the spiny elm caterpillar. Other older names for this species include Grand Surprise and White Petticoat. A powerful flier, this species is sometimes found in areas far from its usual range during migration. It is also... less ↑

Sanicula bipinnatifida is a species of flowering plant in the parsley family known by the common names purple sanicle, purple blacksnakeroot, and shoe buttons. It is native to the west coast of North America from British Columbia to Baja California, where it can be found in many types of habitat, including grassland, woodlands, and mountain slopes of serpentine soils. It is a perennial herb growing to a maximum height near 60 centimeters from a taproot. It... less ↑

Symphyotrichum chilense (formerly Aster chilensis) is a species of aster known by the common names Pacific aster and common California aster. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, where it grows in many types of habitat, especially along the coast and in the coastal mountain ranges. Despite its Latin name, it does not occur in Chile. This is a rhizomatous perennial herb growing to heights between 40 centimeters and one meter.... less ↑

Gazania linearis is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name treasureflower. It is native to southern Africa, particularly South Africa, but it can be found in other parts of the world with similar climates where it has taken hold as an introduced species, such as in California in the United States. This is a mat-forming or clumping perennial herb growing from rhizomes. Its leaves have long, winged petioles and... less ↑

Wyethia angustifolia is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names California compassplant and narrowleaf mule's ears. It is native to the west coast of the United States from Washington to California, where it grows in grassland, meadows, and other open habitat. It is a perennial herb growing from a tough taproot and caudex unit and producing a stem 30 to 90 centimeters tall. The leaves have lance-shaped blades up... less ↑

Calystegia subacaulis is a species of morning glory known by the common name hillside false bindweed. It is endemic to California, where it grows in North and Central Coast Ranges in woodland and scrub habitat. It is a hairy perennial herb growing from a woody caudex or a rhizome and extending stems no longer than about 20 centimeters. The leaves are 3 or 4 centimeters long and triangular or arrowhead shaped with small side lobes. The... less ↑

Equisetum telmateia (great horsetail or northern giant horsetail) is a species of Equisetum (horsetail) with an unusual distribution, with one subspecies native to Europe, western Asia and northwest Africa, and a second subspecies native to western North America. The North American subspecies is often simply but ambiguously called "giant horsetail", but that name may just as well refer to the Latin American Equisetum giganteum and Equisetum myriochaetum. less ↑

Erodium botrys is a species of flowering plant in the geranium family known by the common names long-beaked stork's bill and broadleaf filaree. This is a weedy annual herb which is native to much of Eurasia and North Africa but is found in many other areas of the world as an introduced species, including Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the Americas. The plant starts from a flat rosette of highly lobed green leaves on red... less ↑

Juncus bufonius, known commonly as toad rush, is a common species of rush found worldwide. It grows in moist and muddy places and is considered a weed in many areas. This is an annual monocot that is quite variable in appearance. It is sometimes described as a complex of variants labeled with one species name. It is generally a green clumping grasslike rush with many thin stems wrapped with few threadlike leaves. The flowers are borne... less ↑

Luzula comosa is a species of flowering plant in the rush family known by the common name Pacific woodrush. It is native to western North America from Alaska to California to Colorado, where it can be found in moist spots in forests and meadows and many other types of habitat. It is a perennial herb quite variable in appearance, often forming small, narrow grasslike tufts. The erect inflorescence is tipped with a series of clustered spikelike... less ↑

Briza maxima is a species of the genus Briza, as such it is an annual grass in the family Poaceae. It is native to Northern Africa, the Azores, Western Asia and Southern Europe and is cultivated or naturalised in the British Isles, Australasia, the west of the United States, Central and South America and Hawaii. This species has a large number of common names including Big Quaking Grass, Great Quaking Grass, Large Quaking Grass , Quaking... less ↑

Danthonia californica is a species of grass known by the common name California oatgrass. This plant is native to two separate regions of the Americas, western North America from California to Saskatchewan, and Chile. This is a clumping erect perennial grass with stems approaching a meter in height at maximum. The leaves are flat and short and may be hairy or hairless. The inflorescence holds one or more spikelets, each spikelet holding up to eight florets.... less ↑

Festuca californica is a species of grass known by the common name California fescue. It is native to the US states of California and Oregon where it is a member of many plant communities, including chaparral. This fescue is a clumping perennial without rhizomes. It reaches anywhere from 40 to 120 centimeters in height. The rough leaves are narrow but can be quite long. The inflorescence holds spikelets which are each one to two centimeters long.... less ↑

Hordeum brachyantherum is a species of barley known by the common name meadow barley. It is native to western North America from Alaska to northern Mexico, far eastern Russia, and parts of eastern North America. It can be found in other parts of the world as an introduced species. This is a tufting perennial grass approaching a meter in maximum height. It produces compact, narrow inflorescences 8 to 10 centimeters long and purplish in color. Like... less ↑

Koeleria macrantha is a species of grass known by the common name prairie Junegrass. In the UK it is known as Crested hair-grass. It is native to much of North America, from Alaska to northern Mexico to the eastern United States. It occurs in a large number of habitat types, especially prairie. This is a short, tuft-forming perennial grass, reaching heights from 20 to 70 centimeters. The leaves are basal and up to about 20 centimeters... less ↑

Melica californica is a species of grass known by the common name California melic. It is native to Oregon and California, where it grows in many types of habitat, from mountain forests to open grassland at sea level. It is a perennial grass, generally with rhizomes, producing a dense cluster of stems up to about 1.3 meters in maximum height. The inflorescence is a narrow series of purple-banded green spikelets. less ↑

Eriogonum latifolium is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common names seaside buckwheat and coast buckwheat. This plant is native to the coastline of the western United States from Washington to central California, where it is a common resident of coastal bluffs and scrub. This is a perennial herb which is quite variable in size, its height dependent in part on its degree of exposure to the stiff maritime winds of its habitat. It... less ↑

Polypodium californicum is a species of fern known by the common name California polypody. It is native to Baja California and California, where it grows along the coastline as well as in moist spots in coastal foothills and mountain ranges in the southern part of its distribution. This polypody anchors with a scaly rhizome. It produces oval to triangular leaves up to 70 centimeters in length and 20 in width. Each leaf is made up of... less ↑

Triphysaria pusilla is a species of flowering plant in the broomrape family known by the common name dwarf owl's clover. It is native to the west coast of North America from British Columbia to central California, where it grows in moist open habitat such as spring-wet grasslands. It an annual herb producing a hairy brownish or purple-colored, multibranched stem up to about 20 centimeters in maximum height. Like many species in its family it is a... less ↑

The redbacked jumping spider (Phidippus johnsoni) is one of the largest and most commonly encountered jumping spiders of western North America. It is not to be confused with the unrelated and highly venomous redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti). When threatened, the redbacked jumping spider can inflict a quite painful bite in self defense, but with no serious medical consequences. less ↑

The shrub California barberry has two Latin names used by botanists, Berberis pinnata and Mahonia pinnata. The genus Mahonia is sometimes considered to be part of Berberis. Other common names for this species are wavyleaf barberry and shinyleaf mahonia. It is a dark green bush which resembles holly with its serrated leaves but bears round purple fruits that look like small grapes. The plant is found on the west coast of North America on coastal mountain... less ↑

Cyperus eragrostis is a species of sedge known by several common names, including tall flatsedge and pale galingale. It is a green sedge with tall, erect stems, and long, thin, pointed leaves. Its flowers are found within tough, rounded, greenish-yellow or beige spikelets. This species is originally native to the western United States but it has become naturalized across North America, Europe, and parts of South America and Australia. It can become a weed where it... less ↑

Chlorogalum pomeridianum, the Wavy-leafed Soap Plant or California soaproot, is the most common and most widely distributed of the Soap Plants, Soaproots or Amoles, which make up the genus Chlorogalum of flowering plants. It is found in most of California, apart from the Sierra Nevada and the deserts, and also in south-western Oregon. It is occasionally known as the "wild potato", but given the plant's lack of either resemblance or relationship to the potato, this name... less ↑

The Brown-headed Rush, Juncus phaeocephalus, is native mostly along the coast of California. It grows in moist seeps and shallow wet soil. This plant is perennial with creeping rhizomes. It has flattened stems that are two-edged and can grow up to 1.5 feet tall. Its leaves are shorter than its flowering stems. Brown-head Rush can be easily mistaken from sedges or irises because of its stems and leaves. These plants have many flowers that exhibit a... less ↑

Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia (Common Fiddleneck, or Intermediate Fiddleneck) is a species of plant in the Boraginaceae family (also called the Borage or Forget-me-not family). It is one of the common fiddlenecks of western North America, distributed from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to Mexico. Like other members of the genus, it has a terminal flowering whorl somewhat shaped like the head of a violin or fiddle, hence the name fiddleneck. The flowers... less ↑

Oenanthe sarmentosa is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name water parsley. It is native to western North America from Alaska to California, where it grows in wet areas, such as streambanks. It is sometimes aquatic, growing in the water. The plant has been used in cultivation in wetlands, and the recent discovery of several colonies growing by a stream in Illinois demonstrates its capacity to become a noxious... less ↑

Cirsium quercetorum is a species of thistle which is endemic to the coast of California. Its common names include brownie thistle and Alameda thistle. This perennial plant grows clumped low to the ground, has spiny lobed toothy leaves and spiny thistle flowers which may be brownish dirty white to purple. This is a common plant found in grassy areas in coastal California north of approximately Santa Barbara. less ↑

Eriophyllum stoechadifolium (also, E. staechadifolium) is a flowering plant in the daisy family which is known by the common name seaside woolly sunflower. It is native to the coastline of Oregon and California as far south as the Channel Islands. This is a plant of the beaches, dunes, and coastal scrub. It is variable in size, its height depending in part on its exposure to harsh coastal wind and saline spray. It may reach anywhere from... less ↑

Arabis blepharophylla is a species of rock cress known by the common names coast rock cress and rose rock cress. It is endemic to California, growing mostly in the San Francisco Bay Area and nearby low-elevation coast ranges. It is uncommon in the wild but is often grown as an attractive, sweet-scented flowering garden plant. The plant sends up thin, hairy stems from a basal rosette of fuzzy leaves. It bears small flowers with four bright... less ↑

Cardionema ramosissimum is a beach-dwelling plant of the pink family, Caryophyllaceae, which is known by the common name sandcarpet. This is a flat or clumping mat-forming perennial plant which grows along the coastline of western North America, as well as Chile. From a taproot it extends many petite to sprawling stems up to 30 centimeters long and covered in very tiny leaves, which are about a centimeter long and needlelike. Filling in the spaces between the... less ↑

Malva nicaeensis is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common name bull mallow. It is native to Eurasia and North Africa, and it is known on other continents as an introduced species and sometimes a weed. It is an annual or biennial herb producing a hairy, upright stem up to 60 centimeters long. The leaves are up to 12 centimeters wide and have several slight lobes along the edges. Flowers... less ↑

Festuca rubra is a species of grass known by the common name red fescue. It is found worldwide and can tolerate many habitats and climates; it generally needs full sun to thrive. It is a nutritious and palatable forage grass for domestic and wild animals. It is used as a turfgrass and groundcover and can be left completely unmowed for a lush prairie-like look. There are many subspecies and many cultivars have been bred. less ↑

Rubus armeniacus (Armenian Blackberry or Himalayan Blackberry); syn. R. discolor Weihe & Nees nom. illeg., R. procerus auct. non P.J.Muell., is a species of Rubus in the blackberry group Rubus subgenus Rubus series Discolores (P.J. Müll.) Focke. It is native to Armenia in southwest Asia, and widely naturalised elsewhere. Both its scientific name and origin have been the subject of much confusion, with much of the literature using one or the other of the two synonyms,... less ↑

Oxalis incarnata is a species of flowering plant in the woodsorrel family known by the common names pale pink-sorrel and crimson woodsorrel. It is native to southern Africa, but it can be found on other continents where it is an introduced species, often the descendent of garden escapees. It is grown and kept as an ornamental plant. This is a perennial herb growing from a system of rhizomes and bulbs. The branching, hairless stem grows to... less ↑

Juncus occidentalis is a species of rush known by the common name western rush. It is native to the western United States, where it grows in wet areas in many types of habitat. This is a bunching perennial herb with thin, stiff stems reaching maximum heights between 30 and 60 centimeters. The wispy leaves grow from the base of the stem and may approach half the stem's length. The inflorescence holds loose bundles of individual flowers... less ↑

Amaryllis (pronounced /ˌæməˈrɪlÉ™s/) is a also known as the Belladonna Lily or naked ladies. The genus has two species and the more famous of the two, Amaryllis belladonna, is a native of South Africa, particularly the rocky southwest region near the Cape. It should not be confused with Hippeastrum, a flowering bulb commonly sold in the winter months for its ability to bloom indoors. less ↑

Acacia longifolia is a species of Acacia native to southeastern Australia, from the extreme southeast of Queensland, eastern New South Wales, eastern and southern Victoria, and southeastern South Australia. Common names for it include Acacia Trinervis, Aroma Doble, Golden Wattle, Sallow Wattle and Sydney Golden Wattle. It is not listed as being a threatened species, and is considered invasive in Portugal and South Africa. It is a tree that grows very quickly reaching 7-10 m in five... less ↑

Solanum douglasii is a species of nightshade known by the common name greenspot nightshade. It is native to the northern half of Mexico and the southwestern south-central United States. Its habitat includes scrub and woodland. It is a perennial herb or subshrub approaching two meters in maximum height. The stem is coated in short, white hairs. The leaves may be up to 9 centimeters long and have smooth or toothed edges. The inflorescence is an umbel-shaped... less ↑

Oxalis albicans, commonly known as Hairy Woodsorrel, White Oxalis, Radishroot Woodsorrel or Radishroot Yellow-sorrel, is a perennial herb that is native to the state of California and surrounding regions in the United States of America and northern Mexico. It grows in the northern coastal scrub and coastal sage scrub habitats as well as chaparral of the state, from elevations of 0 to 2296 feet. less ↑

Salix scouleriana (Scouler's Willow; syn. S. brachystachys Benth., S. capreoides Anderss., S. flavescens Nutt., S. nuttallii Sarg., S. stagnalis Nutt.) is a species of willow native to western North America, from south central Alaska east to western Northwest Territory, central Manitoba, and the Black Hills of South Dakota, and south through the Rocky Mountains to Coahuila, and along the coast through British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and the Sierra Nevada in California. . Other names occasionally used... less ↑

Agrostis capillaris (Common Bent,Colonial bent, Browntop) is a rhizomatous and stoloniferous perennial in the grass family (Poaceae). It is native to Eurasia and has been widely introduced in many parts of the world. Colonial bent grows in moist grasslands and open meadows, and can also be found in agricultural areas, roadsides, and invading disturbed areas. less ↑