Stonewall Panoramic Trail - Chaparral: 2/20/13

French Broom - This plant is very woody at the base, indicating its hardiness towards lack of water. Mediterranean climates are classified by their wet winters and dry summers and that is why chaparral do so well living here in Berkeley. This plant is short and shrubby which could also be another adaption the plant made to conserve energy.

Milk Thistle - I think the Thistle adapted to this area by forming very spiky leaves to conserve its water in these chaparral regions, but also to protect itself from deer and other grazing animals.

Toyon - This plant also is very shrubby and has a woody base which i think helps the plant adapt well to theses dry areas.

Western Poison Oak - Just starting to enter its red phase, poison oak is very shrubby and woody making it another drought adapted plant! It does really well living here along the West Coast where it gets seasonal periods of water and sun to survive. Perhaps its adaption to survive was producing toxins that deter humans away from it, although deer seem to love it.

Bermuda Buttercup - After the rains, these plants pop up all over Berkeley and on the hillsides. I'm assuming there life span is not very long when there isn't any water, but it probably reproduces seeds fast enough to drop them in the ground before the original plant dies.

Posted on February 21, 2013 02:36 AM by aseruthmitchell