SALT POINT
PYGMY, GERSTLE & STUMP
March 24,
2008
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Trail Description:
The North and Central Pygmy forest trails start off among
somewhat scruffy Redwoods and Pines that are gradually replaced by broad leaves such as
Madrones and Oaks as you gain elevation and distance from the coast.
The Pygmy forest itself is dominated by spindly looking Cypress above a
stunted Manzanita and Rhododendron undergrowth... mostly due to an
impermeable clay hard pan below. Stump Beach is a nice redwood trail
that slowly gains elevation until Kruse road. The new shoreline trail off Gerstle Cove is the same as all the other shore trails in this
park... sublime, awesome, breathtaking, and amazing.
Trail map:
here
Blooming Plants Not Photographed:
NN=Non Native
American Vetch (Vicia americana)
Blue Violet (Viola adunca)
California Blackberry (Rubus ursinus)
California Buttercup (Ranunculus californicus)
Candy Flower (Claytonia siberica)
Cow Parsnip (Heracleum lanatum)
Common Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) NN
Daffodils ( Narcissus sp.) NN
Dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale) NN
English Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) NN
False Solomon’s Seal (Smilacina stellata)
Footprints-Of-Spring (Sanicula arctopoides)
Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis latifolia) NN
Giant Vetch (Vicia gigantea)
Hounds Tongue (Cynoglossum grande)
Indian Warrior (Pedicularis densiflora)
Milk Maids (Cardamine californica var. californica)
Montbretia (Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora) NN
Red Hot Poker Plant (Kniphofia uvaria) NN
Redwood Sorrel (Oxalis oregana)
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
Salmon Berry (Rubus spectabilis)
Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) NN
Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) NN
Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella) NN
Snakeroot (Sanicula crassicaulis)
Sticky Money Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus)
Vinca (Vinca major) NN
Wake Robin (Trillium ovatum ssp. ovatum)
Weedy Cudweed (Gnaphalium luteo album) NN
Wood Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)
Yerba Buena (Satureja douglasii)
Ferns and Allies Not Photographed:
Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens)
California Polypody (Polypodium californicum)
Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant)
Giant Chain Fern (Woodwardia fimbriata)
Giant Horsetail (Equisetum telmateia var. braunii)
Leather Fern (Polypodium scouleri)
Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum)
%20Black%20Huckleberry.jpg "Black Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum): Can be eaten by humans and other animal life.")
%20Redwood%20Violet.jpg "Redwood Violet (Viola sempervirens): Extremely numerous in shaded woodsy areas.")
%20Sun%20Cups.jpg "Sun Cups (Camissonia ovata): Hundreds of them grew right in the middle of the paths and fields.")
%20Pygmy%20Forest.jpg "Bigfoot stalks the Pygmy Forest.")
%20Calypso%20Orchid.jpg "Calypso Orchid (Calypso bulbosa): We saw dozens of them on the out-of-the way paths.")
%20English%20Daisy.jpg "English Daisy (Bellis perennis): Extremely widespread non native.")
%20Stump%20beach%20trail.jpg "Heading up Stump Trail.")
%20Cutleaf%20Sanicle.jpg "Cutleaf Sanicle (Sanicula laciniata): Liked the moist grassy areas or woods.")
%20Labrador%20Tea.jpg "Labrador Tea (Ledum glandulosum): Most were not blooming yet but this one was.")
.jpg "Down the Gerstle trail at Sunrise.")
%20Coltsfoot%20(Petasites.jpg "Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus var. palmatus): There were masses of them in the very wet areas.")
%20Lotus%20(Lotus.jpg "Lotus (Lotus formosissimus): Formosissimus means “most beautiful”.")
%20Gerstle%20Cove%20area.jpg "The fascinating Sandstone Tafoni.")
%20Common%20Horsetail.jpg "Common Horsetail (Equisetum arvense): They grew in moist areas but not in standing water.")
.jpg "Gerstle Cove area looking West.")
%20Douglas%20Iris.jpg "Douglas Iris (Iris douglasiana): Colors varied from cream to light lavender to dark purple and blue.")
%20Star%20Lily.jpg "Star Lily (Zigadenus fremontii): Fremontii commemorates U. S. Explorer John Fremont.")
%20Bush%20Lupine.jpg "Bush Lupine (Lupinus arboreus var. arboreus): Gorgeous distinctive foliage.")
%20Glory%20Mat.jpg "Glory Mat: (Ceanothus gloriosus var. gloriosus): Grew low against the banks.")
%20Sunset.jpg "Reward after a hard day of hiking and playing.")
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%20Black%20Huckleberry.jpg "Black Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum): Can be eaten by humans and other animal life.")
Black Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum): Can be eaten by humans and other animal life.