Cache Creek Natural Area - UC Davis: Center for Plant Diversity ...

Cache Creek Wilderness 

Preliminary 

Special-Status Plants Survey 

Prepared By: 

Ellen Dean and Craig Thomsen 

UC Davis Center for Plant Diversity 

Plant Sciences M.S. 7 

One Shields Ave. 

Davis, CA 95616 

December, 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Section Page 

Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................................................... i 

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................1 

Methods......................................................................................................................................................................1 

Pre-field Investigation ............................................................................................................................................1 

Field Survey methods.............................................................................................................................................4 

Results ........................................................................................................................................................................6 

Characterization of Climate, Geologic Features, and Soil Types.......................................................................6 

Vegetation Patterns and Alliances......................................................................................................................8 

Special-Status Plants Results............................................................................................................................11 

Conclusions and Recommendations.........................................................................................................................21 

References ................................................................................................................................................................22 

Figures 

1 Location and Boundaries of the Cache Creek Wilderness ...............................................................................2 

2 Routes Used to Access the Cache Creek Wilderness for 2010 Field Survey ...................................................5 

3 Special-Status Plants Encountered in Cache Creek Wilderness Area A .......................................................12 

4 Special-Status Plants Encountered in Cache Creek Wilderness Area B ........................................................13 

5 Special-Status Plants Encountered in Cache Creek Wilderness Area C ........................................................14 

Appendices 

A Special-Status Plants Known or with Potential to Occur in the Cache Creek Wilderness 

B Plants Observed at Bear Creek Ranch and the Cache Creek Wilderness 2006-2010 

C Representative Photographs of Vegetation and Special-Status Plants Observed in the Cache Creek 

Wilderness During the 2010 Survey 

D DFG California Native Species Field Survey Forms 

Cache Creek Wilderness UC Davis Center for Plant Diversity 

Special-Status Plants Survey i December, 2010

INTRODUCTION 

This report describes the methods and results of a preliminary special-status plant survey performed for the 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the Cache Creek Wilderness (hereafter referred to as “the Wilderness”). 

The 27,296 acre Wilderness is adjacent to the confluence of the north and south forks of Cache Creek within the 

upper Cache Creek watershed, south of State Highway 20, west of the BLM Bear Creek Ranch, east of Morgan 

Valley Road, and north of the Rieff-Rayhouse Road, in Lake County, California (Fig. 1). The Wilderness is 

adjacent to a patchwork of state, federal, and private rural and natural lands. Walker Ridge and Bear Valley are 

present north and northeast of the Wilderness. The University of California McLaughlin Reserve is located to the 

south. Together, the Wilderness and the BLM Bear Creek Ranch form the Cache Creek Natural Area. 

The primary purpose of this survey was to identify and map occurrences of special-status plants within the 

Wilderness. In summary, eight California Rare Plant Rank list 1B special-status plants were encountered during 

the field survey: adobe lily (Fritillaria pluriflora), Snow Mountain buckwheat (Eriogonum nervulosum), drymary 

dwarf-flax (Hesperolinon drymarioides), Hall’s madia (Harmonia hallii), Socrates mine jewelflower 

(Streptanthus brachiatus), Colusa tidy-tips (Layia septentrionalis), Jepson’s milkvetch (Astragalus rattanii var. 

jepsonianus), and round-leaf stork’s bill (California macrophyllum). In addition, six California Rare Plant Rank 

list 4 special-status plants were encountered: Cleveland’s ragwort (Packera clevelandii), serpentine collomia 

(Collomia diversifolia), serpentine milkweed (Asclepias solanoana), bare monkey flower (Mimulus nudatus), 

swamp larkspur (Delphinium uliginosum), and Cleveland’s milkvetch (Astragalus clevelandii). 

PRE-FIELD INVESTIGATION 

METHODS 

Before conducting the survey, a list of special-status plants with potential to occur in the Wilderness was 

compiled by performing database searches of the California Native Plant Society’s (CNPS’) Electronic Inventory 

of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California (CNPS 2010) and the California Department of Fish and 

Game (DFG) California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB 2010). The database searches included the 

Benmore Canyon, Wilbur Springs, Salt Canyon, Lower Lake, Wilson Valley, Glascock Mtn., Middletown, 

Jericho Valley, and Knoxville U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5 minute quadrangles. A survey package was 

prepared, including photographs of and habitat summaries for all special-status plants likely to be encountered. 

The survey packets were used to familiarize our field botanists with the characteristics and blooming periods of 

special-status plants with potential to occur at the Wilderness. 


Special-Status Plants Survey 1 December, 2010

Figure 1. Location and Boundaries of the Cache Creek Wilderness 

(Areas A, B, and C are enlarged in Figures 3, 4, and 5 to show the locations of special-status plants 

encountered in the Wilderness) 



The special-status plant habitat summaries indicated that many of the special-status plants with potential to occur 

at the Wilderness grow on serpentine soils. Therefore, we searched aerial photographs and Google Earth images 

of the Wilderness for the blue signature of serpentine soils. Based on this information gathered from aerial 

images, as well as previous knowledge of where certain special-status plants are likely to occur, we decided to 

target the following areas of the Wilderness for visits: 1) the eastern edge of the Wilderness where heavy adobe 

clay soils are present; 2) serpentine soil areas surrounding the Rocky Creek drainage; and 3) serpentine soil areas 

at the southern boundary of the Wilderness at the terminus of the eastern forks of Rocky Creek Road (the area 

known as Brushy Sky High on some maps). We confirmed our choices by examining soils maps and discussing 

the geology of the area with soils experts. 

Access to targeted areas in the Wilderness was challenging, because of the need to cross Cache Creek or private 

lands. A preliminary visit to the southern boundary of the Wilderness was made on November 17, 2009 with 

Pardee Bardwell of BLM, and we obtained names and phone numbers for several land owners in that area. We 

then contacted the Lake County Assessor’s Office to obtain the addresses of key land owners on the southern 

border of the Wilderness; we wrote letters to the land owners and provided them with our contact information. We 

were fortunate that several land owners granted us permission to use their roads and cross their land. In addition, 

Gordon Harrington, a member of our botany team, obtained the contact information for a land owner on the 

northern side of the Wilderness; that land owner allowed us to cross his land, greatly reducing our hiking time on 

that side of the Wilderness. The following is a summary of the contacts we made. 

Stephen Gilardi, owner of parcels along the eastern fork of Rocky Creek Road: parcels 5, 6, and 7 in 

Section 36, and parcels 49, 50 and 53 in Section 1. The road leading into his residence has a locked gate 

that he and a neighbor (Charles Carlisle) control. His residence is often referred to as “Brushy Sky High” 

on maps. Address: P.O. Box 1684, Lower Lake, CA 95457. Mr. Gilardi lives in Santa Rosa in the 

wintertime. We used Mr. Gilardi’s road to access the Wilderness on the southeastern side twice. 

Rick Foltz, owner and resident of parcel near large lake on southern boundary of the Wilderness. His road 

is just to the west of Mr. Gilardi’s road. Phone number: 707-994-1584. He has access to an undeveloped 

road leading upslope into the Wilderness on the southern side that we never used. 

Carol Campbell, owner and resident of parcel near the terminus of the western fork of Rocky Creek Road 

near the headwaters of Rocky Creek. The road leading to Ms. Campbell’s house has a locked gate with a 

BLM lock on it. Phone number: 707-350-1868. We used Ms. Campbell’s road to access the Rocky Creek 

drainage twice. 



Nick Buffone, owner of parcels along the north fork of Cache Creek west of the confluence of the north 

and south forks, including a well-maintained private road with a locked gate. Mr. Buffone lives in the Bay 

Area. Work phone number: 510-783-5222. We crossed Mr. Buffone’s property on foot numerous times 

but never unlocked the gate. 

FIELD SURVEY METHODS 

We visited the Wilderness on March 7, April 3 and 24, May 5 and 12, and June 9, 16 and 25, 2010 to perform a 

preliminary special-status plant survey. Tracks showing our routes were recorded using a Garmin GPS (Figure 2). 

Botanists who participated in the survey included Ellen Dean, Craig Thomsen, Gordon Harrington, Jack 

Alderson, Tom Zavortink, Mark Bibbo, Lisa Serafini, John Chau, and Patrick McIntyre. The following areas were 

accessed: 

March 7: The middle portion of the Rocky Creek drainage; we crossed the north fork of Cache Creek twice, 

traversed portions of the Redbud Trail, and walked cross-country to Rocky Creek. 

April 3: Eastern edge of the Wilderness. From the Judge Davis Trailhead, we walked south on the Ridge Trail. 

April 24: Wilson Valley, the confluence of Rocky and Cache Creeks, and portions of the lower reaches of Rocky 

Creek. From the Redbud Trailhead we walked across private and public lands crossing Cache Creek four times. 

May 5: Serpentine areas on the western side of the north fork of Cache Creek. Initially, we were attempting to 

resurvey portions of the Wilderness visited in our March 7 hike, but could not cross Cache Creek (water levels too 

high). 

May 12: Southern edge of the Wilderness via Steve Gilardi’s property (he accompanied us and showed us trails). 

Given the elevation at that end of the Wilderness, it was too early to find most plants in flower, but this visit 

prepared us for a more fruitful survey on June 25. 

June 9: West side of the north fork of Cache Creek. This was another attempt to retrace our March 7 hike, but we 

were still unable to cross Cache Creek, despite data obtained from the Yolo Flood control district. 

June 16: Southern edge of the Wilderness via the west forks of Rocky Creek Road and gated private road; we 

climbed down the Rocky Creek drainage from south to north and back. 

June 25: Southern edge of the Wilderness via Steve Gilardi’s property. We made a large loop, investigating the 

serpentine drainages and slopes northwest of his property. 



Figure 2. Routes Used to Access the Cache Creek Wilderness for 2010 Field Surveys 

Base Map Source: Google Earth, 2010 



Due to the challenges of needing to hike cross-country quickly in the Wilderness in order to access the areas we 

wanted to search, it was difficult to identify and record all plants we passed during our surveys. Therefore, we 

decided to use a recent plant list from the adjacent Bear Creek Ranch (Dean et al. 2009) as the basis of a plant list 

for the Wilderness. Given the proximity, geologic history, and natural communities, it is likely that most of the 

plants on the Bear Creek Ranch list occur in the Wilderness. We decided to only collect and identify plants that 

we believed were new to the list. All plants collected were identified to the highest taxonomic level necessary. 

Nomenclature and plant families used in the rare plant table and plant list in Appendices A and B mostly follows 

the 1993 edition of the Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California (Hickman 1993), however special-status plant 

names and some other names were updated to the nomenclature that is being used by the Jepson Flora Project 

(available online 2010). Most plants new to the list were pressed, labeled and added to the herbarium at the UC 

Davis Center for Plant Diversity. 

It was difficult to document and classify all vegetation types that we encountered while walking cross country in 

the Wilderness. Producing a comprehensive vegetation map was beyond the scope of this project, and no 

vegetation plots were sampled. However, photographs and notes were taken in the field to provide a general 

description of the Wilderness vegetation. The vegetation of the site was classified using the Manual of California 

Vegetation (Sawyer et al. 2009). 

When special-status plants were encountered, their locations were recorded as decimal degrees coordinate points 

in the field using a Garmin GPS. With the assistance of James Weigand (BLM), the point files were used to create a 

map showing the distribution of special-status plants encountered in the Wilderness. 

RESULTS 

CHARACTERIZATION OF CLIMATE, GEOLOGIC FEATURES, AND SOIL TYPES 

The climate in Lake County is characterized by cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers, with an average annual 

temperature (near Clear Lake) of about 56 degrees. The average daily maximum temperature in summer is 91 

degrees with an average daily minimum winter temperature of 44 degrees (Lakeport). Average rainfall for the 

Wilderness region is about 27 inches annually. The first freeze in fall commonly occurs from the middle of 

October to the middle of November with the last freeze in spring usually occurring from the last week of April to 

the middle of May (Hatfield 1989). 

The Wilderness is located at elevations ranging from approximately 850 feet above sea level within the Cache 

Creek drainage to more than 2,800 feet near its southern boundary. The geologic features of the Wilderness 

include: the Cache Formation, forming much of the northern portion, with non-marine Pleistocene lake and 

stream bed materials composed of pebbly sandstone, conglomerate, siltstone and tuff, and dating back 10,000 to 6 



million years; the Coast Range Ophiolite—ultramafic rock that is partly serpentinized—forming most of the 

central portion of the Wilderness, dating back about 150 million years (Jurassic); and the Great Valley Sequence, 

covering much of the east and southwest portions, with marine mudstones, siltstones, sandstones and 

conglomerates from the late Mesozoic age, 140-165 million years old. The Great Valley Sequence comprises both 

the Lower Cretaceous Great Valley Sequence, which forms much of the eastern boundary, and the Lower 

Cretaceous-Upper Jurassic Great Valley Sequence, which is interspersed within the Wilderness. Soil types 

associated with the geologic features in the Wilderness are numerous. There are five soil complexes/associations 

that are part of the Cache Formation, 15 that are part of the Great Valley sequence, three associated with the 

Coast Range Ophiolite, and two that are recent alluvial deposits (Table 1; NRCS 2010; pers. comm. with Dr. R. 

Southard). 

Table 1. Soils of the Cache Creek Wilderness 

Soils of the Cache Formation 

Badland; Bally-Phipps complex, 15-30% slopes; Bally-Phipps-Haploxeralfs association, 30-75% slopes; 

Phipps complex, 5-15%; Phipps complex, 30-50% slopes 

Great Valley Sequence 

Bressa-Millsholm loams, 8-15% slopes; Maymen-Etsel-Mayacama complex, 30-75% slopes; Maymen- 

Etsel-Snook complex, 15-30%, hills and mountains; Maymen-Etsel-Snook complex, 30-75% slopes; 

Maymen-Hopland-Etsel association, 15-50% slopes, mountains; Maymen-Hopland-Mayacama 

association, 30-50% slopes; Maymen-Hopland-Mayacama association, 50-75% slopes; Maymen- 

Millshom-Bressa complex, 30-50% slopes; Rock-outcrop-Etsel-Snook complex, 50-80% slopes; Skyhigh- 

Asbill complex, 15-30%; Skyhigh-Millsholm loams, 15-50% slopes; Skyhigh-Sleeper-Millsholm 

association, 15-30% slopes; Skyhigh-Sleeper-Millsholm association, 30-50% slopes; Sleeper Variant- 

Sleeper loams, 5-15%; Sleeper Variant-Sleeper loams, 15-30% slopes 

Coast Range Ophiolite 

Henneke-Montara-Rock outcrop complex, 15-50% slopes; Henneke-Okiota complex, 30-50% slopes; 

Okiota-Henneke complex, 5-30% slopes 

Recent alluvial deposits 

Riverwash. This map unit is in active stream channels, 0-5% slopes; Xerofluvents-Riverwash complex, 0- 

2% slopes 

Many of the special-status plants that we encountered during the 2010 surveys grow on serpentine soils of the 

Henneke-Montara-Rock outcrop complex of the Coast Range Ophiolite. These soils occupy an extensive area in 

the southern/central part of the Wilderness, including parts of the Rocky Creek drainage and the area known as 

Brushy Sky High. The Wilderness’s Henneke-Okiota complex serpentine soils (also Coast Range Ophiolite) 

could not be explored this field season but are known to support special-status plants at the adjacent BLM Bear 

Creek Ranch and elsewhere. The soils of the Phipps complex (Cache Creek Formation) found on both sides of the 

south fork of Cache Creek and the west side of Rocky Creek, which are derived from alluvium (including 

serpentine-derived alluvium), provide habitat for a three special-status plants. Skyhigh-Sleeper-Millsholm soils of 



the Great Valley Sequence found along the eastern border of the Wilderness adjacent to Bear Creek Ranch have 

pockets of adobe clay soil that support round-leaf stork’s bill. 

VEGETATION PATTERNS AND ALLIANCES 

Statewide (and nationwide), there is an effort to describe vegetation based on the dominance of a single-species 

within a given stand, referred to as “alliances” (Sawyer et al. 2009). As stated previously, a vegetation alliance 

map for the Wilderness was beyond the scope of this project, and we did not do any vegetation sampling. 

Nevertheless, to provide a preliminary description of Wilderness vegetation, we developed a provisional list of 25 

published and unpublished alliances that we observed along with their rarity rankings (Table 2). We used the 

2009 Manual of California Vegetation to classify the vegetation we encountered, and we had the following usage 

problems: 1) there is no minimum mapping unit provided in the classification; 2) we encountered vegetation 

assemblages not described in the classification; 3) we encountered assemblages with no clear dominant. 

Photographs of many of these alliances are provided in Appendix C. Descriptions of unpublished alliances follow. 

Table 2. Provisional Vegetation Alliances Observed in the Wilderness* 

Alliance Name 

Rarity 

Ranking Alliance Name 

Woodland alliances 

Callitropsis (Hesperocyparis) 

Herbaceous alliances 

sargentii G3 S3.2 Avena-Bromus 

Rarity 

Ranking 

Pinus attenuata G4 S4 Carex nudata G3 S3 

Pinus sabiniana G4 S4 Carex serratodens G3 S3 

Populus fremontii G4 S3.2 Centaurea solstitialis 

Lasthenia californica-Plantago 

Quercus chrysolepis G5 S5 erecta 

Quercus douglasii G4 S4 Vulpia microstachys G4 S4 

Quercus lobata G3 S3 

Salix laevigata G3 S3 Unpublished alliances 

Shrubland alliances Achyrachaena mollis 

Adenostoma fasciculatum G5 S5 Apocynum cannabinum 

Arcostaphylos viscida ssp. 

pulchella G4 S4 Juncus ensifolius 

Baccharis pilularis G5 S5 Micropus californicus 

Baccharis salicifolia G5 S4 Saccharum ravennae 

Ceanothus jepsonii Taeniatherum caput-medusae 

Eriogonum wrightii G3 S3 

Quercus beberidifolia G4 S4 

Quercus durata G4 S4 Mixed assemblages with no clear dominant 

Rhus trilobata G4 S3? Mixed serpentine chaparral 

Salix breweri G2 S2 Mixed chaparral 

Salix exigua G5 S4.2 Native prairie 

G1 - G3 code = rare and threatened throughout its range 

G4 - G5 with S1 - S3 code = secure through its range outside the state but rare and threatened in California 

G4 - G5 with S4 - S5 = apparently or demonstrably secure throughout its range 

*Descriptions of published alliances can be found in Sawyer et al. 2009. 



UNPUBLISHED ALLIANCES 

Native Unpublished Alliances 

Achyrachaena mollis and Micropus californicus Provisional Alliances 

Among the undescribed alliances that we observed were dense stands of the native annual herbaceous plants blow 

wives (Achyrachaena mollis) and slender cottonweed (Micropus californicus) on non-serpentine soils. These 

assemblages may be “unique stands,” i.e., having never formed sufficient number of stands or a broad enough 

range to be considered their own alliance (Alexander et al. 2007). It is also possible that these stands are remnant 

prairie assemblages that were more prevalent prior to the widespread invasion of non-native plants into prairiegrassland 

communities, or perhaps they are only variants of larger prairie-grassland types that have mostly 

disappeared. Species associated with the Achyrachaena mollis alliance were farewell-to-spring (Clarkia sp.), 

miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor), chick lupine (L. microcarpus var. densiflorus), slender cottonweed, California 

plantain (Plantago erecta), pine bluegrass (Poa secunda), notchleaf clover (Trifolium bifidum), and small fescue 

(Vulpia microstachys). Species associated with the Micropus californicus alliance included blowwives, yarrow 

(Achillea millefolium), jeweled onion (Allium serra), pale western larkspur (Delphinium hesperium), bottlebrush 

squirreltail (Elymus elymoides), California melicgrass (Melica californica), small flowered needlegrass (Nassella 

lepida), California plantain, pine bluegrass, wireweed (Rigiopappus leptocladus), and small fescue. 

Apocynum cannabinum Provisional Alliance 

We observed large stands of Indian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum), an uncommon species with ethnobotanical 

significance, along the upper reaches of Rocky Creek. Whether these native assemblages were large enough to 

constitute an actual alliance is uncertain, but they are clearly important examples of California’s native vegetation. 

Juncus ensifolius Provisional Alliance 

In the southern part of the wilderness near Brushy Sky High on serpentine soils, adjacent to a spring within a 

Sargent cypress (Hesperocyparis sargentii) woodland, we encountered a monoculture of three-stamened rush 

(Juncus ensifolius). Again, it is unclear whether this occurrence was large enough to constitute an alliance. 

Nonnative Unpublished Alliances 

Two non-native species, Ravenna grass (Saccharum ravennae) and medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), 

reach abundance levels high enough to constitute consideration as alliances. Ravenna grass is a regional weed 

problem (Thomsen and Meyer 2007), forming extensive stands along Cache Creek, including areas of the 

Wilderness. Some of the prairie-grassland assemblages within the Wilderness support large stands of 

Medusahead. As this species is a common dominant in California grasslands, it is unclear why Medusahead was 

not included as a non-native “semi-natural” alliance within the new 2009 California Manual of Vegetation. 



UNCLASSIFIED ASSEMBLAGES AND SIGNIFICANT BOTANICAL FEATURES 

Problematic from a classification perspective were the extensive stands of mixed serpentine and non-serpentine 

chaparral that we encountered in the Wilderness. Since “membership rules” for shrub alliances often require one 

species to cover at least 50% of a given stand, the diverse mixtures of species that exist within some observed 

stands of mixed chaparral defy classification into discrete single-species alliance units. Mixed serpentine 

chaparral in the Wilderness typically included the following assemblage of shrub species: whiteleaf manzanita 

(Arctostaphylos viscida), Jepson ceanothus (Ceanothus jepsonii), toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), buckthorn and 

relatives (Rhamnus spp.), leatheroak (Quercus durata), chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), Interior silktassel 

(Garrya congdonii), California bay (Umbellularia californica), poison oak (Toxicodendron diversifolium), and, in 

places, cypress (Hesperocyparis spp.). Perhaps the extreme example of this was encountered in a two-acre area of 

serpentine-influenced soil near Brushy Sky High where we observed 17 different shrub species without any 

tendency towards dominance by one or more shrubs (see photo Appendix C). In addition to those already listed 

above for mixed serpentine chaparral, this area included the following shrubs: redbud, mountain mahogany, 

California ash (Fraxinus dipetala), chaparral pea (Pickeringia montana), shrub oak (Quercus berberidifolia), and 

snowdrop bush (Styrax officinalis var. redivivus). Grasses and forbs associated with this area included: 

bottlebrush squirreltail, California fescue (Festuca californica), golden fairy lantern (Calochortus amabilis), soap 

plant (Chlorogalum pomeridianum), peregrine thistle (Cirsium cymosum), red ribbons (Clarkia concinnum), 

woolly sunflower (Eriophyllum lanatum), dwarf flax (Hesperolinon spp.), phlox-leaved bedstraw (Galium 

andrewsii), lomatium (Lomatium spp.), coyote mint (Monardella villosa), and blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium 

bellum). 

Similarly, a native prairie on serpentine soil just above Rocky Creek with nine native grasses and a rich 

assortment of forbs (see photo Appendix C) is another example of a rare native plant assemblage that doesn’t fall 

within any alliance status but warrants recognition as another significant botanical feature within the Wilderness. 

Native grasses encountered in this prairie were: woodland brome (Bromus laevipes), blue wildrye (Elymus 

glaucus), bottlebrush squirreltail, Roemer’s fescue (Festuca idahoensis var. roemeri), meadow barley (Hordeum 

brachyantherum), creeping wildrye (Leymus triticoides), purple needlegrass (Nassella pulchra), pine bluegrass, 

and small fescue. Associated forbs included: California dandelion (Agoseris grandiflora), narrow-leaved onion 

(Allium amplectens), narrow leaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis), harvest brodiaea (Brodiaea elegans), yellow 

mariposa (Calochortus superbus), soap plant, peregrine thistle, bird’s beak (Cordylanthus sp.), hayfield tarweed 

(Hemizonia congesta ssp. luzulaefolia), little hareleaf (Lagophylla minor), short-podded lotus (Lotus humistratus), 

Chilean birdfoot trefoil (Lotus wrangelianus), chick lupine, slender cottonweed, yampah (Perideridia sp.), 

buttercup (Ranunculus sp.), fringed checkerbloom (Sidalcea diploscypha), blue-eyed grass, clover species, narrow 

leaf mule ears (Wyethia angustifolia), and death camas (Zigadenus sp.). 



We encountered extensive serpentine barrens with reddish serpentine soils near Brushy Sky High; this was one of 

the most significant finds of the survey. The dry slopes of the interior of the eastern side of the barrens were 

mostly devoid of vegetation with the exception of two species of jewelflower (Streptanthus brachiatus and S. 

breweri) and three species of buckwheat (Eriogonum nervulosum, E. nudum and E. dasyanthemum). Serpentine 

milkweed was observed in one area, the only known location in the Wilderness. Some of the drainages within the 

barrens have an abundance of water, including several waterfalls. The serpentine riparian flora associated with the 

drainages located in the interior and western side of the barrens included the shrubs western azalea 

(Rhododendron occidentalis), Brewer’s willow (Salix breweri), spicebush (Calycanthus occidentalis), and 

California buckthorn (Rhamnus tomentella); the mixed herbaceous layer included: angelica (Angelica spp.), 

Cleveland’s ragwort, Cleveland’s milkvetch, Van Houtte’s columbine (Aquilegia eximia) , two tooth sedge 

(Carex serratodens), stream orchid (Epipactus gigantean), and goldenrod (Solidago). Within parts of this area, 

two tree species were co-dominant and represented a previously undocumented alliance association: knobcone 

pine (Pinus attenuata)-Sargent cypress (Hesperocyparis sargentii). 

SPECIAL-STATUS PLANTS RESULTS 

Special-status plants are defined as plants that are legally protected or that are otherwise considered sensitive by 

federal, state, or local resource conservation agencies and organizations. Special-status plant taxa are species, 

subspecies or varieties that fall into one or more of the following categories, regardless of their legal or protection 

status: 

► Officially listed by the state of California or the federal government as Endangered, Threatened or Rare; 

► A candidate for state or federal listing as Endangered, Threatened or Rare; 

► Taxa which meet the criteria for listing, even if not currently included on any list, as described in Section 

15380 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines; 

► Taxa designated as a special-status, sensitive or declining species by other state or federal agencies or 

non-governmental organizations; and 

► Taxa considered by the DFG and CNPS to be “presumed extinct” (California Rare Plant Rank [Rare Plant 

Rank] List 1A) or “rare, threatened or endangered in California” (Rare Plant Rank 1B and 2). 

The CNPS Inventory includes five lists for categorizing plant species of concern, which are summarized below. 

All plants listed in the CNPS Electronic Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California (CNPS 

2010) are considered "special plants" by DFG and are addressed in this report. “Special plants” is a broad term 



Figure 3. Special-Status Plants Encountered in Area A of the Cache Creek Wilderness 



Figure 4. Special-Status Plants Encountered in Area B of the Cache Creek Wilderness 



Figure 5. Special-Status Plants Encountered in Area C of the Cache Creek Wilderness 



used by DFG to refer to all of the plant taxa inventoried by the CNDDB, regardless of their legal or protection 

status. The CNPS/DFG lists are categorized as follows: 

► Rare Plant Rank 1A - Plants presumed extinct in California; 

► Rare Plant Rank 1B - Plants rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere; 

► Rare Plant Rank 2 - Plants rare, threatened, or endangered in California but more common elsewhere; 

► Rare Plant Rank 3 - Plants about which we need more information - a review list; and 

► Rare Plant Rank 4 - Plants of limited distribution - a watch list. 

Based on the pre-field investigation, 23 special-status plants (Rare Plant Rank 1B or state- or federallyendangered) 

were identified as having potential to occur in the Wilderness. Appendix A provides a list of these 

species along with information about their listing status, habitat, distribution, flowering period, and potential to 

occur in the Wilderness (CNPS 2010; CNDDB 2010; CCH 2010). 

Eight Rare Plant Rank 1B special-status plants were encountered during the 2010 field survey (Figs. 3-5): 

Jepson’s milkvetch (Astragalus rattanii var. jepsonianus), round-leaf stork’s bill (California macrophyllum), 

Snow Mountain buckwheat (Eriogonum nervulosum), adobe lily (Fritillaria pluriflora), Hall’s layia (Harmonia 

hallii), drymary dwarf-flax (Hesperolinon drymarioides), Colusa tidy-tips (Layia septentrionalis), and jewel 

flower (Streptanthus brachiatus). In addition six Rare Plant Rank 4 plants were documented (Figs. 3-5): 

Cleveland’s ragwort (Packera clevelandii), serpentine collomia (Collomia diversifolia), serpentine milkweed 

(Asclepias solanoana), bare monkey flower (Mimulus nudatus), swamp larkspur (Delphinium uliginosum), and 

Cleveland’s milkvetch (Astragalus clevelandii). The special-status plant occurrences are described below. 

Photographs of the List 1B plants encountered are provided in Appendix C. Completed DFG California Native Species 

Field Survey Forms for List 1B plants are provided in Appendix D. 

RARE PLANT RANK 1B PLANTS: 

Jepson’s Milkvetch 

Jepson’s milkvetch (Astragalus rattanii var. jepsonianus) is a member of the Fabaceae family and is a Rare Plant 

Rank 1B.2 plant (CNPS 2010). It is an annual plant with a slender, decumbent to erect stem to 30 cm tall, 

compound leaves with seven to nine blunt-tipped leaflets, and flowers borne in heads of four to nine flowers. The 

hairs on the plant are often blackish. The flowers are purple and white (Hickman 1993), and the plants bloom 

from March through June (CNPS 2010). Jepson’s milkvetch is often found on serpentine soils at 350 – 600 m in 

elevation within the southern area of the Inner North Coast Ranges of California (Hickman 1993). It grows in 

chaparral, cismontane woodland, and valley and foothill grasslands plant communities (CNPS 2010). It has been 

found in Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Napa, Tehama, Yolo and Mendocino counties (CNPS 2010, CCH 2010, CNDDB 

2010). 



We encountered Jepson’s milkvetch during April, May and June, 2010 in several areas of the Wilderness (Figs. 3 

and 4). The first occurrence was a diffuse population found April 24 on the serpentine-influenced alluvial deposits 

of the lower reaches of Rocky Creek at approximately 900 feet. Numerous plants were observed in small clusters 

of approximately ten plants along the sides of the creek; all plants were in flower. The second occurrence was a 

very small population (three flowering plants) observed on April 24 on a gravel terrace on the south side of Cache 

Creek east of the confluence of the north and south forks. The third and fourth occurrences were on serpentine 

deposits on east-facing slopes above the north fork of Cache Creek at approximately 1,100 -1,250 feet. The third 

occurrence, which consisted of approximately 5,000 flowering plants, was encountered on May 5. The fourth 

occurrence, encountered on June 9, consisted of fewer than 100 fruiting plants. The fifth occurrence was located 

at approximately 2500 feet on serpentine barrens near the southern boundary of the Wilderness to the west of 

Rocky Creek; this small population of ca. 50 plants was in flower and fruit. 

Where we observed Jepson’s milkvetch in the Wilderness, it grew in areas where vegetation is nearly absent or in 

sparse annual grassland assemblages. The first and second occurrences along Cache and Rocky Creeks suggest 

that the seeds were being washed down from upper slopes and deposited at the creek edges. Therefore, larger 

populations probably occur elsewhere in the Wilderness on serpentine influenced slopes above the creeks. 

Round-leaf stork’s bill 

Round-leaf stork’s bill (California macrophyllum formerly known as Erodium macrophyllum) is a member of the 

geranium family (Geraniaceae) and is a Rare Plant Rank 1B.1 plant (CNPS 2010). It is an inconspicuous, winter 

annual that has simple, kidney-shaped, basal leaves with reddish veins. The stem is less than 5 cm tall and 

glandular-puberulent. The small, white flowers self-pollinate and are very short-lived, generally lasting for only 

one day. The fruits develop quickly and have a distinctive beak (Hickman 1993, Gillespie 2005). Round-leaf 

stork’s bill is found on open sites within grassland and shrubland communities at elevations below 1200 m (CNPS 

2010) and is restricted to clay soils (Gillespie 2005). The species is broadly distributed, but rarely encountered; in 

some cases, county records are based on collections made in the first half of the 20 th century (CCH 2010). Its 

current and historical distribution encompasses the Sacramento Valley, northern San Joaquin Valley, central 

western California, the southern coast of California and the northern Channel Islands (specifically Santa Cruz 

Island) (Hickman 1993). It has been documented in Alameda, Butte, Contra Costa, Colusa, Fresno, Glenn, Kings, 

Kern, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Benito, Santa Clara, 

San Diego, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tehama, Ventura, and Yolo 

counties, as well as Baja California and Oregon (CNPS 2010, CCH 2010, CNDDB 2010). Round-leaf stork’s bill 

blooms from March through May. 

We encountered Round-leaf stork’s bill in full flower on April 3, 2010 along the eastern boundary of the 

Wilderness, adjacent to the BLM Bear Creek Ranch. We found four occurrences on the west side of the Ridge 



Trail and one on the east side (Fig. 5). In all cases, the plants were growing on 5-30% slopes in deep, clay soils 

within 50 feet of a drainage. In many cases, very deep cattle hoof prints were visible where the plants were 

growing, indicating that the soil had been very wet. In most cases, white mudstone rocks were present on the soil 

surface. Surrounding vegetation was either annual grassland or open, blue oak woodland; in all cases ground 

cover was less than 50%, with the plants occurring in open soil. Common associates included annual grasses, 

especially medusahead, common lomatium (Lomatium utriculatum), redstem filaree (Erodium cicutarium), 

shortfruit stork’s bill (Erodium brachycarpum), broad leaf filaree (Erodium botrys), cut leaved geranium 

(Geranium disssectum), few flowered evax (Hesperevax sparsiflora), and smooth cat’s ear (Hypochaeris glabra). 

Populations ranged from 500 to more than 5000 individuals. 

Snow Mountain buckwheat 

Snow Mountain buckwheat (Eriogonum nervulosum), a member of the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae), is a 

Rare Plant Rank 1B.2 plant (CNPS 2010). It is a matted subshrub to 15 cm tall with small leaves (that are woolly 

on the underside) arranged in rosettes. The small yellow-to-reddish flowers are arranged in rounded umbellate 

clusters (Hickman 1993). The species is found on serpentine barrens or outcrops at 300 – 2100 m in elevation 

(Hickman 1993, CNPS 2010). It is known to occur in the North Coast Ranges in Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Napa, 

Sonoma, and Yolo counties (CCH 2010, CNPS 2010). Snow Mountain buckwheat blooms from June to 

September (CNPS 2010). 

We documented Snow Mountain buckwheat on an extensive system of serpentine barrens at 2,200-2,400 feet in 

elevation near the southern edge of the Wilderness on June 25, 2010 (Fig. 4). Thousands of plants were present, 

occupying numerous hillslopes and ridges. Approximately 30-70% of the plants were in flower, depending on the 

subpopulation. Common associates were Socrates Mine jewelflower (Streptanthus brachiatus), naked buckwheat 

(Eriogonum nudum) and chaparral buckwheat (E. dasyanthemum); serpentine milkweed (Asclepias solanoana) 

was also present in one area. 

Adobe Lily 

Adobe lily (Fritillaria pluriflora), a member of the lily family (Liliaceae), is a Rare Plant Rank 1B.2 plant (CNPS 

2010). It is a perennial geophyte that emerges each spring from an underground bulb. The stem is 1.5 – 4.5 dm in 

length and has 3 – 10 alternately-arranged leaves that are clustered near the ground. The flowers are nodding and 

pinkish purple in color. The species is found on adobe soils of the interior foothills (Hickman 1993) at elevations 

of less than 705 m in chaparral, cismontane woodland, and valley grassland vegetation types (CNPS 2010). 

Adobe lily’s distribution encompasses the Inner North Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada Foothills, the perimeter of the 

Sacramento Valley, and southern Oregon (Hickman 1993), and it has been documented in eleven California 



counties: Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Napa, Solano, Tehama, Mendocino and Yolo (CNPS 2010, CCH 2010, 

CNDDB 2010). Adobe lily blooms from February to April (CNPS 2010). 

In the Wilderness, we encountered Adobe lily at 1,300 to 1,400 feet in elevation in a serpentine meadow to the 

west of the Rocky Creek drainage (Fig. 3). The location had deep clay soils, a flowing stream, and numerous 

seeps. Adobe lily was concentrated on the edges of rocky outcrops in gentle (10-30%) slopes within grassland. 

Associates included medusa head and other native and nonnative annual grasses, buttercup (Ranunculus sp.), and 

larkspur (Delphinium sp.). We accessed this location on March 3, 2010 when the Adobe lily plants were just 

beginning to emerge and few were in flower. At that time, we estimated that there were approximately 400 plants 

in numerous subpopulations, although this number probably underestimates the population size. We attempted to 

return to this site twice to re-estimate the size of the population and search for other special-status plants but could 

not cross Cache Creek. 

Hall’s Layia (Harmonia hallii) 

Hall’s layia (Harmonia hallii or Madia hallii), a member of the tarweed tribe in the daisy family (Asteraceae), is a 

Rare Plant Rank 1B.2 plant (CNPS 2010). It is a glandular, annual herb to 18 cm with few branches and leaves 

crowded into whorl-like clusters. Its yellow flowers are in a small head, and its fruits lack any appendages 

(Hickman 1993). Hall’s layia is found on serpentine barrens in open chaparral between 500 and 900 meters in 

elevation and has been documented in Colusa, Lake, Napa, and Yolo counties. It blooms from April to June 

(CNPS 2010). 

Hall’s layia was encountered in only one restricted location at 2,565 feet in elevation in the center of and along 

the sides of an unpaved road through serpentine chaparral near the southern boundary of the Wilderness (Fig. 4). 

The road on which it was located descends from Stephen Gilardi’s property to Cache Creek. This segment of the 

road had a southeastern exposure and a warmer microclimate than surrounding areas. The chaparral vegetation 

included Jepson’s ceanothus (Ceanothus jepsonii), chaparral buckwheat (Eriogonum dasyanthemum), sickleleaf 

onion (Allium falcifolium), leather oak (Quercus durata), whiteleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos viscida), and 

drymary dwarf-flax. There were approximately 100 plants in full flower. 

Drymary Dwarf-flax 

Drymary dwarf-flax (Hesperolinon drymarioides) is a member of the linen family (Linaceae) and a Rare Plant 

Rank 1B.2 plant. It is a delicate, annual herb that grows to 25 cm tall and has whorled leaves. Its small, white 

flowers are arranged in a diffuse, forking inflorescence. Its distribution is concentrated in the inner North Coast 

Ranges. It has been documented in Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Napa, and Yolo counties. It occurs on serpentine soils in 

coniferous forest, chaparral, cismontane woodland, and valley and foothill grassland at 100 – 1130 m in elevation. 

Drymary dwarf-flax blooms from May to August. 



We encountered Drymary dwarf-flax near the southern Wilderness boundary on May 12 and June 25, 2010 (Fig. 

4). It occurs there between 2,500 and 2,600 feet in elevation north and west of Stephen Gilardi’s property. It was 

growing on open, disturbed serpentine soils along unpaved roads within chaparral. Chaparral associates are the 

same as listed above for Hall’s layia. Herbaceous associates included Hall’s layia, sickleleaf onion, chaparral 

willowherb (Epilobium minutum), short podded lotus (Lotus humistratus), and four-petaled pussypaws 

(Calyptridium quadripetalum). The population was extensive and consisted of thousands of plants. On the May 12 

visit, all plants were vegetative. On the June 25 visit, all plants were in flower. 

Colusa Tidy-tips 

Colusa tidy-tips (Layia septentrionalis) is a member of the tarweed tribe in the daisy family (Asteraceae) and a 

Rare Plant Rank 1B.2 plant. It is an annual herb that grows to 35 cm tall and has sticky, glandular hairs on its 

stem, leaves, and yellow flower heads. An important character that separates it from other species of tarweed is 

having woolly hairs at the base of its fruit appendages. Its distribution is concentrated in the North Coast Ranges, 

extending east to Sutter County. It has been documented in Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, 

Sutter, Tehama, and Yolo counties. It occurs in chaparral, cismontane woodland, valley and foothill grassland on 

sandy or serpentine-influenced soils at 100 – 1095 m in elevation. Colusa tidy-tips blooms from April to May. 

We encountered Colusa tidy-tips in two areas of the Wilderness. The first occurrence was found on April 24, 

2010 at ca. 1,100 ft in elevation in annual grassland within blue oak woodland on a peninsular ridge that protrudes 

into the Cache Creek watershed on the south side of the creek west of the confluence of Rocky and Cache Creeks 

(Fig. 3). The soil type did not appear to be derived from serpentine, but downslope from the occurrence, on the 

east side of the ridge, serpentine deposits were evident on the south side of Cache Creek. The population 

consisted of ca. 300 plants with most plants in full flower. 

The second occurrence was encountered on May 5, 2010 between 1140 and 1238 feet in elevation on a northeastfacing 

slope of a serpentine-influenced ridge on the west side of the north fork of Cache Creek (Fig. 3). The 

Colusa tidy-tips plants were growing in the partial shade of a blue oak woodland adjacent to an open serpentine 

barrens with sparse annual grasses. The population consisted of at least 10,000 plants and was growing with 

jeweled onion (Allium serra), slender tarweed (Madia gracilis), Ithuriel’s spear (Triteleia laxa), succulent lupine 

(Lupinus succulentus), and foothill clover (Trifolium ciliolatum). 

Socrates Mine Jewelflower 

Socrates Mine jewelflower (Streptanthus brachiatus), a member of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), is a Rare 

Plant Rank 1B.2 plant (CNPS 2010). This species has been broken down into two rare subspecies in the past (both 

List 1B.2), but these subspecies are no longer recognized (Jepson Herbarium 2010). Samples of Socrates Mine 



jewelflower that we encountered in the Wilderness were sent to the taxonomic expert of this group, Ishan Al- 

Shebaz, at the Missouri Botanical Garden for determination. 

Socrates Mine jewelflower is a biennial herb to 60 cm tall that is branched near the base; characteristically, it 

produces rosettes of leaves the first year and then produces a flowering stalk the next year. The flowers are urnshaped 

with yellowish-purple sepals and white and purple petals. The fruits have constrictions between the seeds 

(Jepson Herbarium 2010). The species is found on serpentine barrens or outcrops at 600 – 950 m in elevation 

(Jepson Herbarium 2010). It is known to occur in the North Coast Ranges in Lake, Napa, and Sonoma counties 

(CCH 2010, CNPS 2010). Socrates mine jewelflower blooms from May to July (CNPS 2010). 

Socrates Mine Jewel flower was encountered on an extensive system of serpentine barrens at ca, 2,200-2,500 feet 

in elevation near the southern edge of the Wilderness in June, 2010 (Fig. 4). Thousands of plants were present on 

numerous hillslopes and ridges. Approximately 30-70% of the plants were in flower, depending on the 

subpopulation. Common associates were naked buckwheat (Eriogonum nudum) and chaparral buckwheat (E. 

dasyanthemum); in some areas serpentine milkweed (Asclepias solanoana), Brewer's jewelflower (Streptanthus 

breweri), and Snow Mountain buckwheat grew with Socrates Mine jewelflower. 

RARE PLANT RANK 4 PLANTS 

Serpentine Milkweed 

Serpentine milkweed (Asclepias solanoana), a perennial herb in the dogbane/milkweed family, Apocynaceae, was 

encountered on one slope of the serpentine barrens near Brushy Sky High on June 25, 2010 (Fig. 4). This 

prostrate, grey-leaved plant was present in small numbers growing with jewelflower and buckwheat species. 

Serpentine milkweed is known to occur in Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Shasta, Sonoma, 

Tehama, Trinity, and Yolo counties, usually on serpentine soils, from 230 – 1860 meters; in the various parts of it 

range, serpentine milkweed is known to flower from May to August (CNPS 2010). The plants we observed were 

in full flower. 

Cleveland’s Milkvetch 

Cleveland’s milkvetch (Astragalus clevelandii), a perennial herb in the pea family, Fabaceae, was occasionally 

encountered along both Rocky Creek and the drainages of the serpentine barrens near Brushy Sky High on June 

16 and 25, 2010 (Fig. 4). This erect, pinnately-leaved plant was present in small numbers at the edges of creeks. 

Cleveland’s milkvetch is known to occur in Colusa, Lake, Napa, San Benito, Sonoma, Tehama, and Yolo 

counties, usually on serpentine soils, from 200 to 1500 meters; in the various parts of it range, Cleveland’s 

milkvetch is known to flower from June to September (CNPS 2010). None of the plants we encountered were in 

flower. 



Serpentine Collomia 

Serpentine collomia (Collomia diversifolia), in the phlox family, Polemoniaceae, was encountered on June 16 and 

25 in small numbers on gravelly, open, serpentine soils along the northern reaches of Rocky Creek and in the 

barrens area near Brushy Sky High (Fig. 4). This small, compact, pink-flowered, annual herb occurs on serpentine 

soils in Contra Costa, Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Shasta, Stanislaus, and Yolo counties from 300 to 

600 meters; in the various parts of its range, serpentine collomia is known to flower from May to June (CNPS 

2010). The plants we encountered were in fruit. 

Swamp Larkspur 

Swamp larkspur (Delphinium uliginosum), in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, was encountered on June 16, 

2010 in small numbers in a very wet meadow/seep along one small stretch of Rocky Creek where a tributary 

deposits serpentine alluvium on the eastern side of the creek (Fig. 4). This erect, purple-flowered perennial herb 

occurs in Colusa, Lake, Napa, and Siskiyou counties from 340 to 610 meters; swamp larkspur is known to flower 

from May to June (CNPS 2010). The plants were in full flower when encountered in June. 

Bare Monkey Flower 

Bare monkey flower (Mimulus nudatus) in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae, was encountered in very small 

numbers in one serpentine seep within a Sargent cypress woodland near Brushy Sky High on June 25, 2010 (Fig. 

4). This small, yellow-flowered, annual herb occurs in Colusa, Lake, Mendocino, and Napa counties from 250 to 

700 meters; bare monkey flower is known to flower from May to June (CNPS 2010, and the plants we observed 

were in full flower. 

Cleveland’s Ragwort 

Cleveland’s ragwort (Packera clevelandii or Senecio clevelandii) in the daisy family, Asteraceae, was 

encountered in small numbers along drainages in the serpentine barrens area near Brushy Sky High on June 25, 

2010 (Fig. 4). This perennial herb with spoon-shaped basal leaves occurs in Colusa, Lake, and Napa counties 

from 365 to 900 meters; this species is known to flower from June to July (CNPS 2010), although it was not yet in 

flower during our June survey. 

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

Although, the 2010 survey was exploratory and limited in scope, we documented eight Rare Plant Rank 1B and 

six List 4 plants. Due to its remoteness and terrain, access into many areas was difficult, and some routes into the 

Wilderness were restricted due to the high water flows released into Cache Creek in May and June. Beyond what 

we observed, we are confident that other special-status plants occur within the Wilderness, or at least, additional 



populations of the special-status plants reported in this report. And while our vegetation alliance information is 

provisional, eight of our suspected 25 alliances have either some global or state rarity, and others may constitute 

“unique stands” or remnant assemblages of herbaceous native vegetation that have lost ground throughout the 

state. The complexity of the geologic substrates, soils, and vegetation of the Wilderness warrants a more in-depth 

investigation on alliances, other vegetation assemblages, and rare plants. 

Priority areas for additional rare plant exploration are the serpentine soils of the Coast Range Ophiolite, such as 

those surrounding the Rocky Creek drainage, the serpentine barrens near Brushy Sky High, and the soils of 

Petrified Canyon. Also, there is a serpentine-influenced meadow with adobe lily on the west side of Rocky Creek 

south of the Redbud Trail that deserves additional visits. At a minimum, we are sure that future investigators 

would find pink cream sacs (Castilleja rubicundula ssp. rubicundula) in that location, if the meadow could be 

accessed in May. In addition, the serpentine-influenced slopes surrounding the waterfall of Dead Man’s Canyon 

look very promising when viewed from across Cache Creek. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

We thank: Jack Alderson, Gordon Harrington, Mark Bibbo, Thomas Zavortink, Lisa Serafini, John Chau, and 

Patrick McIntyre for assistance in the field; Pardee Bardwell and the staff of the BLM for assistance in applying 

for funding and logistical help; James Weigand for making figures 1, 3, 4 and 5; and Stephen Gilardi, Rick Foltz, 

Nick Buffone, and Carol Campbell for allowing us access to the Wilderness through their lands. We also thank 

Jean Shepard and the student assistants of the Center for Plant Diversity for curatorial help and the staff of the UC 

Davis Department of Plant Sciences for administrative help. 

REFERENCES 

Alexander, E.B., R.G. Coleman, T. Keeler-Wolf, and S. Harrington 2007. Serpentine Vegetation of Western 

North America. pp. 204-256. In: Serpentine Geoecology of Western North America, Oxford Press. 

CalFlora. 2010. CalFlora database. Available at: http://www.calflora.org/. Update information not available. 

Accessed numerous times in 2010. 

California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB). 2010. [January]. Results of electronic record search. California 

Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch. Sacramento, CA. 

California Native Plant Society (CNPS). 2010. Electronic Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of 

California. Available: . Accessed January 29, 

2010 for special-status plant search as well as numerous times in the fall of 2010 for report writing. 



Consortium of California Herbaria (CCH). 2010. Consortium of California Herbaria Data Portal with data 

provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria. Available: 

www.ucjeps.berkeley.edu/consortium/. 

Dean, E., C. Thomsen, G. Harrington, and J. Alderson. 2009. Plant list for BLM Bear Creek Ranch, Colusa 

County, California. Available at http://herbarium.ucdavis.edu. 

Hatfield 1989. Climate of Lake County. In: Soil Survey of Lake County California, USDA. 

Hickman, J.C. (ed). 1993. The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California. University of California Press, 

Berkeley and Los Angeles California. 

Jepson Herbarium. 2010. On-line key for Streptanthus by Ihsan Al-Shehbaz. Jepson Flora Project. Available at: 

http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/tjm2/review/treatments/brassicaceae_all.html#10626. 

Moores, E. 2002. Geology of the Bear Creek Watershed, Northern Coast Ranges, California. Unpublished 

document. 10 pp. 

NRCS. 2010. Soil Survey of Lake County, available from the Natural Resources Conservation System at: 

http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/ WebSoilSurvey.aspx. 

Randal Southard. Pers. Com. Soil discussions between Craig Thomsen and Dr. Randal Southard, Dept. of Land 

Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, August, 2010. 

Sawyer, T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. Manual of California Vegetation. California Native Plant Society, 

Sacramento, California. 

Thomsen, C. and T. Meyer. 2007. Ravennagrass: a major wildland weed along Cache Creek. Cal-IPC News 

15(3):5-6. 



APPENDIX A 

Special-Status Plants Known or with Potential to Occur 

In the Cache Creek Wilderness


Special-Status Plant Survey A-1 December, 2010 

Species 

Amsinckia lunaris 

bent-flowered 

fiddleneck 

Arctostaphylos 

canescens ssp. 

sonomensis 

Rincon manzanita 

Astragalus rattanii var. 

jepsonianus 

Jepson’s milk-vetch 

Atriplex joaquiniana 

San Joaquin spearscale 

Balsamorhiza 

macrolepis var. 

macrolepis 

big-scale balsamroot 

Brodiaea coronaria ssp. 

rosea 

Indian Valley brodiaea 

Appendix A 

Special-Status Plants Known or with Potential to Occur in the Cache Creek Wilderness 

Status 

Habitat and Blooming Period Distribution Potential for Occurrence 

USFWS DFG CRPR 

-- -- 1B.2 Coastal bluff scrub, cismontane 

woodland, valley and foothill grassland; 

3 - 500 m. Blooms March – June. 

-- -- 1B.2 Chaparral, lower montane coniferous 

forest/sometimes serpentinite; 180 - 

1675 m. Blooms January – June. 

-- -- 1B.2 Chaparral, cismontane woodland, 

valley and foothill grassland/often 

serpentinite; 320 - 700 m. Blooms 

March – June. 

-- -- 1B.2 Alkali sink, alkali meadows and seeps, 

playas, in valley and foothill grassland; 

1-835 m. Blooms April – October. 


valley and foothill grassland/sometimes 

serpentinite; 90 - 1555 m. Blooms 

March – June. 

-- E 1B.1 Closed-cone coniferous forest, 

chaparral, cismontane woodland, valley 

and foothill grassland/serpentinite; 335 

- 1450 m. Blooms May - June. 

Sources: CNDDB 2010, CNPS 2010, Dean et al. 2009, Jepson Herbarium 2010, and Hickman 1993 

Alameda, Contra Costa, 

Colusa, Lake, Marin, Napa, 

San Benito, Santa Clara, Santa 

Cruz, San Mateo, Yolo 

counties. 

Colusa, Humboldt, Lake, 

Mendocino, Sonoma, Tehama, 

Trinity counties. 

Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Napa, 

Tehama, Yolo counties. 

Alameda, Contra Costa, 

Colusa, Fresno, Glenn, 

Merced, Monterey, Napa, San 

Benito, Santa Clara, San 

Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, 

Solano, Tulare, Yolo counties. 

Alameda, Butte, Colusa, El 

Dorado, Lake, Mariposa, 

Napa, Placer, Santa Clara, 

Solano, Sonoma, Tehama 

counties. 

Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Tehama 

counties. 

Likely to occur in Wilderness. 

Known to occur on adjacent 

Bear Creek Ranch. 

Could occur. 

Encountered in Wilderness in 

2010. 


Known to occur on adjacent 



Known to occur on Walker 

Ridge. 


Known to occur on Walker 

Ridge.



Species 

California macrophylla 

round leaved stork’s bill 

Castilleja rubicundula 

ssp. rubicundula 

pink creamsacs 

Centromadia parryi 

ssp. parryi 

pappose tarplant 

Cryptantha excavata 

deep scarred cryptantha 

Eriogonum nervulosum 

Snow Mountain 

buckwheat 

Appendix A 


Status 



-- -- 1B.1 Cismontane woodland, valley and 

foothill grassland/clay; 15 - 1200 m. 

Blooms March – May. 

-- -- 1B.2 Chaparral (openings), cismontane 

woodland, meadows and seeps, valley 

and foothill grassland/serpentinite; 20 - 

900 m. Blooms April – June. 

-- -- 1B.2 Chaparral, coastal prairie, meadows and 

seeps, marshes and swamps (coastal 

salt), valley and foothill grassland 

(vernally mesic)/often alkaline; 2 – 420 

m. Blooms May –November. 

-- -- 1B.3 Cismontane woodland (sandy or 

gravelly); 100 - 500 m. Blooms April – 

May. 

-- -- 1B.2 Chaparral (serpentinite); 300 – 2105 m. 

Blooms June – September. 


Alameda, Butte, Contra Costa, 

Colusa, Fresno, Glenn, Kings, 

Kern, Lake, Lassen, Los 

Angeles, Merced, Monterey, 

Napa, Riverside, Santa 

Barbara, San Benito, Santa 

Clara, Santa Cruz Isl., San 

Diego, San Joaquin, San Luis 

Obispo, San Mateo, Solano, 

Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tehama, 

Ventura, and Yolo counties; 

Baja California; Oregon. 

Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lake, 

Napa, Santa Clara, and Shasta 

counties. 


Napa, San Mateo, Solano, and 

Sonoma counties. 

Colusa, Lake, Mendocino, and 

Yolo counties. 


Sonoma, and Yolo counties. 


2010. 

High likelihood. Occurs in 

large numbers on adjacent 


Unlikely to occur, unless 

saline plains are found. Occurs 

on adjacent Bear Creek Ranch 

along Bear Creek. 

Could occur. Occurs on 

Walker Ridge. 


2010.



Species 

Fritillaria pluriflora 

adobe lily 

Harmonia hallii 

Hall’s madia 

Hesperolinon 

serpentinum 

two carpellate western 

flax 

Hesperolinon 

didymocarpum 

Lake County western 

flax 

Hesperolinon 

drymariodies 

drymary dwarf-flax 

Horkelia bolanderi 

Bolander’s horkelia 

Layia septentrionalis 

Colusa tidy-tips 

Appendix A 


Status 




valley and foothill grassland/often 

adobe; 60 - 705 m. Blooms February – 

April. 


Blooms April – June. 


Blooms May – July. 

-- E 1B.2 Chaparral, cismontane woodland, 

valley and foothill 

grassland/serpentinite; 330 – 365 m. 

Blooms May – July. 

-- -- 1B.2 Closed-cone coniferous forest, 

chaparral, cismontane woodland, valley 

and foothill grassland/serpentinite; 100 

– 1130 m. Blooms May – August. 

-- -- 1B.2 Chaparral, lower montane coniferous 

forest, meadows and seeps, valley and 

foothill grassland/edges, vernally 

mesic areas; 450 – 1100 m. Blooms 

June – August. 


valley and foothill grassland/sandy, 

serpentinite; 100 – 1095 m. Blooms 

April – May. 

Sources: CNDDB 20109, CNPS 2010, Dean et al. 2009, and Hickman 1993 


Napa, Solano, Tehama, and 

Yolo counties. 

Colusa, Lake, Napa, and Yolo 

counties. 

Alameda, Lake, Napa, and 

Stanislaus counties. 


2010. 


2010. 

Could occur. 

Lake county. Could occur. 


and Yolo counties. 

Colusa, Lake, and Mendocino 

counties. 

Colusa, Glenn, Lake, 

Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, 

Sutter, Tehama, and Yolo 

counties. 


2010. 

Could occur. 


2010.



Species 

Leptosiphon jepsonii 

Jepson’s leptosiphon 

Sidalcea keckii 

Keck’s checkerbloom 

Streptanthus brachiatus 

Socrates Mine 

jewelflower 

Streptanthus breweri 

var. hesperidus 

green jewel flower 

Streptanthus morrisonii 

ssp. elatus 

three peaks jewel 

flower 

Streptanthus morrisonii 

ssp. kruckebergii 

Kruckeberg’s jewel 

flower 

Appendix A 


Status 


USFWS DFG CNPS 

-- -- 1B.2 Chaparral, cismontane 

woodland/usually volcanic; 100 – 500 

m. Blooms March – May. 

E -- 1B.1 Cismontane woodland, valley and 

foothill grassland/serpentinite, clay; 

120 – 425 m. Blooms April – May. 

-- -- 1B.2 Chaparral. Serpentine barrens or 

outcrops; 600 – 950 m. Blooms May – 

July. 

-- -- 1B.2 Chaparral (openings), cismontane 

woodland/serpentinite, rocky; 130 – 

760 m. Blooms May – July. 


Blooms June – September. 

-- -- 1B.2 Cismontane woodland (serpentinite); 

215 – 1035 m. Blooms April – July. 


Lake, Napa, and Sonoma 

counties. 

Colusa, Fresno, Merced, Napa, 

Solano, Tulare, and Yolo 

counties. 


counties. 

Glenn, Lake, Napa, and 

Sonoma counties. 


counties. 


counties. 

Could occur. 

Could occur. 


2010. 

Could occur. 

Could occur. 

Could occur.

APPENDIX B 

Plants Observed at Bear Creek Ranch or the Cache Creek Wilderness 

During 2006-2010

Appendix B 

Plants Observed at Bear Creek Ranch or Cache Creek Wilderness between 2006-2010 

Scientific Name Common Name 2 

Collected 

at Bear 

Creek 

Ranch 3 

Collected 

at Cache 


Wilderness 

ACERACEAE 

Acer macrophyllum big leaf maple y y 

ALISMATACEAE 

Alisma plantago-aquatica water plantain y y 

ANACARDIACEAE 

Rhus trilobata sour berry y y 

Toxicodendron diversilobum poison oak observed y 

APIACEAE 

Angelica californica California angelica y y 

Angelica tomentosa woolly angelica y y 

*Conium maculatum poison hemlock y y 

Daucus pusillus rattlesnake weed y y 

Eryngium aristulatum var. 

aristulatum 

Jepson's button celery y 

Lomatium californicum California lomatium y y 

Lomatium ciliolatum var. hooveri 1 Hoover's lomatium y 

Lomatium dasycarpum ssp. 

dasycarpum 

woolly fruited lomatium y 

Lomatium macrocarpum bigseed biscuitroot y 

Lomatium marginatum tall hog fennel y y 

Lomatium utriculatum common lomatium y y 

Perideridia kelloggii Kellogg's yampah y 

Sanicula bipinnatifida snakeroot y y 

Sanicula crassicaulis Pacific sanicle y y 

Sanicula tuberosa tuberous sanicle y y 

*Torilis arvensis field hedge parsley y y 

*Torilis nodosa knotted hedge parsley y y 

Yabea microcarpa false carrot y 

APOCYNACEAE 

Apocynum cannabinum Indian hemp y y y 

ASCLEPIADACEAE 

Asclepias eriocarpa Kotolo milkweed y y 

Asclepias fascicularis narrow leaf milkweed y y 

Asclepias solanoana 1 serpentine milkweed y y 

Asclepias speciosa showy milkweed y y y 

ASTERACEAE 

Achillea millefolium common yarrow y y 

Observed in 

Wilderness

Appendix B 



Collected 

at Bear 


Ranch 3 

Collected 



Wilderness 

Achyrachaena mollis blow wives y y 

Agoseris grandiflora California dandelion y y 

Agoseris heterophylla annual mountain dandelion y y 

Ambrosia psilostachya western ragweed y 

Ancistrocarphus filagineus woolly fishhooks y y y 

*Anthemis cotula stinking chamomile y 

Artemisia douglasiana Douglas' sagewort y y 

Baccharis pilularis dwarf chaparral broom y y 

Baccharis salicifolia mulefat y y 

Brickellia californica brickell bush y y 

Calycadenia fremontii Klamath calycadenia y 

Calycadenia pauciflora small flowered calycadenia y y 

*Carduus pycnocephalus Italian thistle y y 

*Centaurea calcitrapa purple star thistle y 

*Centaurea melitensis tocalote y y y 

*Centaurea solstitialis yellow star thistle y y 

Centromadia (Hemizonia) fitchii Fitch's tarweed y 

Centromadia (Hemizonia) parryi 1 pappose tarweed y 

Centromadia (Hemizonia) parryi 

spp. Parryi 1 

pappose tarweed y 

Centromadia (Hemizonia) pungens common tarweed y 

Chaenactis glabriuscula common yellow chaenactis y 

*Chamomilla suaveolens pineapple weed y 

Cirsium cymosum peregrine thistle y y y 

Cirsium occidentale var. venustum Venus thistle y 

*Cirsium vulgare bull thistle y 

Eriophyllum lanatum common woolly sunflower y y 

Eriophyllum lanatum var. 

achillaeoides 

woolly sunflower y 

Euthamia occidentalis western goldentop y y 

Filago gallica California cottonrose y 

Gnaphalium palustre western marsh cudweed y 

Grindelia camporum var. camporum Great Valley gumweed y 

Grindelia hirsutula hairy gumweed y y 

Gutierrezia californica California matchweed y 

Harmonia hallii 1 Hall’s madia y y 

*Hedypnois cretica crete weed y 

Helianthus annuus sunflower y 

Helianthus bolanderi serpentine sunflower y 

Hemizonia congesta ssp. luzulifolia hayfield tarweed y y 

Hesperevax sparsiflora var. 

sparsiflora 

few flowered evax y y 

Heterotheca oregona compact Oregon goldenaster y y 

Observed in 

Wilderness

Appendix B 



Collected 

at Bear 


Ranch 3 

Collected 



Wilderness 

Holocarpha virgata ssp. virgata narrow tarplant y 

*Hypochaeris glabra smooth cat's ear y y 

Iva axillaris var. robustior poverty weed y 

*Lactuca saligna narrow leaved wild lettuce y 

*Lactuca serriola prickly lettuce y 

Lagophylla minor little hareleaf y 

Lagophylla ramosissima common hareleaf y 

Lasthenia californica California goldfields y y 

Lasthenia gracilis needle goldfields y y 

Lasthenia glabrata ssp. glabrata yellowray goldfields y 

Layia chrysanthemoides smooth tidy tips y y y 

Layia platyglossa common tidy tips y 

Layia septentrionalis 1 Colusa tidy-tips y y 

*Leontodon taraxacoides ssp. 

taraxacoides 

lesser hawkbit y 

Lessingia nemaclada slender-stemmed Lessingia y 

Lessingia ramulosa Sonoma lessingia y 

Lessingia ramulosa x L. nemaclada y 

Madia citriodora lemon scented tarweed y y 

Madia exigua meager tarweed y 

Madia gracilis ssp. gracilis slender tarweed y y y 

Madia sativa coast tarweed y y 

Malacothrix floccifera woolly dandelion y 

Micropus californicus micropus y y y 

Microseris douglasii ssp. tenella short scaled microseris y 

Microseris douglasii ssp. douglasii Douglas' silverpuffs y 

Monolopia major cupped monolopia y 

Packera (Senecio) clevelandii 1 Cleveland's ragwort y y y 

Packera (Senecio) greenei flame ragwort y y 

Pseudognaphalium (Gnaphalium) 

californicum 

California cudweed y y 

Pseudognaphalium (Gnaphalium) everlasting cudweed y 

luteo-album 

Psilocarphus tenellus slender woolly marbles y 

Rafinesquia californica California plumseed y y 

Rigiopappus leptocladus wireweed y y y 

*Senecio vulgaris old man in the Spring y y y 

Solidago elongata (canadensis ssp. 

elongata) 

meadow Goldenrod y y 

Solidago velutina ssp. californica California goldenrod y y 

(californica) 

*Sonchus asper spiny sowthistle y y 

*Sonchus oleraceus sow thistle y 

Observed in 

Wilderness

Appendix B 



Collected 

at Bear 


Ranch 3 

Collected 



Wilderness 

Stephanomeria virgata ssp. 

pleurocarpa 

wand wirelettuce y 

Symphyotrichum (Aster) chilense Pacific aster y 

*Tragopogon dubius yellow salsify y y 

*Tragopogon porrifolius salsify y 

Uropappus lindleyi uropappus y y 

Wyethia angustifolia narrow leaf mule ears y 

Wyethia helenioides whitehead wyethia y 

Xanthium strumarium rough cockleburr y y 

BORAGINACEAE 

Amsinckia lunaris 1 bent flowered fiddleneck y 

Amsinckia menziesii var. menziesii rigid fiddleneck y 

Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia common fiddleneck y 

Cryptantha flaccida flaccid cryptantha y y y 

Cryptantha hispidula Napa cryptantha y 

Cryptantha intermedia Clearwater cryptantha y 

Cynoglossum grande western houndstongue y y y 

Heliotropium curassavicum heliotrope y y 

Pectocarya pusilla little combseed y 

Plagiobothrys bracteatus bracted popcornflower y 

Plagiobothrys canescens valley popcorn flower y 

Plagiobothrys fulvus common popcorn flower y 

Plagiobothrys greenei Greene's popcornflower y 

Plagiobothrys humistratus dwarf allocarya y 

Plagiobothrys nothofulvus rusty popcornflower y y y 

Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. 

micranthus 

Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. 

stipitatus 

common vernal pool 

allocarya 

y 

vernal pool allocarya y 

BRASSICACEAE 

Athysanus pusillus var. pusillus common sandweed y y y 

*Brassica nigra black mustard y y 

*Brassica rapa field mustard y 

*Capsella bursa-pastoris shepherd's purse y y 

Cardamine oligosperma bitter cress y 

*Cardaria draba hoary cress y 

Draba verna spring draba y y 

Draba sp. draba observed 

Erysimum capitatum western wallflower y y y 

Guillenia flavescens yellow mustard y y y 

Guillenia lasiophylla California mustard y 

Observed in 

Wilderness

Appendix B 



Collected 

at Bear 


Ranch 3 

Collected 



Wilderness 

Heterodraba unilateralis ladiestongue mustard y 

*Hirschfeldia incana short pod mustard y 

*Lepidium latifolium broad leaved pepper grass y y 

Lepidium latipes var. latipes dwarf pepper grass y 

Lepidium nitidum peppergrass y y y 

Rorippa curvisiliqua western yellowcress y 

Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum watercress y y 

*Sinapis arvensis charlock y 

*Sisymbrium altissimum tall tumblemustard y 

*Sisymbrium irio London rocket y 

Streptanthus brachiatus 1 Socrates Mine jewelflower y y 

Streptanthus breweri var. breweri Brewer's jewelflower y y y 

Thysanocarpus curvipes var. 

curvipes 

hairy lacepod y y y 

CALYCANTHACEAE 

Calycanthus occidentalis spice bush y y y 

CAMPANULACEAE 

Heterocodon rariflorum rareflower heterocodon y y 

Nemacladus montanus mountain nemacladus y 

CAPRIFOLIACEAE 

Lonicera interrupta chaparral honeysuckle y y 

Sambucus mexicana blue elderberry y y 

Symphoricarpos albus snowberry y y 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE 

*Cerastium glomeratum sticky chickweed y 

Minuartia douglasii sandwort y 

*Petrorhagia dubia pink grass y y 

*Scleranthus annuus German knotgrass y y 

Silene californica California Indian pink y y 

Silene campanulata var. glandulosa bell catchfly y 

*Spergula arvensis var. arvensis corn spurry y 

*Stellaria media common chickweed y 

Stellaria nitens shining chickweed y 

*Stellaria pallida pale starwort y 

*Velezia rigida Velezia y y y 

CHENOPODIACEAE 

Atriplex argentea silver saltweed y 

Atriplex fruticulosa valley saltbush y y 

Observed in 

Wilderness

Appendix B 



Collected 

at Bear 


Ranch 3 

Collected 



Wilderness 

Atriplex joaquiniana 1 San Joaquin spearscale y 

*Chenopodium ambrosioides Mexican tea y y 

Chenopodium californicum California goosefoot y y y 

CONVOLVULACEAE 

Calystegia collina hillside morning glory y 

Calystegia collina ssp. collina coast range false bindweed y y y 

Calistegia collina ssp. oxyphylla 1 Mount Saint Helena morning 

glory 

y 

*Convolvulus arvensis bindweed y 

CORNACEAE 

Cornus glabrata brown dogwood y y 

CRASSULACEAE 

Crassula connata pygmy weed y 

Dudleya cymosa canyon dudleya y y 

CUCURBITACEAE 

Marah fabaceus wild cucumber y 

Marah watsonii manroot y 

CUPRESSACEAE 

Hesperocyparis (Cupressus) 

macnabiana 

Macnab cypress y y 

Hesperocyparis (Cupressus) 

sargentii 

Sargent cypress y y 

Juniperus californica California juniper y 

CUSCUTACEAE 

Cuscuta californica var. californica chaparral dodder y 

CYPERACEAE 

Bolboschoenus maritimus alkali bulrush y 

Carex praegracilis clustered field sedge y 

Carex nudata Dudley's sedge y y y 

Carex serratodens two tooth sedge y y y 

Cyperus sp. flatsedge observed 

Eleocharis macrostachya common spikerush y y 

Eleocharis parishii Parish's spikerush y y y 

Schoenoplectus acutus var. 

occidentalis 

hardstem bulrush y y 

Schoenoplectus pungens var. 

longispicata 

common threesquare y 

Observed in 

Wilderness

Appendix B 



Collected 

at Bear 


Ranch 3 

Collected 



Wilderness 

DATISCACEAE 

Datisca glomerata Durango root y y 

DIPSACACEAE 

*Dipsacus fullonum Fullers' teasel y y 

ELATINACEAE 

Elatine rubella southwestern waterwort y 

EQUISITACEAE 

Equisetum arvense Common Horsetail y y 

Equisetum telmateia giant horsetail observed 

ERICACEAE 

Arctostaphylos glandulosa Eastwood's manzanita y y y 

Arctostaphylos manzanita Common manzanita y y y 

Arctostaphylos viscida whiteleaf manzanita y y y 

Arctostaphylos viscida ssp. pulchella whiteleaf manzanita 

Rhododendron occidentale western azalea y y 

EUPHORBIACEAE 

Chamaesyce serpyllifolia thyme leafed spurge y 

Eremocarpus setigerus turkey mullein y 

Euphorbia crenulata Chinese caps y 

Euphorbia spathulata warty spurge y 

FABACEAE 

Astragalus clevelandii 1 Cleveland's milk vetch y y y 

Astragalus gambelianus Gambel's dwarf milk vetch y 

Astragalus rattanii var. jepsonianus 1 Jepson's milk vetch y y y 

Cercis occidentalis redbud y y 

Glycyrrhiza lepidota wild licorice y y 

Hoita macrostachya leather root y y 

*Lathyrus hirsutus rough pea y y 

Lathyrus vestitus Pacific pea y 

*Lotus corniculatus broadleaf birdsfoot trefoil y 

Lotus denticulatus riverbar bird's foot trefoil y 

Lotus humistratus short podded Lotus y y y 

Lotus purshianus Spanish clover y y 

Lotus scoparius deerweed y 

Lotus wrangelianus Chilean bird's foot trefoil y y 

Lupinus albifrons var. albifrons silver lupine y y 

Observed in 

Wilderness

Appendix B 



Collected 

at Bear 


Ranch 3 

Collected 



Wilderness 

Lupinus bicolor miniature lupine y y 

Lupinus latifolius broadleaf lupine y y 

Lupinus luteolus pale yellow lupine y y 

Lupinus microcarpus var. densiflorus chick lupine y y 

Lupinus microcarpus var. 

microcarpus 

valley lupine y 

Lupinus succulentus succulent lupine y y 

* Medicago minima bur clover y 

* Medicago polymorpha bur medic y y 

* Melilotus albus white sweetclover y y 

* Melilotus indica annual yellow sweetclover y 

* Melilotus officinalis yellow sweetclover y y 

Pediomelum californicum California Indian breadroot y 

Pickeringia montana chaparral pea y y 

Thermopsis macrophylla Santa Inez goldenbanner y y 

Trifolium albopurpureum var. 

albopurpureum 

Indian clover y y 

Trifolium bifidum var. bifidum notchleaf clover y y 

Trifolium ciliolatum foothill clover y y y 

Trifolium depauperatum pale sack clover y 

Trifolium depauperatum var. 

truncatum 

dwarf sack clover y 

*Trifolium dubium shamrock y 

Trifolium fucatum sour clover y y 

*Trifolium glomeratum clustered clover y y y 

Trifolium gracilentum var. 

gracilentum 

pinpoint clover observed y y 

*Trifolium hirtum rose clover y y 

*Trifolium incarnatum crimson clover y 

Trifolium microcephalum maiden clover y y y 

Trifolium microdon Valparaiso clover y 

Trifolium obtusiflorum clammy clover y y y 

*Trifolium vesiculosum arrowleaf clover y 

Trifolium willdenovii tomcat clover y 

*Trifolium subterraneum subterranean clover y 

Vicia americana var. americana American vetch y 

*Vicia sativa spring vetch y y 

*Vicia villosa hairy vetch y y 

FAGACEAE 

Quercus berberidifolia scrub oak y y y 

Quercus chrysolepis canyon live oak y 

Quercus douglasii blue oak y y 

Quercus durata leather oak y y 

Observed in 

Wilderness

Appendix B 



Collected 

at Bear 


Ranch 3 

Collected 



Wilderness 

Quercus lobata Valley oak y y 

Quercus wislizeni interior live oak y y 

Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens bush interior live oak y 

FRANKENIACEAE 

Frankenia salina alkali heath observed 

GARRYACEAE 

Garrya congdonii Interior silktassel y y y 

GENTIANACEAE 

Centaurium muehlenbergii Muhlenberg's centaury y y y 

Centaurium trichanthum alkali centaury y 

Centaurium venustum canchalagua y 

GERANIACEAE 

*Erodium botrys broad leaf filaree observed y 

* Erodium brachycarpum shortfruit stork's bill y y 

* Erodium cicutarium redstem filaree y y 

California/Erodium macrophyllum 1 round-leaf stork’s bill y y 

* Erodium moschatum white stemmed filaree y 

*Geranium dissectum cut leaved geranium y y 

*Geranium molle dovefoot geranium y y 

GROSSULARIACEAE 

Ribes malvaceum chaparral currant y 

HIPPOCASTANACEAE 

Aesculus californica California buckeye y y 

HYDROCHARITACEAE 

*Najas graminea grass leaved water nymph y 

HYDROPHYLLACEAE 

Emmenanthe penduliflora whispering bells y 

Eriodictyon californicum yerba santa, y y 

Nemophila heterophylla small baby blue eyes y 

Nemophila menziesii baby blue eyes y y 

Nemophila pedunculata littlefoot nemophila y y 

Phacelia divaricata divaricate phacelia y 

Phacelia imbricata imbricate phacelia y y 

Observed in 

Wilderness

Appendix B 



Collected 

at Bear 


Ranch 3 

Collected 



Wilderness 

IRIDACEAE 

Iris macrosiphon long tubed iris y y 

Sisyrinchium bellum blue eyed grass y y 

JUGLANDACEAE 

Juglans californica var. hindsii 1 California walnut y y y 

JUNCACEAE 

Juncus arcticus Arctic rush y y 

Juncus arcticus var. balticus Baltic rush y 

Juncus arcticus var. mexicanus Mexican rush y 

*Juncus bufonius toad rush y 

Juncus ensifolius three stamened rush y y 

Juncus xiphioides irisleaf rush y y y 

LAMIACEAE 

*Lamium amplexicaule henbit y y 

Lepechinia calycina white pitcher sage y 

*Marrubium vulgare horehound y 

*Mentha sp. mint y 

Monardella villosa coyote mint y y 

Salvia columbariae chia y 

Scutellaria antirrhinoides snapdragon skullcap y 

Scutellaria californica California skullcap y 

Scutellaria siphocampyloides curve flowered skullcap y y y 

Stachys albens white hedge nettle y y y 

Stachys stricta Sonoma hedgenettle y 

Trichostema lanceolatum vinegarweed y 

Trichostema laxum turpentine weed y 

LAURACEAE 

Umbellularia californica California laurel y y 

LILIACEAE 

Allium amplectens narrow leaved onion y 

Allium falcifolium scytheleaf onion y y 

Allium fimbriatum var. purdyi 1 Purdy's onion y 

Allium serra jeweled onion y y 

Brodiaea elegans ssp. elegans harvest brodiaea y 

Calochortus amabilis golden fairy lantern y y y 

Calochortus luteus yellow mariposa lily y y 

Calochortus splendens splendid mariposa lily y 

Calochortus superbus yellow mariposa y y y 

Observed in 

Wilderness

Appendix B 



Collected 

at Bear 


Ranch 3 

Collected 



Wilderness 

Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. 

pomeridianum 

soap plant y y y 

Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. 

capitatum 

blue dicks y y 

Dichelostemma congestum ookow y y 

Dichelostemma volubile twining snakelily y y 

Fritillaria affinis var. affinis checker lily y 

Fritillaria pluriflora 1 adobe lily y y 

Triteleia hyacinthina white brodiaea y y 

Triteleia laxa Ithuriel's spear y y 

Triteleia peduncularis long rayed brodiaea y y 

Zigadenus fremontii chaparral zygadene y 

Zigadenus micranthus var. fontanus fountain death camas y 

Zigadenus venenosus var. venenosus death camas y y 

LINACEAE 

Hesperolinon californicum California dwarf flax y y y 

Hesperolinon disjunctum coast range western flax y y y 

Hesperolinon drymarioides 1 drymary dwarf-flax y y 

Hesperolinon micranthum small flowered dwarf flax y 

LOASACEAE 

Mentzelia laevicaulis blazing Star y y 

LYTHRACEAE 

*Lythrum hyssopifolium hyssop loosestrife y 

*Lythrum tribracteatum three bracted loosestrife y 

MALVACEAE 

Malacothamnus fremontii Fremont's bushmallow y 

Malvella leprosa alkali mallow y y y 

Sidalcea diploscypha fringed checkerbloom y 

MARSILEACEAE 

Marsilea vestita spp. vestita hairy waterclover y 

MOLLUGINACEAE 

*Glinus lotoides lotus sweetjuice y 

MORACEAE 

*Ficus carica edible fig y 

OLEACEAE 

Forestiera pubescens desert olive y 

Observed in 

Wilderness

Appendix B 



Collected 

at Bear 


Ranch 3 

Collected 



Wilderness 

Fraxinus dipetala California ash y y 

Fraxinus latifolia Oregon ash y y 

ONAGRACEAE 

Camissonia graciliflora hill suncup y 

Clarkia affinis chaparral clarkia y 

Clarkia concinna ssp. concinna red ribbons y y y 

Clarkia gracilis ssp. gracilis slender clarkia y 

Clarkia gracilis ssp. tracyi 1 Tracy's clarkia y 

Clarkia purpurea ssp. quadrivulnera winecup clarkia y 

Clarkia rhomboidea rhomboid farewell to spring y y 

Epilobium brachycarpum panicled willow herb y y 

Epilobium canum California fuchsia y 

Epilobium minutum chaparral willowherb y y 

Epilobium pygmaeum smooth spike primrose y 

ORCHIDACEAE 

Epipactis gigantea stream orchid y y 

OROBANCHACEAE 

Orobanche bulbosa chaparral broomrape y 

PAPAVERACEAE 

Dicentra chrysantha golden eardrops y 

Eschscholzia caespitosa tufted poppy y y y 

Eschscholzia californica var. 

californica 

California poppy y y 

Platystemon californicus creamcups y y 

PINACEAE 

Pinus attenuata knobcone pine y y 

Pinus ponderosa ponderosa pine y y 

Pinus sabiniana foothill pine y y 

PLANTAGINACEAE 

*Plantago coronopus cut leaf plantain y 

Plantago erecta California plantain y y y 

*Plantago lanceolata English plantain y y 

Observed in 

Wilderness

Appendix B 



Collected 

at Bear 


Ranch 3 

Collected 



Wilderness 

POACEAE 

Achnatherum lemmonii y y 

*Aegilops triuncialis barbed goatgrass y y 

Agrostis exarata spike bentgrass y y y 

*Aira caryophyllea silver hairgrass y 

*Arundo donax giant reed y 

*Avena barbata slender wild oats y y 

* Avena fatua wild oats y y 

*Bromus arenarius Australian brome y y 

Bromus carinatus California brome y 

*Bromus caroli-henrici brome y 

*Bromus diandrus ripgut brome y y 

*Bromus hordeaceus soft chess y y 

*Bromus japonicus Japanese brome y 

Bromus laevipes woodland brome y y 

*Bromus madritensis ssp. 

madritensis 

foxtail chess y 

*Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens red brome y y y 

*Bromus tectorum cheatgrass y 

*Crypsis schoenoides swamp pricklegrass y 

*Crypsis vaginiflora African pricklegrass y 

*Cynodon dactylon bermuda grass y 

*Cynosurus echinatus hedgehog dogtail grass y y 

*Dactylis glomerata orchard grass y y 

Deschampsia danthonioides annual hairgrass y 

Distichlis spicata saltgrass y 

Elymus elymoides bottlebrush squirreltail y y y 

Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus western rye grass y y 

Elymus multisetus big squirreltail y y y 

*Festuca arundinacea tall fescue y y 

Festuca californica California fescue y y 

Festuca idahoensis var. roemeri Roemer’s fescue y y 

*Gastridium ventricosum nit grass y 

Glyceria? mannagrass y 

Hordeum brachyantherum meadow barley y y 

Hordeum depressum low barley y 

*Hordeum marinum ssp. 

gussoneanum 

Mediterranean barley y y 

*Hordeum murinum ssp glaucum mouse barley y y 

Koeleria macrantha junegrass y y y 

Leymus triticoides creeping wild rye observed y y 

*Lolium multiflorum Italian rye grass y y 

*Lolium perenne perennial rye grass y 

Melica californica California melicgrass y y 

Observed in 

Wilderness

Appendix B 



Collected 

at Bear 


Ranch 3 

Collected 



Wilderness 

Melica torreyana Torrey's melicgrass y y 

Muhlenbergia asperifolia scratchgrass y 

Nassella cernua needle grass y 

Nassella lepida small flowered needlegrass y y y 

Nassella pulchra purple stipa y y 

Panicum capillare witchgrass y 

*Paspalum distichum knotgrass y 

*Phalaris aquatica bulbous canarygrass y y 

*Phalaris arundinacea reed canarygrass y y 

*Phalaris paradoxa hood canarygrass y 

Phragmites australis common reed y 

*Piptatherum miliaceum millet mountain rice y y 

*Poa annua annual bluegrass y 

* Poa bulbosa bulbous blue grass y y 

Poa secunda pine blue grass y y 

Poa secunda ssp. secunda pine bluegrass y 

*Polypogon maritimus Mediterranean rabbit's foot y 

grass 

*Polypogon monspeliensis rabbit's foot y y y 

*Saccharum ravennae ravennagrass y y 

*Taeniatherum caput-medusa Medusa head y y 

*Thinopyrum ponticum tall wheatgrass y 

Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata small fescue, eastwood 

fescue 

y y 

Vulpia microstachys var. 

microstachys 

small fescue, desert fescue y 

Vulpia microstachys var. pauciflora small fescue, Pacific fescue y y y 

*Vulpia myuros foxtail fescue y 

*Vulpia myuros var. hirsuta hairy rattail fescue y 

POLEMONIACEAE 

Collomia diversifolia 1 serpentine collomia y y y 

Gilia capitata blue field gilia y y 

Gilia tricolor tricolor gilia y y 

Linanthus bicolor true babystars y y y 

Linanthus ciliatus whiskerbrush y y y 

Linanthus dichotomus evening snow y y 

Linanthus parviflorus variable linanthus y 

Navarretia jepsonii 1 Jepson's navarretia y 

Navarretia mellita skunk navarretia y 

Navarretia nigelliformis spp. 

nigelliformis 1 

adobe navarretia y 

Navarretia pubescens downy pincushionplant y y 

Navarretia tagetina navarretia y 

Phlox gracilis slender phlox y y 

Observed in 

Wilderness

Appendix B 



Collected 

at Bear 


Ranch 3 

Collected 



Wilderness 

POLYGONACEAE 

Chorizanthe membranacea pink spineflower y y y 

Chorizanthe polygonoides knotweed spineflower y y 

Eriogonum compositum arrowleaf buckwheat y y 

Eriogonum dasyanthemum chaparral buckwheat y y y 

Eriogonum fasciculatum ssp. 

fasciculatum 

California buckwheat observed 

Eriogonum nervulosum 1 Snow Mountain buckwheat y y 

Eriogonum nudum nude buckwheat y y y 

Eriogonum wrightii var. 

trachygonum 

Wright's buckwheat y y y 

Polygonum amphibium var. 

stipulaceum 

water smartweed y y 

*Polygonum arenastrum dooryard knotweed y 

Pterostegia drymarioides pterostegia y y 

*Rumex crispus curly dock y y y 

*Rumex pulcher fiddle dock y 

PORTULACACEAE 

Calandrinia ciliata red maids y y 

Calyptridium quadripetalum four petaled pussypaws y y 

Claytonia exigua ssp. exigua little spring beauty y 

Claytonia parviflora streambank springbeauty y y y 

Claytonia perfoliata miner's lettuce y y 

Lewisia rediviva bitter root y y 

POTOMOGETONACEAE 

Potamogeton diversifolius waterthread pondweed y 

Potamogeton nodosus longleaf pondweed y 

Potamogeton pusillus small pondweed y 

PRIMULACEAE 

Dodecatheon hendersonii foothill shooting star y y y 

PTERIDACEAE 

Adiantum jordanii California maiden hair y y 

Aspidotis californica California lace fern y y 

Pellaea andromedifolia coffee fern y y y 

Pellaea mucronata birdfoot cliffbrake y y 

Pentagramma triangularis goldenback fern y y y 

RANUNCULACEAE 

Aquilegia eximia Van Houtte's columbine y y y 

Clematis lasiantha chaparral clematis y 

Observed in 

Wilderness

Appendix B 



Collected 

at Bear 


Ranch 3 

Collected 



Wilderness 

Clematis ligusticifolia Virgin's bower y y y 

Delphinium hesperium ssp. 

pallescens 

pale western larkspur y y y 

Delphinium nudicaule red larkspur y y 

Delphinium patens x decorum y 

Delphinium uliginosum 1 swamp larkspur y y 

Delphinium variegatum royal larkspur y y y 

Ranunculus arvensis corn buttercup y 

Ranunculus hebecarpus slender annual buttercup y 

Ranunculus occidentalis western buttercup y y 

RHAMNACEAE 

Ceanothus cuneatus buck brush y y 

Ceanothus integerrimus deerbrush y y 

Ceanothus jepsonii Jepson ceanothus y y y 

Ceanothus oliganthus var. sorediatus Jim brush y y 

Rhamnus ilicifolia hollyleaf redberry y 

Rhamnus tomentella ssp. tomentella California buckthorn y y y 

ROSACEAE 

Adenostoma fascicularis chamise observed y 

Aphanes occidentalis western lady's mantle y 

Cercocarpus betuloides mountain mahogany y y 

Heteromeles arbutifolia toyon y y 

Potentilla glandulosa sticky cinquefoil y y 

*Prunus dulcis sweet almond y y 

Rosa californica California wildrose y y 

Rubus armeniacus Himalaya blackberry y y 

RUBIACEAE 

Galium andrewsii ssp. andrewsii phlox leaved bedstraw y y y 

Galium aparine common bedstraw y y 

*Galium parisiense wall bedstraw y y 

Galium porrigens Nuttall's bedstraw y y y 

Galium porrigens var. tenue graceful bedstraw y 

*Sherardia arvensis blue fieldmadder y y 

SALICACEAE 

Populus fremontii Fremont cottonwood y y 

Salix breweri Brewer's willow y y y 

Salix exigua sandbar willow y y y 

Salix laevigata red willow y y 

Salix lasiolepis arroyo willow y y 

Salix melanopsis dusky willow y y 

Observed in 

Wilderness

Appendix B 



Collected 

at Bear 


Ranch 3 

SAXIFRAGACEAE 

Lithophragma affine woodland star y 

Lithophragma heterophyllum 

Lithophragma parviflorum var. 

parviflorum 

hillside woodland star y 

Collected 



Wilderness 

smallflower woodland star y y 

Saxifraga californica California saxifrage y y 

SCROPHULARIACEAE 

Antirrhinum vexillo-calyculatum sail flower snapdragon y 

Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii wavyleaf Indian paintbrush y 

Castilleja attenuata valley tassels y y 

Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta pale purple owlclover y y y 

Castilleja foliolosa woolly Indian paintbrush y y 

Castilleja minor ssp. spiralis lesser paintbrush y 

Castilleja rubicundula ssp. 

cream sacs y 

rubicundula 1 

Collinsia greenei 1 Greene's collinsia y 

Collinsia heterophylla purple Chinese houses y y 

Collinsia sparsiflora few flowered collinsia y y 

Collinsia sparsiflora var. arvensis field collinsia y 

Collinsia sparsiflora var. collina spinster's blue eyed Mary y 

Collinsia sparsiflora var. sparsiflora few flowered collinsia y 

Cordylanthus tenuis slender bird's beak y 

Keckiella breviflora var. 

glabrisepala 

hairless gaping keckiella y y 

Keckiella lemmonii lemmon beardtongue y 

Limosella acaulis Owyhee mudwort y 

Mimulus douglasii purple mouse ears y y y 

Mimulus guttatus ssp. guttatus seep monkey flower y y 

Mimulus nudatus 1 bare monkeyflower y y y 

Pedicularis densiflora Indian warrior y y y 

Penstemon heterophyllus foothill penstemon y y 

Tonella tenella innocence y 

Triphysaria eriantha butter and eggs y y 

Triphysaria pusilla dwarf owl's clover y 

*Verbascum blattaria moth mullein y 

*Veronica anagallis-aquatica water speedwell y y y 

Veronica peregrina ssp. xalapensis hairy purslane speedwel y 

SOLANACEAE 

*Lycium barbarum matrimony vine y 

Solanum parishii Parish’s nightshade y y 

Observed in 

Wilderness

Appendix B 



Collected 

at Bear 


Ranch 3 

Collected 



Wilderness 

STYRACACEAE 

Styrax officinalis var. redivivus snowdrop bush y y 

TAMARICACEAE 

*Tamarix parviflora smallflower tamarisk y 

TAXACEAE 

Torreya californica California nutmeg y 

TYPHACEAE 

Sparganium sp. bur-reed y y 

Typha domingensis southern cattail y 

Typha latifolia broadleaf cattail y 

VALERIANACEAE 

Plectritis brachystemon short spurred plectritis y 

Plectritis ciliosa long spurred plectritis y 

Plectritis macrocera white Plectritis y 

VERBENACEAE 

*Phyla nodiflora var. nodiflora common lippia y 

Verbena lasiostachys vervain y 

VIOLACEAE 

Viola douglasii Douglas' violet y 

VISCACEAE 

Arceuthobium occidentale foothill pine dwarf mistletoe y 

Phoradendron densum dense mistletoe y y 

Phoradendron villosum Pacific mistletoe y 

VITACEAE 

Vitis californica California grape y y 

SYMBOLS: 

(*) Species is not native to California (CalFlora 2010) 

(1) CRPR List 1B or 4 special-status plant (CNPS 2010) 

(2) Source for common names: CalFlora 2010 

(3) Source for voucher information for Bear Creek Ranch: Dean et al. 2009 

Observed in 

Wilderness

APPENDIX C 

Representative Photographs of Vegetation and Special-Status Plants 

Observed in the Cache Creek Wilderness During the 2010 Surveys

Above: Cache Creek Formation to the northeast and above the south fork of Cache Creek near 

Redbud Trail crossing, May 5, 2010. Below, April 24, 2010, crossing the north fork of Cache Creek 

just to the west of its confluence with the south fork.

Above: Quercus lobata alliance along the south fork of Cache Creek. Below, Salix exigua alliance along Cache 

Creek.

Above left: Achyrachaena mollis unpublished alliance. Above right: Micropus californicus unpublished alliance 

(both found on nonserpentine soils west of the south fork of Cache Creek on May 5, 2010). 

Below left: Lasthenia californica alliance W of the confluence of Rocky and Cache Creeks. Below right: The rare 

Eriogonum wrightii alliance on creek terraces E of the confluence of the north and south forks of Cache Creek. 

(both observed April 24, 2010).

Rocky Creek Drainage, June 16, 2010. Upper left: prairie with nine native grasses at the southern boundary of 

the Wilderness. Upper right: pool above waterfall near southern boundary of Wilderness. Lower left, dry 

waterfall. Lower right, Apocynum cannibinum unpublished alliance.

Rocky Creek Drainage, June 16, 2010. Upper left: drainage with Carex nudata alliance showing sedge 

hummocks. Upper right: middle reaches of Rocky Creek drainage with single Sargent cypress tree within the 

Salix breweri alliance. Lower left: Eriogonum compositum, a rarely encountered species, growing on the slopes 

of the drainage. Below right: the Salix breweri alliance.

Above: Serpentine alluvial deposits at the confluence of Rocky and Cache Creeks, April 24, 2010. Below, scenes 

along the north fork of Cache Creek, May 5, 2010. Left: serpentine soils where Jepson’s milkvetch and Colusa 

tidy-tips were encountered. Right: view of Deadman’s Canyon from the west side of Cache Creek.

Views of dry slopes of serpentine barrens near southern boundary of Wilderness. Below left, habitat of Snow 

Mountain buckwheat. Below right: habitat of Socrates Mine jewelflower.

Views of drainages within serpentine barrens with Sargent cypress and knobcone pine near southern boundary 

of Wilderness.

Vegetation near southern boundary of Wilderness. Above left: Juncus ensifolius unpublished alliance. Above right: 

Carex serratodens alliance. Below left: knobcone pine-sargent cypress association. Below right: serpentine chaparral 

with 17 species of shrubs.

List 1B Special-Status Plants Encountered in the Wilderness. Above left: Hall’s madia. Above right: Snow 

Mountain buckwheat. Below left: drymary dwarf- flax. Below right: Socrates Mine jewelflower.

List 1B Special-Status Plants Encountered in the Wilderness. Above left: Jepson’s milkvetch. Above right: 

Colusa tidy-tips. Below left: adobe lily. Below right: round-leaf storks’bill.

APPENDIX D 

DFG California Native Species Field Survey Forms

Cache Creek Natural Area - UC Davis: Center for Plant Diversity ...

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