MOJAVE RIVER

PLANT LIST

Compiled by Pamela J. MacKay, Botanist

The Mojave River "Wildlands" (MRW) portions of the Lewis center for Educational Research's Mojave River Campus includes several diverse plant communities/habitats within one ecosystem (desert-riparian). Habitats can be described in different ways. To tell them apart ecologists use plant aggregations and the existence of water. There are many different plant communities in the MRW. These plant communities can be "lumped" into three main habitat groupings (based on available water) and 11 specific habitats (based on the plants supported). Where and when possible, plants in the following list that have been identified on the MRC have been "tagged" with one or more of the following abbreviations identifying what habitat they are found in:

EQUISETAE HORSETAILS

Equisetaceae - Horsetail family

Equisetum arvense - Common horsetail (Ahl)

Equisetum laevigatum - Braun's horsetail or Smooth scouring rush (Ahl)

CONIFERAE CONE-BEARING PLANTS

Cupressaceae - Cypress family

Juniperus californica - California juniper

GNETAE GNETAE

Ephedraceae - Joint fir family

Ephedra nevadensis - Nevada joint-fir (Thrc, Thms)

ANGIOSPERMAE: DICOTYLEDONAE - DICOT FLOWERING PLANTS

Amaranthaceae - Amaranth family

Amaranthus fimbriatus - Fringed amaranth (Thms, Thss)

Amaranthus albus - White tumbleweed,(weed, introduced) (Th)

Tidestromia oblongifolia - (obs. @ Afton Cnyn.)

Anacardiaceae - Sumac family

Rhus trilobata - Squawbush (Thrc, Thcwf)

Apiaceae - Carrot family

Apium graveolens - Wild celery, (introduced) (Thcwf)

Berula erecta - Water parsnip (Ahl)

Hydrocotyle umbellata - Marsh pennywort (Ahl)

Lomatium mojavense or -sis - Desert parsley (Thrc)

Oenanthe sarmentosa - American or Pacific oenanthe (Whwm, Whs, Whm)

Apocynaceae - Dogbane family

Amsonia tomentosum (tomentosa) - Amsonia or Woolly amsonia (Thms ?)

Asclepiadaceae - Milkweed family

Asclepias fascicularis - Narrow-leaved milkweed

Asteraceae - Sunflower family

Acamptopappus microcephalus - Desert goldenhead (Thms ?)

Ambrosia acanthicarpa - Sandbur or Annual Bur-sage (Th)

Ambrosia psilostachya - Western ragweed

DCR Anisocoma acaulis -

Artemisia douglasiana - Mugwort

Artemisia dracunculus - Wild Tarragon

Artemisia ludoviciana - Western mugwort

Artemisia tridentata - Great Basin sagebrush (Thcwf, Thrc?)

Aster bernardinus - San Bernardino aster

Aster chilensis - Common California aster (Thrc)

Aster exilis - Slim aster

Baccharis emoryi - Emory baccharis

Baccharis salicifolius - Mulefat (Thcwf)

Baccharis sergiloides - Squaw waterweed or Desert Baccharis (also obs.@Afton Cnyn)

Bebbia juncea - Sweetbush

Bidens frondosa - Stick-tight (weed)

Bidens laevis - Bur-marigold, or Smooth Beggar-ticks (Whwm, Whs, Whm, Ahr)

Brickellia californica - California bricklebush (?)

Chaenactis fremontii - Fremont's pincushion (Thrc, Thss, Thms, Thds)

Chrysothamnus nauseosus - Rubber rabbitbrush (Thrc, Thss, Thms, Thds)

Chrysothamnus paniculatus - (obs.@Afton Cnyn)

Cirsium vulgare - Bull thistle (weed, introduced) (Thcwf)

Conyza canadensis - Mare's tail or Tall Horseweed (Thds)

DCR Coreopsis bigelovei - Bigelow's coreopsis

Dicorea canescens - Bug seed (obs.@Afton Cnyn)

Encelia frutescens - Rayless encelia (obs.@Afton Cnyn)

Encelia virginensis ssp. actoni - Bush sunflower (Thrc)

Eriophyllum wallacei - Wallace's woolly daisy

Gnaphalium luteo-album - Cudweed (weed, introduced) (Thds)

Gutierrezia sarothrae - Matchweed or Broom Snakeweed

Haplopappus cooperi or Ericameria cooperi - Cooper's goldenbush (Thrc, Thms)

Haplopappus linearifolius or Ericameria linearifolia - Linear-leaved goldenbush

Helianthus annuus - Common sunflower (Thcwf, Ahr)

Hymenoclea salsola - Cheesebush

Lactuca serriola - Wild or Prickly lettuce (weed, introduced) (Thcwf, Whwm, Whs, Whl & r fringe)

DCR Layia glandulosa - Tidy tips

Lepidospartum squamatum - Scalebroom (Thds ~ washes, Thcwf ~ fringe)

Lessingia lemmonii - Lemmon's lessingia (?)

Malacothrix glabrata - Desert dandelion (Thss, Thms)

Matricaria matricarioides - Pineapple weed (weed, introduced)

Microseris linearifolia - Silver stars

Nicolletia occidentalis - Hole-in-the-sand plant

Palafoxia arida arida - Spanish needles (obs.@Afton Cnyn)

Salsola taragus - Russian thistle (Thcwf, Thds)

Senecio flaccidus var douglassii - California butterweed

Solidago californica - California goldenrod (Thcwf ?)

Solidago confinis - Goldenrod, (Wh, Ah ~ fringe)

Solidago occidentalis or Euthamia occidentalis- Western goldenrod (Th, Wh?)

Stephanomeria pauciflora - Desert mild aster, Desert Straw (?)

Tetradymia spinosa  - Cottonthorn, Spiny Horsebrush (Thss)

Tetradymia spinosa var. longispina - Cottonthorn

Xanthium strumarium - Cocklebur (fringe of Wh, Ah)

Betulaceae - Birch family

Alnus rhombifolia - White alder (Thcwf or Ahr ~fringe)

Bignoniaceae - Bignonia family

Chilopsis linearis - Desert willow (Thds ~ desert wash)

Boraginaceae - Borage family

Amsinckia intermedia - Fiddleneck (Th)

Amsinckia tesselata - Fiddleneck (Th)

Cryptantha sp. - Forget-me-not

DCR Cryptantha micrantha - Redroot cryptantha

Cryptantha circumcissa - Capped cryptantha

DCR Cryptantha similis - Desert catseye

Heliotropium curassavicum - Desert heliotrope

Pectocarya penicillata - Slender combseed or Winged pectocarya (Thrc, Thss, Thms)

DCR Pectocarya sp. - Curvenut

Brassicaceae - Mustard family

Hirschveldia incana - Short-pod mustard (common weed) (Th, Thds)

Descurainia pinnata - Tansy mustard (common weed) (Th, Thds)

Descurainia sophio - Descurainia (common weed) (Th, Thds)

Descurainia incana or Hirschfeldia incana - Short-pod mustard (common weed) (Th, Thds)

Sisymbrium altissimum - Tumble mustard (common weed) (Th, Thds)

Sisymbrium irio - Tumble mustard (common weed) (Th, Thds)

Sisymbrium orientale - Eastern rocket (common weed) (Th, Thds)

Stanleya pinnata - Prince's plume (Thms)

Thysanocarpus sp. - Lace pod (Thms)

Cactaceae - Cactus family

Opuntia basilaris var. basilaris - Beavertail (Thrc)

Opuntia echinocarpa - Silver cholla (Thss, Thms)

Campanulaceae - Bellflower family

DCR Nemacladus sp. - Desert threadplant

Capparidaceae - Caper family

Cleomella obtusifolia (obs. @ Afton Cnyn) - Desert Stinkweed (Thms)

Caprifoliaceae - Honesuckle family

Sambucus mexicana - Mexican elderberry (Thcwf)

Caryophyllaceae - Pink family

Saponaria officinalis - Bouncing bet (weed of moist areas) (Th, Thds)

Chenopodiaceae - Goosefoot family

Atriplex canescens - four-winged saltbush (Thss, Thms)

Atriplex confertiflora - Shadscale (Thss. Thms)

Atriplex lentiformis (torreyi) ssp. lentiformis - Quail Bush (Thss, Thms, Thcwf)

Atriplex polycarpa - Allscale or Cattle Spinach (Thss, Thms)

Atriplex patula ssp. hastata - Saltbush or Spear Oracle

Atriplex serenana - Saltbush

Atriplex spinenfera - Spinescale

Bassia hyssopifolia - Five-hook bassia (Common weed) Th, Thds)

Chenopodium album - Lamb's quarters (Common weed) Th, Thds)

Eurotia lanata - Winterfat (Thss)

Grayia spinosa - Hop-sage (Thms)

Salsola tragus - Russian thistle or Tumble Weed (Common weed) Th, Thds)

Convolvulaceae - Morning glory family

Cuscuta sp. - Dodder (Th)

Cucurbitaceae - Gourd family

Cucurbita foetidissima or Cucurbita palmata - Coyote melon (Thms, Thds)

Datiscaceae - Datisca family

Datisca glomerata - Durango root

Elaeagnaceae - Oleaster family

Elaeagnus angustifolia - Russian olive (non-native, invasive) (Thcwf, Wh ~ fringe)

Ericaceae - Heath family

Arctostaphylos glauca - Big-berry manzanita

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family

Chamaecyse albomarginata - Rattlesnake weed (Thms, Th)

Croton californicus - California croton

Eremocarpus setigerus - Turkey mullein (Thds)

Fabaceae - Pea family

Astragalus lentiginosus - Locoweed, rattleweed (Thms)

Glycyrrhiza lepidota - wild licorice

Lotus corniculatus - Lotus (non-native weed) (Thds)

Lotus scoparius - Deerweed (Thds, Th)

Lotus strigosus - Interior lotus or Desert Lotus (Thms)

Lupinus bicolor - Dove lupine (Thms, Thrc)

DCR Lupinus concinnus - Bajada Lupine

Melilotus albus - White sweet-clover (weed) (Th ~ moist, disturbed)

Prosopis pubescens - Screwbean mesquite (obs.@Afton Cnyn)

Robinia pseudo-acacia - Black locust tree

Gentianaceae - Gentian family

Centaurium exaltatum - Great Basin centaury

Geraniaceae - Geranium family

Erodium cicutarium - Red-stemmed filaree (Thrc, Thds)

Hydrophyllaceae - Waterleaf family

Eriodictyon trichocalyx - Yerba santa (Thrc)

Nama demissum - Purple mat (Thss, Thms)

Phacelia distans - Common phacelia (Th)

Phacelia fremontii - Yellow-throats (Thms, Thss)

Phacelia ramosissima - Branching phacelia (Thrc?)

Lamiaceae - Mint family

Monardella exilis - Desert monardella (Thrc, Thss, Thms)

Salazaria mexicana - Paper-bag bush (Thrc, Thms)

Salvia carduacea - Thistle sage (Thrc, Thms)

Salvia columbariae - Chia (Thrc, Thms, Thds)

Salvia dorrii - Blue sage (Thrc)

Stachys rigida or Stachys ajugoides var. rigida - Hedge-nettle (Wh)

Loasaceae - Stick-leaf family

Mentzelia albicaulis - Little blazing stars (Thrc, Thms)

Petalonyx thurberi - Sandpaper plant

Lythraceae - Loosestrife family

Lythrum californicum - California loosestrife (Wh, Thcwf ~ disturbed)

Malvaceae - Mallow family

Sphaeralcea ambigua - Desert mallow (Thrc, Thms)

Nyctaginaceae - Four o'clock family

DCR -Mirabilis bigelovii - Desert wishbone plant

Oleaceae - Olive family

Fraxinus velutina - Arizona ash or Valvet Ash (Thcwf, Whm (fringe))

Onagraceae - Evening primrose family

Camissonia boothii - Red primrose, Woody Bottlewasher (Thrc), (Thms)

DCR Camissonia campestris ssp. campestris - Mojave Sun Cup

DCR Camissonia strigosus - Strigose primrose

Epilobium ciliatum - Northern willow herb (Wh ~ fringe)

Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium - California fuchsia (Thrc)

Epilobium paniculatum - Panicled willow-herb (Thds)

Ludwigia peploides - Yellow water weed (Ahr, Ahl)

Oenothera avita or Oenothera californica ssp. avita - Evening primrose (Thss, Thms)

Oenothera deltoides - Devil's lantern (Thms)

Oenothera elata var. hirsutissima - Hooker's evening primrose (Wh, Thcwf ~ moist)

Papaveraceae - Poppy family

Argemone munita - Prickly poppy, (Thcwf, Th ~ disturbed, dry wash)

Dendromecon rigida - Bush poppy

Plantaginaceae - Plantain family

Plantago major - Plantain, (weed) (Thcwf, Wh fringe)

Platanaceae - Sycamore family

Platanus racemosa - California sycamore, (Ahr ~ fringe))

Polemoniaceae - Phlox family

Eriastrum densifolium or Eriastrum densifolium ssp. mohavense
- Wooly star (Thrc)

Eriastrum sappharinum - Wooly star

Gilia sp. - Gilia (Thrc)

DCR Gilia sp. -

Langloisia matthewsii - Sunbonnets

Linanthus bigelovii - Bigelow's linanthus

DCR Linanthus dichotomous -

DCR Linanthus parryae - Parry's linanthus

Polygonaceae - Buckwheat family

DCR Chorizanthe watsoni (?) -

Eriogonum davidsonii - Davidson's buckwheat

Eriogonum elongatum - Long-stemmed buckwheat

Eriogonum fasciculatum - California buckwheat (Thrc),

Eriogonum fasciculatum ssp. polifolium - California buckwheat

Eriogonum gracile - Slender buckwheat

Eriogonum inflatum - Desert trumpet (Thrc, Thds)

Eriogonum mohavense - Mohave buckwheat

Eriogonum plumatella - Yucca buckwheat or Flat-topped Buckwheat (Thms)

Polygonum amphibium - American water persicaria or Swamp knotweed (Whm, Ahr, Ahl)

Polygonum aviculare - Common knotweed (weed) (Thds)

Polygonum hydropiperoides - Mild water pepper (Whm, Ahr & Ahl fringe)

Polygonum lapathifolium - Willow weed (Wh ~ fringe, Thcwf (moist))

Polygonum punctatum - Water smart weed (Wh)

Rumex crispus - Curly dock (weed) (Thds)

Rumex hymenosepalus - Wild rhubarb (Thms, Thcwf ?)

Portulacaceae - Purslane family

Calindrinia ciliata - Red maids

DCR Calyptridium monandrum - Sand Cress

DCR Claytonia perfoliata - Miner's lettuce (Thrc, Thcwf)

Portulaca oleracea - Purslane (weed) (Thds)

Rhamnaceae - Buckthorn family

Ceanothus greggii or Ceanothus greggii var. vestitus - Desert ceanothus or Mojave ceanothus

Ceanothus leucodermis - Chaparral whitethorn

Rosaceae - Rose family

Horkelia bolanderi (?) - Horkelia

DCR Prunus fasciculata or Prunus fasciculata var. fasciculata
- Desert Almond

Purshia glandulosa or Purshia tridentata var. glandulosa - Mohave antelope bush

Rosa californica - California wild rose (Thcwf, Ah & Wh margins)

Rubiaceae - Madder family

Galium aparine - Common bedstraw (weed)

Salicaceae - Willow family

Populus fremontii ssp. fremontii - Fremont cottonwood (Thcwf, Ah margin)

Salix exigua - Sandbar or Narrow-leaf willow (Thcwf, Wh or Ah margin)

Salix gooddingii or Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa - Black willow

Salix laevigata - Red willow (Thcwf, Wh or Ah margin)

Salix lasiolepis - Arroyo willow (Thcwf, Wh or Ah margin)

Sauraceae - Lizard-tail family

Anemopsis californica - Yerba mansa (Whs, moist Thcwf)

Scrophulariaceae - Figwort family

Castilleja sp. - Desert Paintbrush (moist Th & Wh margin

DCR Collinsia sp. - Desert Collinsia

Mimulus cardinalis - Scarlet or Red monkey flower or (Wh and Ah fringe)

Mimulus guttatus - Common monkey flower (Wh and Ah fringe)

Penstemon centranthifolius - Scarlet bugler (Thcwf, Thds)

Verbascum thapsus - Common mullein (weed) (Thds)

Veronica anagallis-aquatica - Great water speed-well (weed) (Whm, Whs, Ahr fringe)

Simaroubaceae - Quassia family

Ailanthus altissima - Tree of heaven (invasive)

Solanaceae - Nightshade family

Datura wrightii - Jimsonweed or Datura (Thrc, Thcwf, Thds in the open)

Lycium andersonii - Anderson's box-thorn (Thrc fringe)

Lycium cooperi - Cooper's box-thorn

Solanum nodiflorum or Solanum americanum - Small-flowered nightshade

Solanum xanti - Purple nightshade (Thcwf)

Sterculiaceae - Cacao family

Fremonodendron californicum or Fremontodendron californicum ssp.
californicum - Flannel bush

Tamaricaceae - Tamarisk family

Tamarix ramosissima - Tamarisk or Salt Cedar (invasive non native) (Thcwf, Wh, Ah at margin)

Tamarix parviflora - Small-flowered tamarisk

Ulmaceae - Elm family

Ulmus sp. - Elm tree (non-native) (Thcwf)

Urticaceae - Nettle family

Urtica holosericeae or Urtica dioica ssp. holosericea - Stinging nettle or Hoary nettle

Viscaceae - Mistletoe family

Phorandendron juniperinum - Juniper mistletoe

Phoradendron tomentosum - Long-spike mistletoe (Thcwf)

DCR Phoradendron sp. (on Platanus racemosa) (Ahr fringe)

DCR Phoradendron sp. (on Prunus fasciculata)

Vitaceae - Grape family

Vitis girdiana - Wild grape

Zygophyllaceae - Caltrop family

Larrea tridentata - Creosote bush (Thrc, Thms)

Tribulus terrestris - Puncture vine (weed) (Thds)

ANGIOSPERMAE: MONOCOTYLEDONAE -MONOCOT FLOWERING PLANTS

Amaryllidaceae - Amaryllis family

Dichelostemma pulchella - Blue dicks (Thrc, Thms)

Cyperaceae - Sedge family

Carex cf. praegracilis - Clustered field sedge (Wh)

Cyperus laevigatus - (coll.@Afton Cnyn) Smooth Flat Sedge (Wh, Ah margin)

Cyperus odoratus - Umbrella-sedge

Eleocharis sp. - Spike rush (Wh ?)

Eleocharis parishii - Parish's spike rush (Whm, Whs ?)

Scirpus acutus - Viscid bulrush (Whm, Ahr, Ahl)

DCR Scirpus microcarpus - Panicled bulrush (Ah, Ah ?)

Scirpus olneyi or Schoenoplectus americanus - Olney's bulrush (Wh, Ah ?)

Scirpus robustus or Schoenoplectus maritimus - Prairie bulrush

Juncaceae - Rush family

Juncus balticus - Baltic rush (Wh)

Juncus effusus var. austrocalifornicus - Rush

Juncus mexicanus - Mexican rush (Wh)

Juncus rugulosus - Wrinkled rush (Wh ?)

Juncus torreyi - Torrey's rush (Wh ?)

Juncus xiphioides - Irisleaf Rush (Wh)

Lemnaceae - Duckweed family

Lemna trisulca - Duckweed (Ahl, Ahr)

Spirodela polyrhiza - Greater duckweed (Ahl, Ahr)

Liliaceae - Lily family

Calochortus kennedyi - Desert mariposa lily (Thrc)

Yucca brevifolia - Joshua tree (Thms, Thss)

Yucca schidigera - Mojave yucca (Thrc)

Yucca whipplei - Our Lord's candle

Zigadenus brevibracteatus - Desert camas

Orchidaceae - Orchid family

Epipactis gigantea - Stream orchis (Ahl)

Poaceae - Grass family

DCR Achnatherum hymenoides - Indian rice grass (Thms)

Agropyron sp. - Wheat grass (Thrc, Thds)

Andropogon glomeratus - Bushy beard/blue grass (?)

Arundo donax - Giant reed (invasive non-native) (Wh, Ah margin)

Bromus diandrus - Common ripgut grass (weed) (Thcwf, Thds)

Bromus madritensis or Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens
- Red chess or Brome (Thrc, Thss, Thms, Thcwf)

Bromus mollis - Soft chess/brome (non-native) (Thds, Thcwf)

Bromus rubens or Bromus madritensis subsp. rubens - Red brome Foxtail Brome (invasive) (Thrc, Thds, Thss, Thms)

Bromus tectorum - Cheat grass (non-native)(Thds)

Cortaderia atacamensis or Cortaderia selloana - Pampas grass (non-native)

Crypsis schoenoides - Swamp Picklegrass, swamp grass, swamp pricklegrass (non-native) (wh)

Cynodon dactylon - Bermuda grass (non-native) (Thu, Thds)

Distichlis spicata - Salt grass (Thds, Wh & Ah margin)

Echinocloa crusgalli - Barnyard grass (non-native)(Thds)

Elymus condensatus - Rye grass

Elymus elymoides -- Bottlebrush squirreltail

Elymus triticoides - Alkali ryegrass (Wh, Ah margin)

Eragrostis pectinacea - Eragrostis (Thds, Wh disturbed)

Festuca megalura or Vulpia myuros - Fescue (Thrc, Thds)

Hilaria rigida or Pleuraphis rigida - Big galleta grass (thrc, Thms, Thds)

Hordeum murinum - Hare / Mouse barley (nonnative)

Leptochloa univervia - Sprangletop

Muhlenbergia asperifolia - Scratchgrass (Wh, Ah margin)

Muhlenbergia rigens - Deergrass

Oryzopsis hymenoides - Indian ricegrass (Th)

Panicum capillare - Old witch grass (Thds)

Panicum urvilleanum - Desert panicum (also obs.@Afton Cnyn.)

Paspalum distichum - Knot grass

Phragmites austalis - Common reed (Wh, Whwm, Ahr margin)

Poa annua - Wintergrass, Annual Bluegrass (Thds)

Polypogon monspeliensis - Rabbitfoot grass (non-native) (Wh)

Schismus barbatus - Mediterranean grass (non-native) (Th)

Stipa speciosa - Desert needlegrass (Thms, Thrc)

Vulpia octoflora - Six-weeks fescue (Thds)

DCR Vulpia microstachya - Vulpia

Typhaceae - Cat-tail family

Typha domingensis - Southern Cattail (Whm, Ahl, Ahr)

Typha latifolia - Broad-Leaved Cattail (Whm, Ahl, Ahr)