Flora

Some plants to look out for at San Elijo Lagoon - a brief guide

Dodder

In the salt marsh, masses of bright orange threads can be seen tangling through the pickleweed. This is one species of the parasitic plant called dodder or witches hair, each of which is restricted to a few host plants. The salt marsh dodder shown here (Cuscuta marina) parasitizes pickleweed and alkali heath. A mature dodder has no contact with the soil and depends completely upon the host plant for nutrition. 

Dodder is an annual plant. The salt marsh dodder flowers in mid-April and will release seeds soon afterwards. When the seeds germinate, they contain nourishment for less than two weeks, and if the seedling can not locate a suitable host in that time, it will die. Recent research indicates that the dodder seedling can sense the volatile compounds released by a host and direct its growth toward that plant. In other words, the dodder seedling can smell a host plant!

Miner's Lettuce

Spring flowers create spectacular views in the Reserve, but don’t forget to look for the small plants. Miner’s Lettuce (Claytonia perforata) is also in bloom in mid-April. This small, bright green plant is found in many protected or moist areas. Look along the south edge of the Rios Trail, especially in the shade of large shrubs. The plant is easily recognized by the nearly circular leaves that completely surround the stem, forming a continuous disk (a bit reminiscent of nasturtium, to which it is related). The delicate white flowers are born at the top of the stem. As the name implies, the young leaves are edible, used either raw in salads or boiled like spinach. Because the plants are high in vitamin C, gold rush miners ate them to prevent scurvy.

Wind Poppy

The small, bright flowers of the Wind Poppy (Stylomecon heterophylla) are carried atop long slender stems making them dance in the wind. Look for them in open areas, especially above the Rios trail between the trail head and the start of the Gemma Parks loop.