Wildflowers Abound in Marin's State and National Parks

Even with the steady rain of the past week, the Bay Area has experienced an exceptionally dry winter this year, which normally does not bode well for wildflowers in the spring. Nevertheless, there are quite a few California natives that are in bloom now in the hills, grasslands, and forests of our state and national parks. A hike around the Marin Headlands, Mount Tamalpais, Angel Island or China Camp is certain to provide a good show of colorful wildflowers now and in the next few months.

One of the first wildflowers to appear is the aptly named Footsteps of Spring, which ushers in the season with an explosion of bright green and yellow. A member of the carrot family, Footsteps of Spring is a perennial herb found throughout the Bay Area, and can often be spotted alongside trails in rocky soil. The proximity of this plant to trails may account for the name "footsteps," which it is said to resemble. The scientific name is Sanicula arctopoides, with Sanicula or sanicle being the genus of approximately 40 species.  The name arctopoides is Greek for bear's foot, another reference to this plant's tendency to form footprints along a trail.

The forested areas on the northern side of Angel Island are a great place to find Pacific Hound’s Tongue (Cynoglossum grande). This California native, with stunning deep blue flowers, thrives in the shady forests along the North Ridge Trail. The scientific name of Pacific Hound's Tongue is Cynoglossum grande, which is derived from the Greek word for dog's tongue and the Latin word for large. The reference is to the leaves of the plant, which were thought to resemble the long panting tongue of a hound dog. Other common names are Western houndstongue and grand hound's tongue. Several species of Cynoglossum are believed to have medicinal properties and have been used in herbal remedies. The roots of Pacific Hound's Tongue were used by Native Americans to treat burns and stomachaches.

The Calypso Orchid (Calypso bulbosa) is making an appearance in some of more densely forested areas of Mount Tamalpais. This beautiful flower is considered threatened or endangered in some parts of its habitat, particularly here in California, where it is at the southernmost extremity of its range. The Greek word Calypso means concealed, and refers to this shy flower’s tendency to hide in the underbrush of the forest floor. Hikers need to keep a sharp eye out in order to spot the Calypso Orchid, but the delicate pink blossom and spotted “beard” make it easy to identify.

The Shoreline Trail at China Camp State Park is lined with Suncups (Camissonia ovata) at this time of year. These bright yellow flowers get the Latin name of their genus from Adelbert von Chamisso, a French-born German writer, botanist, and explorer who visited San Francisco Bay on the Russian ship Rurik in 1821. Chamisso was close friends with Dr. Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz, the ship’s entomologist, and together they identified a number of new flowers and plant species. It was Eschscholtz who named the genus Camissonia after his friend, while Chamisso returned the favor by giving the Latin name Eschscholzia californica to the California Poppy. The latter, which is now our state flower, is a ubiquitous presence throughout the state.

This year seems to be a banner year for Star Lilies (Zigadenus fremontii), another early bloomer that is out in force on the hillsides of the Marin Headlands. The plant is distinctive for its cluster of white flowers at the end of tall stalk and can be found in open grasslands. The species fremontii is named after American military officer, politician, and explorer John C. Frémont. Nicknamed “the Pathfinder,” Frémont wrote extensively about the plants he encountered on this travels and has many native plants named after him.

Among the most unique-looking wildflowers are the Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon hendersonii), which can be seen on the forest floor throughout Mount Tamalpais and China Camp State Parks. The stamens of the flower point outward like the tip of a star shooting across the sky, while the petals and sepals are thrust backward to resemble the fiery tail. Dodecatheon, the Greek name of the genus, means 12 gods and refers to the Twelve Olympians, the principal deities of the Greek pantheon who made their home atop Mount Olympus. They were led by Zeus, the king of the gods, who was also the god of the sky, a possible explanation for how this flower was named.

After such a dry winter, spring is upon us with a series of rainstorms that could turn a good wildflower show into a spectacular one. It is a great time of year to take a hike in the state and national parks of Marin County.