After 15 consecutive days of solid work (and sitting), it was really good to get out on the Fire Followers SBBG trip on May 5th (especially with the leaders “extraordinaire” whose handouts are greatly appreciated). I have visited Highway 33 north of Ojai less than five times, and each time I go, I am struck by the beauty and wonderful flower displays. Some of the terrain reminds me a little of some seen in Namibia - where I described it in my “Scrapbook” site, as being drawn with a broad sweeping brush. However the vegetation is very different, where at the higher altitude, fir and pine are found that would never be seen in the higher areas of Namibia.

(Zaca Fire burned vegetation on west side of Highway 33 - May 5, 2008)

We visited areas that were at the limit of the Zaca burn, one of which was right next to Highway 33 - and were thus able to see before/after views of vegetation. In the burned areas, there were lots of interesting fire followers, and a number of plants that were re-sprouting. The most interesting charred skeleton was that of a Juniper. The slide show below includes photos of the burned areas as well as some of the flowers (I goofed on some of the Phacelia photos, and should try to find the time to go back.)

(Zaca Fire burned oak, re-sprouting - May 5, 2008)

This year must be a gilia year for me, where I was lucky to see three new species (for me) on Figueroa Mountain, and two new (three photographed) on Pine Mountain and another plant called “False Gilia”. One of the gilias seen on Monday seemed to be one of the gilia seen on Figueroa Mountain - Gilia ochroleuca subsp. bizonata. The reason I call it “Volcanic Gilia” is because it is the common name of the plant at these links:

http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=3874
http://plants.usda.gov/

The second of the three gilias seen was Splendid Gilia, and the other id is a bit iffy. I don’t like to take plants from the field, but there are a few questions about some of the attempted ids of a few plants that could warrant another trip.

(Splendid Gilia, Pine Mountain - May 5, 2008)

Another interesting plant was Grass Blazingstar (Mentzelia gracilenta). It is also known as Slender Stickleaf. A number of plants in the Mentzelia genus are called stickleaf, because the leaves have hooked hairs that allow them to cling tightly to other surfaces.

I came across an article in a 1941 Desert Magazine about Mentzelia, with this about gracilenta: “Mentzelia gracilenta var. nttens (Mentzelia miens’) has very shiny, white or pinkish stems, and flowers about an inch across, the golden petals with reddish spots at base. It favors gravelly slopes and mesas in the Mojave desert, Owens valley, Nevada and Arizona.”

(http://www.scribd.com/doc/2095536/194106DesertMagazine1941June).

(Grass Blazingstar, Mentzelia gracilenta, Pine Mountain - May 5, 2008)

Slideshow - After clicking on the link below, click on the “i” in the middle of the screen to see picture titles.

• Zaca Fire Followers and Sprouters and others, May 5, 2008