A Photographic Guide to Plants of
Humboldt Bay Dunes and Wetlands
Compiled by Gordon Leppig and Andrea Pickart
Release 2.0
April 2018
Ranunculus | Raphanus | Ribes | Rosa | Rubus | Rumex | Ruppia | Salicornia | Salix | Sambucus | Sanicula | Sceptridium | Schoenoplectus | Scirpus | Scrophularia | Senecio | Silene | Sisymbrium | Sisyrinchium | Solanum | Solidago | Sonchus | Sparganium | Spartina | Spergula | Spergularia | Spiranthes | Stachys | Stellaria | Symphyotrichum | Tanacetum | Toxicodendron | Trifolium | Triglochin | Triphysaria | Trisetum | Typha | Vaccinium | Vicia | Vinca | Zantedeschia | Zeltnera | Zostera
Status: Conservation concern (C); Exotic (E); Invasive (I); California Native (N)
​
Habitat: Dune mat (DM), Dune scrub (DS), Dune swale (SW), Coniferous dune forest (CDF), Riparian forest (RF), Freshwater marsh (FM), Freshwater swamp (FS), Freshwater marsh (FM), Open water (OW), Brackish marsh (BM), Salt marsh (SM), Mudflat (MF) Agricultural wetland (AW).
​
* This vascular plant list for Humboldt Bay dunes and wetlands is based on collections made by the authors primarily between 2001 and 2008.
Please email comments, corrections, or proposed additions to andrea_pickart@fws.gov.
Nomenclature follows the Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, Second edition (U.C. Press 2012).
​
Scientific Name
Ranunculus californicus

Common Names
California buttercup
Close-up

Status
N/A
Habitat
SW
Occurs
N/A
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Raphanus raphanistrum

Common Name
wild radish
Close-up

Status
E
Habitat
DM, AW, RF
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum

Common Name
pink-flowering currant
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
CDF, FS, RF
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Ribes divaricatum var. pubiflorum

Common Name
spreading gooseberry
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
CDF
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Ribes laxiflorum

Common Name
trailing black currant
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
CDF
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Rosa nutkana ssp. nutkana

Common Name
Nootka rose
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
CDF
Occurs
N/A
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Rubus armeniacus

Common Name
Himalaya-blackberry
Close-up

Status
E, I
Habitat
FS, SW, RF, AW
Occurs
HBNWR
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Rubus parviflorus

Common Name
thimbleberry
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
FS, RF
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Rubus spectabilis

Common Name
salmonberry
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
RF, FS
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Rubus ursinus

Common Name
California blackberry
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
CDF, RF, FS, DM, DS, SW
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Rumex acetosella

Common Name
sheep sorrel
Close-up

Status
E, I
Habitat
DM, DS,SW, CDF, RF
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Rumex crassus

Common Name
willow-leaved dock
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
SW, BM
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Rumex crispus

Common Name
curly dock
Close-up

Status
E, I
Habitat
FM, SW, AW, BM
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Rumex occidentalis

Common Name
western dock
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
FM, BM
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Ruppia maritima

Common Name
ditch grass
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
SM, BM
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Salicornia pacifica

Common Name
common pickleweed
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
SM, BM, AW
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Salix hookeriana

Common Name
Hoooker willow
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
SW, FS, DS
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Salix lasiandra var. lasiandra

Common Name
yellow willow
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
FS, RF
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Salix sitchensis

Common Name
Coulter Willow
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
FS
Occurs
N/A
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Sambucus racemosa

Common Name
red elderberry
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
RF, CDF, FS
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Sanicula arctopoides

Common Name
footsteps of spring
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
DM
Occurs
N/A
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Sanicula crassicaulis

Common Name
Pacific sanicle
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
CDF
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Sceptridium multifidum

Common Name
common grapefern
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
FM, FS, SW
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Schoenoplectus acutus var. occidentalis

Common Name
hard-stemmed tule
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
FM, BM
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Schoenoplectus americanus

Common Name
bulrush
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
FM, BM
Occurs
N/A
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Schoenoplectus pungens var. longispicatus

Common Name
three-square
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
FM, BM
Occurs
HBNWR
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Scirpus cernuus

Common Name
low clubrush
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
SW, FM, BM, SM
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Scirpus microcarpus

Common Name
small-fruited bulrush
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
FM, RF
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Scrophularia californica

Common Name
California figwort
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
DS, SW, CDF
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Senecio elegans

Common Name
purple ragwort
Close-up

Status
E, I
Habitat
DM, DS
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Senecio glomeratus

Common Name
cutleaf burnweed
Close-up

Status
E, I
Habitat
DM, SW, FM, DS, RF, CDF
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Senecio minimus

Common Name
coastal burnweed
Close-up

Status
E, I
Habitat
CDF, DM, BM, FM, DS, RF
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Senecio vulgaris

Common Name
old man of spring
Close-up

Status
E
Habitat
DM, DS
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Silene gallica

Common Name
common catchfly
Close-up

Status
E
Habitat
DM
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Sisymbrium officinale

Common Name
hedge mustard
Close-up

Status
E, I
Habitat
AW, CDF
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Sisyrinchium bellum

Common Name
blue-eyed grass
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
FM
Occurs
N/A
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Sisyrinchium californicum

Common Name
California golden-eyed grass
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
SW, FM
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Solanum americanum

Common Name
white nightshade
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
CDF, FM
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Solanum aviculare

Common Name
New Zealand nightshade
Close-up

Status
E, I
Habitat
CDF
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Solanum douglasii

Common Name
greenspot nightshade
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
FS
Occurs
N/A
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Solanum nigrum

Common Name
black nightshade
Close-up

Status
E, I
Habitat
CDF, AW, FM
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Solidago elongata

Common Name
meadow goldenrod
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
BM
Occurs
HBNWR
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Solidago spathulata

Common Name
dune goldenrod
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
CDF, CDF
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Sonchus oleraceus

Common Name
common sow thistle
Close-up

Status
E, I
Habitat
DM, AW
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Sparganium eurycarpum var. eurycarpum

Common Name
bur-reed
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
BM
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Spartina densiflora

Common Name
dense-flowered cordgrass
Close-up

Status
E, I
Habitat
SM, BM
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Spergula arvensis

Common Name
spurry
Close-up

Status
E
Habitat
DM, DS, FM
Occurs
N/A
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis

Common Name
western sand-spurrey
Close-up

Status
N, C
Habitat
BM, SM
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Spergularia macrotheca (var. macrotheca

Common Name
sticky sand spurrey
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
SM, SW
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Spergularia marina

Common Name
salt marsh sand spurrey
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
SM, BM, AW
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Spergularia rubra

Common Name
red sand spurry
Close-up

Status
E
Habitat
BM, AW
Occurs
N/A
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Spiranthes romanzoffiana

Common Name
hooded ladies-tresses
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
CDF, SW
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Stachys ajugoides

Common Name
rigid hedge-nettle
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
FM, BM, RF, SW, AW
Occurs
HBNWR
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Stachys chamissonis

Common Name
coast hedge-nettle
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
RF, FS
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Stellaria longipes var. longipes

Common Name
meadow starwort
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
FM
Occurs
N/A
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Stellaria media

Common Name
common chickweed
Close-up

Status
E
Habitat
AW, DM, FM, DS, SW
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Stellaria nitens

Common Name
northern starwort
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
BM, SW
Occurs
HBNWR
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Symphyotrichum chilense var. chilense

Common Name
common California aster
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
SW, BM, FM
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Tanacetum bipinnatum

Common Name
dune tansy
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
DM
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Toxicodendron diversilobum

Common Name
poison oak
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
CDF, RF
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Trifolium arvense

Common Name
rabbitfoot clover
Close-up

Status
E
Habitat
DM, DS
Occurs
N/A
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Trifolium campestre

Common Name
hop clover
Close-up

Status
E
Habitat
DM, DS
Occurs
N/A
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Trifolium dubium

Common Name
shamrock
Close-up

Status
E, I
Habitat
DM, DS, CDF, AW
Occurs
N/A
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Trifolium glomeratum

Common Name
clustered clover
Close-up

Status
E
Habitat
CDF
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Trifolium hirtum

Common Name
rose clover
Close-up

Status
E
Habitat
DM, DS
Occurs
N/A
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Trifolium macraei

Common Name
Macrae's clover
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
CDF
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Trifolium microcephalum

Common Name
small-headed clover
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
DM
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Trifolium microdon

Common Name
thimble clover
Close-up

Status
N
Habitat
DM
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Trifolium repens

Common Name
white clover
Close-up

Status
E, I
Habitat
AW, SW
Occurs
HBNWR
Other
N/A

Scientific Name
Trifolium subterraneum

Common Name
subterranean clover
Close-up

Status
E, I
Habitat
SW, AW