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A Photographic Guide to Plants of
Humboldt Bay Dunes and Wetlands

Compiled by Gordon Leppig and Andrea Pickart

Release 2.0

April 2018

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

Ranunculus_californicus_plant.jpg

Common Names

California buttercup

Close-up 

Ranunculus_californicus_flower.jpg

Status

N/A

Habitat

SW

Occurs

N/A

Other

N/A

Ranunculus_californicus_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Raphanus raphanistrum

Raphanus_raphanistrum_plant.jpg

Common Name

wild radish

Close-up 

Raphanus_raphanistrum_flower.jpg

Status

E

Habitat

DM, AW, RF

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

1. No image

Scientific Name

Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum

Ribes_sanguineum_plant.jpg

Common Name

pink-flowering currant

Close-up 

Ribes_sanguineum_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

CDF, FS, RF

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Ribes_sanguineum_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Ribes divaricatum var. pubiflorum

Ribes_divaricatum_plant.jpg

Common Name

spreading gooseberry

Close-up 

Ribes_divaricatum_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

CDF

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

1. No image

Scientific Name

Ribes laxiflorum

1. No image

Common Name

trailing black currant

Close-up 

1. No image

Status

N

Habitat

CDF

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

1. No image

Scientific Name

Rosa nutkana ssp. nutkana

Rosa_nutkana_plant.jpg

Common Name

Nootka rose

Close-up 

Rosa_nutkana_closeup.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

CDF

Occurs

N/A

Other

N/A 

Rosa_nutkana_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Rubus armeniacus

Rubus_armeniacus_plant.jpg

Common Name

Himalaya-blackberry

Close-up 

Rubus_armeniacus_flower.jpg

Status

E, I 

Habitat

FS, SW, RF, AW

Occurs

HBNWR

Other

N/A 

Rubus_armeniacus_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Rubus parviflorus

Rubus_parviflorus_plant.jpg

Common Name

thimbleberry

Close-up 

Rubus_parviflorus_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

FS, RF

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Rubus_parviflorus_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Rubus spectabilis

Rubus_spectabilis_plant.jpg

Common Name

salmonberry

Close-up 

Rubus_spectabilis_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

RF, FS 

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Rubus_spectabilis_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Rubus ursinus

Rubus_ursinus_plant.jpg

Common Name

California blackberry

Close-up 

Rubus_ursinus_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

CDF, RF, FS, DM, DS, SW

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Rubus_ursinus_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Rumex acetosella

Rumex_acetosella_plant.jpg

Common Name

sheep sorrel

Close-up 

Rumex_acetosella_flower.jpg

Status

E, I 

Habitat

DM, DS,SW, CDF, RF

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Rumex_acetosella_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Rumex crassus

Rumex_crassus_plant.jpg

Common Name

willow-leaved dock

Close-up 

Rumex_crassus_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

SW, BM 

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Ilex_aquifolium_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Rumex crispus

Rumex_crispus_plant.jpg

Common Name

curly dock

Close-up 

Rumex_crispus_flower.jpg

Status

E, I 

Habitat

FM, SW, AW, BM

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Rumex_crispus_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Rumex occidentalis

Rumex_occidentalis_plant.jpg

Common Name

western dock

Close-up 

Rumex_occidentalis_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

FM, BM 

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Rumex_occidentalis_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Ruppia maritima

Ruppia_maritima_plant.jpg

Common Name

ditch grass

Close-up 

Ruppia_maritima_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

SM, BM 

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Ruppia_maritima_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Salicornia pacifica

Salicornia_pacifica_plant.jpg

Common Name

common pickleweed

Close-up 

Salicornia_pacifica_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

SM, BM, AW

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Salicornia_pacifica_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Salix hookeriana

Salix_hookeriana_plant.jpg

Common Name

Hoooker willow

Close-up 

Salix_hookeriana_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

SW, FS, DS

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Salix_hookeriana_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Salix lasiandra var. lasiandra

Salix_lasiandra_plant.jpg

Common Name

yellow willow

Close-up 

Salix_lasiandra_closeup.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

FS, RF

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

1. No image

Scientific Name

Salix sitchensis

Salix_sitchensis_plant.jpg

Common Name

Coulter Willow

Close-up 

Salix_sitchensis_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

FS

Occurs

N/A

Other

N/A 

Salix_sitchensis_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Sambucus racemosa

Sambucus_racemosa_plant.jpg

Common Name

red elderberry

Close-up 

Sambucus_racemosa_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

RF, CDF, FS

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Sambucus_racemosa_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Sanicula arctopoides

Sanicula_arctopoides_plant.jpg

Common Name

footsteps of spring

Close-up 

Sanicula_arctopoides_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

DM

Occurs

N/A

Other

N/A 

Sanicula_arctopoides_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Sanicula crassicaulis

Sanicula_crassicaulis_habitat.jpg

Common Name

Pacific sanicle

Close-up 

Sanicula_crassicaulis_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

CDF

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Sanicula_crassicaulis_plant.jpg

Scientific Name

Sceptridium multifidum

Sceptridium_multifidum_plant.jpg

Common Name

common grapefern

Close-up 

Sceptridium_multifidum_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

FM, FS, SW

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Sceptridium_multifidum_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Schoenoplectus acutus  var. occidentalis

Schoenoplectus_acutus_plant.jpg

Common Name

hard-stemmed tule

Close-up 

Schoenoplectus_acutus_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

FM, BM

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Schoenoplectus_acutus_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Schoenoplectus americanus

Schoenoplectus_americanus_plant.jpg

Common Name

bulrush

Close-up 

Schoenoplectus_americanus_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

FM, BM

Occurs

N/A

Other

N/A 

Schoenoplectus_americanus_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Schoenoplectus pungens var. longispicatus

1. No image

Common Name

three-square

Close-up 

Schoenoplectus_pungens_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

FM, BM

Occurs

HBNWR

Other

N/A 

Schoenoplectus_pungens_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Scirpus cernuus

Scirpus_cernuus_plant.jpg

Common Name

low clubrush

Close-up 

Scirpus_cernuus_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

SW, FM, BM, SM

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Scirpus_cernuus_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Scirpus microcarpus

Scirpus_microcarpus_plant.jpg

Common Name

small-fruited bulrush

Close-up 

Scirpus_microcarpus_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

FM, RF

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Scirpus_microcarpus_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Scrophularia californica

Scrophularia_californica_plant.jpg

Common Name

California figwort

Close-up 

Scrophularia_californica_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

DS, SW, CDF

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Scrophularia_californica_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Senecio elegans

Senecio_elegans_plant.jpg

Common Name

purple ragwort

Close-up 

Senecio_elegans_flower.jpg

Status

E, I 

Habitat

DM, DS

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Senecio_elegans_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Senecio glomeratus

Senecio_glomeratus_plant.jpg

Common Name

cutleaf burnweed

Close-up 

Senecio_glomeratus_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Habitat

DM, SW, FM, DS, RF, CDF

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Senecio_glomeratus_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Senecio minimus

Senecio_minimus_plant.jpg

Common Name

coastal burnweed

Close-up 

Senecio_minimus_flower.jpg

Status

E, I 

Habitat

CDF, DM, BM, FM, DS, RF

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Senecio_minimus_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Senecio vulgaris

Senecio_vulgaris_plant.jpg

Common Name

old man of spring

Close-up 

1. No image

Status

E

Habitat

DM, DS

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

1. No image

Scientific Name

Silene gallica

Silene_gallica_plant.jpg

Common Name

common catchfly

Close-up 

Silene_gallica_flower.jpg

Status

E

Habitat

DM

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Silene_gallica_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Sisymbrium officinale

Sisymbrium_officinale_plant.jpg

Common Name

hedge mustard

Close-up 

Sisymbrium_officinale_flower.jpg

Status

E, I 

Habitat

AW, CDF

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

1. No image

Scientific Name

Sisyrinchium bellum

1. No image

Common Name

blue-eyed grass

Close-up 

1. No image

Status

N

Habitat

FM

Occurs

N/A

Other

N/A 

1. No image

Scientific Name

Sisyrinchium californicum

1. No image

Common Name

California golden-eyed grass

Close-up 

1. No image

Status

N

Habitat

SW, FM

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

1. No image

Scientific Name

Solanum americanum

1. No image

Common Name

white nightshade

Close-up 

1. No image

Status

N

Habitat

CDF, FM

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

1. No image

Scientific Name

Solanum aviculare

Solanum_aviculare_plant.jpg

Common Name

New Zealand nightshade

Close-up 

Solanum_aviculare_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Habitat

CDF

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Solanum_aviculare_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Solanum douglasii

Solanum_douglasii_plant.jpg

Common Name

greenspot nightshade

Close-up 

Solanum_douglasii_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

FS

Occurs

N/A

Other

N/A 

Solanum_douglasii_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Solanum nigrum

Solanum_nigrum_plant.jpg

Common Name

black nightshade

Close-up 

Solanum_nigrum_flower.jpg

Status

E, I 

Habitat

CDF, AW, FM

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Solanum_nigrum_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Solidago elongata

Solidago_elongata_plant.jpg

Common Name

meadow goldenrod

Close-up 

Solidago_elongata_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

BM

Occurs

HBNWR

Other

N/A 

1. No image

Scientific Name

Solidago spathulata

Solidago_spathulata_plant.jpg

Common Name

dune goldenrod

Close-up 

Solidago_spathulata_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

CDF, CDF

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Solidago_spathulata_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Sonchus oleraceus

Sonchus_oleraceus_plant.jpg

Common Name

common sow thistle

Close-up 

Sonchus_oleraceus_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Habitat

DM, AW

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Sonchus_oleraceus_habitat.JPG

Scientific Name

Sparganium eurycarpum var. eurycarpum

Sparganium_eurycarpum_plant.jpg

Common Name

bur-reed

Close-up 

Sparganium_eurycarpum_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

BM

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Sparganium_eurycarpum_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Spartina densiflora

Spartina_densiflora_plant.jpg

Common Name

dense-flowered cordgrass

Close-up 

Spartina_densiflora_flower.jpg

Status

E, I 

Habitat

SM, BM

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Spartina_densiflora_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Spergula arvensis

Spergula_arvensis_plant.jpg

Common Name

spurry

Close-up 

Spergula_arvensis_flower.jpg

Status

E

Habitat

DM, DS, FM

Occurs

N/A

Other

N/A 

Spergula_arvensis_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Spergularia canadensis var. occidentalis

Spergularia_canadensis_plant.jpg

Common Name

western sand-spurrey

Close-up 

Spergularia_canadensis_flower.jpg

Status

N, C

Habitat

BM, SM

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Spergularia_canadensis_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Spergularia macrotheca (var. macrotheca

Spergularia_macrotheca_plant.jpg

Common Name

sticky sand spurrey

Close-up 

Spergularia_macrotheca_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

SM, SW

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Spergularia_macrotheca_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Spergularia marina

Spergularia_marina_habitat.jpg

Common Name

salt marsh sand spurrey

Close-up 

Spergularia_marina_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

SM, BM, AW

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Spergularia_marina_plant.jpg

Scientific Name

Spergularia rubra

1. No image

Common Name

red sand spurry

Close-up 

1. No image

Status

E

Habitat

BM, AW

Occurs

N/A

Other

N/A 

1. No image

Scientific Name

Spiranthes romanzoffiana

Spiranthes_romanzoffiana_plant.jpg

Common Name

hooded ladies-tresses

Close-up 

Spiranthes_romanzoffiana_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

CDF, SW

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Spiranthes_romanzoffiana_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Stachys ajugoides

Stachys_ajugoides_plant.jpg

Common Name

rigid hedge-nettle

Close-up 

1. No image

Status

N

Habitat

FM, BM, RF, SW, AW

Occurs

HBNWR

Other

N/A 

1. No image

Scientific Name

Stachys chamissonis

Stachys_chamissonis_plant.jpg

Common Name

coast hedge-nettle

Close-up 

Stachys_chamissonis_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

RF, FS

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Stachys_chamissonis_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Stellaria longipes var. longipes

1. No image

Common Name

meadow starwort

Close-up 

1. No image

Status

N

Habitat

FM

Occurs

N/A

Other

N/A 

1. No image

Scientific Name

Stellaria media

Stellaria_media_plant.jpg

Common Name

common chickweed

Close-up 

Stellaria_media_flower.jpg

Status

E

Habitat

AW, DM, FM, DS, SW

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A 

Stellaria_media_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Stellaria nitens

1. No image

Common Name

northern starwort

Close-up 

1. No image

Status

N

Habitat

BM, SW

Occurs

HBNWR

Other

N/A 

1. No image

Scientific Name

Symphyotrichum chilense var. chilense

Symphyotrichum_chilense_plant.jpg

Common Name

common California aster

Close-up 

Symphyotrichum chilense_flower.jpg

Status

N

Habitat

SW, BM, FM

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Other

N/A