A Photographic Guide to Plants of
Humboldt Bay Dunes and Wetlands
Compiled by Gordon Leppig and Andrea Pickart
Release 2.0
April 2018
Ilex | Iris | Jaumea | Juncus | Lamium | Lathyrus | Layia | Lemna | Leontodon | Lepidium | Leucanthemum | Limonium | Linnaea | Linum | Lonicera | Lotus | Lupinus | Luzula | Lysichiton | Lysimachia | Lythrum | Madia | Maianthemum | Malus | Marah | Matricaria | Medicago | Melilotus | Mentha | Morella | Nasturtium | Nuttallanthus | Oenanthe | Oenothera | Oxalis | Parapholis | Parentucellia | Pentagramma | Picea | Pinus | Piperia | Pittosporum | Plantago | Platystemon | Plectritis | Poa | Polycarpon | Polygonum | Polypodium | Polypogon | Polystichum | Potentilla | Prunella | Pseudognaphalium | Pseudotsuga | Pteridium | Puccinellia
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
Ilex aquifolium
Common Names
English holly
Status
E, I
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Iris douglasiana
Common Name
Douglas Iris
Status
N
Occurs
N/A
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, FM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Iris pseudacorus
Common Name
water iris
Status
E
Occurs
N/A
Close-up
Habitat
FM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Jaumea carnosa
Common Name
marsh jaumea
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
SM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Juncus falcatus ssp. falcatus
Common Name
sickle-leafed rush
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
SW
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Juncus ambiguus
Common Name
saline toad rush
Status
N
Occurs
N/A
Close-up
Habitat
SM, BM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Juncus balticus
Common Name
Baltic rush
Status
N
Occurs
N/A
Close-up
Habitat
SM, BM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Juncus bolanderi
Common Name
Bolander's rush
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR
Close-up
Habitat
AW, FM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Juncus breweri
Common Name
Brewer's rush
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
SW, DM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Juncus bufonius var. occidentalis
Common Name
western toad rush
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
DM, SW
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Juncus bufonius var. bufonius
Common Name
toad rush
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
SW, AW, FM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Juncus effusus ssp. pacificus
Common Name
Pacific Bog Rush
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR
Close-up
Habitat
AW
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Juncus gerardii
Common Name
salt-meadow rush
Status
E
Occurs
N/A
Close-up
Habitat
SM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Lamium purpureum
Common Name
purple dead-nettle
Status
E
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
FM, DM, DS
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Lathyrus littoralis
Common Name
silky beach pea
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
DM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Layia carnosa
Common Name
beach layia
Status
N, C
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
DM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Lemna minuta
Common Name
least duckweed
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
OW, FM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Leontodon saxitilis
Common Name
lesser hawkbit
Status
E, I
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
SW, DM, BM, FM, DS, AW
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Lepidium nitidum
Common Name
shining pepperweed
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
DM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Leucanthemum vulgare
Common Name
oxe-eye daisy
Status
E, I
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
FM, DM, AW
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Limonium californicum
Common Name
western marsh-rosemary
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
SM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Linnaea borealis var. longiflora
Common Name
twin flower
Status
N (planted)
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Linum bienne
Common Name
narrow-leaved flax
Status
E
Occurs
N/A
Close-up
Habitat
DM, FM, BM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Lonicera hispidula
Common Name
pink honeysuckle
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, RF
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Lonicera involucrata var. ledebourii
Common Name
coast twinberry
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, FS, RF
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Lotus corniculatus
Common Name
bird's-foot trefoil
Status
E, I
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
FM, SW, AW
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Lupinus arboreus
Common Name
yellow bush lupine
Status
E, I
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
DM, DS
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Lupinus bicolor
Common Name
miniature lupine
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
DM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Lupinus littoralis
Common Name
seashore lupine
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
DM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Lupinus rivularis
Common Name
riverbank lupine
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR
Close-up
Habitat
AW, DM, DS
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Luzula comosa
Common Name
common wood-rush
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, DM, DS
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Luzula subcongesta
Common Name
Donner wood rush
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, DM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Lysichiton americanus
Common Name
silky beach pea
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, DM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Lysimachia arvensis
Common Name
scarlet pimpernel
Status
E
Occurs
N/A
Close-up
Habitat
DM, FM, BM, SW
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Lysimachia maritima
Common Name
sea milk-wort
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
BM, SM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Lythrum hyssopifolium
Common Name
hyssop loosestrife
Status
E, I
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
SW, AW, FM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Madia sativa
Common Name
coast tarweed
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
SW, BM, DM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Maianthemum dilatatum
Common Name
false lily of the vally
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, RF
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Malus fusca
Common Name
Oregon crabapple
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
RF, CDF
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Malus pumila
Common Name
common apple
Status
E
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, FS
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Marah oregana
Common Name
coast wild-cucumber
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, RF
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Matricaria discoidea
Common Name
pineapple weed
Status
E
Occurs
HBNWR
Close-up
Habitat
AW, CDF, R
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Medicago polymorpha
Common Name
bur-clover
Status
E
Occurs
HBNWR
Close-up
Habitat
DS, BM, DM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Melilotus officinalis
Common Name
yellow sweetclover
Status
E
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
DM, DS, AW
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Melilotus albus
Common Name
white sweetclover
Status
E
Occurs
HBNWR
Close-up
Habitat
DM, DS, AW
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Mentha pulegium
Common Name
pennyroyal
Status
E, I
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
SW. AW, FM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Morella californica
Common Name
wax myrtle
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, RF, FS, SW
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Nasturtium officinale
Common Name
water cress
Status
N
Occurs
N/A
Close-up
Habitat
FM, RF
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Nuttallanthus canadensis
Common Name
blue toad-flax
Status
E
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
DM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Oenanthe sarmentosa
Common Name
water parsely
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
FM, BM, FS, RF
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Oenothera glazioviana
Common Name
red-sepaled evening-primrose
Status
E, I
Occurs
N/A
Close-up
Habitat
DM, DS, FM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Oxalis corniculata
Common Name
creeping woodsorrel
Status
E
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
FS, DS
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Oxalis pes-caprae
Common Name
Bermuda buttercup
Status
E, I
Occurs
N/A
Close-up
Habitat
DM, DS
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Parapholis incurva
Common Name
curved sicklegrass
Status
E
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
SM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Parapholis strigosa
Common Name
hairy sickle grass
Status
E, I
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
SM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Parentucellia viscosa
Common Name
yellow glandweed
Status
E, I
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
SW, FM, AW
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis
Common Name
gold-back fern
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, DM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Picea sitchensis
Common Name
Sitka spruce
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, FS, SW
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Pinus contorta ssp. contorta
Common Name
shore pine
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, SW
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Pinus radiata
Common Name
Monterey pine
Status
E
Occurs
HBNWR
Close-up
Habitat
AW, CDF
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Piperia elegans
Common Name
coast piperia
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, SW
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Piperia transversa
Common Name
rein orchid
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Pittosporum tenuifolium
Common Name
short-leaf box
Status
E, I
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Plantago coronopus
Common Name
cut-leaf plantain
Status
E
Occurs
N/A
Close-up
Habitat
DM, DS
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Plantago erecta
Common Name
California plantain
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
DM, DS, SW
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Plantago lanceolata
Common Name
narrow-leaved plantain
Status
E
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, DM, AW
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Plantago major
Common Name
common plantain
Status
E
Occurs
HBNWR
Close-up
Habitat
SW, AW, FM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Plantago maritima
Common Name
salt marsh plantain
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
SM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Plantago subnuda
Common Name
tall coastal plantain
Status
N
Occurs
N/A
Close-up
Habitat
AW, SW, FM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Platystemon californicus
Common Name
cream cups
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
DM, DS
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Plectritis congesta
Common Name
sea blush
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR
Close-up
Habitat
DM, SW, DS
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Plectritis congesta ssp. brachystemon
Common Name
short-spur sea blush
Status
N
Occurs
N/A
Close-up
Habitat
AW
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Poa annua
Common Name
annual blue grass
Status
E
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, DM, DS,
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Poa confinis
Common Name
coastline bluegrass
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
DM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Poa macrantha
Common Name
large-flowered sand-dune blue grass
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
DM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Polycarpon tetraphyllum
Common Name
four-leaved manyseed
Status
E
Occurs
N/A
Close-up
Habitat
DM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Polygonum paronychia
Common Name
beach knotweed
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
DM, DS
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Polypodium calirhiza
Common Name
licorice fern
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, DS
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Polypodium scouleri
Common Name
leather-leaf fern
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Polypogon maritimus
Common Name
Mediterranean beard grass
Status
E, I
Occurs
HBNWR
Close-up
Habitat
SW, FM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Polypogon monspeliensis
Common Name
rabbitsfoot grass
Status
E, I
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
SW, FM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Polystichum munitum
Common Name
sword fern
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, RF
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Potentilla anserina ssp. pacifica
Common Name
silverweed
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
SW, BM, FM
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Prunella vulgaris var. vulgaris
Common Name
self-heal
Status
E
Occurs
N/A
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, RF
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Pseudognaphalium ramosissimum
Common Name
pink cudweed
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Pseudognaphalium stramineum
Common Name
cotton-batting plant
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
DM, SW, AW
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii
Common Name
Douglas-fir
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens
Common Name
western bracken fern
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
CDF, DM, DS
Other
N/A
Scientific Name
Puccinellia nutkaensis
Common Name
Alaska alkali grass
Status
N
Occurs
HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l
Close-up
Habitat
SM
Other
N/A
