Browns Island Regional Preserve

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         (139 plants)
Thanks to the East Bay Regional Parks District for this list.

    
Alkali Marsh Ragwort
Senecio hydrophilus
  • CA Bloom May - Sep
  • Yellow flower
  • Tiny petals
  • Alternate, basal leaves
  • Freshwater-marsh
  • CA native




  • Alkali Weed
    Cressa truxillensis
  • CA Bloom May - Jun
  • White flower
  • Five petals
  • Alternate leaves
  • CA native




  • American Wild Mint
    Mentha arvensis
  • CA Bloom Mar - May
  • Pink, violet, white flower
  • Four, irreg, irreg, irreg petals
  • Opposite, simple leaves
  • CA native




  • Annual Beard Grass
    Polypogon monspeliensis

    Annual Beard Grass is topped by large, fluffy spikes. They're framed by flat, rough, green leaves to 8" long.

    Soft, dense spikelets are green until they mature. There are lots of spikelets in the spike, each producing 3 awns.

    Long awns let light through around the edge but the center is opaque.
    Arroyo Willow
    Salix lasiolepis
    • Height 7 - 35 ft.
    • CA Bloom Feb - May
    • This is the most common willow in California.
    • It's deciduous and is found near water.
    • Look for narrow leaves that are wider near the tip than at the base.
    • CA native.



    Leaves are about 5 inches long, smooth-sided and narrow. They're pale/hairy underneath, and wider near the tip than near the base.

    Classic pussies with yellow stamens. The buds are fused together (not overlapping) before they open.

    This willow has many trunks, sometimes growing as a tree, and sometimes as a tangled shrub.
    Bentgrass
    Agrostis exarata


    Spikelets form a dense, slender column with short stalks. At maturity, the column opens up a bit. Awns are so short you may not notice them.

    Leaf blades are about 1/4" wide and 6" long. The ligule is prominent, membranous and not hairy.

    Leaves mostly ascend from the base of the plant. A long, narrow inflorescence rises above them, turning purple and then brown late in the season.
    Bigelow's Sneezeweed
    Helenium bigelovii
  • CA Bloom Jun - Sep
  • Yellow flower
  • Many petals
  • Alternate, basal leaves
  • CA native




  • Bird's Foot Trefoil
    Lotus corniculatus
    • Height to 8 in.
    • CA Bloom May - Jul
    • Tiny fruit clusters look like a bird's foot.
    • Short, thin compound leaves make bundles along the stem.
    • Find it in open grasslands, wetlands, and compacted soil along roads and trails.
    • Other Trefoils
    • Not CA native



    Tiny pea flowers cluster at the end of the stem.

    Each plant is small. See fruit pods on the left, compound leaves in the middle, and a flower cluster on the right.

    Colonies of Bird's Foot Trefoil can be prominent in grasslands. It is sometimes vine-like, with prostrate stems up to 20 inches.
    Blackwood Acacia
    Acacia melanoxylon
    • Height 50 - 100 ft.
    • CA Bloom Feb - Mar
    • This acacia tree has twisted reddish-brown pods.
    • The trunk has high levels of tannin, which causes dark stains when people handle it (thus Blackwood).
    • Generally found in coastal disturbed areas.
    • Not CA native
    • Somewhat Invasive


    Pale yellow spherical flowers show many stamens. These develop into reddish-brown pods.

    Mature leaves are generally wide but occasionally have divided fern-like tips. Young leaves are divided too.

    Blackwood Acacia grows to be a substantial tree.
    Bog Yellow Cress
    Rorippa palustris
  • CA Bloom Apr - Jun
  • Yellow flower
  • Four petals
  • Alternate, basal leaves
  • CA native




  • Bristly Ox-Tongue
    Helminthotheca echioides
    • Height to 7 ft.
    • CA Bloom Jun - Dec
    • A tall dandelion-like flower, covered in bristles.
    • Leaves have large bumps on them.
    • Lots of seed in the fall - you'll see it blowing in the air.
    • Not CA native.
    • Somewhat Invasive


    Leaves have stiff bristles and bumps, giving it its name. Dandelion-like flowers top each branch.

    Dandelion-like flowers are surrounded by distinctive, triangular, upward pointing, bristly green bracts.

    Plants are tall, with many branches.
    Bugleweed
    Lycopus americanus
  • CA Bloom Jun - Jul
  • White flower
  • Four, irreg petals
  • Opposite leaves
  • CA native




  • Bull Thistle
    Cirsium vulgare
    • CA Bloom June - Sept
    • This thistle has spiny everything.
    • A pear-shaped spiny base supports a 2-inch-tall purple flower.
    • Dead flowers with many spines stay on the plant for a long time.
    • Bull Thistle is common in disturbed areas.
    • Not CA native.
    • Moderately Invasive


    A fairly thin pear-shaped spiny bulge below flower is a good way to distinguish this species.

    Bull Thistle has big spines all the way up the stem, on the leaves, and around the flower.

    Here is a basal rosette of thick, toothed leaves.
    Bur Marigold
    Bidens laevis
  • CA Bloom Aug - Sep
  • Yellow flower
  • Many petals
  • Opposite leaves
  • Freshwater-marsh
  • CA native




  • California Blackberry
    Rubus ursinus
    • Height 3 - 6 ft.
    • CA Bloom Feb - May
    • This shrub forms an impenetrable thicket of branches, full of narrow prickles.
    • You'll notice bright white flowers with many stamens.
    • Found in canyons, coastal stream banks and disturbed areas
    • CA native



    Separate petals, with green leafy sepals in between. This male flower has many stamens.

    Prickles are short, narrow, and plentiful. Himalayan Blackberry has wider, longer, and less densely-packed prickles.

    Red fruit turns black with maturity. Leaves in 3s, coarsely toothed, are hairy and have spines. Veins are indented on the leaves.
    California Bulrush
    Schoenoplectus californicus
  • CA Bloom May - Jun
  • Freshwater-marsh
  • CA native




  • California Fan Palm
    Washingtonia filifera
    • CA Bloom Feb - Jun
    • Many white flowers turn into black berries.
    • Including their stalks, fan-shaped leaves grow to 13 feet long.
    • The trunk stands up well to fire, partly because food and water channels run throughout the trunk, rather than just near the surface.
    • Grows to 60 feet in desert oases.
    • CA native



    This is California's only native palm, found in desert oases. Notice the dead leaves hanging on below new growth.

    Leaves are fan shaped. Heavy petioles connect the leaf to the trunk, and are U-shaped and toothed.

    Leaves are stiff and have v-shaped segments with fibres on the margins.
    California Hemp
    Hoita macrostachya
    • CA Bloom Jun - Jul
    • California Hemp is an erect shrub topped by bunches of purple pea flowers.
    • This hairy plant has widely-spaced three-part leaves.
    • The fruit is a hairy brown pod.
    • Found in a variety of moist areas.
    • CA native



    Pea-like flowers bunch tightly together on sturdy stalks.

    Compound leaves are on long stalks, leaving a lot of space around them.

    Grows to 6 feet tall, shown here in a stream bed where it can get plenty of water.
    California Sunflower
    Helianthus californicus
  • CA Bloom Jul - Sep
  • Yellow flower
  • Many petals
  • Alternate leaves
  • Streambanks meadows freshwater-marsh
  • CA native




  • California Wild Rose
    Rosa californica
    • CA Bloom May - Aug
    • This shrub grows in thickets to 6 feet tall, with large, recurved prickles.
    • Pink flowers, up to 2" across, open up flat at the end of branches.
    • The fruit is a rose hip with leafy material coming out the top.
    • It's common and widespread, especially in moist areas.
    • Similar plants.
    • CA native. Native only to the California Floristic Province.



    This fragrant rose flower has a single layer of five floppy petals. They surround dozens of yellow-tipped stamens.

    Compound leaves have 5 to 7 leaflets. Each pollinated flower creates one red rose hip, with left-over flower sepals protruding from the end.

    Prickles grow out from the stem; large, flat and often curved.
    Canary Island Date Palm
    Phoenix canariensis
  • CA Bloom Oct - Apr
  • White flower
  • Three petals
  • Alternate leaves
  • Not CA native
  • Somewhat Invasive




  • Canyon Dodder
    Cuscuta subinclusa
  • CA Bloom Mar - Oct
  • White flower
  • Five petals
  • CA native




  • Cat Tail
    Typha latifolia
    • Height 5 - 10 ft.
    • CA Bloom May - Jun
    • Leaves are stiff and grow about 1" wide.
    • This cattail is found in salt and freshwater marshes and can grow in 2 feet of water.
    • Compare to other Cattails
    • CA native



    Male flowers form a narrow, tan spike at the top of the stem. Female flowers form a wider, brown spike. The spikes are close to each other.

    Seeds are borne on the wind, as with dandelions.

    Cattails grow to 10 feet high, always in or near water. Leaves are about 1"
    Cattail
    Typha domingensis
    • Height to 13 ft.
    • CA Bloom Mar - Aug
    • Primarily found in Southern California in freshwater marshes
    • Compare to other Cattails
    • CA native



    The male flower spike is yellow-brown and about an inch above a cinnamon-brown female spike.

    This is the only California cattail with orange-brown glands at the base of the leaves.

    Both spikes and leaves are tall, stiff and fairly narrow.
    Celery Or Smallage
    Apium graveolens
  • CA Bloom May - Jul
  • White flower
  • Five petals
  • Alternate leaves
  • Not CA native




  • Chairmaker's Bulrush
    Schoenoplectus americanus
  • Flower
  • Coastal salt-marsh freshwater-marsh
  • CA native




  • Coast Clover
    Trifolium wormskioldii
    • CA Bloom May - Jun
    • Flowers a round ball of pink-purple petals, often with white tips.
    • 3 leaflets join at the tip of a stem. They're often serrated.
    • Widespread, often growing low to the ground.
    • CA native



    Flowers are rounded, made up of many purple-pink petals, often with whitish tips.

    This closeup shows many pea-shaped flowers in a cluster, to form the clover round shape.

    Leaves in 3s (hence Trifolium)
    Cobwebby Hedge Nettle
    Stachys albens
  • CA Bloom Jun - Aug
  • Pink, white flower
  • Irreg petals
  • Opposite leaves
  • CA native




  • Cockleburr
    Xanthium strumarium
    • Height 4 in. - 3 ft.
    • CA Bloom Jul - Oct
    • Cockleburr has separate male and female flowers on the same plant (monoecious). Neither kind of flower has petals.
    • Flowers are arranged in tight heads. The female heads have spines around their base. They're light, too, so fertilized seed can be distributed by floating on water, or attaching to passing animals.
    • Found in disturbed, wet areas.
    • CA native. Widespread around the world.



    This is a female flower - no petals, just pistils at the top of the flower head.

    Male flowers (yellow in this picture) are on separate heads above the female heads (green).

    Stems are thick. Alternate leaves are on stalks, up to 5 inches across.
    Common Bog Rush
    Juncus effusus


    Yellow-brown flowers appear at the top of the stem, with a stem-like bract proceeding above it. The stem is grooved, the bract is not.

    Brown leaf sheaths grow at the base of stem, but create no leaf blades.

    This rather tall rush is found on lake shores, wet pastures. Some subspecies are native, others weedy.
    Common Buttonbush
    Cephalanthus occidentalis
  • CA Bloom Aug - Oct
  • White flower
  • Many, no petals
  • Opposite, whorled leaves
  • Streambanks
  • CA native




  • Common Loosestrife
    Lythrum californicum
  • CA Bloom May - Oct
  • Pink, violet flower
  • Six petals
  • Alternate, opposite leaves
  • CA native




  • Common Nightshade
    Solanum americanum
    • CA Bloom Mar - Nov
    • A poisonous member of the tomato family.
    • White 5-petaled flower with yellow center.
    • Leaves are large and toothed, with long petioles (stalks).
    • Found in disturbed areas
    • CA native



    White 5-petaled 1/2 inch wide flowers with yellow centers. Leaves and fruit look like a small tomato plant.

    Large leaves on stalks over 1 inch long. Edges wavy or coarsely toothed.

    Shiny black berries hang from leaf connections along the stem. Plant grows to 4 feet tall and is short-lived.
    Common Plantain
    Plantago major
  • CA Bloom Apr - Sep
  • Green, yellow flower
  • Tiny petals
  • Basal leaves
  • Disturbed
  • Not CA native




  • Common Reed
    Phragmites australis


    Common Reed grows in dense stands from thick rhizomes. Phragmites is Greek for "fence", which seems appropriate.

    Branched spikelets are small, about 1/2". Much longer silky hairs grow from the base of the spikelets, creating a plume effect.

    Leaves can be up to 2" wide and 18" long, with rough margins.
    Common Tarweed
    Centromadia pungens
  • CA Bloom Apr - Sep
  • Yellow flower
  • Many petals
  • Alternate leaves
  • CA native




  • Cornish Mallow
    Malva multiflora
  • CA Bloom Apr - Jun
  • Pink, violet flower
  • Five petals
  • Alternate leaves
  • Not CA native




  • Cottonbatting Plant
    Pseudognaphalium stramineum
    • CA Bloom May - Oct
    • Tight bunch of flowers with yellow centers surrounded by straw-like bracts.
    • Stramineum means straw-colored.
    • Alternate, thin, woolly leaves to 3 inches clasp the stem. Not aromatic.
    • Widespread in California grasslands and disturbed areas.
    • CA native



    Flowers with yellow center surrounded by layers of straw-colored phyllaries.

    Flowers densly grouped at the end of the stem. Leaves woolly.

    Erect plant to 2 feet tall.
    Coyote Brush
    Baccharis pilularis
    • CA Bloom Sep - Jan
    • Coyote Brush, a common evergreen shrub, is often the tallest plant in its neighborhood.
    • Its leaves are distinctive, sort of rectangular and with bumpy sides.
    • Male flowers grow on separate plants from female.
    • CA native



    Coyote Brush has many 1-inch green leaves growing on a thicket of brittle, woody branches.

    1-inch leaves are leathery and stay wide until the very end. Their margins show triangular bumps.

    In the winter, pollinated flowers develop seeds that float away on the wind.
    Coyote Thistle
    Eryngium articulatum
  • CA Bloom Jun - Sep
  • Blue, violet flower
  • Tiny petals
  • Alternate, opposite leaves
  • Coastal salt-marsh freshwater-marsh
  • CA native




  • Crispate Leaved Pondweed
    Potamogeton crispus
  • CA Bloom Apr - May
  • Brown, green flower
  • Tiny petals
  • Alternate leaves
  • Not CA native
  • Moderately Invasive




  • Curly Dock
    Rumex crispus
  • CA Bloom Jan - Dec
  • Green, white flower
  • Tiny petals
  • Alternate leaves
  • Disturbed
  • Not CA native
  • Somewhat Invasive




  • Delta Tule Pea
    Lathyrus jepsonii var. jepsonii
  • CA Bloom May - Jul
  • Pink, violet flower
  • Pea petals
  • Alternate leaves
  • Freshwater-marsh brackish-marsh
  • CA native
  • Endangered (CNPS 1B)




  • Desert Lantern
    Oenothera deltoides
  • CA Bloom Mar - Sep
  • White flower
  • Four petals
  • Basal leaves
  • CA native




  • Douglas' Wallflower
    Erysimum capitatum var. capitatum
  • CA Bloom Apr - May
  • Yellow flower
  • Four petals
  • Alternate, basal leaves
  • CA native




  • Eastern Annual Saltmarsh Aster
    Symphyotrichum subulatum var. parviflorum
  • CA Bloom Jul - Oct
  • Pink, violet, white flower
  • Many petals
  • Alternate leaves
  • CA native




  • European Pennyroyal
    Mentha pulegium
  • CA Bloom Jun - Sep
  • Pink, violet flower
  • Four, irreg petals
  • Opposite leaves
  • Not CA native
  • Moderately Invasive




  • Evening Primrose
    Oenothera elata
  • CA Bloom Jun - Sep
  • Yellow flower
  • Four petals
  • Alternate, basal leaves
  • CA native




  • False Daisy
    Eclipta prostrata
  • CA Bloom Jun - Aug
  • White flower
  • Many petals
  • Alternate, opposite leaves
  • Freshwater-marsh
  • CA native




  • Fat Hen
    Atriplex prostrata
    • CA Bloom Jun - Nov
    • One of the salt bush group, that excrete salt through their leaves.
    • Tiny flowers form a spike at the top of the stem.
    • Distinctive arrow-shaped leaf.
    • Tolerates salty conditions, found on beaches, in salt marshes, etc.
    • Not CA native





    Fleshy Jaumea
    Jaumea carnosa
  • CA Bloom May - Jul
  • Yellow flower
  • Many, no petals
  • Opposite leaves
  • Coastal salt-marsh
  • CA native




  • Floating Water Primrose
    Ludwigia peploides
  • CA Bloom Jun - Oct
  • Yellow flower
  • Five petals
  • Alternate leaves
  • Not CA native
  • Highly Invasive




  • Fremont Cottonwood
    Populus fremontii
  • CA Bloom Feb - Mar
  • Tiny petals
  • Alternate leaves
  • CA native




  • Garden Asparagus
    Asparagus officinalis
  • CA Bloom Mar - Sep
  • Green, white, yellow flower
  • Six petals
  • Alternate leaves
  • Not CA native




  • Giant Reed
    Arundo donax

    Giant Reed is distinctive, growing to 30 feet on bamboo-like stems. It has a silvery, hairy plume at the top.

    The stem is bamboo-like and is used to make structures, mats, and reeds for woodwind instruments.

    Leaf blades can grow many feet long. They're flat or folded, with rough margins.
    Gooding's Willow
    Salix gooddingii
  • CA Bloom Feb - Mar
  • Tiny petals
  • Alternate leaves
  • Streambanks
  • CA native




  • Green Dock
    Rumex conglomeratus
  • CA Bloom May - Aug
  • Green, white flower
  • Tiny petals
  • Alternate leaves
  • Not CA native




  • Hemlock Water Parsnip
    Sium suave
  • CA Bloom Jul - Aug
  • White flower
  • Five petals
  • Alternate leaves
  • Freshwater-marsh
  • CA native




  • Himalayan Blackberry
    Rubus armeniacus
    • CA Bloom Apr - Aug
    • This invasive blackberry produces an impenetrable tangle of prickly canes and showy pink flowers.
    • Stems are 5-sided with large prickles. Our local native Blackberry (Rubus ursinus has round stems with many tiny prickles.
    • Leaves are dark green above and pale below.
    • Not CA native.
    • Highly Invasive


    Flowers are about 1 inch wide, with 5 petals and many dark-tipped stamens. Stout prickles.

    Leaves are in patterns of 5 the first year, and in groups of 3 on second year side branches.

    Stout prickles are spaced out on a thick (up to 1 inch wide) cane. (Native blackberry has smaller prickles, closer together).
    Horseweed
    Erigeron canadensis
    • CA Bloom Jun - Sep
    • White composite flower with many short white petals.
    • Stands out from other plants, at 5 feet tall with a wide flower inflorescence.
    • Leaves are long at 4 inches, and are up to 1/2" across.
    • Only slightly hairy.
    • Disturbed areas
    • CA native



    Neat phyllaries surround an aster-like flower head - a sign of a fleabane.

    Alternate leaves 4 inches long and 1/2" wide.

    Wide distinctive inflorescence with hundreds of composite flowers, growing to about 5 feet tall.