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Marsh Microseris growing in drying vernal pool. It has characteristic black hairs on phyllaries.

Marsh Microseris (Microseris paludosa) A.k.a. Marsh Scorzonella. Genus: Microseris (Silverpuffs). Native, perennial, uncommon plant that grows in wet, marshy meadows, vernal pools, and in moist grasslands. Endemic to California, where it has a scattered distribution between southern Mendocino and northern San Luis Obispo Counties, mainly near the coast. Single inflorescence sits on a long, erect or curving peduncle. The head may be nodding when in bud. Flowers 25-70, ligules yellow with maroon stripe on underside. Flowers close in early afternoon or windy mornings. Phyllaries are narrow, tapered, and not recurved, may have black hairs, +-mealy (hairs drying as minute white scales). Fruit is a spherical seed ball. Peak bloom time: April-June. Conservation Status: 1B.2 in California, US (CNPS).

Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=4159

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 52-53.

Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 53.

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 320.

Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/asteraceae-silverpuffs/

Found one, 18 cm tall orchid growing in dry open coastal meadow near Vern Yadon’s Rock, in area of periodic coastal fog/moisture.

Hooded Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana) Native orchid that typically grows in wet meadows, freshwater marshes, and seeps. These were growing in area with periodic coastal fog and moisture. Grows 7–30 cm (3"-11") tall as a spike of creamy-white flowers arranged in a weak spiral. A distinguishing feature is the hood formed by the fused upper petals and sepals, and the supposedly violin-shaped lower lip. Peak bloom time: July.

Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 228.

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, 2015, Matthews and Mitchell, p. 333.

Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=45264

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 243.

Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/orchidaceae-xpiperia/

Didn’t notice any other recent records nearby. Clearly visible from hwy 1. Population of approx 10 plants here, all emerging from iceplant covered dune.

update 2/2023:
Several additional individuals (at least 20 total) nearby in hwy median strip and on small vegetated parcel between northbound lanes and Reservation rd offramp.

This orchid is approximately 6-7 inches tall. We saw them at 4 locations today along W. Machine Gun Flats Rd. Some individuals had flowers arranged in more of a spiral than others.

Hooded Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana) Native orchid that typically grows in wet meadows, freshwater marshes, and seeps. These were growing in area with periodic coastal fog and moisture. Grows 7–30 cm (3"-11") tall as a spike of creamy-white flowers arranged in a weak spiral. A distinguishing feature is the hood formed by the fused upper petals and sepals, and the supposedly violin-shaped lower lip. Peak bloom time: July.

Flora of Fort Ord: Monterey County, California, David Styer, 2019, p. 228.

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, 2015, Matthews and Mitchell, p. 333.

Jepson eFlora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=45264

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, 2016, p. 243.

Monterey County Wildflowers https://montereywildflowers.com/orchidaceae-xpiperia/

Phacelia are in the Borage Family (Boraginaceae) whose members have their flowers arranged in coiled (scorpiod) cymes. They bloom from the base upwards, gradually unfurling like a scorpion’s tail or caterpillar, as new flowers emerge.

Santa Lucia Phacelia (Phacelia grisea) Native plant growing in gravelly, dry river bed in area that was heavily burned in August 2020 River Fire. A fire follower. Stems, leaves and sepals are hairy and finely glandular, but without the stiff, longer, stinging hairs like Stinging Phacelia (Phacelia malvifolia). Leaves are simple, not compound, gray-green, lanceolate to ovate and may be toothed or lobed. Leaves are also darker, smoother, and not warty/bumpy like Stinging Phacelia. Corolla dull white to pale lavender, 5-7mm. Petals have translucent off-white “window panes.” Stamens 7-8mm, exserted. Anthers are golden yellow, unlike Stinging Phacelia. Peak bloom time: April-July.

Plants of Monterey County: an Illustrated Field Key, 2nd edition, Matthews and Mitchell, 2015, pp. 103-104

Jepson eFllora https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=37473

Monterey County Wildflowers: a Field Guide, Yeager and Mitchell, p. 199.

Monterey County Wildflowers, Trees & Ferns https://montereywildflowers.com/boraginaceae-phacelia-w/

Common. Many individuals in flower n wet Huckleberry Meadow near intersection of Huckleberry Lane and Huntington Lake Road in high fire severity area, Sierra National Forest, Sierra Nevada, Fresno county, California, USA.