LITTLE SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS

Part of the larger group of Southern California's Transverse Ranges, much of The Little San Bernardino Mountains lies within Joshua Tree National Park. The Keys View exhibit resides near their south east border, overlooking the Coachella Valley. Further south east, they are bounded by the adjacent Cottonwood Mountains, and the east extent is flanked by the Hexie Mountains.

If accessing the Mojave Desert via CA Route 62 east, the south west margins of the Little San Bernardino Mountains can be observed cradling the city of Desert Hot Springs. Further east approaching Morongo Valley, the western boundary separates the larger San Bernardino Mountains. This border roughly follows through Yucca Valley, with the Little San Bernardino Mountains' northern limits integrating with Yucca Valley South. Pioneertown demarcates the border of the (big) San Bernardino Mountains. The town of Joshua Tree, through indian cove, also sit within the Little San Bernardino Mountains. The entrance to 49 Palms Canyon, and the southern edge of 29 Palms are adjacent to the Pinto Mountains. If crossing into the National Park from the 29 Palms North Entrance Station, heading southward on Utah trail will display the 29 Palms Mountains (a sub division of the Pinto Mountains) on the left (east) side, and the Pinto Mountains on the right (west).

Inside the protective perimiter of the Park, the Little San Bernardo Mountains Host many exhibits, including Keys View. Other presentations of note are Skull Rock, Split Rock, Live Oak, Boy Scout Trail, Ryan Mountain, and more. Plant communities within the range are various, overlapping, and display portions of Mojavean Creosote Bush Scrub, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, Chaparral, Joshua Tree Woodland, Oak Woodland, and several others. The rocks of the Little San Bernardinos are mostly ganitic.

PINUS MONOPHYLLA - SINGLE LEAF PINYON

Pinus Monophylla, commonly known as Single Leaf Pinyon, is the only species of Pine endemic to the area surrounding Keys View, and the entirety of Joshua Tree National Park. Portions of the presentation reside within southwestern arms of the Little San Bernardino Mountains, providing granitic soil and elevations ranging from 4,000 to 5,000 feet, suitable conditions of Single Leaf Pinyon. 

Pinus Monophylla is quite striking, its silent sentinel compels allure. A mystical presence can envelop the viewer, gazing peacefully into their branches, which often sag slightly before turning upwards and erect as they terminate. Needle like leaves occur in bunches of one, secured by tiny, brown, coarse enclosures, connecting at the base to larger twigs. all other pine species have bundles of at least two.

Although Single Leaf Pinyon requires somewhat more mousture than denizens of the pure Mojave, it can withstand tremendous drought and wind damage, yet still persist. Those specimens which endured especially dire dealings assume gnarled, twisted shapes, with foliage in odd areas and other spots completely bare. Fossil records indicate the presence of Single Leaf Pinyon living throughout Joshua Tree National Park approximately 50,000 years ago. Pinus (Pine) as a Genus contains about 125 species, the majority native to the Northern Hemisphere.

PURSHIA TRIDENTATA VARIETY GLANDULOSA - DESERT BITTERBRUSH

Usually, the two tier taxonomical rank of genus and species is sufficient for botanical classification. Purshia Tridentata Variety Glandulosa, commonly called Desert Bitterbrush, is an example of when an occasional third tier is assigned. The nomenclature can be complex, with some accounts referring to Desert Bitterbrush as a separate species, Purshia Glandulosa. 

Keys View of Joshua Tree National Park sits on inclines of the Little San Bernardino Mountains, and their rocky, sandy soils support the native Purshia Tridentata Variety Glandulosa. It drops many drought deciduous, lobed leaves during dry episodes, those which remain curl and shrivel heavily, making identification difficult.

When in bloom, the flowers are white with 5 distinct petals. Throughout the fall months they wilt and fade to shades of orange and brown, which is of diagnostic value. The Genus Purshia, also called Bitterbrush, has approximately 8 accepted species, all endemic to western North America (Canada, US, Mexico). Purshia are known to hybridize with others of the genus. Desert Bitterbrush is believed to be a hybrid between P. Stansburiana and P. Tridentata.

MARCESCENCE

Marcescence is the retention, by live plants, of dead organic material which could be shed. An informative example would be with leaves, they often wilt and detach once they die. Those situations where deceased leaves shrivel, and yet remain attached to the living plant on which they originally grew, are described as marcescent.

Theories on benefits of marcescence include deterring of herbivory, dead foliage isn't as inticing or nutritious. Additionally, browsing dry material makes more noise, possibly alerting potential predators. Other accounts convey assistance against fire or sun damage. Marcescent plant remnants have also been noted to provide shelter for an environment of birds, invertibrates, and microorganisms.

In the habitat surrounding Keys View, a section of Joshua Tree National Park in the Little San Bernardino Mountains, Yucca Brevifolia, known commonly as Joshua Tree, and Nolina Parryi, casually Parry Nolina, display prolific marcescence. Other plants throughout the Mojave Desert with prominent marcescent tendencies include Washingtonia Filifera (California Fan Palm) and Yucca Schidigera (Mojave Yucca).

NOLINA PARRYI - PARRY NOLINA

Nolina Parryi is the botanical name for Parry Nolina, an attractive associate of well drained, granitic, rocky slopes near the Keys View exhibit of Joshua Tree National Park, in the Little San Bernardino Mountains. Specimens not displaying 10 foot tall inflorescences could be bypassed as tufts of long grass. The genus Nolina is casually referred to as Beargrass, with approximately 28 accepted species.

The towering stalk of Parry Nolina boasts white flowers in Spring months. After which, some of its up to 65,000 seeds can be observed, enclosed within translucent gold, papery, pod like fruits. Easily dislodged by wind, many travel no further than the foliage beneath. Often mistaken for a type of Yucca, the similar looking, but more flexible blades of Nolina are not as dangerous. An accidental tussle with a Yucca has potential to cause serious lacerations or puncture wounds, while Nolina is likely only to impart a few scratches.

The full endemic range of N. Parryi extends to other parts of California close by, but does not usually appear beyond the states borders. Occurences have a variable appearance, from no more than a single small patch of foliage, to multiple, large trunked entities over 6 feet tall. Clonal rosettes, sometimes called pups, can grow from underground horizontal stems, known to botany as rhizomes. The larger organisms garbed with a magnificant marcescence are a transfixing pleasure to behold, giving an effect reminiscent of a dwarf California Fan Palm. Parry Nolina is sometimes referred to as Giant Nolina, it grows the largest, and competes in the highest elevation, of all Nolina Species.

SCUTELLARIA MEXICANA - PAPERBAG BUSH

The plant community which encompasses several miles around Keys View in Joshua Tree National Park could be considered Pinyon Juniper Woodland. However, often observable of areas where desert and mountain overlap, are a mix of adjacent biomes. Constituents of Creosote Bush Scrub and Joshua Tree Woodland intermingle nearby. This multi habitat section of the Little San Bernardino Mountains hosts Scutellaria Mexicana, commonly Paperpag Bush.

Scutellaria Mexicana is discearnable from other shrubs with a gray green, spikey stature, and spherical, flakey shells which enclose its fruits. Paperbag Bush is noted to succeed in soils of gravely granite. Its full endemic range spans other parts of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and sections of Mexico.

The average S. Mexicana specimen is a small shrub, usually not exceeding 3 feet in height. Ideal conditions can produce larger organisms. Its drought decidious leaves detached expose the taxonomically valuable branching pattern of opposite right angles sprouting from larger main stems. April through June will render violet flowers. followed thereafter by fruits which develop inside the papery shell, and are thought to assist with the seeds windborne dispersal.

AMBROSIA SALSOLA - CHEESEBUSH

Ambrosia Salsola, commonly known as Cheesebush, is a fierce competitor in the area surrounding Keys View, an exhibit of Joshua Tree National Park in the Little San Bernardino Mountains. Although not the most dominant, it makes a bold attempt among arroyos, desert flats, breaks in soil, mild slopes, moderate ditches, and other suitable terrain.

Cheesebush mostly assumes the stature of a small, slightly woody shrub, less than 3 feet tall. Especially established stands, however, can yield much larger specimens. Its growths emit a foul scent when crushed, supporting its common name. Being drought deciduous, arid episodes convert once bright green, narrow, needle like foliage to a desiccated sandy tan.

The endemic range of Ambrosia Salsola also covers other parts of California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and portions of Mexico. It grows in a number of plant communities including Creosote Bush Scrub, Shadescale Scrub, Joshua Tree Woodland and Pinyon Juniper Woodland. From March to June, white or yellow flowers cover the plant, followed by winged fruits of yellow, white, or pink. The genus Ambrosia, also called Ragweed, originated in the southwest United States and northwest Mexico. Some of its nearly 50 accepted species contribute to a large amount of allergenic reactions.

YUCCA BREVIFOLIA - JOSHUA TREE

Joshua Tree is the common name for taxonomical Yucca Brevifolia, and well known for the national park which bears its name. Beautiful and ancient, specimens taller than a person and many branched may be over 100 years old. Exceptional competitors are thought to reach an age in excess of 5 centuries. Its native range includes Keys View, within the rocky arms of the Little San Bernardino Mountains.

Life for desert plants is incredibly tough. Even in favorable conditions, many viable seeds do not germinate. Those that do usually succumb to animal activity, or elemental extremes. Often those to reach maturity were seedlings under the inadvertant protection of spiny neighbors already established, sometimes called nurse plants. Although their endemic expanse is relative to the Mojave Desert borders, there are locations where they venture into other arid areas. Yucca Brevifolia sneak into the Great Basin Desert near Tonopah Nevada, the Sonoran Desert near central Arizona, and in chaparral near Lake Isabella in California.

Yucca Brevifolia survives at a variety of elevations, but appear more inclined to thrive between 3,000 and 6000 feet. They inhabit such mountainous margins of the Mojave as the hills around Pioneertown, the Hexie Mountains near Skull Rock, and the desert side slopes heading up to, the Big Bear Region, but absent from its apex. Botanists recognize two varieties, var. Brevifolia has standard morphology, and multiple branches only grow after its first bloom. Var. Jageriana, divides prior to flowering and has the overall effect of a dwarf tree.

ERICAMERIA TERETIFOLIA - TERETE LEAVED RABBITBRUSH

Generally erect but especially so after rains is the brilliant Ericameria Teretifolia, also known as Terete Leaved Rabbitbrush. Although yellow flowered shrubs abound in Mojave Desert, this specimen forms alluring densely prominent clumps which can assist identification. Its endemic range includes Keys View of Joshua Tree National Park in the Little San Bernardino Mountains.

Another common name for Ericameria Teretifolia is rubberbrush, attributed to the high quality rubber which can be rendered from its latex, a white fluid found in many plants. The small, almost cylindrical leaves are coated in sticky viscous resin, which plays a protective role. Bumps dotted with resin near the flowering head are a type of bract called phyllaries, and can serve as taxonomic indicators. When blooming, attractive yellow flowers heavily obscure the grey green growth beneath.

Native grounds of Terete Leaved Rabbitbrush extend to other parts of eastern and southern California, plus areas of Arizona and Nevada. It rarely exceeds 5 feet tall, preferring desert and overlapping mountain regions, among flat plains, rocky slopes and canyon walls. Some native cultures were known to chew the bark. Ericameria as a genus is mostly shrub like, with over 40 species native to California

AMARANTHUS FIMBRIATUS - FRINGED AMARANTH

Keys View in Joshua Tree National Park is often visited by forceful winds, whipping across the peaks of the Little San Bernardino Mountains. In spite of the areas gusty inclinations, only the slightest breezy caress is necessary to evoke the soothing and ethereal presence of Amaranthus Fimbriatus, casually known as Fringed Amaranth.

The slender stalks of Amaranthus Fimbriatus present in agreeable shades of green and dark red, although populations in the area surrounding Keys View are predominantly maroon. Their terminal tips, covered in clusters of small flowers, often curl over and droop. Rarely exceeding 24 inches in height, Fringed Amaranth tends to congregate in clumps spaced several feet apart. This plant is classified Glabrous in botany, meaning smooth, lacking in scales, bristles, or hair like organs.

Although native to the Keys View Area, A. Fimbriatus is also found throughout the southwest United States and portions of Mexico. It prefers sandy soils and usually blooms after summer monsoons. Amaranthus as a Genus contains approximately 60 accepted species of annual and short lived perennial plants, some considered invasive weeds.

ATRIPLEX CANESCENS - FOUR WING SALTBUSH

Shrubs differ from trees by generally being shorter and having many woody stems instead of one main trunk. Fourwing Saltbush is the casual term for a shrub known to botany as Atriplex Canescens. Its native range passes through Keys View, an area of Joshua Tree National Park in the Little San Bernardino Mountains at approximately 5,000 feet.

Fourwing Saltbush also grows throughout other parts of California, and the western United States, no further east than Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, South Dakota and North Dakota. Such a range supports its growth from sea level to over 7,000 feet, and appears in a multitude of biomes such as Alkali Sink, Creosote Bush Scrub, Pinyon Juniper Woodland, Joshua Tree Woodland, Coastal Strand, Valley Grassland, Chaparral, and Coastal Sage Scrub.

Although shrubs might not be as prominent as trees or Cacti, Atriplex Canescens is identifiable by distinct flakey bracts which surrond its fruits. It has been known to naturally hybridize with several other species of Atriplex, making the 5 varieties recognized by botanists even harder to discearn. Native cultures would work the dried root and tiny inconspicuous blossoms into a poultice for insect bites, and were also burned in spiritual events. Additionally, roots could be processed into soap, and seeds which had not yet been dispersed by wind were gathered and consumed.