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Help us monitor these most wanted plants!

Blue elderberry
Sambucus mexicana

A large rounded evergreen shrub that has compound leaves with 3-5 pairs of long elliptical leaflets. The small 5-petaled white flowers are arranged into a conspicuous, dense, flat-topped cluster located on terminal branches. Each flower develops into a dark-blue to black fruit (a drupe) that is reminiscent of a tiny tomato. Fruits are generally covered with a wax or resin that gives them a bluish color.

Read more on the species info page.

Boxelder
Acer negundo

Boxelder is part of the maple family but is unusual in that it has compound leaves. Seedlings of this plant have a remarkable resemblance to poison ivy, so be careful!

Read more on the species info page.

Buttonwillow
Cephalanthus occidentalis

A small deciduous shrub in the coffee family, Buttonwillow has opposite or whorled leaves of three. The flowers are composed of many tubular white to pale yellow with protruding stigmas, arranged in a ball-shape.

Read more on the species info page.

California blackberry
Rubus ursinus

An important food source for many birds and animals, the native California blackberry is a spreading vine shrub with prickly stems. It produces white flowers and edible berries. The flower petals are narrower than other non-native blackberries.

Read more on the species info page.

California poppy
Eschscholzia californica

California poppies have bright orange-yellow flowers that are distinctly upright and bell-shaped. The leaflets do not clasp around the stem like they do in the common garden poppy.

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California rose
Rosa californica

Native to California, California rose is a prickly bush that produces fragrant pink flowers which grow singly or in clusters. The five petal flowers produce red rose hips that are consumed by wildlife.

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Coyote brush
Baccharis pilularis

A highly branched, evergreen shrub or small tree that can range in form from a low spreading shrub (10-15cm tall and spreading up to 4m wide) to erect (less than 3m tall and 1-3m wide) with dense feathery tufts all over the plant when it fruits. It has small, stiff, sticky leaves.

Read more on the species info page.

Fiddleneck
Amsinckia menziesii

As the name suggests, this native annual produces curled cluster heads of small yellow-orange flowers that resemble the head of a fiddle. Poisonous to livestock, the bristle hairs can cause skin irritation in humans.

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Sticky monkeyflower
Mimulus aurantiacus

A rounded perennial shrub that varies in height from 10 cm-1.5 m tall (4 in- 5 ft). The upper surface of the narrow, dark green leaves are hairless but often sticky (hence the name of the plant!) The flowers are tubular at the base with five broad lobes (two above and three below). The color of the flowers varies -- petals can be white, yellow-tan, yellow, orange, or red.

Read more on the species info page.

Western blue-eyed grass
Sisyrinchium bellum

This drought resistant wildflower is related to iris. It varies in height from about 7 -46 m (3-18 in). The flowers are small and usually purplish-blue, but occassionally white-flowering plants are found. Individual flowers last only one day but are produced in great quantities. The leaves are narrow and sword-shaped (grass-like), occurring in fan-like sprays.

Read more on the species info page.

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Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge images

Nestled at the beginning of California's Central Valley Bay-Delta, Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is an urban refuge directly outside of the greater Sacramento metropolitan area. Established in 1994 to protect and enhance local and migratory wildlife and Central Valley habitats, the refuge's 6,421 acres of managed grasslands, wetlands, freshwater lakes and riparian forest provide critical resting, foraging and breeding habitat for hundreds of species in an area imperiled by fast encroaching urban development. Some of the popular bird species include Sandhill cranes, Swainson's hawks, burrowing owls and Western meadowlarks. Invasive plants, such as yellow star thistle and perennial pepperweed, are being removed and replaced with native plants. Several plant species from the Refuge have been identified as being particularly useful for making phenological observations.

Explore more about Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge on their website and find out how you can make a difference by supporting the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge Association.


Climate Change at this Refuge
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Climate Change at this Refuge
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Project BudburstSM is co-managed by NEON and the Chicago Botanic Garden
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