A tiny geological treasure can be found in the San Bernadino Mountains of southern California: the “Pebble Plains.” Located near the famous ski town of Big Bear Lake, this 92 square-mile area exhibits a soil type found nowhere else in the world, a combination of clay and quartz fragments left behind by a glacier lake that existed during the Pleistocene Era. Over the last 10,000 years, these ingredients have been subject to repeated swelling and shrinking from the freezes at that altitude (6000-7500 feet) and the sun’s heat at that latitude (34° North), resulting in a unique composition.
Tiny botanical treasures are also found there, collectively called, “Belly Plants” because they are so small you have to get down on your belly to see them. About a dozen of these plant species are found nowhere else in the world, having evolved there in isolation, adapting to the unique soil.
Like many other ecosystems worldwide, this one is at risk from the effects of Climate Change. According to the Big Bear (California) Grizzly newspaper, “lower-than-average snow pack [in 2013] reduced water levels in the pebble plains clay and caused problems for several of the plant species”. The water situation has worsened during the intervening two years; snow packs and winter precipitation in 2015 were at all-time lows in California.
The Pebble Plains are within the San Bernadino National Forest and a portion of them are protected within the boundaries of the Baldwin Lake Ecological Reserve. The Reserve features a half-mile loop trail where you can see many Belly Plants. Admission is free-of-charge. Some of the same plants can also be found at nearby Doble Trail Camp, which is just steps off of the Pacific Crest Trail, and where we stayed for one night.
April through June is blooming season for most of the Belly Plant species. I visited with a fellow plant-geek friend in early April and we were thrilled by what we found. This slideshow gives the highlights. (Big thanks to Michael L. Charters’ website, califlora.net. His post about his field trip to the Reserve furnished me with nearly all the plant IDs in this post.)
Straight desert road
Our drive to the San Bernadino Mountains from the Morongo Basin took us through the desert to the north.
Mountain Road
The road up into the Mountains is twisty and steep (16% grade in some places!)
View from up high
We were high above the desert in just a few minutes.
Ski Slopes
The Big Bear Lake resorts were closed to skiing most of the season this past winter. Note the muddy gaps on the slopes.
The Pebble Plains
Here is a wide view of the Pebble Plains in the Reserve. At first glance, there's not much to see.
The Pebble Plains
But look down and you'll see many little things growing.
Tiny Garden!
Get down on your belly and feast your eyes on this tiny garden!
"Pursh's milkvetch"
"Pursh's milkvetch" (Astragalus purshii var. lectulus), Family: Fabaceae (Bean). Wild cousin to the Chinese medicinal herb, Astragalus.
"Pursh's milkvetch"
"Pursh's milkvetch" (Astragalus purshii var. lectulus), Family: Fabaceae (Bean).
"Pursh's milkvetch"
"Pursh's milkvetch" (Astragalus purshii var. lectulus), Family: Fabaceae (Bean).
"Pursh's milkvetch"
"Pursh's milkvetch" (Astragalus purshii var. lectulus), Family: Fabaceae (Bean). Close-up shows flower typical of the family.
"Pursh's milkvetch"
"Pursh's milkvetch" (Astragalus purshii var. lectulus), Family: Fabaceae (Bean). This greyish plant is soft and fuzzy to the touch. Both the color and the hairiness are common in plants that grow in arid climates since these attributes reflect sunlight.
"Parish's Rockcress"
"Parish's Rockcress" (Boechera parishii), Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard). We were immediately taken by this beautiful plant. We saw this at Doble Trail Camp as well as in the Reserve.
"Parish's Rockcress"
"Parish's Rockcress" (Boechera parishii), Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard). Not a big plant!
"Parish's Rockcress"
"Parish's Rockcress" (Boechera parishii), Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard).
"Parish's Rockcress"
"Parish's Rockcress" (Boechera parishii), Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard). This photo shows different stages of flowering, striking at each step!
"Parish's Rockcress"
"Parish's Rockcress" (Boechera parishii), Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard). Note seedpods forming; they are long, pointed and colored dark purple.
"Parish's Rockcress"
"Parish's Rockcress" (Boechera parishii), Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard). Note the dark purple buds covered with feathery white hairs. These hairs are called "trichomes" and this type of trichome is named "stellar", because they look like little stars.
"Desert Indian Paintbrush"
"Desert Indian Paintbrush" (Castilleja chromosa), Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort). Not a Belly Plant -- it's "regular sized" at 8-12 tall -- but it's too pretty to leave out.
"Desert Indian Paintbrush"
"Desert Indian Paintbrush" (Castilleja chromosa), Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort).
"Desert Indian Paintbrush"
"Desert Indian Paintbrush" (Castilleja chromosa), Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort).
"Ashy-gray Paintbrush"
"Ashy-gray Paintbrush" (Castilleja cinerea), Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort). Cousin of the better known Desert Indian Paintbrush.
"Ashy-gray Paintbrush"
"Ashy-gray Paintbrush" (Castilleja cinerea), Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort).
"Small-fowered Collinsia"
"Small-fowered Collinsia" (Collinsia parviflora), Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort). This was the first Belly Plant we saw. We spotted it while camping at Doble Camp and mistook it for a wild Lobelia.
"Small-fowered Collinsia"
"Small-fowered Collinsia" (Collinsia parviflora), Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort).
"Small-fowered Collinsia"
"Small-fowered Collinsia" (Collinsia parviflora), Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figwort).
"Alkali draba"
"Alkali draba" (Cusickiella dougasii), Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard). This one was already past peak when we visited, so must have been one of the first to flower.
"Alkali draba"
"Alkali draba" (Cusickiella dougasii), Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard).
"Rayless Fleabane"
"Rayless Fleabane" (Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus), Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower). We were instantly fascinated by this tiny Aster.
"Rayless Fleabane"
"Rayless Fleabane" (Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus), Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower).
"Rayless Fleabane"
"Rayless Fleabane" (Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus), Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower). Like a Sunflower for a dollhouse garden.
"Rayless Fleabane"
"Rayless Fleabane" (Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus), Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower).
"Rayless Fleabane"
"Rayless Fleabane" (Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus), Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower). Such sunny little faces!
"Rayless Fleabane"
"Rayless Fleabane" (Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus), Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower). Strange multiple-headed blossom. I have seen this with happen with other Aster Family flowers, including "Toothache Plant" (Spilanthes sp.), which is also rayless.
"Rayless Fleabane"
"Rayless Fleabane" (Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus), Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower). Mixed in with the current flowers are bracts and stems of last year's blossoms, turned silver like they were gilded.
"Heronbill"
"Heronbill" (Erodium texanum), Geranium Family. Not a native plant, but also low-to-the-ground with tiny flowers. Originally from the Mediterranean but now widespread throughout the Southwest. We found it at our campsite, growing alongside the native Belly Plants. Named "Heronbill" after the shape of the seed pods -- note the long "beak" tapering to a point. Botanically, this "beak" is an example of a "persistent stile", which I've always thought sounds like a great band name.
"Heronbill"
"Heronbill" (Erodium texanum), Geranium Family.
Unknown plant
Unidentified plant, possibly Brassica Family. We were early for this one, which looks like it will be gorgeous. Also the tallest of these flowers, nearly a foot high! Another kind of "Rockcress"?
Unknown plant
Unidentified plant, possibly Brassica Family.
Unknown plant
Unidentified plant, possibly Brassica Family.
"Siver-haired Ivesia"
"Siver-haired Ivesia" (Ivesia argyrocoma var argyrocoma), Family: Rosaceae (Rose). The flower stems are long but prostrate (they lay on the ground).
"Siver-haired Ivesia"
"Siver-haired Ivesia" (Ivesia argyrocoma var argyrocoma), Family: Rosaceae (Rose).
"Siver-haired Ivesia"
"Siver-haired Ivesia" (Ivesia argyrocoma var argyrocoma), Family: Rosaceae (Rose).
Juniper Tree
Large plants can also be found in the Preserve. This Juniper Tree is the largest of its kind that either of us had ever seen. Some Junipers in the area are supposedly 2000 years old. Is this one of them?
"Parish's Bicuitroot"
"Parish's Bicuitroot" (Lomatium nevadense var. parishii), Family: Apiaceae (Carrot). Being an amateur sciatophytographist (one who studies the Carrot Family), I was thrilled to meet this member of the Lomatium genus. Its cousin species live all over the arid West. Some were staples of the Native American diet, hence the name, "Biscuitroot".
"Parish's Bicuitroot"
"Parish's Bicuitroot" (Lomatium nevadense var. parishii), Family: Apiaceae (Carrot). Note resemblance to carrot leaves or parsley.
"Parish's Bicuitroot"
"Parish's Bicuitroot" (Lomatium nevadense var. parishii), Family: Apiaceae (Carrot). New inflorescence starts tight, spreads over time.
"Parish's Bicuitroot"
"Parish's Bicuitroot" (Lomatium nevadense var. parishii), Family: Apiaceae (Carrot). "Umbel" inflorescence in profile.
"Parish's Bicuitroot"
"Parish's Bicuitroot" (Lomatium nevadense var. parishii), Family: Apiaceae (Carrot). Note pollinated ovaries, which will turn into seeds.
"Southern Mountain Phlox"
"Southern Mountain Phlox" (Phlox austromontana), Family: Polemoniaceae. Many flower gardeners would probably recognize this right off the bat as being a kind of Phlox.
"Southern Mountain Phlox"
"Southern Mountain Phlox" (Phlox austromontana), Family: Polemoniaceae.
"Southern Mountain Phlox"
"Southern Mountain Phlox" (Phlox austromontana), Family: Polemoniaceae.
"Slender Popcorn Flower"
"Slender Popcorn Flower" (Plagiobothrys tenellus), Family: Boraganiceae (Borage). Look how small that is! That's full-sized -- it doesn't get any bigger!
"Slender Popcorn Flower"
"Slender Popcorn Flower" (Plagiobothrys tenellus), Family: Boraganiceae (Borage).
"Slender Popcorn Flower"
"Slender Popcorn Flower" (Plagiobothrys tenellus), Family: Boraganiceae (Borage). Cute name for a charming flower.
"Golden Violet"
"Golden Violet" (Viola dougasii), Family: Violaceae (Violet). Violets are "belly plants" wherever they grow, of course!
"Golden Violet"
"Golden Violet" (Viola dougasii), Family: Violaceae (Violet).
