Orthocarpus densiflorus

Owl's clover.

Orthocarpus densiflorus, Brentwood, 3/27/10

Piperia elegans

Another native California orchid, Piperia elegans, elegant piperia. This was one on Montara Mountain.

Close up of Piperia elegans, Montara Mountain, 9/11/10

Piperia elegans, Montara Mountain, 9/11/10

Corallorhiza mertensiana

Coral root, Corallorhiza mertensiana, is an orchid that shows up under Oaks and hard woods, usually starting in May. These ones were in Leona Canyon by Merritt College. They are parasites on Russula mycelium, which is a family of mushrooms I see quite a bit, but know little about.

They are hard to see and quite delicate, so if you are off trail in these kinds of environments, be careful. They also frequently are close to the trails, so when hiking near oaks, and you see moss and duff, keep an eye out.

Corallorhiza mertensiana, Leona Canyon, 5/16/10

Antron quercusechinus

This small gall is created on oak leaves  by Antron quercusechinus, the Urchin gall wasp. It chemically induces the tree to grow the gall in which it lives. Quite a neat trick. These were on a Blue Oak in Round Valley.

Antron quercusechinus gall on blue oak leaf, 9/6/10

Zauschneria californica

One of the last flowers out in Tilden this summer is Zauschneria californica, California Fuchsia. It is not a fuchsia, but the flower resembles them.

Zauschneria californica

Hygrocybe cantharellus

There are numerous Waxy Caps, and they are very hard to tell apart. But I think this one is Hygrocybe cantharellus or Hydrocybe miniata. Note the gills match the cantharellus description, but like so many mushrooms, the features vary and can be grade into each other. 

Hygrocybe cantharellus, 8/29/10