The Livermore tarweed is indistinct, hairy, and smelly. It is also exceedingly rare and in imminent danger.
The study and science of plants.
Mike Vasey: The Magic of Manzanitas
Manzanita expert Mike Vasey wants to share the world of these fascinating shrubs with the public.
Mount Tam Plant Safaris Try to Produce the First Catalogue of All the Mountain’s Plants
Plant safaris aim to produce the first-ever complete catalog of the more than 950 plant species botanists believe grow on 18,000 acres of Mount Tamalpais
Ask the Naturalist: The Secret of the Slender Redwoods
Why are some stands of redwoods so spindly? Marin County Parks naturalist David Herlocker explains this anomaly.
Killer Plant Pathogen Is Widespread at SFPUC’s Alameda County and Peninsula Restoration Sites
Phytophthora tentaculata, a new and particularly pernicious strain of dangerous plant pathogens that has been on a federal watch list, was found throughout one of the SFPUC’s restoration sites in central Alameda County.
Native Plant Nurseries Get Ahead of Dangerous Pathogens
Perhaps the biggest contribution to the fight against phytophthora has been a call to action in the restoration nursery trade.
Phytophthora: New Strains Breaking the Mold
Phytophthoras, Greek for “plant destroyers,” certainly live up to the name. Once introduced to a location, they can spread undetected in the soil or in water and wreak havoc on crops, nursery stock, and natural ecosystems.
To Save a Park in San Francisco’s Bayview, Advocates Turn to Citizen Science “With a Mission”
Development could wipe out one of the Bayview’s few open space areas. Nature in the City hopes knowing more about what lives there can stop the construction.
Calochortus Lilies Catch the Eye
The flowers of this genus inspire awe. Learn about when and where to find them.
A Natural History of That Little Yellow Flower That’s Everywhere Right Now
Oxalis provides a delightful burst of yellow color in the spring. Also, it’s eating the entire Bay Area alive.