With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Out-of-Place Plant Species Discovered in Santa Monica Mountains
Whisker Brush | Tony Valois/National Park Service
Whisker Brush | Tony Valois/National Park Service
Last week, a team of National Park Service botanist were surveying for sensitive and endagnered species near Sandstone Peak, the tallest point in the Santa Monica Mountains, when they came upon something out of place. It was whisker brush (Leptosiphon ciliatus), which is typically found at higher elevations in the Sierras, not in Southern California, even around 3,000 feet elevation. "It's totally a shock to find something new when you weren't looking for it," exclaimed Tony Valois, a biological science field technician, who made the discovery. The Santa Monica Mountains are some of the most rigorously combed through mountains in the region for botanists. Considering that, Valois said to discover the plant out of it's normal ecological range is "really spectacular."
The miniature plant is an annual herb that is native to California and the Western U.S, according to the non-profit Calflora. It tends to grow in dry open areas between 5,000 to 7,000 feet elevation and blooms between April and July.
While the discovery increases the ecologcail diversity of the mountain range, it probably won't be the last. "The Santa Monicas are so diverse floristically," Valois explained, pointing out other recent discoveries. In April, a tiny white western pearlwort (photo below), typical to mountains east and south of Los Angeles, and an un-identified Gilia was also recently found on a rocky volcanic outcrop.
Sponsored message
White Western Pearlwort | Photo by Tony Valois/National Park Service
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
