{"id":17291,"date":"2017-03-21T20:53:57","date_gmt":"2017-03-22T04:53:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stormbruiser.com\/chase\/?p=17291"},"modified":"2017-04-03T23:02:16","modified_gmt":"2017-04-04T07:02:16","slug":"march-2017-yellow-flower-bonanza-on-san-nicolas-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stormbruiser.com\/chase\/2017\/03\/21\/march-2017-yellow-flower-bonanza-on-san-nicolas-island\/","title":{"rendered":"March 2017 Yellow Flower Bonanza on San Nicolas Island"},"content":{"rendered":"

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There is a unique and goofy-looking plant on San Nicolas Island, called a “giant coreopsis.”<\/a> \u00a0Your teacher in biology or ecology class would probably call it a “Coreopsis gigantea”<\/em> so that he or she can sound really smart. \u00a0Another name for it is “leptosyne gigantea.” \u00a0It is in the daisy family, and the yellow flowers look remarkably like daisies! \u00a0I have some bones to pick with the Wikipedia article for Coreopsis gigantea<\/em>, as many of the attributes described there are at variance with my observations of the plant on San Nicolas Island. \u00a0Perhaps someone who reads this and looks at the images will consider altering the Wikipedia entry. \u00a0 If you are interested in learning more about this type of vegetation, with which I was totally unfamiliar before my visits to San Nicolas Island, then read on! \u00a0Or, just scroll down to the yellow and flowery pictures.<\/p>\n

The Wikipedia article states: \u00a0\u00a0The plant is found in\u00a0California coastal sage and chaparral<\/a>\u00a0habitats, from 45\u2013180 feet (14\u201355\u00a0m) in elevation.[2]<\/a><\/sup>[6]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It is found in coastal dunes,\u00a0chaparral<\/a>\u00a0hillsides, and exposed sea bluff\u00a0habitats<\/a>.[6]<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

My observation: \u00a0On San Nicolas Island, the plant is common from near sea level to 500 feet elevation, and perhaps even a little higher. \u00a0San Nicolas Island tops out at around 900 feet, and the plant is very sporadic near the top of the island. \u00a0As a succulent, it is highly tolerant to drought and especially susceptible to frost (cold tolerant to about 25F).<\/p>\n

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The Wikipedia article states: \u00a0\u00a0The stem of\u00a0Coreopsis gigantea<\/i>\u00a0is a trunk up to 1 metre (3.3\u00a0ft) tall, and 4\u201310 centimetres (1.6\u20133.9\u00a0in) in diameter. The plant can reach 4 feet (1.2\u00a0m) high by 2 feet (0.61\u00a0m) wide.[6]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It is summer\u00a0deciduous<\/a>, leaving a sculptural bare trunk and branches during the dry season. \u00a0Bright green leaves and flowers are on the top of the trunk, the rest of the trunk is bare. \u00a0The numerous flowers are yellow, daisy-like, 6\u201320\u00a0cm in diameter. It blooms in the spring and early summer.[6]<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

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My observation: \u00a0On San Nicolas Island, some of the plants have flowers that are above my head, putting them at close to two meters above the ground. \u00a0I would say, conservatively, that the trunks of Coreopsis\u00a0<\/em>gigantea<\/i>\u00a0are up to 1.5 meters tall, or 5 feet tall. I would say the plant can reach 6 feet high and 3 feet wide. \u00a0The flowers on the plants on San Nicolas Island were close to 6 cm and nowhere near 20 cm in diameter. \u00a0And, the wet winter weather on the island (Dec\/Jan\/Feb of 2016-17)) caused a tremendous bloom during March. \u00a0By late March, the flowers were wilting noticeably. \u00a0The less-pronounced bloom a year earlier was also in March, and it lasted several weeks. \u00a0On San Nicolas Island, I would say that the plant blooms in late winter and early spring.<\/p>\n

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Google “leptosyne gigantea” for more fun info. \u00a0The Cal State University Channel Islands web site <\/a>had this to say about the plant:<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0“An odd-looking perennial with stout stems and branches, topped with shaggy tufts of green foliage during the winter and Spring.\u00a0 It looks like a plant that Dr. Seuss might have drawn.\u00a0 Bright yellow flowers rise above this foliage.\u00a0 A species typical that of the Channel Islands flora and the bluffs overlooking the ocean, but less common encountered inland (such as at CI).\u00a0 This species grows easily from seeds and it an interesting addition to a native plant garden.\u00a0 A little added water can keep them green into the Summer, but eventually the plants will shut down for their Summer dormancy.” \u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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Okay, enough education for now. \u00a0 Here are the best pics by me from late February to late March, 2017.<\/p>\n

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