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>Map >Satellite This area represents a relatively unspoiled "island" of valley grassland that appears to have been geographically isolated from other populations. The mountain is almost sheer-sided, with only a few access points. It is a Pliocene basaltic intrusion on a Mesozoic granitic base. Around the base there are some non-marine conglomerates and sandstones dating to the Miocene.
Two communities are represented: valley grassland, with several vernal pools, and foothill woodland. In the former, such species as Navarretia tagetina, Layia platyglossa, Gilia tricolor, and Parvisedum congdonii are found. In the foothill woodland, blue oak, Quercus douglasii, gray pine, Pinus sabiniana, buck brush, Ceanothus cuneatus, and bay, Umbellularia californica, are the dominants.
Two rare plants occur on the mountain, Castilleja campestris ssp. succulenta and Plagiobothrys distantiflorus. Other plants of botanical interest occurring here include Brodiaea terrestris ssp. kernensis, known primarily from Kern County, Cheilanthes covillei, Coreopsis bigelovii, Downingia bicornuta var. bicornuta, Vulpia microstachys var. microstachys, Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata, and Vulpia microstachys var. confusa, non-native Geranium molle, Limnanthes douglasii ssp. rosea, Streptanthus tortuosus var. suffrutescens, and Mimulus douglasii, which here comprises an unusually large population.
Animals are abundant and the endangered bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, nests in the area.
Integrity: Light grazing in the spring.
Use: Private
July 1976
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2008 Steven Louis Hartman
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