Whippoorwill Pinyon

Here gently sloping flats and ridges, bordered by steep slopes, form a mesa covered with a good stand of pinyon-juniper woodland. Of particular interest is the rare hybridization of two mistletoe, Phoradendron juniperinum and Phoradendron densum. In Southern California Phoradendron juniperinum is parasitic on Juniperus occidentalis and Phoradendron densum on Juniperus californica, and in other parts of the range different species are the principal hosts. Here both occur on Juniperus osteosperma, as do the hybrids. The pinyon pine, Pinus monophylla, is parasitized by the mistletoe Arceuthobium .

Botanically, the area is quite rich, with a great variety of species including Astragalus inyoensis, Astragalus minthorniae var. villosus and the rare Astragalus cimae var. sufflatus, Eriogonum heermannii var. humilius, Eriogonum nummulare, Eriogonum nidularium, Eriogonum panamintense, and Ranunculus andersonii, among others. The rare Sclerocactus polyancistrus is found nearby.

Geologically, there is an interesting occurrence of rocks, apparently deposited in shallow water, with two types of ripplemarks.

Integrity: A road passes through the area and there is a cabin with an access road.

Use: Research, educational, observational.

Ref: Wiens, D. and M. DeDecker, 1972. Rare Natural Hybridization in Phoradendron (Viscaceae). Madrono Vol. 21, No. 6, pp. 395-402.

January 1976