Comanche Point

Comanche Point, which rises rather abruptly from the San Joaquin Valley floor, supports a unique flora, one related to the deserts of Southern California in overall composition. Among the more common species are desert lupine, Lupinus bicolor, thistle sage, Salvia carduacea, chia sage, Salvia columbariae, and a mix of native and exotic grasses. Several uncommon or local endemics occur here including the Kern poppy, Eschscholzia lemmonii ssp. kernensis, Kern harvest brodiaea, Brodiaea terrestris ssp. kernensis, Bakersfield cactus, Opuntia basilaris var. treleasei, and Ranunculus canus var. ludovicianus. The rare Layia leucopappa is known from only this area and the vicinity.

A typical fauna of the lower San Joaquin Valley is relatively abundant, as there is permanent water.

The Point is composed of a number of sedimentary and meta-sedimentary rocks of both marine and non-marine origin, ranging in age from the mid-Miocene to the mid-Pliocene. The White Wolf Fault runs along the base of the hills.

Integrity: Cattle grazing has not had a detrimental effect on the flora.

Use: Private

Ref: Clausen, J. 1951. Stages in the Evolution of Plant Species. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.

December 1975