Mount George

On Mount George the dominant vegetation is chaparral with scattered black oak, Quercus kelloggii, interior live oak, Quercus wislizenii, madrone, Arbutus menziesii, and some bay, Umbellularia californica.

In the chaparral are four Arctostaphylos and Ceanothus. The manzanitas include Arctostaphylos tomentosa, which is at its northernmost range limit here, Arctostaphylos stanfordiana, Arctostaphylos canescens, and Arctostaphylos manzanita. The populations of the Arctostaphylos stanfordiana and Arctostaphylos canescens represent "pure" stands, as they do not hybridize one with the other, and the Arctostaphylos stanfordiana is well separated by rocky soils from the Arctostaphylos manzanita.

Here, too, is the largest known population of the compact Ceanothus purpureus as well as the type locality. Of the four Ceanothus on the mountain, this is the most common; other species include Ceanothus cuneatus, Ceanothus foliosus and Ceanothus parryi.

The animal population is typical of the region and includes such species as the Sonoma chipmunk, Eutamias dorsalis, mountain lion, Felis concolor, and the Western rattlesnake, Crotalus viridis.

The mountain is composed of Sonoma volcanics of the late Pliocene.

Integrity: The area is virtually undisturbed.

Use: Private

March 1977