Field Trip: Siskiyou Plant Explorers Hike to McDonald Peak
July 12 @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Saturday, July 12, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Field Trip: Siskiyou Plant Explorers Hike to McDonald Peak
Leader: Al Collinet
Meeting Location: Rite Aid Pharmacy parking lot at 9:00 am, 2341 Ashland St., Ashland, OR
We will be going a little earlier this year to try to catch the giant frasera or monument plant (Frasera speciosa), and Howell’s tauschia (Tauschia howellii) in flower. Howell’s tauschia is a rare plant in Southwest Oregon and is found near the peak of McDonald Peak. I will share my Southwest Oregon guide to the four mountain ashes (Sorbus sp.) and four owl clovers (Orthocarpus spp.). I have created a list of species seen on three different outings to McDonald Peak with additions from the Oregon Flora list. (I got the idea from Karen Brown.) The last time we were at McDonald Peak, a Hummingbird Hawk Moth, a Sheep Moth, and an Anise Swallowtail visited us. They know where to find good flowers too! The botany hike is 3 miles round trip with a maximum of 400 feet in elevation gain. Driving time to the trailhead is about 40 minutes. Please come prepared with plenty of food, water, and suitable footwear.
