- Author: Robert J Keiffer
A bright yellow aster bloom adorns three small isolated locations at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center. Colusa Layia (Layia septentrionalis) is an annual herb that is endemic to California and is only found in 9 counties, with Mendocino County being one of those. It is included in the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants and is rated as 1B.2 (rare,threatened, or endangered in CA and elsewhere). This plant qualifies for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) protection. The plant is currently blooming at HREC, and the blooms are quite thick and robust this year.
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
The UC Hopland Research & Extension Center has quite a medley of oak species at the Center with over a dozen species occurring (19 species currently accepted as native in California). The Black Oak (Quercus kelloggii) is a deciduous (looses its leaves in winter) oak, and this photo shows the bright, new foliage that has just emerged. Found in mixed evergreen forests, oak woodlands, and coniferous forests in California and Oregon, this oak produces acorns that were historically a favorite food of Native American tribes because of lesser amounts of tannins as compared to other oak species' acorns.
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
Bowltube Iris (Iris macrosiphon Torr.) vividly displays the familiar colors of the UC ...blue and gold. This flowering plant is endemic to California and the flower color varies from golden yellow to cream or pale lavender to deep blue-purple. It occurs in sunny grasslands, meadows, and open woodlands including the oak woodlands which are common at UC-Hopland REC. They are in full bloom now as you can see from this pale lavender specimen.
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
There are several vernal ("relating to the springtime") pools located around the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center. Past research has shown that each harbors a unique community of plants and invertebrates and amphibians, with no two having the exact same mix of species. "Hog Lake", as you see pictured, is the largest vernal pool on the property. This pond hosts a high percentage of malformed Pacific tree frogs with severe limb deformities, caused by trematode (Ribeiroia ondatrae) parasite infections upon early-stage developing frog embryos (developing tadpoles). Ribeiroia has a complex life cycle involving pulmonate snails, amphibians, and amphibian-eating birds.
- Author: Robert J Keiffer
Wool piled high on a skirting table adjacent to the Wool baler and shearing floor at HREC. Whole fleeces are placed on the table. The belly portion (valued at roughly $1.20/lb.) as well as the tags (wool saturated in feces, mud, etc. and valued at roughly $0.88/lb.) fall to the floor and are packed separate from the premium fleeces.
