Substrate controlled endemism IS the California flora: in one word; serpentine! A secondary “hot spot” in our flora is
limestone and/or marble. Be it a big
white flowered shrub, Neviusia, or a Heterotheca monarchensis, calcareous
substrata are invariably worthy of exploration for new novelties or new records.
In the Sierra, limestone and or marble occurs as isolated, small rock
masses, often these do not get mapped at the 1:250,000 scale of the state
geologic maps. A systematic survey of these 'islands' is needed.
A calcareous site worthy of visitation is Marble Cone, in the Middle
Fork Feather River. At least based on
CCH specimen records with coordinates, no collector has been in the vicinity. Access seems, from the topographic maps at
least, is uncertain, but 4WD roads get within about a mile upcanyon, or a trail
about the same distance downcanyon.
Someone, go yonder.
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