Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are seasonal pools of water that provide habitat for distinctive plants and animals. They are considered to be a distinctive type of wetland usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species unable to withstand competition or predation by fish. Certain tropical fish lineages have however adapted to this habitat specifically.
Limnanthes douglasii is a species of annual flowering plant in the family Limnanthaceae (meadowfoam) commonly known as Douglas' meadowfoam or poached egg plant. It is native to California and Oregon, where it grows in wet, grassy habitat, such as vernal pools and spring meadows. It can grow in poorly drained clay soils. The plant was collected by the Scottish explorer and botanist David Douglas, who worked on the west coast of America in the 1820s.
The grass Tuctoria mucronata, which is known by several common names including prickly spiralgrass, Solano grass, and Crampton's tuctoria, is a federally listed endangered plant species endemic to two counties in northern California.
Limnanthes vinculans, the Sebastopol meadowfoam, is an endangered species of meadowfoam found only in the Laguna de Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, California, United States and an area slightly to the south in the Americano Creek and Washoe Creek watersheds. The name vinculans derives from the Latin root vinculum, meaning "a bond, a cord." The specific epithet vinculans means linking or bonding, in reference to the sharing of some characters of L. vinculans with L. douglasii (R.Br) and L. bakeri.
Elaphrus viridis, the Delta green ground beetle, is a species of ground beetle restricted to a small region within Solano County, California. Its color is a metallic-green, usually with bronze spots on its elytra, though some lack these spots. The lack or reduction of circular pits on the elytra helps distinguish it from other ground beetles. Typical adults are about a quarter-inch (0.6 cm) in length.
Lasthenia, commonly known as goldfields, is a genus of flowering plants family Asteraceae. The genus is named after Lasthenia of Mantinea, a cross-dressing female pupil of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato.
Legenere is a genus in the bellflower family, with only one species, Legenere limosa, an annual wildflower endemic to limited portions of Northern California. The species common name is false Venus's looking glass or Greene's legenere.
The midvalley fairy shrimp, Branchinecta mesovallensis, is a small freshwater crustacean in the Branchinectidae family. The midvalley fairy shrimp was only recently formally described as a species in 2000 by Belk and Fugate. Midvalley fairy shrimp are endemic to shallow ephemeral pools near the middle of California's Central Valley. These vernal pool ecosystems are home to other unique organisms adapted to the ephemeral nature of the water cycle in the pools in California's mediterranean climate.
Rodeo Creek is an 8.3-mile-long (13.4 km) intermittent stream in western Contra Costa County, California running through the town of Rodeo to San Pablo Bay.
Lasthenia burkei is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names Burke's goldfields and Burke's baeria.
Lasthenia chrysantha is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name alkalisink goldfields. It is endemic to the California Central Valley, where it grows in vernal pools and alkali flats.
Lasthenia ferrisiae is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name Ferris' goldfields. It is endemic to the California Central Valley, where it grows in vernal pools and alkali flats.
Lasthenia fremontii is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name Frémont's goldfields. It is endemic to the California Central Valley, where it grows in vernal pools and meadows.
Lasthenia glabrata is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names yellowray goldfields and yellow-rayed lasthenia. It is endemic to California, where it is a resident of vernal pools and other moist areas in a number of habitat types. It is widespread across much of the state, from San Diego County to Tehama County.
Blennosperma bakeri is a rare species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names Baker's stickyseed and Sonoma sunshine.
Brodiaea filifolia, known by the common name thread-leaved brodiaea, is a rare species of flowering plant in the cluster-lily genus. It is endemic to southern California, mostly in the region around the junction of Orange, Riverside, and San Diego Counties.
Calochortus pulchellus is a rare species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common name Mt. Diablo fairy-lantern or Mount Diablo globelily.
Harmonia nutans is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name nodding madia.
Trichostema ruygtii, with the common name Napa bluecurls, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family. It was first described to science in 2006.
Deinandra conjugens is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names Otay tarplant and Otay tarweed. It is native to a small section of far northern Baja California in Mexico, its range extending north into San Diego County, California, in the United States. One isolated population has been reported from the hills east of Cayucos in San Luis Obispo County.
