Arroyo de la Cruz Area
MAP
Satellite
A variety of communities, chaparral, coastal sage scrub, riparian and grassland, mark this unique area. Its importance lies in the number of endemics that are found in this relatively small area; indeed, it has been called the "Cruzian pocket of endemism."
Ten species of plants considered rare or endangered are found here. Most have a restricted range. It is the type locality of at least two species,
Arctostaphylos hookeri ssp. hearstiorum and Ceanothus hearstiorum which are found nowhere else. Other rare species include
Allium hickmanii, Arctostaphylos cruzensis, Bloomeria humilis,
Calochortus clavatus ssp. recurvfolius, Campanula obispoensis
(?), Ceanothus maritimus, Sanicula hoffmannii and Sanicula
maritima.
The animal population is typical of the central coastal area; however, a number of exotic ungulates have been introduced in the vicinity and occasionally may be seen. Steelhead,
Salmo gairdnerii, may be found in the creeks.
The valley floor is Quaternary alluvium.
Integrity: There are several jeep roads, a water tank and fencing. The area is used for grazing and is well managed.
Use: Private, patrolled.
Ref: Hoover, Robert, 1970. The Vascular Plants of San Luis Obispo County,
California. University of California Press, Berkeley.
November 1975
San Luis Obispo
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2005 Steven Louis Hartman
