Lured by the prospect of seeing a species I hadn't ever found before, Orthilia secunda (which unfortunately turned out to be still a week or two from blooming), I joined Tom Chester and Dave Stith for a hike up the very strenuous Marion Mountain and Deer Springs Trails to Little Round Valley at about 10,000' in Mt. San Jacinto State Park. Considered one of the more difficult hikes in Southern California, especially if going to the summit of San Jacinto, this trail is mostly unremittingly steep and rocky which affects one both going up and coming down. It begins at the Marion Mountain Campground which is located 1-1/2 miles from SR-243 (going toward Pine Cove from Banning you turn left on 4S02, also signed Azalea Trails Road, then left again almost immediately, and then right on 4S71 to the campground). The elevation gain just to Little Round Valley is almost as great as we did last weekend going to the summit of San Gorgonion, but in less than half the distance! The first couple of miles are the worst. There are several beautiful wet areas along the way with many lovely plants growing in great profusion. It's interesting that there are seven genera of the Ericaceae represented in this area, but it was frustrating that another species I hadn't ever seen, Chimaphila umbellata, was showing no sign of budding, blooming or having bloomed even though June-August is its normal bloom time. An upside-down V next to the common name indicates a taxon that was new to me when I photographed it on this field trip.

Many-flowered monkeyflower
Mimulus floribundus
Phrymaceae

Snow plant
Sarcodes sanguinea
Ericaceae