Tijuana River Reserve, California

Flora (Plant Life)

Flora was an important factor in the decision to include the Tijuana River Reserve in the reserve system. In addition to having regionally significant species, the Tijuana estuary provides examples of most vegetation communities found in other southern California wetlands. Cordgrass (Spartina foliosa) forms robust stands along tidal channels in the northern reaches of the estuary. Above the Spartina-dominated community are found several succulents, including pickleweed and saltwort. At higher elevations these succulents grade into a cover of shoregrass. At the highest elevations, pickleweed becomes codominant with shoregrass. The reserve's marshes also are home to the endangered salt marsh bird's beak. This once abundant plant has been pushed to the brink of extinction by the pressures of marsh destruction in California.

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