This guidebook provides information on plants and animals commonly found at science camps on beaches in California. It includes the scientific name, physical description, habitat and range for 15 plant species, including beach grass, beach morning glory, beach strawberry, and ice plant. It also profiles 5 common animal species such as the blue-bellied lizard, garter snake, western fence lizard and western newt. The guidebook is intended to educate students attending the science camp about the local flora and fauna.

1. Science Camp
Guidebook
By: Aadharsh, Rohit, Malhar, and Santiago
1

2. Table of Contents (plants)
● Beach Grass (Page 5)
● Beach Morning Glory (Page 6)
● Beach Strawberry (Page 7)
● Bermuda Buttercups (Page 8)
● European Dune Grass (Page 9)
● Gum Plant (Page 10)
● Ice Plant (Page 11)
● Sand Verbena (Page 12)
● Sea Fig (Page 13)
● Sea-Rocket (Page 14)
● Silver Beach Weed (Page 15)
2

3. Table of Contents (animals)
● Blue Bellied Lizard (Page 17)
● Garter Snake (Page 18)
● Gopher Snake (Page 19)
● Western Newt (Page 20)
● Western Fence Lizard (Page 21)
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4. 4

5. Beach Grass
The scientific name for the Beach Grass is Ammophila breviligulata Fernald.
Beach Grass can natural winds against the storm surge. The Beach Grass is
part of the grass family.
Height: 1-3 feet long Color: Light Green
Bloom Time: July - September The Beach Grass is
at Lake Michigan
in spring
5

6. Beach Morning Glory Scientific name: ipomoea pes caprae
The Beach Morning Glory is in the morning glory family.
It includes trees, shrubs, vines and herbs. It is also Known
as the Goat’s Foot. Most of them are vines. It grows on
sand dunes and beaches in tropical regions throughout
the world. It is mashed up
and gurgled to help throat
and mouth infections.
Height:4 to 6 inches
an early morning favorite
6

7. Beach Strawberry
Scientific Name-Fragaria chiloensis
Height-10 cm Width-30-100 cm
Where it mainly lives- California Color-White
Beach Strawberry will emerge in March to
August. After 30 years, it will have delicious
strawberries. They live in California, Alaska,
Hawaii, and South America.
A beach strawberry in bloom
7

8. Bermuda Buttercups scientific name: Oxalis pes-caprae
The Bermuda Buttercups are also
known as sourgrass. It is a weed.
● Found south of South Africa,now
found all over California and parts of
Australia. It is an excellent salad.
● Grows from November throughout
April.Height: 6-12 in.
the bright yellow flowers of the Bermuda8

9. European Dune Grass
The scientific name for a European Dune Grass is Elymus arenarius.
Sometimes used to stabilize sand dunes. The European Dune Grass grows so
fast. Plus, the European Dune Grass could spread about 23- 35 inches.
Height: 5-2 feet long Color: Blue
Bloom Time: Mid Summer, Late Summer
The right of the picture is the
European Dune Grass
9

10. Gum Plant
● Scientific name- Grindelia stricta venulosa
height[m]:
0.30 to 0.50 width[m]: 0.80 to 1.20
The Gum plant belongs to the family Asteraceae,
commonly called the Aster or Sunflower Family.
There are about 15 types of gum plants.
Antispasmodic, demulcent, diaphoretic, expectorant, sedative are the medicines
made by Gum plant.
A beautiful yellow Gum Plant
10

11. Ice Plant
Scientific name: Carpobrotus edulis
There are many different type
of ice plant. There are 2 colors in
ice plants ( purple & yellow). It is also native to
South Africa.As with all other succulents, the ice plant
requires very little water.
a purple ice plant
11

12. Sand Verbena
The scientific name for Sand Verbena is Abronia villosa. A soft-haired, sticky
plant, bright pink flowers in heads that bloom on stalk. The ranges are
southern California through Nevada to Utah, Arizona and into Mexico.
Height: up to 3 feet long Flower color: Bright pink
Bloom Time: February - July
Sand Verbena habitats
are
in different parts
of the beach
or at the
desert
12

13. Sea Fig Scientific name: Carpobrotus chilensis
The sea fig is in the Aizoaceae family. It mostly grows in
sandy areas. The sea fig is also eaten by ground squirrels.
They are found in California and Oregon in
grasslands,beaches and especially
in areas with a warm
winter climate. It has thick pointed
purple leaves. It grows in the
summer. Height:24 to 32 inches
Their roots are lunch for a squirrel
13

14. Sea-Rocket
The scientific name for Sea-rocket are Cakile lacustris, Cakile maritima, and
Cakile edentula. The thick stems and leaves help control moisture under the
hot sun and burning sands. During the winter they are leafy, but summer
comes their seed pods look almost like a cactus.
Height: 6-20 inches Flower color: pale lavender
The Sea-Rocket habitat
Bloom Time: July to September are usually at the beach
14

15. Silver Beach Weed scientific name:Ambrosia chamissonia
The silver beach weed grows in large
clumps on beaches and dunes. They have
tiny hairs to protect their leaves from
getting damaged. Its silvery reflects the
sunlight.
● Color: Green and yellow
● Height:
15
you can see the tiny yellow
hairs of the silver beach
weed

16. Animals
ANIMALS
16

17. Blue Bellied Lizard
Scientific name-Sceloporus occidentalis
Length-8.4 inches Snout:3.9 inches
A blue bellied lizard is actually another
name for the western fence lizard (check page
21). They, like geckos, can walk on walls and
not fall off. The eggs of these lizard will hatch
in August. They will hibernate in the winter
time. Blue bellied lizards will mainly be around
in less populated places. A blue
bellied lizard looking for food
17

18. Garter Snake
1. Scientific name: Thamnophis
Garter snakes are among the most common
snakes in North America, with a range spanning from
Canada to Florida. It is most kept as pets.They are not
dangerous to people. There are many color of Garter Snakes.
A friendly Garter Snake
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19. Gopher Snake
Scientific name: Pituophis catenifer
Length: Gopher snake is usually between 36 and 96 inches
long.
The Gopher Snake is a subspecies. Its other name is
Bull Snake. It is also the most common snake found in California. Its
lifespan is till 15 years. It eats small mammals like mice. It is not
poisonous to most of the humans.
a long Gopher snake
19

20. Western Newt
Scientific Name-Taricha torosa
Length(sides)-2 ⅔-3 ½ Length-4.9 inches-7.8 inches
Western Newts are found in California. They
mate for 6-12 weeks. Western Newts tend to lay
7-47 eggs. The will eat small invertebrates to live.
The males will stay longer than the females, unlike
humans. They are amphibians, and have poison.
Western Newts can live for 20 years.
A Western Newt Resting
20

21. Western Fence Lizard
Scientific Name:Sceloporus occidentalis
Length:8.4 inches Snout:3.9 inches
Western Fence Lizard lives in western
Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and California.
They will eat beetles, flies, caterpillars,
ants, other insects, and spiders. The
predators are the shrew, raptors and
snakes. In spring, they will mate, and
females will lay eggs in summer.
Western Fence Lizard clinging to a tree 21

22. Bibliography
Malhar’s Bibliography
"Gopher Snakes." - DesertUSA. Web. 18 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.desertusa.com/reptiles/gopher-snake.html>.
1. Beaulieu, David. "Purple Ice Plant - Hardy Delosperma." Web. 18 Mar. 2015.
<http://landscaping.about.com/od/perennialflowers/p/iceplant.htm>.
Images
1. Garter Snake - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Digital image. Wikipedia. Web.
2. Gopher Snakes - DesertUSA. Digital image. DesertUSA. Web.
3. Reed, Kerry. Purple Ice Plant by Kerry Reed. Digital image. Web.
4. Index of /. Digital image.
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Gate_Bridge
22

23. Malhar’s continued
Websites
1. "Grindelia Stricta Venulosa, Coastal Groundcover Gum Plant." Grindelia Stricta Venulosa, Coastal Groundcover Gum
Plant. Web. 19 Mar. 2015. <http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/852--grindelia-stricta-venulosa>.
2. "Spotlight on Gum Plant." Bee Informed Partnership. Web. 20 Mar. 2015. <http://beeinformed.org/2012/08/spotlight-on-
gum-plant/>.
3. "Ice Plant Facts." GardenGuides. Web. 22 Mar. 2015. <http://www.gardenguides.com/93620-ice-plant.html>.
4. "Calflora: Plant Search." Calflora: Plant Search. Web. 22 Mar. 2015. <http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/specieslist.cgi?where-
genus=Grindelia>.
5. Szalay, By. "Garter Snake Facts." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 10 Dec. 2014. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.livescience.com/44072-garter-snake.html>.
6. Pacific Gopher Snake. Web. 25 Mar. 2015. <http://www.saczoo.org/document.doc?id=356>.
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24. Santiago’s Bibliography
Sea-Rocket
"Foraging Texas: Sea Rocket." Foraging Texas: Sea Rocket. 27 Aug. 2008. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.foragingtexas.com/2006/02/sea-rocket.html>.
Photo of a Sea-rocket plant and Info.
"Sea Rocket (Cakile Edentula)." Sea Rocket (Cakile Edentula). Web. 17 Mar. 2015. <http://www.ct-botanical-
society.org/galleries/cakileeden.html>.
Sand Verebena
"Desert Sand Verbena." - Abronia Villosa. Web. 19 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.desertusa.com/flowers/desert-sand-verbena.html>.
"Desert Sand Verbena Abronia Villosa." ENature: FieldGuides: Species Detail. 1 Jan. 2007. Web. 19 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recnum=WF0861>.
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25. Santiago’s Bibliography Continued
Photo of a Sand Verbena Plant
"Desert Sand Verbena Abronia Villosa." ENature: FieldGuides: Species Detail. 1 Jan. 2007. Web. 19 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/enlarged.asp?imageID=21171>.
Beach Grass
"Plants Profile for Ammophila Breviligulata (American Beachgrass)." Plants Profile for Ammophila Breviligulata
(American Beachgrass). Web. 23 Mar. 2015. <http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ambr>.
"NPIN: Native Plant Database." Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. 6 Dec. 2009. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=AMBR>.
"Native Beach Plants." Plants. 1 Jan. 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2015. <http://ca-sgep.ucsd.edu/focus-areas/healthy-coastal-marine-
ecosystems/explore-beach-ecosystems/beach-plants-and-animals/plants>.
25

26. Santiago’s Bibliography Continued
Photo of a Beach Grass Plant
"Ammophila Breviligulata." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 June 2014. Web. 22 Mar. 2015.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammophila_breviligulata>.
European Dune Grass
"Common Name: European Dune Grass - Elymus Arenarius." Common Name: European Dune Grass -
Elymus Arenarius. 24 Mar. 2015. Web. 24 Mar. 2015. <http://luirig.altervista.org/naturaitaliana/viewpics2.php?rcn=25720>
Photo and Info. of a European Dune Grass
"Leymus Arenarius." Plant Profile for. Valleybrook International Ventures Inc. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.perennials.com/plants/leymus-arenarius.html>.
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27. Rohit’s Bibliography
1. "Fragaria Chiloensis, Sand Strawberry." Fragaria Chiloensis, Sand Strawberry. Web. 16 Mar. 2015. <http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-
california/plants/312--fragaria-chiloensis>
2. Folino, Franco. Beach Strawberry. Digital image. Http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beach_Strawberry_(Fragaria_chiloensis).jpg.
25 Apr. 2004. Web.
3. "Toxic Animals Around the World." Toxic Animals Around the World. Web. 18 Mar. 2015.
<http://people.uwec.edu/piercech/animals/newt.htm>.
4. Adams, Fred, and Diana Adams. Toxic Animals Around the World. Digital image. Http://people.uwec.edu/piercech/animals/newt.htm. Web.
5. Bass, Cary. Western Fence Lizard. Digital image.
Http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Western_Fence_Lizard_(Sceloporus_occidentalis).jpg. 2 May 2008. Web.
6. "Sceloporus Occidentalis (Western Fence Lizard)." Sceloporus Occidentalis (Western Fence Lizard). Web. 19 Mar. 2015.
<http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/bio/reptile/lacer/scoc/scocfram.htm>.
7. Munz, Philip A. Shore Wildflowers of California, Oregon, and Washington,. Berkeley: U of California, 1964. Print.
8. Sullivan, Jon. Blue Bellied Lizard. Digital image.Http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lizards_blue_belly_scales.jpg. 21 Feb. 2013.
Web.
9. "California Newt - Taricha Torosa." California Newt. Web. 27 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.californiaherps.com/salamanders/pages/t.t.torosa.html#description>.
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28. Aadharsh’s Bibliography
Beach Morning Glory
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=IPIM
"NPIN: Native Plant Database." Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=IPIM>.
"A Wandering Botanist." : Plant Story: Morning Glories. Web. 16 Mar. 2015. <http://khkeeler.blogspot.com/2013/04/plant-story-
morning-glories.html>.
http://friendsofpajarodunes.org/education/interactive-plant-list/morning-glory-convolvulaceae/beach-morning-glory/
"Beach Morning Glory (Ipomoea Pes-caprae)." Friends of Pajaro Dunes RSS. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.
<http://friendsofpajarodunes.org/education/interactive-plant-list/morning-glory-convolvulaceae/beach-morning-glory/>.
http://www.mysilversands.com/content/west_beach.aspx?subnav=silversands
"West Beach (aka Derby Beach) Silver Sands, Jamaica." West Beach (aka Derby Beach) Silver Sands, Jamaica. Web. 18 Mar.
2015.
"Ipomoea Pes Caprae, Ipomoea Biloba , Beach Morning Glory, Gost Foot Creeper, Railroad Vine -." Rare Plants for Home and
Garden. Web. 18 Mar. 2015.
https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/ipomoea_pes_caprae.htm
http://pinker.wjh.harvard.edu/photos/Santa_Barbara_95-96/pages/sea%20fig%20flower.htm
"Sea Fig Flower." Sea Fig Flower. Accessed March 19, 2015.
http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/plant_profiles/Carpobrotus_chilensis.php
"Carpobrotus Chilensis (sea-fig, Iceplant)." Cal-IPC: Carpobrotus Chilensis. Web. 20 Mar.
http://www.pennilessparenting.com/2012/07/foraging-ice-plant-fruit-hottentot-figs.html
28

29. Aadharsh’s Bibliography continued...
Beach Morning Glory Continued
"Foraging Ice Plant Fruit- Hottentot Figs, Sour Figs, Sea Figs | Penniless Parenting." Foraging Ice Plant Fruit- Hottentot Figs, Sour
Figs, Sea Figs | Penniless Parenting. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.
Sea Fig:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/64335/#b
"PlantFiles: Sea Fig, Ice Plant." Dave's Garden. Web. 18 Mar. 2015.
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/arcata/arcweeds/plants/seafig.html
"Sea Fig." Sea Fig. Web. 18 Mar. 2015.
http://pinker.wjh.harvard.edu/photos/Santa_Barbara_95-96/pages/sea%20fig%20flower.htm
http://www.americansouthwest.net/plants/wildflowers/carpobrotus-chilensis.html
"Carpobrotus Chilensis, Sea Fig." Sea Fig, Carpobrotus Chilensis. Web. 20 Mar. 2015.
http://www.vegetablesinfo.com/ice-plant/
"What Is Ice Plant, Sea Fig, Sea Marigold." Information, History and Nutritional Value of Ice Plant, Sea Fig, Sea Marigold. Web. 20
Mar. 2015.
Bermuda Buttercups:
http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/files/83817.pdf
"Oxalis Pes‐caprae, or Bermuda Buttercup, Has Become a Serious Nuisance Plant in Gardens." Originally Published in the
29

30. Aadharsh’s Bibliography Continued….
Contra Costa
"Wild Edible: Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis Pes-caprae )." Root Simple. 24 Jan. 2013. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55661/#b
"PlantFiles: Bermuda Buttercup, Yellow Sour Grass, Cape Sorrel, African Woodsorrel, Sour Sob, Goat's Foot." Dave's Garden.
Web. 24 Mar. 2015.
Silver Beach Weed:
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