Aug 18, 2017

Photograph Friday: When Plants and Animals Swap Names

 

The protected waters of Morro Bay support a diverse range of plants and wildlife, as do the coastal habitats that surround the bay. In today’s Photograph Friday post, we’re celebrating that biodiversity in a fun way, by taking a peek at a selection of local plants and animals with interesting common names. Specifically, we’re focusing on plants that are named after animals and animals that are named for fruiting plants. Check them out below! See the bottom of the post for a giveaway opportunity.

Sea lemon
Sea lemon

Find out how sea lemons taste and smell to predators.

 

Sticky monkey flower, photograph by Maggie Smith.
Sticky monkey flower,  photograph by Maggie Smith.

Learn about sticky monkey flower.

 

Sea Cucumber, Holothuroidea
Sea cucumber

How cool are sea cucumbers? Pretty cool. Learn about them here.

 

Salt marsh bird's beak, Chloropyron maritimum
Salt marsh bird’s beak

 

Learn more about this very rare native plant.

 

Strawberry anemone
Strawberry anemone

Learn where you can find strawberry anemone hanging around.

 

Hummingbird sage, salvia-spathacea.
Hummingbird sage

This drought-tolerant native plant grows wild and can be cultivated in gardens.

 

Coyote brush, Baccharis pilularis
Coyote bush

Coyote bush, also known as coyote brush, is common around the Marina Peninsula trail at Morro Bay State Park. Learn more about coyote bush.

 

Can you think of more local plants or animals with names like this? Email us the plant or animal name and, if possible, a photograph at staff at mbnep dot org. We’ll give away a free reusable produce bag to the first three people to respond.


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