Freshwater Seep Community

Will Elder, NPS

 

The freshwater seep: This community is composed of herbaceous plants that inhabit areas having seasonal or perennial soil saturation due to groundwater seepage. This community is dominated by rushes and sedges.

Typical Sites at the Presidio: Freshwater seeps occur in areas primarily underlain by serpentinite rock and are found scattered through the coastal bluffs, bluffs above Crissy Field, near Inspiration Point, and at Presidio Hills.

Common Native Plants

Common Name	Scientific Name	Family
Water parsley	Oenanthe sarmentosa	Apiaceae
Sedge	Carex subbracteata	Cyperaceae
Bulrush	Scirpus cernuus	Cyperaceae
Coast clover	Trifolium wormskioldii	Fabaceae
Rush	Juncus effusius var. brunneus	Juncaceae
Rush	Juncus falcatus	Juncaceae
Rush	Juncus phaeocephalus	Juncaceae
Plantain	Plantago subnuda	Plantaginaceae
Seep monkey flower	Mimulus guttatus	Scrophulariaceae
Silverweed	Potentilla anserina ssp. pacifica	Rosaceae

Rare or Endangered Plants

Common Name	Scientific Name	Family
Franciscan thistle	Cirsium andrewsii	Asteraceae

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