Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area, Los Angeles County January 5, 2019

Snowy peaks above the Devil's Punchbowl

I've always wanted to visit the Devil's Punchbowl out off State Route 138 west of Wrightwood and I'm so glad that I did. The 1,310-acre natural area is managed by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation and they seem do be doing a great job.  The drive from State Route 138 to the natural area by itself is worth the trip, as the drive meanders up from the mojave scrub at 3,150 feet elevation and transitions through California juniper woodland ending with single-leaf pinyon pine woodland at 4,740 feet elevation. 

Amazing rock formations at Devil's 

Punchbowl Natural Area 

I loved seeing my old friend big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), along with big-berry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) and the single-leaf pinyon pine (Pinus monophylla). The sedimentary rock formations are truly amazing as well and I think I will need to come back to check out the Devil's Chair. It was nice and cold during my visit, 45 degrees around noon, overcast, and the wind was up. It was not a great day for photos but I had a great time with the two new conifers. There was a lot of single-leaf pinyon pine where I was in the natural area but there was not a lot of California juniper (Juniperus californica) around. I drove down the road and stopped a few hundred yards from the entrance to the natural area and had a good look at the transition zone from juniper woodland to single-leaf pinyon pine woodland. Here I had a good look at both species together.

Quality mixed juniper and
pinyon pine woodland 

I think I have my hands full with road trips this year but this place would be worth another visit in the spring. On the way home I picked up a four pack of Mammoth Brewing Company's 395 India pale ale that is brewed with juniper berries and sage. Seems just about perfect as I write this. 

8. Single-leaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
I've always had a soft spot in my heart for single-leaf pinyon pine. I first knew the species at the very northern extent of its range while climbing the amazing rock formations at City of Rocks in Southern Idaho and I've seen them here in southern California near the southern extent of its range. I think the single-needle pine is unique and you are usually in a cool spot when around pinyon pines. I also like the light brown color of the fresh cones. I made a few into Christmas tree ornaments a few years ago and really like them. 

The single-leaf pinyon pine at the
visitor's center is impressive

The single-leaf pinyon pine is not a tall tree. The size seems to vary based on landscape position and the tallest trees I saw were approximately 30 to 35 feet in height. The single-leaf pinyon pine has (drum roll.....) one needle. 
The needle is between 1.5 to 2.5 inch in length and has a slight curve to it. The cones are relatively small ranging 3.5 to 4 inches in height. Whatever the cones lack in size they make up for in nuts. The prized pinyon pine-nut is quite large and serves the local wildlife well. The grey and brown bark has cinnamon streaks and is lightly furrowed. From a distance you know your entering pinyon pine woodland by the elevation, landscape position and clumpy nature of the single-leaf pinyon pine woodland.   

Single slightly curved needle

Cones and needles of single-leaf needle pinyon pine, note the two pine nuts remaining in the upper cone 

Grey and brown bark of single-leaf pinyon pine

9. California Juniper (Juniperus californica)
I was excited to see California juniper as I drove up through the juniper woodland on the way to Devil's Punchbowl. The juniper shrubs form a mosaic of clumps on the landscape. The female shrubs were readily identified by the distinct green-grey seed cones (or juniper berries) that the male shrubs lacked.  

The patchy mosaic of juniper woodland

California juniper is dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants), shrubby with multiple trunks, and is approximately 10 to 15 feet in height. The whorled scale-like leaves of California juniper are very small and do not look like normal leaves at all. It took me a while to get over the lack of "real" leaves but I've gained a better appreciation for the genus after revisiting the Cupressaceae Family and reviewing the different genera and species. Each little leaf has a distinct dark gland which helps differentiate it from the similar looking but monoecious (male and female flowers on the same plant) Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) which has an obscure leaf gland.

Scale-like leaves and pollen cones
 of a male California juniper

The male shrubs has small 2 to 3 millimeter brown pollen cones. The male shrubs have a darker appearance compared to the female shrubs which have an abundance of fleshy green-grey seed cones or juniper berries. The fleshy seed cones are round-ish with little protrusions and are 7 to 12 millimeters in size. The green-grey color of the seed cones comes from a thin glaucous film that is easily removed at the first touch. The bark of the main trunks and large branches of California juniper is grey and shaggy. 
    

Glaucous seed cones of a female California juniper

Glaucous film on the seed cones easily rubs off

Shaggy persistent bark of California juniper