Native California dove weed spotted thriving in Redwood City
iNaturalist: armaan_herper
Native Plants
If you're restoring a dry, sunny patch of yard with California natives, turkey mullein is a tough, low-water groundcover that quail and doves actually seek out for cover and seed.
Someone out walking in Redwood City, California spotted and photographed turkey mullein, a native plant also called dove weed, and other naturalists confirmed the identification online. It's a sticky, gray-green annual that native peoples once used to stun fish in streams, and today it's valued as food and shelter for quail and doves in dry California habitats.
Key Findings
Observation was verified to 'research grade' status on iNaturalist, meaning the species ID has community consensus.
Turkey mullein (Croton setiger) is a native California annual in the spurge family, often found in disturbed, dry, sunny soils.
The species is historically significant for its saponin-containing sap, used by Indigenous Californians as a fish poison, and remains important forage/cover for ground-feeding birds like quail and doves.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A birder or naturalist logged a confirmed sighting of turkey mullein, a native California annual, growing in Redwood City. The record adds to community data tracking where this drought-tolerant native shrub still thrives in the Bay Area.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
turkey mullein (Croton setiger) observed in Redwood City, CA, US
Research-grade observation of turkey mullein in Redwood City, CA, US.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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Croton setiger is a species of plant known in English as turkey mullein, dove weed, and fish locoweed. It is native to most of the western United States and northwest Mexico. It has naturalized elsewhere, including parts of Australia and Central Chile. It is sometimes spelled Croton setigerus and...