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37-711: The Peninsular Ranges include the Santa Ana Mountains , Temescal Mountains , and other mountains and ranges of the Perris Block , San Jacinto Mountains , and Laguna Mountains of southern California continuing from north to south with the Sierra de Juárez , Sierra de San Pedro Mártir , Sierra de San Borja , Sierra de San Francisco , Sierra de la Giganta , and Sierra de la Laguna in Baja California. Palomar Mountain , home to Palomar Observatory ,

74-507: A Christmas tree . Due to the limited distribution of the species, the seeds of the Parry pinyon are not gathered commercially. They are more often consumed by birds, rodents (especially woodrats ) and other mammals. The Cahuilla tribe of southern California used the resin to make a face cream commonly used by girls to prevent sunburn . The nuts were useful as well. For the Cahuilla,

111-737: A geologic province known as the Salinian Block which broke off the North American Plate as the San Andreas Fault and Gulf of California came into being. Between this set of ranges and the Transverse Ranges is the complex Malibu Coast—Santa Monica— Hollywood fault , which exists as the border between these two mostly geologically unitary provinces. Most of the Peninsular Ranges are in

148-615: A highway tunnel through the Santa Ana Mountains, although the multibillion-dollar idea has drawn criticism from environmentalists and others concerned about cost and safety in the earthquake-prone region. While Highway 91 is one of the most congested routes in California, Highway 74 holds a more ominous claim as one of the most dangerous highways in the state. State route 241 starts in Mission Viejo and runs alongside

185-483: A lifespan of around 200 to 500 years. It is usually found in rocky areas that often have thin soil. It occurs at moderate altitudes from 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) to 1,800 metres (5,900 ft), rarely as low as 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) and as high as 2,500 metres (8,200 ft). It is scarce and often scattered in this region, forming open woodlands, usually mixed with junipers . Other common names include nut pine and fourleaf pinyon pine . Pinus quadrifolia

222-469: A number of high-mountain streams that flow for all or most of the year, although once out of the foothills these waterways are ephemeral . The major streams rising from the western side of the range drain into the Pacific Ocean; these include Peters Canyon Wash , Serrano Creek , San Diego Creek , Aliso Creek , Trabuco Creek , San Juan Creek , and San Mateo Creek . The northern side of the range

259-668: A short peninsular mountain range along the coast of Southern California in the United States. They extend for approximately 61 miles (98 km) southeast of the Los Angeles Basin largely along the border between Orange and Riverside counties. The range starts in the north at the Whittier Fault and Santa Ana Canyon , through which the Santa Ana River flows. To the north of the canyon are

296-526: A synonym of P. quadrifolia . Despite the ease of hybridisation with single-leaf pinyon, Parry pinyon is genetically probably more closely related to the Johann's pinyon ( P. johannis ) and Potosí pinyon ( P. culminicola ), despite being separated from them by well over 1,000 km (620 mi). The low density of organic material in areas where the Parry pinyon is found reduces the risk of fires spreading. However, due to low-hanging branches and thin bark,

333-436: Is Mediterranean, with warm dry summers and cool wet winters. Annual precipitation totals range from 20 to 30 inches (500–760 mm) in the higher parts of the range above 3,000 feet (910m), as compared to the average of 13–16 inches (350–400 mm) in the coastal plain. Most of the precipitation falls between November and March. The western (coastal) slope is generally moister than the eastern slope. Snow falls during winter on

370-410: Is a small to medium size tree , reaching 8 to 15 m (26 to 49 ft) tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 40 cm (16 in), rarely more. The bark is thick, rough and scaly. The leaves (needles) are in fascicles of 4–5, moderately stout, 2.5–5.5 cm (1– 2 + 1 ⁄ 8  in) long; glossy dark green with no stomata on the outer face, and a dense bright white band of stomata on

407-599: Is defined by the Santa Ana River , which heads about 50 miles (80 km) further east, in the San Bernardino Mountains . Santiago Creek drains much of the northern part of the range and empties into the Santa Ana River near downtown Orange . Water from the north-east side of the range empties into Temescal Creek which flows north to the Santa Ana River, or Lake Elsinore which intermittently overflows to Temescal Creek. The southeast end of

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444-642: Is in the Peninsular Ranges in San Diego County , as are Viejas Mountain and the San Ysidro Mountains . The Peninsular Ranges run predominantly north-south, unlike the Transverse Ranges to their north, which mostly run east-west. Rocks in the ranges are dominated by Mesozoic granitic rocks , derived from the same massive batholith which forms the core of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. They are part of

481-769: The Elsinore Mountains , which are west of Lake Elsinore . San Mateo Peak 3,591 feet (1,095 m) marks the highpoint of this range. Margarita Peak, 3,189 feet (972 m); and Redonda Mesa , 2,825 feet (861 m) are part of the Santa Margarita Mountains , a subrange of the Santa Anas that extends down to Camp Pendleton and Fallbrook . Southeast of the Elsinore Mountains is the Santa Rosa Plateau , named for

518-610: The Nearctic realm . Several terrestrial ecoregions cover portions of the Peninsular Ranges. On the western side of the northern portion of the ranges, the California montane chaparral and woodlands sub-ecoregion of the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion covers southern California and northern Baja California. On the western side of the southern portion of the ranges, the Baja California desert ecoregion covers

555-485: The Rancho Santa Rosa that once encompassed it. At the south end of the plateau there is a steep escarpment from the basalt capped mesas that line it, that descends from about 500 feet at Mesa de Burro to Sandia Creek on the east to about 1800 feet at Avenaloca Mesa to De Luz Creek in the west. From the foot of the escarpment, the mountains and canyons of De Luz, Sandia Creek and others below it, run to

592-845: The seeds on the scales after opening. The seeds are 10–14 mm ( 13 ⁄ 32 – 9 ⁄ 16  in) long, with a thin shell, a white endosperm , and a vestigial 1–2 mm ( 1 ⁄ 32 – 3 ⁄ 32  in) wing; they are dispersed by the pinyon jay , which plucks the seeds out of the open cones. The jay, which uses the seeds as a food resource, stores many of the seeds for later use, and some of these stored seeds are not used and are able to grow into new trees. In addition to birds, rodents and other mammals can distribute its seeds. The Parry pinyon frequently hybridises with single-leaf pinyon ( P. monophylla ) where their ranges meet in southern California and northern Baja California. Hybrids are distinguished by intermediate features, with needles usually fascicles of 2–3 with some stomata on

629-471: The Parry pinyon itself is susceptible to fire. Larger Parry pinyons can survive fires of low to moderate heat, but younger pinyons can be wiped out by fires. The Parry pinyon does not possess the ability to resprout after a fire. The edible seeds, pine nuts , are collected throughout its range, though it is much less important than Colorado pinyon ( P. edulis ) for the crop. Parry pinyon is also occasionally planted as an ornamental tree and sometimes used as

666-610: The Peninsular Ranges harbor many rare and endemic species. Southern Baja California Sur is part of the Neotropical realm . The southern end of the Baja California Peninsula, including the Sierra de la Laguna Peninsular Range, was, like the rest of the peninsula, originally part of the Mexican mainland. It was sheared off the mainland, becoming at one time an island, and evolved in relative isolation from

703-431: The Santa Ana Mountains was shot and killed in the mountains in 1908. Gray wolf , pronghorn , California condor and possibly jaguar were also once found in the range. A number of minerals have been mined in the range, though none were very profitable. Commercial resources collected since the 1870s have included metals such as lead, silver, tin, and zinc, and minerals such as clay, coal, gypsum, and limestone. Parts of

740-1269: The eastern ( Gulf of California ) side of the southern portion of the ranges, the Gulf of California xeric scrub ecoregion covers the range in Baja California Sur. The higher portions of the Peninsular Ranges, especially the west-facing slopes, are home to coniferous and mixed evergreen forests . Cleveland National Forest covers much of the higher Southern California Peninsular Ranges. The vegetation includes oak woodlands and forests of Jeffrey pine ( Pinus jeffreyi ) and Coulter pine ( Pinus coulteri ) . The Sierra Juarez and San Pedro Martir pine-oak forests cover upper slopes of Sierra Juarez and San Pedro Martir ranges in Baja California. These isolated forests, predominantly tamarack pine ( Pinus contorta subsp. murrayana ) , sugar pine ( Pinus lambertiana ) , Parry pinyon (Pinus quadrifolia) , white fir ( Abies concolor ) , California incense cedar ( Calocedrus decurrens ) , and junipers . Oak species include coast live oak ( Quercus agrifolia ) , Engelmann oak ( Quercus engelmannii ) , canyon live oak ( Quercus chrysolepis ) , and Baja oak ( Quercus peninsularis ) . These higher portions of

777-693: The family, is also located here. The mountains were the site of the Indian massacre of Puhú village in 1831 in Black Star Canyon . As part of the California Floristic Province , the Santa Ana Mountains host a diverse array of plant species within distinctive natural (plant) communities, including coastal sage scrub , chaparral , riparian woodland, southern oak woodland , rocky outcrop, vernal pool , valley grassland , and closed-cone montane coniferous forest . One of

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814-720: The foothills of the Santa Ana's while merging with State Route 133 and 261. The highway finishes at the junction with State Route 91. Notes Archival collections Other Parry Pinyon Pinus parryana Pinus juarezensis Pinus quadrifolia , the Parry pinyon , is a pine in the pinyon pine group native to southernmost California in the United States and northern Baja California in Mexico , from 33° 30' N south to 30° 30' N. The Parry pinyon has

851-587: The highest peaks. The mountains were named by members of Gaspar de Portolà 's expedition, who camped below the mountains on July 26, 1769, the Feast Day of Saint Anne . At the time of Portola's visit, the Santa Anas were settled by three main groups of indigenous peoples , the Tongva in the north, the Acjachemen in the west and Payomkowishum in the east and south. A handful of historic sites remain in

888-414: The highest summit in the range — form Saddleback Ridge . Saddleback, located approximately 20 mi (32 km) east of Santa Ana , is visible from much of Southern California. South of Saddleback are Trabuco Peak , 4,613 feet (1,406 m); Los Pinos Peak , 4,510 feet (1,370 m) and Sitton Peak, 3,273 feet (998 m). Elsinore Peak , 3,575 feet (1,090 m) is included in a subrange called

925-512: The inner surfaces. The Parry pinyon begins to grow cones at around 10 to 20 years, and seed production is maximized at 50 or more years of age. The cones are globose, 4–5.5 cm ( 1 + 5 ⁄ 8 – 2 + 1 ⁄ 8  in) long and broad when closed, green at first, ripening yellow to orange-buff when 18–20 months old, with only a small number of thick scales, with typically 5–10 fertile scales. The cones open to 5 to 7 cm (2 to 2 + 3 ⁄ 4  in) broad when mature, holding

962-443: The northern part of the peninsula and ranges. Its flora and fauna share many affinities with southern Mexico and Central America . It includes three distinct ecoregions, the Sierra de la Laguna dry forests , Sierra de la Laguna pine-oak forests , and San Lucan xeric scrub . 29°57′N 114°43′W  /  29.95°N 114.72°W  / 29.95; -114.72 Santa Ana Mountains The Santa Ana Mountains are

999-411: The nuts were given to the babies to eat as an alternative from breast milk and were also grounded then mixed with water as a beverage. The nuts were roasted and eaten whole or made into mush. They were important to the Cahuilla as a trade item with neighboring tribes. The pine needles and roots were used as material for basketry and the bark was a reliable substance for making the roofs of houses. The resin

1036-513: The outer surface. It has been suggested by some botanists that the holotype specimen of P. quadrifolia is itself from a hybrid; presumed pure, non-hybrid specimens having been given the new name Pinus juarezensis , the Juárez pinyon, after the Sierra de Juárez of northern Baja California. However, there is no proof that these specimens are genetically 'purer' than the original type specimen, and few botanists accept P. juarezensis as other than

1073-540: The range have been used to graze domestic livestock and harvest timber since the late 18th century. As the surrounding cities have grown, the water of the range's creeks has become a particularly valued resource. The mountains form a natural barrier between the Inland Empire region to the east and the job centers of Orange County to the west. Only one freeway, the Riverside Freeway ( State Route 91 ),

1110-782: The range is marked by the Santa Margarita River , which also originates east of the Santa Anas and flows southwest to the Pacific. Runoff from the southeast side of the range drains into Murrieta Creek , a tributary of the Santa Margarita River. Irvine Lake , the largest body of fresh water in Orange County, is in the northwest part of the range near Villa Park . The lake is formed by the Santiago Dam , which impounds Santiago Creek. The climate

1147-525: The range today. Registered California Historical Landmarks include an Indian Village Site in Black Star Canyon , Flores Peak named for the outlaw Juan Flores , the mining boomtown sites of Carbondale and Silverado , and Helena Modjeska's home . The Moreno and Machado Adobes of the Rancho Santa Rosa are found on the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve . Beeks Place , a small house foundation still owned by

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1184-871: The rugged terrain. Numerous ferns, including large sword ferns, are found under trees and near streams, especially at higher elevations. A surprising variety of wildlife species can be found, including mountain lion , mule deer , bobcat , coyote , gray fox , American badger , ring-tailed cat , spotted skunk , western gray squirrel , long-tailed weasel , dusky-footed woodrat , kangaroo rat , bats , spotted owl , western pond turtle , steelhead , coast horned lizard , least Bell's vireo , golden eagle , mountain quail , canyon wren , speckled rattlesnake , Pacific rattlesnake , common kingsnake , gopher snake , western fence lizard , arroyo toad , western spadefoot toad , California tree frog , California sister butterfly , various Aphonopelma species of tarantula, and many more. The last wild California grizzly bear in

1221-480: The smaller Chino Hills in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. The northernmost summit of the Santa Anas, at 3,045 feet (928 m), is Sierra Peak. From there, the major summits are Pleasants Peak, 4,007 feet (1,221 m); Bedford Peak, 3,800 feet (1,200 m); and Bald Peak, 3,947 feet (1,203 m). The next two peaks — Modjeska , 5,496 feet (1,675 m); and Santiago , 5,689 feet (1,734 m),

1258-715: The south to the Santa Margarita River . The range ends roughly at the Santa Margarita River. Much of the range is within the Trabuco Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest , although some parts are still owned by two century-old ranches: the Irvine Ranch (originally known as the Yorba Family's Rancho Lomas de Santiago ) and Rancho Mission Viejo (originally recorded as Rancho Misión Vieja ). The Santa Anas include

1295-606: The southern portion of the Peninsular Ranges in Baja California and Baja California Sur . On the eastern side of the northern ranges, the Sonoran Desert ecoregion covers southeastern California and northeastern Baja California as far south as the town of Loreto , Baja California Sur . On the eastern side of the Laguna Mountains in San Diego County , Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is known for its springtime profusion of Colorado Desert (Sonoran) wildflowers. On

1332-650: The southernmost stands of madrones can be found in Trabuco Canyon . Groves of knobcone pine can be found around Pleasants Peak. Big-cone Douglas fir and Coulter pine can be found at the higher elevations. Rare flowers like the intermediate Mariposa lily , heart-leaved pitcher sage (associated with the Tecate cypress ), and chocolate lily are difficult to find. Fragrant sages , broadleaf evergreen shrubs and trees, perennial bunchgrasses , succulents ( Dudleya species), and fire-following flowers grow in

1369-462: The tolled Foothill and Eastern Transportation Corridor ( State Route 241 ), and the two-lane Ortega Highway ( State Route 74 ) connect the regions. Highway 91, which follows the Santa Ana River through a pass between the Santa Ana Mountains on the south and the Chino Hills on the north, is one of California's most congested routes. Because of this, several proposals have been floated to excavate

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