Anyone know the name of this plant?

[eric1234]

This plant grows very commonly in Southern CA usually between 4,000 and 6,000 ft. There are sections of it on the north side of Mt. San Jacinto on the PCT. It seems to prefer areas recently affected by fires. I think it may be called Ceanothus leucodermis (common name: chaparral whitethorn), but am not completely sure.

If you have walked through it in shorts, you will remember what it feels like.

Its the plant with white stems http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/ ... 00292.jpeg

[Screerider]

Not a lot of fun in long pants either. I kind of prefer it to getting beat up by the manzanita. I find the easiest path is between the manzanita and whitethorn.

[phydeux]

From your single picture it looks like whitethorn (aka 'buckthorn'), nasty stuff to try and hike through or out of. Thorns on the woody stems would be a real good indicator of whitethorn. If no thorns I'd say its chinquapin (but highly unlikely). Any better close-ups of the stems/leaves/buds?

[bluerail]

It's also known by another name that rhymes with buckthorn but is much more fitting.

[arocknoid]

Yes, but for those who have walked through it in shorts, a more fitting name would be C. erythrodermis.
Reminds me of wait-a-bit thornbush in Africa, though not nearly as gnarly; so named because that is what it makes you and your companions do, whilst untangling oneself.

BTW Nukular canine,

Thorns on the woody stems would be a real good indicator of whitethorn. If no thorns I'd say its chinquapin (but highly unlikely). Any better close-ups of the stems/leaves/buds?

my screen kept going into wait-a-bit mode when I tried to scroll right in the full hires photoframe.
For some reason I could not get beyond the middle of the image:



When I finally succeeded, the portion below was readily discerned, with distinctive white thorns :

[zippetydude]

For some reason I could not get beyond the middle of the image:

Perhaps you were just looking at the wrong part of the image.

z

[Screerider]

I didn't see anything wrong.

[Hikin_Jim]

Definitely buckthorn. Not something to wade into unless you're wearing full on leather chaps.

HJ

[HH8]

It's also known by another name

The lovely scent has some calling F*ckthorn by the dainty name "Mountain/Desert Lilac"

Ceanothus is an appallingly vigorous pain in the Ce-an...us

[Hikin_Jim]

HJ