Download - Acacia (Acacia pycnantha)
Acacia (Golden Wattle)(Acacia pycnantha)
• Description:– Phyllodes: modified petioles
(parallel veins)
– Evergreen
• Fruit:– Legume
• Flower:– Yellow
• Location:– Non-native
– Originated in Australia
• Chemical:– Tannins
• Uses:– Perfume
• Family:– Fabaceae (Pea family)
Pricklypear Cactus (Opuntia littoralis)
• Description:– Leaves modified into Glochids
– Stems modified as Chladophylls
• Fruit:– Fleshy red fruit (pear)
• Flower:– Yellow to red
• Location:– Native
– Found in coastal sage scrub and desert habitats in southwestern United States
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Can be eaten
• Family:– Cactaceae (Cactus family)
Bladderpod(Isomeris arborea)
• Description– Compound leaves with 3
leaflets
– Leaves alternate
– Evergreen
• Fruit: – Capsule
• Flower: – Yellow
• Location: – Native
– Endemic to Southern California
– Found in coastal sage scrub (CSS) and desert habitats in
• Chemical:– Strong odor to reduce
predation
• Uses:– None
• Family: – Capparaceae
Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius)
• Description:– Pinnately compound leaves
– Leaves alternate
– Evergreen
• Fruit: – Drupe
• Flower: – Small white
• Location: – Non-native (invasive)
– Originated in tropical and subtropical South America
• Chemical:– Aromatic sap that may burn
– May act as a narcotic on birds who eat berries
• Uses:– Ornamental
• Family:– Anacardiaceae (Sumac family)
Black Sage (Salvia mellifera)
• Description:– Simple leaves with small hairs
– Drought Deciduous
• Fruit: – Schizocarp
• Flower: – Blue or lavender in stacked
balls
• Location:– Native
– Coastal sage scrub (CSS) and chaparral habitats
• Chemical:– Diterpenoids used as pain
relievers
• Uses:– Rub on sore feet
– Chumash brewed as sun tea
– Nectar used to make honey
• Family:– Lamiaceae (Mint family)
Bulrush(Schoenoplectus californicus)
• Description– Triangular leaf
– Sedge-like
• Fruit: – Grain
• Flower: – Brown or tan panicle
inflorescence
• Location: – Native
– Indicator of freshwater in North and South America
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Used by Native Americans to
make baskets, rope, canoes
• Family:– Cyperaceae
California Blackberry (Rubus ursinus)
• Description– Leaves usually have 3 leaflets
but sometimes 5 or only 1– Branches with prickles– Usually Deciduous
• Fruit: – Aggregate fruit made up of
numerous duplets
• Flower: – White with narrow petals
• Location: – Native– Common in moist and shaded
shrublands, streamsides, disturbed areas, and canyons
– Western U.S.
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Used by Native Americans as a
food
• Family:– Rosaceae (Rose family)
California Buckeye (Aesculus californica)
• Description– Palmately Compound with
five leaflets
– Deciduous
• Fruit: – Capsule
• Flower: – Large white to pink
• Location: – Native to northern California
– Only buckeye species endemic to California
• Chemical:– Neurotoxic glycoside aesculin,
which causes hemolysis of red blood cells.
• Uses:– Used by Native Americans to
kill fish
– Toxic to honeybees
• Family:– Sapindaceae
California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum)
• Description:– Leaves in clusters
– Evergreen
• Fruit:
– Grain
• Flower: – White or brown clusters
• Location:
– Native
– Coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Treatment of headache,
diarrhea, and wounds
– Good for heart
– Erosion control
– Source of food for honeybees in summer months
• Family:– Polygonaceae
California Redbud (Cercis occidentalis)
• Description:– Simple heart-shaped leaves
– Deciduous
• Fruit: – Legume
• Flower:
– Large Pink or red
• Location:
– Native
– Chaparral habitats in western United States
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Wood Veneer
– Erosion control
– Red bark used for baskets
• Family:– Fabeaceae (Pea family)
California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica)
• Description– Slender flexible stems with
thin pinnate leaves
– Evergreen
• Fruit: – Achene
• Flower: – Narrow inflorescence which
are yellowish
• Location: – Native
– Coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats
• Chemical:– Terpenes to reduce
competition and predation
• Uses:– Erosion control
– Reduce digestive issues
• Family:– Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
Caster Bean(Ricinus communis)
• Description:– Palmate alternate Leaves
– Evergreen
• Fruit: – Spiny capsule (not a true
bean)
• Flower: – Panicle-like inflorescence
which are reddish in color
• Location: – Non-native (invasive)
– Originally from Asia and Africa
• Chemical:– Ricin (deadly)
• Uses:– Source of Caster Oil used for
digestive cleansing
– lubricant
• Family:– Euphorbiaceae
Catalina Cherry(Prunus ilicifolia)
• Description:– Simple toothed alternating
leaves (vary)
– Evergreen
• Fruit: – Drupe with large pit
• Flower: – Small white
• Location: – Native
– California chaparral
• Chemical:– Tannins
• Uses:– Native Americans made a
fermented drink
• Family:– Rosaceae (Rose Family)
Catalina Ironwood(Lyonothamnus floribundus)
• Description:– Compound Leaves (fernlike)
– Evergreen
• Fruit: – Capsule
• Flower: – Cream colored
• Location: – Native
– Endemic to Catalina Island
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Ornamental but seeds not
very viable
• Family:– Rosaceae (Rose family)
Cattail(Typha sp.)
• Description– Flat simple leaf
– Evergreen
• Fruit: – Nut
• Flower: – Dense Brown Spike (wind
dispersed)
• Location: – Native
– Indicator of fresh water in Northern Hemisphere
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Rhizomes are edible
– Leaves can be woven in to baskets or braided into rope
• Family:– Typhaceae
Ceonothus (Mt. Lilac)(Ceonothus sp.)
• Description:– Simple leaf with three
prominent veins
– Evergreen
• Fruit: – Capsule
• Flower: – Blue
• Location: – Native
– California chaparral
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Eaten by Deer
– Used for teas
– Baskets
• Family:– Rhamnaceae
Coast Live Oak(Quercus agrifolia)
• Description:– Simple convex leaves with
dentate margins
– Hairs in axils in leaves
– Evergreen
– No undergrowth due to shade and Tannins
• Fruit: – Nut
• Flower: – Catkins
• Location:– Native
– Oak woodlands, chaparral and CSS habitats
• Chemical:– Tannins
• Uses:– Food
– Charcoal
• Family:– Fagaceae
Coffee Berry(Rhamnus californica)
• Description:– Simple, reddish bark on stems
– Evergreen
• Fruit: – Drupe
• Flower: – Greenish
• Location:– Native
– Southwestern United States, Chaparral
• Chemical:– none
• Uses:– Ornamental not as well liked
by deer
– Erosion control
– Heal burns and rashes
– Used as laxative
• Family: – Rhamnaceae
Coyote Bush(Baccharis pilularis)
• Description– Simple leaves that are often
sticky– Various shapes determined
by location– Large root system
• Fruit: – Achenes
• Flower: – Small white or yellow
• Location:– Native– CSS and chaparral habitats in
western United States
• Chemical:– Oils to prevent predation
• Uses:– Secondary pioneer plant
• Family:– Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
Blue Elderberry(Sambucus nigra)
• Description– Pinnately compound leaves
with 5-9 leaflets
– Deciduous
• Fruit: – True berry
• Flower: – Yellow in an umbrella
structure
• Location:– Native
– Coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Edible fruits
– Wine
– Syrup
• Family:– Adoxaceae
Encelia or Brittlebush(Encelia sp.)
• Description:– White leaves
– Evergreen
• Fruit: – Acene
• Flower: – Yellow
• Location:– Native
– Coastal sage scrub and desert habitats
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Glue, Sealer, Gum, Incense
– Treat toothaches
• Family: – Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
Eucalyptus(Eucalyptus sp.)
• Description:– 700 species– Alternate simple leaves– Evergreen– Gum Trees– Peeling bark
• Fruit: – Capsule
• Flower: – Vary in color with an
operculum
• Location:– Non-native (Invasive)– Originally from Australia
• Chemical:– Terpenoids (aromatic)
• Uses:– Planted to lower the water
table– Make pulp for paper– Antiseptic– Food additives– Insect repellent
• Family:– Myrtaceae
Flannel Bush (Fremontodendron sp.)
• Description:– Simple 3-lobed leaves– Evergreen– Fuzzy texture – modified hairs
called trichomes
• Fruit: – Capsule
• Flower: – Large yellowish orange
Flowers
• Location: – Native– Southwestern U.S. and
Mexico– Chaparral, pine woodlands,
and juniper woodland habitats
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Water conservation gardens
• Family:– Malvaceae
Fremont Cottonwood (Populus fremontii)
• Description:– Simple leaf with long
flattened petiole
– Deciduous
• Fruit: – Achene
• Flower: – Catkins
• Location: – Native
– Riparian habitats
– Southwest U.S. and Northern Mexico
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Erosion control
– Fuel and fence posts
• Family:– Salicaceae
Desert willow(Chilopsis linearis)
• Description:– Simple leaf with long
flattened petiole
– Deciduous
• Fruit: – Drupe
• Flower: – Large white or pinkish
• Location: – Native
– Desert habitats in southwestern U.S
• Chemical– None
• Uses:– Wood used to make bows and
baskets
– Used to treat fungal infections
• Family:– Oleaceae
Ginkgo(Ginkgo biloba)
• Description:– Simple leaf which is fan
shaped
– Deciduous
• Fruit: – None
• Flower: – None
• Location: – Non-native
– Originated in China
• Chemical:– Butyric Acid
• Uses:– Decorative ornamental –
only males planted in this country
• Family:– Ginkgoaceae
Horehound(Marrubium vulgare)
• Description– Simple leaf with crinkled
appearance
• Fruit: – Berry
• Flower: – White clusters on stem
• Location: – Non-native
– Originally from Europe, Africa and Asia
• Chemical:– Essential oils
• Uses:– Antimicrobial and anticancer
properties
– Candy
– Grasshopper repellent
– Invasive Weed
• Family– Laminaceae (Mint family)
Incense Cedar(Calocedrus decurrens)
• Description:– Scaled leaves in flat sprays
– Branches Flexible
• Fruit: – None
• Flower: – None
• Location: – Native
– Evergreen forests in western North America
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Pencils
– Light fires
• Family:– Cupressaceae
Indian Paintbrush(Castilleja sp.)
• Description:– Clover like leaves
• Fruit: – Capsule
• Flower: – Red, orange to yellow (bracts)
• Location: – Native
– Various habitats in western North America
• Chemical:
– None
• Uses:
– Eaten as greens
– Hairwash
– Dye
• Family:
– Orobanchaceae
Jacaranda(Jacaranda sp.)
• Description:– Doubly compound leaves
• Fruit: – Capsule
• Flower: – Purple – often sticky
• Location: – Non-native
– Originally from Central and South America
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Ornamental plants
– Acoustic guitars
• Family:– Bignoniaceae
Jimson Weed(Datura stramonium)
• Description– Large simple toothed leaves
• Fruit: – Capsule
• Flower: – Large white to purple
• Location: – Native
– Coastal sage scrub, desert, and chaparral habitats
– Widespread throughout North and South America
• Chemical:– Atropine
• Uses:– Relieve asthma symptoms
– Hallucinogen
• Family:– Solanaceae
Jojoba(Simmondsia chinensis)
• Description:– Simple leaves that stand erect
• Fruit: – Capsule
• Flower: – Small greenish yellow
• Location: – Native
– Chaparral and desert habitats in western North America
• Chemical– Oil (liquid wax ester)
• Uses:– Laxative
– Salve
– Biodiesel fuel
– Cosmetics
• Family:– Simmondsiaceae
Laurel Sumac(Malosma laurina)
• Description;– Large Simple Leaves with
reddish edges
• Fruit: – Drupe
• Flower: – Small white
• Location: – Native
– Coastal sage scrub and Chaparral habitats
• Chemical:
– Volatile compounds
• Uses:
– Tea for dysentery
– Crown sprouting
– Fire adapted
• Family:– Anacardiaceae (Sumac family)
Lemonade Berry(Rhus integrifolia)
• Description:– Large Simple and alternating
– Evergreen
– Reddish twigs
– Leaf margins may be serrated
• Fruit: – Berry
• Flower: – Small rosy pink
• Location: – Native
– Coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats
• Chemical:– Tannins
• Uses:– Lemonade like drink
– Make candles
• Family:– Anacardiaceae (Sumac family)
Liquid Amber(Lizuidamber styraciflua)
• Description:– Large Simple and palmate
– Deciduous
• Fruit: – Woody Capsule
• Flower: – Greenish
• Location: – Non-native
– Originally from deciduous forests in eastern U.S.
• Chemical:– Styrax
• Uses:– Plywood, furniture, cabinets
– Chewing gum
• Family:– Altingiaceae
Mesquite(Prosopis sp.)
• Description– Deciduous– Doubly pinnate compound
leaves– Long Taproot (up to 200 ft)– Thorns
• Fruit: – Legume
• Flower: – Catkins with pale green or
yellow flowers
• Location: – Native– Desert habitats in
southwestern U.S
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Food (flour)– Furniture– Barbecues
• Family:– Fabaceae (Pea family)
Mulefat(Baccharis salicifolia)
• Description:– Simple Leaves
– Sticky foliage
• Fruit: – Small achene
• Flower: – Small fuzzy pink or red-tinged
white flowers
• Location: – Native
– Coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and riparian habitats in western U.S
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Erosion control
• Family:– Asteraceaea (Sunflower family)
Mustard(Bassica sp.)
• Description:– Annual
• Fruit: – Silque
• Flower: – Yellow
• Location: – Non-native (Invasive)
– Originally from Mediterranean region
• Chemical– Allelochemicals – inhibit
mychorrhizae of neighboring plants
• Uses:– Pioneer plant (indicator of
distrubance)
– Cooking oil
– Spice
– High in Vitamin C
• Family:– Brassicaceae (Mustard family)
Olive(Olea europaea)
• Description:– Small evergreen tree with small
oblong leaves that are dark green on the top, silvery on the bottom
• Fruit: – Drupe
• Flower: – Small white feathery flowers in
racemes
• Location: – Non-native
– Originally from Mediterranean region, Asia and Africa
• Chemical– Oleuropein – makes olives bitter.
Olives are fermented to use as food
• Uses:– Food (Olives are artificially black
by adding the chemical ferrous sulfate
– 90% of olives are used as olive oil
– Has been used as a symbol of peace
• Family:– Oleaceae
Palm Tree(Washingtonia sp.)
• Description:– Evergreen
– Skirt
– Near water (Oasis)
• Fruit: – Drupe
• Flower: – Small and insignificant
• Location: – Native
– Desert habitats in Mexico and southern California
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Food
– Baskets
– Thatch Roofs
• Family:– Arecaceae
Palo Verde(Parkinsonia microphylla)
• Description:– Green bark
– Small leaves that are drought deciduous
• Fruit: – Legume
• Flower: – Pale yellow
• Location: – Native
– Desert habitats in southwestern U.S
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Food (flour)
• Family:– Fabaceae (Pea family)
Pampas Grass(Cortaderia selloana)
• Description:– Tall grass with leaves that cut
when going toward center of plant
• Fruit: – Grain
• Flower: – Dense white panicles
• Location: – Non-native (Invasive)
– Riparian habitats
– Originally from South America
• Chemical:
– None
• Uses:
– Flower arrangements
• Family:
– Poaceaea (Grass family)
Pine Tree(Pinus sp.)
• Description:– Leaves are needles grouped
into fascicles
– Branches flexible
• Fruit: – None
• Flower: – None
• Location: – Native
– Evergreen forests worldwide
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Wood
– Furniture, floors
• Family:– Pinaceae
Sago Palm(Cycas revoluta)
• Description:– Palm-like
• Fruit: – None
• Flower: – None
• Location: – Non-native
– Originally from Japan and China
• Chemical:– Alkaloids, tannins, steroids
• Uses:– Ornamental
• Family:– Cycadaceae
Southern Black Walnut(Juglans nigra)
• Description:– Compound leaves
– Deciduous
– Slight odor
• Fruit: – Drupe
• Flower: – Green catkins
• Location: – Native
– Riparian habitats
– Endemic to California
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Flooring, furniture
– Food
• Family:– Juglandaceae
Southern Magnolia(Magnolia grandiflora)
• Description– Thick Waxy Leaves with rusty
pubescence underneath
• Fruit: – Follicle
• Flower: – Large White
• Location: – Non-native
– Originally from southeastern U.S.
• Chemical– None
• Use– Ornamental
– Make furniture, pallets and veneer
• Family– Magnoliaceae
Sugar Bush(Rhus ovata)
• Description– Large simple leaves with
reddish twigs – Ovate leaves that are folded
along the midrib– Leaf margins entire (smooth
• Fruit: – Drupe
• Flower: – Small, pink
• Location: – Native– Coastal sage scrub and
chaparral habitats
• Chemical:– Tannins
• Uses:– Ornamental
• Family:– Anacardiaceae (Sumac family)
Sweet Bay (Laurus sp.)
• Description:– Glossy simple leaves
– Evergreen
• Fruit: – True berry
• Flower: – Pale yellow green
• Location: – Non-native
– Originally from Mediterranean region
• Chemical:– Cineole oil
• Uses:– Astringent
– Olympic wreaths
– Cooking (spices)
• Family– Lauraceae
Toyon(Heteromeles (Photonia) arbutifolia)
• Description:– Christmas Berry
– Simple leaf - dentate
– Evergreen
• Fruit: – Pome
• Flower: – Small, white
• Location: – Native
– Coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats.
• Chemical:– Tannins
– Glycocides
• Uses:– Ornamental
– Jelly from fruit
– Tea for stomach ailments
• Family:– Rosaceae (Rose family)
Tree Tobacco(Nicotiana glauca)
• Description:– Heart shaped leaves
• Fruit: – Capsule
• Flower: – Yellow tubular
• Location: – Non-native (Invasive)
– Originally from South America
• Chemical:– Nicotine
• Uses:– Smoked
– Treat swelling and bruises
– Biofuel
• Family:– Solanaceae
Western Sycamore(Platanus racemosa)
• Description:– Large palmate leaves that are
pubescent
– Deciduous
– Peeling Bark
• Fruit: – Achene
• Flower: – Inflorescence
• Location: – Native
– Riparian habitats in California and Baja California
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Ornamental
• Family:– Platanaceae
White Alder(Alnus rhombifolia)
• Description:– Simple alternate leaves
with serrate margins – Deciduous– Bark with “eyes”
• Fruit: – Strobili (females)
• Flower: – Catkins (male)
• Location: – Native– Chaparral and woodland
habitats in California and Baja
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Ornamental
• Family:– Betulaceae
White Ash(Fraxinus americana)
• Description:– Compound leaves that are
made of 5-9 leaflets
– Leaves are opposite
– Deciduous
• Fruit: – Samara
• Location: – Non-native
– Riparian habitats
– Originally from eastern North America
• Chemical:– None
• Uses:– Baseball bats, oars, flooring,
tool handles
• Family: – Oleaceae
White Sage(Salvia apiana)
• Description:– Large white leaves with an
odor
• Fruit: – Achene
• Flower: – White to lavender
• Location: – Native
– Coastal sage scrub and Chaparral habitats
• Chemical:
– Terpenes to reduce competition and predation
• Uses:
– Food (Pinole)
• Family:
– Lamiaceae (Mint family)
Wild Radish(Raphanus raphanistrum)
• Description:– Annual
– Small simple leaves
• Fruit: – Silques
• Flower: – White to lavender
• Location: – Non-native (Invasive)
– Originally from Asia
• Chemical– None
• Use– Food
• Family– Brassicaeae (Mustard family)
Willow(Salix sp.)
• Description– Narrow simple leaves
– Usually Deciduous
– Moist soils
• Fruit: – Capsule
• Flower: – Catkins
• Location: – Native
– Riparian habitats in Northern hemisphere
• Chemical:
– Salicylic Acid
• Uses:
– Aspirin
• Family:
– Salicaceae