Plants
Higher plants include ferns, gymnosperms and flowering plants. They are distinguished by the presence of a vascular system which transports water, mineral nutrients and food materials throughout the plant. California is a hotspot of floristic diversity. Almost 6,000 species of higher plants grow in California. Of these, over 1100 are endemic; that is, they grow nowhere else in the world. However, California has become a catchall of invasive plants. Over 1,000 alien species are now established here. Over 2,000 of our native plant taxa are considered to be rare and threatened.
Equisetopsida (horsetails)
Equisetales
Equisetaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Equisetum telmateia subsp. braunii |
Giant horsetail |
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Pteridopsida (ferns)
Athyriales
Athyriaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Athyrium filix-femina |
Lady fern |
Dryopteridales
Dryopteridaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Dryopteris arguta |
Coastal wood fern |
Pteridales
Dennstaedtiaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Pteridium aquilinum |
Bracken fern |
Pteridaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Adiantum capillus-venerus |
Southern maiden-hair |
| Adiantum jordanii |
California maiden-hair |
| Pellaea andromedifolia |
Coffee fern |
| Pentagramma triangularis var. triangularis |
Goldback fern, silverback fern |
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Liliopsida (monocots)
Asparagales
Agavaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Agave americana |
Century plant, maguey |
| Cordyline australis |
Green dracaena |
Asphodelaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Aloe sp. |
|
Iridaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Iris douglasiana |
Douglas iris |
| Sisyrinchium bellum |
Blue-eyed-grass |
Liliales
Liliaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Asparagus asparagoides |
Asparagus |
| Bloomeria crocea var. crocea |
Common golden Star |
| Chlorogalum pomeridianum var. pomeridianum |
Soap plant, amole |
| Lilium humboldtii subsp. ocellatum |
Humboldt lily |
Poales
Cyperaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Cyperus sp. |
Nutsedge |
Juncaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Juncus patens |
Common Rush |
Poaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Agrostis pallens |
Thin bentgrass |
| Avena barbata |
Slender wild oat |
| Avena fatua |
Wild oat |
| Brachypodium distachyon |
False brome |
| Bromus aff. arenarius |
|
| Bromus catharticus var. elatus |
California brome |
| Bromus diandrus |
Ripgut brome |
| Bromus grandis |
|
| Bromus hordaceous |
Soft chess, soft brome |
| Bromus madritensis |
Foxtail chess |
| Bromus rubens |
Red brome |
| Cynodon dactylon |
Bermuda grass |
| Ehrharta erecta |
Panic veld grass |
| Elymus glaucus |
Western rye |
| Hordeum murinum subsp. leporinum |
Barley |
| Hordeum vulgare |
Common barley |
| Leymus condensatus |
Giant wild rye |
| Lolium multiflorum |
Italian ryegrass |
| Melica imperfecta |
Small-flowered Melic-grass |
| Nassella lepida |
Foothill needlegrass |
| Nassella pulchra |
Purple needlegrass |
| Piptatherum miliaceum |
Smilo grass |
| Poa annua |
Annual bluegrass |
| Polypogon (Agrostis) viridis |
Beardless rabbitsfoot grass |
| Vulpia bromoides |
|
| Vulpia myuros var. hirsuta |
Foxtail fescue |
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Magnoliopsida (dicots)
Apiales
Apiaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Apiastrum angustifolium |
Mock parsley |
| Foeniculum vulgare |
Fennel |
| Sanicula crassicaulis |
Snakeroot |
| Sanicula hoffmannii |
Hoffmann's blacksnakeroot |
| Torilis arvensis |
Field hedge parsley |
| Yabea microcarpa |
|
Araliaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Hedera canariensis |
Algerian ivy |
Pittosporaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Pittosporum undulatum |
Victorian box, mock orange |
Asterales
Asteraceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Acourtia microcephala |
Perezia |
| Ageratina adenophora |
Sticky snakeroot, thoroughwort |
| Agosoris grandiflora |
Giant dandelion |
| Artemisia californica |
Coastal sagebrush |
| Artemisia douglasiana |
Mugwort |
| Baccharis pilularis var. consanguinea |
Coyote brush |
| Baccharis plummerae subsp. plummerae |
Plummer's coyote brush |
| Baccharis salicifolia |
Mule fat |
| Bidens pilosa |
Sticktight, beggar's tick |
| Brickellia californica |
California brickell bush |
| Carduus pycnocephalus |
Italian thistle |
| Centaurea melitensis |
Maltese star thistle, tocalote |
| Chamomilla sauveolens |
Pinewapple weed, rayless chamomile |
| Chrysanthemum coronarium |
Garland daisy, crown daisy |
| Cirsium vulgare |
Bull thistle |
| Conyza canadensis |
Horseweed |
| Corethrogyne filaginifolia |
California aster, cudweed aster |
| Delairea odorata |
Cape ivy |
| Encelia californica |
California bush sunflower |
| Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus |
Leafy fleabane |
| Eriophyllum confertiflorum var. confertiflorum |
Golden-yarrow |
| Filago californica |
California cottonrose |
| Grindelia sp. |
Gumplant |
| Hazardia squarrosa |
Sawtooth goldenbush |
| Hypochaeris glabra |
Smooth cat's-ear |
| Lactuca serriola |
Prickley lettuce |
| Picris echioides |
Bristly ox-tongue |
| Pseudognaphalium biolettii |
Bioletti's rabbit-tobacco |
| Pseudognaphalium californicum |
California rabbit-tobacco |
| Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum |
Red-tip rabbit-tobacco |
| Pseudognaphalium microcephalum |
San Diego rabbit-tobacco |
| Solidago californica |
California goldenrod |
| Sonchus oleraceus |
Common sow thistle |
| Stephanomeria virgata |
Twiggy wreath |
| Taraxacum officinale |
Common dandelion |
| Urospermum picroides |
|
| Venegasia carpesioides |
Canyon sunflower |
Brassicales
Brassicaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Cardamine californica |
Milk maids, toothwort |
| Cardamine oligosperma (?) |
Bitter cress |
| Hirschfeldia incana |
Short-pod mustard |
| Lobularia maritima |
Sweet alyssum |
| Raphanus sativus |
Radish |
| Sisymbrium irio |
London rocket |
| Sisymbrium officinale |
Hedge mustard |
| Sisymbrium orientale |
Indian hedge mustard |
Caryophyllales
Amaranthaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Amaranthus blitoides |
Mat amaranth |
Amaranthaceae (Chenopodiaceae)
| Species |
Common name |
| Atriplex semibaccata |
Australian saltbush |
| Chenopodium aff. album |
Pigweed, lamb/s quarters |
| Chenopodium ambrosioides |
Mexican tea |
| Chenopodium murale |
Nettle-leaf goosefoot |
| Salsola tragus |
Russian thistle, tumbleweed |
Caryophyllaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Cerastium glomeratum |
Mouse-ear chickweed |
| Spergula arvensis |
Stickwort, starwort |
| Stellaria media |
Common chickweed |
Polygonaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Eriogonum fasciculatum |
California buckwheat |
| Eriogonum giganteum var. giganteum |
Santa Catalina Island buckwheat |
| Rumex sp. |
Dock |
Polypodiaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Polypodium californicum |
California polypody |
Cornales
Cornaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Cornus glabrata |
Brown dogwood |
Cucurbitales
Cucurbitaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Marah macrocarpus |
Man-root, wild cucumber |
Dipsacales
Caprifoliaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Lonicera subspicata var. denudata |
Chaparral honeysuckle |
| Lonicera subspicata var. subspicata |
Santa Barbara honeysuckle |
| Sambucus mexicana |
Western elderberry |
| Symphoricarpos mollis |
Spreading snowberry |
Ericales
Primulaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Anagallis arvensis |
Scarlet pimpernel |
EricalesUnknown
Boraginaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Phacelia aff. cicutaria |
Caterpiller scorpionweed |
Fabales
Fabaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Caesalpinia spinosa |
Tara |
| Hoita macrostachya |
Large leather-root |
| Lathyrus vestitus |
Wild sweetpea |
| Lotus scoparius |
Common deerweed |
| Lupinus hirsutissima |
Stinging lupine |
| Lupinus succulentus |
Succulent lupine |
| Medicago lupulina |
Black medic, yellow trefoil |
| Medicago polymorpha |
California burclover |
| Melilotus albus |
Sweet clover |
| Melilotus indicus |
Sour clover |
| Melilotus officinalis |
Yellow sweet clover |
| Vicia aff. villosa ssp. varia |
Hairy vetch, winter vetch |
| Vicia americana |
American vetch |
| Vicia sativa |
Spring vetch |
Fagaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Quecus tomentella |
Island oak |
| Quercus agrifolia |
Coast live oak |
| Quercus dumosa |
California scrub oak |
Fagales
Betulaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Alnus rhombifolia |
White alder |
Juglandaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Juglans sp. |
Walnut |
Gentianales
Apocynaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Vinca major |
Greater periwinkle |
Rubiaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Galium aparine |
Goose grass |
| Galium californicum |
California bedstraw |
| Galium nuttallii subsp. nuttallii |
San Diego bedstraw |
| Galium parisiense |
Wall bedstraw |
Geraniales
Geraniaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Erodium aff. botrys |
Filaree |
| Erodium cicutarium |
Filaree |
| Geranium dissectum |
Cransbill, cutleaf geranium |
Lamiales
Lamiaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Clinopodium douglasii |
Yerba buena |
| Marrubium vulgare |
Common horehound |
| Monardella hypoleuca |
White-leaf monardella |
| Salvia apiana |
White sage |
| Salvia leucophylla |
Purple sage |
| Salvia mellifera |
Black Sage |
| Salvia spathacea |
Hummingbird sage |
| Stachys bullata |
Wood mint |
Oleaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Fraxinus dipetala |
Flowering ash |
| Fraxinus velutina |
Arizona ash |
| Olea europaea |
Olive |
Plantaginaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Plantago lanceolata |
English plantain |
Scrophulariaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Keckiella cordifolia |
Climbing Penstemon |
| Mimulus aurantiacus var. pubescens |
Northern bush monkeyflower |
| Mimulus cardinalis |
Scarlet monkeyflower |
| Scrophularia californica |
California figwort |
| Verbascum virgatum |
Wand mullein |
Laurales
Lauraceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Umbellularia californica var. californica |
California bay |
Malpighiales
Euphorbiaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Chamaesyce sp. |
Prostate spurge |
| Euphorbia peplus |
Petty spurge |
| Ricinus communis |
Castor bean |
Salicaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Populus fremontii |
Fremont's cottonwood |
| Salix lasiolepis |
Arroyo willow |
Malvales
Malvaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Lavatera cretica |
Cornish mallow |
| Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. nuttallii |
Chaparral bush mallow |
| Malva parviflora |
Cheeseweed, little mallow |
Myrtales
Myrtaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Eucalyptus camaldulensis (?) |
Red river gum |
Onagraceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Epilobium canum |
California-fuchsia, zauschneria |
| Epilobium ciliatum |
Fireweed, willow herb |
| Oenothera elata |
Evening primrose |
Oxalidales
Oxalidaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Oxalis albicans var. californica |
California woodsorrel |
| Oxalis corniculata |
Yellow sorrel, creeping woodsorrel |
| Oxalis pes-caprae |
Bermuda buttercup |
Piperales
Aristolochiaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Aristolochia californica |
Dutchman's pipe |
Proteales
Platanaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Platanus racemosa |
Western sycamore |
Ranunculales
Berberidaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Berberis nevinii |
Nevin's barberry |
Papaveraceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Eschscholzia californica |
California poppy |
Ranunculaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Aquilegia formosa |
Western columbine |
| Clematis lasiantha |
Chaparral clematis |
| Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri |
Fender's meadow-rue |
Rosales
Moraceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Ficus carica |
Edible fig |
| Morus alba |
White mulberry |
Rhamnaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Ceanothus spinosus var. spinosus |
Greenbark ceanothus |
| Rhamnus californica |
Coffeeberry |
| Rhamnus crocea |
Redberry |
Rosaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Adenostoma fasciculatum |
Chamise |
| Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides |
Mountain-mahogany |
| Cotoneaster sp. |
Cotoneaster |
| Heteromeles salicifolia |
Toyon |
| Potentilla glandulosa subsp. glandulosa |
Sticky cinquefoil |
| Prunus ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia |
Islay |
| Prunus ilicifolia subsp. lyonii |
Catalina cherry |
| Rosa aff. californica |
California rose |
| Rubus ursinus |
California blackberry |
Sapindales
Anacardiaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Malosma laurina |
Laurel sumac |
| Rhus integrifolia |
Lemonade berry |
| Rhus ovata |
Sugar bush |
| Schinus molle |
California pepper |
| Toxicodendron diversilobum |
Poison oak |
Sapindaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Acer macrophyllum |
Bigleaf maple |
| Aesculus californica |
California buckeye |
Saxifragales
Crassulaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Crassula argentea |
Jade plant |
| Dudleya lanceolata |
Rock-lettuce |
| Opuntia ficus-indica |
Indian Fig |
Grossulariaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Ribes amarum var. hoffmannii |
Bitter gooseberry |
| Ribes speciosum |
Fuchsia-flowered gooseberry |
Saxifragaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Heuchera maxima |
Island alum root |
Solanales
Convolvulaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Calystegia macrostegia subsp. cyclostegia |
Island morning glory |
Solanaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Datura wrightii |
Jimsonweed |
| Nicotiana glauca |
Tree tobacco |
| Solanum douglasii |
Greenspot nightshade |
Vitales
Vitaceae
| Species |
Common name |
| Vitis girdiana |
Desert grape |
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