Terms Acacia (Golden Wattle) (Acacia pycnantha) • Description • Chemical – Phyllodes: modified – Tannins petioles (parallel veins) • Uses – Evergreen – Perfume • Fruit • Family – Legume – Fabaceae • Flower (pea family) – Yellow • Location – Australia

Beavertail Cactus (Opuntia basilaris) • Description • Chemical – Leaves modified into – none Glochids • Use – Stems modified as – Can be eaten Chladophylls • Family: • Fruit: fleshy red fruit – Cactaceae (pear)

• Flower: Yellow to red • Location: SW United States

Bladderpod (Isomeris arborea) • Description • Chemical – Compound leaves with 3 – Strong odor to reduce leaflets predation – Leaves alternate • Uses – Evergreen – None • Fruit: Capsule • Family • Flower: Yellow – Capparaceae • Location: – Endemic to California – Desert Regions

Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) • Description • Chemical – Pinnately Compound – Aromatic sap that may leaves burn – Leaves alternate – May act as a narcotic on – Evergreen birds who eat berries • Fruit: Drupe • Uses • Flower: small white – Ornamental • Location: • Family – Tropical and subtropical – Anacardiaceae South America (Sumac family)

Black Sage (Salvia mellifera) • Description • Chemical – Simple leaves with small – Diterpenoids used as pain hairs relievers – Drought Deciduous • Use • Fruit: Schizocarp – Rub on sore feet • Flower: blue or lavender – Chumash brewed as sun in stacked balls tea – Nectar used to make • Location: honey – CSS & Chaparral • Family

– Lamiaceae (Mint family)

Bulrush (Schoenoplectus californicus) • Description • Chemical – Triangular leaf – none – Sedge-like • Use • Fruit: grain – Used by Native • Flower: brown or tan Americans to make panicle inflorescence baskets, rope, canoes • Family • Location: – Cyperaceae – Indicator of Freshwater in North and South America

California Buckeye (Aesculus californica) • Description • Chemical – Palmately Compound – neurotoxic glycoside with five leaflets aesculin, which causes – Deciduous hemolysis of red blood cells. • Fruit: Capsule • Use • Flower: Large white to – Used by Native pink Americans to kill fish • Location: only Buckeye – Toxic to honeybees endemic to California • Family – Sapindaceae

California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) • Description • Chemical – Leaves in clusters – None – Evergreen • Use • Fruit: Grain – treatment of headache, • Flower: white or brown diarrhea, and wounds clusters – Good for heart – • Location: Southwestern Erosion control – Source of food for United States – CCS and honeybees in summer Chaparral months • Family – Polygonaceae

California Redbud (Cercis occidentalis) • Description • Chemical – Simple heart-shaped – None leaves • Use – Deciduous – Wood Veneer • Fruit: Legume – Erosion control • Flower: Large Pink or – Red bark used for red baskets • Location: Western • Family United States – Fabeaceae (Pea family)

California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica) • Description • Chemical – Slender flexible stems with – Terpenes to reduce thin pinnate leaves competition and predation – Evergreen • Use • Fruit: achene – Erosion control • Flower: narrow – Reduce digestive issues inflorescence which are • Family yellowish – Asteraceae • Location: Native to (Sunflower family) California and Baja in CSS and Chaparral Caster Bean (Ricinus communis) • Description • Chemical – Palmate alternate Leaves – Ricin (deadly) – Evergreen • Use • Fruit: Spiny capsule (not a – Source of Caster Oil used true bean) for digestive cleansing • Flower: panicle-like – lubricant inflorescence which are • Family reddish in color – Euphorbiaceae • Location: Native to California and Baja in CSS and Chaparral Catalina Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia) • Description • Chemical – Simple toothed – Tannins alternating leaves (vary) • Use – Evergreen – Native Americans made • Fruit: Drupe with large a fermented drink pit • Family • Flower: small white – Rosaceae • Location: Native to (Rose Family) California and Baja in CSS and Chaparral Catalina Ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus) • Description • Chemical – Compound Leaves – None (fernlike) • Use – Evergreen – Ornamental but seeds • Fruit: Capsule not very viable • Flower: Cream • Family • Location: Endemic to – Rosaceae Catalina Island (Rose family)

Cattail (Typha sp.) • Description • Chemical – Flat simple leaf – None – Evergreen • Use • Fruit: nut – Rhizomes are edible • Flower: Dense Brown • Family Spike (wind dispersed) – Typhaceae • Location: Indicator of fresh water in Northern Hemisphere Ceonothus (Mt. Lilac) (Ceonothus sp.) • Description • Chemical – Simple leaf with three – None prominent veins • Use – Evergreen – Eaten by Deer • Fruit: Capsule – Used for teas • Flower: Blue – Baskets • Location: Endemic to • Family California in chaparral – Rhamnaceae

Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) • Description • Chemical – Simple convex leaves with – Tannins dentate margins • Use – Hairs in axils in leaves – Food – Evergreen – Charcoal – No undergrowth due to shade and Tannins • Family • Fruit: Nut – Fagaceae

• Flower: Catkins

• Location: Coast of California Coffee Berry (Rhamnus californica) • Description • Chemical – Simple, reddish bark on – none stems – Evergreen • Uses – Ornamental not as well • Fruit: Drupe liked by deer – Erosion control • Flower: Greenish – Heal burns and rashed – Used as laxative • Location – Southwestern United • Family: Rhamnaceae States, Chaparral

Coyote Bush (Baccharis pilularis) • Description • Chemical – Simple leaves that are often – Oils to prevent predation sticky – Various shapes determined by • Uses location – Secondary pioneer plant – Large root system

• Fruit: Achenes • Family – Asteraceae

(Sunflower family) • Flower: small white or yellow

• Location – Southwestern United States, Chaparral

Elderberry (Sambucus sp.) • Description • Chemical – Pinnately compound leaves – none with 5-9 leaflets • Uses – Deciduous – Wine – Syrup • Fruit: True berry • Family • Flower: Yellow in a umbella – Adoxaceae structure

• Location – Temperate to subtropical regions of the world mostly Northern hemisphere

Encelia or Brittlebush (Encelia sp.) • Description • Chemical – White leaves – none – Evergreen • Uses • Fruit: Acene – Glue, Sealer, Gum, Incense – Treat toothaches • Flower: Yellow • Family • Location – Asteraceae – U.S. Desert (Sunflower family)

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp.) • Description • Chemical – 700 species – Terpenoids (aromatic) – Alternate simple leaves – Evergreen • Uses – Gum Trees – Planted to lower the water – Peeling bark table – Make pulp for paper • Fruit: Capsule – Antiseptic – Food additives • Flower: vary in color with an – Insect repellent operculum • Family • Location – Myrtaceae – Australia

Flannel Bush (Fremontodendron sp.) • Description • Chemical – Simple 3-lobed leaves – None – Evergreen – Fuzzy texture – modified • Use hairs called trichomes – Water conservation • Fruit: Capsule gardens • Flower: Large yellowish orange Flowers • Family • Location: Southwest – Malvaceae U.S. and Mexico Fremont Cottonwood (Populus fremontii) • Description • Chemical – Simple leaf with long – None flattened petiole – Deciduous • Use • Fruit: Achene – Erosion control • Flower: Catkins – Fuel and fence posts • Location: Southwest U.S. and Northern • Family Mexico in riparian areas – Salicaceae

Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus) • Description • Chemical – Simple leaf with long – None flattened petiole – Deciduous • Use • Fruit: Drupe – Dried bark and roots • Flower: Larger white used to treat inflammation • Location: Eastern U.S. – Crushed bark used to treat sores and wounds • Family – Oleaceae

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) • Description • Chemical – Simple leaf which is fan – Butyric Acid shaped – Deciduous • Use • Fruit: None – Decorative – only males • Flower: None planted in this country • Location: China • Family – Ginkgoaceae

Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) • Description • Chemical – Simple leaf with crinkled – Essential oils appearance • Use • Fruit: Berry – Antimicrobial and anticancer properties • Flower: White clusters on – Candy stem – Grasshopper repellent – Invasive Weed

• Location: Europe, Africa and Asia • Family – Laminaceae (Mint family) Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) • Description • Chemical – Scaled leaves in flat sprays – None – Branches Flexible • Use • Fruit: None – Pencils – Light fires • Flower: None • Family – Cupressaceae • Location: North America Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja sp.) • Description • Chemical – Clover like leaves – None

• Fruit: Capsule • Use – Eaten as greens • Flower: red, orange to – Hairwash yellow (bracts) – Dye

• Family • Location: North America – Orobanchaceae Jacaranda (Jacaranda sp.) • Description • Chemical – Doubly compound leaves – None

• Fruit: Capsule • Use – Ornamental plants • Flower: Purple – often – Acoustic guitars sticky • Family – Bignoniaceae • Location: Central and South America Jimson Weed (Datura stramonium) • Description • Chemical – Large simple toothed – Atropine leaves • Use • Fruit: Capsule – Relieve asthma symptoms • Flower: Large white to – hallucinogen purple • Family • Location: Americas – Solanaceae Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) • Description • Chemical – Simple leaves that stand – Oil (liquid wax ester) erect • Use • Fruit: Capsule – Laxative – Salve • Flower: small greenish – Biodiesel fuel yellow – Cosmetics

• Location: North America • Family – Simmondsiaceae Laurel Sumac (Malosma laurina) • Description • Chemical – Large Simple Leaves with – Volatile compounds reddish edges • Use • Fruit: Drupe – Tea for dysentery – Crown sprouting • Flower: Small white – Fire adapted

• Location: Southern • Family California, CSS and – Anacardiaceae Chaparral (Sumac family) Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia) • Description • Chemical – Large Simple and – Tannins alternating – Evergreen • Use – Reddish twigs – Lemonade like drink – Make candles • Fruit: Berry • Family • Flower: Small rosy pink – Anacardiaceae (Sumac family) • Location: Southern California, Chaparral Liquid Amber (Lizuidamber styraciflua) • Description • Chemical – Large Simple and palmate – Styrax – – Deciduous • Use – Plywood, furniture, • Fruit: Woody Capsule cabinets – Chewing gum

• Flower: greenish • Family

– Altingiaceae • Location: Southwestern U.S. Mesquite (Prosopis sp.) • Description • Chemical – Deciduous – None – Doubly pinnate compound leaves • Use – Long Taproot (up to 200 ft) – Food (flour) – Thorns – Furniture – Barbecues • Fruit: Legume • Family • Flower: Catkins with pale – Fabaceae green or yellow flowers (Pea family)

• Location: Southern Deserts Mulefat (Baccharis salicifolia.) • Description • Chemical – Simple Leaves – None – Sticky foliage • Use • Fruit: small achene – Erosion control

• Flower: small fuzzy pink or • Family red-tinged white flowers – Asteraceaea (Sunflower family) • Location: Southwest United States CSS and Chaparral and deserts Mustard (Bassica sp.) • Description • Chemical – Annual – None

• Fruit: Silque • Use – Pioneer plant (indicator of • Flower: Yellow distrubance) – Cooking oil – Spice • Location: Native to – High in Vitamin C Mediterranean Europe • Family – Brassicaceae (Mustard family) Palm Tree (Washingtonia sp.) • Description • Chemical – Evergreen – None – Skirt – Near water (Oasis) • Use – Food • Fruit: Drupe – Baskets – Thatch Roofs • Flower: small and insignificant • Family – Arecaceae • Location: – California – Mexico Palo Verde (Parkinsonia microphylla) • Description • Chemical – Green bark – None – Small leaves that are drought deciduous • Use – Food (flour) • Fruit: Legume • Family • Flower: pale yellow – Fabaceae (Pea family) • Location: – Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana) • Description • Chemical – Tall grass with leaves that – None cut when going toward center of plant • Use

– • Flower arrangements Fruit: Grain • Family • Flower: dense white – Poaceaea panicles (Grass family)

• Location: – Southern South America Pine Tree (Pinus sp.) • Description • Chemical – Leaves are needles – None grouped into fascicles – Branches flexible • Use – wood • Fruit: None – Furniture, floors

• Flower: None • Family – Pinaceae • Location: – Worldwide Sago Palm (Cycas Revoluta) • Description • Chemical – Palm-like – Alkaloids, tannins, steroids • Fruit: None • Use – Ornamental • Flower: None

• Family • Location: Old World – Cycadaceae

Southern Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) • Description • Chemical – Compound leaves – None – Deciduous – Slight odor • Use – Flooring, furniture • Fruit: Drupe – Food

• Flower: green catkins • Family – Juglandaceae • Location: New World

Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) • Description • Chemical – Thick Waxy Leaves – rusty – None pubescence underneath • Use • Fruit: Follicle – Ornamental – Make furniture, pallets and • Flower: Large White veneer

• Family • Location: Southeastern – Magnoliaceae U.S.

Sugar Bush (Rhus Ovata) • Description • Chemical – Large simple leaves with – Tannins reddish twigs – Ovate leaves that are • folded along the midrib Use – Ornamental

• Fruit: drupe • Family – Anacardiaceae • Flower: small, pink (Sumac family)

• Location: Southern California in chaparral.

Sweet Bay (Laurus sp.) • Description • Chemical – Glossy simple leaves – Cineole oil – Evergreen • Use • Fruit: True berry – Astringent • Flower: Pale yellow – Olympic Wreaths green – Cooking (spices) • Location: Native to • Family Mediterranean climate – Lauraceae

Toyon (Heteromeles (Photonia) arbutifolia) • Description • Chemical – Christmas Berry – Tannins – Simple leaf - dentate – Glycocides – Evergreen • Use • Fruit: pome – Ornamental – Jelly from fruit • Flower: small, white – Tea for stomach ailments

• Family • Location: Southern California in chaparral – Rosaceae and CSS. (Rose family)

Tree Tobacco (Nicotiana glauca) • Description • Chemical – Heart shaped leaves – Nicotine

• Fruit: Capsule • Use – Smoked • Flower: Yellow tubular – Treat swelling and bruises – Biofuel

• Location: South America • Family

– Solanaceae Western Sycamore (Plananus racemosa) • Description • Chemical – Large palmate leaves that – None are pubescent – Deciduous • Use – Peeling Bark – Ornamental

• Fruit: achene • Family – Platanaceae • Flower: inflorescence

• Location: California and Baja

White Alder (Alnus rhombifolia) • Description • Chemical – Simple alternate leaves – None with serrate margins – Deciduous • Use – Bark with “eyes” – Ornamental

• Fruit: Strobili (females) • Family – Betulaceae • Flower: Catkins (male)

• Location: California and Baja

White Ash (Fraxinus americana) • Description • Chemical – Compound leaves that – None are made of 5-9 leaflets • Uses – Leaves are opposite – Baseball bats, oars, – Deciduous flooring, tool handles • Fruit: Samara • Family: Oleaceae • Location: – Eastern North America – Moist habitats

White Sage (Salvia apiana) • Description • Chemical – Large white leaves with an – Terpenes to reduce odor competition and predation

• Fruit: Achene • Use – Food (Pinole) • Flower: white to lavender • Family – • Lamiaceae Location: CSS and (Mint family) Chaparral of southwestern U.S.

Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) • Description • Chemical – Annual – None – Small simple leaves – Invasive species • Use – Food • Fruit: Silques • Family • Flower: white to lavender – Brassicaeae (Mustard family) • Location: Native to Asia

Willow (Salix sp.) • Description • Chemical – Narrow simple leaves – Salicylic Acid – Usually Deciduous – Moist soils • Use – Aspirin • Fruit: capsule • Family • Flower: catkins – Salicaceae

• Location: Northern hemisphere

Plant families

Mustard Cactus (Cactaceae) (Brassicaceae)

Mint (Lamiaceae) Rose (Rosaceae)

Pea (Fabaceae) Sumac (Anacardiaceae)

Sunflower Grass (Poaceae) (Asteraceae)