Interest in California's beautiful native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers is at an all-time high. Yet identification and classification of the state's vast and varied flora can be challenging for both amateurs and professionals. This book provides a superb way for learning to identify California's native and naturalized plants by learning to recognize plant families. The heart of the book contains user-friendly keys and descriptions of seventy major families prominent in wildlands. With this book in hand, anyone will be able to identify common native and naturalized species throughout California's majestic floristic province extending from southwestern Oregon into northern Baja California and to the western side of the major mountain ranges.
California Plant Families West of the Sierran Crest and Deserts
About the Book
Reviews
“Belongs in the library of gardeners who have a strong interest in California native plants.”—Monterey County Herald
“Offers readers a simple and unique system to identify native and naturalized California plant species. . . . Tossed on your dashboard or into your daypack, this is a fun and enlightening book for the casual outdoor visitor or the serious student of California’s diverse plant world.”—North County Times
“When you venture into the mountains or high deserts, this is a book you certainly don’t want to leave behind.”—Bookloons Reviews
“If you’re really a botany nerd, you will want . . . California Plant Families.”—Placerville Mountain Democrat
“Will be useful to amateurs and even trained botanists!”—Botanical Rsrch Inst Of Tx, Jbrit
“This book is also a great learning tool to utilize in the field since it is just the right weight and size to fit in a day-pack.”—Crossosoma
“Offers a superb way for learning to identify the Central Coast's native and naturalized plants by learning to recognize plant families. . . . No matter where you travel, from southwestern Oregon into northern Baja California, with this book in hand, you'll be able to identify most of the common native and naturalized plant species you encounter.”—Robert Walch The Californian
Table of Contents
Preface and Acknowledgments
Introduction
IMPORTANT PLANT FAMILIES IN CALIFORNIA
HOW PLANT FAMILIES, GENERA, AND SPECIES ARE NAMED
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
Key to California Plant Families
California Plant Family Accounts
ACERACEAE (MAPLE FAMILY)
AGAVACEAE (AGAVE FAMILY)
AIZOACEAE (ICEPLANT FAMILY)
ALLIACEAE (ONION FAMILY)
ANACARDIACEAE (SUMAC FAMILY)
APIACEAE (PARSLEY OR CARROT FAMILY)
APOCYNACEAE (DOGBANE FAMILY)
ARECACEAE (PALM FAMILY)
ASTERACEAE (DAISY, COMPOSITE, OR SUNFLOWER FAMILY)
BERBERIDACEAE (BARBERRY FAMILY)
BETULACEAE (BIRCH FAMILY)
BORAGINACEAE (BORAGE OR FORGET-ME-NOT FAMILY)
BRASSICACEAE (MUSTARD FAMILY)
CACTACEAE (CACTUS FAMILY)
CAMPANULACEAE (BELLFLOWER FAMILY)
CAPPARACEAE (CAPER FAMILY)
CAPRIFOLIACEAE (HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY)
CARYOPHYLLACEAE (PINK FAMILY)
CHENOPODIACEAE (GOOSEFOOT FAMILY)
CONVOLVULACEAE (MORNING GLORY FAMILY)
CORNACEAE (DOGWOOD FAMILY)
CRASSULACEAE (STONECROP OR LIVE-FOREVER FAMILY)
CUCURBITACEAE (GOURD OR CUCUMBER FAMILY)
CUPRESSACEAE (CYPRESS FAMILY)
CYPERACEAE (SEDGE FAMILY)
EPHEDRACEAE (JOINT-FIR FAMILY)
ERICACEAE (HEATHER FAMILY)
EUPHORBIACEAE (SPURGE FAMILY)
FABACEAE (LEGUMINOSAE; PEA OR LEGUME FAMILY)
FAGACEAE (OAK OR BEECH FAMILY)
GENTIANACEAE (GENTIAN FAMILY)
GERANIACEAE (GERANIUM OR CRANESBILL FAMILY)
GROSSULARIACEAE (GOOSEBERRY FAMILY)
HIPPOCASTANACEAE (HORSE-CHESTNUT FAMILY)
HYDROPHYLLACEAE (WATERLEAF FAMILY)
IRIDACEAE (IRIS FAMILY)
JUNCACEAE (RUSH FAMILY)
LAMIACEAE (MINT FAMILY)
LAURACEAE (LAUREL FAMILY)
LILIACEAE (LILY FAMILY)
LOASACEAE (BLAZING STAR FAMILY)
MALVACEAE (MALLOW FAMILY)
MYRTACEAE (MYRTLE FAMILY)
NYCTAGINACEAE (FOUR O’CLOCK FAMILY)
OLEACEAE (OLIVE FAMILY)
ONAGRACEAE (EVENING-PRIMROSE FAMILY)
ORCHIDACEAE (ORCHID FAMILY)
PAPAVERACEAE (POPPY FAMILY)
PINACEAE (PINE FAMILY)
PLATANACEAE (PLANE TREE FAMILY)
POACEAE (GRASS FAMILY)
POLEMONIACEAE (PHLOX FAMILY)
POLYGONACEAE (BUCKWHEAT FAMILY)
PORTULACACEAE (PORTULACA OR PURSLANE FAMILY)
PRIMULACEAE (PRIMROSE FAMILY)
PTERIDACEAE (BRAKE FERN FAMILY)
RANUNCULACEAE (BUTTERCUP OR CROWFOOT FAMILY)
RHAMNACEAE (BUCKTHORN FAMILY)
ROSACEAE (ROSE FAMILY)
RUBIACEAE (MADDER OR COFFEE FAMILY)
RUTACEAE (RUE OR CITRUS FAMILY)
SALICACEAE (WILLOW FAMILY)
SAXIFRAGACEAE (SAXIFRAGE FAMILY)
SCROPHULARIACEAE (FIGWORT OR SNAPDRAGON FAMILY)
SOLANACEAE (POTATO OR NIGHTSHADE FAMILY)
TAXACEAE (YEW FAMILY)
TAXODIACEAE (REDWOOD OR BALD-CYPRESS FAMILY)
THEMIDACEAE (BRODIAEA FAMILY)
VERBENACEAE (VERBENA FAMILY)
VIOLACEAE (VIOLET FAMILY)
Glossary
Common Plant-Names Index
Scientific Plant-Names Index
About the Author and Illustrator