Science Teaching Series

Internet Resources

I. Developing Scientific Literacy

II. Developing Scientific Reasoning

III. Developing Scientific Understanding

IV. Developing Scientific Problem Solving

V. Developing Scientific Research Skills

VI. Resources for Teaching Science

Plant Species in the Santa Monica Mountains

 

The Mediterranean biome in the Santa Monica Mountains includes: 

Over 1,000 plant species provide habitat for approximately 500 mammal, bird, reptile, and amphibian species. The Santa Monica Mountains have been heavily affected by grazing, logging, dams and water diversions, and intensive agriculture and urbanization, as well as competition by numerous introduced or exotic plant and animal species.

Tree species are in bold. Read about each plant at the USDA Plant Database.

Latin name

Common name

Checklist

Fraxinus velutina

Arizona ash

 

Salix lasiolepis

arroyo willow

 

Arctostaphylos glauca

big berry manzanita

 

Acer macrophyllum

big leaf maple

 

Ceanothus megacarpus

big pod ceanothus

 

Convolvulus arvensis

bindweed

 

Brassica nigra

black mustard

 

Juglans californica

black walnut

 

Rubus ursinus

blackberry

 

Pteridium aquilinum

bracken fern

 

Umbellularia californica

California bay

 

Scirpus californicus

California bulrush

 

Eschscholzia californica

California poppy

 

Artemisia californica

California sagebrush

 

Eriogonum fasciculatum

California wild buckwheat

 

Ricinus communis

castor bean

 

Typha latifolia

cat tail

 

Adenostoma fasciculatum

chamise

 

Yucca whipplei

chaparral yucca

 

Quercus agrifolia

Coast live oak

 

Rhamnus californica

coffee berry

 

Cuscuta sp.

dodder

 

Sambucus mexicana

elderberry

 

Penstemon heterophyllus

 foothill penstemon

 

Vulpia myuros var. hirsute

foxtail fescue

 

Populus fremontii 

Freemont cottonwood

 

Ribes californicum

hillside gooseberry

 

Prunus ilicifoli

holly leaf cherry

 

Marrubium vulgare

horhound

 

Castilleja sp.

Indian paintbrush

 

Malosma laurina

laurel sumac

 

Lupinus sp.

lupine

 

Cercocarpus betuloide

mountain mahogany

 

Toxicodendron diversilobum

poison oak

 

Opuntia littoralis

prickly pear cactus

 

Solanum xanti

purple nightshade

 

Quercus dumosa

scrub oak

 

Foeniculum vulgare

sweet fennel

 

Platanus racemosa

sycamore

 

Heteromeles arbutifolia

toyon

 

Nicotiana glauca

tree tobacco

 

Quercus lobata

valley oak

 

Salvia apiana

white sage

 

Marah macrocarpus

wild cucumber

 

Avena fatua

wild oats

 

Rosa californica

wild rose

 

Mimulus brevipes

yellow monkeyflower