Science

RARE PLANT PROGRAM:  Since its inception in 1968, the CNPS Rare Plant Program has been a trusted resource for scientific accuracy and integrity. CNPS rare plant data are widely accepted as the standard for information on the rarity and endangerment status of the California flora.

RARE PLANT INVENTORY:  First published in 1974, the Inventory is a widely-accepted authoritative resource on California’s rare and endangered plants. Now in its 8th edition and easily searchable online, it continues to play an important role in scientific research, conservation planning, and the effective enforcement of environmental laws.

VEGETATION PROGRAM:  The CNPS Vegetation Program has established a vegetation classification system that has become the standard for interpreting statewide vegetation patterns and for initiating local and regional ecological assessments.

MANUAL OF CALIFORNIA VEGETATION:  The MCV is California’s definitive system for describing vegetation statewide. It uses a principal unit called an “Alliance” (or series), which is a floristically defined vegetation type identified by its dominant and/or characteristic species. Search by species, primary life form, map, rarity, and more.

FIELD PROTOCOLS & GUIDELINES: CNPS staff, collaborators, and volunteers have all played an important role in helping us refine and present best-practice approaches to field surveys, sampling, mapping, and mitigation.

CALSCAPE: This website is useful to both the science oriented and gardeners. Information includes botanic descriptions and California range maps. Other data provided may include wildlife supported, growing information, climate preferences, and nurseries that have sold the plant.  Many search criteria are available.

CALFLORA: A repository for information on California wild plants from diverse sources, including public agencies, academic institutions, private organizations, and individuals.

CALPHOTOS: From UC Berkeley, a huge collection of photos of plants, animals, fossils, people, and landscapes from around the world.

CONSORTIUM OF CALIFORNIA HERBARIA

FLORA OF NORTH AMERICA: Presents in one published reference source, information on the names, taxonomic relationships, continent-wide distributions, and morphological characteristics of all plants native and naturalized found in North America north of Mexico.

iNATURALIST: iNaturalist is a citizen science project and online social network of naturalists, citizen scientists, and biologists built on the concept of mapping and sharing observations of biodiversity across the globe. iNaturalist is a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society.

JEPSON eFLORA: The foremost authority on the native and naturalized vascular plants of California. For plants occurring in wildlands or otherwise outside of cultivation, the Jepson eFlora contains taxonomic treatments, distribution maps, illustrations, photographs, and identification keys.

NATURAL HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY; Peter Bryant:  A local gem with photos and descriptions of Orange County biology. Compiled by Peter J. Bryant, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine.

VEGETATION CLASSIFICATIONS OF ORANGE COUNTY; Nature Reserve of OC:  Extensive survey information of vegetation alliances found in Orange County. Includes amount of specific species cover found under each alliance.

CALIFORNIA NATURAL DIVERSITY DATABASE; California Dept of Fish and Wildlife:  BIOS is a system designed to enable the management, visualization, and analysis of biogeographic data collected by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and its Partner Organizations.

WILDFLOWERS OF ORANGE COUNTY AND THE SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS, R. Allen, F. Roberts:  We can not say it enough – this book is the essential guidebook for Orange County flowering plants.

JEPSON MOSS eFLORA:  It is a collaborative effort of a broad group of professional and amateur bryologists, coordinated by UC Berkeley and Cal State Northridge.

FUNGI RESOURCES 2022, Joanne Schwartz:  Field Guides, Background Books, Cookbooks, Organizations, Websites.

GUIDE KEYS TO RIBES OF OC and W. RIVERSIDE COUNTIES, 2006; B. Allen; pdf

CA INVASIVE PLANT COUNCIL:  Works to stop the spread of invasive plants across California. The respected Cal-IPC Inventory identifies plants that threaten California’s natural areas.

WILDFLOWER HOTLINE (Theodore Payne Foundation):  Offers free weekly on-line and recorded updates – posted each Friday from March through May – on the best locations for viewing spring wild flowers in Southern and Central California.

DESERT USA FLORA:  Where are desert wildflowers blooming in California and across the southwest? Desert USA knows and updates regularly.

Native American Ethnobotany

Southern California Botanists

Arctostaphylos: Plant Ecology and Animal Foraging, R. Crowe et al, Ecology and Evolution, 2023 – too big for WP

The Orange County Chapter offers four types of grants each year. Grants associated with Science are the,

• Charlie O’Neill Research Grant
• Traveler’s Grant

Link to the Grants page from anywhere in this section.