Lupinus luteolus is a species of lupine known by the common names pale yellow lupine and butter lupine. It is native to the coastal mountain ranges of Oregon and California as far south as the Transverse Ranges, where it grows in open habitat such as clearings and sometimes disturbed areas. It is an annual herb with a rigid stem growing to maximum heights anywhere between 30 centimeters and 1.5 meters, and known to exceed that at times. Each palmate leaf is made up of 7 to 9 hairy leaflets 1 to 3 centimeters long. The flower cluster is a raceme of crowded whorls of flowers each just over a centimeter long. The flower is often pale to bright yellow, but can be blue or pinkish. The fruit is a hairy, rounded or oval legume pod generally containing 2 seeds.

Lupinus magnificus, commonly known as Panamint Mountain lupine, is a species of flowering plant from the order of Lamiales which is endemic to California where it can be found in the Death Valley.

Dense Flowered Platycarpos (Lupinus microcarpus var. densiflorus) is an abundant native annual herb that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in open or disturbed or recently burned places, at elevations from 0-5200 feet. This variety (densiflorus) is one of three recognized varieties that have somewhat overlapping ranges. Densiflorus generally has pale yellow flowers, but they may also be tinged with pink or purple.

Valley Lupine (Lupinus microcarpus var. microcarpus) is a abundant native annual herb that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in open or disturbed or recently burned places, at elevations from 0-5000 feet.

Milo Baker's Lupine (Lupinus milo-bakeri) is a rare native annual herb that grows in northern California.

Lupinus nanus ("Sky Lupine", "Field Lupine", "Dwarf Lupin" or "Douglas' Annual Lupine"), is a species in the Fabaceae (Legume) family native to the western United States. It grows abundantly in chaparral clearings and along slopes in California, Nevada, and eastern Oregon. In California it is most common in the Coast Ranges and Sierra foothills. As an annual, it is best grown from seed (see instructions below) and will self-sow. 

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Selected for the garden.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Selected for the garden.

Lupinus sericatus is a species of lupine known by the common name Cobb Mountain lupine. It is endemic to the North Coast Ranges of California north of the San Francisco Bay Area, where it grows in the forest, woodlands, and chaparral of the slopes and canyons. It easily colonizes disturbed habitat as well. This is a perennial herb growing up to half a meter tall. Each palmate leaf is made up of 4 to 7 distinctive wide spoon-shaped leaflets each 3 to 5 centimeters long. The flower cluster is a raceme of several whorls of purple flowers, each flower between 1 and 2 centimeters long. The fruit is a hairy legume pod 2 or 3 centimeters long.

Lupinus stiversii is a species of lupine known by the common name harlequin lupine. It is endemic to California, where it has a disjunct distribution in several separate mountain ranges. It is a plant of the Sierra Nevada and its foothills, and populations also occur in the Transverse Ranges above Los Angeles and the Santa Lucia Mountains of Monterey County. It grows in open, dry habitat, such as forest clearings and exposed slopes. It is a hairy annual herb growing 10 to 50 centimeters tall with an erect, branching stem. Each palmate leaf is made up of usually 7 leaflets measuring 2 to 5 centimeters in length. The flower cluster is a dense array of a few flowers, often just one or two layers. The unique flower is between 1 and 2 centimeters long and is pink with a yellow banner. The fruit is a legume pod around 2 centimeters long containing usually 5 seeds. The plant was named for Army physician Dr. Charles Austin Stivers, who first collected it in 1862 near Yosemite.

Succulent lupine (Lupinus succulentus) is an annual with dark green six-fingered leaves and spikes of purple-blue flowers that bloom in winter to spring. Sometimes flowers are shades of light purple, pink, and white. It grows fast to reach 2 to 4 feet  tall and 3 feet wide. The fruit is a hairy legume pod. Caution: seeds, leaves and stems are toxic.

This plant is popular in gardens because it is the most water-tolerant of all lupines. It prefers full sun and moist clay or heavy soils. The amount of fertility and moisture generally dictates the height of the plant. The seed germinates easily in any season given enough water. Seeds can be treated before planting by pouring hot water over them in a cup and allowing them to soak. They should be planted about a quarter inch deep. The plants compete with weeds and add nitrogen to the soil. Sow in a mass for best effect.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected by Roger Raiche.

Luzula comosa is a species of flowering plant in the rush family known by the common name Pacific woodrush. It is native to western North America from Alaska to California to Colorado, where it can be found in moist spots in forests and meadows and many other types of habitat. It is a perennial herb quite variable in appearance, often forming small, narrow grasslike tufts. The erect flower cluster is tipped with a series of clustered spikelike flowers. The dark brown perianth parts open to reveal 6 stamens tipped with large anthers.

Common Woodrush (Luzula multiflora) is a native grass that grows in central and northern California. It tends to grow at elevations from 0-10500 feet.

Lycium andersonii is a species of flowering shrub in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Its common names include water-jacket, redberry desert-thorn, Anderson thornbush, Anderson's desert thorn, Anderson boxthorn, Anderson lycium, Anderson wolfberry, and squawberry.

It is native to the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, where it is distributed in New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Baja California, Sinaloa, and Sonora. It grows in many habitat types and plant communities, including pinyon-juniper woodland, creosote bush scrub, sagebrush scrub, chaparral, and coastal sage scrub.

It grows up to about 2.7 metres (8 ft 10 in) in maximum height, with a large fibrous root system that can extend over 9 metres (30 ft) from the base of the plant. The shrub is rounded in shape with many branches covered in many thin spines up to 2 centimetres (0.79 in) long. The flat leaves are thick and fleshy, measuring up to 1.7 centimetres (0.67 in) long. They are shed from the plant in dry conditions. The flowers have funnel-shaped white or purple-tinged corollas up to a centimeter long. The fruit is a red or orange berry less than a centimeter long. One of the main traits of this shrub is a pattern of rotating spike-branches that grow along the main branching stems. The individual spikes get larger and end up as rotating intersecting branches. It's form is dense and thicket-like, often impenetrable even by birds. Berries are produced sometimes in great profusion, sometimes only in external branches, and sometimes not at all. The berries are typically very bitter.

Lycium andersonii typically grows in sandy, gravelly washes and on slopes and mesas. It tolerates some soil salinity and alkaline soils such as caliche. It thrives in hot, dry climates. It is rarely dominant in the local flora. Common associates include creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), yellow palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla), white bursage, (Ambrosia dumosa), smoke tree (Psorothamnus spinosus), Nevada ephedra (Ephedra nevadensis), hop sage (Grayia spinosa), pale wolfberry (Lycium pallidum), blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima), singlewhorl burrobrush (Hymenoclea monogyra), and Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia).

Lycium cooperi is a species of flowering plant in the nightshade family known by the common name peach thorn. It is native to the southwestern United States, where it grows in a variety of desert and mountain habitat types. This is a bushy, erect shrub approaching a maximum height of 4 meters with many rigid, thorny branches. The branches are lined thickly with fleshy oval or widely lance-shaped leaves each 1 to 3 centimeters long and coated with hairy hairs. The flower cluster is a small cluster of tubular flowers roughly 1 to 2 centimeters long including the calyx of fleshy sepals at the base. The flower is white or greenish with lavender or green veining. The corolla is a tube opening into a face with four or five lobes. The fruit is a yellow or orange berry under a centimeter wide containing many seeds.

Lycopus americanus, common names Water horehound or American bugleweed, is a member of the genus Lycopus. It blooms in late summer and is found in much of North America. It is reputed to have medicinal properties and has been used as a dye.

Lycopus asper is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name rough bugleweed. It is native to much of North America, where it can be found most often in moist areas, such as the soil near lakes. This is a perennial herb growing from a rhizome with thick, knobby tips. The plant grows erect to around 80 centimeters in maximum height, but is known to reach one meter. Its stem is lined with pairs of toothed leaves with heads of flowers in their axils. The flower is white and a few millimeters in length.

Lysimachia minima (chaffweed) is a 1-4 inch (2-10 cm) perennial herb in the primula family (Primulaceae). A cosmopolitan species, this small plant is native widely across North America and Eurasia. It can be found growing in moist soils and seasonal pools.

Lythrum californicum is a species of flowering plant in the loosestrife family known by the common name California loosestrife. It is native to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States into the Midwest as far east as Oklahoma and Texas. It often grows in moist habitat. This is an erect perennial herb reaching 20 to 60 centimeters tall, sometimes branching. The waxy linear to lance-shaped leaves are arranged oppositely lower on the plant, and alternately toward the top. They are 1 to 7 centimeters in length. The flower cluster is a terminal spike of flowers with purple petals under a centimeter long. Flowers are heterostylous on one individual plant, with some having long, protruding styles and some with shorter styles not protruding from the mouth of the flower. The fruit is an oval capsule containing many minute seeds. This plant resembles its relative, the notorious noxious weed purple loosestrife; California loosestrife is usually not weedy.

Machaeranthera tanacetifolia is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names tansyleaf tansyaster and Tahoka daisy. It is native to northern Mexico and the southwestern and central United States, where it grows in several types of habitat. It is an annual or biennial herb growing one or more branching stems up to about 70 centimeters in maximum height. The multilobed leaves are up to 12 centimeters long. The flower cluster bears one or more flower heads lined with spreading or curling, pointed phyllaries. The head has a center of many yellow disc florets and a fringe of many lavender to purple ray florets each 1 to 2 centimeters long. The fruit is a flat achene about a centimeter long including the pappus.

Madia anomala is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name plumpseeded madia. It is endemic to northern California, where it can be found on hillsides in the San Francisco Bay Area and adjacent mountains and valleys. Madia anomala is an annual herb growing 20 to 50 centimeters tall with a bristly, glandular, branching stem. The hairy, glandular leaves are several centimeters long. Madia anomala is an annual herb growing 20 to 50 centimeters tall with a bristly, glandular, branching stem. The hairy, glandular leaves are several centimeters long. The inflorescence is a cluster of flower heads. Each head is a spherical involucre of hairy phyllaries covered in knobby resin glands. It spreads at the top with several yellow ray florets a few millimeters long and black-tipped disc florets. The fruit is a shiny black achene with no pappus.

Madia exigua is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names small tarweed and threadstem madia. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to Baja California, where it grows in many types of dry habitat outside the deserts. It is an aromatic annual herb growing up to half a meter tall, its slender stem coated with hairs, large stalked resin glands, and sometimes bristles. The rough-haired leaves are 1 to 4 centimeters long. The flower cluster is an array of clustered flower heads on thin, stiff peduncles. Each head has an involucre of phyllaries shaped like a top. The phyllaries are coated in knobby yellow resin glands. At the tip of the flower cluster are minute yellowish ray florets each under a millimeter long, and one or two yellow disc florets. The fruit is an achene with no pappus.

Madia gracilis is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names grassy tarweed, slender tarweed, and gumweed madia. The annual herb is native to western North America: from British Columbia, through California to Baja California; and east to Utah and Montana. It grows in many habitat types except for arid desert areas, including oak woodlands and mixed evergreen forests. Madia gracilis is variable in appearance. In general, it is an aromatic annual herb growing up to 1 metre (3. 3 ft) in height. Its stem is branching, and hairy and glandular in texture. The leaves are up to 10 centimeters long and covered in soft hairs and stalked resin glands. The inflorescence is an array of clusters of flower heads. Each head is lined with phyllaries that are coated densely with stalked knobby resin glands. It bears yellow, lobe-tipped ray florets a few millimeters long and several black-anthered disc florets. The fruit is a flat, hairless achene with no pappus. Uses. The seeds were used to make pinole by the indigenous Mendocino, Miwok, and Pomo peoples of California.

Maianthemum stellatum (False Solomon's Seal) is a species of flowering plant in the family Ruscaceae, native across North America generally from Alaska to California in the west and from Newfoundland to the central Appalachian Mountains in the east. In California it is found primarily in the Coast Ranges and Sierras. An everchanging seasonal plant with little white buds in the spring, followed by delicate starry flowers, then stripy berries and deep red berries in the fall. It is a woodland herbaceous perennial plant, smaller than its close relative M. racemosum. This is a plant for full shade areas.

Malacothamnus aboriginum is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common name Indian Valley bushmallow. It is endemic to California, where it is native to the Inner Central Coast Ranges to the west of the Central Valley. Its habitat includes the chaparral and woodland of the rocky hillsides, where it is most plentiful after wildfire. This is a bushy shrub with thick branches coated in hairs. It reaches heights between 2 and 3 meters. It bears oval or rounded leaves several centimeters long which are generally divided into sharp lobes. The flower cluster is a cluster of many pale pink flowers with oval or rounded petals one half to one centimeter long.

Chaparral Mallow is an attractive evergreen shrub with pale pink flowers that grow on branching, elongated clusters. In full bloom, one plant can have thousands of flowers. It is attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, and other small birds.

This plant has a fast growth rate and can reach up to 16 feet tall and 10 feet wide. It is a good choice for bank stabilization and erosion control in larger spaces. In smaller gardens, pruning can help keep it under control.

Malacothamnus fasciculatus var. fasciculatus is a native shrub that grows in San Diego County, California and Baja California, Mexico.

Malacothamnus fremontii is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family known by the common name unfurled bushmallow (after its flowers that dry unfurled). Malacothamnus fremontii is endemic to northern and central California. It is found growing in chaparral and woodlands in several mountain ranges and their foothills. Two varieties are currently recognized, Ml fremontii var. fremontii and M. fremontii var. exfibulosus (formerly Malacothamnus helleri). Malacothamnus fremontii is a stiff, erect shrub with a branching stem reaching 0. 5-2 metres (1. 6-6. 6 ft) in height. It is coated densely in white fibers, appearing feltlike. The hairy oval or rounded lobed leaves are several centimeters long. The inflorescence is an elongated cluster of many pale purple flowers with hairy petals each up to a centimeter long.

Carmel Valley Bushmallow (Malacothamnus involucratus) is a rare native shrub that grows in central California.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selected for the garden.

Malacothamnus jonesii is a rare species of flowering plant in the Malvaceae (Mallow) family known by the common name Jones' Bushmallow. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the chaparral and woodland of the Coast Ranges in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties where it has three recognized varieties: M. jonesii var. jonesii, M. jonesii var gracilis (formerly M. gracilis), and M. jonesii var. niveus (formerly M. niveus). This is an erect shrub with a slender branching stem reaching two meters or more in height. It is coated densely in velvety white hairs, appearing feltlike. The thin, gray-green leaves are several centimeters long. The flower cluster is a loose cluster of a few pale pink flowers with narrow petals each under a centimeter long.

Malacothamnus lucanus is a species of flowering plant in the Malvaceae (Mallow) family known by the common names Santa Lucia bushmallow and Arroyo Seco bushmallow. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the chaparral and woodland of the Central Coast and adjacent Coast Ranges of Monterey County.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Selection of Malacothamnus lucianus from the Santa Lucia Mountains introduced by suncrest Nurseries. Formerly Malacothamnus palmeri var. lucianus.

Malacothamnus nuttallii grows primarily in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Malacothamnus nuttallii has been recognized as a variety of M. fasciculatus in the past. It is in cultivation as a selection under the name Malacothamnus nuttallii 'Casitas" and incorrectly as Malacothamnus fasciculatus 'Casitas'.

Tolerates almost any soil type. A selection introduced by suncrest Nurseries.

Malacothamnus orbiculatus is a native shrub that grows in southern and central California.

Malacothrix clevelandii is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name Cleveland's desertdandelion. It is native to parts of the southwestern United States and Baja California, where it can be found most often in chaparral, including cleared and disturbed areas such as slopes recently burned by wildfire. The plant is also found in southern South America where it is an introduced species. It is an annual herb producing a flowering stem up to about 35 centimeters in maximum height. The toothed leaves are largest at the base of the plant, and reduced farther up. The inflorescence is an array of flower heads each bearing rings of pale yellow ray florets roughly half a centimeter long.

Malacothrix floccifera is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name woolly desertdandelion. It is native to many of the northern and central mountain ranges of California, including the Sierra Nevada, where its distribution extends into Nevada. Its habitat includes forest, woodland, and chaparral. It is an annual herb producing a hairless flowering stem up to about 42 centimeters in maximum height. The fleshy oblong leaves are cut into teeth or lobes and have cottony patches of woolly fibers. The flower cluster is an array of flower heads lined with hairless phyllaries. The ray florets are up to 1.5 centimeters long and are often white, but sometimes yellow.

Malacothrix saxatilis is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name cliff desertdandelion. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the central and southern coastal hills and mountain ranges. It is a perennial herb growing 30 to 60 centimeters tall from a rhizome and caudex unit. The leaves are variable in size and shape and may be lobed or not. The flower cluster is an array of flower heads lined with lance-shaped phyllaries. The ray florets are 1 or 2 centimeters long and white in color. There are five varieties which intergrade, some of which are very limited in distribution.

Mammillaria dioica, also called Strawberry Cactus, California Fishhook cactus, Strawberry Pincusion or Fishhook Cactus, is a species of the genus Mammillaria found in California and northwestern Mexico, including Baja California and the state of Sonora. It is one of the smallest cacti in California and may appear as a single stem or as a clump of numerous stems. Very large specimens can be up to 6" high but usually less. In desert areas it is most often found growing in very rocky areas, sometimes growing out of crevices in granite boulders in the desert-edge canyons. In San Diego County it is also found on the immediate coast growing on sandstone bluffs as part of Maritime Succulent Scrub. The plant possesses short, firm tubercles ending in the spines. Most of these spines are whitish and straight, but each tubercle has a longer central spine which is slightly curved and dark, leading to the Fishhook name. The flowers are small but showy. A closely related species is Mammillaria tetrancistra which is very similar in general appearance but has pink flowers.

Wild Cucumber (Marah fabaceus) is the most common of the manroot species native to California. Wild Cucumber is a vine with stout, hairy stems and tendrils and broad robed leaves.

The vines appear in late winter in response to increased rainfall, and can rapidly climb or scramble to a length of 20 feet, but goes dormant in the summer. The flowers are orange, yellow or white. The fruit is noticeable: a large, green, prickly sphere. The seeds are a favorite of wildlife.

Wild Cucumber grows in full sun and takes very low water. Hybrids between California manroot and the other species are common.

Wild Cucumber (Marah macrocarpa), also known as manroot or bigroot, is a fast-growing vine that appears in late winter after increased rainfall. Known for its hairy shoots, stems, and leaves, it can scramble or climb up to 20 feet long. The vine produces small white flowers in early spring, followed by large, spiky fruit that forms after flowering and grows as the season progresses. The plant becomes completely dormant in summer.

With its rounded, five-lobed leaves and spiral tendrils at the growing tips, this plant is adaptable to various soils and is drought-tolerant. However, it is toxic, so care should be taken. Wild Cucumber hosts up to four species of butterflies and moths.

Marah watsonii, the taw manroot, is an uncommon species in the genus Marah endemic to central northern California. Its range is bounded by the eastern coastal foothills, the western foothills of the northern Sierra Nevada and Cascades ranges and from Lake Berryessa in the south to Lake Shasta in the north. Foliage. Taw manroot shares with all marah species non-twining stems and tendrils. Unlike other manroot species, however, Marah watsonii vines are nearly hairless with a glaucous, grey-green color. Vines appear in late winter or early spring in response to increased rainfall, and can climb or scramble to a length of 6 meters (20 ft).

California Marina (Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii) is a rare native perennial herb that grows in Southern California, primarily in the Peninsular Range region. It tends to grow in rocky slopes, at elevations from 3400-3800 feet.

Melica californica, known by the common name California Melicgrass, is a species in the Poaceae (Grass) family. It is native to Oregon and California, where it grows in many types of habitats, from mountain forests to open grassland at sea level. In California it is found primarily in the Coast Ranges and Sierra foothills.

California Melicgrass is a perennial grass, generally with rhizomes, producing a dense cluster of stems up to about 4 ft. (1.3 meters) in maximum height. The flower cluster is a narrow series of purple-banded green spikelets. The flower clusters are attractive even after this grass has gone dormant in late summer or fall. In cultivation it performs best in part shade with low to moderate water.

California Melicgrass (Melica californica var. californica) is a native grass that grows in central and northern California. It tends to grow at elevations from 0-4000 feet.

Melica frutescens, woody melicgrass, is a species of grass in the Poaceae family that can be found in such US states as Arizona and California and in Mexico. The species is perennial and have culms that are 75-200 centimetres (30-79 in) long and woody. The species' lateral branches are sparse with leaf-sheaths being scabrous, tubular and closed. It leaf-blades are 2-4 millimetres (0. 079-0. 157 in) wide. It panicle is contracted, linear, and is 12-35 centimetres (4. 7-13. 8 in) long with filiform pedicels that are located on fertile spikelet. The main branches are appressed and carry oblong and solitary spikelets that are 12-18 millimetres (0. 47-0. 71 in) long. They are comprised out of 3-6 fertile florets which are diminished at the apex. It sterile florets are barren, oblong, growing in a clump and are 4. 5-6. 5 millimetres (0. 18-0. 26 in) long. The species' fertile lemma is chartaceous, keelless, oblong and is 8-11 millimetres (0. 31-0. 43 in) long. Both lower and upper glumes are chartaceous, elliptic and keelless with acute apexes. Their size is different though; Lower glume is 7-12 millimetres (0. 28-0. 47 in) long while the upper one is 9-15 millimetres (0. 35-0. 59 in) long. Flowers are fleshy, oblong, truncate and grow together. They also have 3 anthers with fruits that are caryopses and have an additional pericarp. The species is perennial and have culms that are 75-200 centimetres (30-79 in) long and woody. The species' lateral branches are sparse with leaf-sheaths being scabrous, tubular and closed. It leaf-blades are 2-4 millimetres (0. 079-0. 157 in) wide. It panicle is contracted, linear, and is 12-35 centimetres (4. 7-13. 8 in) long with filiform pedicels that are located on fertile spikelet. The main branches are appressed and carry oblong and solitary spikelets that are 12-18 millimetres (0. 47-0. 71 in) long. They are comprised out of 3-6 fertile florets which are diminished at the apex. It sterile florets are barren, oblong, growing in a clump and are 4. 5-6. 5 millimetres (0. 18-0. 26 in) long. The species' fertile lemma is chartaceous, keelless, oblong and is 8-11 millimetres (0. 31-0. 43 in) long. Both lower and upper glumes are chartaceous, elliptic and keelless with acute apexes. Their size is different though; Lower glume is 7-12 millimetres (0. 28-0. 47 in) long while the upper one is 9-15 millimetres (0. 35-0. 59 in) long. Flowers are fleshy, oblong, truncate and grow together. They also have 3 anthers with fruits that are caryopses and have an additional pericarp.

Melica imperfecta is a species in the Poaceae (Grass) family known by the common names California Melic, Small Flower Melic and Little California Melic. It is native to the southwestern United States and Baja California, where it grows in chaparral, woodlands, and other dry areas. In California it is found primarily in the central and southern portions of the state, along the coast, in the coastal mountain ranges, and in the foothills of the Sierras. It is a perennial bunchgrass growing up to 1.2 meters in maximum height. The flower cluster is a narrow or spreading series of attractive spikelets which are green in color with areas of purple. With supplemental water it will remain evergreen; otherwise it is summer dormant. It greens up early with fall/winter rain.

Melica stricta is a species of grass known by the common name rock melic. It is native to California, Oregon, Nevada, and Utah in the western United States. It grows in mountain and plateau habitats, including areas with an alpine climate. It is native to California, Oregon, Nevada, and Utah in the western United States. It grows in mountain and plateau habitats, including areas with an alpine climate. It is a perennial bunchgrass which varies in maximum height from 10 to 90 centimeters. The inflorescence is a narrow panicle of V-shaped green and purple banded spikelets.

Melica torreyana is a species of grass known by the common name Torrey's Melicgrass. There are numerous species in the genus Melica that are native to different parts of the state. This species is endemic to California, where it grows in chaparral, grassland, and other hillside and mountain habitats in the central Coast Ranges and Sierra foothills. It is a perennial grass with dense clumps of stems up to a meter long but often less. The flower cluster is a narrow panicle of small spikelets each under a centimeter long. It does not have a rhizome, and propagation is by seeds, which resemble grains of rice. Near the coast it can tolerate full sun, inland it needs part shade. In the fog belt or with supplemental water it will stay evergeen. It is tolerant of both poor soil and garden conditions, making it useful for gardens in the central part of the state. For other regions, see other species of Melica.

Desert Olive (Menodora scoparia) is a native perennial herb that grows in southern California. It tends to grow in rocky slopes, at elevations from 2000-6600 feet.