The

Sierra Nevada The Sierra Nevada () is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin. The vast majority of the range lies in the state of California, although the Carson Range spur lies primarily ...

, also known locally as the ''"Sierra"'', is a

mountain range A mountain range or hill range is a series of mountains or hills arranged in a line and connected by high ground. A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in form, structure, and alignment that have arise ...

running north-to-south along eastern

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

, and occasionally into western

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. N ...

. The name "Sierra Nevada" is

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...

, translating as "Snowy (Mountain) Range".

Geography

The Sierra Nevada's immense size in length and height, geological age, and wide variety of

ecosystem An ecosystem (or ecological system) consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact. These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Energy enters the syste ...

s and

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

s present, make them home to one of the most diverse ''collections'' of distinct plant species in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. The Sierras are bordered by: the

Great Basin The Great Basin is the largest area of contiguous endorheic basin, endorheic watersheds, those with no outlets, in North America. It spans nearly all of Nevada, much of Utah, and portions of California, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, and Baja California ...

rain shadow A rain shadow is an area of significantly reduced rainfall behind a mountainous region, on the side facing away from prevailing winds, known as its leeward side. Evaporated moisture from water bodies (such as oceans and large lakes) is carrie ...

on the east; the

Cascade Range The Cascade Range or Cascades is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, ...

on the north; the Central Valley—

San Joaquin Valley The San Joaquin Valley ( ; es, Valle de San Joaquín) is the area of the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California that lies south of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and is drained by the San Joaquin River. It comprises seven c ...

on the west; the

Tehachapi Mountains The Tehachapi Mountains (; Kawaiisu: ''Tihachipia'', meaning "hard climb") are a mountain range in the Transverse Ranges system of California in the Western United States. The range extends for approximately in southern Kern County and northwest ...

linking the

Transverse Ranges The Transverse Ranges are a group of mountain ranges of southern California, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region in North America. The Transverse Ranges begin at the southern end of the California Coast Ranges and lie within Santa B ...

on the southwest; and the

Mojave Desert The Mojave Desert ( ; mov, Hayikwiir Mat'aar; es, Desierto de Mojave) is a desert in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountains in the Southwestern United States. It is named for the indigenous Mojave people. It is located primarily in ...

on the south.

Phytogeography

phytogeography Phytogeography (from Greek φυτόν, ''phytón'' = "plant" and γεωγραφία, ''geographía'' = "geography" meaning also distribution) or botanical geography is the branch of biogeography that is concerned with the geographic distribution o ...

, concerned with the geographic distribution of plant species,

floristic province A phytochorion, in phytogeography, is a geographic area with a relatively uniform composition of plant species. Adjacent phytochoria do not usually have a sharp boundary, but rather a soft one, a transitional area in which many species from both re ...

s are used. The Sierra Nevada are primarily within the

California Floristic Province The California Floristic Province (CFP) is a floristic province with a Mediterranean-type climate located on the Pacific Coast of North America with a distinctive flora similar to other regions with a winter rainfall and summer drought climate l ...

, with the Rocky Mountain Floristic Province to the north, the Great Basin Floristic Province to the east, and Sonoran Floristic Province to the south.

Biogeography

Biogeography Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities often vary in a regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, ...

looks at the spatial and temporal distributions of species. A descending hierarchy is used, with a

realms A realm is a community or territory over which a sovereign rules. The term is commonly used to describe a monarchical or dynastic state. A realm may also be a subdivision within an empire, if it has its own monarch, e.g. the German Empire. Etym ...

at the top, then

biome A biome () is a biogeographical unit consisting of a biological community that has formed in response to the physical environment in which they are found and a shared regional climate. Biomes may span more than one continent. Biome is a broader ...

s, followed by smaller

terrestrial ecoregion An ecoregion (ecological region) or ecozone (ecological zone) is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a bioregion, which in turn is smaller than a biogeographic realm. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of l ...

s. The Sierra Nevada are a small part of the North American continental

Nearctic realm The Nearctic realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting the Earth's land surface. The Nearctic realm covers most of North America, including Greenland, Central Florida, and the highlands of Mexico. The parts of North America t ...

. The Sierras contain portions of two Nearctic biomes: *The lower elevation western Sierra foothills are in the Nearctic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and shrub biome: which is represented here by the

California chaparral and woodlands The California chaparral and woodlands is a terrestrial ecoregion of southwestern Oregon, northern, central, and southern California (United States) and northwestern Baja California (Mexico), located on the west coast of North America. It is a ...

ecoregion's

California interior chaparral and woodlands The California interior chaparral and woodlands ecoregion covers in an elliptical ring around the California Central Valley. It occurs on hills and mountains ranging from to . It is part of the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biom ...

sub-ecoregion. *The valleys and mountains higher up are in the Nearctic

temperate coniferous forests Temperate coniferous forest is a terrestrial biome defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. Temperate coniferous forests are found predominantly in areas with warm summers and cool winters, and vary in their kinds of plant life. In some, needlel ...

biome: which is represented here by the Sierra Nevada Forests ecoregion.

Plants and distributions

:*This list of

native plant In biogeography, a native species is indigenous to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only local natural evolution (though often popularised as "with no human intervention") during history. The term is equ ...

s is organized by elevational distribution ranges and their

plant communities A plant community is a collection or association of plant species within a designated geographical unit, which forms a relatively uniform patch, distinguishable from neighboring patches of different vegetation types. The components of each plant co ...

. Some plants with a broader altitudinal range are found listed in their predominant habitat elevation. :*All the plant species listed are

native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and entert ...

to the Sierra's foothills, valleys, and mountains. In addition some are also

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to here and elsewhere within California - ''(ca-endemic)''; and some are further endemic to and only found in the Sierra Nevada - ''(sn-endemic)''.

Foothill Woodland Foothill woodland is a California vegetation type characterized by an overstory of broadleaf and coniferous trees, generally found in areas of higher elevations and more precipitation than grasslands and oak savannah, and at lower elevations and le ...
and
Chaparral Chaparral ( ) is a shrubland plant community and geographical feature found primarily in the U.S. state of California, in southern Oregon, and in the northern portion of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. It is shaped by a Mediterranean c ...
Zone

:' *

Indicator species A bioindicator is any species (an indicator species) or group of species whose function, population, or status can reveal the qualitative status of the environment. The most common indicator species are animals. For example, copepods and other sma ...

trees ** ''

Pinus sabiniana ''Pinus sabiniana'' (sometimes spelled ''P. sabineana''), with vernacular names including towani pine, foothill pine, gray pine, bull pine, and digger pine, is a pine endemic to California in the United States. Some sources discourage using the n ...

'' - Gray Pine, California Foothill Pine ** ''

Quercus douglasii ''Quercus douglasii'', known as blue oak, is a species of oak endemic to (and found only in) California, common in the Coast Ranges and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It is California's most drought-tolerant deciduous oak, and is a dominan ...

'' - Blue Oak * Other trees and shrubs ** ''

Aesculus californica ''Aesculus californica'', commonly known as the California buckeye or California horse-chestnut, is a species of buckeye native to California and southwestern Oregon. Description It is a large deciduous shrub or small tree, up to tall, with g ...

'' - California Buckeye ** ''

Arbutus menziesii ''Arbutus menziesii'' or Pacific madrone (commonly madrone or madrona in the United States and arbutus in Canada), is a species of broadleaf evergreen tree in the family Ericaceae, native to the western coastal areas of North America, from Bri ...

'' - Madrone ** '' Carpenteria californica'' - Bush anemone, Tree anemone ''(sn-endemic)'' ** ''

Cercis occidentalis ''Cercis occidentalis'', the western redbud or California redbud (syn. ''Cercis orbiculata'' — Greene), is a small tree or shrub in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is found across the American Southwest, from California to Utah and Arizona. I ...

'' - Redbud ** ''

Fraxinus latifolia ''Fraxinus latifolia'', the Oregon ash, is a member of the ash genus '' Fraxinus'', native to western North America. Description ''Fraxinus latifolia'' is a medium-sized deciduous tree that can grow to heights of in height, with a trunk diame ...

'' - Oregon Ash ** ''

Fremontodendron californicum ''Fremontodendron californicum'', with the common names California flannelbush, California fremontia, and flannel bush, is a flowering shrub native to diverse habitats in southwestern North America. Distribution ''Fremontodendron californicum'' ...

'' - Fremontia, California Flannelbush ** ''

Fremontodendron ''Fremontodendron'', with the common names fremontia and flannelbush or flannel bush, is a genus of three known species of shrubs native to the Southwestern United States and northwest Mexico. Taxonomy They are within the botanical family Malv ...

decumbens'' - Pine Hill Flannelbush ''(sn-endemic),

endangered species An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...

'' ** '' Quercus garryana var. semota'' - Garry Oak ** ''

Quercus lobata ''Quercus lobata'', commonly called the valley oak or roble, grows into the largest of California oaks. It is endemic to California, growing in interior valleys and foothills from Siskiyou County to San Diego County. Mature specimens may attain a ...

'' - Valley Oak ** ''

Quercus wislizenii ''Quercus wislizeni'', known by the common name interior live oak, is an evergreen oak, highly variable and often shrubby, found in many areas of California in the United States continuing south into northern Baja California in Mexico. It general ...

'' - Interior Live Oak ** ''

Salix laevigata ''Salix laevigata'', the red willow or polished willow, is a species of willow native to the southwestern United States and northern Baja California. Biology The red willow is a small tree up to in height. Like most other willows, it commonly ...

'' - Red Willow ** ''

Salix lasiolepis ''Salix lasiolepis'' (arroyo willow) is a species of willow native to western North America. Distribution The core range of the arroyo willow includes most of California, including the California Coast Ranges, Arizona, Klamath Mountains, Penin ...

'' - Arroyo Willow * Chaparral ** ''

Adenostoma fasciculatum ''Adenostoma fasciculatum'', commonly known as chamise or greasewood, is a flowering plant native to California and Baja California. This shrub is one of the most widespread plants of the California chaparral ecoregion. Chamise produces a specia ...

'' - Chamise ''(dominant species)'' ** ''

Arctostaphylos ''Arctostaphylos'' (; from "bear" and "bunch of grapes") is a genus of plants comprising the manzanitas () and bearberries. They are shrubs or small trees. There are about 60 species, of ''Arctostaphylos'', ranging from ground-hugging arc ...

'' spp. - Manzanita *** '' Arctostaphylos mewukka'' - Indian Manzanita ''(sn-endemic)'' *** ''

Arctostaphylos myrtifolia ''Arctostaphylos myrtifolia'' is a rare species of manzanita known by the common name Ione manzanita. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada foothills of California. It grows in the chaparral and woodland plant community on a distinctive acidic soil ...

'' - Ione Manzanita ''(sn-endemic)'' *** '' Arctostaphylos nissenana'' - Nissenan manzanita ''(sn-endemic)'' ** ''

Ceanothus ''Ceanothus'' is a genus of about 50–60 species of Actinorhizal plant, nitrogen-fixing shrubs and small trees in the buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae). Common names for members of this genus are buckbrush, California lilac, soap bush, or just ceano ...

'' spp. - California Lilac *** ''

Ceanothus roderickii ''Ceanothus roderickii'' is a rare species of shrub in the family Rhamnaceae known by the common name Pine Hill ceanothus. It is endemic to western El Dorado County, California, where it grows in the chaparral and woodlands of the Sierra Neva ...

'' - Pine Hill Ceanothus ''(sn-endemic)'' *** ''

Ceanothus tomentosus ''Ceanothus tomentosus'', with the common name woollyleaf ceanothus, is a species of shrub in the family Rhamnaceae. It is characterized by pale-blue to deep blue flowers and wooly leaves. It is native to California and Baja California, having an ...

'' - Woollyleaf Ceanothus ** ''

Heteromeles arbutifolia ''Heteromeles arbutifolia'' (; more commonly by Californian botanists), commonly known as toyon, is a common perennial shrub native to extreme southwest Oregon, California, and the Baja California Peninsula. It is the sole species in the genus ...

'' - Toyon ** ''

Quercus berberidifolia ''Quercus berberidifolia'', the California scrub oak, is a small evergreen or semi-evergreen shrubby oak in the white oak section of ''Quercus''. It is a native of the scrubby hills of California, and is a common member of chaparral ecosystems. ...

'' - California Scrub Oak ** ''

'' - Interior Live Oak ''(scrub form)'' ** ''

Rhamnus alnifolia ''Rhamnus alnifolia'' is a species of flowering plant in the buckthorn family known by the common names alderleaf buckthorn, or alder buckthorn. Unlike other "buckthorns", this alder buckthorn does not have thorns. It is native to North America, ...

'' - Alderleaf Buckthorn ** ''

Rhamnus californica ''Frangula californica'' (previously classified as ''Rhamnus californica'') is a species of flowering plant in the buckthorn family native to western North America. It produces edible fruits and seeds.http://honest-food.net/2014/08/13/california- ...

'' (''Frangula californica'') - Coffeeberry ** ''

Rhamnus crocea ''Rhamnus crocea'', the spiny redberry, is a species of plant in the family Rhamnaceae. There are two subspecies: ''Rhamnus crocea'' subsp. ''crocea'' (redberry buckthorn) and ''Rhamnus crocea'' subsp. ''pilosa'' (hollyleaf buckthorn). It is nat ...

'' - Redberry Buckthorn ** '' Ribes amarum'' - Bitter Gooseberry ''(ca-endemic)'' ** ''

Ribes aureum ''Ribes aureum'', known by the common names golden currant, clove currant, pruterberry and buffalo currant, is a species of flowering plant in the genus ''Ribes'' native to North America. Description The plant is a small to medium-sized deciduo ...

'' - Golden Currant ** '' Ribes malvaceum'' - Chaparral Currant ** ''

Ribes nevadense ''Ribes nevadense'' (sometimes spelled ''R. nevadaense'') is a species of currant known by the common names Sierra currant and mountain pink currant. Distribution ''Ribes nevadense'' is native to several of the mountain ranges in California, i ...

'' - Sierra Currant, Mountain Pink Currant ** ''

Ribes roezlii ''Ribes roezlii'' is a North American species of currant known by the common name Sierra gooseberry. Distribution ''Ribes roezlii'' is native to many of the mountain ranges of California, its distribution extending east into Nevada and north in ...

'' - Sierra Gooseberry ** ''

Rosa californica ''Rosa californica'', the California wildrose, or California rose, is a species of rose native to the U.S. states of California and Oregon and the northern part of Baja California, Mexico. The plant is native to chaparral and woodlands and the ...

'' - California Wild Rose ** ''

Salvia sonomensis ''Salvia sonomensis'' (Sonoma sage, creeping sage) is a low-growing perennial plant that is endemic to California. Description ''Salvia sonomensis'', as suggested by its common name "creeping sage", is a mat-forming subshrub with stems growing ...

'' - Sonoma Creeping Sage * Wildflowers, herbaceous perennials, and others ** ''

Allium obtusum ''Allium obtusum'' is a species of wild onion known by the common name red Sierra onion or subalpine onion. It is native to eastern California and western Nevada. It is a common plant in the granite foothills and mountains of the Sierra Nevada an ...

'' - Red Sierra Onion, Subalpine onion ** '' Allium yosemitense'' - Yosemite onion ''(sn-endemic)'' ** '' Calochortus amoenus'' - Purple Fairy-lantern ''(sn-endemic)'' ** ''

Calochortus luteus ''Calochortus luteus'', the yellow mariposa lily, is a mariposa lily endemic to California. Description The primarily bright deep yellow flower is 3–5 cm across and perianth bulb-shaped, lined red-brown inside, often also with central re ...

'' - Yellow Mariposa Lily ''(ca-endemic)'' ** ''

Calochortus plummerae ''Calochortus plummerae'' is a species of mariposa lily known by the common name Plummer's mariposa lily. It is endemic to Southern California where it is found along the coast, inland hills, and some Transverse Ranges and Peninsular Ranges.

'' - Plummer's Mariposa Lily ''(ca-endemic)'' ** ''

Calochortus venustus ''Calochortus venustus'' is a California species of flowering plants in the lily family known by the common name butterfly mariposa lily. It is a perennial herb that grows in grasslands and open wooded areas. Distribution and habitat The specie ...

'' - Butterfly Mariposa Lily ''(ca-endemic)'' ** '' Carex tumulicola'' - Foothill Sedge ** ''

Daucus pusillus ''Daucus pusillus'' is a species of wild carrot known by the common names American wild carrot and rattle-snake-weed. Its Latin name means "little carrot", or "tiny carrot". It is similar in appearance to other species and subspecies of wild carr ...

'' - American Wild Carrot ** '' Eragrostis hypnoides'' - Teal Lovegrass ** ''

Lomatium californicum ''Lomatium californicum'' is a species of plant related to the carrot and the parsnip which is known by the common names California rock parsnip, celery weed, and California lomatium. This plant is native to California and Oregon. It is found o ...

'' - California Rock Parsnip ** ''

Lomatium congdonii ''Lomatium congdonii'', known by the common names Mariposa desertparsley and Congdon's lomatium, is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family . Distribution ''Lomatium congdonii'' is endemic to California, where it is known from only ab ...

'' - Mariposa Desertparsley ''(sn-endemic)'' ** ''

Lomatium stebbinsii ''Lomatium stebbinsii'', known by the common name Stebbins' desertparsley, is a rare species of flowering plant in the Apiaceae, carrot family. Distribution The plant is Endemism, endemic to the central−western Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra Nev ...

'' - Stebbins' Desertparsley ''(sn-endemic)'' ** ''

Lupinus stiversii ''Lupinus stiversii'' is a species of lupine known by the common names harlequin annual lupine and harlequin lupine. The plant was named for Army physician Dr. Charles Austin Stivers, who first collected it in 1862 near Yosemite. Distribution ' ...

'' - Harlequin Lupine ''(ca-endemic)'' ** '' Monardella candicans'' - Sierra Monardella ''(sn-endemic)'' ** '' Melica aristata'' - Bearded Melicgrass ** ''

Melica californica ''Melica californica'' is a species of Poaceae, grass known by the common name California melic. Distribution This grass is native to Oregon and California, where it grows in many types of habitat, from mountain forests to open grassland at sea ...

'' - California Melic ''(bunchgrass)'' ** ''

Melica harfordii ''Melica harfordii'' is a species of grass known by the common name Harford's oniongrass. Distribution It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, where it grows in many types of habitat, including mountain forests ...

'' - Harford's Oniongrass ''(bunchgrass)'' ** '' Melica imperfecta'' - Little California Melic ''(bunchgrass)'' ** '' Mimulus bolanderi'' - Bolander's Monkeyflower ''(ca-endemic)'' ** '' Mimulus congdonii'' - 'Congdon's Monkeyflower ''(ca-endemic)'' ** '' Mimulus douglasii'' - Purple Mouse Ears ** ''

Mimulus glaucescens ''Erythranthe glaucescens'' is a species of monkeyflower known by the common name shieldbract monkeyflower. It was formerly known as ''Mimulus glaucescens''. Distribution It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the foothills of ...

'' - Shieldbract Monkeyflower ''(ca-endemic)'' ** '' Mimulus gracilipes'' - Slenderstalk Monkeyflower ''(sn-endemic)'' ** '' Mimulus inconspicuus'' - Smallflower Monkeyflower ''(sn-endemic)'' ** '' Mimulus pulchellus'' - Yellowlip Pansy Monkeyflower ''(sn-endemic)'' ** '' Mimulus shevockii'' - Kelso Creek Monkeyflower ''(sn-endemic)'' ** '' Mimulus viscidus'' - Sticky Monkeyflower ''(sn-endemic)'' ** '' Orthocarpus purpurascens'' - Owl Clover ** ''

Packera layneae ''Packera layneae'', known by the common name Layne's ragwort and Layne's butterweed, is a rare species of flowering plant in the aster family. Distribution The plant is endemic to California, where it is only known from the western slopes of ...

'' - Laynes butterweed, Layne's ragwort ''(sn-endemic)'' ** ''

Wyethia helenioides ''Wyethia helenioides'' is a species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae commonly referred to as gray mule's ears or whitehead mule-ears. Distribution This species occurs chiefly in the California Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, Penins ...

'' - Gray Mule's Ears

Eastern Slopes Great Basin xeric zone

*Trees and shrubs ** ''

Artemisia tridentata ''Artemisia tridentata'', commonly called big sagebrush,MacKay, Pam (2013), ''Mojave Desert Wildflowers'', 2nd ed., , p. 264. Great Basin sagebrush or (locally) simply sagebrush, is an aromatic shrub from the family Asteraceae, which grows in ari ...

'' - Sagebrush, Common Sagebrush ** ''

Cercocarpus ledifolius ''Cercocarpus ledifolius'' is a North American species of mountain mahogany known by the common name curl-leaf mountain mahogany. It is widespread across much of the Western United States as well as Baja California in Mexico. It can be found at ...

'' - Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany ** ''

Juniperus osteosperma ''Juniperus osteosperma'' (Utah juniper; syn. ''J. utahensis'') is a shrub or small tree native to the southwestern United States. Description The plant reaches , rarely to 9 m, tall. The shoots are fairly thick compared to most junipers, in ...

'' - Utah Juniper ** ''

Pinus attenuata The knobcone pine, ''Pinus attenuata'' (also called ''Pinus tuberculata''), is a tree that grows in mild climates on poor soils. It ranges from the mountains of southern Oregon to Baja California with the greatest concentration in northern Calif ...

'' - Knobcone Pine ** ''

Pinus monophylla ''Pinus monophylla'', the single-leaf pinyon, (alternatively spelled piñon) is a pine in the pinyon pine group, native to North America. The range is in southernmost Idaho, western Utah, Arizona, southwest New Mexico, Nevada, eastern and souther ...

'' - Single-leaf Pinyon ** ''

Yucca brevifolia ''Yucca brevifolia'' is a plant species belonging to the genus ''Yucca''. It is tree-like in habit, which is reflected in its common names: Joshua tree, yucca palm, tree yucca, and palm tree yucca. This monocotyledonous tree is native to the ar ...

'' - Joshua Tree *Perennials, subshrubs, and grasses ** ''

Agropyron desertorum ''Agropyron desertorum'' (clustered wheat grass, desert crested wheatgrass, desert wheatgrass, standard crested wheatgrass; syn. ''Agropyron cristatum'' subsp. ''desertorum'' (Fisch. ex Link) A. Löve, ''Agropyron cristatum'' var. ''desertorum'' ...

'' - Desert Crested Wheatgrass ''(bunchgrass)'' ** '' Calochortus bruneaunis'' - Bruneau Mariposa Lily ** '' Dodecatheon redolens'' - Scented Shooting Star ** ''

Eriogonum latens ''Eriogonum latens'' is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common name Inyo buckwheat. It is native to the western Great Basin region, in the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada and the Inyo Mountains of California and the White Mountains ...

'' - Inyo buckwheat ** ''

Grayia spinosa ''Grayia'' may refer to: * ''Grayia'' (snake), a genus of African water snakes * ''Grayia'' (plant), a genus of desert shrubs in the family Amaranthaceae {{Genus disambiguation ...

'' - Spiny Hopsage ** '' Linanthus inyoensis'' - Inyo Gilia ** '' Mimulus bigelovii'' - Bigelow's Monkeyflower ** '' Mimulus whitneyi'' - Harlequin Monkeyflower ''(sn-endemic)'' ** ''

Muhlenbergia porteri ''Muhlenbergia porteri'' is a species of grass known by the common names bush muhly and Porter's muhly. Distribution The bunchgrass is native to North America, where it can be found throughout the south-western United States, from the southern G ...

'' - Bush Muhly ** ''

Salvia dorrii ''Salvia dorrii'', the purple sage, Dorr's sage, fleshy sage, mint sage, or tobacco sage, is a perennial spreading shrub in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to mountain areas in the western United States and northwestern Arizona, found mainly ...

'' - Purple Sage ** '' Sisyrinchium halophilum'' - Nevada Blue-eyed grass ** ''

Sporobolus airoides ''Sporobolus airoides'' is a species of grass known by the common name alkali sacaton. It is native to western North America, including the Western United States west of the Mississippi River, British Columbia and Alberta in Canada, and northern ...

'' - Alkali Sacaton ''(bunchgrass)'' ** '' Sporobolus contractus'' - Spike Dropseed ''(bunchgrass)''

Lower Montane Forest

:' *Xeric-dry SW forests **

trees *** ''

Pinus ponderosa ''Pinus ponderosa'', commonly known as the ponderosa pine, bull pine, blackjack pine, western yellow-pine, or filipinus pine is a very large pine tree species of variable habitat native to mountainous regions of western North America. It is the ...

'' - Ponderosa Pine, Yellow Pine - ''

Yellow Pine Forest Ponderosa pine forest is a plant association and plant community dominated by ponderosa pine and found in western North America. It is found from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast Ranges in the Western United States and Western Canada. In ...

'' *** ''

Pinus jeffreyi ''Pinus jeffreyi'', also known as Jeffrey pine, Jeffrey's pine, yellow pine and black pine, is a North American pine tree. It is mainly found in California, but also in the westernmost part of Nevada, southwestern Oregon, and northern Baja Califo ...

'' - Jeffrey Pine, Yellow Pine **Other trees ***''

Calocedrus decurrens ''Calocedrus decurrens'', with the common names incense cedar and California incense-cedar (syn. ''Libocedrus decurrens'' Torr.), is a species of coniferous tree native to western North America. It is the most widely known species in the genus, ...

'' - Incense Cedar *** ''

Fraxinus velutina ''Fraxinus velutina'', the velvet ash, Arizona ash or Modesto ash, is a species of '' Fraxinus'' native to southwestern North America, in the United States from southern California east to Texas, and in Mexico from northern Baja California east ...

'' - Modesto Ash (Very localized in the Southern Sierras) *** ''

Pinus lambertiana ''Pinus lambertiana'' (commonly known as the sugar pine or sugar cone pine) is the tallest and most massive pine tree, and has the longest cones of any conifer. The species name ''lambertiana'' was given by the Scottish botanist David Douglas, ...

'' - Sugar Pine *** ''

Pseudotsuga menziesii The Douglas fir (''Pseudotsuga menziesii'') is an evergreen conifer species in the pine family, Pinaceae. It is native to western North America and is also known as Douglas-fir, Douglas spruce, Oregon pine, and Columbian pine. There are three va ...

'' - Douglas-fir *** ''

Quercus kelloggii ''Quercus kelloggii'', the California black oak, also known as Kellogg oak, is an oak in the red oak section (genus ''Quercus'', section ''Lobatae'', series ''Agrifoliae''), native to western North America. Although genetically separated from the ...

'' - California Black Oak ***Canyon Live Oak ***''

'' - Pacific Madrone (Localized in the Central Sierras) *Mesic-moist NE forests **

trees *** ''

Sequoiadendron giganteum ''Sequoiadendron giganteum'' (giant sequoia; also known as giant redwood, Sierra redwood, Sierran redwood, California big tree, Wellingtonia or simply big treea nickname also used by John Muir) is the sole living species in the genus ''Sequoiade ...

'' - Giant Sequoia ''(sn-endemic)'' *** ''

'' - Ponderosa Pine **Other trees *** ''

Abies concolor ''Abies concolor'', the white fir, is a coniferous tree in the pine family Pinaceae. This tree is native to the mountains of western North America, including the Cascade Range and southern Rocky Mountains, and into the isolated mountain ranges ...

'' - White Fir *** ''

Acer macrophyllum ''Acer macrophyllum'', the bigleaf maple or Oregon maple, is a large deciduous tree in the genus '' Acer''. It is native to western North America, mostly near the Pacific coast, from southernmost Alaska to southern California. Some stands are al ...

'' - Bigleaf Maple *** ''

Acer negundo ''Acer negundo'', the box elder, boxelder maple, Manitoba maple or ash-leaved maple, is a species of maple native to North America. It is a fast-growing, short-lived tree with opposite, compound leaves. It is sometimes considered a weedy or inv ...

'' var. ''californicum'' - Box Elder *** ''

Alnus incana ''Alnus incana'', the grey alder or speckled alder, is a species of multi-stemmed, shrubby tree in the birch family, with a wide range across the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Tolerant of wetter soils, it can slowly spread with runners ...

'' subsp. ''tenuifolia'' - Grey Alder *** ''

Alnus rhombifolia ''Alnus rhombifolia'', the white alder, is an alder tree native to western North America, from British Columbia and Washington east to western Montana, southeast to the Sierra Nevada, and south through the Peninsular Ranges and Colorado Desert oa ...

'' - White Alder *** ''

Betula occidentalis ''Betula occidentalis'', the water birch or red birch, is a species of birch native to western North America, in Canada from Yukon east to Northwestern Ontario and southwards, and in the United States from eastern Washington east to western Nort ...

'' - Water Birch *** ''

'' - Sugar Pine *** ''

Populus trichocarpa ''Populus trichocarpa'', the black cottonwood, western balsam-poplar or California poplar, is a deciduous broadleaf tree species native to western North America. It is used for timber, and is notable as a model organism in plant biology. Desc ...

'' - California poplar Arctostaphylos patula 08399

*Shrubs ** ''

Amelanchier alnifolia ''Amelanchier alnifolia'', the Saskatoon berry, Pacific serviceberry, western serviceberry, western shadbush, or western juneberry, is a shrub with an edible berry-like fruit, native to North America. Description It is a deciduous shrub or sma ...

'' var. ''pumila'' - Serviceberry ** ''

Amelanchier utahensis ''Amelanchier utahensis'', the Utah serviceberry, is a shrub or small tree native to western North America. This serviceberry grows in varied habitats, from scrubby open slopes to woodlands and forests. Description ''Amelanchier utahensis'' i ...

'' - Utah Serviceberry ** ''

Arctostaphylos manzanita One of many species of manzanita, ''Arctostaphylos manzanita'' has the common names common manzanita and whiteleaf manzanita. ''Arctostaphylos manzanita'' is endemic to California, where it can be found in the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada foo ...

'' - Whiteleaf Manzanita ''(ca-endemic)'' ** ''

Arctostaphylos nevadensis ''Arctostaphylos nevadensis'', with the common name pinemat manzanita, is a species of manzanita. Distribution ''Arctostaphylos nevadensis'' is native to western North America from Washington to California, where it grows in the coniferous for ...

'' - Pinemat Manzanita ** ''

Arctostaphylos patula ''Arctostaphylos patula'' is a species of manzanita known by the common name greenleaf manzanita. This manzanita is native to western North America where it grows in coniferous forests at moderate to high elevations. Distribution The distributi ...

'' - Greenleaf Manzanita ** ''

Arctostaphylos viscida ''Arctostaphylos viscida'', with the common names whiteleaf manzanita and sticky manzanita, is a species of manzanita. Distribution ''Arctostaphylos viscida'' is a plant of chaparral and coniferous forests of some elevation. It is native to Cali ...

'' subsp. ''mariposa'' & subsp. ''viscida'' - Sticky Manzanita ** ''

Berberis aquifolium ''Berberis aquifolium'', the Oregon grape or holly-leaved barberry, is a species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae, native to western North America. It is an evergreen shrub growing tall and wide, with pinnate leaves consisting of ...

'' - Oregon-Grape ** ''

Berberis nervosa ''Mahonia nervosa'', commonly known as dwarf Oregon-grape, Cascade barberry, Cascade Oregon-grape, or dull Oregon-grape, is a flowering plant native to the northwest coast of North America from southern British Columbia south to central Californ ...

'' - Dwarf Oregon-Grape ** '' Ceanothus fresnensis'' - Fresno Mat ''(sn-endemic)'' ** ''

Ceanothus parvifolius ''Ceanothus parvifolius'' is a species of shrub in the family Rhamnaceae known by the common name littleleaf ceanothus or littleleaf whitethorn. This deciduous plant is characterized by its blue flowers and flat topped habit, and is endemic to th ...

'' - Littleleaf Ceanothus ''(sn-endemic)'' ** ''

Ceanothus pinetorum ''Ceanothus pinetorum'' is a species of shrub in the family Rhamnaceae known by the common names Kern ceanothus and Coville ceanothus. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada of California, where it is known only from the Kern Plateau, a section o ...

'' - Kern Ceanothus ''(sn-endemic)'' ** ''

Chamaebatia foliolosa ''Chamaebatia foliolosa'' is a species of aromatic evergreen shrub in the rose family known by the common names mountain misery and bearclover. It is endemic to the mountains of California, where it grows in coniferous forests. The Miwok tribe's ...

'' - Kit-kit-dizze, Bear Clover, Mountain Misery ** ''

Cornus nuttallii ''Cornus nuttallii'', the Pacific dogwood, western dogwood, or mountain dogwood, is a species of dogwood tree native to western North America. Description It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree, reaching tall, often with a canopy spre ...

'' - California Dogwood ** ''

Prunus emarginata ''Prunus emarginata'', the bitter cherry or Oregon cherry, is a species of ''Prunus'' native to western North America, from British Columbia south to Baja California, and east as far as western Wyoming and New Mexico. It is often found in recentl ...

'' - Oregon Cherry ** ''

Rhamnus ilicifolia ''Rhamnus ilicifolia'' is a species of flowering plant in the Rhamnaceae, buckthorn family known by the common name hollyleaf redberry. It is native to western North America, where it is a common plant growing in many types of habitat, including c ...

'' - Hollyleaf Redberry ** '' Rhamnus rubra'' - Sierra Coffeeberry ** ''

'' - Sierra Currant, Mountain Pink Currant ** ''

'' - Sierra Gooseberry ** '' Ribes tularense'' - Sequoia Gooseberry, Tulare Gooseberry ''(sn-endemic)'' ** ''

Rhododendron occidentale ''Rhododendron occidentale'', the western azalea or California azalea, is one of two deciduous ''Rhododendron'' species native to western North America (the other is ''Rhododendron albiflorum''). The western azalea is known to occur as far north ...

'' - Western Azalea ** ''

Rosa bridgesii ''Rosa bridgesii'' is a species of rose known by the common names pygmy rose and Sierran dwarf rose. It is native to California, where it grows in the forests of the Sierra Nevada and surrounding mountains and foothills. It may also occur in Oreg ...

'' - Pygmy Rose ** ''

Rosa woodsii ''Rosa woodsii'' is a species of wild rose known by the common names Woods' rose, interior rose, common wild rose, mountain rose, pear-hip rose, and prairie rose. Distribution and habitat It is native to North America including much of Canada an ...

'' - Woods' Rose ** ''

Salix Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist so ...

'' spp. - Willows *** ''

Salix drummondiana ''Salix drummondiana'' is a species of willow known by the common name Drummond's willow. It is native to western North America from Yukon and the Northwest Territories in the north to California and New Mexico in the south. It is a resident of m ...

'' - Drummond's Willow *** ''

Salix exigua ''Salix exigua'' (sandbar willow, narrowleaf willow, or coyote willow; syn. ''S. argophylla, S. hindsiana, S. interior, S. linearifolia, S. luteosericea, S. malacophylla, S. nevadensis,'' and '' S. parishiana'') is a species of willow native to m ...

'' - Sandbar Willow *** '' Salix lemmonii'' - Lemmon's Willow *** '' Salix ligulifolia'' - Strapleaf Willow *** ''

Salix lucida ''Salix lucida'', the shining willow, Pacific willow, red willow, or whiplash willow, is a species of willow native to northern and western North America, occurring in wetland habitats.Jepson Flora''Salix lucida''/ref>Plants of British Columbia'' ...

'' subsp. caudata, subsp. lasiandra - Shining Willow, Pacific Willow, or Whiplash Willow *** ''

Salix scouleriana ''Salix scouleriana'' (Scouler's willow; syn. ''S. brachystachys'' Benth., ''S. capreoides'' Anderss., ''S. flavescens'' Nutt., ''S. nuttallii'' Sarg., ''S. stagnalis'' Nutt.) is a species of willow native to northwestern North America. Other nam ...

'' - Scouler's Willow ** ''

Umbellularia californica ''Umbellularia californica'' is a large hardwood tree native to coastal forests and the Sierra foothills of California, and to coastal forests extending into Oregon. It is endemic to the California Floristic Province. It is the sole species in th ...

'' - California Bay Carex utriculata Lake-margin sedge Hamilton Lake

*Herbaceous perennials and others ** ''

'' - Red Sierra Onion ** ''

Andropogon glomeratus ''Andropogon glomeratus'' is a species of grass known by the common names bushy bluestem and bushy beardgrass. This bunchgrass is native to the Americas, where it is widespread. It has also naturalized in other areas. The genus name ''Andropogon ...

'' var. ''scabriglumis'' - Bushy Bluestem bunchgrass ** ''

Aquilegia formosa ''Aquilegia formosa'', the crimson columbine, western columbine, or (ambiguously) "red columbine", is a common wildflower native to western North America, from Alaska to Baja California, and eastward to Montana and Wyoming. Description ''Aquileg ...

'' - Western Columbine ** ''

Blechnum spicant ''Struthiopteris spicant'', syn. ''Blechnum spicant'', is a species of fern in the family Blechnaceae, known by the common names hard-fern or deer fern. It is native to Europe, western Asia, northern Africa, and western North America. Like some ...

'' - Deer Fern ** ''

Calochortus leichtlinii ''Calochortus leichtlinii'' is a species of flowering plant in the lily family known by the common names Leichtlin's mariposa, smokey mariposa, and mariposa lily. The plant is native to the Sierra Nevada and Modoc Plateau of California and adja ...

'' - Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily, Smokey Mariposa Lily ** '' Calochortus westonii'' - Shirley Meadow Star-tulip ''(sn-endemic)'' ** ''

Camissonia ''Camissonia'', sometimes commonly known as sun cup or sundrop, is a genus of annual and perennial plants in the evening primrose family Onagraceae. A total of 12 species are known, nearly all from western North America, especially in the Califor ...

sierrae'' ssp. ''alticola'' – Mono Hot Springs Evening-primrose ''(sn-endemic)'' ** ''

Carex ''Carex'' is a vast genus of more than 2,000 species of grass-like plants in the family Cyperaceae, commonly known as sedges (or seg, in older books). Other members of the family Cyperaceae are also called sedges, however those of genus ''Carex'' ...

'' spp. - Sedges *** '' Carex abrupta'' - Abrupt-beaked Sedge *** ''

Carex amplifolia ''Carex amplifolia'' is a species of sedge known by the common name bigleaf sedge. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to Montana to California, where it grows in wet and seasonally wet areas in coniferous forests. Descri ...

'' - Bigleaf Sedge *** ''

Carex angustata ''Carex angustata'' is a species of sedge known by the common name widefruit sedge. It is native to the western United States from Washington and Idaho to California, where it grows in wet meadows and on streambanks. Description This sedge grows ...

'' - Widefruit Sedge *** ''

Carex athrostachya ''Carex athrostachya'' is a species of sedge known by the common name slenderbeak sedge. It is native to western North America, including Alaska to central Canada, the western contiguous United States, and just into Baja California. Description ...

'' - Slenderbeak Sedge *** ''

Carex aurea ''Carex aurea'' is a species of sedge known by the common name golden sedge. It is native to much of North America, including most of Canada and the western, upper Midwest, and northeastern United States. It grows in wet habitat, often on soils ...

'' - Golden Sedge *** ''

Carex canescens ''Carex canescens'' L. (syn. ''C. cinerea'' Poll.; ''C. curta'' Gooden.) is a perennial species of plants in the family Cyperaceae growing in damp forests and wetlands. It is widespread across much of Europe, Asia, Australia, New Guinea, North A ...

'' *** ''

Carex cusickii ''Carex cusickii'' is a species of sedge known by the common name Cusick's sedge. It is native to Northwestern North America from British Columbia to California, and in Utah, where it can be found in several types of wet habitat, such as marshes ...

'' - Cusick's Sedge *** ''

Carex diandra ''Carex diandra'' is a species of sedge known by the common names lesser tussock-sedge and lesser panicled sedge. Distribution It is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, where it can be found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. ...

'' - Lesser Panicled Sedge *** ''

Carex disperma ''Carex disperma'' is a species of sedge known by the common names softleaf sedge or two-seed sedge. It is native to much of the northern Northern Hemisphere, from Alaska to Greenland, most of Canada and the contiguous United States, and across E ...

'' - Softleaf Sedge *** ''

Carex douglasii ''Carex douglasii'' is a species of sedge known by the common name Douglas' sedge. Distribution It is native to much of western North America, including the western Canadian provinces, the western United States, and Baja California. It grows in ...

'' - Douglas' Sedge *** ''

Carex echinata ''Carex echinata'' is a species of sedge known by the common names star sedge and little prickly sedge. Description ''Carex echinata'' has a solid, ridged stem that may exceed in height and it has a few thready leaves toward the base. The inflo ...

'' subsp. ''echinata'' - Star Sedge *** ''

Carex filifolia ''Carex filifolia'' is a species of sedge known by the common name threadleaf sedge. It is native to western North America and grows on slopes, eroded areas, gravel, and dry habitats. Description ''Carex filifolia'' produces clumps of stems whic ...

'' var. ''erostrata'' - Threadleaf Sedge *** '' Carex hassei'' - Salt Sedge *** '' Carex helleri - Heller's Sedge *** '' Carex heteroneura'' - var. ''epapillosa'' & ''heteroneura'' - Different-Nerve Sedge *** '' Carex hoodii'' - Hood's Sedge *** '' Carex illota'' - Sheep Sedge *** '' Carex jonesii'' - Jones' Sedge *** ''

Carex lasiocarpa ''Carex lasiocarpa'' is a broadly distributed species of wetland sedge sometimes known as woollyfruit sedge or slender sedge. It is considered a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List due to its extensive range (much of North America, Euro ...

'' - Slender Sedge *** '' Carex lenticularis'' var. ''impressa'' & ''lipocarpa'' - Lakeshore Sedge *** '' Carex leporinella'' - Sierra Hare Sedge *** ''

Carex limosa ''Carex limosa'' is a species of sedge known as bog-sedge, mud sedge, and shore sedge. Distribution This sedge is an aquatic or shore plant which can most often be found in peat bogs in mountains. It is widely distributed across North America ...

'' - Shore Sedge *** '' Carex luzulina'' var. ''ablata'', var. ''luzulina'' - Woodrush Sedge *** '' Carex mariposana'' - Mariposa Sedge *** '' Carex multicaulis'' - Manystem Sedge *** '' Carex multicostata'' - Manyrib Sedge *** '' Carex nebrascensis'' - Nebraska Sedge *** ''

Carex nervina ''Carex nervina'' is a species of sedge known by the common name Sierra sedge. Distribution This sedge is native to California, including the Sierra Nevada and San Joaquin Valley, and adjacent parts of Oregon and Nevada, where it grows mainly i ...

'' - Sierra Sedge *** ''

Carex nudata ''Carex nudata'' is a species of true sedge known by several common names, including torrent sedge, California black-flowering sedge, Dudley's sedge, and naked sedge. Distribution This sedge is found in California, Oregon, and Washington. It gro ...

'' - California Black-Flowering Sedge *** '' Carex pellita'' - Woolly Sedge *** '' Carex petasata'' - Liddon Sedge *** ''

Carex praegracilis ''Carex praegracilis'' is a species of North American sedge known as clustered field sedge, field sedge, and expressway sedge. ''Carex praegracilis'' is cultivated in the specialty horticulture trade as lawn substitute and meadow-like plantings. ...

'' - Field Sedge *** ''

Carex rossii ''Carex rossii'', commonly known as Ross's sedge, is a hardy species of Carex, sedge that is often a pioneer species in areas with little or no established vegetation, or in places where disturbance (ecology), disturbance has occurred. Ross's sed ...

'' - Ross's Sedge *** ''

Carex scoparia ''Carex scoparia'' is a species of sedge known by the common names broom sedge and pointed broom sedge. It should not be confused with the unrelated grass species known as "broom sedge," ''Andropogon virginicus''. Distribution This sedge is nat ...

'' - Pointed Broom Sedge *** ''

Carex sheldonii ''Carex sheldonii'' is a species of Carex, sedge known by the common name Sheldon's sedge. Description ''Carex sheldonii'' produces triangular stems up to a meter tall from a network of rhizomes. The narrow, hairy leaves attach to the stems by r ...

'' - Sheldon's Sedge *** '' Carex simulata'' - Analogue Sedge *** ''

Carex straminiformis ''Carex straminiformis'' is a species of sedge known by the common name Shasta sedge. Description ''Carex straminiformis'' produces dense clumps of stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall with leaves up to about 25 centimeters long. The inflorescence is ...

'' - Shasta Sedge *** ''

Carex utriculata ''Carex utriculata'' is a species of sedge known as Northwest Territory sedge and common yellow lake sedge. Distribution This sedge is native to the northern half of North America, including most all of Canada and the northern United States, an ...

'' - Northwest Territory Sedge *** ''

Carex vesicaria ''Carex vesicaria'' is an essentially Holarctic species of sedge known as bladder sedge, inflated sedge, and blister sedge. It has been used to insulate footwear in Norway and among the Sami people, and for basketry in North America. Description ...

'' var. ''major'' & ''vesicaria'' - Blister Sedge ** ''

Epipactis gigantea ''Epipactis gigantea'' is a species of orchid known as the stream orchid, giant helleborine, and chatterbox. This wildflower is native to western North America from British Columbia to central Mexico. This is one of the most abundant orchids of ...

'' - Stream Orchid ** ''

Eragrostis pectinacea ''Eragrostis pectinacea'' is a species of Poaceae, grass known by the common name tufted lovegrass. This plant is native to the Americas from Canada to Argentina. It is widespread, growing in most open spaces at varying elevations and habitats, i ...

'' - Tufted lovegrass ''(bunchgrass)'' ** ''

Hesperostipa comata ''Hesperostipa comata'', commonly known as needle-and-thread grass, is a species of grass native to North America, especially the western third. It has a wide distribution spanning from northern Canada to Mexico. Description ''Hesperostipa comat ...

'' - Needle-and-Thread Grass ''(bunchgrass)'' ** ''

Iris hartwegii ''Iris hartwegii'' is a species of iris endemic to California, where it can be found on low-elevation mountain slopes in the central counties. It has many common names including; foothill iris,Donald Wyman Donald Wyman (1904 — 6 December 1993) ...

'' - Sierra Iris ''(ca-endemic)'' ** ''

Iris missouriensis ''Iris missouriensis'' (syn. ''I. montana'') is a hardy flowering rhizomatous species of the genus ''Iris'', in the family Iridaceae. Its common names include western blue flag, Rocky Mountain iris,Donald Wyman and Missouri flag. It is native ...

'' - Western Blue Flag Iris ** ''

Iris tenuissima ''Iris tenuissima'' is a species of iris known by the common name longtube iris. It is endemic to California, where it is a common wildflower in the woodlands and forests of the northern part of the state. Description This rhizomatous perennial ...

'' - ''(ca-endemic)'' ** ''

Koeleria macrantha ''Koeleria macrantha'' is a species of grass known by the common name prairie Junegrass in North America and crested hair-grass in the UK. It is widespread across much of Eurasia and North America. It occurs in many habitat types, especially prai ...

'' - Prairie Junegrass ''(bunchgrass)'' ** ''

Lilium humboldtii ''Lilium humboldtii'', or Humboldt's lily, is a species of lily native to the US state of California and the Mexican state of Baja California. It is named after naturalist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt. It is native to the South High Cascad ...

'' subsp. ''humboldtii'' - Humboldt's Lily ''(ca-endemic)'' ** ''

Lilium pardalinum ''Lilium pardalinum'', also known as the leopard lily or panther lily, is a flowering bulbous perennial plant in the lily family, native to Oregon, California, and Baja California. It usually grows in damp areas. Its range includes California c ...

'' subsp. ''pardalinum'' & ''shastense'' - Leopard Lily ** ''

Lilium washingtonianum ''Lilium washingtonianum'' is a North American plant species in the lily family.Kellogg, Albert. 1859. Hesperian (San Francisco) 3: 340 It is also known as the Washington lily, Shasta lily, or Mt. Hood lily. It is named after Martha Washington a ...

'' subsp. ''washingtonianum'' - Shasta Lily ** ''

Luzula comosa ''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 meado ...

'' - Pacific Woodrush ** ''

Melica fugax ''Melica fugax'' is a species of grass known by the common names little oniongrass and little melic. It is native to western North America where it usually grows in volcanic soils in forest and plateau habitat from British Columbia to the Sierra ...

'' - Little Oniongrass ** '' Melica geyeri'' - Geyer's Oniongrass ** ''

Melica subulata ''Melica subulata'' is a species of Poaceae, grass known by the common name Alaska oniongrass. Distribution It is native to western North America from Alaska to California to Colorado, where it grows in moist habitat, often in forests. ''Melica ...

'' - Alaska Oniongras ** '' Melica torreyana'' - Torrey's Melicgrass ''(bunchgrass) - (ca-endemic)'' ** ''

Mimulus aurantiacus ''Diplacus aurantiacus'', the sticky monkey-flower or orange bush monkey-flower, is a flowering plant that grows in a subshrub form, native to southwestern North America from southwestern Oregon south through most of California. It is a member of ...

'' - Sticky Monkey-flower ** ''

Mimulus bicolor ''Erythranthe bicolor'', the yellow and white monkeyflower, is a species of flowering plant in the lopseed family (Phrymaceae). It is endemic to California, United States. It was formerly known as ''Mimulus bicolor''. Description It is an annual ...

'' - Yellow and White Monkeyflower ''(ca-endemic)'' ** ''

Mimulus breviflorus ''Erythranthe breviflora'' is a species of monkeyflower known by the common name shortflower monkeyflower. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to Wyoming to the Modoc Plateau and northern Sierra Nevada in California ...

'' - Shortflower Monkeyflower ** ''

Mimulus cardinalis ''Erythranthe cardinalis'', the scarlet monkeyflower, is a flowering perennial in the family Phrymaceae. Together with other species in ''Mimulus'' section ''Erythranthe'', it serves as a model system for studying pollinator-based reproductive is ...

'' - Scarlet Monkeyflower ** ''

Mimulus guttatus ''Erythranthe guttata'', with the common names seep monkeyflower and common yellow monkeyflower, is a yellow bee-pollinated annual or perennial plant. It was formerly known as ''Mimulus guttatus''. ''Erythranthe guttata'' is a model organism f ...

'' - Common Monkey-flower ** '' Mimulus montioides'' - Montia-like Monkeyflower ''(sn-endemic)'' ** '' Monardella odoratissima'' - Mountain Coyote Mint ** ''

Muhlenbergia asperifolia ''Muhlenbergia asperifolia'' is a species of grass known as alkali muhly and scratchgrass. It is native to much of North America, including most of southern Canada, most of the continental United States except for the southeastern region, and par ...

'' - Scratchgrass ** '' Pellaea brachyptera'' - Sierra Cliffbrake fern ** '' Pellaea breweri'' - Brewer's cliffbrake fern ** '' Pellaea bridgesii'' - Bridges' cliffbrake fern ** ''

Pteridium aquilinum ''Pteridium aquilinum'' (bracken, brake or common bracken), also known as eagle fern, is a species of fern occurring in temperate and subtropical regions in both hemispheres. Originally native to Eurasia and North America, the extreme lightness o ...

'' - Bracken Fern ** ''

Sedum albomarginatum ''Sedum albomarginatum'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae known by the common name Feather River stonecrop. It is endemic to California where it is known from fewer than 20 occurrences along the Feather River in Pl ...

'' - Feather River Stonecrop ''(sn-endemic - endangered)'' ** ''

Sisyrinchium bellum ''Sisyrinchium bellum'', the western blue-eyed grass or Californian blue-eyed grass, is the common blue-eyed grass of California and Oregon in and west of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra Nevada, its range extending south into Baja California. ...

'' - Californian Blue-eyed Grass ** '' Sisyrinchium elmeri'' - Elmer's Yellow-eyed Grass ** '' Sisyrinchium idahoense'' - Idaho Blue-eyed Grass ** ''

Sporobolus vaginiflorus ''Sporobolus vaginiflorus'' is a species of grass known by the common names poverty grass, poverty dropseed, and sheathed dropseed. Distribution This bunchgrass is native to eastern, central North America, including the Great Plains, extreme Sou ...

'' - Poverty Dropseed ''(bunchgrass)'' ** ''

Streptanthus fenestratus ''Streptanthus fenestratus'' is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common name Tehipite Valley jewelflower. Distribution It is endemic to Fresno County, California, where it is known only from the high moun ...

'' - Tehipite Valley Jewelflower ''(sn-endemic)'' ** ''

Xerophyllum tenax ''Xerophyllum tenax'' is a North American species of plants in the corn lily family. It is known by several common names, including bear grass, soap grass, quip-quip, and Indian basket grass. Ecology ''Xerophyllum tenax'' has flowers with si ...

'' - Indian Basket Grass, Bear Grass

Upper Montane Forest

:' *

trees ** ''

Abies magnifica ''Abies magnifica'', the red fir or silvertip fir, is a western North American fir, native to the mountains of southwest Oregon and California in the United States. It is a high-elevation tree, typically occurring at elevation, though only rare ...

'' - Red Fir ** ''

Pinus contorta ''Pinus contorta'', with the common names lodgepole pine and shore pine, and also known as twisted pine, and contorta pine, is a common tree in western North America. It is common near the ocean shore and in dry montane forests to the subalpine ...

murrayana'' - Lodgepole Pine *Other trees ** ''

Pinus monticola Western white pine (''Pinus monticola''), also called silver pine and California mountain pine, is a species of pine in the family Pinaceae. It occurs in mountain ranges of northwestern North America. It is the List of U.S. state trees, state tre ...

'' - Western White Pine ** ''

Populus tremuloides ''Populus tremuloides'' is a deciduous tree native to cooler areas of North America, one of several species referred to by the common name aspen. It is commonly called quaking aspen, trembling aspen, American aspen, mountain or golden aspen, tr ...

'' - Quaking Aspen ** ''

Juniperus occidentalis ''Juniperus occidentalis'', known as the western juniper, is a shrub or tree native to the Western United States, growing in mountains at altitudes of and rarely down to . It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List because it is a widesp ...

'' - Sierra Juniper ** ''

'' - Jeffrey Pine ** ''

Tsuga mertensiana ''Tsuga mertensiana'', known as mountain hemlock, is a species of hemlock native to the west coast of North America, found between Southcentral Alaska and south-central California. Description ''Tsuga mertensiana'' is a large evergreen conifer ...

'' - Mountain Hemlock *Shrubs ** ''

Chrysolepis ''Chrysolepis'' is a small genus of plants in the family Fagaceae, endemic to the western United States. Its two species have the common name chinquapin. The genus occurs from western Washington south to the Transverse Ranges in Southern Califor ...

sempervirens'' - Bush Chinquapin ** ''

'' - Greenleaf Manzanita ** ''

'' - Pinemat Manzanita ** ''

Quercus vaccinifolia ''Quercus vacciniifolia'' (sometimes spelled ''Q. vaccinifolia''), the huckleberry oak, is a member of the ''Protobalanus'' section of genus ''Quercus''. It has evergreen foliage, short styles, very bitter acorns that mature in 18 months, and a ...

'' - Huckleberry Oak ** ''

'' - Sierra Currant, Mountain Pink Currant ** '' Salix jepsonii'' - Jepson's Willow ** ''

Salix arctica ''Salix arctica'', the Arctic willow, is a tiny creeping willow (family Salicaceae). It is adapted to survive in Arctic conditions, specifically tundras. Description ''S. arctica'' is typically a low shrub growing to only in height, rarely to ...

'' - Arctic Willow *Herbaceous perennials and others ** ''

'' - Red Sierra Onion, Subalpine onion ** ''

'' spp. - Sedges ''(see also Carex spp. "Lower Montane Forest")'' *** '' Carex specifica'' - Narrowfruit Sedge ** '' Elymus sierrae'' - Sierra Wild Rye ''(sn-endemic)'' ** '' Erigeron aequifolius'' - Hall's Daisy ''(sn-endemic)'' ** ''

Lilium parvum ''Lilium parvum'' is a species of lily known by the common names Sierra tiger lily and alpine lily. It is native to the mountains of the western United States, primarily the Sierra Nevada of California but also with additional populations in nor ...

'' - Sierra Tiger Lily ''(sn-endemic)'' ** '' Lomatium torreyi'' - Sierra Biscuitroot ''(sn-endemic)'' ** ''

Melica bulbosa ''Melica bulbosa'' is a species of grass known by the common name oniongrass. The common name comes from the onionlike appearance of the corm at its root; it is not related to the onions. It is native to western North America from British Columbi ...

'' - Oniongrass ** '' Mimulus filicaulis'' - Slender-stemmed Monkeyflower ''(sn-endemic)'' ** '' Mimulus leptaleus'' - Slender Monkeyflower ''(sn-endemic)'' ** '' Mimulus torreyi'' - Torrey's Monkeyflower ''(ca-endemic)'' ** '' Phacelia inyoensis'' - Inyo Phacelia ''(sn-endemic)'' ** '' Poa cusickii'' - Cusick's Bluegrass ** ''

Viola adunca ''Viola adunca'' is a species of violet known by the common names hookedspur violet, early blue violet, sand violet, and western dog violet. It is native to meadows and forests of western North America, Canada, and the northern contiguous United ...

'' - Western Dog Violet ** ''

Viola glabella ''Viola glabella'', the stream violet or pioneer violet, is usually found along streams or in moist woods in northeastern Asia and northwestern North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely ...

'' - Stream Violet ** '' Viola macloskeyi'' - Western Sweet-white Violet ** ''

Woodwardia fimbriata ''Woodwardia fimbriata'', known by the common name giant chain fern, is a fern species in the family Blechnaceae, in the eupolypods II clade of the order Polypodiales, in the class Polypodiopsida. It is native to western North America from Britis ...

'' - Giant Chain Fern Sarcodes sanguinea in Yosemite National Park - May 2013

* Saprophytes ** '' Sarcodes sanguinea'' - Snow Plant ** ''

Pyrola picta ''Pyrola picta'', commonly called whiteveined wintergreen or whitevein shinleaf, is a perennial herb in the heath family. It is native to western North America from southwestern Canada to the southwestern United States. References External l ...

'' - Shinleaf Wintergreen ** '' Pterospora andromedea'' - Pinedrop ** ''

Corallorhiza ''Corallorhiza'', the coralroot, is a genus of flowering plants in the orchid family. Except for the circumboreal ''C. trifida'', the genus is restricted to North America (including Mexico, Central America and the West Indies). Most species are ...

'' - Coral roots ** ''

Cephalanthera austiniae ''Cephalanthera austiniae'' is a species of orchid known as the phantom orchid and snow orchid because the entire plant is white except for a few yellow markings on the flowers. The orchid is native to the western United States (California, Oreg ...

'' - Phantom Orchid

Subalpine Zone

:' *

tree ** ''Pinus albicaulis'' - Whitebark Pine *Other trees, and shrubs: ** ''Pinus balfouriana'' subsp. ''austrina'' - Foxtail Pine ** ''Pinus flexilis'' - Limber Pine ''(eastern slopes)'' ** ''Pinus monticola'' - Western White Pine ** ''

'' - Sierra Juniper ** ''

Salix eastwoodiae ''Salix eastwoodiae'' is a species of willow known by the common names mountain willow, Eastwood's willow, and Sierra willow. It was first described by Bebb in 1879 as ''Salix californica''. This name was later found to be illegitimate, as Lesq ...

'' - Mountain Willow ''(& alpine zone)'' ** '' Salix melanopsis'' - Dusky Willow *Herbaceous perennials and others: ** ''

'' - Subalpine onion ** '' Carex spectabilis'' - Showy Sedge ** '' Carex subnigricans'' - Nearlyblack Sedge ''(& alpine zone)'' ** '' Carex vernacula'' - Native Sedge ** '' Luzula divaricata'' - Forked Woodrush ''(& alpine zone)'' ** ''

Luzula orestera ''Luzula orestera'', with the common name Sierra woodrush, is a species of flowering plant in the rush family. It is endemic to the High Sierra Nevada of California, where it grows in fellfields, talus, and other habitat in regions of subalpin ...

'' - Sierra Woodrush ''(& alpine zone)'' ** ''

Melica stricta ''Melica stricta'' is a species of grass known by the common name rock melic. Distribution 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 alp ...

'' - Rock Melic ''(bunchgrass) - (& alpine zone)'' ** '' Mimulus laciniatus'' - Cutleaf Monkeyflower ''(sn-endemic)'' ** '' Poa leptocoma'' - Western Bog Bluegrass ''(& alpine zone)''

Alpine Zone

:''above '' * '' Antennaria pulchella'' - Sierra Pussytoes * ''

Aquilegia pubescens ''Aquilegia pubescens'' is a high-altitude species of columbine known by the common names Sierra columbine, alpine columbine and Coville's columbine. Its flowers are large and usually a creamy white. Distribution and habitat This wildflower is ...

'' - Sierra Columbine ''(sn-endemic) - (& sub-alpine zone)'' * '' Carex capitata'' - Capitate Sedge * ''

Carex nigricans ''Carex nigricans'' is a species of sedge known by the common name black alpine sedge. Distribution This sedge is native to western North America from Alaska to the Sierra Nevada in California, to Colorado, where it grows in wet areas in mountai ...

'' - Black Alpine Sedge * '' Carex phaeocephala'' - Dunhead Sedge ''(& down to foothill woodlands zone)'' * '' Carex raynoldsii'' - Raynolds' Sedge ''(& sub-alpine zone)'' * '' Lomatium shevockii'' - Owens Peak Desert-parsley ''(sn-endemic)'' * '' Muhlenbergia richardsonis'' - Mat Muhly * ''

Oxyria digyna ''Oxyria digyna'' (mountain sorrel, wood sorrel, Alpine sorrel or Alpine mountain-sorrel) is a species of flowering plant in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae).Sierra Nevada Wildflowers, Karen Wiese, 2nd ed., 2013, p. 108 It is native to arctic ...

'' - Mountain Sorrel * ''

Polemonium eximium ''Polemonium eximium'', the skypilot or showy sky pilot, is a perennial plant in the phlox family (Polemoniaceae) that grows at high altitudes (mostly above ).Sierra Nevada Wildflowers, Elizabeth Horn, Mountain Press Publishing Co., , 1998, p. 12 ...

'' - Sky pilot * '' Ptilagrostis kingii'' - Sierra False Needlegrass ''(sn-endemic), (& sub-alpine zone)'' * ''

Salix orestera ''Salix orestera'' is a species of willow known by the common name Sierra willow, or gray-leafed Sierra willow. It is native to the Sierra Nevada of California and western Nevada, where it grows in moist areas in high mountain subalpine and alpin ...

'' - Gray-leafed Sierra Willow ''(& sub-alpine zone)'' * ''

Salix planifolia ''Salix planifolia'' is a species of willow known by the common names planeleaf willow, diamondleaf willow, and tea-leafed willow. It is native to northern and western North America, including most of Canada and the western United States. It grow ...

'' subsp. ''planifolia''- Tea-Leafed Willow ''(& sub-alpine zone)''

References and bibliography

* Note: references for each plant species are within their own articles. *

Bibliography of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.) The following is a bibliography of the Sierra Nevada of California, United States, including books on recreation, natural history, and human history. Recreation General travel *''Yosemite & The Southern Sierra Nevada: A Complete Guide, Includin ...

* "

A Natural History of California Allan A. Schoenherr (February 6, 1937 – May 31, 2021) was a Californian author, ecologist, and naturalist. He is the author of the widely used reference book, ''A Natural History of California''. He received his PhD in zoology at Arizona State ...

," Allan A. Schoenherr, University of California Press, 1992, . * "A California Flora and Supplement," Phillip Munz, 1968, University of California Press, . * "

The Jepson Manual ''The Jepson Manual'' is a flora of the vascular plants that are either native to or naturalized in California. Botanists often refer to the book simply as ''Jepson''. It is produced by the University and Jepson Herbaria, of the University of Cali ...

," James C. Hickman-editor, University of California Press, 2003, . * "Mountain Sage: The Life of

Carl Sharsmith Carl William Sharsmith (March 14, 1903 – October 14, 1994) was an American naturalist and Yosemite park ranger, notable for his knowledge and interpretation of the natural history of the Sierra Nevada. He taught botany at various universit ...

, Yosemite Ranger and Naturalist," Elizabeth Stone O'Neill, .

External links

Jepson Manual: Sierra Nevada Foothills - flora checklist Jepson Manual: High Sierra Nevada - flora checklistCalifornia Native Plant Society: Identifying Native Plants website
{{Flora of the United States by political division, state=expanded 01

Plants Plants are predominantly Photosynthesis, photosynthetic eukaryotes of the Kingdom (biology), kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animals, and included algae and fungi; however, all curr ...

Sierra Nevada01

Sierra Sierra (Spanish for "mountain range" and "saw", from Latin '' serra'') may refer to the following: Places Mountains and mountain ranges * Sierra de Juárez, a mountain range in Baja California, Mexico * Sierra de las Nieves, a mountain range i ...

+ *

Geography

Phytogeography

Biogeography

Plants and distributions

Eastern Slopes Great Basin xeric zone

Lower Montane Forest

Upper Montane Forest

Subalpine Zone

Alpine Zone

See also

References and bibliography

External links