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Descriptions by The Wrigley Memorial
and Botanical Gardens
Illustrations by Cindy Spring
Catalina
endemic plants are species that occur naturally on Catalina Island
and nowhere else in the world. A restricted (endemic) island distribution
may result from the gradual elimination of a species on the mainland
and its persistence on the isolated island(s), where the threat
of extinction may be less. The island ironwood (Lyonothamnus
floribundus ssp. floribundus), present on the mainland
from six to nineteen million years ago, but extinct there now, exemplifies
this phenomenon.
Catalina
Ironwood
Lyonothamnus
floribundus ssp. floribundus
20,000 years ago, this unique sub-species of ironwood tree grew
abundantly on the mainland. Now, this tree exists nowhere else in
the world but Catalina.
Catalina
Mahogany
Cercocarpus traskiae
The rarest of the Catalina endemics. Only seven of these small shrubs
or trees occur naturally in a single canyon.
St.
Catherine's Lace
Eriogonum giganteum var. giganteum
Grows on dry, rocky slopes throughout Catalina's interior. Changes
with the seasons - from white in the spring, to beige, light brown,
then deep russet in the fall.
Catalina
Live-Forever
Dudleya hassei
The only Catalina endemic which is a succulent. Look for it on the
slope at the foot of the Wrigley Memorial.
Catalina
Manzanita
Arctostaphylos catalinae
When the manzanita fruit ripens, its color resembles the brilliant
wine-red bark - and the ground squirrels love it.
Catalina
Bedstraw
Galium catalinense ssp. catalinense
A perennial herb found mostly on rocky outcroppings on the lee side
of Catalina.  
Toyon
or California Holly
Heteromeles arbutifolia
Also called Christmas berry, because the clusters of holly-like
berries remain red through the Christmas season.
Catalina
Cherry
Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii
The large-pitted fruit is not particularly tasty, but was still
an important fresh fruit of the Catalina indians. Used today as
an ornamental tree for landscaping.
Lemonade
Berry
Rhus integrifolia
The plant's sticky lemony residue was also used by the Catalina
indians for a refreshing drink.
Catalina
Currant
Ribes viburnifolium
Used in landscaping as a native ground cover for shady areas. Extremely
fragrant.
Yerba
Santa
Eriodictyon traskiae
This evergreen shrub has a pungent fragrance and sprawling growth
habit. Yerba Santa occurs on Catalina and in coastal Ventura and
San Luis Obispo Counties.
Wild
Tomato
Solanum wallacei
A member of the deadly nightshade family, the large, purple-black
berries are certainly not to be eaten - they're highly poisonous!
The Wild Tomato also occurs on other Channel Islands and Guadalupe,
off the coast of Mexico.
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