Banksia serrata

 species: Banksia serrata

common name: saw banksia

family: Proteaceae

where & when encountered: Santa Cruz, CA - 2012

basterkobas

species: Cyphostemma juttae
common name: basterkobas, Namibian grape
family: Vitaceae
where & when encountered: Carpinteria - 2017

cut-leaf banksia

species: Banksia praemorsa

common name: cut-leaf banksia

family: Proteaceae

where & when encountered: Carpinteria, CA - 2019

Queensland bottle tree

species: Brachychiton rupestris

common name: Queensland bottle tree

family: Malvaceae

where & when encountered: Carpinteria, CA - 2019

A relative of the bottle tree featured earlier in this blog, Brachychiton populneus.

"the blob"

species: Deuterocohnia brevifolia

common name: ?

family: Bromeliaceae

where & when encountered: Carpinteria, CA - 2017

I suggest that a good common name for this plant would be "the blob".

desert fern

species: Lysiloma watsonii

common name: desert fern

family: Fabaceae

where & when encontered: Carpinteria, CA - 2019

shaving brush palm

species: Rhopalostylis sapida

common name: shaving brush palm

family: Arecaceae

where & when encountered: Carpinteria, CA - 2019

It's interesting to note that this is the only palm tree native to New Zealand.

carrotwood

species: Cupaniopsis anacardioides
common name: carrotwood
family: Sapindaceae
where & when encountered: Orange County, CA - 2000

purple sage

species: Salvia leucophylla

common name: purple sage

family: Lamiaceae

where & when encountered: Ventura County, CA - 2019

Zanzibar gem

species: Zamioculcas zamiifolia

common name: Zanzibar gem

family: Araceae

where & when encountered: Ventura, CA - 2019

painted tongue

species: Salpiglossis sinuata

common name: painted tongue 

family: Solanaceae

where & when encountered: Ventura, CA - 2019

Brugmansia

species: Brugmansia suaveolens

common name: angel's trumpets

family: Solanaceae

where & when encountered: Ventura, CA - 2019

Sometimes called angel's trumpets, I prefer calling it Brugmansia, the genus in the nightshade family consisting of seven species, all native to South America. They are popular ornamental plants but also toxic, possessing similar alkaloids to deadly nightshade. Some South American native tribes however have figured out ways of using the plant medicinally, in addition to using it as a poisonous sedative.

snake plant

species: Sansevieria trifasciata

common name: snake plant

family: Asparagaceae

where & when encountered: Ventura, CA - 2016

One of my favorite house plants - very low maintenance and pleasant to look at. Requires very little water. It's also one of the best house plants for purifying indoor air. A native to West Africa, its strong fibers have been used to make bows.