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.

narrow-leaf chalksticks

species: Kleinia cylindrica

common name: narrow-leaf chalksticks

family: Asteraceae

where & when encountered: Ventura, CA - 2016?

These popular succulents are difficult to identify because sometimes they are placed in the Senecio genus and called Senecio vitalis; but since the Kleinia genus was created to distinguish succulents from the rest of the sunflower family, I am inclined to class them that way. Kleinia are also found in warmer climates such as the Canary Islands, Africa and the Middle East.