flora
A term used to describe all plant life native to a particular region, habitat, or time period. Flora includes everything from towering trees to mosses, ferns, grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, and groundcovers that form the plant-based structure of local ecosystems.
In the Santa Cruz Mountains, the native flora includes Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum), Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii), Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon californicum), and a diverse array of seasonal wildflowers.
Understanding local flora is key to restoring habitat, supporting wildlife, and maintaining the resilience of native ecosystems.
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