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Tours

1. Ethnobotany Tour

   Throughout history, humans have gathered resources from plants. This tour highlights plant species that provide us with food, medicine, and folklore.

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   1. Native Plant Garden – Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia)

      Lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia) is a shrub or arborescent shrub reaching 2.8 m (7-25 ft) in height, although it is usually wider than tall. Specimens in full bloom are often covered in competing California native bees and European honeybees. While the seeds are hard and probably inedible, the surrounding fruit is strongly lemon-flavored and edible. They can be soaked in water to make a lemon-flavored drink and are probably high in vitamin C. However, many people are highly allergic to species in the Anarcardiaceae (which includes poison oak, poison ivy, and mangoes), so consuming the fruits or their juice should be done with caution. The plant is a major component of coastal sage scrub in some parts of California and is often found on wind-swept bluffs. Common relatives in Southern California include Rhus trilobata, sugarbush, and Malosma laurina, laurel sumac.
      
      Native to California 
      
      

      Family: Anacardiaceae (Sumac or Cashew family)

   2. Native Plant Garden – Arroyo Willow (Salix lasiolepis)

      The Arroyo Willow (Salix lasiolepis) grows in many habitats including coastal sage scrub, riparian, southern oak woodland, yellow pine forest, and central oak woodland habitats. Arroyo Willow flowers are produced in yellowish clusters (forming elongated catkins) that are important to many insects and birds. These willows lose their leaves in response to the shorter days of winter. Willow leaves and bark contain a compound (salicin), the active ingredient in aspirin, and have traditionally been brewed into a tea to reduce pain and fever. Willows were important to the Kumeyaay, a native tribe from San Diego, who used the willow as an indicator of the locations of fresh sources of water.
      
      Native to California 
      
      

      Family: Salicaceae (Willow family)

       

   3. Native Plant Garden – California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum)

      California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum) is a subshrub reaching 1 m (3 ft) in height and often wider than tall in full sun. It produces whitish, silvery-gray-green leaves, and tubular red flowers that are pollinated by hummingbirds. Its small, wind-dispersed seeds find their way up steep canyon walls and rocky slopes, where it is sometimes located. The Santa Barbara Chumash name translates to “hummingbird sucks it”, and it has a history of being used to treat cuts and sores, especially among livestock (Timbrook, 2007). This attractive, drought tolerant native is widely used in native plant landscaping, and several cultivars have been produced for home gardens.
      
      Native to California 
      
      

      Family: Onagraceae (Evening-primrose family)

   4. Chumash Garden – Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)

      Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) is a shrub or small tree that can reach a height of approximately 7.5 m (25 ft). It is found in oak woodlands and cooler areas of chaparral and coastal sage scrub. Toyon may be shrubby and stunted when growing with full exposure to the sun or in poor soils, or tall and reaching under the canopy of trees. Toyon flowers in the spring through mid-summer, and the telltale red berries typically mature in the fall and winter, although climate change is altering this timing. The berries support many bird species, including the cedar waxwing, California thrasher, American robin, and northern mockingbird, as well as mammals such as black bears and coyotes. Although the mealy berries contain cyanide and must be prepared correctly, they were a traditional staple food of the Chumash, and the wood was made into bows, arrows, and other material goods. Two bows found in the Santa Barbara backcountry in the 1970’s along with arrows and basket fragments appear to have been fashioned from this beautiful wood. Toyon is sometimes called Christmas berry or California holly.
      
      Native to California 
      
      

      Family: Rosaceae (Rose family)

   5. Chumash Garden – White Sage (Salvia apiana)

      White sage (Salvia apiana) is a perennial evergreen shrub that can be found in coastal sage scrub habitat in the southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. Its medicinal and ceremonial importance has endured for millennia among Indigenous communities in the area. Belonging to the mint family (Lamiaceae), it forms an essential element of coastal sagebrush found exclusively in the natural wild environment of southwestern and Baja California—constituting the solitary habitat occupied by white sage.

      Diverse ethnobotanical references document the use of white sage by the Cahuilla Band of Indians, the Chumash, the Kumeyaay, the Mahuna, and other Indigenous groups. They used white sage in various capacities: as a fundamental dietary item, a seasoning, a cleansing agent for hair, a deodorant, a remedy for colds, a solution for coughs, and a pain alleviator for headaches, rheumatism, and bodily discomfort. The leaves were ignited on heated embers to purify dwellings following severe ailments such as measles, tuberculosis, and smallpox.
      
      Native to California 
      
      

      Family: Lamiaceae (Mint family)

   6. Chumash Garden – Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)

      Coffeeberry (Frangula californica) is an evergreen shrub native to the Southwestern U.S. and Baja California, reaching 1.5-4.5 m (5-15 ft) in height and width, with reddish-purple stems, orangish roots, and yellowish wood. The flowers are small, white, and star-shaped, and attract many species of bees and hummingbirds. The berries and their seeds resemble those of the coffee plant, hence the common name. Berries are green as they begin to develop, and become red as they mature, eventually turning almost black. They are eaten by many forms of wildlife including California thrashers, band-tailed pigeons, mockingbirds, foxes, and bears, the latter of which greatly favor the fruit, accounting for one of Frangula californica’s Spanish names, yerba del oso.
      
      

      The aged bark of a closely related species, Frangula purshiana, is marketed as an herbal laxative called Cascara Sagrada. The bark of both species contains cyanide and therefore must be correctly processed, in this case by aging, before it is safe for consumption. The Chumash name for this plant, barbareno, refers to its glossy, dark fruits, which resemble the pupil of a coyote’s eye. Coyote plays an important role in Chumash mythology and origin stories.
      
      Native to California
      
      

      Family: Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn family)

   7. Chumash Garden –Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana)

      Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) is an arborescent shrub growing to 8 m (25 ft) in height. It can be found in oak woodland, coastal sage scrub, chaparral and other habitats, from the coast to the Sierra Nevada mountains. A prolific fruit producer, it supports many native birds, as well as bears and other animals. Traditionally used by Chumash peoples for bows, fire drills, food, medicine, containers, pipes, feather wands, musical instruments and more, it may have more individual uses for native Californians than any other plant. Elderberries on the coast display drought-deciduousness, losing leaves in response to seasonal summer drought. The woody stems and branches have a pithy core that is easily hollowed out. The Kumeyaay Indians of Mexico and Southern California use the shredded, inner bark to produce skirts. Raw berries are generally considered toxic and must be cooked.
      
      Native to California 
      
      

      Family: Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle family)

   8. UCSB Herbarium

      The UCSB Herbarium at the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration includes over 250,000 taxa of terrestrial and marine species. The vascular plant herbarium includes approximately 100,000 vascular plant specimens, lichens, and the C.H. Muller Oak Collection. The algal herbarium houses approximately 8000 specimens dating from the 1880s. Other notable collections include the Vernon I. Cheadle and Katherine Esau Botanical Collections and the Albert L. Brigger and Robert W. Holmes Diatom Collection.

   9. Maidenhair (Gingko biloba)

      Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba), is a gymnosperm native to China. Remarkably, it is the last living species in the order Ginkgoales, which first appeared over 290 million years ago. This tree, often referred to as a 'living fossil,' has been preserved over the centuries due to its ethnobotanical uses.
      
      

      The nut-like seeds of the ginkgo tree are consumed as a snack and are a common ingredient in Asian porridge, known as congee. While its health benefits have not been definitively proven, it is believed to have the potential to enhance memory, improve blood circulation, combat infections, and provide protection against free radicals. The ginkgo tree also finds utility in Bonsai cultivation, and its leaves hold significant cultural importance in the Japanese tea ceremony.
      
      

      Today, the ginkgo tree continues to exhibit resilience in the face of ongoing climate change and might even excel in carbon sequestration compared to other tree species. The ginkgo tree is easily recognizable by its fan-like leaves, many of which are divided into two lobes. In autumn, these leaves turn a vibrant shade of yellow. Some ginkgo trees produce clusters of yellow fruits containing edible seeds surrounded by soft flesh; these flesh-covered seeds are known for their unpleasant, rancid odor.
      
      

      Family: Ginkgoaceae (Ginkgo family)

       

       

   10. Bunya-Bunya (Araucaria bidwillii)

       Bunya-bunya (Araucaria bidwillii) is a majestic evergreen coniferous tree belonging to the Araucariaceae. This distinctive tree is native to Australia. The bunya pine is impressive, reaching a height of 30 to 45 meters, and forming a distinctive cone-shaped canopy. The lower portion of its trunk is devoid of branches, while its upper branches extend outward, adorned with clusters of thick, sharply pointed leaves.
       
       

       The bunya pine holds great cultural significance among the Aboriginal people of Australia. It was considered sacred, and its seasonal seed production marked the "Bunya season," which encouraged peaceful gatherings of rival tribes to partake in a grand feast featuring the bunya nuts, a delicacy with a chestnut-like flavor. The germinating seed also produces underground tissue with a coconut-like flavor. In addition to its cultural importance, the wood of the bunya pine is resinous and features a straight grain, making it a valuable source of timber.

        

       Family: Araucariaceae (Araucarian family)

   11. Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia)

       Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) are large, evergreen, broadly spreading trees that are 6-20 m (20-70 ft) in height. The bark ranges from smooth grey to deeply furrowed brown, and the leaves are holly-like and prickly at the margins. They can be distinguished botanically from other live oaks by the clusters of little hairs located at the junctions of veins on the undersides of their leaves. Sometimes fast-growing and very adaptable, older trees are often much wider than tall.
       
       

       Each tree bears pollen-producing male flowers and seed-producing female flowers in the spring. Seed-containing acorns are produced in the fall, but a given tree usually has high acorn production only every two to three years. The tree roots are symbiotic with many mycorrhizal fungi, including edible chanterelles, which share water and scarce nutrients with the trees in exchange for sugar (carbon). They can also be killed by fungi such as Armillaria whose mushrooms are also edible. While Coast Live Oak trees can live to be over 250 years old, most old trees have heart rot, which eventually kills them. The Chumash have long relied on oaks for food, fuel and other uses, collecting and processing their acorns for centuries. This practice is still ongoing today.
       
       Native to California

        

       Family: Fagaceae (Oak, Beech, and Chestnut family)

        

   12. Basket rush (Juncus textilis)

       Basket rush (Juncus textilis) is rhizomatous perennial endemic to California (it does not grow in the wild outside of the state). It reaches 0.6-2.5 m (2-8 ft) in height and produces bluish-green stems and clusters of loosely arranged flowers, which develop into inconspicuous capsules that bear their tiny seeds. Basket rush occurs in both wetlands and drier places, such as oak woodlands, but does best with at least some extra moisture. This is the famous plant from which many beautiful Chumash baskets have been woven, and it is the primary Juncus species used for basketry by the Chumash of Goleta and Santa Barbara. Another species of rush, the spiny rush (Juncus acutus) is clump forming, acutely sharp at the leaf tips, and grows in riverbeds and salt marshes, where it tolerates saline conditions. It was used in twined basketry to produce water bottles and other implements.
       
       Native to California
       
       

       Family: Juncaceae (Rush family)

   13. Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)

       Yerba mansa (Anemopsis californica) is a sprawling, stoloniferous, winter-dormant perennial herb, growing to 15-45 cm (6-18 in) in height and producing distinctive white flowers that are spirally arranged in dense, cone-shaped inflorescences. It grows in moist soils around both freshwater and moderately saline habitats such as hot springs, seeps, marshes, and other wetlands, sometime forming large stands. It tolerates both full exposure to the sun and the shady canopy of willows. This plant is a medicinal herb with a long history of indigenous use in both Chumash and neighboring North American Indian cultures. The herb is used both internally and externally. The plant was also used to purify handlers of the powerful, supernatural substance ‘ayip’, made partly from rattlesnake venom (Timbrook, 2007). Among the native plants of California, Anemopsis californica is the only species in its genus, and Anemopsis is the only genus in its family (the Saururaceae). In other words, in California, both the genus and the family are “monotypic”.
       
       Native to California 
       
       

       Family: Saururaceae (Lizard’s-tail family)

   14. Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale)

       The Rough Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale) is a perennial herbaceous vascular plant belonging to the horsetail family Equisetaceae. It is native to North America, Europe, and northern Asia. This ancient plant traces its origins back to the Devonian period, approximately 375 million years ago. It is rich in silicon, potassium, and calcium, making it a versatile resource.
       
       

       Horsetail has a wide range of uses in traditional medicinal. It has been employed to stop bleeding and has served as a poultice for treating battle wounds. Its diuretic properties are valuable for addressing kidney and bladder issues. Furthermore, it is used to treat varicose veins, head lice, bronchitis, and tuberculosis. Its high silica content also makes its abrasive stems effective for polishing and cleaning, leading to its alternative name, "scouring rush." It is distributed widely across the Northern Hemisphere and various cultures have harnessed its properties.
       
       

       For instance, the Chumash tribe used horsetail locally for polishing wooden bowls and arrows. The Blackfoot tribe employed crushed stems to create a pink dye for porcupine quills. In Japan, the buds of this plant are consumed as a spring vegetable. Even the stems themselves are edible, similar to asparagus; however, specific preparations are necessary to eliminate compounds that can be toxic when consumed in large quantities.
       
       Native to California 
       
       

       Family: Equisetaceae (Horsetail family)

   15. White Alder (Alnus rhombifolia)

       White alder (Alnus rhombifolia), is a species of alder native to western North America. Its natural range spans from British Columbia and Washington in the western regions to western Montana in the east, extending southward to the Sierra Nevada, and further into the Peninsular Ranges and Colorado Desert oases in Southern California. This tree primarily thrives in riparian zone habitats, along the edges of rivers and creeks.
       
       

       The White Alder was an essential resource for various indigenous Californian tribes, including the Chumash, Costanoan, Karok, and others, particularly in the riparian oak woodlands and chaparral environments it inhabits. The wood obtained from this tree served a multitude of purposes, including being used as firewood, incense, and as a preservative for smoking salmon, eels, and deer meat. Additionally, it was prized for crafting wood bowls, trays, and spoons. The bark of the White Alder had a unique application, as it could be transformed into a dye capable of achieving a vivid orange hue when chewed and then set by enzymes found in saliva.
       
       

       In the realm of traditional medicine, the White Alder played a significant role, with its uses encompassing the treatment of burns, the induction of vomiting, and the treatment of tuberculosis. These alders are characterized by their round, toothed leaves, which feature rounded tips, distinguishing them from red alders, which typically have more pointed leaves. All alders share common traits such as gray bark and the production of small, round cones.
       
       Native to California
       
       

       Family: Betulaceae (Birch family)

        

   16. Kurrajonzg (Brachychiton populneus)

       The Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneus) is a tree naturally occurring throughout Australia, flourishing in diverse habitats, ranging from the humid coastal regions to the semi-arid interiors of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. Also commonly referred to as the bottle tree, this tree's bark, known as 'kurrajong' fiber, was used by Aboriginal people for crafting nets, fishing lines, rope, and even bandages due to its soft and spongy texture. The wood of the Kurrajong proved valuable in making shields, while the bark served as a source of fiber.
       
       

       Beyond its utility, various parts of the Kurrajong tree offered sustenance and other uses. The tuberous roots have a taste reminiscent of carrots, and the roasted seeds can be consumed as they are, turned into cakes, or ground and brewed like coffee. The tree also produces a gum-like sap that can be ingested or ceremonially applied to the skin.
       
       

       Kurrajong trees feature long oval leaves with pointed, tapering tips, but their most distinctive attributes include their white, bell-shaped flowers and clusters of dark brown seed pods containing numerous yellow seeds.
       
       

       Family: Malvaceae (Mallow family)

   17. Western Sycamore (Platanus racemosa)

       The western sycamore (Platanus racemosa) is native to California and Baja California, thriving in various habitats that include riparian areas, canyons, floodplains, springs, seeps, and the banks of streams and rivers. This robust tree can grow to a height of 35 meters (110 feet), with a trunk diameter reaching up to one meter (3 ft). A remarkable specimen on the Stanford University campus boasts a trunk girth (circumference) of 10.5 feet (3.20 meters).
       
       

       Western sycamores are hardy and relatively easy to cultivate, but they have high water requirements. Their bark is aesthetically pleasing, appearing as white, pinkish-gray, and pale tan puzzle-piece-like scales, with the older bark darkening and peeling away. It's worth noting that some individuals of this species may be entirely hollow.
       
       

       The tree is characterized by its large, maple-like leaves, and it is common to see its trunk flaking off in multiple spots. It bears brown, fuzzy fruit filled with seeds that hang from its branches.
       
       Native to California 
       
       

       Family: Platanaceae (Plane-tree family)

   18. Dragon’s Blood (Draceana draco)

       Dragon's Blood (Dracaena draco) is an evergreen, long-lived tree that can reach heights of up to 15 meters (49 feet) or more, with a trunk circumference of 5 meters (16 feet) or greater. The surface of its bark is initially smooth, but develops a rougher texture as it ages. This remarkable tree is renowned for producing "Dragon's Blood," a dark red sap with historical significance in alchemy, as it was believed to provide protection and empowerment. In medieval Europe, it was used for medicinal purposes as well as in the creation of paints and jewelry crafts.
       
       

       Today, the resin obtained from Dragon's Blood is used for various purposes. It is employed to stain and polish wood, including musical instruments such as violins, and to create incense that is burned for its associations with love, strength, and courage. All Dracaena trees possess distinctive features, with a striking appearance characterized by their densely packed, umbrella-shaped crown of stubby branches and sharply pointed leaves produced above a thick, bare trunk. The tree's name is linked to one of the legendary adventures of Hercules, in which he was tasked with retrieving three golden apples from the garden of Hesperides, which was guarded by a fearsome 100-headed dragon.
       
       

       Family: Asparagaceae (Asparagaceae family)

   19. Devil’s Hand (Chiranthodendron pentadactylon)

       Devil's Hand (Chiranthodendron pentadactylon) is native to Guatemala and southern Mexico. In the moist slopes of these regions, these trees can reach impressive heights of 10.5 to 27.5 meters (34 to 90 feet). What makes this tree particularly captivating is its unique bright red flowers, which resemble human hands. This eye- catching feature has led to its cultivation in gardens worldwide, especially in North America, where it thrives near its native habitat.
       
       

       The Aztecs held this Central American tree in such reverence that individual trees became the focal point of religious cults. Even during the Spanish Conquest, these trees found a place in the gardens of royalty. Today, the dried flowers, known as "flor de manita" in Mexico, are mixed with other plant materials to brew a tea believed to alleviate irregular blood pressure and heart ailments. The tree's bark is used as rope, and its large leaves serve as natural food wrappers.
       
       

       The distinctive flowers of the Devil's Hand are deep red and feature five segmented stamens extending from five petals, forming a bowl shape. In the wild, the tree is pollinated by bats and birds that sip nectar from the cup-shaped petals, contributing to the tree's unique ecological role and reproduction.
       
       

       Family: Malvaceae (Mallow family)

   20. Common cattail (Typha latifolia)

       Common cattail (Typha latifolia) is a rhizomatous perennial reaching 1-2.2 m (3-7 ft) in height with bluish green to light green leaves and stems. This common wetland plant occurs in creeks, ponds, and other wet places all around the world, and its elongated brown inflorescences, which bear tiny and tightly-packed flowers, form the familiar cattails. Winter-dormant, it stores starch in its rhizomes for the cold months, which can be collected in the fall and pounded in a mortar to separate the edible starch from the inedible fiber. The late, great, local primitive technologist Joe Dabill said there was more food per acre of cattails than in an acre of farmed potatoes. The yellow pollen borne on the male flowers, which are produced in the inflorescence above the female flowers, can be collected and eaten as well. Chumash Indians traditionally mix the pollen with water to form a thin mush, in addition to using the plant for thatching (Timbrook, 2007). Narrow-leaf cattail, Typha angustifolia, is considered to be non-native to North America (introduced from Europe). All three species form hybrids, although only those between T. angustifolia and T. dominguensis are fertile.
       
       Native to California 
       
       

       Family: Typhaceae (Cattail family)