76. Zygophyllaceae

Admittedly this is a strange note to end on, but it must be pointed out that this blog is alphabetical. And so, of course Zygophyllaceae comes at the end, although the common name "calptrop" would have placed it closer to the beginning.

There were various points where my life and the Zygophyllaceae intersected. When I worked in south Monterey county, I was told to mind the puncture vine, Tribulus terrestris. This was good advice, as the spiked seed pods are sharp and strong enough to cause a flat tire. One was encouraged to remove this low-lying weed whenever possible. Appropriately this plant is also called caltrop, after the brutal puncturing weapon.

Perhaps better known is the creosote bush, Larrea tridentata, one of the most widely distributed plants in the Mojave Desert. The name is due to the smell of the plant, which brings to mind creosote, a class of chemicals related to tar. A ring of creosote bushes in the Mojave Desert (the "King Clone") is considered to be one of the oldest living organisms at over 11,000 years old.

Also notable is the Guaiacum genus, which along with several members of the Bulnesia genus comprise what is known as "Lignum vitae", some of the hardest wood on earth, so dense it will sink in water. These natives of the American tropics have had numerous industrial applications in modern times, from ships to clocks. They also have had various medicinal uses over the years, from treating syphilis to sore throats. The widely used expectorant Guaifenesin is derived from the chemistry of Guaiacum trees. Guaiacum officinale is the national flower of Jamaica; Guaiacum sanctum is the national tree of the Bahamas.

Another species, Zygophyllum fabago, is also considered a noxious weed in the western US, although without the destructive potential of Tribulus terrestris.

There are approximately twenty other genera along with the five mentioned here, with a grand total of nearly 300 species for the whole Zygophyllaceae family. All in all this is a small but notable family, with species that seemed to have gone out of their way to distinguish themselves.

75. Vitaceae

Vitaceae is significant above all for grapes -- Vitis vinifera, and by extension, wine. It is great example of a massive global industry based mainly on one species of plant -- a species with as many as 10,000 varieties! Grapes are the number one crop in California, and California is one of the world's five Mediterranean climates -- along with Australia, South America, South Africa, and of course the Mediterranean -- where viticulture thrives.

Vitis vinifera is native to Europe, however there are some 60 species of wild grape that grow throughout the world. Vitis is one of approximately fifteen genera in the Vitaceae family, most of them vines. Perhaps the second most famous member of this family is Virginia creeper -- Parthenocissus quinquefolia. Although native, this vine can spread to the point of being destructive to other plants; on the other hand it is sometimes deliberately grown like ivy to cover walls. I am familiar with the sight of it taking over my parents' garden and have memories of pulling it out of the ground, off of trees, and out of shrubs that its fast growing tendrils would latch onto.

74. Tiliaceae

I'm not sure how this family got on my list. For some reason, I was wrongly associating the Tilia genus with the tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera, which actually belongs to the Magnoliaceae family. I wish the tulip tree was in this family, because then I could mention that it is the tallest non-conifer in the eastern U.S., something I did not realize until now.

But this family is not about the tulip tree, but rather the linden tree, Tilia americana. The linden is a very common tree of the northeast and midwest with toothed, heart-shaped leaves (above) that resemble that of a poplar or cottonwood. I think the reason I listed this family is that my Dad has one of these trees on his property. They never registered in a big way for me, so maybe I slipped them onto my list in a effort to get to know them better.

Linden actually seems to be the German name for these trees (there is a boulevard in Berlin called "Unter den Linden") whereas they are also called basswood in the US and lime in the UK. My great-grandfather, who was from Ohio, was named Lindenberg, which is German for "Tilia tree hill".

According to the present day APG system of classification, Tiliaceae isn't even a family anymore; it has been merged into the Malvaceae family -- the mega-family that also swallowed up the Sterculiaceae (chocolate family) and Bombacaceae (a fascinating family that included baobabs, balsa and durian).

73. Theaceae

How is it possible to argue with tea, Camellia sinensis, one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world? That is what the Theaceae family has brought us, along with a nice assortment of ornamental trees. The Camellia genus of course goes both ways, serving as the source of the beverage and as ornamentals -- the latter consisting of cultivars of the japonica, oleifera and sasanqua species. All are natives of Asia, but are so long established established in America that they are not regarded as foreign; for example, Camellia japonica is the state flower of Alabama.

The Theaceae family currently has about eight genera, although in earlier times there were thought to be as many as forty. Probably the best known after Camellia are Stewartia and Franklinia, valued as ornamentals. Old Westbury Gardens has Stewartia and I will always remember my Mom pointing them out to me.

Whether it's the Camellia House in New Haven or the Camellia Grill in New Orleans, the Theaceae or tea family has always been there in my life in a some way, shape or form. Above, a "brick" of tea from a tea house in San Francisco.

72. Taxaceae

I grew up around lots of yew bushes, which is not surprising since the local nursery specialized in them. The hybrid varietal known as the "Hicks yew" -- Taxus x media Hicksii -- was the work of Henry Hicks, a Cornell-educated botanist whose family business was Hicks Nurseries in Westbury, NY. Taxus media is a hybrid of Taxus baccata (English yew) and Taxus cuspidata (Japanese yew). Henry Hicks was considered a leader in hybridizing plants, and his contemporary Frank Meyer (the USDA explorer of Meyer lemon fame), when traveling around the world, would send specimens both to the USDA's research center in Beltsville, MD and Hicks Nurseries.

Above, a "wall" of evergreen yew hedge frames a covered statue at Old Westbury Gardens in mid-winter. Tiny pine cones are visible in the top photo. Other times of year there are small, bright red berries. Hedges like these were one of the specialties of Hicks Nurseries.

Taxaceae is another small family with seven genera and less than forty species. The best known genera are Taxus and Torreya. What is notable about these evergreens, which are used primarily for landscaping, is the presence of a poison called taxol. This substance, derived commercially from Taxus brevifolia -- the Pacific yew -- is used in chemotherapy and is effective in treating a variety of cancers. This is a classic example of a plant providing the key to treating a human disease. For this reason and many others, we owe a huge debt to plants.

71. Tamaricaceae

 

While exploring the scruffy banks of the Salinas River one day I could not help noticing these shrubs everywhere with beautiful, floppy, pink and white flowers. Actually I had encountered them once before, in San Diego county, and knew them to be the famous tamarisk, Tamarix ramosissima, the notorious Eurasian invasive that chokes waterways throughout the American west. This is a classic case of a noxious weed being seductively beautiful.

Tamaricaceae is tiny family consisting of four genera, Tamarix being the best known. Also known as salt cedar, there are over fifty species of tamarisk growing throughout the world. This is a fiercely adaptable plant, reproducing both sexually and vegetatively, resisting fire, and sinking its thirsty roots as deep as they need to go to suck out copious amounts of water. The US National Park Service has had some success combating its spread in North America by releasing tamarisk beetles (Diorhabda carinulata), a natural predator from Asia.

70. Strelitziaceae

 

The traveller's tree, Ravenala madagasceriensis (seen above), is one of nature's curiosities. As the name suggests, it's a native of Madagascar, but nowadays grows throughout the tropics. The above photo was taken by the blogger on Bannister Island, Belize. As a result of allopatric speciation, Madagascar has produced more than its share of unique, eyebrow-raising organisms, and the traveller's tree is a fine example.

Strelitziaceae is a small, tropical family, closely related to the banana family (Musaceae). The most famous member is bird-of-paradise, Strelitzia regina. Along with Ravenala and Strelitzia, there is only one other genus, Phenakospermum. The single species in this genus -- Phenakospermum guyannense -- is as weird and exotic looking as its name suggests.

69. Solanaceae

This is a major family: tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers, nightshade, tobacco - need I say more? Who can imagine a world without tomatoes and potatoes? Although there are nearly a hundred genera in this family, one in particular - Solanum - towers above the others for economic importance, as it includes tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), and eggplants (Solanum melongena). 

Also important is the Capsicum genus, which encompasses the peppers - bell, chili, jalapeno and so forth - and the Physalis genus, which includes edible tomatillos (Physalis philadelphica) and ornamental Chinese lanterns (Physalis alkekengi). Another famous ornamental genus is Petunia.

Additionally this family, which is frequently called the nightshade family, is known for various toxic and mind altering plants, such as deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna), mandrake (Mandragora officinarum), and Jimson weed (Datura stramonium).

And speaking of toxic, one cannot overlook the impact the Nicotiana genus has had on the human race. Named after the French diplomat Jean Nicot, who introduced recreational tobacco from Portugal to the rest of Europe, Nicotiana tabacum is native to tropical America. Its area of cultivation is, of course, much greater, and its use rivals coffee and tea for global reach. As fascinating as all that is, I am happy to interject that tobacco products are pure evil and I wouldn't mind if they went away forever.

Paradoxically, the flowers are beautiful and are increasing planted in gardens for their ornamental value. Perhaps this is the true destiny of Nicotiana. A few years back I stumbled upon a fantastic display of ornamental tobacco at Old Westbury Gardens that showcased their many colors - seen here in the photos above.

A roadside weed called tree tobacco, Nicotiana Glauca, caught my eye while driving the rural back roads of California. I was intrigued to learn that this weed crept all the the way up from South America. Probably the first tobacco plant I got a close look at was Indian tobacco, Nicotiana quadrivalvis, a native of the American West. I was struck not only by its classic tobacco form but also the stickiness of its leaves.

My most recent and intriguing encounter with a Solanaceae plant was this Solandra maxima seen trellised on the side of California's First Theater in Monterey. Native to Mexico and Central America, these delightful flowers belong to a plant that - not surprisingly - goes by the common names Cup of Gold Vine and Golden Chalice Vine.

68. Simaroubaceae

Simaroubaceae is a small family, the best known member of which is the tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima. This native of China was brought to Europe and North America as an ornamental in the 18th century without awareness of how aggressively it would sucker and spread. Consequently it is possibly the most frequently encountered "weed tree" in New York and many other places. It is particularly associated with New York because of the 1943 novel "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith. In the book, the tenacious, indestructible nature of Ailanthus is used as a metaphor for human persistence in the face of adversity. Not surprisingly, the tree is so well established in the United States that it is unlikely to ever be eradicated.

Two more obscure genera are noted for their chemical constituents. Both are from tropical America. In the 18th century, French explorers discovered that Simarouba was helpful for treating dysentery. Similarly, Quassia was determined to be an effective natural insecticide, also helpful in treating intestinal parasites. Equally interesting is the botanist who discovered this: Graman Quassi, a freed black slave from the Dutch colony of Suriname. Evidently his talents as a healer won him his freedom, a ticket to Holland, and a place in botanical history.

67. Scrophulariaceae

With a name like Scrophulariaceae and a total of over 5000 species, one might imagine that one is in for a wild ride, botanically speaking. In fact it's a somewhat mild ride. At one time the family was much larger and encompassed such notable flowers as Antirrhinum (snapdragons), Digitalis (foxglove), Penstemon, Pawlonia, Veronica, and Hebe -- to name a few. The vast majority of these got sent to the Plantaginaceae family due to the phylogenetic studies of the APG.

Among what remains is Verbascum (mullein), Buddleja (butterfly bush), and Myoporum. I mention these in part because I am familiar with them. Mulleins are very distinctive with large velvety leaves and stalks bolting high out of the ground. I remember my mother bringing them to my attention on Shelter Island, where they flourished as weeds around the marina. Like many weeds, Verbascum is reputed to have medicinal value.

The other two were brought to my attention while working in California. Buddleja (above) is commonly known as butterfly bush, due to its relationship with various pollinators. This photo was actually taken in Louisiana, where it also flourishes. Buddleja grows throughout the world, with many species native to the Americas. In contrast, Myoporum is more a creature of the south Pacific. Despite that fact, the shrubs are widely used in California for landscaping. Below, an example of the beautiful flowers I used to ponder till I finally learned what they were.

66. Sapotaceae

Most mornings, after showering, I slap shea butter on my face. It seems to agree with me. Shea butter comes from the nuts of the shea or shi tree, Vitellaria paradoxa, which is native to a huge cross section of Africa -- roughly from Senegal to Ethiopia, and south into Congo. In addition to benefiting the skin, shea is a food staple in much of Africa.

This pan-tropical family of some 800 species includes other edible fruits, many of which are better known in Latin America. The names sapote, zapote, sapota and sapodilla are all interrelated, and if that isn't confusing enough, the tree known as "white sapote" (Casimiroa edulis) -- the only one I have first-hand experience of -- belongs to the Rutaceae or citrus family. As far as the Sapotaceae family is concerned, the commercially import genii are Manilkara, Pouteria, Chrysophyllum and Vitellaria. Some species are good sources of latex, rubber and chicle (a basic ingredient of chewing gum).

65. Sapindaceae

Sapindaceae is an interesting family that encompasses the familiar and the exotic, the temperate and the tropical. What could be more familiar than a maple tree? And what could be more exotic than a rambutan? One frequent characteristic is the presence of sticky sap, earning it the common name "soapberry family".

My childhood was filled with Norway maples (Acer platanoides) and Japanese maples (Acer palmatum). The native sugar maple (Acer saccharum) -- source of maple syrup -- was everywhere as well. Horse-chestnuts or buckeyes (Aesculus) were also around but didn't make an impression on me until I moved to California, where the California buckeye (Aesculus californica) puts on quite a display.

In California the Sapindaceae family presented me with other oddities, trees that were interesting to behold but served no other purpose beyond landscaping. These would include the carrotwood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides) from Australia and the goldenrain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) from China.

At the exotic end of the spectrum this family is known for such strange fruits as the lychee (Litchi chinensis), longan (Dimocarpus longan), ackee (Blighia sapida), and rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum).

With this kind of diversity, encompassing nearly 2000 species, there should be a Sapindaceae plant for everyone.

64. Salicaceae

The Salicaceae family has brought us cottonwoods, aspens, poplars, willows and aspirin -- among other things. 

Seen above is the Fremont cottonwood, Populus fremontii,  standing in front of Zion Lodge at Zion National Park in Utah. These trees are found in riparian areas all over the west. The name comes from the abundant airborne "cotton" released by the tree as seed.

Above, from the same road trip, an aspen forest (Populus tremuloides or quaking aspen). Unfortunately due to the altitude and time of year, the famously trembing leaves were gone, but the silvery trunks were still nice to see.

Now that I think about it, all the trees in the Populus genus that I have encountered are beautiful. Lombardy poplars (Populus nigra) from the Mediterranean are often planted in rows as windbreaks. They have a stately presence that brings to mind Italian countryside -- along with leaves that shimmer like aspens. These trees are found throughout California.

On the east coast my first Salicaceae encounter was probably a weeping willow (Salix babylonica). Actually these trees originate from China, but they have been cultivated in Europe and America for centuries. One of the largest and most impressive trees on my Dad's property growing up was a weeping willow.

The Salix genus is famous for having provided the human race with aspirin. Contained within the bark is a substance called salicin, which our bodies convert to salicylic acid, a pain reliever. Chemists have long since been able to produce a synthetic version of this pain reliever, commonly known as aspirin. I for one like to focus on the willow tree connection, the very thought of which helps me soothe aches and pains.

63. Rutaceae

  

The Rutaceae family has 160 genera, more than I can wrap my little head around. The most economically significant of these by far is Citrus. Due to a long history of propagation and cross-breeding, the number of Citrus species is not cut and dry. Above, the famous Meyer lemon, Citrus x meyeri, named after Frank Nicholas Meyer -- an agricultural explorer for the USDA who brought the plant from China in 1908.

What can you say about citrus? There's no argument against it. It prevents scurvy and cures colds.

That being said, there is a remarkable variety of citrus plants, and keeping track of all the distinctions can be difficult.

One of the few non-Citrus members of the family I have encountered is Casimiroa edulis, or white sapote. The tree seen below grows on a street in the Salinas Valley, where evidently it is warm enough to support this native of Mexico and Central America. Not too surprisingly, the tree also goes by the name "Mexican apple".

62. Rubiaceae

Rubiaceae is one of the largest families with around 13,000 species in over 600 genera. While most of these plants are not household words, at least two of them are, and one is among the best known of all -- coffee. Most of the world's coffee is Coffea arabica, seen here growing on the slopes of Costa Rica. When ripe, the bright red berries taste a little bit bitter and a little bit sweet. It was great after a lifetime of drinking the stuff to get up close and personal with the shrubs and berries.

About twenty percent of commercially harvested coffee comes from Coffea robusta, also known as Coffea canephora. There are dozens other species growing wild throughout tropics and new ones have recently been found in Madagascar and Cameroon. To varying degrees they all contain caffeine, a bitter toxin produced by the plant to repel predators. Robusta contains more caffeine, making it easier to grow but not as flavorful as arabica.

Another genus that has made its mark on the world is Cinchona, a tropical shrub with unique medicinal qualities. It is named after the Peruvian Countess of Chinchon, who is said to have been cured of malaria by native Quechuan people familiar with the plant's curative powers. The active ingredient present in the bark is known as quinine, which to this day is used to treat malaria. Its cultivation and use by Europeans facilitated the settlement of tropical areas that were otherwise hotbeds of the disease.

A few members of the Rubiaceae family are used ornamentally, the best known perhaps being the Gardenia genus. These tropical evergreen shrubs produce beautiful, white, sweet-smelling flowers. The name honors the appropriately-named Scottish botanist Alexander Garden.

A lesser known ornamental shrub that I have encountered in California is the Mirror Bush, Coprosma repens, which comes from New Zealand. Its common name must derive from the fact that the leaves are among the glossiest I have ever seen. All in all a very striking shrub, one that I would have otherwise never connected to coffee.

61. Rosaceae

The Rosaceae or rose family includes so many familiar and economically important species it is ridiculous. Where to begin? With roses I guess, which is the genus Rosa (a fine example of which is seen below). Then comes a supermarket full of familiar foods: apples (Malus), pears (Pyrus), raspberries (Rubus), strawberries (Fragaria), and of course the amazing Prunus genus, which includes peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots, cherries, and almonds. Have I forgotten anything? Probably.

I like encountering the more obscure members of this approximtely 2800 species-large family. Are loquats obscure? There are tons of them around here -- Eriobotrya japonica not surprisingly comes from Asia, but are now commonplace in California. Also called Japanese plum, to me they taste a little like apricots. It's a pleasant flavor that also works well in jams, jellies, pastries, pies and gelato, to name a few applications.

Quince, Cydonia oblonga, also has numerous culinary uses. Its origin is in the Middle East, where it has a very ancient history of cultivation that may have predated the apple. What has been translated to "apple" in some ancient texts may actually be a reference to quince, which resembles a hard, fuzzy apple.

The Amelanchier genus includes trees that go by such interesting names as shadblow, shadbush and serviceberry. These North American natives are used both ornamentally and for their berries, which are eaten raw as well as in jams and pies.

Moving onto more obscure species, there's the chaparral shrub chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) that, when in flower, produces an insane amount of pollen. While working at parks that included this shrub I recall getting the pollen all over my clothes and even down my shirt via my neck. Fortunately I didn't have any allergic reactions!

Then there is Photinia, a fairly common landscaping shrub throughout California. Photinia is showy both for its red leaves and its abundance of dense corymbs when in flower. I can't say this is my favorite plant, but I like that they are easy to identify.

Perhaps the most delightfully obscure member of the rose family I know is Lyontree, Lyonothamnus floribundus, also known as Catalina Ironwood or Santa Cruz Ironwood. A true California native, endemic to the Channel Islands, Lyontree is increasingly being used on the mainland for landscaping. They are easy to spot with their peeling red bark and distinctive, toothed leaves that look almost like caricatures of marijuana leaves. For years I wondered what these were. It's great that this rare, native tree is getting more play.

60. Rhizophoreaceae

I like to refer to the Rhizophoreaceae family as the mangrove family, because that is what this family means to me. Mangroves and me go back a ways, back to the Florida Everglades where they are abundant. I was impressed to learn that the spread of mangroves literally creates land out of sea. In fact it does this with the help of allied plants and animals, the sum of which creates an ecological community that includes crabs, crocodiles, various species of mangroves and buttonwood, Conocarpus erectus. But the dominant player is red mangrove, Rhizophora mangle.

One very confusing thing is that different mangroves belong to different families. White mangrove, Laguncularia racemosa, belongs to the Combretaceae family, while black mangrove, Avicennia germinans, belongs to the Acanthaceae (the first family listed on this blog). Again, the dominant player, at least in the American tropics, seems to be red mangrove.

Above is a photo I took while kayaking near Bannister Island, Belize. I'm not sure exactly which mangroves they are, but it was impressive to see such an extensive matrix of islands rising out of the sea. This to me is the essence of mangroves: living land, not for people, but for its own sake.

59. Rhamnaceae

The Rhamnaceae or Buckthorn family is about 900 species large and found throughout the world -- mainly in the warmer parts. I don't think this family existed for me before I moved to California and got acquainted with its community of native chaparral plants. One of the more abundant and attractive of these drought-resistant shrubs is Ceanothus. They are attractive in the wild, where their spherical, white and lavender flowers emit a memorable perfume, and they are attractive as landscaping shrubs, their hardy leaves remaining dark-green year round. The Ceanothus genus contains over 50 species plus numerous hybrids and cultivars.

It was also in California where I had a memorable encounter with Jujube, Ziziphus jujuba, also known as Chinese date. This more exotic member of the Rhamnaceae family hails from Asia. The most striking feature are the fruits; once you see the mature fruits, you cannot un-see them. At least I can't. They resemble dates in some respects and not surprisingly they are eaten in a similar way -- as snacks, dried fruit and various confections. But they are not related to dates, which belong to the Arecaceae family.

58. Proteaceae

Above, pincushion flowers from the Leucospermum genus, South African beauties that do well on the California coast. In this case, Monterey Bay. The Proteaceae family includes over 1500 species of mostly exotic looking plants from the southern hemisphere. The Macadamia genus is probably the best known due to their famous nuts. One species that caught my attention while living in Southern California was Grevillea robusta, also known as Australian silver oak. It caught my attention because it was so damn peculiar looking -- both the leaves and mustard-orange flowers. Since that initial encounter I have also noticed them in Northern California. Needless to say this native of the Australian east coast is used as a landscaping tree throughout the Golden State. 

Another example of how strange looking members of this family can be is this Banksia serrata (above and below) that I photographed at the Santa Cruz arboretum. Appropriately the genus is named for the English botanist Joseph Banks, who discovered this species in 1770 at Australia's Botany Bay (part of present day Sydney). In fact, Captain Cook came up with the name "Botany Bay" because of the abundance of interesting plants that Joseph Banks found there. In any case these weird cones are not something you see every day in the U.S.

 

57. Polygonaceae

Polygonaceae is definitely an interesting family. Among its other names are buckwheat, knotweed and smartweed. The family includes approximately 1200 species within approximately 50 genera. Distribution is worldwide, with representatives found in both tropical and temperate climates. Perhaps the best known is buckwheat -- Fagopyrum in the Old World and Eriogonum in the New.

Two species stand out in my memory. The first, seen here, is commonly known as sea grape, and scientifically as Coccoloba uvifera. This American native is found on coastlines throughout the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Its striking, round leaves make quite an impression. I took these photos one sunny January day in Port Aransas, TX. I had encountered them previously on beaches in the Mexican Caribbean, and possibly Florida, where the grapes are made into and popularly sold as jelly.

The other memorable species is mile-a-minute weed, Persicaria perfoliata. I was surveying the land behind my parents' land in New York when I discovered the strange, triangular leaves seen below growing over some other shrubs. Close inspection revealed sinister-looking barbed vines. I was not at all surprised to learn that this is an invasive Asian import, probably recently introduced, as I have no memory of seeing it in all the years of exploring this land. The weed was supposedly introduced into Oregon, Maryland and Pennsylvania, with the latter's York County generally recognized as the epicenter of the current infestation.

56. Podocarpaceae

I first encountered Podocarpus trees in southern California where they are used a lot for landscaping. Podocarpus is one of nearly twenty genera in the Podocarpaceae family, which overall includes around 150 species. Members of this family are of Antarctic origin and today are found in the south Pacific, Australasia and parts of Africa and South America. For a long time I had imagined Podocarpus trees to be natives of China, when in fact their roots are deep in the southern hemisphere.

I remember riding my bike past a very tall Podocarpus tree in Tustin, CA. I also remember stumbling upon an amazing website called California Big Trees -- californiabigtrees.calpoly.edu -- which is an official register of the largest known specimens of various species within the state. I seem to remember that the Podocarpus I knew from my bike rides was listed as the biggest in the state. That was over ten years ago though, and now I find no record of it. Maybe it was cut down?

55. Poaceae

Poaceae, the grass family, is everywhere and abundant. Anyone who has spent time around lawns, corn fields, wheat fields, rice paddies, or bamboo has personal experience of the grass family. I am not surprised to learn that it is the fifth largest plant family, possessing over ten thousand species. It is also one of the most economically important families, providing food, fuel and building materials to a huge portion of humanity. The largest known grasses are the giant bamboo, a fine example of which is seen below, in Kyoto, Japan (photo by Lisa Nowakowski).

Besides the giant bamboo, I have encountered a few other distinctive species. Arundo donax is invasive in a bamboo-like way, and has been choking Californian waterways such as the Salinas River. The Mediterranean import resembles a cross between corn and bamboo. Fortunately its spread, which would otherwise run amok, has been checked by weed abatement programs. Interestingly, Arundo makes an excellent bio-fuel -- one of the best, according to European Union studies. So, if there is a way of harvesting it while at the same time keep it from spreading, I say go for it.

Another California invasive non-native plant that I frequently encounter is pampas grass, Cortederia jubata. The problem, as is sometimes the case with invasive plants, is that it makes an attractive landscaping feature. This one hails, not surprisingly, from the Pampas, or lowlands of South America. It's a great example of the mind-boggling paradox of plants that are at the same time promoted by nurseries and targeted by pest management efforts.

54. Platanaceae

Also known as the "plane tree" family,  Platanaceae includes some of the most common street trees in the world. American representatives of this one-genus family are called sycamores, two of which are very familiar to me. The American sycamore, Plantanus occidentalis, was just about everywhere in New York where I grew up (above). The layered bark leaves an unmistakable impression. The California sycamore, Platanus racemosa, is essentially the same tree on a much larger scale. The ones in Toro County Park (below) are the largest and most impressive I have ever encountered. Their limbs are lumbering giants, in some cases so heavy that they recline horizontally on the ground.

53. Plantaginaceae

I have had two encounters with species from the Plantaginaceae family -- one on the east coast and one on the west coast. Seen here is a beautiful specimen of Culver's root, Veronicastrum virginicum, that I stumbled upon one summer in New York. Evidently it is very popular with the bees. Culver's root is native to the eastern U.S. and not surprisingly is used there as a garden flower.

The other species was encountered in California. Actually I don't know exactly what species it was, only that it belonged to the genus Hebe, which is named for the Greek goddess of youth. Hebe is native to New Zealand and other areas in the south Pacific. The plant I encountered was an interesting looking shrub with purple flowers.

Since the Plantaginaceae family has around 1700 species it is safe to say that I have barely scratched the surface. Nevertheless, these two plants have left an indelible impression on me.

52. Pittosporaceae

I can't say I ever heard of Pittosporum until I moved to California. Here, a number of shrubs belonging to that genus are commonly used for landscaping. Sometimes they go by the comical name "cheesewood". They are native to much of the tropical world but especially Oceania (a large area that includes Australasia).

While there are nine genera in the Pittosporaceae family, the vast majority of the species, approximately 200, belong to the Pittosporum genus. Some are identifiable by their wavy leaves (such as Pittosporum undulatum); some by their woody capsules (such as Pittosporum tobira).

I have had a meaningful encounter with one other genus, a genus that contains only one species -- Hymenosporum flavum, also known as Sweetshade in its native Australia. There, it is a common street tree, in part because it is considered a "low flammability" plant. Maybe this explains why I encountered one at a shopping center in King City, CA. It has exceptionally striking creamy-yellow flowers that have earned it its other common name, Native Frangipani (although no relation to real Frangipani).

51. Pinaceae

The property I grew up on had rows of hemlock trees, Tsuga canadensis, on either end. These tall trees, over one hundred feet in maturity, were my earliest introduction to pines. Sometimes while reclining on the chaise longue and reading a book a hemlock needle would fall into my tea. Fortunately this is a completely different plant from Poison Hemlock, Conium maculatum, which belongs to the Apiaceae family. For me, the eastern hemlocks I grew up with embody the spirit of that place. They look majestic in any season, but perhaps especially in the snow (above).

A good west coast pine I became acquainted with is the gray pine, Pinus sabiana. While not quite as tall as eastern hemlocks, they produce enormous pine cones the size of mature pineapples (whereas, humorously, the hemlocks produce pine cones the size of small grapes). The other striking features of this tree are the color --  very muted, hence the name -- and the odd angles they grow on slopes and mountains that lend them a sort of oriental air (visible above center and scattered on slopes).

50. Phytolaccaceae

This family is sometimes known as the Pokeweed family, and it was the common weed Phytolacca americana or American Pokeweed (above and below) that I found in abundance one summer on land behind my parents' house. Although toxic, there is a hillbilly tradition of boiling the leaves three times to make a food called "poke salad". The term was made famous by Elvis Presley when he sang a cover of the song "Polk Salad Annie" in 1969.

A South American relative of pokeweed is the massive Ombu Tree (Phytolacca dioica), one of which I encountered at the Fullerton Arboretum. Evidently in countries like Argentina and Uruguay this striking shade tree is a symbol of Gaucho culture.

49. Paulowniaceae

My introduction to this mostly Asian family was a freak occurrence of Paulownia tomentosa, also known as Empress Tree, growing on my Dad's property. What distinguishes it is that it is the fastest growing tree in the world. The weed must have reached ten or twelve feet, getting our attention and making it easier to identify. Paulownia is named after the Grand Duchess Anna Pavlovna of Russia. The genus is closely associated with, and sometimes included in the Scrophulariaceae family.

48. Paeoniaceae

I'll always remember my Mom pointing out the Tree Peonies (above and below). A Tree Peony is any member of the genus Paeonia with a woody stem. Most are perennials. Paeonia is the only genus in the family Paeoniaceae. Some come from Asia, others from the Mediterranean and western North America. Many of the ornamental species come from China.