Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden

After a lackluster beginning (read, graduate school takes up more time than expected), I’m finally updating this thing. Wednesday my plant identification class travelled to Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens in Claremont where we studied some pretty strange plants.

Study list: 10 November 2010 – Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens

Simmondsia chinensis Jojoba
Arbutus menziesii Madrone, Madrono, Pacific Madrone
Pinus torreyana Torrey Pine, Del Mar Pine
Calliandra eriophylla Fairy Duster, False-Mesquite Calliandra
Fallugia paradoxa Apache Plume
Washingtonia filifera California Fan Palm, Desert Fan Palm
Quercus tomentella Island Oak
Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp. aspleniifolius Fernleaf Catalina Ironwood
Dendromecon harfordii (D. rigida ssp. harfordii*) Channel Island Tree Poppy. Island Bush Poppy
Rhus trilobata Basket Bush, Skunkbush, Stinking Sumac
Aristolochia californica California Dutchman's Pipe
Adenostoma sparsifolium Red Shanks, Ribbon Wood
Isomeris arborea Bladderpod
Calocedrus decurrens Incense Cedar
Aesculus californica California Buckeye
Iris douglasiana Pacific Coast Iris


The winner for strangest looking was the Calliandra eriophylla, Fairy Duster or Fire-Mesquite Calliandra, has hot pink fluffy spikes of stamen all year round with really tiny flowers. Being part of the légume family (pea family) it also has these curly seedpods which definitely added a contrast of texture.







So, for more photos head over to the flickr. The link is somewhere on the left hand side.

introduction

as a student in landscape architecture, i've encountered a fair share of interesting plants. most of them, i can't remember the names of or the uses for as recall isn't my strong suit, but some stand out. i hope to make a collection of these interesting plants pulling from academic pursuits as well as daily life.

i hope you enjoy and if you see any errors in labelling or have a suggestion, please share.