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Home | Plant Communities | Mixed Evergreen Forest

Inland from the redwood forest in the Klamath and Coast ranges in Northern California and a partly riparian forest transitional to yellow pine forest in Southern California. Average rainfall is 25" - 65" annually, with some fog. The growing season is 7 - 11 months.

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California Bay Laurel

Umbellularia californica; Laurel Family

• evergreen tree; 40-80 feet tall
• short trunk, forked into large, spreading branches forming a dense crown of pungently aromatic foliage
• lance-shaped leaves, thick and leathery with prominent veins; shiny dark green with a pale underside
• pale yellow 1/4" flowers are clustered at the leaf base, followed by the growth of 1" green to purple berries. Flowers December - May and fruits May - October
• Cahuilla Native Americans placed a wet bay leaf in their nostril to cure headaches and colds
• nuts were eaten and the leaves were made to brew a tea to cure stomachaches
• used as an insecticide

Douglas Iris

Iris douglasiana; Iris Family

• perennial herb; grows 1/2 to 3 feet tall
• densely matted from thick root stocks
• blue-purple flowers February to April
• leaves were used by Native Americans to obtain a fiber for threads, twine and rope for fishing nets and snares for catching deer, birds and other game
• babies were often wrapped in the leaves to retard perspiration and prevent dehydration

Incense Cedar

Calocedrus decurrens; Cypress Family

• resinous, aromatic tree; 60 to 150 feet tall
• tapered and irregularly- angled trunk, with thick, deeply furrowed, reddish-brown bark, and shredded ridges. Crown is conical. Upper branches erect; lower ones drooping with leaves
• shiny green, scale-like leaves grow in 4 rows, overlapping in pairs down the twig, which is multi-branched and flattish
• oblong cone 1" long at the end of the leafy stalk, maturing in one season
• green branches were used by Native Americans as deodorant
• bark was used for buildings and as tinder; limbs were used for bows

Meadow Rue

Thalictrum polycarpum; Buttercup Family

• delicate perennial herb; 3 - 8 feet in height
• branched stems and highly divided, thin, alternate leaves
• usually grows in forest understory
• male and female flowers bloom on separate plants (in spring) showing a combination of greens, browns, and purples