Climate Adapted Plants

We have included five plants that continue to be a staple in the diet of the indigenous people in Southern California. For further information on any climate adapted plants, please email us at:

 [email protected].   

Acorns

acrons

Querqus (Facacea) Oak (Coast Live Oak Quercus agrifolia, Scrub Oak Quercus berberidifolia, Black Oak Quercus kelloggii, and Canyon Live Oak Quercus chrysolepis

18th century Spanish writer, Juan Crespi, would receive tamales made out of acorn from indigenous communties througtout their journey in Southern California

 Indigenous people suffering from health problems by consuming "light  broth" with acorn. 

 

 

Edible: Crespi, Juan. A Description of Distant Roads: Originial Journals of the First Expedition into California, 1769-1779. San Diego: San Diego State Univerity Pres, 2001.

Medicinal: Timbrook, Janice., and Chris. Chapman. Chumash Ethnobotany: Plant Knowledge Among the 

Chumash People of Southern California. Santa Barbara, Calif: Santa Barbara Museum of 

Natural History, 2007.

 

Agave

agave

Agave Desertii

Agave used by leeching plant to make dough as described by Spanish officials.

 

 Part of the Agave plant used to cure  boils by appling as a poultice during mission period. 

Edible: Del Barco, Miguel. The Natural History OF Baja California. Los Angeles, Calif.: 

Dawson's Book Shop, 1980.

Medicinal: Timbrook, Janice., and Chris. Chapman. Chumash Ethnobotany: Plant Knowledge Among the 

                                                                     Chumash People of Southern California. Santa Barbara, Calif: Santa Barbara Museum of 

Natural History, 2007.

 

Chia

chia

Salvia Columbariae

 

Seeds of chia used as a refreshment to keep hydrated during long and hot climate periods for indigenous peoples.

Chia seeds can be used as a cure for eye irritation. 

Edible: Longinos-Martinez, Jose, Lesley Byrd Simpson, and Lawton Kennedy. Journal of Jose Longinos Martinez: Notes and Obervations of the Naturalist of the Botanical Expedition in Old and New California and the South Coast, 1791-1792. San Fransico: J. Howell-Books, 1961.

Medicinal: Timbrook, Janice., and Chris. Chapman. Chumash Ethnobotany: Plant Knowledge Among the Chumash People of Southern California. Santa Barbara. Calif: Santa Barbara Musemum of Natual History, 2007.  

 

Prickly Pear (Nopal)

Prickly pear

Oppuntia Littoralis and other varieties

 

The prickly pear can be consumed into a liqud from "juicy pulp."

The sap of the plant was used to heal wounds.

Edible: Del Barco, Miguel. The Natural History OF Baja California. Los Angeles, Calif.: 

Dawson's Book Shop, 1980.

Medicinal: Timbrook, Janice., and Chris. Chapman. Chumash Ethnobotany: Plant Knowledge Among the 

Chumash People of Southern California. Santa Barbara, Calif: Santa Barbara Museum of 

Natural History, 2007.

White Sage

White sage

Salvia Apiana

 

Seeds made into pinole after being roasted by the indigenous people.

 

The strong scented leave was placed on top of head to relief headache. 

Edible: Longinos, Martinez,  Jose, Lesley Byrd Simpson, and Lawton Kennedy. Journal of Jose Longinos Martinez: Notes and Observations of the Naturalist of the Botantical Expedition in Old and New California and the South Coast, 1791-1792. San Fransico: J. Howell-Books, 1961.

 Medicinal: Timbrook, Janice., and Chris. Chapman. Chumash Ethnobotany: Plant Knowledge Among the 

Chumash People of Southern California. Santa Barbara, Calif: Santa Barbara Museum of 

Natural History, 2007.