Common Mexican/Spanish Names for Plants & Animals that can be Found the Canyon
By Brenda Kyle, Arboretum Amy & Susan Hopkins
English / Latin / Spanish (Mexico)
California Buckwheat / Eriogonum fasciculatum / Alforfon or Flor de Borrego
NOTE: buckwheat or sheep flower (because the look like fluffy sheep)
Cochineal / Dactylopius / Cochinilla, Cochinilla grana
California Quail / Callipepla californica / Cordoniz, Codorniz californiana, Codorniz de California
Coast Live Oak / Quercus agrifolia / Encino de la Costa, Encina de California, Encino verde NOTE: Encino is an evergreen oak
California Dodder / Cuscuta californica / Grenas or Fideo, Cabellos de ángel
Note: Fideo is a long thin noodle like spaghetti
Yerba Santa / Eriodictyon crassifolium / Hierba Santa, Hierba santa de hoja gruesa
Mule Fat / Baccharis salcifolia / Huatamote or Jarrillas, Azumiate, Chilca, batamote
Laurel Sumac / Malosma laurina / Lentisco
Shortpod Mustard / Hirschfeldia incana / Mostazilla, Rabaniza amarilla
Poison Oak / Toxiodendron diversolobum / Roble Venenoso del Pacifico
NOTE: Poison Oak is not an oak, but Roble means deciduous oak
Sugarbush / Rhus ovata / Saladitos, arbusto de azúcar
Black Sage / Salvia melifera / Salvia de Miel (honey)
White Sage / Salvia apiana / Salvia Real (Royal Sage), Salvia Blanca
Toyon / Heteromeles arbutifolia / Tollon
Chaparral Yucca / Hesperroyucca whipplei / Yuca de Chaparral
Western Sycamore / Platanus racemosa / Sicomoro, Aliso
Prickly Pear Cactus / Opuntia / Nopal, cactus de higo, xoconostles
NOTE: Nopal is the word for the pad, Tuna is the word for the fruit