Southern California Wildflowers
Common names M-N

Brackets [ ] indicate taxa not necessarily recognized by the Jepson Manual but which I think are deserving of separate listings because they are so very different. Names preceded by the word 'Common' in brackets such as [Common] Hawkweed are not necessarily the most common species of the genus, but simply do not have any other descriptive name. The use of the name [Common] in this context is solely for indexing purposes.

* Indicates introduced and naturalized species



Macloskey's violet (Viola macloskeyi)
Madia,
    Common (Madia elegans)
    Mountain (Madia glomerata)
    Pygmy (Hemizonella minima)
    Sticky (Madia gracilis)
    Threadstem (Madia exigua)
Madrone, Pacific (Arbutus menziesii)
Madrone fruit (Arbutus menziesii)
Maidenhair fern,
    [Common] (Adiantum capillus-veneris)
    California (Adiantum jordanii)
    Five-finger (Adiantum aleuticum)
Malacothrix,
    Annual (Malacothrix clevelandii)
    California (Malacothrix californica)
    Cliff (Malacothrix saxatilis var. implicata)
Malibu baccharis (Baccharis malibuensis)
Mallow,
    Alkali (Malvella leprosa)
    Apricot (Sphaeralcea ambigua var. ambigua)
    Bull (Malva nicaeensis)*
    Bush (Malacothamnus fasciculatus)
    Cretan (Lavatera cretica)*
    Indian- (Abutilon palmeri)
    Indian Valley (Malacothamnus aboriginum)
    Island (Lavatera assurgentiflora)
    Newberry's velvet (Horsfordia newberryi)
    Pink-flowered bush (Malacothamnus marrubioides)
    Rosy apricot (Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rosacea)
    Rusby's desert (Sphaeralcea rusbyi var. eremicola)
    San Clemente Island bush (Malacothamnus clementinus)
    White (Eremalche exilis)
    Yellow-stemmed bush (Malacothamnus densiflorus)
Mannagrass, Fowl (Glyceria elata)
Many-flowered bahia (Schkuhria multiflora var. multiflora)
Many-flowered monkeyflower (Mimulus floribundus)
Many-nerved catchfly (Silene multinervia)
Many-stemmed dudleya (Dudleya multicaulis)
Manzanita,
    Adams' (Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. adamsii)
    Bigberry (Arctostaphylos glauca)
    Del Mar (Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. crassifolia)
    Eastwood (Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. glaucomollis)
    Greenleaf (Arctostaphylos patula)
    Island (Arctostaphylos insularis)
    Mexican (Arctostaphylos pungens)
    Mission (Xylococcus bicolor)
    Mission, fruit (Xylococcus bicolor)
    Otay (Arctostaphylos otayensis)
    Parry's (Arctostaphylos parryana ssp. deserticum)
    Parry's (Arctostaphylos parryana ssp. parryana)
    Peninsular (Arctostaphylos peninsularis)
    Pink-bracted (Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea)
    San Gabriel (Arctostaphylos gabrielensis)
    Santa Catalina Island (Arctostaphylos catalinae)
    Santa Monica Mountains (Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. mollis)
    Santa Monica Mountains, old fruit (Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. mollis)
    Santa Rosa Island manzanita (Arctostaphylos confertiflora)
    Woollyleaf (Arctostaphylos tomentosa)
    Zaca Lake (Arctostaphylos glandulosa ssp. zacaensis)
Maple,
    Big leaf (Acer macrophyllum)
    Mountain (Acer glabrum)
Marigold,
    Desert (Baileya multiradiata)
    Woolly (Baileya pleniradiata)
Marina,
    California (Marina orcuttii var. orcuttii)
    Parry's (Marina parryi)
Mariposa lily,
    Alkali (Calochortus striatus)
    Butterfly (Calochortus venustus)
    Catalina (Calochortus catalinae)
    
Desert (Calochortus kennedyi var. munzii)
    Dunn's (Calochortus dunnii)
    Golden bowl (Calochortus concolor)
    Late-flowering (Calochortus fimbriatus)
    Munz's (Calochortus palmeri var. munzii)
    Palmer's (Calochortus palmeri)
    Plain (Calochortus invenustus)
    Plain (blue form) (Calochortus invenustus)
    Plummer's (Calochortus plummerae)
    Red (Calochortus kennedyi var. kennedyi)
    Slender (Calochortus clavatus var. gracilis)
    Splendid (Calochortus splendens)
    Weed's (Calochortus weedii var. weedii)
    Weed's intermediate (Calochortus weedii var. intermedius)
    Winding (Calochortus flexuosus)
    Yellow (Calochortus clavatus var. pallidus)
Mariposa rush (Juncus dubius)
Marsh bulrush (Bolboschoenus maritimus)
Marsh jaumea (Jaumea carnosa)
Martin's paintbrush (Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii)
Mat cholla (Opuntia parishii)
Mat muhly (Muhlenbergia richardsonis)
Matchweed, California (Gutierrezia californica)
Matilija poppy,
    [Common] (Romneya coulteri)
    Bristly (Romneya trichocalyx)
Mayweed (Anthemis cotula)*
Meadow arnica (Arnica chamissonis ssp. foliosa)
Meadow barley (Hordeum brachyantherum ssp. californicum)
Meadow goosefoot (Chenopodium pratericola)
Meadow lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus var. burkei)
Meadow nemophila (Nemophila pedunculata)
Meadow starwort (Stellaria longipes ssp. longipes)
Meadowfoam, Parish's (Limnanthes alba ssp. parishii)
Meadow-rue (pistillate flowers) (Thalictrum fendleri var. polycarpum)
Meadow-rue (staminate flowers) (Thalictrum fendleri var. polycarpum)
Meadow-rue, Fendler's (Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri)
Mecca-aster (Xylorhiza cognata)
Meconella, Small-flowered (Meconella denticulata)
Mediterranean broom (Genista linifolia)*
Mediterranean cabbage (Brassica fruticulosa)*
Mediterranean mustard (Hirschfeldia incana)*
Melic, Coast range (Melica imperfecta)
Melica, Tall (Melica frutescens)
Melon, Coyote (Cucurbita palmata)
Menodora, Spiny (Menodora spinescens)
Menzies' campion (Silene menziesii)
Menzies' goldenbush (Isocoma menziesii var. menziesii)
Mesquite,
    Honey (Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana)
    Screwbean (Prosopis pubescens)
Mexican aster (Cosmos bipinnatus)*
Mexican elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea)
Mexican flannel bush (Fremontodendron mexicanum)
Mexican manzanita (Arctostaphylos pungens)
Mexican pink (Silene laciniata ssp. laciniata)
Mexican rush (Juncus mexicanus)
Mexican-tea (Dysphania ambrosioides)*
Microseris,
    Brown (Stebbinsoseris heterocarpa)
    Douglas's (Microseris douglasii ssp. douglasii)
Milfoil, Siberian (Myriophyllum sibiricum)
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum)*
Milkmaids (Cardamine californica var. californica)
Milkvetch,
    Annual desert (Astragalus aridus)
    Bear Valley (Astragalus lentiginosus var. sierrae)
    Borrego (Astragalus lentiginosus var. borreganus)
    Cima (Astragalus cimae var. cimae)
    Crested (Astragalus bicristatus)
    Cushenbury (Astragalus albens)
    Dwarf white (Astragalus didymocarpus var. dispermus)
    Fremont's (Astragalus lentiginosus var. fremontii)
    Gambel's dwarf (Astragalus gambelianus)
    Gilman's (Astragalus gilmanii)
    Gravel (Astragalus sabulonum)
    Jacumba (Astragalus douglasii var. douglasii)
    Minthorn's (Astragalus minthorniae var. villosus)
    Naked (Astragalus serenoi var. shockleyi)
    Palmer's (Astragalus palmeri)
    Panamint (Astragalus panamintensis)
    Parish's jacumba (Astragalus douglasii var. parishii)
    Peirson's (Astragalus magdalenae var. peirsonii)
    Providence Mountains (Astragalus nutans)
    Pursh's (Astragalus purshii var. lectulus)
    Pursh's (Astragalus purshii var. tinctus)
    Salton (Astragalus crotalariae)
    San Luis Obispo (Astragalus curtipes)
    San Miguel (Astragalus miguelensis)
    Santa Barbara (Astragalus trichopodus var. phoxus)
    Scarlet (Astragalus coccineus)
    Shining (Astragalus lentiginosus var. micans)
    Tidestrom's (Astragalus tidestromii)
    Triple-ribbed (Astragalus tricarinatus)
    Two-seeded (Astragalus didymocarpus var. didymocarpus)
    Varied (Astragalus lentiginosus var. variabilis)
Milkweed,
    California (Asclepias californica)
    Climbing (Funastrum cynanchoides var. hartwegii)
    Desert (Ascelpias erosa)
    Hairy (Funastrum hirtellum)
    Indian (Asclepias eriocarpa)
    Mojave (Asclepias nyctaginifolia)
    Narrow-leaved (Asclepias fascicularis)
    Rush (Asclepias subulata)
    White-stemmed (Asclepias albicans)
    Woolly (Asclepias vestita)
Milkwort, Fish's (Polygala cornuta var. fishiae)
Miners' lettuce,
    [Common] (Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata)
    Green (Claytonia parviflora ssp. viridis)
    Narrow-leaf (Claytonia parviflora ssp. parviflora)
    Southern (Claytonia perfoliata ssp. mexicana)
Miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor)
Miniature woolstar (Eriastrum diffusum)
Mint,
    Bergamot (Mentha Xpiperita var. citrata)*
    Mountain (Pycnanthemum californicum)
    Mustang (Monardella lanceolata)
    Otay Mesa (Pogogyne nudiuscula)
Minthorn's milkvetch (Astragalus minthorniae var. villosus)
Mint-leaved vervain (Verbena menthifolia)
Mission cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica)*
Mission manzanita (Xylococcus bicolor)
Mission manzanita fruit (Xylococcus bicolor)
Mistletoe,
    Big leaf (Phoradendron macrophyllum)
    Dense (Phoradendron densum)
    Desert (Phoradendron californicum)
    Fir (Phoradendron pauciflorum)
    Fir dwarf (Arceuthobium abietinum)
    Incense-cedar (Phoradendron libocedri)
    Juniper (Phoradendron juniperinum)
    Oak (Phoradendron villosum)
    Pine dwarf (Arceuthobium campylopodum)
Mock heather (Ericameria ericoides)
Mock orange, Little-leaved (Philadelphus microphyllus)
Mock-strawberry (Duchesnea indica)
Modoc gilia (Gilia modocensis)
Mojave-aster (Xylorhiza tortifolia var. tortifolia)
Mojave brown-eyed primrose (Camissonia claviformis ssp. claviformis)
Mojave ceanothus (Ceanothus greggii var. vestitus)
Mojave cottonthorn (Tetradymia stenolepis)
Mojave cryptantha (Cryptantha mohavensis)
Mojave goldeneye (Bahiopsis reticulata)
Mojave indigo bush, Little-leaved (Psorothamnus arborescens var. minutifolius)
Mojave linanthus (Leptosiphon breviculus)
Mojave milkweed (Asclepias nyctaginifolia)
Mojave mound cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus)
Mojave owl's clover (Castilleja exserta ssp. venusta)
Mojave phacelia (Phacelia mohavensis)
Mojave popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys jonesii)
Mojave prickly poppy (Argemone corymbosa)
Mojave prickly-pear (Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea)
Mojave ragwort (Senecio mohavensis)
Mojave rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. mohavensis)
Mojave spineflower (Chorizanthe spinosa)
Mojave spurge (Euphorbia incisa)
Mojave stinkweed (Cleomella obtusifolia)
Mojave sun cup (Camissonia campestris ssp. campestris)
Mojave tarplant (Deinandra mohavensis)
Mojave thistle (Cirsium mohavense)
Mojave woolstar (Eriastrum densifolium ssp. mohavense)
Mojave yucca (Yucca schidigera)
Mohavea, Lesser (Mohavea breviflora)
Monardella,
    Desert (Monardella nana ssp. arida)
    Flax-leaved (Monardella linoides ssp. stricta)
    Flax-like (Monardella linoides ssp. oblonga)
    Gray (Monardella cinerea)
    Little (Monardella nana ssp. nana)
    Narrow-leaf (Monardella linoides ssp. linoides)
    Red (Monardella macrantha ssp. hallii)
    San Felipe (Monardella nana ssp. leptosiphon)
    Short-flowered (Monardella nana ssp. tenuiflora)
    Southern (Monardella australis)
    White-leaf (Monardella hypoleuca ssp. hypoleuca)
    Willowy (Monardella linoides ssp. viminea)
Monkeyflower,
    Bigelow's (Mimulus bigelovii var. bigelovii)
    Bigelow's (Mimulus bigelovii var. cuspidatus)
    Bolander's (Mimulus bolanderi)
    Brewer's (Mimulus breweri)
    Bush (Mimulus aurantiacus)
    Cleveland's bush (Mimulus clevelandii)
    Creek (Mimulus guttatus)
    Death Valley (Mimulus rupicola)
    Dense-fruited (Mimulus constrictus)
    Downy (Mimulus pilosus)
    Fremont's (Mimulus fremontii var. fremontii)
    Island bush (Mimulus flemingii)
    Johnston's (Mimulus johnstonii)
    Kelso Creek (Mimulus shevockii)
    Many-flowered (Mimulus floribundus)
    Musk (Mimulus moschatus)
    Palmer's (Mimulus palmeri)
    Parish's (Mimulus parishii)
    Primrose (Mimulus primuloides ssp. primuloides)
    Purple (Mimulus purpureus)
    Red-stemmed (Mimulus rubellus)
    Rockjasmine (Mimulus androsaceus)
    San Bernardino Mountains (Mimulus exiguus)
    Scarlet (Mimulus cardinalis)
    Suksdorf's (Mimulus suksdorfii)
    Tiling's (Mimulus tilingii)
    Yellow (Mimulus brevipes)
Monkeyflower savory (Satureja mimuloides)
Mono groundsel (Senecio flaccidus var. monoensis)
Monolopia (Monolopia lanceolata)
Moonwort, Scalloped (Botrychium crenulatum)
Mormon needlegrass (Achnatherum aridum)
Morning glory,
    Beach (Calystegia soldanella)
    Coast (Calystegia macrostegia ssp. cyclostegia)
    Jepson's (Calystegia malacophylla ssp. pedicellata)
    Northern island (Calystegia macrostegia ssp. macrostegia)
    San Diego (Calystegia macrostegia ssp. tenuifolia)
    Small-flowered (Convolvulus simulans)
    South coast (Calystegia macrostegia ssp. intermedia)
    Southern California (Calystegia macrostegia ssp. arida)
    Southern island (Calystegia macrostegia ssp. amplissima)
    Western (Calystegia occidentalis ssp. fulcrata)
Mortonia (Mortonia utahensis)
Moss rush (Juncus bryoides)
Mount Laguna alumroot (Heuchera brevistaminea)
Mountain blazing star (Mentzelia montana)
Mountain blue penstemon (Penstemon laetus var. laetus)
Mountain carpet clover (Trifolium monanthum var. monanthum)
Mountain clarkia (Clarkia heterandra)
Mountain clover (Trifolium wormskioldii)
Mountain dandelion (Agoseris grandiflora)
Mountain dogwood (Cornus nuttallii)
Mountain gooseberry (Ribes montigenum)
Mountain heather (Phyllodoce breweri)
Mountain holly fern (Polystichum scopulinum)
Mountain madia (Madia glomerata)
Mountain mahogany,
    Birch-leaf (Cercocarpus betuloides var. betuloides)
    Catalina Island (Cercocarpus traskiae)
    Curl-leaf (Cercocarpus ledifolius var. intermontanus)
    Island (Cercocarpus betuloides var. blancheae)
    Little-leaved (Cercocarpus intricatus)
    San Diego (Cercocarpus minutiflorus)
Mountain maple (Acer glabrum)
Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum californicum)
Mountain mugwort (Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta)
Mountain oxytrope (Oxytropis oreophila var. oreophila)
Mountain peppergrass (Lepidium montanum var. cinereum)
Mountain phacelia (Phacelia imbricata ssp. imbricata)
Mountain pink currant (Ribes nevadense)
Mountain prickly phlox (Linanthus pungens)
Mountain sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana)
Mountain snowberry (Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii)
Mountain sweet-cicely (Osmorhiza berteroi)
Mountain tansy mustard (Descurainia incana)
Mountain timothy (Phleum alpinum)
Mountain whitethorn (Ceanothus cordulatus)
Mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium glomeratum)*
Mouse-ear cress (Arabidopsis thaliana)*
Mousetail ivesia (Ivesia santolinoides)
Mt. Pinos onion (Allium howellii var. clokeyi)
Mud nama (Nama stenocarpum)
Mudwort, Stemless (Limosella acaulis)
Mugwort
    [Common] (Artemisia douglasiana)
    Mountain (Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta)
Muhly,
    Bush (Muhlenbergia porteri)
    Mat (Muhlenbergia richardsonis)
    Pullup (Muhlenbergia filiformis)
Muilla,
    Cleveland's muilla (Muilla clevelandii)
    Common (Muilla maritima)
Mulefat (Baccharis salicifolia)
Mule's ears (Wyethia ovata)
Mullein,
    Wand (Verbascum virgatum)*
    Woolly (Verbascum thapsus)*
Muller's oak (Quercus cornelius-mulleri)
Munz's buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum var. munzii)
Munz's mariposa lily (Calochortus palmeri var. munzii)
Munz's sage (Salvia munzii)
Musk monkeyflower (Mimulus moschatus)
Mustang mint (Monardella lanceolata)
Mustard,
    African (Malcolmia africana)*
    Black (Brassica nigra)*
    California (Guillenia lasiophylla)
    Field (Brassica rapa)*
    Hedge (Sisymbrium officinale)*
    Mediterranean (Hirschfeldia incana)*
    Mountain tansy (Descurainia incana)
    Oriental (Sisymbrium orientale)*
    Saharan (Brassica tournefortii)*
    Sierra tansy (Descurainia californica)
    Slender-petalled (Thelypodium stenopetalum)
    Tansy (Descurainia pinnata)
    Tower (Arabis glabra var. glabra)
    Tumble (Sisymbrium altissimum)*
Mustard evening primrose (Camissonia californica)
Naked broom-rape (Orobanche uniflora)
Naked cleome (Cleome sparsifolia)
Naked milkvetch (Astragalus serenoi var. shockleyi)
Naked-stem bedstraw (Galium angustifolium ssp. nudicaule)
Nama,
    Mud (Nama stenocarpum)
    Rothrock's (Nama rothrockii)
    Small-leaved (Nama pusillum)
Narrow-leaf ditaxis (Ditaxis lanceolata)
Narrow-leaf filago (Logfia gallica)*
Narrow-leaf miner's lettuce (Claytonia parviflora ssp. parviflora)
Narrow-leaf monardella (Monardella linoides ssp. linoides)
Narrow-leaf suncup (Camissonia refracta)
Narrow-leaved bedstraw (Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium)
Narrow-leaved brickellbush (Brickellia oblongifolia var. linifolia)
Narrow-leaved cryptantha (Cryptantha angustifolia)
Narrow-leaved milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis)
Narrow-leaved onion (Allium amplectens)
Narrow-leaved stillingia (Stillingia linearifolia)
Narrowpod locoweed (Astragalus filipes)
Navajo fleabane (Erigeron concinnus)
Navarretia,
    Baja (Navarretia peninsularis)
    Brewer's (Navarretia breweri)
    Hollyleaf (Navarretia atractyloides)
    Hooked (Navarettia hamata ssp. hamata)
    Ojai (Navarretia ojaiensis)
    Prostrate (Navarretia prostrata)
    Spreading (Navarretia fossalis)
Nealley three-awn (Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi)
Needle grama (Bouteloua aristidoides var. aristidoides)
Needle spikerush (Eleocharis acicularis var. acicularis)
Needlegrass,
    Desert (Achnatherum speciosum)
    Foothill (Nassella lepida)
    Mormon (Achnatherum aridum)
    Nodding (Nassella cernua)
    Parish's (Achnatherum parishii)
    Purple (Nassella pulchra)
    San Diego County (Achnatherum diegoense)
    Western (Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale)
Nemophila, Meadow (Nemophila pedunculata)
Neststraw,
    Everlasting (Stylocline gnaphaloides)
    Woollyhead (Stylocline micropoides)
Nettle,
    Black hair (Hesperocnide tenella)
    California hedge (Stachys bullata)
    Dwarf (Urtica urens)*
    Hoary (Urtica dioica ssp. holosericea)
    Rigid hedge (Stachys ajugoides var. rigida)
Nettleleaf goosefoot (Chenopodium murale)*
Nevada broomsage (Lepidospartum latisquamum)
Nevada buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum var. nevadense)
Nevada cinquefoil (Drymocallis lactea var. lactea)
Nevada cryptantha (Cryptantha nevadensis)
Nevada ephedra (Ephedra nevadensis)
Nevada golden-eye (Heliomeris multiflora var. nevadensis)
Nevada lomatium (Lomatium nevadense)
Nevin's bird's beak (Cordylanthus nevinii)
Nevin's brickellbush (Brickellia nevinii)
Nevin's barberry (Berberis nevinii)
Nevin's woolly sunflower (Constancea nevinii)
New Mexico ditaxis (Ditaxis neomexicana)
New York Mountains cryptantha (Cryptantha tumulosa)
New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides)*
Newberry's rattleweed (Astragalus newberryi var. newberryi)
Newberry's velvet mallow (Horsfordia newberryi)
Nightshade,
    Blue-witch (Solanum umbelliferum)
    Parish's (Solanum parishii)
    Purple (Solanum xanti)
    Purple, fruit (Solanum xanti)
    Small-flowered (Solanum americanum)
    White (Solanum douglasii)
Ninebark, Pacific (Physocarpus capitatus)
Nit grass (Gastridium ventricosum)*
Nodding bedstraw (Galium hallii)
Nodding needlegrass (Nassella cernua)
Nolina,
    Dehesa (Nolina interrata)
    Parry's (Nolina parryi)
Northern blue-stemmed keckiella (Keckiella ternata var. septentrionalis)
Northern Channel Islands phacelia (Phacelia insularis var. insularis)
Northern desert gilia, see transmontane gilia
Northern island morning glory (Calystegia macrostegia ssp. macrostegia)
Norwegian cinquefoil (Potentilla norvegica)*
Noseburn (Tragia ramosa)
Notchleaf phacelia,
    (Phacelia crenulata var. ambigua)
    (Phacelia crenulata var. crenulata)
    Smallflower (Phacelia crenulata var. minutiflora)
Nuttall's crinklemat (Tiquilia nuttallii)
Nuttall's island bedstraw (Galium nuttallii ssp. insulare)
Nuttall's poverty weed (Monolepis nuttalliana)

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