A Flora of The Santa Ana Mountains, California

Abstract

The choice of the Santa Ana Mountains for a floristic study resulted from the authors' curiosity about a region that is relatively untouched, biolog- ically speaking, and that is rather isolated from other ranges of southern California. The presence of the Cleveland National Forest, Trabuco Dis- trict, within a large portion of this range and the resultant protection to watershed and biota which it provides, have allowed the vegetation and wildlife of this region to retain much of their original wildness despite their proximity to a large population center. Current concern for preservation of the environment requires detailed surveys of areas like the Santa Ana :\fountains. It is hoped, therefore, that this flora will be of some help to the scientists and their students who have recently shown considerable interest in this range. Although the main access to these mountains is over unpaved and rough Forest Service truck trails, many of which are behind locked gates during fire-season closure, the citizenry has crowded into this area for recreational purposes at an alarming rate. Thus it became imperative that this survey be completed before further disturbance eliminated part of the flora.