This paper presents the digitized edition of the Wieslander Vegetation Type Maps (VTMs). The VTMs were part of the first statewide systematic survey of California's vegetation, conducted 1928–1939. Under the direction of Albert Wieslander, crews recorded the patterns of vegetation that they observed from vantage points across the state. The survey covers 176,901 km² including border and lake polygons and 165,652 km² of landscapes that we describe in more detail. There are 251,541 polygons in the full extent of the maps, with 249,630 in the analysis extent. These polygons are annotated with codes indicating the dominant plant species, for which voucher specimens were collected. The maps contain 655 species codes, representing 535 species or sub-species in 229 genera, including 34 Arctostaphylos Adans. and 16 Quercus L. species. The 249,630 polygons contain 26,013 unique combinations of species and levels of disturbance. These can be classified into 525 vegetation alliances or provisional alliances using the 2009 edition of the Manual of California Vegetation, or into 53 of the simpler California Wildlife Habitat Relationships (WHR) classes. The most extensive WHR types in the VTMs are Annual grasslands (25,733 km²) Chamise-redshank chaparral (14,771 km²), Mixed chaparral (9314 km²), and Coastal Scrub (7088 km²). California's Southwestern ecoregion is the most completely surveyed, with 93% of the area mapped, followed by the Central Western ecoregion (88.2%, including the Bay Area), the Sierra Nevada (71.6%), and the Great Valley (39.7%). The VTMs in these ecoregions provide a baseline for assessment of landcover change across large areas, and are an important legacy of the biogeographic patterns of plants and vegetation in California. This paper provides the methods used to digitize the collection and suggestions about how the data may be properly used in future studies.

The understory of California's coast redwood forests boasts an abundance of ferns, half of which are drought deciduous. Despite their ecological importance, little is known about the functional differences between deciduous and perennial ferns. This study explored morphological and physiological leaf traits of an assortment of coast redwood forest fern species sampled from the southern, drier extent of the ecosystem, to determine if deciduous species are less drought tolerant than co-occurring evergreen species because of their shorter leaf lifespan. In mid-summer, all ferns were well hydrated with water potentials above −1 MPa. Although the deciduous ferns were more vulnerable to hydraulic dysfunction by embolism, it is likely that all species experienced similarly low degrees of embolism in situ, as inferred from mid-day water potential measurements. Despite their similar water relations when water was not limiting, we observed that deciduous ferns had thinner pinnae because they avoid the late summertime drought by shedding their fronds, in contrast to co-occurring evergreen ferns that invest in sclerophyllous leaves that persist for at least two growing seasons. Our study shows that even within the mesic habitat of the forest understory, ferns can exploit a spectrum of functional strategies that allows them to thrive in separate niches, differences that may become more pronounced in water-limiting habitats.

When The Jepson Manual: Higher plants of California was published in 1993, its Geographic Subdivisions of California map included an area of Klamath Ranges geology in its Cascade Ranges subdivision, creating an anomaly with floristic ramifications. We aim to correct that anomaly in this paper. This incorrect designation leads to several issues, including ecologic and geologic inconsistences, and problematic results when conducting floristic analysis in the eastern Klamath Ranges. Botanical field surveys for several recent projects in the eastern Klamath Ranges, newly available digitized data made available online by the Consortium of California Herbaria, and several new taxa recently published from the eastern Klamath Ranges provided means and rationale to make much-needed changes to the Klamath Ranges boundary. Using personal experience, existing ecologic and geologic references, and GIS analysis we revised the Klamath and Cascade Ranges boundaries, provided geographic range updates for over 230 plant taxa, and updated the existing California Geographic Subdivisions descriptions to reflect the boundary revisions. Herein we present the revised map boundary, describe our analysis and results, and provide floristic analysis made possible by the map revisions.

Archidium crassicostatum D.R. Toren, Kellman & Shevock is described and illustrated, and is currently known from two counties from California. It appears to be the sole species of the genus from the state and is well marked by its exceptionally wide costa, which can occupy as much as one-third the width of the leaf base. Previous reports of Archidium alternifolium (Dicks. ex Hedw.) Schimp. and A. donnellii Austin from California are actually A. crassicostatum. Details of habitat, ecology, and distribution are given and morphological distinctions among similar-looking but unrelated taxa are discussed.

Two species of the genus Campylostelium Bruch & Schimp. are reported for the southwestern United States. Campylostelium laegerae Brinda, D.R. Toren & Shevock, sp. nov. is described and illustrated. Campylostelium pitardii (Corb.) E. Maier is reported as new to the Americas. Additional notes about the genus are provided, including a species key.

Dudleya hendrixii S. McCabe & Dodero is a succulent endemic, restricted to a small area of Colonet Mesa (Baja California, Mexico). It is similar to the more widespread D. blochmaniae (Eastw.) Moran subsp. blochmaniae, which has been placed in subg. Hasseanthus (Rose) Moran, and to D. attenuata (S. Watson) Moran subsp. orcuttii (Rose) Moran, which has been placed in subg. Stylophyllum (Britton & Rose) Moran. Both of these other species have much wider ranges. Dudleya hendrixii differs from D. blochmaniae subsp. blochmaniae in having fewer, terete, more upright, and waxier leaves. Unlike D. attenuata subsp. orcuttii, D. hendrixii is summer deciduous, acaulescent, and has much shorter inflorescences.