Today, Catalina Island celebrates International Day for Biological Diversity by honoring the rare, wild and stunning species that call this Island their only home. 🌎✨ From the windswept cliffs to the inland chaparral, Catalina is alive with species found nowhere else on Earth. These endemic plants and animals aren’t just part of the Island, they are the Island. 🌿 Our teams at Catalina Island Conservancy work year-round restoring habitats, removing invasives and safeguarding the future of these irreplaceable species. Here are just a few of the Catalina-born-and-raised plants we’re celebrating today: Dudleya virens ssp. hassei – Catalina liveforever, clinging to rocky cliffs with flair Crocanthemum greenei – The federally threatened island rush rose Ceanothus arboreus – The showy blue island ceanothus Leptosyne gigantea – Giant coreopsis, the golden firework of the coastal scrub Dendromecon harfordii – Island bush poppy, sunshine in shrub form These plants support a vibrant cast of Island wildlife, from foxes and quail to native bees and butterflies. When we protect our flora, we protect the whole web of Island life. 💻 Head to our website to see the full list of Catalina’s endemic species. https://catalinaconservancy.org/conservation/catalina-plants-animals/ 📸 Swipe to meet our endemic icons and the habitats they call home. #BiodiversityDay #CatalinaIsland #EndemicSpecies #IslandConservation #NativePlants #CatalinaConservancy #ProtectWhatYouLove #ChaparralAndScrub #CelebrateBiodiversity #nativeflora (fb)

As part of Catalina Island’s native flora, mule fat (Baccharis salicifolia) grows in seasonal washes and canyon drainages, helping to control erosion and provide shelter for wildlife. The Gabrielino-Tongva people, the Island’s original stewards, once used its sturdy stems for fire-starting and perhaps even for arrows. 🏹 It’s also a great food source for caterpillars and other larvae! The name mule fat comes from early California ranchers who noticed mules would munch on this shrub when food was scarce.⛰️ #CatalinaIsland #NativePlants #MuleFat #ErosionControl #TongvaHistory #WildlifeHabitat #endemicspecies #nativeflora (fb)