Natural History Wanderings

ScienceDaily reported on why California has such a large diversity of plant species. California has long been know for its rich flora over 5,500 plants, 40 percent of which occur only in California. California has a large diversity of habitats. Many new species have evolved in California but not at a rate higher than other areas. The key to California’s large plant diversity has been its low extinction rate, which is much lower than other areas. California has possibly served as refuge for plants that have gone extinct in other areas as a result of climatic changes in the past. Read more at ScienceDaily Low extinction rates made California a refuge for diverse plant species