Only an hour’s drive away from Los Angeles, Tejon Ranch is the largest piece of privately owned land in California. The over 270,000 acres of land stretch across the Tehachapi Mountains, southern Sierra Nevada, and San Joaquin Valley. The convergence of these different ecological regions makes Tejon Ranch a biodiversity hotspot. Unfortunately, it has become more difficult for the general public and researchers alike to access the biologically significant information it holds.

Between 2013 and 2017, botanist Nick Jensen collected around 4,000 plants from Tejon Ranch while it was more accessible. While researching the region during his PhD, Jensen also discovered a species of herb new to science: Streptanthus medeirosii. The specimens he collected went on to form the earliest collection of Teton Ranch’s flora. Unfortunately, the plants were stored in a less than ideal location—Jensen’s garage—leaving them susceptible to pests and decay.

With this project, the Herbarium aims to accept 1,000 of Jensen’s duplicate specimens. Our student employees are working to maintain the plants, first by freezing them to kill any pests. Then, they will review and edit their label data before uploading them to an online database. Their tasks also include mounting, imaging, and finally filing these Tejon Ranch specimens to add to our Herbarium’s collection.