The mysterious Island Ironwood (genus Lyonothamnus) has no close relatives in modern flora. It is considered a “living fossil” or “relict,” the last remnant of an ancient genus.

This tree remains relatively unchanged since the Miocene epoch, over 6 million years ago.

Imagine hiding behind an ironwood as you watched Mastodon, Bear-Dogs (Amphicyonidae) and elephant-like Gomphotheres pass by on their way to a watering hole.

The rare native Californian tree could once be found over vast inland areas, when climate conditions were more humid. Its range was drastically reduced by the uplift of coastal mountains and a drying climate to the east. As a result, Island Ironwood is now only endemic to three Channel Islands: Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Clemente.

Only one species remains in the genus: Lyonothamnus floribundus. Of this species only two subspecies exist, the Santa Cruz Island Ironwood (ssp. aspleniifolius) and the Catalina Ironwood (ssp. floribundus).