The Santa Cruz Island malacothrix, an annual herb in the aster family, produces greenish-yellow flowers and grows in small mats. It currently grows in small populations on San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz islands. The island malachothrix, also an annual herb in the aster family, sprouts light yellow flowers, and exists only on Santa Cruz and Anacapa islands. Santa Rosa and San Miguel islands host the only populations of the island phacelia, a member of the waterleaf family that produces small lavender to violet, bell-shaped flowers. It is found in small numbers within the lupine-grassland community on the islands.
Native plants are important for their ecological, economic, and aesthetic values.
Plants play an important role in development of crops that resist disease, insects, and drought. At least 25 percent of prescription drugs contain ingredients derived from plant compounds, including medicine to treat cancer, heart disease, juvenile leukemia, and malaria, as well that used to assist organ transplants. Plants are also used to develop natural pesticides. The objective of recovery plans is to provide a framework for the long-term recovery of species so that protection under the ESA is no longer necessary. Recovery plans, which are blueprints for action by federal and state agencies, other organizations, and citizens, do not obligate the expenditure of funds or require that actions be implemented.