The Ethnobotany of the California Indians is a compilation of 1,100 plants listed in alphabetic order by the scientific name. For each listing, depending upon the available literature, are sub-headings that note by tribe, how the plant was utilized: Food; Material; Medicine; and Miscellaneous. In addition, if available, there are sections listing the native terminology as well as Notes covering such things as food value, hazardous properties, etc. For each section there is a list of publications cited. In addition there is a Reference section and four appendices: Tribal Listing by Plant; Ornithography; Synonyms (of plants); and a Glossary.

The Ethnobotany of the California Indians, revised, updated, expanded, from the First Edition (2003), is a compilation of 1,343 plants listed in alphabetic order by their scientific names. For each of the listings, depending upon the available literature, there are sub-headings that note by the tribe how the plant was utilized: Food; Material; Medicine; Miscellaneous. In addition, there are sections that provide the native terminology if available, Citations, as well as a Notes section presenting information on such things as food value, hazardous properties, etc. There is a full Reference Section and four Appendices: Tribal Listing by Plant Entry Number; Native Orthography; Plants Synonyms; and a Glossary.

For thousands of years, the Kumeyaay people of northern Baja California and southern California made their homes in the diverse landscapes of the region, interacting with native plants and continuously refining their botanical knowledge. Today, many Kumeyaay Indians in the far-flung ranches of Baja California carry on the traditional knowledge and skills for transforming native plants into food, medicine, arts, tools, regalia, construction materials, and ceremonial items. Kumeyaay Ethnobotany explores the remarkable interdependence between native peoples and native plants of the Californias through in-depth descriptions of 47 native plants and their uses, lively narratives, and hundreds of vivid photographs. It connects the archaeological and historical record with living cultures and native plant specialists who share their ever-relevant wisdom for future generations. Book jacket.