British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes: Version 5

These species code files contain the presently accepted scientific and common names for vascular plants, mosses and lichens of British Columbia. The liverworts and hornworts included on this list are from the North American lists as a B.C. list does not exist. All species are given a 7 or 8 character code for use in database applications. In addition, commonly used species synonyms are included to assist in determining the presently accepted name.

Species attributes include lifeform, toxicity, weed status, wetland indicator value, rare (red or blue list) ranking, and whether native or exotic. Further documentation of the species file contents is in the 'read me' file – Species_Readme_May2004.doc - included in the 'zip' files. Tree species also have a 3 letter code - these are in the database and can be downloaded as a separate file from the link below.

As the Illustrated Flora of British Columbia is now complete (total of 8 volumes), this list will only be updated when required (every 1– 2 years). Although scientific studies in plant taxonomy will continue to suggest new names for various taxa, our intent is to only change names when a revision to a B.C. manual or list is published. The only other reasons for updating the list would be to include additions to our flora or significant new information on plant species attributes. This principle should result in relative stability to the names and codes.

Download Microsoft Access97 database of species file

Download Microsoft Access2000 database of species file

Download Excel set of species files

Download B.C. Tree Code List

Download Changes from 2002 to 2004 species file

Key to Tables within the 2004 species database

Table Name

Description

BCTreeCodes2004

Native and exotic tree species (both naturalized and not) with 3 letter codes

BCExcludedSpp2004

Species once recognized as part of the BC flora, but now excluded

BCExoticCodes2004

Exotic tree species that are not naturalized

BCFlora2004

All native and naturalized species in BC

BCSynonyms2004

Commonly used synonyms for native and naturalized species

BCTrees2004

Native, and exotic but naturalized, tree species and other taxa; not all have 3 letter ‘tree codes’

SppMasterMay12_04

Database of all information; includes fields to create the tables above; use Readme file information to interpret. (Table not included in Excel files zip)