United States
Non Timber Forest Product Resources
SPECIES DATABASE
This database covers the entire United States and territories is designed to show the many possible commercial nontimber forest product species that occur in each state, the various common names used to describe a species, and the different parts of a species that may be marketable.
The database was created in 1999 and is updated every few years. If you find errors or have missing data you would like to be considered for inclusion please email the editor.
The database is free to download. For citations use: Weigand, James; Jones, Eric T. United States Nontimber Species Database. URL:www.ntfpinfo.net/species/ Accessed [insert date].
The database is not intended as a substitute for expert identification and use of species. Always positively identify any species and understand exactly what the safety requirements and sustainable harvesting practices are.
Most species fall into more than one product use category:
Aromatic and Fragrance: essential oil for scenting products
Decorative and Craft examples: burls, figured wood, dyes, willow furniture, fossilized resin like amber
Food and Flavorings examples: big leaf maple syrup, morel mushrooms, ramps, truffles
Landscaping and Restoration: transplants, seed collection
Medicinal examples: Oregon grape root, usnea
Other: firewood, sealants such as naval stores, rubber, glues, animal bedding
Most of the species in the database are native, but some non-native species with commercial markets are also listed. Listings for subtropical and tropical regions, including Hawaii, Florida and the U.S. territories are the least complete. For the parts used category, the listing for commercial native seed is the least complete as nearly every native plant that seed can be collected from in the U.S. shows up in commercial catalogs or is bought by seed banks, researchers, farmers and home gardeners.
The state distribution for most species has been listed according to the USDA Native Plants Native Plant Distribution List.
This database is not an endorsement of harvesting any specific species in any particular area. Some species may be highly abundant in some localities, but the same species may be scarce in another area or have American Indian cultural protections. A species may be considered native in one area and a noxious weed and/or invasive pest. Research the ecological and cultural context and harvesting sensitivity for each species of interest before you harvest.
Many species share common names and their scientific names can change as the nomenclature is refined.
Database fields include genus, common name, family; product use; part use, and distribution by states.