MNTaxa is the MNDNR's list of the vascular plant species that have been documented in Minnesota. For each species, MNTaxa provides full scientific name, including family, genus, species, and variety or subspecies (when applicable); whether the species is introduced to Minnesota; current status according to Minnesota's Endangered Species Statute and associated Rules; and the counties and subcounties 
(220 kb) in which the species has been documented. Physiognomy and noxious weed status for each species are now available as well.
The scientific names in MNTaxa are based on the published volumes of "Flora of North America North of Mexico" (Flora of North America Editorial Committee, 1993–, Oxford University Press, New York). For species not yet published by FNA, nomenclature follows that of Gleason & Cronquist's "Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada". There are a few exceptions to this convention for some woody species and some rare species.
MNTaxa is used by the MNDNR to organize data in various plant and vegetation databases and to generate regional or county checklists for survey work, projects, and reports.
Two formats of MNTaxa data (updated April 2011) are available for download:
(312 kb) contains a list of all native and naturalized vascular plants that occur in the state, by scientific name. Family, common name, physiognomy, native status, state listed status, and noxious weed status, are also included. (2.5 mb) includes all the above data, as well as an indication, for each species, where there is a verified county or subcounty record.
Disclaimer: This list is subject to periodic revision. Comments regarding the status of individual species may be submitted to:
Welby Smith
MNDNR Botanist
phone: 651-259-5160
email: welby.smith@state.mn.us.
For county record data, or data associated with nomenclature, contact:
Janeen Ruby,
MNDNR Plant Ecologist
phone: 651-304-0955
email: janeen.ruby@dnr.state.mn.us
or
Norm Aaseng
MNDNR Plant Ecologist
phone: 651-259-5069
email: norm.aaseng@state.mn.us
An interactive, searchable database of plant species used in wetland and lakeshore restorations is available from the Native Plant Encyclopedia of Restore Your Shore.
For more specific data on individual rare species (those with a listing under 'state status') consult the Rare Species Guide. Plants listed as Threatened or Endangered may not be collected or planted without a permit from the MnDNR, Ecological and Water Resources Division.
As programming develops, look forward to an updated website, which will allow users to query and interact with the data, and download portions, or all, of the data, in various formats. The new website will include a GIS-based interface, and the options to download plant lists by region, Ecological Classification System (ECS) categories, and more!