H M L - NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program - National Park Service
H M L - NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program - National Park Service
H M L - NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program - National Park Service
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Plants of Tumacácori<br />
<strong>National</strong> Historical <strong>Park</strong><br />
Editor<br />
Steve Buckley
Plants of Tumacácori<br />
<strong>National</strong> Historical <strong>Park</strong><br />
Editor,<br />
Steve Buckley<br />
The ethnobotanical information in this book<br />
is included for educational purposes only. No<br />
plant or plant extract should be consumed<br />
unless you are certain of its identity <strong>and</strong><br />
toxicity <strong>and</strong> of your personal potential for<br />
allergic reactions. Self-medication with herbal<br />
medicines is often unwise <strong>and</strong> wild foods<br />
should always be used with caution. Although<br />
every effort has been made to ensure accuracy<br />
<strong>and</strong> reliability, neither the author, the Sonoran<br />
Desert Network <strong>Inventory</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Monitoring</strong><br />
<strong>Program</strong>, the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>Service</strong>, nor the<br />
University of Arizona are responsible for the<br />
actions of the reader or liable for any effects<br />
caused by such actions.<br />
This field guide is for educational use only.<br />
It has not been produced for commercial<br />
uses. Please consult the works cited pages<br />
at the end of the book for those works<br />
consulted, methodology, proper citations,<br />
credits, <strong>and</strong> further reading for complete<br />
botanical descriptions.<br />
Cover Photo Credits:<br />
Center: 2008 Jeff Axel, <strong>NPS</strong><br />
Insets: © 2008 T. Beth Kinsey
Plants of Tumacácori<br />
<strong>National</strong> Historical <strong>Park</strong><br />
Introduction to Tumacácori NHP<br />
Vegetation Mapping <strong>and</strong> Community Types<br />
How to Use this Guide<br />
Ferns<br />
Graminoids<br />
Flowering Trees & Shrubs<br />
Cacti<br />
Forbs<br />
Glossary<br />
Works Cited<br />
Index<br />
Tumacácori NHP Checklist<br />
8<br />
11<br />
31<br />
43<br />
45<br />
87<br />
117<br />
121<br />
269<br />
291<br />
299<br />
307
The Flora Project<br />
This field guide is part of a larger body of work known as the Flora of the<br />
Sonoran Desert Network. The Flora Project emerged from the network’s<br />
vegetation mapping program, begun in 2009. Since then, we have compiled<br />
comprehensive floristic entries on upwards of 2,000 individual species, the<br />
ultimate goal being to build a comprehensive floristic database covering the<br />
more than 2,400 species, subspecies, <strong>and</strong> varieties of plants found in the<br />
national parks of the Sonoran Desert Network (SODN). These entries will<br />
ultimately be available as an online database <strong>and</strong> also translate directly into<br />
the work presented in this guide. The goal of the project is to produce (1) a<br />
comprehensive field guide for each SODN park unit, (2) a series of regional<br />
field guides tied to specific life forms, <strong>and</strong> (3) a guide to common plants for<br />
each SODN unit. These floras range from the small (around 160 species at<br />
Casa Gr<strong>and</strong>e Ruins <strong>National</strong> Monument) to massive (around 1,200 species in<br />
Saguaro <strong>National</strong> <strong>Park</strong>’s Rincon Mountain District).<br />
Our methodology builds upon that of inventory efforts completed in the<br />
late 1990s <strong>and</strong> early 2000s. The intention of the project is to conduct a more<br />
detailed floristic inventory while building vegetation maps for each park.<br />
We first combine the baseline inventory data with all historical studies, then<br />
proceed to a comprehensive search of all regional herbarium records. Through<br />
this process, we have identified more than 15,000 specimens collected since<br />
the creation of the national parks in the region. The herbaria search is followed<br />
by broad research in the phylogenetic, systematic, <strong>and</strong> ecological literature<br />
to sort out problematic species <strong>and</strong> genera. Finally, we scour all agency study<br />
records to develop a comprehensive portrait of the floristic research that has<br />
been undertaken in each park through the years.<br />
The final products of these efforts are not field guides alone, but a cross-platform<br />
floristic information system that is being developed for use by l<strong>and</strong> managers,<br />
researchers, <strong>and</strong> the public. Ranging from online databases to printed field<br />
guides, to apps for mobile <strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong>held digital devices, to a range of other<br />
digital <strong>and</strong> print educational tools <strong>and</strong> resources, the Flora Project hopes to set<br />
a st<strong>and</strong>ard for floristic research on federal l<strong>and</strong>s in the desert southwest. Plant<br />
species checklists for Sonoran Desert Network parks are currently available<br />
at http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/projects/index.php?proj=5 .<br />
These versions provide interactive keys that can further help in<br />
the identification of plants <strong>and</strong> provide links to<br />
other regional park species checklists.
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Park</strong>s of the Sonoran Desert Network<br />
The Sonoran Desert Network is one of 32 <strong>National</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>Service</strong> inventory <strong>and</strong><br />
monitoring networks nationwide that are implementing vital signs monitoring<br />
in order to assess the condition of park ecosystems <strong>and</strong> develop a stronger<br />
scientific basis for stewardship <strong>and</strong> management of natural resources across<br />
the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Park</strong> System.<br />
The Sonoran Desert Network consists of 10 units in central <strong>and</strong> southern<br />
Arizona <strong>and</strong> 1 unit in southwestern New Mexico. These units are characteristic<br />
of the upper Sonoran subdivision of the Sonoran Desert Ecoregion <strong>and</strong> the<br />
Apache Highl<strong>and</strong>s Ecoregion, <strong>and</strong> range in size from half a square mile to 517<br />
square miles (147 to 133,882 hectares).<br />
Please visit our website for more information <strong>and</strong> a full list of our active<br />
research projects, available publications, <strong>and</strong> other resources:<br />
http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sodn<br />
2012 <strong>NPS</strong>
Administrative History of Tumacácori NHP<br />
Tumacácori <strong>National</strong> Historical <strong>Park</strong> (NHP) was designated Tumacácori<br />
<strong>National</strong> Monument on September 15, 1908, by proclamation of President<br />
Theodore Roosevelt. The four-hectare monument was originally created to<br />
protect Misión San Jose de Tumacácori, a Jesuit-established <strong>and</strong> Franciscanconstructed<br />
mission that was relocated to the present site in 1751, although<br />
construction of the building now protected was not completed until the<br />
mid-1820s. San Jose de Tumacácori was one of a line of Franciscan, although<br />
originally Jesuit, missions built in far northern Sonora beginning in 1691, with<br />
the arrival of the Jesuit Padre Eusebio Kino. Kino visited the Pimería Alta, or<br />
the “place of the upper Pimas,” as this area of southern Arizona was known<br />
at the time, <strong>and</strong> established a mission on the east side of the Santa Cruz River.<br />
A more favorable site for permanent construction of the mission church <strong>and</strong><br />
other facilities was later selected on the west side of the river. The area was<br />
chosen because of its habitation at the time by O’odham people, also known<br />
as the Papago or Pima, along that stretch of the Santa Cruz River. The word<br />
tumacácori is thought to be taken from two O’odham words, chu-uma <strong>and</strong><br />
kakul, making reference to Saint Joseph of the flat, rocky place. Other sources<br />
suggest the name means caliche, or pepperbush (Lamb <strong>and</strong> Scott 1993).<br />
8 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>Service</strong>
A Brief Environmental History<br />
of Tumacácori <strong>National</strong> Historical <strong>Park</strong><br />
Tumacácori NHP is located in the Santa Cruz River valley of southern Arizona,<br />
which is part of the southern Basin <strong>and</strong> Range physiographic province. This<br />
physiographic province encompasses southeastern Arizona <strong>and</strong> northern<br />
Sonora <strong>and</strong> is a “terrain of alternating fault-bounded linear mountain ranges<br />
<strong>and</strong> sediment-filled basins which began to form in southeastern Arizona as the<br />
result of dominantly east–northeast/west–southwest directed crustal extension”<br />
(Powell et al. 2005). The result is a l<strong>and</strong>scape of many rugged mountain ranges:<br />
to the west, the Tumacácori <strong>and</strong> Atascosa mountains; to the east, the Santa<br />
Ritas, the Patagonias, <strong>and</strong> the San Cayetano mountains. The climate of the area<br />
is marked by a bi-seasonal precipitation regime, with a monsoonal flow from<br />
the Gulf of Mexico in summer, <strong>and</strong> Pacific frontal storms in winter. “The area’s<br />
hot season occurs from April through October; maximum temperatures in July<br />
often exceed 40 °C. Intense surface heating during the day <strong>and</strong> active radiant<br />
cooling at night can result in daily temperature ranges of 17° to 22° C. Winter<br />
temperatures are mild. Prevailing winds tend to follow the Santa Cruz Valley,<br />
blowing downslope (from the south) during the night <strong>and</strong> early morning, <strong>and</strong><br />
upslope (from the north) during the day” (Powell et al. 2005).<br />
The Santa Cruz Valley has a long history of anthropogenically driven ecological<br />
change. Prior to Spanish colonization, marked by the arrival of Kino in 1691,<br />
O’odham communities are thought to have inhabited these areas for hundreds,<br />
if not thous<strong>and</strong>s, of years (Spicer 1962). These small subsistence agricultural<br />
communities were semi-nomadic <strong>and</strong> relied on the existence of permanent<br />
surface water for their survival (Robinett 1990). Although indications are that<br />
their impact was limited, suggestions as to their overall impact vary, given the<br />
uncertainty surrounding specific practices, such as firing the l<strong>and</strong>scape. With<br />
the arrival of the Spanish <strong>and</strong> their livestock, conditions changed drastically.<br />
In the 1804 Spanish census, 5,000 sheep were reported at Tubac, the presidio<br />
immediately downstream of the main Tumacácori unit. These numbers were<br />
replicated at Tumacácori, with 4,000 of the mission’s cattle being sold in 1821<br />
to pay for the construction of the church (www.nps.gov/tuma).<br />
With the 1853 Gadsden Purchase, all l<strong>and</strong> south of the Gila River formerly<br />
owned by the Spanish was transferred to the United States. Following the<br />
Gadsden Purchase <strong>and</strong> the end of the Apache wars, Euro-American settlement<br />
began throughout the region in earnest, further amplifying ecological change.<br />
Along the Santa Cruz River, changes in l<strong>and</strong> use included the clearing of<br />
mesquite bosque <strong>and</strong> cottonwood-willow forests along the river for agricultural<br />
purposes. Evidence also indicates that cottonwoods more than 6 meters in<br />
diameter were girdled <strong>and</strong> killed in the 1920s, in the mistaken underst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
that such actions would free up more water for agriculture (Logan 2002). The<br />
area around the mission began to be converted to more extensive agricultural<br />
operations sometime in the 1940s, replacing what appears to be mesquite<br />
bosque documented in aerial photography dating to 1936. Extensive fields<br />
appear in aerial photographs from 1956 <strong>and</strong> exp<strong>and</strong> further to the north in<br />
1959, when they appear to have totally surrounded the mission <strong>and</strong> run to the<br />
edge of the riparian zone. During this same period <strong>and</strong> since (from the 1930s<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 9
onward), there has been a general increase in the obligate riparian vegetation<br />
in this reach of the river, attributed to agricultural ab<strong>and</strong>onment immediately<br />
adjacent to the river; periodic flooding that helped in the germination of<br />
cottonwood, specifically; <strong>and</strong>, later, the existence of effluent water flow<br />
following the development of the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment<br />
Plant (Webb et al. 2007; Powell et al. 2005).<br />
Beginning in the late 1970s, the agricultural fields surrounding Tumacácori<br />
began to be ab<strong>and</strong>oned. In aerial photographs from 1975, fields <strong>and</strong> historic<br />
acequias (irrigation canals) are still clearly visible. However, aerial photographs<br />
dating from 1980 <strong>and</strong> 1983 clearly show these fields beginning to undergo<br />
type conversion to sparse shrubl<strong>and</strong>, indicating their ab<strong>and</strong>onment sometime<br />
previous to then. In aerial photographs taken in 1992, 1996, 2003, <strong>and</strong> 2004,<br />
the growth of trees <strong>and</strong> shrubs in these former fields is evident. Local cattle<br />
ranching has probably had an uninterrupted history since Spanish colonization,<br />
<strong>and</strong> continues today. Despite the park’s efforts to maintain boundary fencing,<br />
trespass cattle are a recurring problem.<br />
Cattle ranching also continues around both the park’s Guevavi <strong>and</strong> Calabazas<br />
units. Guevavi was, in fact, part of a ranch until 1990, when its owner donated<br />
the l<strong>and</strong> to the Archaeological Conservancy. Guevavi had small subsistence<br />
agricultural fields during the period of mission occupation, but none of the<br />
extensive fields that surrounded the main unit in the twentieth century.<br />
Calabazas was similar in this respect, although there are indications that it<br />
was used in the early 1800s as a farm for the mission at Tumacácori (www.nps.<br />
gov/tuma). Neither Guevavi nor Calabazas has the same density of riparianobligate<br />
species as is found at the main unit, although the existence of many<br />
deceased large cottonwoods is believed to be partly a consequence of local<br />
groundwater development for Nogales, Arizona (in the case of Guevavi), <strong>and</strong><br />
Rio Rico (in the case of Calabazas) (Webb et al. 2007).<br />
Works Cited<br />
Lamb, Susan <strong>and</strong> S<strong>and</strong>ra Scott. 1993. Tumacácori <strong>National</strong> Historical <strong>Park</strong>.<br />
Southwest <strong>Park</strong>s <strong>and</strong> Monuments Association, Tucson, AZ.<br />
Logan, Michael. 2002. The Lessening Stream. University of Arizona Press,<br />
Tucson, AZ.<br />
Powell, B. F, E. W. Albrecht, W. L. Halvorson, C. A. Schmidt, P. Anning, <strong>and</strong><br />
K. Docherty. 2005. Vascular Plant <strong>and</strong> Vertebrate <strong>Inventory</strong> of<br />
Tumacácori <strong>National</strong> Historic <strong>Park</strong>. USGS OFR 2005-1142. U.S.<br />
Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Sonoran<br />
Desert Research Station, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.<br />
Robinett, Dan. 1990. Tohono O’odham Range History. Rangel<strong>and</strong>s 12(6):<br />
296–300.<br />
Spicer, Edward. 1962. Cycles of Conquest. University of Arizona Press,<br />
Tucson, AZ.<br />
Webb, Robert H., Stanley A. Leake, <strong>and</strong> Raymond M. Turner. 2007. The<br />
Ribbon of Green. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ.<br />
10 Educational use only; not for sale
Vegetation Mapping at Tumacácori NHP<br />
In 2007–2008, the Sonoran Desert Network, in cooperation with the Arizona<br />
Remote Sensing Center (University of Arizona, Office of Arid L<strong>and</strong>s Studies),<br />
carried out classification <strong>and</strong> mapping of vegetation at Tumacácori NHP as<br />
part of the national U.S. Geological Survey–<strong>National</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>Service</strong> Vegetation<br />
Characterization <strong>Program</strong>. The primary objective of the program is to produce<br />
high–quality, st<strong>and</strong>ardized maps <strong>and</strong> associated data sets of vegetation <strong>and</strong><br />
other l<strong>and</strong> cover occurring within the national parks (http://science. nature.<br />
nps.gov/im/inventory/veg/index.cfm). In particular, the aim of this project was<br />
to create a vegetation map at the <strong>National</strong> Vegetation Classification alliance<br />
level or finer, with a minimum mapping unit of 0.5 hectares, thematic accuracy<br />
of 80% or better per map class, <strong>and</strong> spatial accuracy meeting U.S. <strong>National</strong><br />
Map Accuracy St<strong>and</strong>ards.<br />
Project scoping, initiated in October 2007, involved the project team <strong>and</strong><br />
Tumacácori NHP staff. Quickbird satellite imagery, acquired in August 2006,<br />
was used for this project, which covered the three subunits of the park plus<br />
a 100–m buffer around each one, for a total area of 238 hectares. Image<br />
preprocessing <strong>and</strong> initial interpretation to the vegetation–formation level were<br />
done at the Arizona Remote Sensing Center. The draft formation–level map<br />
was produced through limited field reconnaissance <strong>and</strong> visual interpretation<br />
of the pan–sharpened imagery <strong>and</strong> heads–up digitizing in ArcGIS to delineate<br />
polygons based on vegetation physiognomy.<br />
Vegetation classification <strong>and</strong> mapping to the alliance level were done<br />
simultaneously, through intensive field work from November 2007 to April<br />
2008. The field team, including the image interpreters, took the formation<br />
map as a starting point <strong>and</strong> verified or modified formation boundaries; split<br />
formation polygons into alliance–<br />
or finer–level, floristically based<br />
polygons; <strong>and</strong> characterized each<br />
alliance type with quantitative<br />
(plot– <strong>and</strong> polygon–based) data<br />
on species composition, relative<br />
cover, <strong>and</strong> other factors. Because<br />
Tumacácori is a small park, a<br />
census of the entire park was done<br />
in this way. Nineteen vegetation<br />
types were identified <strong>and</strong> mapped.<br />
Thematic accuracy was assessed<br />
by the park’s resources manager/<br />
archeologist (“the assessor”)<br />
after a thorough briefing on the<br />
methods used for classification<br />
<strong>and</strong> mapping, as well as on the map<br />
classes. The assessor was provided<br />
with tools similar to those used<br />
by the mappers, including a GPS–<br />
11<br />
VegMap & Community Types
VegMap & Community Types<br />
linked h<strong>and</strong>held computer loaded<br />
with draft map polygon boundaries,<br />
<strong>and</strong> printed map sections with<br />
each polygon labeled with a<br />
simple identification number. The<br />
assessor completed a census of<br />
every mapped polygon, walking<br />
through each one to evaluate the<br />
lifeform <strong>and</strong> canopy cover of the<br />
dominant species, <strong>and</strong> choosing<br />
the best–fitting map class name for<br />
the polygon. Initial accuracy was<br />
90.2%, with four classes below<br />
80%. Because of the small area<br />
of the park <strong>and</strong> the small number<br />
of polygons, each discrepancy<br />
between the accuracy assessment<br />
data <strong>and</strong> the map data was<br />
investigated <strong>and</strong> resolved, resulting<br />
in 100% thematic accuracy. Spatial<br />
accuracy was assessed against 2006<br />
digital orthophoto quarter quadrangle imagery, using 20 test points for each<br />
of the park’s three units. The maximum absolute error measured was less than<br />
2 m ground distance, <strong>and</strong> maximum root mean square error was 1.03 m, well<br />
within the limits of the <strong>National</strong> Map Accuracy St<strong>and</strong>ards.<br />
While the main products of this project are the vegetation classification<br />
<strong>and</strong> the vegetation map database, a number of ancillary digital geographic<br />
information system <strong>and</strong> database products were also produced that can be<br />
used independently or to augment the main products.<br />
This field guide is designed as a companion product to the vegetation mapping<br />
project. It is designed as both an introduction to the floristic research that<br />
accompanied the vegetation mapping effort <strong>and</strong> as an introduction to the<br />
ecological community data that were collected <strong>and</strong> analyzed in the course<br />
of creating the vegetation map. For further information about the SODN<br />
vegetation mapping effort <strong>and</strong> a copy of any of our vegetation mapping reports,<br />
please visit http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sodn/vegmapping.cfm .<br />
12
Toward Tumacácori NHP Community Types<br />
A primer<br />
The area of Tumacácori <strong>National</strong> Historical <strong>Park</strong> lies in the Arizona Upl<strong>and</strong><br />
division of the Sonoran Desert as designated by Brown <strong>and</strong> others (1979) <strong>and</strong><br />
previously by Shreve <strong>and</strong> Wiggins (1964). Alternatively, this area is also known<br />
as part of the Apache Highl<strong>and</strong>s Ecoregion, as developed by The Nature<br />
Conservancy (Marshall et al. 2004). The vegetation is composed primarily<br />
of cottonwood–willow (Populus fremontii–Salix gooddingii) riparian forest<br />
<strong>and</strong> woodl<strong>and</strong> along the Santa Cruz River channel, velvet mesquite (Prosopis<br />
velutina) forest (bosque) <strong>and</strong> woodl<strong>and</strong> on low terraces flanking the river, with<br />
a gradation to semi–desert grassl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> desertscrub on the upl<strong>and</strong>s away<br />
from the river. Within the dominant forest <strong>and</strong> woodl<strong>and</strong> communities, netleaf<br />
hackberry (Celtis reticulata) <strong>and</strong> elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. caerulea)<br />
are common constituents, <strong>and</strong> are in some places the dominant woody<br />
species along the upl<strong>and</strong> edges where woodl<strong>and</strong>s give way to savannas. Other<br />
associated species include acacias (the old Acacia greggii, Acacia constricta,<br />
these now Senegalia greggii <strong>and</strong> Vachiella constricta), wolfberry (Lycium spp.),<br />
lotebush (Ziziphus obtusifolia), <strong>and</strong> desert broom (Baccharis sarothroides).<br />
Different communities across the three park units exhibit different densities<br />
<strong>and</strong> species composition, depending not only on their site characteristics<br />
relative to the river, but also on their specific l<strong>and</strong>–use histories. Although<br />
there are significant grass communities scattered throughout the park,<br />
ranging from mixed grama grass communities (Bouteloua spp.) to limited<br />
dominance by big sacaton (Sporobolus wrightii), there is a notable dominance<br />
by disturbance–tolerant species, such as carelessweed (Amaranthus palmeri)<br />
<strong>and</strong> Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon). Bermudagrass, in particular, defines<br />
the contemporary str<strong>and</strong> vegetation community throughout the three units.<br />
There is also a notably large amount of Russian thistle (Salsola kali) throughout<br />
the park, possibly a lingering consequence of agricultural development around<br />
the park units, cover, <strong>and</strong> other factors. Because Tumacácori is a small park, a<br />
census of the entire park was done in this way. Nineteen vegetation types were<br />
identified <strong>and</strong> mapped.<br />
13<br />
VegMap & Community Types
VegMap & Community Types<br />
This is the most consistent type at Tumacácori, following both sides of the<br />
Santa Cruz River for its length through the Mission unit of the park. Fremont<br />
cottonwood (Populus fremontii) is the dominant tree species of the type, while<br />
Goodding’s willow (Salix gooddingii) is a subdominant, characteristic species<br />
found in clumps, often as a secondary canopy of 6–8 m height. The canopy of<br />
Fremont cottonwood averages 10–20 m high throughout the type <strong>and</strong> is generally<br />
open beneath, except for areas of thick tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima) along<br />
the river channel that are interspersed throughout the park. Mulefat (Baccharis<br />
salicifolia) is widely dispersed <strong>and</strong> is not consistent in its distribution. Overall,<br />
woody species distribution in this community is a patchy mosaic, apart from<br />
the consistent Fremont cottonwood <strong>and</strong> Goodding’s willow, with a mixture of<br />
mesquite, netleaf hackberry, <strong>and</strong> elderberry trees <strong>and</strong> shrubs. Other associates<br />
are desert broom <strong>and</strong> chuparosa (Anisacanthus thurberi). The herbaceous<br />
layer is a mosaic as well, but with Bermudagrass present consistently along the<br />
river channel, especially in areas that are flooded regularly. In areas where river<br />
debris is significant, there is little herbaceous growth, outside of a dominance of<br />
poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) in <strong>and</strong> around debris piles where soil has<br />
been exposed. In other areas, especially those away from persistent river flows,<br />
carelessweed <strong>and</strong> feather fingergrass (Chloris virgata) are generally dominant.<br />
Throughout the type there is a diversity of annual <strong>and</strong> perennial herbaceous<br />
plants, but they are sparse <strong>and</strong> widely dispersed<br />
14<br />
Populus fremontii<br />
temporarily flooded forest alliance
forest alliance<br />
Prosopis velutina<br />
This alliance is prevalent at Tumacácori, usually occupying alluvial terraces<br />
along the outermost edges of the Santa Cruz River floodplain, outside the b<strong>and</strong><br />
of cottonwood–willow forest along the channel, in areas that are relatively moist<br />
but rarely inundated. It sometimes occurs in narrow b<strong>and</strong>s along the base of cliffs<br />
<strong>and</strong> embankments bordering the floodplain, as well as at the mouths of tributary<br />
drainages as they enter the floodplain. These areas receive concentrated rainfall<br />
runoff <strong>and</strong> a steady supply of fresh alluvium from adjacent upl<strong>and</strong>s, resulting<br />
in relatively deep soils <strong>and</strong> higher moisture availability without the disturbance<br />
associated with frequent flood events. Soils are s<strong>and</strong>y or s<strong>and</strong>y loam, often<br />
contain significant gravel, <strong>and</strong> have at least a thin but nearly continuous litter<br />
layer. The alliance contains several recognizable associations with different<br />
subdominant species, different structure <strong>and</strong> cover, <strong>and</strong> with mesquite st<strong>and</strong>s of<br />
apparently different ages. It may occur on former agricultural fields, appearing<br />
as even–aged st<strong>and</strong>s of nearly uniform velvet mesquite averaging 3–6 m in<br />
height, with individuals closely spaced <strong>and</strong> forming an interlocking canopy, with<br />
relatively little understory. Or it may be composed of older, larger mesquite with<br />
netleaf hackberry, elderberry, <strong>and</strong> occasional Goodding’s willow interspersed,<br />
with a significant shrub understory of sapling trees, catclaw acacia (Senegalia<br />
greggii), mule’s fat, lotebush, wolfberry (Lycium <strong>and</strong>ersonii), <strong>and</strong> chuparosa.<br />
In addition, there may be a diverse herbaceous layer of annual <strong>and</strong> perennial<br />
grasses <strong>and</strong> forbs, <strong>and</strong> ground–to–crown vines, such as Santa Rita Mountain<br />
bean (Phaseolus ritensis), Drummond’s clematis (Clematis drummondii), <strong>and</strong><br />
morning glory (Ipomoea sp.). Big sacaton or Bermudagrass may dominate the<br />
herbaceous layer in places.<br />
15<br />
VegMap & Community Types
VegMap & Community Types<br />
At Tumacácori, this alliance is found primarily on shallow slopes that run along<br />
old agricultural fencelines. This dense forest is comprised of netleaf hackberry<br />
<strong>and</strong> velvet mesquite that range in height from 8 to 12 m in the uppermost<br />
canopy, with considerable numbers of elderberry or catclaw acacia growing up<br />
underneath to a height of 4–8 m. The largest netleaf hackberry specimens are<br />
found immediately along the fencelines, which in isolated instances still receive<br />
runoff from actively cultivated agricultural l<strong>and</strong>. This type is notable because<br />
of the multi–layered structure <strong>and</strong> density of the forest, from the interlocking<br />
top canopy to the dense subcanopy. In the subcanopy, there is significant<br />
recruitment of netleaf hackberry, mesquite, <strong>and</strong> elderberry, with some catclaw<br />
acacia <strong>and</strong> occasional lotebush <strong>and</strong> wolfberry shrubs. The herbaceous layer<br />
is notably sparse in areas beneath the denser canopies, where there is also<br />
considerable downed woody debris, but in openings there is a higher diversity<br />
of both forbs <strong>and</strong> occasional grasses. In isolated sections of this type there are<br />
Bermudagrass patches, often along foot trails.<br />
16<br />
Celtis reticulata<br />
forest alliance
woodl<strong>and</strong> alliance<br />
Populus fremontii – Salix gooddingii<br />
This type is similar in composition to the cottonwood–willow riparian forest<br />
type that spans the park, but has lower plant density <strong>and</strong> cover. The type is<br />
located in the river floodplain, between an ephemeral channel on the west <strong>and</strong><br />
savanna types surrounding it on the south, north, <strong>and</strong> east. It is dominated by<br />
Fremont cottonwood, with a patchy canopy <strong>and</strong> the inclusion of Goodding’s<br />
willow in specific areas. Mulefat is generally the dominant shrub. The entire<br />
type is on a slightly elevated s<strong>and</strong>y–silty isl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> has considerable downed<br />
woody debris piled up throughout. Beneath the Fremont cottonwood canopy<br />
the understory is relatively open <strong>and</strong> has more herbaceous plants than shrubs,<br />
dominated by curly–mesquite (Hilaria belangeri), Bermudagrass, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
annual feather fingergrass. The annual forb fewflower beggarticks (Bidens<br />
leptocephala) is characteristically found in dense concentrations in the shade.<br />
Shrubs are often distinctly clumped <strong>and</strong> diverse, ranging from singlewhorl<br />
burrobrush (Artemisia monogyra), mule’s fat, <strong>and</strong> threadleaf ragwort (Senecio<br />
flaccidus) to specimens of cane cholla (Cylindropuntia spinosior). Carelessweed<br />
<strong>and</strong> Russian thistle are present throughout the type, but not in the same density<br />
as they are found in neighboring wooded–herbaceous or shrub–herbaceous<br />
types.<br />
17<br />
VegMap & Community Types
VegMap & Community Types<br />
This woodl<strong>and</strong> alliance generally occurs further away from the river channel<br />
than the forest alliances, in more xeric sites. Plant canopy cover varies, up to<br />
about 50%, with significant open or nearly open patches possibly present.<br />
Velvet mesquite is usually clearly dominant in both height <strong>and</strong> canopy cover,<br />
but in places catclaw acacia, commonly the second–dominant species, is a close<br />
rival. Within this type, catclaw acacia (<strong>and</strong>, to a lesser extent, velvet mesquite)<br />
can be found as a tree lifeform, a shrub lifeform, or anything in between. The<br />
mesquite–dominated upper canopy averages 6–8 m in height, ranging to 10<br />
m. In addition to catclaw acacia, occasional elderberry <strong>and</strong> netleaf hackberry<br />
individuals may also reach this height, <strong>and</strong> in one patch of this type, a few<br />
Fremont cottonwood <strong>and</strong> Goodding’s willow exceed it. In the subcanopy,<br />
mesquite <strong>and</strong> acacia still dominate (as caespitose shrubs to sapling trees),<br />
with common associates being netleaf hackberry <strong>and</strong> elderberry saplings,<br />
lotebush shrubs, catclaw mimosa (Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera),<br />
desert broom, mule’s fat, chuparosa, singlewhorl burrobrush, wolfberry, <strong>and</strong><br />
Warnock’s snakewood (Condalia warnockii). The herbaceous layer is almost<br />
everywhere dominated by carelessweed, <strong>and</strong> occasionally by Bermudagrass.<br />
Important associates are sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), Russian<br />
thistle, lambsquarters (Chenopodium spp.), fewflower beggarticks, <strong>and</strong> feather<br />
fingergrass, but a variety of other grasses <strong>and</strong> forbs may occur.<br />
18<br />
Prosopis velutina<br />
woodl<strong>and</strong> alliance
woodl<strong>and</strong> alliance<br />
Senegalia greggii<br />
This type is dominated by catclaw acacia (was Acacia greggii, now Senegalia<br />
greggii) <strong>and</strong> velvet mesquite trees 6–8 m tall, <strong>and</strong> shorter catclaw acacia <strong>and</strong><br />
lotebush shrubs. Associated shrub species, such as Warnock’s snakewood,<br />
desert broom, wolfberry, singlewhorl burrobrush, <strong>and</strong> chuparosa, are scattered<br />
across the type. Most of the trees <strong>and</strong> shrubs in this alliance have such thick,<br />
dense canopies that herbaceous plants are largely confined to the interspaces<br />
between overstory canopies. The herbaceous layer is dominated by the annual<br />
forbs carelessweed <strong>and</strong> fewflower beggarticks, with a variety of other forbs <strong>and</strong><br />
grasses possibly present <strong>and</strong> generally sparse.<br />
Please note the name Acacia greggii, which is the former name of this particular<br />
species of acacia. Recent developments in systematics conserve the Acacia<br />
genera for only Australian species, those on our continent have variously gone<br />
into the genera Senegalia (as here), Vachellia, <strong>and</strong> Acaciella.<br />
19<br />
VegMap & Community Types
VegMap & Community Types<br />
This alliance covers the largest area at the Calabazas unit, including the<br />
portion surrounding the ruins. Although primarily found on gently sloped<br />
upl<strong>and</strong>, this type also extends down steeper, relatively xeric slopes south<br />
<strong>and</strong> west of the ruins. These areas have very thin s<strong>and</strong>y or gravelly soils with<br />
minimal litter, except on toe slopes. Larger rocks or bedrock outcrops are<br />
usually visible. There is one st<strong>and</strong> of this type at the Mission unit adjacent<br />
to ab<strong>and</strong>oned agricultural l<strong>and</strong>, on deeper, loamier soil. This alliance is<br />
characterized by an open canopy of velvet mesquite shrubs, mostly 2–4 m tall<br />
but with many larger, tree–lifeform individuals up to 7.5 m. These mesquite<br />
<strong>and</strong> other trees present make up >10% cover. Catclaw acacia is common,<br />
usually but not always less abundant, in the shrub layer, also averaging 2–4 m<br />
tall. Density of the shrub layer is variable. In more xeric areas, desert broom<br />
may have significant cover <strong>and</strong> catclaw acacia may be absent or nearly so.<br />
Whitethorn acacia (was Acacia constricta, now Vachellia constricta) <strong>and</strong><br />
catclaw mimosa are generally present. Other woody associates vary by<br />
topographic position: a few individuals of redberry juniper (Juniperus<br />
coahuilensis), Warnock’s snakewood, <strong>and</strong> cane cholla are present on the<br />
hilltop flats <strong>and</strong> adjacent upper slopes, while lotebush, netleaf hackberry,<br />
chuparosa, <strong>and</strong> wolfberry may be found on more mesic middle– <strong>and</strong> toe<br />
slopes. Most of the larger velvet mesquite are also found in these more<br />
mesic areas. Carelessweed <strong>and</strong> fewflower beggarticks, which may be dense<br />
in localized patches, are the only abundant forbs in an otherwise grass–<br />
dominated (sideoats grama, big sacaton, feather fingergrass, bush muhly<br />
[Muhlenbergia porteri]) herbaceous layer.<br />
20<br />
Prosopis velutina / [Prosopis velutina – Senegalia greggii]<br />
wooded shrubl<strong>and</strong> alliance
shrubl<strong>and</strong> alliance<br />
Prosopis velutina – Senegalia greggii<br />
This association is found primarily on mesa–tops <strong>and</strong> along the crest of<br />
hillslopes at the Guevavi unit. It is dominated by moderate–sized velvet mesquite<br />
shrubs 1–3.5 m tall, with catclaw acacia shrubs common on the hillslopes. In<br />
areas with greater than 5% slope, the species commingle. The slopes have a<br />
higher percentage of sideoats grama in the herbaceous layer compared to the<br />
flats of the mesa–tops, where there is far more of the annual forb carelessweed<br />
<strong>and</strong> needle grama (Bouteloua aristidoides) in addition to other mixed grama<br />
species (likely including Rothrock’s grama [B. rothrockii] <strong>and</strong> sixweeks grama<br />
[B. barbata]), which were not reliably identifiable due to seasonal dormancy.<br />
Other woody species associated with this type include whitethorn acacia,<br />
cane cholla, cactus apple (Opuntia englemanii), desert broom, <strong>and</strong> c<strong>and</strong>y<br />
barrelcactus (Ferocactus wislizeni), although there are rarely more than a few<br />
individuals of these species present. This type includes the adobe ruins at the<br />
center of the Guevavi unit (including the entrance trail, an interpretive ramada,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the church ruins), which accounts for some disturbance. There also appear<br />
to be other subsurface modifications that may account for distributional<br />
differences among some species in the areas immediately adjacent to the ruins,<br />
including the presence of big sacaton. The exotic invasive Lehmann lovegrass<br />
(Eragrostis lehmanniana) <strong>and</strong> threeawn (Aristida spp.) may also be significant<br />
in the understory. The indication is that the mesa–top is more mesic than the<br />
slopes, as well as having more s<strong>and</strong>y soils in areas, while the slopes are rockier.<br />
21<br />
VegMap & Community Types
VegMap & Community Types<br />
This alliance is found on steeper, well–drained slopes in the eastern<br />
portion of the Calabazas unit. These sites have thin, gravelly soils, often<br />
with exposed bedrock. Prevailing winds appear to seriously reduce<br />
retention of moisture, topsoil, <strong>and</strong> litter. Whitethorn acacia, catclaw<br />
acacia, <strong>and</strong> velvet mesquite shrubs are all usually present, average 1.5–2.5<br />
m tall, <strong>and</strong> compose a moderately open shrubl<strong>and</strong>, but may form dense<br />
thickets. Some velvet mesquite may attain tree size, especially where slopes<br />
are not as steep. Whitethorn acacia is dominant overall, but in patches<br />
either catclaw acacia or velvet mesquite may be the dominant species. The<br />
understory is notable for its diversity, usually composed of a mixture of<br />
native bunchgrasses, such as sideoats grama, bush muhly, purple threeawn<br />
(Aristida purpurea), <strong>and</strong> foxtail (Setaria spp.). Several other species rare<br />
in the Calabazas site are found in limited numbers in this type, including<br />
desert ceanothus (Ceanothus greggii) , catclaw mimosa, c<strong>and</strong>y barrelcactus,<br />
soaptree yucca (Yucca elata), hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus spp.), <strong>and</strong><br />
cane cholla. This type maintains a high percentage of native species <strong>and</strong><br />
relatively low levels of human <strong>and</strong> livestock disturbance due to its rugged<br />
topographic position, thorny shrub cover, <strong>and</strong> protection within <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Park</strong> <strong>Service</strong> fencelines.<br />
22<br />
Vachiellia constricta<br />
shrubl<strong>and</strong> alliance
wooded herbaceous alliance<br />
Populus fremontii / mixed annual<br />
This type occupies portions of the floodplain at the Mission unit <strong>and</strong> at<br />
Guevavi. Fremont cottonwood is found singly or in small to large patches<br />
throughout the type, often with Goodding’s willow <strong>and</strong> clumps of tamarisk<br />
in some places. Elderberry <strong>and</strong>/or velvet mesquite may be found in this type.<br />
Large Fremont cottonwood may reach 16–18 m, willow somewhat less, <strong>and</strong><br />
mesquite usually 3–6 m. Shrubs are generally sparse. Associated species<br />
include singlewhorl burrobrush, velvet mesquite, mule’s fat, catclaw acacia,<br />
desert broom, <strong>and</strong> threadleaf ragwort. The herbaceous layer is dominated by<br />
carelessweed, with significant patches of Russian thistle <strong>and</strong> lambsquarters<br />
widely dispersed throughout the type. Annual grasses are also commonly<br />
present, including feather fingergrass, purple threeawn, <strong>and</strong> needle grama,<br />
frequently in conjunction with s<strong>and</strong>ier, sloped areas, indicating slightly more<br />
xeric conditions. The topography of this type is undulating, with 1–3 m relief<br />
<strong>and</strong> braided flood channels or swales dominated by herbaceous vegetation<br />
<strong>and</strong> occasional shrubs (mule’s fat, desert broom, singlewhorl burrobrush), <strong>and</strong><br />
s<strong>and</strong>bars dominated by trees. Associated herbaceous species include scarlet<br />
spiderling (Boerhavia coccinea), creeping spiderling (Boerhavia spicata),<br />
Bermudagrass, morning glory, Arizona sunflowerweed (Tithonia thurberi),<br />
s<strong>and</strong> dropseed (Sporobolus crypt<strong>and</strong>rus), sideoats grama, <strong>and</strong> Lehmann<br />
lovegrass.<br />
23<br />
VegMap & Community Types
VegMap & Community Types<br />
This type is often found in wide, shallow drainages between mesa–top<br />
shrubl<strong>and</strong>s or on long, narrow alluvial terraces above the river’s floodplain.<br />
Where a single herbaceous species dominates, it is usually carelessweed,<br />
though there are areas dominated by Bermudagrass (found in most of the<br />
open areas of the type) or big sacaton. In addition, there are significant areas<br />
without a single dominant species, with the herbaceous layer comprising a<br />
diverse mosaic of annual <strong>and</strong> perennial plants, including some combination<br />
of the aforementioned species <strong>and</strong> purple threeawn, feather fingergrass,<br />
curly–mesquite, s<strong>and</strong> dropseed, spike dropseed (Sporobolus contractus), cane<br />
beardstem (Bothriochloa barbinodis), <strong>and</strong> spidergrass (Aristida ternipes).<br />
The overstory usually has 5–25% cover of velvet mesquite trees, sometimes<br />
clumped, usually interspersed with elderberry, netleaf hackberry, catclaw<br />
acacia, <strong>and</strong> Fremont cottonwood. Velvet mesquite <strong>and</strong> catclaw acacia can<br />
appear as both trees <strong>and</strong> shrubs. Other associated shrubs include lotebush <strong>and</strong><br />
singlewhorl burrobrush. Average height of the overstory is commonly 3–6 m,<br />
with some larger individuals possibly present. Fremont cottonwood specimens<br />
can reach 14 m. In areas within this type, elderberry may be the dominant<br />
tree, or nearly so. This variant of the type is likely to be dominated in absolute<br />
terms by weedy (often non–native) annual forbs, such as carelessweed, Russian<br />
thistle, lambsquarters, sunflower (Helianthus annuus), <strong>and</strong> feather fingergrass.<br />
Closer to the active channel, Bermudagrass <strong>and</strong> rough cocklebur (Xanthium<br />
strumarium) may also be abundant. Shrub <strong>and</strong> tree cover are sparse. There is<br />
often abundant evidence of cattle grazing <strong>and</strong> trampling, which combines with<br />
flood events to chronically disturb the topsoil <strong>and</strong> maintain the dominance of<br />
the invasive forbs.<br />
24<br />
Prosopis velutina / mixed annual<br />
wooded herbaceous alliance
shrub herbaceous alliance<br />
Prosopis velutina / Amaranthus palmeri<br />
This type is found at both the Mission unit <strong>and</strong> at Guevavi. At Guevavi, the<br />
area is an alluvial terrace in the floodplain beside the Santa Cruz River, where<br />
it is notable because of the significant amount of dead <strong>and</strong> downed wood that<br />
litters this portion of the river channel, as well as the numerous large Fremont<br />
cottonwood snags, some as tall as 14 m. In addition to the velvet mesquite<br />
shrubs, there are a number of trees in this area, including velvet mesquite,<br />
netleaf hackberry, elderberry, <strong>and</strong> Fremont cottonwood, but they are often<br />
solitary individuals with numerous shrubs of these species interspersed<br />
between, predominantly found in small clumps along the upper ridges of<br />
the s<strong>and</strong>bars. Netleaf hackberry appears to be using the dead <strong>and</strong> down<br />
cottonwood as a nurse/mulch. The type overall is dominated by carelessweed,<br />
with other tall annuals <strong>and</strong> big sacaton interspersed throughout. One location<br />
at the Mission unit supporting this type is an ab<strong>and</strong>oned agricultural field.<br />
According to information provided by the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>Service</strong>, this field has<br />
not been mowed or cultivated in the last 3–4 years. As a result, the dominance<br />
of carelessweed is apparently giving way to a mixture of annual <strong>and</strong> perennial<br />
grasses: Bermudagrass, needle grama, s<strong>and</strong> dropseed, sideoats grama,<br />
curly–mesquite, purple threeawn, <strong>and</strong> spidergrass. Scattered throughout are<br />
numerous small velvet mesquite <strong>and</strong> desert broom shrubs, ranging from 0.5 m–<br />
1.5 m tall. The absence of disturbance <strong>and</strong> grazing has apparently allowed the<br />
widespread growth of woody species, still small <strong>and</strong> shrubby. Carelessweed,<br />
present throughout the area, constituted a plurality of roughly 30% of the total<br />
cover here.<br />
25<br />
VegMap & Community Types
VegMap & Community Types<br />
This alliance is generally found in the 100–year floodplain adjacent to the west<br />
side of the Santa Cruz River at Tumacácori. It consists of s<strong>and</strong>y to silty soils<br />
with a diversity of annual <strong>and</strong> perennial herbaceous species, though these<br />
are widely dispersed across a large area <strong>and</strong> do not account for much cover.<br />
The herbaceous layer is dominated by carelessweed <strong>and</strong> feather fingergrass.<br />
Singlewhorl burrobrush is the dominant shrub throughout the type, appearing<br />
to have grown up within the last five years, as indicated by repeat photographs<br />
from an earlier inventory. Singlewhorl burrobrush shrubs range from 2 to 4 m<br />
in height, <strong>and</strong> are generally clumped together, leaving large, more open areas in<br />
between. Associated shrubs interspersed throughout the type include mule’s<br />
fat, desert broom, velvet mesquite, <strong>and</strong> threadleaf ragwort. Some trees may be<br />
present, commonly Fremont cottonwood or elderberry, but making up less<br />
than 10% cover.<br />
26<br />
Hymenoclea monogyra / [Amaranthus palmeri – Chloris virgata]<br />
shrub herbaceous alliance
herbaceous alliance<br />
[Amaranthus palmeri – Salsola kali – Chenopodium sp.]<br />
This annual forb–dominated community is found on s<strong>and</strong>y soils adjacent to<br />
the Santa Cruz River at all three units. Use of brackets in the type name indicates<br />
that these species should be considered co–dominant overall, <strong>and</strong> their<br />
relative abundance may differ spatially within the type. There are areas of<br />
fairly homogeneous distribution of both carelessweed <strong>and</strong> Russian thistle as<br />
co–dominants (with or without some lambsquarters species), <strong>and</strong> areas where<br />
one of the three species is clearly the single dominant, with more or less of<br />
the others possibly present. This alliance is apparently highly dependent on<br />
seasonal precipitation for its local abundance <strong>and</strong> perhaps composition, which<br />
may vary significantly from year to year. The type is made up almost entirely of<br />
non–native vegetation. The bulk of associated species grow beneath the upper<br />
layer of tall forbs. Grasses, both annual <strong>and</strong> perennial, grow sparsely in patches<br />
in this community: feather fingergrass, needle grama, s<strong>and</strong> dropseed, big sacaton,<br />
spidergrass, <strong>and</strong> curly–mesquite. The forb fewflower beggarticks may be<br />
prominent in patches. Along the edges of the herbaceous type, sparse low<br />
shrubs are often found, including mule’s fat, singlewhorl burrobrush, <strong>and</strong> velvet<br />
mesquite, <strong>and</strong> occasionally trees, such as Fremont cottonwood, elderberry,<br />
or Goodding’s willow. Climbing vines, such as morning glory, may be found in<br />
this type growing up from the ground around the taller annual forb vegetation.<br />
27<br />
VegMap & Community Types
VegMap & Community Types<br />
Mostly bare s<strong>and</strong> in the Santa Cruz River’s active channel. Some forbs may be<br />
present in areas colonized since the last flood event. Seedlings or saplings of<br />
Fremont cottonwood <strong>and</strong> Goodding’s willow may also be present. The position<br />
of str<strong>and</strong> beaches tends to shift with flood events in the fluvial system. These<br />
beaches are often covered in Bermudagrass as a consequence of periodic flood<br />
events.<br />
28<br />
Inl<strong>and</strong> Str<strong>and</strong> beach<br />
sparsely vegetated alliance
temporarily flooded shrubl<strong>and</strong> alliance<br />
Tamarix sp.<br />
This alliance is found along the northern boundary of the Mission unit, with<br />
the bulk of the st<strong>and</strong> found in the study–area buffer outside the park boundary.<br />
The topography of the area is notable because of two elevated s<strong>and</strong> bars with<br />
north–south channels running between them. On top of the s<strong>and</strong> bars are<br />
dense st<strong>and</strong>s of 2–3–m tall tamarisk shrubs with small annual forbs scattered<br />
in openings where there is less litter cover. Along the margins of the dense<br />
tamarisk patches are found occasional Fremont cottonwood, infrequent<br />
mule’s fat <strong>and</strong> desert–broom recruits, moderate growth of carelessweed, <strong>and</strong><br />
often feather fingergrass, with less common Bermudagrass <strong>and</strong> s<strong>and</strong> dropseed<br />
patches. This type may radically change inside the park boundary because of<br />
a tamarisk–eradication project conducted by <strong>NPS</strong> in the spring of 2008. The<br />
portion inside the park boundary would be herbaceous–dominated without<br />
the tamarisk.<br />
29<br />
VegMap & Community Types
VegMap & Community Types<br />
30
How to use this guide<br />
This guide is designed as a comprehensive companion volume to the vegetation<br />
mapping inventory for Tumacácori <strong>National</strong> Historical <strong>Park</strong>. More generally,<br />
it is an entry point to underst<strong>and</strong>ing basic plant systematics, the science that<br />
underlies the description, organization, <strong>and</strong> interpretation of plant diversity.<br />
Prior knowledge is neither required nor expected. The guide is divided into<br />
five general categories based on broad categories of plant lifeforms: ferns,<br />
graminoids, flowering trees <strong>and</strong> shrubs, cacti, <strong>and</strong> forbs. An explanation of<br />
each category appears on the first page of each section.<br />
Within these lifeform categories, the plants are arranged alphabetically, first by<br />
plant family <strong>and</strong> second by genera <strong>and</strong> species. This frontispiece contains a few<br />
basic floral diagrams for flowers <strong>and</strong> grasses, along with some common leaf<br />
shapes, flowers, <strong>and</strong> inflorescence types. A glossary is also provided to aid in<br />
defining technical terms. The index includes the common <strong>and</strong> scientific names<br />
of all plants in this guide.<br />
This field guide is not an effort to rewrite plant descriptions, but instead<br />
attempts to st<strong>and</strong>ardize descriptions in a way that facilitates field identification.<br />
It combines descriptions from floras, field guides, monographs, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
current scientific literature in an edited, st<strong>and</strong>ardized format. This work is<br />
intended to serve as an opening for an exp<strong>and</strong>ed awareness of the unique<br />
floristic biodiversity that the national parks conserve <strong>and</strong> preserve for future<br />
generations. There are thous<strong>and</strong>s more plants in the ten other <strong>National</strong> <strong>Park</strong><br />
units in the Sonoran Desert Network. We hope this work inspires its users<br />
to visit all these amazing parks <strong>and</strong> come to appreciate the vital work of the<br />
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>Service</strong> in preserving these l<strong>and</strong>scapes for the future.<br />
31<br />
Notes
Notes<br />
32<br />
The basis of plant systematics<br />
The science of plant systematics organizes plants according to their evolutionary<br />
relationships. In plant systematics, those relationships are characterized by the<br />
unique traits of groups of plants, which are aggregated into what are known as<br />
orders. Immediately below the order is the family, which is the organizational<br />
foundation of this field guide. The order is the largest organizational category<br />
<strong>and</strong> can consist of several to many different families.<br />
The family is a grouping of related plants connected by some or several<br />
specific characteristics. In systematics, some of these characteristics are called<br />
synapomorphies, or character states that developed in the ancestors of the<br />
family <strong>and</strong> can be found in all family members. For example, all plants in the<br />
Mint Family, or Lamiaceae, have opposite leaves, square stems, <strong>and</strong> ethereal<br />
oils that excrete the familiar minty smell.<br />
Below the family level, each species has a Latin genera (or genus) name (e.g.,<br />
Prosopis), followed by what is known as the specific (i.e., species) epithet (e.g.,<br />
velutina). This way of organizing scientific names, known as the binomial<br />
nomenclature system, dates to the 18th century <strong>and</strong> the Swedish naturalist<br />
Carl Linnaeus. Although even generally accepted Latin names sometimes<br />
have recognized alternatives (synonyms) <strong>and</strong>, as such, are subject to a limited<br />
amount of regional variation, the Latin (or scientific) names are far more stable<br />
than common names—which, especially relative to plants, are notoriously<br />
unreliable.<br />
The organization of plants in this guide is based on the Angiosperm Phylogeny<br />
Group III (APG III), which the Sonoran Desert Network staff considers to be<br />
the most recent <strong>and</strong> up-to-date plant systematics research. The Angiosperm<br />
Phylogeny Group III provides guidance for current information about<br />
relationships among plants <strong>and</strong> which genera are found in specific families.<br />
For more information, visit the Angiosperm Phylogeny poster at http://www2.<br />
biologie.fu-berlin.de/sysbot/poster/poster1.pdf. Further information about<br />
plant systematics can also be found in the Works Cited section of this guide.
Note on nomenclature<br />
The science of plant systematics is undergoing considerable change due to<br />
the rise of phylogenetics (the study of plant genetics <strong>and</strong> plant evolutionary<br />
history). As a consequence, name changes from the level of family down to<br />
genera <strong>and</strong> even species are common.<br />
The Flora of the Sonoran Desert Network project utilizes the Missouri<br />
Botanical Garden’s Tropicos system (www.tropicos.org) as the st<strong>and</strong>ard<br />
for plant nomenclature. Tropicos is the preferred st<strong>and</strong>ard for this guide<br />
because it reflects the most recent scholarship in phylogenetic systematics for<br />
nomenclature <strong>and</strong> organization. As noted above, the Flora Project also follows<br />
the APG III. In some instances, specific phylogenetic literature is used to<br />
distinguish a newly recognized or newly re-named species. All scientific names<br />
are italicized as per usage in the literature. Complete citations for the literature<br />
<strong>and</strong> opportunities for further investigation can be found in the works cited<br />
section.<br />
33<br />
Notes
Notes<br />
Recent systematic changes<br />
Botany is undergoing considerable change as a consequence of phylogenetic<br />
study. As mentioned, this guide is organized according to the work of the<br />
Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III. Our treatment of the family structure is<br />
based on this organization because it is comprehensive <strong>and</strong> best supported by<br />
the literature. See the APG III website for continually updated information:<br />
http://www.mobot.org/mobot/research/APWEB/<br />
Outside of this basic structure, the Flora Project relies heavily on the systematic<br />
literature to guide our placement of genera within families <strong>and</strong> even species<br />
within genera. The following is a key to some recent <strong>and</strong> well supported<br />
changes along with their relevant references. For complete references, refer to<br />
the Works Cited page in the back of the guide.<br />
34<br />
Adoxaceae: Absorbed some genera from Caprifoliaceae<br />
Genera: Sambucus<br />
Authority: Eriksson <strong>and</strong> Donoghue 1997<br />
Amaranthaceae: Absorbed all of the Chenopodiaceae<br />
Genera: Atriplex, Bassia, Chenopodium, Dysphania, Kochia,<br />
Krascheninnikovia, Monolepis, Nitrophila, Salsola, Suaeda<br />
Authority: Muller <strong>and</strong> Borsch 2005<br />
Amaryllidaceae: Absorbed all of the Alliaceae <strong>and</strong> some other Liliaceae<br />
Genera affected: Allium, Nothoscordum, Zephyranthes<br />
Authority: Chase et al. 2009<br />
Apocynaceae: Absorbed most of the Asclepidaceae<br />
Genera affected: Asclepias, Funastrum, Sarcostemma<br />
Authority: Endress <strong>and</strong> Stevens 2001<br />
Asparagaceae: Absorbed all the Agavaceae, much from the Liliaceae, <strong>and</strong><br />
genera that at various times were placed in Nolinaceae <strong>and</strong> Ruscaceae<br />
Genera affected: Agave, Yucca, Nolina, Dasylirion,<br />
Dichelostemma, Eche<strong>and</strong>ia, Hesperocallis, Maianthemum, Milla,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Polygonatum.<br />
Authority: Chase et al. 2009<br />
Boraginaceae: Absorbed all of Hydrophyllaceae, but remains inconclusive<br />
Genera affected: Emmenanthe, Eriodictyon, Eucrypta, Nama,<br />
Phacelia, <strong>and</strong> Pholistoma<br />
Authority: Weigend 2010<br />
Cannabaceae: Absorbed some of the Ulmaceae<br />
Genera: Celtis<br />
Authority: Whittemore 2005<br />
Convolvulaceae: Absorbed Cuscutaceae<br />
Genera: Cuscuta<br />
Authority: Stefanovic et al. 2003, Stefanovic et al. 2002,<br />
Neyl<strong>and</strong> 2001
Euphorbiaceae: No big changes or inclusions<br />
Genera affected: All Chamaesyce is Euphorbia<br />
Authority: Steinmann <strong>and</strong> Porter 2002<br />
Fabaceae: Lotus moved to Acmispon, Acacia disintegrated<br />
to Senegalia <strong>and</strong> Vachiella<br />
Authority: Brouillet 2008, Maslin 2003<br />
Malvaceae: Absorbed some of the Sterculiaceae<br />
Genera affected: Ayenia<br />
Authority: Whitlock <strong>and</strong> Hale 2011<br />
Montiaceae: Absorbed some of the former Portulacaceae<br />
Genera affected: Cal<strong>and</strong>rinia, Cistanthe, Claytonia, Phemeranthus<br />
Authority: Nyffler <strong>and</strong> Eggli 2009<br />
Onagraceae: Saw considerable generic reorganization<br />
Genera affected: Camissonia, Camissoniopsis, Chylismia,<br />
Eremothera, <strong>and</strong> Oenothera<br />
Authority: Wagner et al. 2007<br />
Orobanchaceae: Absorbed some of the Scrophulariaceae<br />
Genera: Castilleja, Cordylanthus, Pedicularis<br />
Authority: Olmstead et al. 2001, Oxelman et al. 2005,<br />
Bennett <strong>and</strong> Matthews 2006, Tank et al. 2009<br />
Phrymaceae: Absorbed some of the Scrophulariaceae<br />
Genera: Mimulus<br />
Authority: Beardsley <strong>and</strong> Olmstead 2002, Olmstead et al. 2001,<br />
Oxelman et al. 2005<br />
Plantaginaceae: Absorbed some of the Scrophulariaceae<br />
Genera: Penstemon, Nuttallanthus, Keckiella, Maur<strong>and</strong>ella,<br />
Sairocarpus, Schistophragma, Stemodia, <strong>and</strong> Veronica<br />
Authority: Olmstead et al. 2001, Albach et al. 2005,<br />
Oxelman et al. 2005, Wolfe et al. 2006<br />
Poaceae: Several changes at the generic level<br />
Genera: Cenchrus, Festuca, Muhlenbergia<br />
Authority: Chemisquy et al. 2010, Columbus <strong>and</strong> Smith 2010,<br />
Peterson et al. 2010<br />
Santalaceae: Absorbed some of the Viscaceae<br />
Genera: Phoradendron<br />
Authority: Der <strong>and</strong> Nickrent 2008<br />
Talinaceae: Absorbed some of the old Portulacaceae<br />
Genera: Talinum<br />
Authority: Nyffler <strong>and</strong> Eggli 2009<br />
35<br />
Notes
Notes<br />
36<br />
General flower structure<br />
Basic diagram of a flower with its various parts.<br />
©2001 Spring Lake Publishing, Used with Permission
©2007 Utah State University Press, All Rights Reserved<br />
Grass structures<br />
37<br />
Notes
Notes<br />
38<br />
Flower types<br />
©2001 Spring Lake Publishing, Used with Permission
©2001 Spring Lake Publishing, Used with Permission<br />
Inflorescences<br />
39<br />
Notes
Notes<br />
Leaf margins<br />
40<br />
©2001 Spring Lake Publishing, Used with Permission
©2001 Spring Lake Publishing, Used with Permission<br />
Leaf shapes<br />
41<br />
Notes
Notes<br />
42<br />
Key to non-native species boxes<br />
The high, medium, <strong>and</strong> low coding<br />
identifies the level of risk for impacting<br />
wildl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> natural resources.<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Eragrostis lehmanniana<br />
Lehmann lovegrass<br />
General: Tufted perennial, erect or ascending, sometimes decumbent <strong>and</strong><br />
geniculate at lower nodes, 45–60 cm tall; stems bent at lower nodes. Vegetative:<br />
Sheaths one–third to one–half the length of the internodes, open, glabrous except<br />
for sparse pilose apex of margins; blades involute, about 1 mm wide, 2–10 cm long,<br />
stiffly ascending, sometimes grossly flexuous, 5–15 cm long; ligule ciliate, 0.5–1 mm<br />
long; collar pilose at the margins. Inflorescence: Narrowly oblong to lanceolate,<br />
open, 10–15 cm long, 4–8 cm wide, rachis glabrous to slightly scabrous, branches<br />
ascending to slightly spreading; spikelets slightly compressed, often dark gray–green<br />
to straw colored, several to 12–flowered, rachilla disrticulating; glumes hyaline,<br />
keeled, scarcely compressed, first lanceolate 1–1.2 mm, second ovate–lanceolate<br />
1.4–1.6 mm long; lemmas oblong, obtuse, very little compressed or keeled; caryopsis<br />
ellipsoidal. Ecology: Introduced widely beginning in the 1930s, now widespread<br />
in grassl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> along roadsides from 3,000–4,500 ft (914–1372 m); flowers June–<br />
August. Notes: One of the most charismatic of the<br />
African introductions from earlier in the century,<br />
it was used extensively as an erosion control <strong>and</strong><br />
range revegetation plant, but now it is changing<br />
fire–regimes <strong>and</strong> altering greater areas every<br />
year. Etymology: Eragrostis is from Greek eros,<br />
love <strong>and</strong> agrostis, grass, lehmanniana is named<br />
for German botanist Johann Georg Christian<br />
Lehmann (1792–1860). Synonyms: None<br />
© Michael Schumacher H M L<br />
The shaded<br />
box indicates<br />
that this species<br />
is non-native,<br />
introduced, or an<br />
invasive exotic.<br />
Contact the Sonoran<br />
Institute for a set of field<br />
identification cards for all<br />
invasive non-native plant<br />
species in the region.<br />
http://sonoran.org/
Ferns<br />
Ferns may not be the first plant that comes to mind when you think of the<br />
Sonoran Desert. But there they are, everywhere. In patches of damp shade<br />
beneath overhanging rocks, tracing springs out of vertical faces of rock,<br />
or covering dry slopes in the oak woodl<strong>and</strong>s. Some even prefer the lack of<br />
moisture <strong>and</strong> the full sun. Desert generally evokes images of endless hot plains<br />
<strong>and</strong> emptiness, not steep slopes of palo verde <strong>and</strong> brittlebush or the vibrant<br />
speckled color of spring in wet years. Wet years <strong>and</strong> wet places; apparent<br />
misnomers in the talk of deserts. But wetness abounds, from minor seeps to<br />
creeks to runoff to even the fleeting moisture <strong>and</strong> shade beneath rocks.In all of<br />
these wet places, there are ferns.<br />
Getting to know the ferns is one part getting to know where to find them,<br />
being careful not to disturb the rattlesnake sleeping under a rock. It is one part<br />
knowing to look for the characteristic <strong>and</strong> distinctive pinnate form, to begin<br />
to see in the trim fronds <strong>and</strong> hairs the evolutionary history of plants coming<br />
out of swamps in the Cretaceous <strong>and</strong> eventually into the age of flowering<br />
plants. Ferns are genuinely from a simpler time, when there were not seeds <strong>and</strong><br />
flowers, but only gametophytes <strong>and</strong> spores.<br />
When we talk of ferns we are talking specifically about the roots (no pun<br />
intended) of l<strong>and</strong> plants <strong>and</strong> about vasculature. The l<strong>and</strong> plants all have<br />
vascular tissue; it is what marks their evolutionary emergence from the swamps<br />
<strong>and</strong> it is vascular tissue that distinguishes them from the non-vascular plants,<br />
such as the liverworts, hornworts, <strong>and</strong> true mosses. Vascular plants eventually<br />
developed the simple, spore-based reproductive systems found in ferns, which<br />
would later diversify into the woody plants <strong>and</strong> the seed plants.<br />
What distinguishes ferns from other vascular plants is that they not only have<br />
vascular tissue, but also reproduce by spores <strong>and</strong> were the first plants to evolve<br />
prototypical leaves approximately 400 million years ago. The lycophytes, one<br />
group of early fern relatives were so-named for their lycophylls, one of the<br />
earliest prototype leaf structures. This structure evolved into more specialized<br />
ones <strong>and</strong> eventually into the euphyll structure, an early true leaf whose<br />
single mid-vein <strong>and</strong> branching system of veins represented the evolutionary<br />
separation into an increasing variety of vascular structures.<br />
Ferns include a remarkable diversity of plants. Across the desert southwest<br />
they range from the club-mosses, such as Selaginella, to the diminutive whisk<br />
ferns in Psilotum, to the broad range of species in Cheilanthes <strong>and</strong> the other<br />
Pteridophytes, to the related but very different horsetails in Equisetum. This<br />
unique group of plants often requires closer attention than it receives, for ferns<br />
lack the showy wonder of the flowering plants. But you will nevertheless be<br />
amazed, so get yourself a good h<strong>and</strong>lens <strong>and</strong> look a little closer.<br />
43<br />
Ferns
Equisetaceae<br />
Ferns<br />
44<br />
Equisetum laevigatum<br />
smooth horsetail<br />
General: Perennial rhizomatous graminoid with<br />
slender aerial stems, often flexuous to 75 cm tall, simple<br />
or verticillately branched at base, basal branches<br />
sterile. Stems: Stems annual, 20–30–ridged, ridges<br />
have transverse, sharply projecting b<strong>and</strong>s of silica,<br />
hollow internodes with toothed sheaths narrowly<br />
funnelform to campanulate, green or with dark basal<br />
ring, teeth horny, blackish, incurved, especially with<br />
age. Flowers: Strobili small, 1–2 cm long, obtuse or<br />
acute but not markedly apiculate at apex. Fruits:<br />
Greenish sporangia born in terminal cones. Ecology:<br />
Found in damp seeps, along streams <strong>and</strong> at the<br />
bottom of canyons from 3,000–8,000 ft (914–2438 m). Notes: Fairly common<br />
horsetail along streams in Arizona. Ethnobotany: Many medicinal uses,<br />
including: hair wash, contraceptive, for bladder ailments, for hemmoroids,<br />
high blood pressure, backaches, for lightning infections, lumbago, colds, to<br />
stimulate the kidneys, <strong>and</strong> as a wash for those parts of the body affected by<br />
poison ivy. Etymology: Equisetum is from equus, horse <strong>and</strong> seta, bristle, while<br />
laevigatum means smooth or slippery. Synonyms: Equisetum funstonii, E.<br />
kansanum, E. laevigatum ssp. funstonii, Hipphochaete laevigata<br />
©2007 WNMU, Zimmerman Herbarium
Graminoids<br />
Graminoids are herbaceous plants, meaning that they are not woody <strong>and</strong> die<br />
back to their roots at the end of each growing season. They share the same<br />
plant structures as other flowering plants, in modified form. The grasses<br />
notably lack the vibrant color of flowers, as well as what we might recognize as<br />
petals, but once pollinated, produce seed the same as other plants do. Grasses<br />
have reduced flowers with names like florets, spikelets, <strong>and</strong> glumes instead of<br />
tepals. While sedges have spikelets <strong>and</strong> achenes, their structures are different<br />
from grasses. Rushes are altogether different again, with reduced tepals <strong>and</strong> a<br />
capsule.<br />
Sedges have edges <strong>and</strong> rushes are round; grasses are hollow right down<br />
near the ground, goes a simple mnemonic taught to botany students. More<br />
scientifically, plants in the family Cyperaceae (sedges) have three sides <strong>and</strong><br />
so have edges, while the family Juncaceae (rushes) are round, but not hollow<br />
like grasses. These first two families are often found in moist soils or along the<br />
margins of ponds <strong>and</strong> rivers, while grasses are widespread in moist <strong>and</strong> dry<br />
soils alike.<br />
Grasses are the single most important plant family to human beings. If you had<br />
cereal this morning, or enjoyed bread with your s<strong>and</strong>wich, or really liked that<br />
corn tortilla you ate, then you have grasses to thank. In fact, a fairly limited<br />
number of grasses account for the majority of our food calories as a human<br />
family.<br />
Wild grasses, on the other h<strong>and</strong>, are more diverse <strong>and</strong> constitute a significant<br />
proportion of the biomass found in forests, woodl<strong>and</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> grassl<strong>and</strong>s.<br />
While we might easily recognize a ryegrass or a corn plant, we are less likely<br />
to recognize purple threeawn (Aristida purpurea) or even the highly invasive<br />
buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris or Pennisetum ciliare).<br />
Graminoids are vital to the stability of a huge percentage of the world’s surface<br />
area. Prior to the onset of human civilization, this family may have covered as<br />
much as 25% of Earth’s l<strong>and</strong> area. Although we have radically altered a huge<br />
percentage of this l<strong>and</strong>, huge reservoirs of l<strong>and</strong> are still maintained in grasses.<br />
Sedges <strong>and</strong> rushes often indicate the presence of water, as well as health in<br />
riparian systems. Either way you split the culm—square, round, or hollow,<br />
you’ve got in your h<strong>and</strong>s a hugely important example of the world’s plants.<br />
45<br />
Graminoids
Graminoids<br />
46
Cyperus esculentus<br />
chufa flatsedge, yellow nut–grass<br />
General: Stout, sharply triquetrous,<br />
10–70 cm tall, arising singly, with<br />
many slender rhizomes terminating in<br />
small tubers; herbage sweet–scented.<br />
Vegetative: Leaves clustered at base,<br />
elongate blade mostly 3–8 mm wide;<br />
involucral bracts elongate, unequal,<br />
sometimes wider than proper leaves.<br />
©2007 WNMU, Zimmerman Herbarium Inflorescence: Spikelets borne in open<br />
(seldom short <strong>and</strong> congested), cylindric spikes with more or less elongate<br />
rachis, the terminal spike or cluster of spikes sessile, others borne singly or<br />
in small groups at the ends of rays up to 7 cm long; slender spikes 0.5–5 cm<br />
long, only 1–2 mm wide, scales mostly 2.5–3 mm long, several–nerved, broad<br />
<strong>and</strong> much overlapping laterally, but not closely set, tip of each scale surpasses<br />
one next below by 1.1–1.7 mm; Rachilla narrowly hyaline–winged, persistent.<br />
Ecology: Found on moist, low ground along streams <strong>and</strong> ditches below 6,000<br />
ft (1829 m). Notes: Sometimes found on drier ground away from streams,<br />
becoming weedy; often weedy in fields <strong>and</strong> pastures. Ethnobotany: Used as a<br />
ceremonial emetic, roots were chewed for cold, the tubers were eaten raw, <strong>and</strong><br />
the also baked or boiled like potatoes. Etymology: Cyperus is from the Greek<br />
word meaning sedge, while esculentus means edible. Synonyms: None<br />
fragrant flatsedge<br />
General: Tufted annual or short lived<br />
perennial with three sided culms<br />
10–50 cm tall by 1–4 mm in diameter.<br />
Vegetative: Leaves flanged v or inversely<br />
w–shaped, 5–30 cm long by 4–12<br />
mm wide. Inflorescence: Bracts 5–9,<br />
subtending inflorescence, longer than<br />
inflorescence branches, 10–25 cm by<br />
1–14 mm wide, inflorescence a single<br />
dense capitate cluster of closely imbricate spikes; rays 6–12, 10–100 mm;<br />
20–60 linear spikelets, cylindric or slightly flat, in ovoid spikes, flower bracts<br />
6–24 per spikelet, 2–3.5 mm, elliptic to ovate, light brown splotched reddish;<br />
conspicuous midvein; achenes unequally 3–angled, 1.5–2 mm, slightly flat<br />
front–to–back. Ecology: Found in wet soils below 4,500 ft (1372 m); flowers<br />
July–October. Notes: Easily distinguished by the cylindric to subcylindric<br />
spikelets, with the rachilla of the mature spikelet disarticulating at the base<br />
of each scale. Ethnobotany: Cocopa ate the seeds, while Pima ate the tubers.<br />
Etymology: Cyperus is from the Greek word meaning sedge, while odoratus<br />
means fragrant or sweet smelling. Synonyms: Many, see Tropicos<br />
©2006 Dr. Dean Wm. Taylor, Jepson Herbarium<br />
Cyperus odoratus<br />
47<br />
Cyperaceae<br />
Graminoids
Cyperaceae<br />
Graminoids<br />
48<br />
Eleocharis montevidensis<br />
s<strong>and</strong> spikerush<br />
General: Perennial 10–50 cm tall, long reddish<br />
rhizome, stem generally round, not glaucous.<br />
Vegetative: Leaf purplish brown, becoming straw–<br />
colored above, truncate tip, 1–toothed. Inflorescence:<br />
Spikelet 3–8 mm about as wide as stem, oblong to<br />
ovate, generally 10–many–flowered, tip obtuse to<br />
acute; flower bract brownish to yellowish, margin<br />
translucent, tip obtuse; style three branched; perianth<br />
bristles 2–6, generally less than fruit; body about<br />
1 mm, obovate, weakly 3–sided, yellowish brown,<br />
shiny, short tubercle, conic, base slightly narrowed.<br />
Ecology: Found in moist, often s<strong>and</strong>y openings<br />
below 3,500 ft (1067 m). Notes: Distinguished from<br />
Cyperus by the solitary spikelet. Etymology: Eleocharis is from Greek heleos<br />
or helos, a marsh, low ground, meadow <strong>and</strong> charis, grace, beauty, hence marsh<br />
grace, while montevidensis means of Montevideo, Uruguay. Synonyms:<br />
Eleocharis arenicola<br />
Schoenoplectus acutus<br />
hardstem bulrush<br />
General: Stout perennial from rhizomes forming<br />
large colonies, 1–3 m tall, culms terete,<br />
thick below the middle <strong>and</strong> to the base, firm.<br />
Vegetative: Few leaves, borne toward the base<br />
of the culm, with well developed sheath <strong>and</strong><br />
short poorly developed blade. Inflorescence:<br />
Solitary involucral bract, 2–10 cm long, erect or<br />
nearly so, appearing like a prolongation of the<br />
culm, subsidiary bracts small <strong>and</strong> inconspicuous;<br />
spikelets dull gray–brown, mostly 8–15 mm long, open or compact, subumbellately<br />
branched inflorescence, all nearly sessile in small clusters at ends<br />
of stiff ascending or horizontal branches of inflorescence; scales 3.5–4 mm<br />
long, thin <strong>and</strong> hyaline–scarious, linear, margins lacerate or arachnoid–ciliate<br />
with firm midrib, scabrous <strong>and</strong> exserted as a short awn–tip; bristles fragile, retrorsely<br />
barbellate, equaling or exceeding achene, style bi–trifid; achene 2–2.5<br />
mm long, completely hidden by scales. Ecology: Found in water <strong>and</strong> in marshy<br />
ground from 3,500–8,000 ft (1067–2438 m); flowers June–August. Notes: There<br />
is some question as to whether this species <strong>and</strong> S. tabernaemontani are in fact<br />
separate species. The latter is actually of Eurasian descent, where this species<br />
is from North America. Either way, they are a challenge to tell apart outside of<br />
the relative stoutness of the stems. Ethnobotany: Used to stop bleeding, as a<br />
ceremonial emetic, as a pediatric aid, the inner part of the stems were eaten<br />
raw, especially the tender stem base, the seeds were used for food, the young<br />
shoots were eaten, used in basketry <strong>and</strong> for bedding, hats, houses, instruments,<br />
s<strong>and</strong>als, for clothing, <strong>and</strong> anything woven. Etymology: Schoenoplectus coms<br />
from Greek schoinos for rush, reed or cord <strong>and</strong> plektos, for twisted or plaited,<br />
Synonyms: Scirpus acutus<br />
©2003 Steve Matson<br />
©2006 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2008 WNMU, Zimmerman Herbarium<br />
©2006 Trent Draper<br />
Juncus bufonius<br />
toad rush<br />
General: Caespitose annual, 5–40 cm tall,<br />
no rhizomes. Vegetative: Culms erect,<br />
procumbent or ascending, terete, smooth,<br />
0.5–1.5 mm in diameter, with foliar shoots<br />
in leaf axils, cataphylls absent to rarely one,<br />
membranous 7–12 mm long; foliar leaves<br />
1–5 basal <strong>and</strong> 1–3 cauline to each culm, 4–15<br />
cm long, scariose margins not extended<br />
into auricles, blade flat with raised margins,<br />
slightly channeled above, 0.5–1.5 mm wide.<br />
Inflorescence: Usually more than half the total plant height, compound,<br />
several unilateral cymes with flowers inserted individual <strong>and</strong> removed from<br />
one another, rarely 2–4 flowers clustered together; lower inflorescence<br />
bract resembling cauline leaf, 4–15 cm long, distal bracts progressively<br />
shorter, ultimate ones 5 mm long <strong>and</strong> scarious; 2 bracteoles, greenish tepals,<br />
lanceolate 3.5–7 mm, inner series slightly shorter, apex sometimes obtuse;<br />
capsule ellipsoid, trigonous, truncate <strong>and</strong> mucronate, 3–4 mm by 1.5–2 mm<br />
with persistent style 0.1–0.3 mm long. Ecology: Found in moist soils along<br />
meadows, stream banks, roadsides, usually in open sites. Widespread, weedy<br />
species; flowers early spring to fall. Notes: Very cosmopolitan species that is<br />
also highly polymorphic. Ethnobotany: Taken as an emetic, <strong>and</strong> used as a<br />
body wash. Etymology: Juncus comes from the Latin jungere, to join or bind,<br />
while bufonius pertains to toads, or refers to the habit of growing in moist<br />
places. Synonyms: None<br />
Aristida adscensionis<br />
sixweeks threeawn<br />
General: Small annual, erect bunchgrass; round,<br />
frequently branched stem. Vegetative: Blades<br />
flat, narrow <strong>and</strong> short; 3–4 veins on each side<br />
of midrib (ribs not prominent), gl<strong>and</strong>ular hairs<br />
at base of blade; sheaths have occasional hairs,<br />
papery margin, ligule ciliate, 0.5 mm, some long<br />
hairs 2–3 mm, collar with hairy margin, gl<strong>and</strong>ular.<br />
Inflorescence: Dense panicles, contracted,<br />
often interrupted, 5–15 cm long, with spikelets<br />
aggregated on short, widely–spaced branches;<br />
first glume 1–nerved, most unequal, 5–8 mm, rough–textured on nerve, broad,<br />
second glume 8–11 mm, narrow; lemma 6–9 mm long, pubescent on callus,<br />
rough textured on the keeled midnerve, about as long as second glume, 3 awns,<br />
7–15(20) mm long, flattened at base, lateral awns slightly shorter. Ecology:<br />
Found on dry, s<strong>and</strong>y or rocky slopes, deserts, dry mesas, often on disturbed<br />
soils from 1,000–6,000 ft (305–1829 m); flowers June–October. Notes: It is often<br />
small with long awn branches (10–15 mm) to distinguish it from A. schiedeana.<br />
Unlike A. purpurea, it lacks the 2–3 mm white tufts of hairs at the apical margins<br />
of the sheaths. Provides good forage, especially during summer. Etymology:<br />
Aristo is Greek for best. Synonyms: Aristida fasciculata, A. adescensionis var.<br />
abortiva, A. adescensionis var. modesta.<br />
49<br />
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Poaceae<br />
Graminoids<br />
50<br />
Aristida purpurea<br />
purple threeawn<br />
General: Erect, small, annual/perennial<br />
bunchgrass, elliptical stem, can be (but not<br />
often) branched at lower nodes, 30–60 cm tall.<br />
Vegetative: Blades 0.5 mm wide, 2–8 cm long,<br />
rolled, curved, rough, ribs indistinct, margin<br />
occasionally hairy, sheath smooth, round,<br />
open, ligule ciliate, about 0.5 mm long, collar<br />
with hairy margin, bearded. Inflorescence:<br />
Panicles 10–25 cm long, flexuous <strong>and</strong> curving<br />
in fruit, weighed down, spikelets reddish–<br />
violet; glumes very unequal, lower glume 6–7<br />
mm long, upper 12–15 mm. Lemma 10–11 mm to base of awns; awn column 1–2<br />
mm long, awn 3–4.5 cm long, fine <strong>and</strong> delicate, deeply colored. Ecology: Rocky<br />
or s<strong>and</strong>y plains <strong>and</strong> slopes, found commonly along roadsides from 1,000–7,000 ft<br />
(305–2134 m); flowers April–October. Notes: Blades rolled, thread–like, curved,<br />
short collar bearded; ligule has conspicuous hairs, purple awns 2–5 cm long. Awns<br />
can cause abscesses to the mouths <strong>and</strong> nostrils of grazing animals <strong>and</strong> injury to<br />
skin when caught on fur. Of note is Aristida purpurea var. purpurea, a species that<br />
is similar but distinct <strong>and</strong> can be told apart chiefly by its smaller spikelets; the first<br />
glume is 4–5 mm long; lemma 7–8 mm long, <strong>and</strong> awns about 2 cm long. A. purpurea<br />
var. purpurea is formerly referred to as A. roemeriana. Another notable variety<br />
is var. parishii, which is distinguished by the lower glumes being three–quarters<br />
to equaling the upper glumes. All these varieties intergrade, so take a sample.<br />
Etymology: Aristo is Greek for best. Purpurea is Latin for purple. Synonyms:<br />
None<br />
Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi<br />
blue threeawn<br />
General: Dense, tufted perennials with slender<br />
culms often 30–60 cm, with well–developed<br />
fibrous roots. Vegetative: Sheaths glabrous or<br />
scabrous, usually with tufts of hairs on either<br />
side of the collar; blades narrow, tightly involute,<br />
mostly 5–15 cm long. Inflorescence: Contracted<br />
panicle, slender, relatively few–flowered, never<br />
dense <strong>and</strong> bushy, 8–20 cm long; spikelets mostly<br />
appressed along main panicle axis, occasionally<br />
on short, erect–spreading branches, glumes<br />
unequal, upper usually one–third longer than lower; lemma 8–13.5 mm; awns<br />
nearly equal, 2–3 cm; awn column often twisted, 1–2 mm, lighter in color than<br />
the lemma body <strong>and</strong> slightly narrowed to form the neck, light colored, slightly<br />
blotched with purple. Ecology: Found on dry, rocky or s<strong>and</strong>y slopes <strong>and</strong><br />
plateaus below 6,000 ft (1829 m); flowers March–September. Notes: Drought<br />
stressed plants tend to have short culms. Etymology: From Latin arista for<br />
awn, while purpurea is Latin for purple, nealleyi is named for Greenleaf Cilley<br />
Nealley (1846–1896) a Texas botanist. Synonyms: Aristida glauca, A. nealleyi,<br />
A. purpurea var. glauca, A. reverchonii, A. stricta var. nealleyi<br />
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2010 Max Licher
Aristida ternipes<br />
spidergrass<br />
General: Coarse, tufted perennials .5–1 m,<br />
flowers in first season; roots tough <strong>and</strong> wiry.<br />
Vegetative: Leaf blades firm, narrow, involute<br />
on drying; upper surface glabrous or with<br />
short, rough hairs; ligules glabrous or with<br />
a sparse tuft of loose hairs. Inflorescence:<br />
Openly branched panicles, branches<br />
spreading to approximately 90 degrees,<br />
©2007 WNMU, Zimmerman Herbarium<br />
glumes subequal (spikelets at first often<br />
showing only one glume, lower glume develops with age); branchlets <strong>and</strong><br />
spiklets conspicuously appressed along the primary branches; lemma tapering<br />
to short, stout, scabrous, straight or only slightly twisted awn column. Ecology:<br />
Found on rocky slopes <strong>and</strong> plateaus, as well as disturbed soils from 2,500–<br />
5,500 ft (762–1676 m); flowers summer. Notes: This species is recognized by<br />
two species at Tumacácori: var. gentilis <strong>and</strong> var. ternipes. Aristida ternipes var.<br />
gentilis has an upper glume 12–14.5 mm, lemma 10–12 mm; 3 well developed<br />
awns, 12–20 mm. Var. ternipes has an upper glume 10–15 mm, lemma 13–19 mm,<br />
often moderately curved, with one well–developed awn, straight or sometimes<br />
curved, 11–14 mm. Etymology: From Latin arista for awn, while purpurea is<br />
Latin for purple, ternipes is from Latin terni, three <strong>and</strong> the suffix –pes referring<br />
to the stalk. Synonyms: Var. gentilis: Aristida hamulosa, A. ternipes var.<br />
hamulosa, A. ternipes var. minor. Var. ternipes: None<br />
©2008 Michael L. Charters<br />
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Arundo donax<br />
giant reed, carrizo<br />
General: Tall <strong>and</strong> mostly rhizomatous perennials, thick <strong>and</strong> knotty rhizomes;<br />
culms hard <strong>and</strong> fibrous, almost woody, mostly 2–5 m tall <strong>and</strong> 15–40 mm in diameter.<br />
Vegetative: Blades numerous, elongate, flat, glabrous or scabrous, mostly 2–6 cm<br />
broad, evenly spaced along the culm, scabrous margin. Inflorescence: Dense<br />
panicle, erect, much–branched, mostly 30–60 cm long, spikelets 10–15 mm long,<br />
three–to–six flowered, disarticulating above the glumes <strong>and</strong> between florets;<br />
glumes lanceolate, thin, three–or–five nerved, about as long the spikelet; lemmas<br />
lanceolate, mostly five–nerved, the nerves often<br />
extended as short awns, internerves membranous,<br />
back long–pilose at least on lower half, hairs mostly<br />
6–8 mm long. Ecology: Found as an ornamental,<br />
along irrigation ditches, <strong>and</strong> on stream banks <strong>and</strong> in<br />
disturbed habitats; flowers in late summer. Notes:<br />
Plant introduced, reminiscent of bamboo; can<br />
grow in saline soil. Etymology: Arundo is the Latin<br />
name for a reed grass, while donax is a Greek name<br />
for a kind of weed. Synonyms: Arundo donax var.<br />
versicolor, A. versicolor<br />
51<br />
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Graminoids
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids<br />
52<br />
Bothriochloa barbinodis<br />
cane beardstem<br />
General: Robust tufted perennial from<br />
0.75–1 m, usually villous with dense tufts of<br />
long, white hairs at nodes, at ligules <strong>and</strong> on<br />
inflorescences. Vegetative: Leaves drying<br />
reddish–brown, the bases semipersistent,<br />
flat. Inflorescence: Panicle cottony <strong>and</strong><br />
white, 7–11 cm, with numerous branches<br />
clustered at the top of the tail, nearly naked<br />
stems; rachis joints <strong>and</strong> pedicels with hairs to 6–8 mm. Glumes equal but<br />
different shapes, lower glume broad, green <strong>and</strong> flat to concave on the back,<br />
upper glume markedly humpbacked or V–shaped with a blunt keel. Ecology:<br />
Found in open range l<strong>and</strong>s, on dry, rocky or s<strong>and</strong>y slopes <strong>and</strong> plains, abundant<br />
on some graded roadsides from 1,000–6,000 ft (305–1829 m); flowers August–<br />
September. Notes: The dense tuft at the nodes is diagnostic. This plant<br />
responds very well to fire <strong>and</strong> is a prolific seed producer. The reddish tint<br />
of the cured herbage is notable. Ethnobotany: Other species in the genera<br />
have medicinal uses. Etymology: Botriochloa is from the Greek bothros, a<br />
pit or hole, <strong>and</strong> chloe or chloa, grass. Synonyms: Andropogon barbinodis, A.<br />
perforatus, Bothriochloa barbinodis var. palmeri, B. barbinodis var. perforata,<br />
B. palmeri<br />
Bouteloua aristidoides<br />
needle grama (Arizona needle grama)<br />
General: Annual, low tufted, weak stemmed, <strong>and</strong><br />
short–lived; variable in size, fast growing with<br />
weakly developed roots. Vegetative: Blades thin,<br />
1–2 mm broad, flat or folded, often with few long<br />
stiff hairs at the base <strong>and</strong> occasionally extending<br />
up the axial surface of the blade; ligule a fringe<br />
of short hairs. Inflorescence: One–sided raceme<br />
of usually four to fifteen, occasionally twenty,<br />
short, unilateral spicate branches, these readily<br />
deciduous from the culm at a sharp–pointed<br />
callus; spicate branches 1–2 cm long including the<br />
extended rachis tip with one to four slender spikelets; rachis densely pubescent,<br />
at least near the base, flattened, extending beyond the insertion of the terminal<br />
spikelet 5–10 mm or more, conspicuously curving away from the spikelets;<br />
lowermost spikelet closely appressed to the rachis, awnless or minute awned<br />
lemma, upper spikelets with conspicuously three–awned rudiment <strong>and</strong> three–<br />
awned lemma; glumes very unequal, narrowly acute or acuminate, larger one<br />
often as long as larger glume, with three awns. Ecology: Found on dry mesas,<br />
washes, <strong>and</strong> disturbed areas below 6,000 ft (1829 m); flowers summer <strong>and</strong> fall.<br />
Notes: This is one of the most widespread <strong>and</strong> abundant annual grasses in the<br />
region. Ethnobotany: Unknown, check other species in genera for many uses.<br />
Etymology: Bouteloua named for brothers Claudio (1774–1842) <strong>and</strong> Esteban<br />
(1776–1813), Spanish botanists <strong>and</strong> horticulturalists, while aristidoides means<br />
like Aristida, with the three–awned lemma. Synonyms: None<br />
©2006 Michelle Cloud Hughes<br />
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
2008 <strong>NPS</strong>/Beth Fallon<br />
Bouteloua barbata<br />
sixweeks grama<br />
General: Tufted annual with numerous geniculate,<br />
spreading culms, typically 25 cm or less, often much<br />
less, rarely taller; weakly developed roots, branching<br />
from base. Vegetative: Leaves sometimes pilose around<br />
margins of throat; glabrous sheaths, margins often<br />
scarious or hyaline; ligule dense fringe of hairs, 0.5–1.2<br />
mm long, blades mostly flat with a loosely involute tip,<br />
1–2 mm broad, scaberulous above, often with narrow<br />
whitish margins. Inflorescence: Spikes mostly 1–2 cm long <strong>and</strong> 2 mm broad<br />
excluding awns, occasionally larger; 4–12 per stem, comb–shaped, nearly<br />
straight to moderately arched; lemma <strong>and</strong> rudiment awns often less than 2 mm<br />
long. Ecology: Found in open, rocky or s<strong>and</strong>y slopes <strong>and</strong> washes, often weedy<br />
on disturbed soils below 6,000 ft (1829 m); flowers summer <strong>and</strong> fall. Notes:<br />
Bouteloa rothrockii differs from B. barbata in perennial habit, hard knotty<br />
bases, <strong>and</strong> well–developed roots; B. rothrockii usually is the higher elevation<br />
species. Ethnobotany: Used as fodder, in ceremonial settings, <strong>and</strong> medicinally.<br />
Etymology: Bouteloua named for brothers Claudio (1774–1842) <strong>and</strong> Esteban<br />
(1776–1813), Spanish botanists <strong>and</strong> horticulturalists, barbata is from Latin<br />
barba, beard. Synonyms: Many, see Tropicos<br />
Bouteloua chondrosioides<br />
sprucetop grama<br />
General: Tufted perennial, culms firm but not<br />
rhizomatous <strong>and</strong> hard at the base, mostly 30–60<br />
cm tall. Vegetative: Rounded sheaths, blades<br />
glaucous, short, flat, 1–2.5 mm broad, mostly<br />
in a basal clump; not curled. Inflorescence:<br />
Usually three to seven broad, dense, erect or<br />
slightly spreading, more or less pectintate spicate<br />
branches mostly 1–1.5 cm long, excluding the<br />
awns, these borne on the upper 2–6 cm of the<br />
culm axis; spicate branches with a flattened,<br />
densely hairy rachis <strong>and</strong> numerous closely<br />
placed spikelets, deciduous as a whole; all<br />
exposed structures of the spikelets more or less hairy; fertile lemma three–<br />
cleft, the divisions with short awns; rudiment large, long–awned, cleft nearly<br />
to the base, the middle awn broadly winged below. Ecology: Found on dry<br />
rocky slopes <strong>and</strong> rolling desert grassl<strong>and</strong> with fine–textured soils from 2,500–<br />
6,000 ft (762–1829 m); flowers August–October. Notes: Good for forage,<br />
distinguishable from the similar B. repens by the pubescence on all surfaces<br />
of the spikelets. Ethnobotany: Unknown, see other species in genera for<br />
other uses. Etymology: Bouteloua named for brothers Claudio (1774–1842)<br />
<strong>and</strong> Esteban (1776–1813), Spanish botanists <strong>and</strong> horticulturalists. Synonyms:<br />
Chondrosum humboldtianum, Dinebra chondrosioides<br />
53<br />
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54<br />
Bouteloua curtipendula<br />
sideoats grama<br />
General: Large, erect, perennial, tufted<br />
bunchgrass; elliptical–round stem, rarely<br />
branched, 35–100 cm tall; fibrous roots<br />
with short rhizomes (slender or stout), solitary<br />
or in large groups. Vegetative: Blades<br />
evenly distributed, flat or folded when dry,<br />
long, drooping, rough above, pustular–<br />
based hairs on margin of blade near collar,<br />
2–7 mm wide, 2–30 cm long, sheath with papery margin, open, rounded, ligule<br />
thin <strong>and</strong> translucent, truncate, irregularly toothed, 0.2–0.6 mm long, collar<br />
with hairy margin <strong>and</strong> occasionally gl<strong>and</strong>ular. Inflorescence: Panicle with<br />
20–50 short, deciduous spicate branches (1 cm long) that hang off main inflorescence<br />
stem, branches 10–30 mm with 2–7 short awned spikelets; spikelets<br />
with 1 perfect floret <strong>and</strong> 1 rudimentary floret; glumes unequal, half as long<br />
as upper glume, upper glume as broad <strong>and</strong> long as lemma, lemma 4–7 mm,<br />
with short awns or awnless; usually short awns on glumes <strong>and</strong> lemmas, palea<br />
unawned, slightly shorter than lemma; anthers red to yellow. Ecology: Found<br />
on limestone outcrops, rocky slopes, woodl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> forest openings from<br />
2,500–7,000 ft (762–2134 m); flowers June–November. Notes: There are generally<br />
two varieties in Arizona: var. curtipendula <strong>and</strong> var. caespitosa. Var. curtipendula<br />
can be distinguished by being long–rhizomatous, with culms solitary<br />
or in small clumps. Var. caespitosa are not long–rhizomatous, bases sometimes<br />
knotty with short rhizomes, culms in large or small clumps. A third variety,<br />
var. tenuis is endemic to Mexico, but a single collection has been made in the<br />
Huachuca Mountains. This variety does not have very long rhizomes, <strong>and</strong> has<br />
conspicuously curled blades. Ethnobotany: Tewa made dried grass bundles<br />
into brooms, <strong>and</strong> brushes. Etymology: Bouteloua named for brothers Claudio<br />
(1774–1842) <strong>and</strong> Esteban (1776–1813), Spanish botanists <strong>and</strong> horticulturalists,<br />
Curtipendula is Latin for shortened hanging pendant. Synonyms: None<br />
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Bouteloua gracilis<br />
blue grama, eyelash grass<br />
General: Tufted perennial, semi–sod or ring<br />
grass, 25–60 cm tall; smooth or minutely<br />
pubescent on the stem nodes; with short, stout<br />
rhizomes. Vegetative: Blades 2–12 cm long, 0.5–<br />
2.5 mm wide, rough–textured/short pubescent on<br />
top, often sparsely hirsute, clasped in “bud”, flat<br />
to involute, narrow, drooping; old blades curled;<br />
sheaths rounded, smooth or with sparse long<br />
<strong>and</strong> stiff hairs; ligule 0.1–0.4 mm fringe of short<br />
hairs, often with marginal tufts of longer hairs.<br />
Inflorescence: Panicle of 1–4 curved racemose secund branches, bearing<br />
40–130 spikelets per branch; disarticulation above the glumes, glumes hairy<br />
on midnerve; lowest lemma 3.5–6 mm long, pubescent basally, central lobes<br />
veined <strong>and</strong> 3–awned from apical <strong>and</strong> lateral clefts (1–3 mm long); rachilla with<br />
tufts of hair at base of perfect floret. Ecology: Common on open rocky slopes,<br />
forest openings, grassl<strong>and</strong>s from 4,000–8,000 ft (1219–2438 m); flowers mostly<br />
July–October. Notes: Diagnostic characteristics include, bluish–green foliage,<br />
dried leaves often curled; inflorescence branches often curled; branch rachis<br />
scabrous on back, tuft of hair at base of perfect floret. Ethnobotany: Used as a<br />
life medicine, roots chewed <strong>and</strong> blown on cuts, taken as a postpartum medicine,<br />
as fodder, the seeds were ground <strong>and</strong> used as mush <strong>and</strong> flour, the stems made<br />
combs <strong>and</strong> brooms, basketry, as hay, some tribes used them as predictors of<br />
coming seasonal severity (one spike=mild winter, more=severe winter), <strong>and</strong><br />
it was used ceremonially. Etymology: Bouteloua named for brothers Claudio<br />
(1774–1842) <strong>and</strong> Esteban (1776–1813), Spanish botanists <strong>and</strong> horticulturalists,<br />
Gracilis is Latin for thin, small, or graceful. Synonyms: Bouteloua oligostachya,<br />
Chondrosum gracile, C. digostachyum<br />
55<br />
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Poaceae<br />
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Bouteloua repens<br />
slender grama<br />
General: Tufted perennial, culms firm but not<br />
rhizomatous <strong>and</strong> at base, mostly 30–60 cm tall.<br />
Vegetative: Sheaths rounded, not becoming<br />
conspicuously flattened; blades glaucous, short,<br />
flat, 1–2.5 mm broad mostly in a basal clump.<br />
Inflorescence: Four to twelve spicate branches on<br />
the upper 3–10 cm of the culm axis, these with five<br />
to numerous spikelets on a flattened, ciliate rachis<br />
mostly 1.5–2 cm long; glumes subequal, both broadly<br />
lanceolate <strong>and</strong> with a scabrous or scabrous–ciliate<br />
midnerve; fertile lemma glabrous or nearly so, the<br />
nerves usually extending into short awns; palea<br />
as long as the lemma; rudiment about as long as<br />
the fertile floret, usually staminate, with two lateral short–awned lobes <strong>and</strong> a<br />
large central lobe bearing a stout scabrous awn. Ecology: Found by dry rocky<br />
slopes, below 5,000 ft (1524 m); flowers August–December. Notes: Similar to<br />
both B. radicosa <strong>and</strong> B. chondrosioides. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology:<br />
Bouteloua named for brothers Claudio (1774–1842) <strong>and</strong> Esteban (1776–1813),<br />
Spanish botanists <strong>and</strong> horticulturalists, repens means having creeping <strong>and</strong><br />
rooting stems. Synonyms: Bouteloua filiformis, B. heterostega, Dinebra repens<br />
Bouteloua rothrockii<br />
Rothrock’s grama, cuchillo<br />
General: Short lived perennial, culms wiry, 25–60 cm tall <strong>and</strong> in small<br />
clumps. Vegetative: Leaves glabrous or sparsely pillose–hirsute, the blades<br />
1–2, occasionally 3 mm broad, often loosely involute. Inflorescence: Spicate<br />
branches four, occasionally three to eight per culm, mostly 1.5–3 cm long<br />
<strong>and</strong> about 3 mm broad excluding the awns, rachis <strong>and</strong> glumes not hispid or<br />
ciliate, glabrous or minutely pubescent; lemma pubescent below with long<br />
white hairs, broad <strong>and</strong> lobed above, three nerves evident, extending from the<br />
notches as awns mostly 1.5–3 mm long. Ecology: Found on dry rocky hillsides<br />
<strong>and</strong> s<strong>and</strong>y mesas from 2,500–5,500 ft (762–1676 m); flowers summer. Notes:<br />
This species is difficult to discern from B. barbata. Several characteristics are<br />
diagnostic: awns are longer, the stems are usually less branched <strong>and</strong> the glumes<br />
more noticeably scaberulous rather than glabrous <strong>and</strong> shiny. Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown, other species in this genera have uses. Etymology: Bouteloua<br />
named for brothers Claudio (1774–1842) <strong>and</strong> Esteban (1776–1813), Spanish<br />
botanists <strong>and</strong> horticulturalists, rothrockii is named for Dr. Joseph Trimble<br />
Rothrock (1839–1922), surgeon on the Wheeler expedition of 1873–1875.<br />
Synonyms: Bouteloua barbata var. rothrockii<br />
2009 <strong>NPS</strong>/Steve Buckley
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Bromus catharticus<br />
rescuegrass<br />
General: Winter annual or biennial, sheaths glabrous or retrosley soft pubescent,<br />
erect to spreading 0.2–1 m tall. Vegetative: Blades flat, thin, mostly 4–8 mm broad,<br />
usually glabrous, ligules long, 2.5–5 mm, erose, glabrous to pilose, small auricles.<br />
Inflorescence: Open panicle with stout bunches, spikelets large, mostly 2–3 cm<br />
long <strong>and</strong> with 5–10 florets, first glume three to five nerved, second glume seven<br />
to nine nerved; lemma strongly compressed laterally, glabrous, scabrous, or<br />
occasionally short pubescent, awnless or with an awn 3 mm or less long. Ecology:<br />
Found mainly as a weed in laws, gardens,<br />
roadsides; flowers spring <strong>and</strong> summer.<br />
Ethnobotany: Seeds parched, ground into<br />
flour <strong>and</strong> used for flour for bread <strong>and</strong> to<br />
make mush, <strong>and</strong> as a fodder. Etymology:<br />
Bromus is from Greek bromo, for stinking,<br />
while catharticus is from Greek katharos,<br />
pure, or kathartes, a purifier, cleanser.<br />
Synonyms: Many, see Tropicos<br />
©2006 Steven Thorsted<br />
©2001 Joe DiTomaso<br />
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Bromus tectorum<br />
cheatgrass<br />
General: Highly invasive erect to spreading annual, slender, 30–60 cm tall, a<br />
round stem not branched with shallow roots, the sheath closed to within a few<br />
cm of ligule <strong>and</strong> with soft pubescent (woolly). Vegetative: Blade 2.5–6 mm<br />
wide, 5–12 cm long, pubescent, flat, twisted, drooping, blunt pointed; soft hairy<br />
on both sides; 2–3 veins each side of hairy midrib, which is prominent on upper<br />
leaf surface, ligule thin <strong>and</strong> translucent, irregularly toothed or edges appear<br />
torn, 1–2.5 mm long, collar usually narrow <strong>and</strong> pubescent; smooth <strong>and</strong> divided.<br />
Inflorescence: Open panicle, dense, soft, drooping, often purple, spikelets 12–<br />
20 mm long, nodding, first glume 4–6 mm long, villous, second glume 8–10 mm<br />
long, villous; lemma 10–12 mm long, lance–shaped, with long <strong>and</strong> soft hairs,<br />
teeth 2–3 mm long, convex on back; awn 12–14 mm long, straight to twisted.<br />
Ecology: Widespread on roadsides <strong>and</strong> open waste ground, is a weedy plant of<br />
overgrazed l<strong>and</strong>s from 4,000–8,000 ft (1220–2440 m); flowers May–September.<br />
Notes: Annual introduced with awns 1–2 cm long, the sheath closed <strong>and</strong> ligule<br />
very thin, obtuse–lacerate; woolly (soft to touch) with early spring growth, it<br />
is purplish brown inflorescence at maturity with relatively long awns. Highly<br />
invasive weed. Etymology: From Greek<br />
bromo for stinking. Tectorum is Latin,<br />
meaning “of the roof.” Synonyms:<br />
Anisantha tectorum, Bromus tectorum<br />
var. glabratus, B. tectorum var. hirsutus,<br />
B. tectorum var. nudus<br />
57<br />
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids<br />
58<br />
Cenchrus longispinus<br />
mat s<strong>and</strong>bur<br />
General: Loosely tufted, often prostrate<br />
<strong>and</strong> mat forming annuals; culms 10–40<br />
cm long, branched at the base, sometimes<br />
rooting at the nodes, geniculate, glabrous,<br />
leafy. Vegetative: Sheaths compressed–<br />
keeled, the collar sometimes puberulent,<br />
otherwise glabrous, margins scarious,<br />
sometimes extended as membranous<br />
auricles, sometimes diverging from the<br />
culm; ligule a dense fringe of hairs, 0.5–1.5<br />
mm long, marginal hairs sometimes up to 2.5 mm long; blades flat to folded,<br />
3–6 mm broad, scabrous, at least above. Inflorescence: Panicle 3–6 cm<br />
long, bearing 4–12 burs, rachis geniculate, flattened <strong>and</strong> angled, scabrous to<br />
glabrous; bur urceolate to globose, the body 3–5 mm broad when pressed,<br />
enclosing 2 sessile spikelets <strong>and</strong> covered with 45–55 spines, upper spines large,<br />
flat, spreading to ascending. Ecology: Found in open ground <strong>and</strong> waste places,<br />
weedy in disturbed areas, often in s<strong>and</strong>y soil. Notes: This is a terrifically gnarly<br />
weed. Etymology: Cenchrus is though to be from Greek kenchros, millet, <strong>and</strong><br />
longispinus means long spines. Synonyms: Cenchrus carolinianus<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Cenchrus spinifex<br />
H M L<br />
coastal s<strong>and</strong>bur, field s<strong>and</strong>bur<br />
General: Perennial or facultative annual with weak, spreading stems 10–90<br />
cm long, often freely branching <strong>and</strong> forming mats; deep, well–developed<br />
roots. Vegetative: Blades flat or folded, 2–7 mm broad, ligule densely ciliate,<br />
membranous portion very short; collar margins villous. Inflorescence:<br />
Compact, spikelike 2–8 cm long, usually little–exserted from the sheath, mostly<br />
with 12–27 burs; burs variable, puberulent, 2.5–4 mm diameter, shorter to<br />
longer than wide, spines highly variable, long <strong>and</strong> slender to short <strong>and</strong> broad,<br />
longest 4–5.7 mm; first glume short, lanceolate–acuminate; second glume <strong>and</strong><br />
sterile lemma lanceolate; lemma <strong>and</strong> palea lanceolate–acuminate, 4–5 mm<br />
long. Ecology: Found on roadsides <strong>and</strong><br />
waste places, mostly in s<strong>and</strong>y soil below<br />
6,000 ft (1829 m); flowers June–October.<br />
Notes: The bristles on the bur do not<br />
form a ring on this species, marking a<br />
diagnostic characteristic. Etymology:<br />
Cenchrus is thought to be from Greek<br />
kenchros, millet, spinifex refers to its<br />
bearing spines. Synonyms: Cenchrus<br />
incertus, C. parviceps, C. pauciflorus<br />
2008 <strong>NPS</strong>/Beth Fallon<br />
©2006 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2005 Pedro Tenorio Lezama<br />
Chloris virgata<br />
feather fingergrass<br />
General: Tufted annual with weak,<br />
decumbent culms, 10–80 cm, shallow<br />
roots. Vegetative: Sheaths smooth,<br />
keeled, leaves glabrous or with few long<br />
hairs, ligules membranous, 0.2–1 mm long,<br />
truncate, lacerate, ciliate; blades flat or<br />
folded, weak, 2–8 mm broad, sometimes<br />
sparsely pilose near collar. Inflorescence:<br />
Panicles of 6–14 digitately arranged spikes, 4.5–8 cm long densely aggregated at<br />
culm apex, erect or slightly erect–spreading, whitish to tawny with silky hairs,<br />
glumes narrowly–lanceolate, 1–nerved, first glume 1.5–2.5 mm long, sometimes<br />
aristate, second 2.5–4 mm long, tapering to short awn; fertile lemma obovate,<br />
body 3 mm long, pubescent on keel <strong>and</strong> margins, with tuft of hairs 2–4 mm long<br />
laterally near apex, abruptly contracted to awn 5–10 mm long. Ecology: Found<br />
in s<strong>and</strong>y–silty soils, washes, roadsides, <strong>and</strong> other disturbed habitats below<br />
5,500 ft (1676 m); flowers July–September. Notes: Often prolific on disturbed<br />
soils, can be confused with Hilaria belangeri when vegetative. Etymology:<br />
Chloris is named for the Greek goddess of flowers, virgata means w<strong>and</strong>–like.<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
Cottea pappophoroides<br />
cotta grass<br />
General: Tufted perennial without rhizomes, culms<br />
30–70 cm tall, softly pilose below panicle, bearded<br />
nodes. Vegetative: Sheaths longer than internodes,<br />
leaves thinly pilose, blades 3–7 mm broad, flat or<br />
folded, pilose on both surfaces; ligule of hairs.<br />
Inflorescence: Narrow but open panicle with stout<br />
erect–spreading branches, 6–20 cm long, 2–6 cm wide;<br />
spikelets 7–10 mm long, six to ten florets, upper ones<br />
reduced, disarticulating above glumes <strong>and</strong> between<br />
florets; self–fertilizing spikelets produced in axils of<br />
lower leaf sheaths; glumes subequal, 4–5 mm long,<br />
broadly lanceolate, seven to thirteen fine but distinct<br />
nerves; midnerve sometimes continues as short awn;<br />
lowermost lemma as long as glumes, hairy near base, nine to thirteen nerves;<br />
caryopsis oblong, about 1.5 mm long. Ecology: Found on rocky slopes, hillsides,<br />
<strong>and</strong> plains below 5,000 ft (1524 m); flowers late summer <strong>and</strong> fall. Notes:<br />
This grass is recognized often by its persistence in the l<strong>and</strong>scape, with the<br />
persistent glumes that are papery which make it easy to identify. Etymology:<br />
Pappohphoroides comes from Latin for with pappus, <strong>and</strong> Greek oeides, like<br />
something else. Synonyms: None<br />
59<br />
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Cynodon dactylon<br />
60<br />
H M L<br />
Bermudagrass<br />
General: Perennial with stolons <strong>and</strong> rhizomes, obvious internodes that forms<br />
extensive mats, culms mostly creeping <strong>and</strong> stoloniferous, short internodes.<br />
Vegetative: Leaves 2–ranked, flat, short, narrow, usually 1–3 mm broad, ligule<br />
a fringe of short hairs <strong>and</strong> lateral tufts of long stiff hairs. Inflorescence: Spikes<br />
4–7, digitate, slender, often 2.5–6 cm, purplish to green, spikelets sessile <strong>and</strong><br />
closely appressed, in two rows on narrow, triangular rachis. Ecology: Found<br />
everywhere, very widespread weed below 6,000 ft (1829 m). Notes: One of<br />
the most common introduced grasses in Arizona. In many places it has been<br />
planted as a pasture grass, which makes it particularly common along the Santa<br />
Cruz River <strong>and</strong> other waterways<br />
in southern Arizona. Etymology:<br />
Cynodon is from Greek meaning dog<br />
tooth, <strong>and</strong> dactylon is from Greek<br />
daktylos, finger or toe. Synonyms:<br />
Capriola dactylon, Cynodon<br />
aristiglumis, C. incompletes, Panicum<br />
dactylon ©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Dactyloctenium aegyptium<br />
H M L<br />
Egyptian grass<br />
General: Decumbent annual, often rooting at lower nodes, weak culms 10–50<br />
cm tall, often forms radiating mats. Vegetative: Blades flat, 2–8 mm broad,<br />
pustulate–ciliate on margins near base, occasional stiff hairs on one or both<br />
surfaces, ligule membranous, minutely erose, 0.3 mm long. Inflorescence:<br />
Spikes 2–6, short <strong>and</strong> stubby, paired or digitate at the culm apex, tuft of hair at<br />
point of union; spicate branches 2–6 cm long, 5–8 mm wide, spikelets numerous;<br />
glumes unequal in size <strong>and</strong> shape, lower glume awnless, upper glume with awn<br />
0.5–3.2 mm; disarticulation between glumes, first<br />
remaining on rachis; caryopsis glistening red–brown<br />
with thin, evenly spaced ridges. Ecology: Widely<br />
naturalized weed found on roadsides, s<strong>and</strong>y washes,<br />
<strong>and</strong> disturbed soils. Notes: Introduced, but not as<br />
aggressive as Cynodon dactylon, widely naturalized.<br />
Ethnobotany: Cocopa said to have used the grain for<br />
food, widely used as such in other parts of the world.<br />
Etymology: Dactylocteniumis from Greek daktylos,<br />
finter <strong>and</strong> ktenion, little comb, aegyptium refers to its<br />
being Egyptian. Synonyms: Cynosurus aegyptius<br />
©2005 Pedro Tenorio Lezama
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Dasyochloa pulchella<br />
fluffgrass<br />
General: Dwarf, tufted perennial, appears<br />
annual, numerous culms, 5–14 cm, wiry,<br />
mainly of single elongated internode bearing<br />
clustered fascicle of leaves <strong>and</strong> spikelets at<br />
apex; fascicle bends over to ground <strong>and</strong> rarely<br />
takes root. Vegetative: Blades 1–5 cm long, .5<br />
mm wide, involute, margins firm <strong>and</strong> often<br />
white; ligule a low ciliate fringe 0.3–0.5 mm<br />
long, sheath open, striate, margins ciliate,<br />
collar glabrous except for long marginal hairs. Inflorescence: Compact <strong>and</strong><br />
dense, capitate clusters of sessile or short–pedicelled spikelets, exceeded in<br />
length by subtending leaf blades; spikelets 7–13 mm long, 6–12 flowered, glumes<br />
subequal, acuminate, scarious, as long as spikelet but spreading, glumes <strong>and</strong><br />
lemmas papery, sometimes purple–tinged, glumes with green midvein; lemmas<br />
3–5 mm, densely pilose with long hairs on each of the 3 green veins, tip deeply<br />
2–lobed with stout awn 1–2 mm long between lobes. Ecology: Found on dry<br />
rocky slopes <strong>and</strong> flats below 6,000 ft (1829 m); flowers summer <strong>and</strong> fall. Notes:<br />
This is one of the most hardy of the small perennial grasses, it responds to very<br />
little rainfall <strong>and</strong> is often found on overgrazed or denuded soils. Etymology:<br />
Dasyochloa is from the Greek dasys, shaggy, thick, hairy, rough, while pulchella<br />
is derived from the Latin for beautiful. Synonyms: Erioneuron pulchellum,<br />
Tridens pulchellus, Triodia pulchella<br />
61<br />
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids<br />
62<br />
Digitaria californica<br />
Arizona cottontop<br />
General: Erect culms from swollen, knotty base,<br />
40–100 cm tall, glabrous. Vegetative: Sheaths<br />
longer than internodes, open, lower ones<br />
pubescent; blades flat or folded, glaucous, bluish–<br />
green, 3–4 mm wide, 8–12 cm long, pustulate hairs<br />
on upper side near ligule, sometimes sparse;<br />
ligule membranous, obtuse, erose, 1.5–2.5 mm<br />
long. Inflorescence: Contracted panicle 8–20 cm<br />
long with few branches, these erect, appressed;<br />
spikelets 3–4 mm long, excluding hairs, second<br />
glume narrow densely villous with soft white–silky, hairs tinged with purple,<br />
2–4 mm long; sterile lemma broad, three–nerved, villous on margins but<br />
glabrous on internerves; caryopsis ovate–lanceolate, narrowing to short awn.<br />
Ecology: Found on open, well–drained soils, often on steep, rocky slops from<br />
1,000–6,000 ft (305–1829 m); flowers August–November. Notes: Cottony<br />
spikelet, along with its upright habit <strong>and</strong> erect culms help to distinguish this<br />
species. Etymology: Digitaria is from Latin digitus, a finger <strong>and</strong> californica is<br />
for California. Synonyms: Trichachne californica<br />
Digitaria sanguinalis<br />
hairy crabgrass<br />
General: Annual with spreading–decumbent<br />
culms, often rooting at lower nodes, 10–130 cm.<br />
Vegetative: Sheaths <strong>and</strong> blades pilose to thinly<br />
pubescent; blades broad, flat, thin, 4–10 mm<br />
wide, 5–10 cm long; ligule membranous, truncate,<br />
erose, 0.5–1.5 mm long; collar divided, somewhat<br />
pilose. Inflorescence: Branches 6–10 cm long,<br />
usually digitate or clustered at culm apex but<br />
occasionally scattered along the culm; spikelets<br />
in pairs, one subsessile, the other on a pedicel<br />
half as long as the spikelet; spikelets 2.5–3.5 mm long; first glume a minute scale,<br />
second glume pubescent, mostly one–half or less as long as spikelet, leaving<br />
back of fertile lemma exposed. Ecology: Common weed of lawns, open<br />
waste ground, <strong>and</strong> cultivated areas from 2,500–6,000 ft (762–1829 m); flowers<br />
June–October. Notes: Low habit helps differentiate it from D. californica.<br />
Etymology: Digitaria is from Latin digitus, a finger, while sanguinalis pertains<br />
to blood. Synonyms: Panicum sanguinale, Syntherisma sanguinalis<br />
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2005 Luigi Rignanese
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Echinochloa colona<br />
jungle rice<br />
General: Tufted annual, culms slender 20–100 cm. Vegetative: Blades 3–6 mm<br />
wide, with purple b<strong>and</strong>s, flat, glabrous, sheath compressed, open, glabrous; no<br />
ligule; glabrous collar. Inflorescence: Panicle 6–15 cm long, with short, simple,<br />
subspicate branches, widely spaced, single or occasionally paired at nodes,<br />
appressed or spreading; spikelets 2.5–3 mm long, subsessile <strong>and</strong> crowded in<br />
two to four regular rows; second glume <strong>and</strong> sterile lemma short–pointed, hispid–scabrous<br />
to glabrous, loosely enclosing mature caryopsis; fertile lemma<br />
abruptly cuspidate. Ecology: Found on moist, disturbed soils, ditchbanks, irrigated<br />
fields below 5,500 ft (1676 m); flowers May–October. Notes: Similar<br />
to Panicum species, however, the large caryopsis <strong>and</strong> the ranked spikelet separates<br />
it. Ethnobotany: Cocopa parched the seeds,<br />
ground them into flour for mush. Etymology:<br />
Echinochloa is from Greek echinos for hedgehog<br />
or sea–urchia <strong>and</strong> chloe or chloa for grass, while<br />
colona is from Latin colonus for colonist. Synonyms:<br />
Panicum colonum<br />
©2006 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Echinochloa crus–galli<br />
barnyard grass<br />
General: Introduced annual, stout, tufted culms 30–200 cm tall, genticulate<br />
<strong>and</strong> decumbent below, ascending above, glabrous. Vegetative: Glabrous<br />
sheaths, ligules lacking, blades flat 4–12 mm broad, a few papillae on margins<br />
near collar, sometimes with hairs; scabrous margins. Inflorescence: Panicles<br />
5–21 cm long, erect or nodding, consists of 5–12 racemosely arranged lateral<br />
branches; spikelets 2.8–3.5 mm long, more or less laterally compressed, first<br />
glume, 1.2–1.6 mm long, broad, clasping, 3–nerved; second glume 2.5–3.2 mm<br />
long, 5–nerved, awned, awn .7–1.5 mm long, plano–convex lemma. Caryopses<br />
1.3–2.2 mm long, 1–1.8 mm wide, ovoid, brownish. Ecology: Seepages, moist<br />
waste places, disturbed sites, frequently in trampled pasturel<strong>and</strong>s up to 7,000<br />
ft (2134 m), flowers July–September. Notes: Eurasian species, very variable.<br />
Densely flowered with one sided panicle. Ethnobotany: Seeds harvested<br />
pounded, winnowed, ground, parched <strong>and</strong> eaten<br />
as mush, porridge, <strong>and</strong> as a meal. Etymology:<br />
Echinochloa is from Greek for hedgehog or sea–<br />
urchin <strong>and</strong> chloe or chloa grass, referring to bristly<br />
spikelets, while crus–gallis is from Latin crus,<br />
the leg or thigh <strong>and</strong> gallus, a cock. Synonyms:<br />
Panicum crus–galli<br />
©2006 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
63<br />
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids<br />
64<br />
Elymus elymoides<br />
western bottle–brush,<br />
bottlebrush squirrel–tail<br />
General: Native Semi–erect, moderately–<br />
bunching perennial; round stem, not branched,<br />
15–50 cm. Vegetative: Leaves evenly distributed<br />
on glabrous sheaths, scabrous to densely white–<br />
villous; auricles to 1 mm, often purplish; ligules<br />
shorter than 1 mm, truncate, entire or lacerate;<br />
blades 2–4 mm wide, often involute, abaxially<br />
surfaces glabrous to puberulent, adaxial<br />
scabrous, puberulent to hirsute. Inflorescence:<br />
Spikes 3–20 cm long, 5–15 cm wide, erect to subflexuous, 2–3 spikelets ber node, 10–<br />
20 mm spikelets, divergent, sometimes glaucous at least one spikelet at a node with<br />
2–4 florets, 1–4 fertile; disarticulate at rachis nodes, then beneath each floret; glumes<br />
subequal, 20–135 mm, including undifferentiated awns; sometimes they split into 2–3<br />
unequal divisions, flexuous to outcurving from base at maturity; fertile lemmas 6–12<br />
mm, glabrous, scabrous, or appressed–pubescent. Ecology: Found in dry, often<br />
rocky, but wide–ranging habitats from open woods to grassl<strong>and</strong>s, to disturbed areas<br />
from 2,000–11,500 ft (610–3505 m); flowers March–September. Notes: Distinctive<br />
spikelets with their arrangement like a bottlebrush help to identify this species.<br />
Widespread species in the Intermountain West. Host plaint for Garita Skipperling<br />
<strong>and</strong> Nevada skipper butterflies. Can be good fodder when young. Ethnobotany:<br />
Used as forage, although mature fruits irritate animals’ mouths. Etymology: Elymus<br />
is from the Greek elymos for millet, while elymoides means like the genus Elymus.<br />
Synonyms: Sitanion hystrix, S. glabrum<br />
©2009 Liz Makings
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Eragrostis barrelieri<br />
Mediterranean lovegrass<br />
General: Introduced, tufted annual, culms erect to spreading, geniculate or<br />
decumbent at the base, branching at base, rings or patches of shiny yellow, pink,<br />
or purplish gl<strong>and</strong>ular tissue on stems, <strong>and</strong> inflorescence axes <strong>and</strong> branches.<br />
Vegetative: Sheaths one–half the length of the internodes, glabrous except for<br />
pilose apex of margins; ligule a dense row of white hairs about 0.4 mm long;<br />
blades flat to involute, glabrous below, scabrous <strong>and</strong> scattered pilose above,<br />
3–10.5 cm long, 1–5 mm wide. Inflorescence: Panicles ovoid, open 5–16 cm long,<br />
2–8 cm wide, rachis scabrous towards tip, branches ascending to spreading often<br />
bearing spikelets nearly to the base, glabrous; spikelets linear to oblong, straw–<br />
to–lead colored, flattened 5–11 mm long, 1–1.5 mm wide, 6–15 flowered, rachilla<br />
persistent; glumes ovate, acute to acuminate, hyaline, scabrous on keels; lower<br />
glume 1–1.5 mm, upper glume slightly longer; lemmas 2 mm; caryopsis cylindric,<br />
oblique at one end, pointed at other. Ecology: Found on roadsides <strong>and</strong> on<br />
disturbed ground; flowers August–October.<br />
Notes: A common weedy species, introduced<br />
from Europe. The prominent gl<strong>and</strong>ular rings<br />
or patches are unique among the grasses in<br />
Arizona <strong>and</strong> Sonora. Etymology: Eragrostis<br />
is from Greek eros, love <strong>and</strong> agrostis, grass,<br />
while barrelieri is named for the French<br />
botanist Jacques Barrelier (1606–1673).<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
©2007 WNMU, Zimmerman Herbarium<br />
65<br />
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Eragrostis cilianensis<br />
66<br />
H M L<br />
stinkgrass<br />
General: Highly variable annual, culms tufted, erect to prostrate, branching<br />
at base <strong>and</strong> above, ring of gl<strong>and</strong>s below nodes, to 45 cm but usually smaller.<br />
Vegetative: Sheaths overlapping, bearded at throat, leaves otherwise glabrous,<br />
2–7 mm wide, 6–25 cm long, flat to v–shaped, often with wartlike gl<strong>and</strong>s<br />
along margins; ligule ciliate, truncate, 0.5 mm long. Inflorescence: Panicles<br />
ovoid to oblong, open, usually densely flowered, 5.5–16 cm long, 2–8.5 cm<br />
wide, rachis scabrous, branches stiffly ascending to spreading, sometimes<br />
flexuous <strong>and</strong> slender, scabrous, spikelets <strong>and</strong> inflorescence branches pale<br />
green when fresh, turing straw colored at maturity, spikelets 3.5–21 mm by 2–3<br />
mm; lemmas 2–2.5 mm; rachilla persistent; glumes broadly to narrowly ovate,<br />
acute to subacute, sometimes three–nerved, compressed; caryopsis ellipsoidal<br />
to subspherical, striate. Ecology: Found on roadsides, in disturbed ground<br />
<strong>and</strong> other waste places from 3,500–7,000 ft<br />
(1067–2134 m); flowers May–October. Notes:<br />
Also known as stink grass because it is said to<br />
smell like cockroaches, but it really just stinks.<br />
Etymology: Eragrostis is from Greek eros,<br />
love <strong>and</strong> agrostis, grass, cilianensis comes<br />
from <strong>and</strong> estate in Italy, Ciliani, where the<br />
type specimen was collected. Synonyms:<br />
Eragrostis major, E. megastachya, Poa<br />
cilianensis<br />
©2005 Luigi Rignanese
©2007 WNMU, Zimmerman Herbarium<br />
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Eragrostis curvula<br />
weeping lovegrass, Boer lovegrass<br />
General: Tufted perennial, culms erect or ascending, 75–150 cm tall. Vegetative:<br />
Sheaths shorter than internodes, open, keeled, lower ones hispid; basal sheaths<br />
numerous <strong>and</strong> spread out, densely villous on back <strong>and</strong> less so on margins, upper<br />
glabrous; ligule ciliate, truncate, about 1 mm long; blades involute, setaceous,<br />
flexuous, usually glabrous below <strong>and</strong> scabrous above, 20–30 cm long; collar<br />
margins pilose. Inflorescence: Panicles oblong or ovoid, open 25–40 cm long,<br />
8–12 cm wide, rachis scabrous, flexuous 8–15 cm long, lower axils densely<br />
pubescent, upper less so; spikelets oblong–lanceolate, 6–12 flowered, 4–10 mm<br />
long, compressed, grayish–green, rachilla disarticulating; glumes acuminate,<br />
lanceolate, compressed, keeled, first 1.8 mm long,<br />
second 2.8 mm long; lemmas narrowly ovate,<br />
acute, lateral nerves conspicuous; caryopsis<br />
ellipsoidal, striate, 1.4 mm. Ecology: Found on<br />
s<strong>and</strong>y soils, roadsides, burns below 7,000 ft (2134<br />
m); flowers June–August. Notes: Introduced from<br />
Africa, used as a reseeding grass in the early 20th<br />
century along with E. lehmanniana. Etymology:<br />
Eragrostis is from Greek eros, love <strong>and</strong> agrostis,<br />
grass, while curvula refers to its curved habit.<br />
Synonyms: Eragrostis chloromelas, E. curvula var.<br />
conferta, E. curvula var. curvula, E. robusta<br />
©2005 Pedro Tenorio Lezama<br />
Eragrostis intermedia<br />
plains lovegrass<br />
General: Densely tufted erect perennial, culms 55–90<br />
cm tall. Vegetative: Sheaths rounded on the back,<br />
keeled, lower compressed, one margin ciliate; blades<br />
involute, 1–3 mm wide, 10–25 cm long, flat, glabrous<br />
except for few long hairs above ligule; ligule a dense<br />
row of white hairs .4 mm long; collar pilose, margins<br />
pilose. Inflorescence: Panicles broadly pyramidal,<br />
open, decompound, 20–40 cm long, 15–30 cm wide,<br />
branches ascending to spreading, lower sometimes<br />
reflexed, slender, flexuous, solitary or sub–opposite,<br />
10–25 cm long, axils pilose; spikelets oblong to<br />
narrowly lanceolate, compressed, grayish–green to<br />
purple tinged, 4– mm long, 1.6–1.8 mm wide, 5–11 flowered, rachilla disarticulated;<br />
glumes hyaline, compressed, keeled, scabrous on the keel, first acuminate,<br />
lanceolate second acute, ovate; lemmas ovate, acute, rounded on back, loosely<br />
imbricate, inconspicuous lateral nerves; caryopsis oblong, striate. Ecology:<br />
Found on s<strong>and</strong>y <strong>and</strong> rocky slopes <strong>and</strong> plains, from 4,000–5,000 ft (1219–1524 m);<br />
flowers June–October. Notes: The combination of the open, broadly pyramid–<br />
shaped, <strong>and</strong> reddish inflorescence are diagnostic. Panicles will break loose <strong>and</strong><br />
roll in the wind after anthesis. Etymology: Eragrostis is from Greek eros, love<br />
<strong>and</strong> agrostis, grass, intermedia means intermediate. Synonyms: None<br />
67<br />
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids<br />
68<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Eragrostis lehmanniana<br />
H M L<br />
Lehmann lovegrass<br />
General: Tufted perennial, erect or ascending, sometimes decumbent <strong>and</strong><br />
geniculate at lower nodes, 45–60 cm tall; stems bent at lower nodes. Vegetative:<br />
Sheaths one–third to one–half the length of the internodes, open, glabrous<br />
except for sparse pilose apex of margins; blades involute, about 1 mm wide,<br />
2–10 cm long, stiffly ascending, sometimes grossly flexuous, 5–15 cm long; ligule<br />
ciliate, 0.5–1 mm long; collar pilose at the margins. Inflorescence: Narrowly<br />
oblong to lanceolate, open, 10–15 cm long, 4–8 cm wide, rachis glabrous to<br />
slightly scabrous, branches ascending to slightly spreading; spikelets slightly<br />
compressed, often dark gray–green to straw colored, several to 12–flowered,<br />
rachilla disrticulating; glumes hyaline, keeled, scarcely compressed, first<br />
lanceolate 1–1.5 mm, second ovate–lanceolate about 1.5 mm long; lemmas<br />
oblong, obtuse, very little compressed or keeled; caryopsis ellipsoidal. Ecology:<br />
Introduced widely beginning in the 1930s, now widespread in grassl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong><br />
along roadsides from 3,000–4,500 ft (914–1372 m); flowers June–August.<br />
Notes: One of the most charismatic of the<br />
African introductions from earlier in the<br />
century, it was used extensively as an erosion<br />
control <strong>and</strong> range revegetation plant, but now<br />
it is changing fire–regimes <strong>and</strong> altering greater<br />
areas every year, often the first <strong>and</strong> sometimes<br />
only grass greening up in the l<strong>and</strong>scape.<br />
Etymology: Eragrostis is from Greek eros,<br />
love <strong>and</strong> agrostis, grass, lehmanniana is named<br />
for German botanist Johann Georg Christian<br />
Lehmann (1792–1860). Synonyms: None<br />
© 2008 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2006 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2008 Jason E. Will<strong>and</strong><br />
Eriochloa acuminata<br />
tapertip cupgrass<br />
General: Annual, culms 20–100 cm, long,<br />
weak, usually decumbent or geniculate below,<br />
herbage typically pubescent to villous or hirsute,<br />
infrequently glabrous. Vegetative: Bright green<br />
blades, glabrous or rarely thinly pubescent, thin,<br />
3–10 mm broad; ligule of soft hairs; sheaths glabrous<br />
or occasionally hirsute. Inflorescence: Panicle<br />
6–18 cm long, with appressed or erect–spreading<br />
branches; inflorescence branches <strong>and</strong> pedicels<br />
flattened or angular, densely pubescent with hairs<br />
to 4 mm long, long hairs often interspersed with shorter hairs, latter often<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular; second glume <strong>and</strong> sterile lemma abruptly acuminate, mostly 3–4 mm<br />
long, appressed pubescent; fertile lemma oblong, finely reticulate, abruptly<br />
cuspidate at the apex. Ecology: Found in s<strong>and</strong>y washes <strong>and</strong> depressions, along<br />
streams, <strong>and</strong> on disturbed soils from 2,500–5,500 ft (762–1676 m); flowers<br />
August–October. Notes: There is a distinct variety documented at Tumacacori,<br />
var. minor: told apart from the species by the short–acuminate spikelets, the<br />
pedicels have only a few long hairs, mainly at the summit, while the culms are<br />
shorter. Etymology: Eriochloa from Greek erion, wool, <strong>and</strong> chloe or chloa,<br />
grass, while acuminata means having a long tapering point. Synonyms: None,<br />
but for var. minor (Eriochloa gracilis var. minor, E. punctata var. minor)<br />
Festuca octoflora<br />
sixweeks fescue<br />
General: Erect annual, 15–30 cm tall.<br />
Vegetative: Blades 1–2 mm wide, 2–10 cm<br />
long; narrow, margins rolled upward. Sheath<br />
smooth to puberulent. Ligule 0.5 mm long.<br />
Vernation folded. Inflorescence: Narrow<br />
panicle, 2–10 cm long. Spikelets 6–8 mm long,<br />
5–13–flowered. 1st glume 3–4.5 mm long, lance–<br />
shaped, 1–nerved. 2nd glume 3–4.5 mm long,<br />
lance–shaped, 3–nerved. Lemma 4–5 mm<br />
long, firm, lance–shaped, smooth or rough–<br />
textured. Awn 3–5 mm long. Notes: Annual; >5 florets per spikelet. Ecology:<br />
Sterile, rocky, open ground around
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids<br />
70<br />
Hilaria belangeri<br />
curly–mesquite<br />
General: Low tufted perennial 25–30 cm or less,<br />
culms stoloniferous <strong>and</strong> sod–forming, curving<br />
over <strong>and</strong> rooting at nodes, usually only upper one<br />
or two internodes erect, nodes with dense tufts of<br />
long white hairs. Vegetative: Blades flat <strong>and</strong> thin,<br />
2 mm wide, 5–20 cm long, flat to arcuate with some<br />
pustulate hairs; sheath open, margins overlapping;<br />
ligule membranous, obtuse to truncate, lacerate,<br />
0.5–1 mm long; collar glabrous, occasionally margins<br />
with 1–2 long hairs. Inflorescence: Spikes exserted<br />
on slender, filiform culm apices, less than 5 cm long<br />
with 4–9 spikelet clusters; glumes of lateral spikelets<br />
variable, inner reduced, outer broadened above,<br />
notched or lobed, midnerve extended into short awn; glumes of the central<br />
spikelet subequal, usually glabrous or scabrous, deeply notched, awns mostly<br />
4–5 mm; lemmas thin, awnless, about as long as glumes; caryopsis free from<br />
palea, mostly 1.5–2 mm long, flattened <strong>and</strong> oblong. Ecology: Found on rocky<br />
slopes, dry hillsides <strong>and</strong> s<strong>and</strong>y plains from 3,000–6,000 ft (914–1829 m); flowers<br />
July–November. Notes: Often develops in large colonies, usually in swales or<br />
heavy–textured soils. Etymology: Hilaria is named for Auguste St. Hilaire, a<br />
French naturalist. Synonyms: None<br />
Hopia obtusa<br />
vine mesquite<br />
General: Stoloniferous perennial, sod–forming,<br />
20–80 cm tall, wiry culms, glabrous with swollen<br />
<strong>and</strong> densely hairy nodes; rhizomes to 1 m or more.<br />
Vegetative: Sheath open, glabrous occasionally<br />
villous at base; blades light blush green, flat, 2–7 mm<br />
wide, 5–20 cm long, midvein prominent <strong>and</strong> white;<br />
ligule membranous, 1–2 mm long, obtuse, entire<br />
or sometimes lacerate. Inflorescence: Contracted<br />
raceme 13 mm or less broad, 3–14 cm long with<br />
short, mostly simple <strong>and</strong> appressed branches;<br />
spikelets oblong or obovate, mostly 3.5–4 mm long, glabrous, subsessile on one<br />
side of branches; first glume equaling or slightly shorter than second; fertile<br />
lemma 3 mm long, smooth, obovate. Ecology: Found on swales, mud flats,<br />
heavy–soiled lowl<strong>and</strong>s, marshl<strong>and</strong>s from 1,000–6,000 ft (305–1829 m); flowers<br />
May–October. Notes: Cures light reddish then grayish tan; large brown seeds<br />
help set it apart. Ethnobotany: Plant was used as fodder, while roots were used<br />
as shampoo, <strong>and</strong> the seeds were eaten. Etymology: Panicum is a classical Latin<br />
name for millet, obtusum means blunted. Synonyms: Panicum obtusum<br />
©2005 Pedro Tenorio Lezama<br />
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2008 Dan Tenaglia, missouriplants.com<br />
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
smooth barley<br />
General: Small annual, 20–60 cm, culms geniculate at the base. Vegetative:<br />
Sheaths glabrous, ligules short 0.2–0.7 mm long, truncate, erose or entire,<br />
ciliolate; blades flat, 1.5–4 mm broad, scabrous to pilose, auricles well<br />
developed, 1–2.5 mm long. Inflorescence: Spikes linear–oblong, 5.5–7 cm;<br />
rachis disarticulating; central spikelets 16–36 mm including awns, three<br />
spikelets appear pedicellate; glumes 11–22 mm<br />
long, those of central spikelet <strong>and</strong> inner glumes<br />
of the lateral spikelets broadened at the base <strong>and</strong><br />
ciliate, with 3 scabrous nerves, outer glumes of<br />
the lateral spikelets awn–like; lemma of central<br />
spikelet 6–10 mm long, fertile, glabrous. glabrous.<br />
Ecology: Found in disturbed areas; flowers May–<br />
June. Notes: Common weedy annual species in the<br />
desert. Etymology: Hordeum is the Latin name for<br />
barley, murinum means of mice, mouse–gray, like a<br />
mouse. Synonyms: Critesion glaucum, C. murinum<br />
ssp. glaucum, Hordeum glaucum, H. stebbinsii<br />
©2008 Michael L. Charters<br />
Hordeum murinum ssp. glaucum<br />
Hordeum pusillum<br />
little barley<br />
General: Annual with erect culms mostly 15–40 cm<br />
tall. Vegetative: Blades 2–5 mm wide, 2–10 cm long,<br />
flat to u–shaped, scabrous; open sheath, glabrous to<br />
short pubescent, with small auricles or lacking; ligule<br />
membranous, truncate, almost entire, 0.3–0.5 mm<br />
long. Inflorescence: Spicate raceme linear–oblong,<br />
4–8 cm long, outer glumes of the lateral spikelets<br />
awnlike, without exp<strong>and</strong>ed bodies, other glumes<br />
broadened <strong>and</strong> flattened above the base, scabrous,<br />
with awns 7–12 mm long; florets of lateral spikelets<br />
irregularly reduced, usually pediceled above the<br />
glumes, about half to one–third as large as fertile floret<br />
of the central spikelet; lemma of central floret 4–6 mm<br />
long with an awn 2–7 mm long. Ecology: Found on roadsides <strong>and</strong> disturbed<br />
soils below 6,000 ft (1829 m); flowers May–August. Notes: Most widespread<br />
native barely. Etymology: Hordeum is the Latin name for barley, while<br />
pusillum means small, weak, or insignificant. Synonyms: Critesion pusillum, H.<br />
pusillum var. pubens<br />
71<br />
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Poaceae<br />
Graminoids<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Hordeum vulgare<br />
72<br />
H M L<br />
common barley<br />
General: Introduced; large cultivated annual; erect grass up to 60–120 cm<br />
tall; glabrous. Vegetative: Blades flat, 5–16 mm wide; sheaths smooth; auricles<br />
well developed, up to 6 mm long. Ligule 0.5–1.2 mm, erose–lacerate, ciliolate.<br />
Inflorescence: Spike stout, up to 10 cm long (excluding the awns) with 2–6 rowed<br />
spikelets. All 3 spikelets of the triad sessile <strong>and</strong> fertile. Glumes subequal, 6.5–20 mm<br />
long, 3–nerved, tapering into scabrous awns. Lemmas of the 3 spikelets subequal,<br />
faintly 5–nerved, glabrous, tapering into a long, stout, flattened, scabrous awns<br />
6–16 cm long. Ecology: Widely cultivated <strong>and</strong> most often found as a roadside weed;<br />
flowers May–June. Notes: Large introduced annual; auricles well–developed up<br />
to 6 mm long; spikes with very long awns<br />
(6–16 cm long) arising from fertile lemmas.<br />
Ethnobotany: Papago, Pomo, <strong>and</strong> Cocopa<br />
all used the seeds for pinole <strong>and</strong> flour for<br />
food. Etymology: Hordeum is the Latin<br />
name for barley, vulgare means common.<br />
Synonyms: Many, see Tropicos<br />
Leptochloa dubia<br />
green sprangletop<br />
General: Tufted perennial with tough,<br />
knotty base <strong>and</strong> well–developed roots,<br />
40–100 cm, often with a purple tinge.<br />
Vegetative: Sheath open, glabrous,<br />
keeled <strong>and</strong> flattened, purple–tinged;<br />
blades 4–5 mm wide, 15–25 cm long, flat,<br />
glabrous, scabrous, or sparsely pilose;<br />
ligule membranous, ciliate, about 0.5<br />
mm long, occasionally appearing ciliate.<br />
Inflorescence: Spicate branches 2–15, flexible <strong>and</strong> drooping, 4–12 cm long <strong>and</strong><br />
well spaced on upper 5–20 cm of culm, triangular in cross–section, bases of<br />
branches with minute hairs; spikelets 6–10 mm long <strong>and</strong> four to seven flowered;<br />
glumes lanceolate, awnless, second usually 4–5 mm long, the upper longer <strong>and</strong><br />
broader than lower, persistent; lowermost lemmas 3.5–5 mm long, glabrous<br />
or with appressed pubescent nerves, ovate or oblong, dorsally compressed;<br />
spikelets breaking apart above glumes <strong>and</strong> between florets, each floret falling<br />
with its segment of the rachis. Ecology: Found on dry slopes, plateaus, rocky<br />
slopes from 2,500–6,000 ft (762–1829 m); flowers July–October. Notes: Only<br />
perennial Leptochloa, prolific seeder <strong>and</strong> early establishment <strong>and</strong> greening up<br />
in early summer. Etymology: Leptochloa taken from Greek leptos, slender,<br />
<strong>and</strong> chlose or chloa, grass, while dubia means doubtful. Synonyms: Chloris<br />
dubia, Diplachne dubia<br />
©2008 Luigi Rignanese<br />
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2008 Dan Tenaglia, missouriplants.com<br />
Leptochloa panicea<br />
mucronate sprangletop<br />
General: Annual, caespitose, erect, compressed<br />
culms, 13–150 cm long. Vegetative: Sheaths sparsely<br />
or densely hairy; ligule a ciliate membrane .6–3.2<br />
mm long; blades elongate 3–25 cm long, 1.5–7 mm<br />
wide, glabrous or sparsely pilose on both sides, apex<br />
attenuate. Inflorescence: Numerous racemose<br />
panicles borne along a central axis, straight, unilateral,<br />
8–30 cm long; branches 1–19 cm long, ascending to<br />
reflexed; rachis semiterete, spikelet packing broadside<br />
to rachis; spikelets 2–4 mm, distant to imbricate, green,<br />
magenta, or maroon with 2–5 florets; glumes sometimes<br />
exceeding florets, linear to narrowly elliptic, acute,<br />
attenuate, or aristate; lemmas 0.9–1.7 mm, glabrous or sericeous; paleas glabrous<br />
or sericeous; caryopsis ellipsoid, 0.5 mm long, dark brown. Ecology: Found in<br />
moist habitats of wetl<strong>and</strong>s, swamps, <strong>and</strong> open lowl<strong>and</strong> soils, cannot tolerate<br />
either too dry or too wet soils, weed of cultivated l<strong>and</strong>s from 1,000–5,000 ft<br />
(305–1524 m); flowers May–September. Notes: Ssp. mucronata has been<br />
vouchered at Tumacacori <strong>and</strong> is told apart by its linear to narrowly lanceolate<br />
glumes, exceeding the florets; lemmas 0.9–1.2 mm long, <strong>and</strong> caryopses without<br />
a ventral groove <strong>and</strong> somewhat coarsely rugose with broadly obtuse apices.<br />
Etymology: Leptochloa is from Greek leptos, slender <strong>and</strong> chloe or chloa, grass.<br />
Synonyms: Leptochloa attenuata, L. filiformis var. attenuata, L. mucronata<br />
73<br />
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Poaceae<br />
Graminoids<br />
74<br />
Muhlenbergia fragilis<br />
delicate muhly<br />
General: Delicate annual, culms much<br />
branched below, 10–30 cm, forms erect or<br />
spreading tufts, strigose below the nodes.<br />
Vegetative: Sheaths longer than internodes,<br />
scaberulous, with hyaline margins; blades<br />
to 5 cm long, 1.5–2 mm wide, flat or folded,<br />
scabrous, with prominent, white, thickened<br />
midnerve <strong>and</strong> margins; ligule hyaline, ©2007 WNMU, Zimmerman Herbarium<br />
truncate, 0.5–1 mm long, decurrent margins<br />
of sheath extending as prolongations 1–2.5 mm long. Inflorescence: Panicles<br />
often purple, very diffuse <strong>and</strong> open <strong>and</strong> readily breaking off at maturing;<br />
numerous usually solitary slender branches becoming stiffly spreading or<br />
even reflexed, branchlets divergent, spikelets 1–1.1 mm long, glumes obtuse<br />
to subacute, glabrous, 0.6–0.9 mm long; lemma obtuse, glabrous or densely<br />
pubescent on keel <strong>and</strong> margins; palea equaling lemma in length, caryopsis<br />
elliptic, 0.7 mm, reddish brown. Ecology: Found on moist s<strong>and</strong>y soil <strong>and</strong><br />
rocky hills from 2,500–6,500 ft (762–1981 m); flowers August–October. Notes:<br />
Told apart from the other small muhlys by its being awnless. Etymology:<br />
Muhlenbergia is named for Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst Muhlenberg (1753–1815),<br />
fragilis means delicate, or fragile. Synonyms: None<br />
Muhlenbergia microsperma<br />
littleseed muhly<br />
General: Soft <strong>and</strong> delicate annual 10-70 cm,<br />
erect or spreading culms, much branched<br />
at lower nodes, often suffused with purple,<br />
stems weak, growing through other plants.<br />
Vegetative: Sheaths shorter than internodes,<br />
glabrous or scabrous; leaves scabrous to pilose<br />
with short hairs, early deciduous, flat, 1-8<br />
cm long, soon drying; ligules membranous,<br />
translucent white, 1 mm, decurrent.<br />
Inflorescence: Panicles numerous, narrow,<br />
loosely flowered, 5-20 cm long, branches usually ascending or spreading but<br />
appressed in early stages, longer than wide, filmy, usually purplish; spikelets on<br />
short, rather stout, scabrous, spreading pedicels; glumes broad, covering only<br />
base of lemma, body of lemma narrow, 1.5-2.5 mm, tapering into slender awn<br />
14-28 mm, easily opening to release golden-brown caryopsis. Ecology: Found<br />
on rocky slopes, in canyons, <strong>and</strong> other favorable microsites below 5000 ft<br />
(1524 m); flowers March-August. Notes: Very responsive to moisture, growing<br />
quickly, told apart by its awned seed. Etymology: Muhlenbergia is named for<br />
Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst Muhlenberg (1753-1815), microsperma means small<br />
seed. Synonyms: Muhlenbergia debilis<br />
2009 <strong>NPS</strong>/Beth Fallon
©2003 Michael L. Charters<br />
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Muhlenbergia porteri<br />
bush muhly<br />
General: Perennial from a hard, knotty<br />
base with slender, wiry, geniculate, much–<br />
branched stems, often weak 10–40 cm;<br />
numerous nodes <strong>and</strong> short internodes,<br />
often swollen, mostly scabrous or<br />
minutely puberulous. Vegetative: Sheaths<br />
open, spreading away from culms, blades<br />
short, flat or folded 0.5–2 mm broad,<br />
usually scabrous; ligule membranous,<br />
translucent white, truncate, lacerate, occasionally longer on the sides, 1–2 mm.<br />
Inflorescence: Numerous fine, many–branched terminal panicles, mostly<br />
4–10 cm long <strong>and</strong> nearly as broad, spikelets maturing purple; glumes thin,<br />
membranous, glabrous, narrowly lanceolate, acute or acuminate, the second<br />
two–thirds as long as lemma; lemma more or less puberulous, body 3–4.5 mm<br />
long, awn 5–10 mm long; palea awnless, glabrous or puberulent. Ecology:<br />
Found on rocky slopes <strong>and</strong> dry mesas from 2,000–6,000 ft (610–1829 m);<br />
flowers August–November. Notes: Often found growing in <strong>and</strong> around shrubs<br />
<strong>and</strong> trees, as clambering bushy plant. Etymology: Muhlenbergia is named for<br />
Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst Muhlenberg (1753–1815), porteri is named for Thomas<br />
Conrad Porter (1822–1901) an American botanist. Synonyms: None<br />
Panicum hallii<br />
Hall’s panicgrass<br />
General: Tufted perennial, culms 20–70<br />
cm, in small dense clumps with glabrous or<br />
pubescent nodes. Vegetative: Sheath open,<br />
with pustulate hairs, sometimes sparse; blades<br />
flat 1.5–5.5 mm wide 4–15 cm long, glabrous on<br />
upper surface, sparsely ciliate near base, old<br />
dry blades curled <strong>and</strong> shavings–like; ligule<br />
ciliate with membranous base, 0.3–1.5 mm long.<br />
Inflorescence: Panicle 6–20 cm long with few,<br />
stiff, erect–spreading branches <strong>and</strong> mostly<br />
appressed branchlets <strong>and</strong> pedicels; spikelets appressed <strong>and</strong> closely placed<br />
in small clusters, often imbricate <strong>and</strong> overalapping, 3–4 mm long; first glume<br />
one–third to two–thirds as long as spikelet, second glume <strong>and</strong> sterile lemma<br />
ovate–lanceolate, somewhat pointed, glabrous; fertile lemma smooth <strong>and</strong><br />
shiny, about 2.5 mm long. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y plains <strong>and</strong> rocky slopes<br />
from 2,500–7,500 ft (762–2286 m); flowers March–October. Notes: Caryopsis<br />
has the appearance of small nutlets, often associated with grama grasses;<br />
papery, shaving–like blades are one diagnostic. Etymology: Panicum is a<br />
classical Latin name for millet, while hallii is named for Harvey Monroe Hall<br />
(1874–1932). Synonyms: None<br />
75<br />
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Panicum hirticaule<br />
76<br />
H M L<br />
Mexican panicgrass<br />
General: Annual, culms branching or not, simple from 20–80 cm tall, much–<br />
branched, spreading from base. Vegetative: Sheaths typically papillose–hispid<br />
with spreading hairs but glabrous or nearly so; blades flat 4–12 mm broad,<br />
hispid, pubescent, or ciliate, rarely glabrous; ligule of stiff hairs, more or less<br />
connate <strong>and</strong> membranous below. Inflorescence: Panicle large, diffuse, one–<br />
third to one–fourth length of culm with erect–spreading capillary branches <strong>and</strong><br />
short–pediceled, appressed spikelets, mostly 3–3.7 mm long, green or purple;<br />
first glume mostly one–half to two–thirds as long as spikelet, second glume<br />
<strong>and</strong> sterile lemma acute to acuminate, glabrous,<br />
5–7 nerved; fertile lemma smooth, shiny, 1.7–2 mm.<br />
Ecology: Found on dry slopes <strong>and</strong> plains, s<strong>and</strong>y<br />
washes, <strong>and</strong> open woodl<strong>and</strong>s below 7,000 ft (2134<br />
m); flowers July–October. Notes: This species has<br />
several other closely related varieties that should<br />
be double–checked against when making any<br />
determinations. Ethnobotany: Seeds were ground<br />
into a meal <strong>and</strong> used for making flour <strong>and</strong> bread by<br />
the Cocopa. Etymology: Panicum is a classical Latin<br />
name for millet, hirticaule means hairy–stemmed.<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Paspalum dilatatum<br />
dallis grass<br />
General: Introduced perennial from hard, knotty base, culms 50–150 cm tall.<br />
Vegetative: Basal sheaths often open soft–hairy below, above usually glabrous<br />
compressed; blades flat 3–12 mm wide, glabrous or pubescent, with few long hairs<br />
on axial surface above ligule; ligule membranous 1.5–3 mm long. Inflorescence:<br />
Usually 3–5 spicate branches, mostly 5–8 cm long, single at the nodes, rachis<br />
broad <strong>and</strong> thin; spikelets 3–3.5 mm long about 2 mm broad, acute, abruptly<br />
pointed; first glume absent; second glume three–nerved, pubescent with long,<br />
soft hairs on margins <strong>and</strong> at base, glabrate on back; sterile lemma flat, glabrous<br />
or minutely puberulent, three–nerved; grain nearly orbicular. Ecology: Found<br />
on open ground, mostly in moist or<br />
marshy soils, roadsides, <strong>and</strong> disturbed<br />
ground below 4,500 ft (1372 m). Notes:<br />
Appears to have been introduced in<br />
our area to the Agua Caliente Ranch<br />
originally. Etymology: Paspalum is<br />
from the Greek paspalos for millet,<br />
while dilatatum means spread out.<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
©2006 Steven Thorsted<br />
©2009 WNMU, Zimmerman Herbarim
©20079 WNMU, Zimmerman Herbarium<br />
©2006 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Paspalum distichum<br />
knotgrass<br />
General: Perennial from extensive<br />
creeping stolons, erect culms 5–65 cm,<br />
nodes of both erect culms <strong>and</strong> stolons<br />
usually pubescent, sheaths glabrous but<br />
sparsely pubescent above. Vegetative:<br />
Blades to 14 cm long, 1.5–11.5 mm<br />
wide, flat to conduplicate, glabrous<br />
to hairy on upper surface, involute<br />
apices; ligules short membranous, 1–2<br />
mm. Inflorescence: Terminal panicles,<br />
composed of spicate <strong>and</strong> digitate pair of branches, third branch sometimes<br />
present below; branches 1.5–7 cm, diverging, often arcuate, not more than<br />
1 cm apart at the culm apex, rachis very thin, to 1 mm or more, terminating<br />
n spikelet; spikelets 3–4.5 mm long, 1 mm wide, solitary, appressed to the<br />
branch axes, elliptic lanceolate, glabrous; lower glume absent, upper glume<br />
<strong>and</strong> lemma glabrous to sparsely puberulous, 3–veined, fertile lemma smooth,<br />
shiny, pointed, slightly shorter than the spikelet. Ecology: Found in moist soil<br />
along streams or lakes, or in shallow water from 200–6,000 ft (61–1829 m);<br />
flowers June–October. Notes: This species can be distinguished by its growing<br />
in moving water, distinctive are its reddish culms <strong>and</strong> stems that are covered<br />
in long pubescence. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Paspalum is from<br />
the Greek paspalos for millet, while distichum means in two ranks. Synonyms:<br />
Digitaria paspaloides, Paspalum distichum var. indutum, P. paspaloides<br />
Poa bigelovii<br />
Bigelow’s bluegrass<br />
General: Tufted annual, culms 15–45 cm tall, delicate<br />
<strong>and</strong> erect. Vegetative: Sheaths open, slightly keeled<br />
at bottom, broad; blades flat, soft, light green, 2–4 mm<br />
wide, 4–12 cm long, tips boat shaped, median lines<br />
present; ligule membranous, acute, lacerate, 1–3 mm long.<br />
Inflorescence: Contracted panicle, branches strictly erect;<br />
spikelets broadly ovate, pale green 4.5–8 mm, with 3–8<br />
florets, overlapping <strong>and</strong> compressed against each other,<br />
spreading apart at maturity; glumes glabrous, first one to<br />
three nerved, second three–nerved, lemmas 3–4 mm long,<br />
margins white hairy <strong>and</strong> membranous, base with dense<br />
cottony tuft or web. Ecology: Found on rocky slopes <strong>and</strong> s<strong>and</strong>y desert washes<br />
from 1,000–5,000 ft (305–1524 m); flowers spring. Notes: Contracted panicle,<br />
lemma webbed <strong>and</strong> pubescent at base are diagnostic for this annual grass.<br />
Etymology: Poa is classical Greek name for grass, while bigelovii is named for<br />
Dr. John Milton Bigelow (1804–1878) a botanist on the Whipple expedition.<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
77<br />
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Polypogon monspeliensis<br />
78<br />
H M L<br />
annual rabbitsfoot grass<br />
General: Introduced annual with glabrous or scabrous herbace, culms<br />
geniculate <strong>and</strong> decumbent at base, 8–100 cm. Vegetative: Sheaths open, smooth<br />
to scaberulous; blades flat, 3–6 mm wide, 2–15 cm long; ligule membranous,<br />
acute, lacerate at tip, 2–6 mm long. Inflorescence: Dense panicle, often<br />
spikelike, mostly 2–15 cm, densely flowered with tawny awns, terminal on long<br />
stem, spikelike <strong>and</strong> short, dense branches below; glumes narrow one nerved<br />
with straight awn 4–7 mm long from entire or slightly notched apex; lemma<br />
<strong>and</strong> palea thin, translucent, slightly exceeding grain, lemma with delicate,<br />
deciduous awn 1 mm long, caryopsis plump, 1 mm long. Ecology: Found<br />
on s<strong>and</strong>y soil along streams, moist ditches <strong>and</strong> waste places from 500–8,000<br />
ft (152–2438 m); flowers March–<br />
October. Notes: Closely related to<br />
Agrostis, so its appearance is similar.<br />
Etymology: Polypogon is from Greek<br />
polys, many <strong>and</strong> pogon, beard, while<br />
monspeliensis is thought to be derived<br />
from Montpellier in southern France.<br />
Synonyms: Alopecurus monspeliensis<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Schismus arabicus<br />
H M L<br />
Arabian schismus<br />
General: Low tufted annual, 10–20 cm tall, glabrous, erect to spreading or<br />
semiprostrate. Vegetative: Leaves mostly basal, blades soft, bright green,<br />
narrow, sheath with membranous border above, often broad <strong>and</strong> truncate at<br />
apex; ligule a ring of short <strong>and</strong> long hairs. Inflorescence: Compact panicle,<br />
many flowered 1–6 cm long; spikelets 5–7 flowered; glumes 3.5–5.5 mm, often<br />
tinged with purple, lemmas 1.5–2.4 mm, margin <strong>and</strong> back hairy, apex shallowly<br />
to deeply notched, lobes acute; palea shorter than lemma, usually not reaching<br />
notch; caryopsis shiny golden brown. Ecology:<br />
Found on dry open ground, often in disturbed<br />
soil below 4,000 ft (1219 m); flowers January–May.<br />
Notes: S. arabicus <strong>and</strong> S. barbatus are thought<br />
to possibly intergrade, the only difference is<br />
in the glume size, <strong>and</strong> the lemmas being more<br />
hairy in S. arabicus. Etymology: Schismus is<br />
from Greek schismos, cleaving, referring to split<br />
lemma, arabicus refers to being Arabian in origin.<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
©2006 Luigi Rignanese<br />
©2001 Joe DiTomaso
©2008 Jason E. Will<strong>and</strong> H M L<br />
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Schismus barbatus<br />
common Mediterranean grass<br />
General: Low tufted annual, 10–20 cm tall, glabrous, erect to spreading or<br />
semiprostrate. Vegetative: Leaves mostly basal, blades soft, bright green,<br />
narrow, sheath with membranous border above, often broad <strong>and</strong> truncate at<br />
apex; ligule a ring of short <strong>and</strong> long hairs. Inflorescence: Compact panicle,<br />
many flowered 1–6 cm long; spikelets 5–7 flowered; glumes 2.5–4.5 mm long,<br />
acute or acuminate, five–nerved; lemma glabrous on back or with hairs on<br />
margin or occasionally near base, apical notch shallow or minute, palea about<br />
as long as lemma. Ecology: Found on dry open ground, often in disturbed<br />
soil below 4,000 ft (1219 m); flowers January–May. Notes: S. arabicus <strong>and</strong><br />
S. barbatus are thought to possibly<br />
intergrade, the only difference is in<br />
the glume size, <strong>and</strong> the lemmas being<br />
more hairy in S. arabicus. Etymology:<br />
Schismus is from Greek schismos,<br />
cleaving, referring to split lemma,<br />
barbatus means barbed. Synonyms:<br />
Festuca barbata, Schismus calycinus<br />
Setaria grisebachii<br />
Grisebach’s bristlegrass<br />
General: Annual, culms 15–50 cm tall, often<br />
geniculate–spreading <strong>and</strong> branching below, nodes<br />
microscopically pilose, internodes glabrous or<br />
pubescent. Vegetative: Sheaths densely ciliate,<br />
pubescent or pilose on collar; blades to 20 cm long,<br />
thin, flat, 4–10 mm broad; hairy ligule. Inflorescence:<br />
Panicle spike–like 3–15 cm long, typically loosely<br />
flowered <strong>and</strong> tapering to a point, often lobed or<br />
interrupted below, branches 2 cm long, occasionally<br />
panicle contracted <strong>and</strong> dense flowered, 5–10 mm<br />
long; bristles 5–15 mm long, 1–2 below each spikelet,<br />
flexuous, scabrous, green or purplish; spikelets 2 mm<br />
long; glumes strongly nerved, blunt, first very short,<br />
second equaling or slightly shorter than sterile <strong>and</strong> fertile lemmas; caryopsis<br />
acute, finely cross–wrinkled. Ecology: Found on rocky slopes, washes, <strong>and</strong> in<br />
open woodl<strong>and</strong>s from 2,000–6,500 ft (610–1981 m); flowers August–November.<br />
Notes: Told apart form S. leucopila by its being an annual. Etymology: Setaria<br />
is from Latin saeta, a bristle or hair. Synonyms: None<br />
79<br />
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80<br />
Setaria leucopila<br />
streambed bristlegrass<br />
General: Tufted perennial, 20–100 cm,<br />
usually pale or glaucuous, erect culms<br />
or geniculate from cespitose base,<br />
compressed, scabrous below panicle <strong>and</strong><br />
nodes, often pubescent below nodes.<br />
Vegetative: Sheaths compressed–keeled,<br />
glabrous except near scabrous summit<br />
<strong>and</strong> keel, villous along upper margins;<br />
ligule 1–2.5 mm long, densely ciliate; leaf<br />
blades 2–5 mm wide, flat or folded, 8–25 cm long, scabrous on both surfaces<br />
or nearly glabrous beneath. Inflorescence: Densely flowered panicle, 6–15 cm<br />
long, pale green, columnar, often interrupted below, axis scabrous or villous;<br />
bristles mostly solitary below each spikelet, three–fourths to nearly equaling<br />
spikelet, 5–nerved; sterile lemma <strong>and</strong> fertile one about equal; fertile lemma<br />
apiculate, finely rugose transversely, sterile palea one–half to three–fourths<br />
as long as fertile palea. Ecology: Found in grassl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> open ground from<br />
3,000–7,000 ft (914–2134 m); flowers May–October. Notes: One of the most<br />
common of the perennial plains bristlegrasses. Pay particular attention to the<br />
interruption on the lower part of the stem. Etymology: Setaria is from Latin<br />
saeta, a bristle or hair, leucopila is from Greek leukos <strong>and</strong> Latin pilus, a hair.<br />
Synonyms: Chaetochloa leucopila<br />
Setaria pumila<br />
Impact risk level<br />
H M L<br />
yellow bristlegrass<br />
General: Introduced tufted annual, culms branching at base, usually<br />
geniculate, 30–100 cm tall. Vegetative: Sheath open, keeled, only slightly<br />
compressed, one margin ciliate; ligule dense fringe of stiff, white hairs, 0.2–1.2<br />
mm long; blades flat, 4–12 mm wide, 5–25 cm long, loosely twisted, long hairs<br />
near throat, these pustulate, 3–4 mm long. Inflorescence: Panicle well exserted<br />
from sheath, dense, spike–like, cylindrical, 2–10 cm long, mostly 5–7 mm thick,<br />
excluding awns; bristles 5–20 in cluster, mostly 4–8<br />
mm long but occasionally longer, yellow, golden,<br />
or purple, antrorsely scabrous; spikelets 2.5–3 mm<br />
long; glumes shorter than sterile lemma <strong>and</strong> fertile<br />
lemma, first glum one–third as long, the second<br />
half or slight more as long; fertile lemma coarsely<br />
transverse rugose, usually more or less short–<br />
beaked at apex. Ecology: Found in lawns, irrigated<br />
l<strong>and</strong>s, waste places, in disturbed soils from 4,500–<br />
7,000 ft (1372–2134 m); flowers July–October.<br />
Notes: Etymology: Setaria is from Latin saeta, a<br />
bristle or hair, pumila means dwarf. Synonyms:<br />
Setaria lutescens<br />
©2007 Robert E. Preston, PhD<br />
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
Setaria viridis<br />
green bristlegrass<br />
General: Introduced, tufted annual with rolled vernation, culms decumbent,<br />
branching, glabrous 15–50 cm tall. Vegetative: Sheaths open, keeled, only<br />
slightly compressed, one margin ciliate, often on collar also; blades flat, mostly<br />
4–10 mm broad, 5–20 cm long, gradually tapering to a slender tip, scaberulous,<br />
margins wavy; ligule densely ciliate, 1–2 mm long. Inflorescence: Dense,<br />
spikelike panicle, cylindrical, 2–8 cm long <strong>and</strong> 5–8 mm broad excluding the<br />
bristles, rarely lobed or interrupted, rounded at the apex; bristles green or<br />
purple, antrorsely scabrous, mostly 5–8 mm long, occurring 1–4 at the base<br />
of each spikelet, spikelets 2–2.5 mm long; first glume short, second equaling<br />
sterile <strong>and</strong> fertile lemmas; fertile lemmas<br />
minutely reticulate or finely rugose,<br />
rounded at apex. Ecology: Found in<br />
lawns, along roads, waste places, irrigated<br />
l<strong>and</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> disturbed ground from 2,000–<br />
8,000 ft (610–2438 m); flowers June–<br />
October. Notes: This is an aggressive<br />
species. Etymology: Setaria is from Latin<br />
saeta, a bristle or hair, viridis means green.<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
©2005 Louis–M. L<strong>and</strong>ry H M L Impact risk level<br />
Impact risk level<br />
H M L Sorghum bicolor<br />
sorghum<br />
General: Robust annual, culms 1–3 m tall. Vegetative: Sheaths glabrous, ligules<br />
membranous 1.5–5.5 mm long; blades flat, 20–40 mm broad. Inflorescence: Panicles<br />
10–25 cm long, dense <strong>and</strong> compact, pedicel of the spikelet 0.7–2 mm long with hairs<br />
0.5–0.7 mm long; spikelet usually sterile, rarely staminate, usually shorter than sessile<br />
spikelet, 3.8–5 mm long, narrow–lanceolate; glumes subequal, first 9–11 nerved, flat to<br />
sulcate on back, clasping second glume, second glume narrow, 3–nerved, appressed–<br />
hirsute near margins; sessile spikelet spreads apart at<br />
maturity. Ecology: Found in cultivation <strong>and</strong> rarely<br />
escaped from cultivation. Notes: The size of the seeds<br />
is one indicator, but another is the reddish tinge found<br />
on S. halepense. Two subspecies, one being the base<br />
species of all cultivated sorghums (ssp. bicolor), while<br />
the other being more specifically that of sudangrass<br />
(ssp. drummondii). Sudangrass is typically used<br />
as a cover crop <strong>and</strong> has slightly reddish caryopsis,<br />
while being slightly smaller than other sorghums.<br />
Etymology: Sorghum is from Italian sorgo, for a tall<br />
cereal grass, bicolor means two–colored, often the case<br />
of the caryopsis. Synonyms: Many, see Tropicos<br />
©2006 Pedro Tenorio Lezama<br />
81<br />
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Sorghum halepense<br />
82<br />
H M L<br />
Johnsongrass<br />
General: Perennial from stout, scaly rhizomes, culms 1–2 m tall, culm nodes glabrous<br />
or finely pubescent. Vegetative: Sheaths glabrous, puberulent across the collar;<br />
ligules membranous, truncate, ciliate 1.5–3 mm long; blades large, flat, 4–15 mm<br />
broad, 20–50 cm long, margins white, midvein white <strong>and</strong> prominent. Inflorescence:<br />
Panicle usually large, densely flowered, variable, mostly 15–35 cm long; spikelets<br />
<strong>and</strong> pedicels more or less hirsute; sessile spikelets 4.5–6 mm long, glumes broad,<br />
coreaceous, nerveless <strong>and</strong> shiny except at tip; glumes of sessile spikelet subequal,<br />
first glume smooth <strong>and</strong> shiny on back, hispidulous on the margins or sometimes all<br />
over, 5–7 nerved, second glume glabrous, smooth <strong>and</strong> shiny below <strong>and</strong> hispidulous<br />
toward apex; fertile lemma membranous, usually with a twisted, once–geniculate<br />
awn 1–1.5 mm long, this readily deciduous; pediceled spikelet staminate, awnless,<br />
lanceolate, usually as long or longer than the sessile one. Ecology: Common weed<br />
on moist roadsides, ditchbanks, cultivated fields, <strong>and</strong> wastel<strong>and</strong>s below 5000 ft<br />
(1524 m); flowers April–November. Notes:<br />
Gnarly rhizomatous weed that spreads with<br />
seemingly every effort to control it. Best bet<br />
is to continually cultivate it, exhausting its<br />
rootstock; or burn it continually. Etymology:<br />
Sorghum is from Italian sorgo, for a tall cereal<br />
grass, <strong>and</strong> halepense refers to being of or<br />
from Allepo, northern Syria. Synonyms:<br />
Holcus halepensis, Sorghum milaceum<br />
©2006 Luigi Rignanese
©2006 Pedro Tenorio Lezama<br />
©2005 James M. Andre<br />
Sporobolus airoides<br />
alkali sacaton<br />
General: Semi–decumbent perennial with firm <strong>and</strong><br />
tough culms, found in large, dense clumps from a<br />
hard, knotty base, mostly 50–100 cm. Vegetative:<br />
Sheaths rounded, open, glabrous, or short–ciliate on<br />
upper margin, with few hairs on either side of collar;<br />
ligule usually a minute crown of short hairs, often<br />
bordered by small tufts of long hairs; blades firm <strong>and</strong><br />
fibrous, involute, 2–6 mm wide, 5–25 cm long, smooth<br />
on lower surface, scabrous above, tapering to a long<br />
slender tip. Inflorescence: Panicle 12–40 cm long,<br />
typically open <strong>and</strong> with widely spreading branches,<br />
branchlets, <strong>and</strong> spikelets; spikelets 2–3 mm long,<br />
brownish or lead–colored; glumes thin <strong>and</strong> rounded, first about half the length<br />
of lemma, second two–thirds or more the length of the lemma; lemma thin,<br />
rounded, blunt to narrowly acute; palea about as long as the lemma <strong>and</strong> usually<br />
broader at apex. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y plateaus, washes, heavy soils, often<br />
alkaline, bottoml<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> flats from 2,500–6,500 ft (762–1981 m); flowers from<br />
May–October. Notes: Rolled, drooping leaves <strong>and</strong> large cresting, fountain–<br />
like habit help to identify this grass. Ethnobotany: Seeds used as famine food,<br />
ground <strong>and</strong> mixed into a porridge with corn meal <strong>and</strong> for flour. Etymology:<br />
Sporobolus is Greek for “seed–caster” while airioides means it is like the genus<br />
Aira. Synonyms: Agrostis airoides<br />
Sporobolus contractus<br />
spike dropseed<br />
General: Tufted perennial, culms 40–120 cm tall <strong>and</strong><br />
2–4 mm in diameter at the base, in small clusters to<br />
large clumps. Vegetative: Sheaths rounded, open,<br />
glabrous with one pubescent margin; leaves 2–5 mm<br />
wide,10–30 cm long, flat or involute, tapering to a<br />
slender tip, glabrous; ligule a dense fringe of short<br />
hairs 0.5–1 mm. Inflorescence: Dense contracted,<br />
spikelike or moderately lobed, 1 cm or less thick <strong>and</strong><br />
15–50 cm long; basal portion of spike <strong>and</strong> sometimes<br />
entire spike remain enclosed in sheath; spikelets light<br />
brownish or lead–colored, 2–3 mm long; glumes<br />
thin, membranous, unequal, first usually about half<br />
as long as second; second equaling the lemma or slightly shorter; caryopsis<br />
1 mm in length, broad <strong>and</strong> flattened. Ecology: Found in dry, open, s<strong>and</strong>y or<br />
rocky slopes <strong>and</strong> washes, frequent along roads from 2,500–6,500 ft (762–1981<br />
m); flowers August–October. Notes: This species is notable for its tightly<br />
compact, dense spike. Etymology: Sporobolus is Greek for “seed–caster”<br />
while contractus means contracted. Synonyms: Sporobolus crypt<strong>and</strong>rus var.<br />
strictus<br />
83<br />
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Graminoids
Poacerae<br />
Graminoids<br />
84<br />
Sporobolus crypt<strong>and</strong>rus<br />
s<strong>and</strong> dropseed<br />
General: Erect, tufted perennial; round stem, not<br />
branched, 0.3–1 m tall. Vegetative: Blades 2–5 (3–8) mm<br />
wide, 5–15 (15–20) cm long; flat, margins becoming rolled<br />
upward towards tip; 3–4 veins each side of midrib; margin<br />
toothed. Sheaths open, one margin ciliolate; strongly<br />
overlapping; smooth; panicle more or less covered by<br />
sheath. Ligule densely ciliate, 0.5 mm long; hairy; hairs 2–3<br />
mm on margin. Collar broad; conspicuous 2–3 mm long<br />
hairs at margins. Vernation rolled/curled. Inflorescence:<br />
Terminal panicle, somewhat included in sheath, to 25 cm<br />
long <strong>and</strong> 16 cm wide. Spikelets pale to leaden, 2–2.5 mm<br />
long, 1–flowered.1st glume 1/3 to 1/2 as long as lemma <strong>and</strong><br />
palea. 2nd glume as long as lemma <strong>and</strong> palea. Ecology: Widespread; s<strong>and</strong>y<br />
soils of dry plains <strong>and</strong> slopes <strong>and</strong> on s<strong>and</strong>y open ground from 3,500–6,500 ft<br />
(1065–1980 m); flowers May–September. Notes: Perennial; panicle included<br />
in sheath; conspicuous tuft of hairs at ligule <strong>and</strong> collar; culms not branched,<br />
sheaths strongly overlapping with pubescent margins. Species is greatly harmed<br />
by fire. Re–establishment is from on or off–site. Forage value is fair to good for<br />
livestock <strong>and</strong> poor for wildlife, with quality decreasing rapidly upon maturity.<br />
Important desert winter forage, although not preferred by elk , pronghorn, or<br />
deer. Rodents eat seeds. Etymology: Sporobolus is Greek for “seed–caster.”<br />
Crypt<strong>and</strong>rus is Greek for hidden–male. Synonyms: Agrostis crypt<strong>and</strong>ra<br />
Sporobolus wrightii<br />
big sacaton<br />
General: Large, coarse stemmed perennial<br />
bunchgrass 1–2 m tall, culms 4–6 mm thick at base.<br />
Vegetative: Sheath open, rounded, glabrous, one<br />
margin occasionally slightly ciliolate near collar; collar<br />
glabrous, a few hairs at margins; blades 3–6 mm wide,<br />
20–60 cm long, sparsely pilose at base behind ligule,<br />
midvein prominent, flat to involute; ligule ciliate, 1–2<br />
mm long. Inflorescence: Open, loosely branched<br />
panicle mostly 35–60 cm long, narrow, densely<br />
flowered, secondary branches closely appressed to<br />
primary branches; densely flowered nearly to base,<br />
spikelets 2–2.5 mm long; first glume about one–half<br />
as long as spikelet, second one–half to two–thirds as long as floret. Ecology:<br />
Found on river banks, in s<strong>and</strong>y washes, plains, valley flats, <strong>and</strong> floodplains from<br />
2,000–6,500 ft (610–1981 m); flowers March–November. Notes: One of the<br />
largest grasses in the region, often found in clumps more than 1 m in diameter.<br />
Had much more extensive range historically, covering the valley bottoms that<br />
were overgrazed <strong>and</strong> often plowed up for agriculture. Etymology: Sporobolus<br />
is Greek for “seed–caster” while wrightii is named for William Greenwood<br />
Wright (1831–1912) a Californian lepidopterist. Synonyms: Sporobolus airioides<br />
var. wrightii<br />
©2006 Louis–M. L<strong>and</strong>ry<br />
©2007 WNMU, Zimmerman Herbarium
©2006 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Tridens muticus<br />
slim tridens<br />
General: Small perennial bunchgrass<br />
20–50 cm tall, stout. Vegetative: Sheaths<br />
open, rounded, upper ones glabrous,<br />
lower usually pilose; blades mostly 8–15<br />
cm long, involute or occasionally flat,<br />
often glaucous; collar <strong>and</strong> ligule mostly<br />
long–hairy, ligule ciliate with fused base,<br />
.5–1 mm long, with membranous lateral<br />
©Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er @ USDA–NRCS Plants DB<br />
auricles. Inflorescence: Paniculate<br />
or racemose inflorescence 6–20 cm, narrow <strong>and</strong> spikelike, spikelets rather<br />
distant, not crowded; spikelets 9–13 mm long <strong>and</strong> 5–10 flowered; glumes<br />
broadly lanceolate or ovate, very thin <strong>and</strong> hyaline, one–nerved, second rarely<br />
with short lateral nerve stubs; lemmas about as long as glumes, thin, hyaline<br />
or deeply tinged with purple, broadly rounded apex, occasionally notched<br />
or mucronate. Ecology: Found on dry plain, rocky slopes, grassl<strong>and</strong>s, <strong>and</strong><br />
woodl<strong>and</strong>s below 5,500 ft (1676 m); flowers May–September. Notes: When<br />
mature, seeds drop off, leaving a pair of paper–like scales that persist through<br />
year. Etymology: Tridens means three–toothed, while muticus means blunt or<br />
without a point. Synonyms: None<br />
Urochloa arizonica<br />
Arizona signalgrass<br />
General: Annual, culms 15–60 cm tall, much–<br />
branched at base, glabrous or sparsely hispid<br />
at the nodes <strong>and</strong> below the panicle. Vegetative:<br />
Sheaths glabrous to papillose–hispid,<br />
loose; blades 5–15 mm broad, glabrous or scabrous,<br />
ciliate on margins at least near the base.<br />
Inflorescence: Panicle 7–20 cm long with<br />
appressed or erect–spreading hairs, branches<br />
scabrous; spikelets mostly 3–4 mm long,<br />
on pedicels 1–3 mm long, paired, appressed,<br />
glabrous or pubescent; first glume half or slightly less as long as the spikelet;<br />
second glume <strong>and</strong> sterile lemma puberulent or glabrous, abruptly pointed at<br />
apex, without fine cross–veins or those present only near apex; grain reticulate<br />
or finely rugose, abruptly short–beaked or cuspidate, 2–3 mm long. Ecology:<br />
Found on s<strong>and</strong>y ground, rocky slopes, <strong>and</strong> canyon bottoms from 1,000–5,500<br />
ft (457–1676 m); flowers June–October. Notes: Pubescent spikelets, reticulate–<br />
veined only at apex, its green color are all diagnostic. Etymology: Urochloa<br />
is from Greek oura, a tail <strong>and</strong> chloe or chloa, grass, while arizonica refers to<br />
Arizona. Synonyms: Brachiaria arizonica, Panicum arizonicum<br />
85<br />
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids
Poaceae<br />
Graminoids<br />
86<br />
Urochloa fusca<br />
browntop signalgrass<br />
General: Annual, culms erect or decumbent <strong>and</strong><br />
spreading below, 30–100 cm tall. Vegetative: Sheaths<br />
glabrous to papillose–hispid; blades glabrous or thinly<br />
pubescent, 15 mm broad, rarely if ever ciliate margins;<br />
ligule a tuft of stiff white hairs. Inflorescence: Panicle<br />
6–15 cm long, with appressed or erect–spreading,<br />
mostly simple branches; main panicle axis <strong>and</strong><br />
branches scabrous or with scattered long, stiff hairs,<br />
short branchlets <strong>and</strong> pedicels usually hairy; spikelets<br />
2.6–3 mm long, yellowish–brown or golden–tinged at<br />
maturity; first glume thin, one–third to one–fourth as<br />
long as the spikelet; second glume <strong>and</strong> sterile lemma<br />
mostly reticulate with fine cross veins to well below<br />
middle, rounded at apex; fertile lemma rugose, nearly as long as the spikelet,<br />
the apex blunt, not short–beaked or cuspidate. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y<br />
washes, open rocky slopes, often as a weed in disturbed soils; flowers July–<br />
October. Etymology: Urochloa is from Greek oura, a tail <strong>and</strong> chloe or chloa,<br />
grass, fusca means dark or brown. Synonyms: Urochloa fasciculata, many<br />
others, see Tropicos<br />
©2005 Pedro Tenorio Lezama
Flowering Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs<br />
The best way to start thinking about the flowering plants (or angiosperms) is to<br />
start with the big stuff—the trees. A conventional definition is “a woody plant<br />
with a single trunk.” More specifically, trees are defined by the presence of a<br />
single main trunk that is upright, with a crown of either leaves or needles that<br />
fall (deciduous trees) or needles or even leaves that do not fall (evergreen).<br />
Think of an elm tree or a willow.<br />
In the Sonoran Desert region, however, trees may not have just a single stem,<br />
nor a definite crown. Trees in this region often have many stems growing from<br />
one root, giving them a downright shrubby appearance, quite unlike the singlestemmed<br />
pine tree, with its single, straight trunk <strong>and</strong> pointed crown on top.<br />
To this end, we will consider the shrubs. Conventionally, shrubs are “woody<br />
plants, shorter than a tree <strong>and</strong> with many stems.” Problematically, some trees<br />
can be shrubs <strong>and</strong> some shrubs can be trees. For our purposes, it is best to<br />
simply consider trees <strong>and</strong> shrubs to be the woody plants—those which persist<br />
long after the rains have gone in the fall, whose leaves fall, <strong>and</strong> whose trunks<br />
<strong>and</strong> stems remain throughout the year. Trees <strong>and</strong> shrubs are the most common<br />
of the common plants; their sheer size <strong>and</strong> number are what we see when we<br />
look at a large l<strong>and</strong>scape.<br />
87<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs<br />
88
© 2008 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Anisacanthus thurberi<br />
Thurber’s desert honeysuckle, chuparosa<br />
General: Perennial, cold-deciduous shrub<br />
1–2 m (3–6 ft) high, leaves reappear in early<br />
spring; bark exfoliating, brown to gray with<br />
two vertical lines of pubescence. Leaves:<br />
Opposite lanceolate, sparsely hairy, entire,<br />
4–6 cm long, 1–1.5 cm wide, to 2 cm rarely,<br />
puberulent to glabrous. Flowers: Usually<br />
brick red, occasionally yellow or orange,<br />
tubular, 2–3.5 cm long. Fruits: Dehiscent,<br />
2-valved capsule 12–14 mm long, flattened with a long stalk. Ecology: Rocky<br />
canyon bottoms <strong>and</strong> gravelly or s<strong>and</strong>y washes from 2,000–5,000 ft (610–<br />
1524 m); blooms March–June, rarely in Fall (October–November). Notes:<br />
Summer rains stimulate stem growth, with flowers that are well adapted for<br />
hummingbird pollination. One of the better browse plants in the desert.<br />
Often found growing in shade. Ethnobotany: Potential use of nectar as sweet,<br />
but no documented use. Etymology: Anisacanthus is from Greek anisos<br />
‘unequal’, while Thurberi is for Dr. George Thurber (1821–1890) a botanist on<br />
the Mexican Boundary Survey in 1850–1854. Synonyms: Drejera thurberi<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 89<br />
Acanthaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs
Adoxaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs<br />
Sambucus nigra<br />
common elderberry<br />
General: Shrubs or small trees, deciduous;<br />
shrubs to 2 m tall, thicket-forming; trees to 6<br />
m; trunk to 0.3 m diameter; crown rounded<br />
<strong>and</strong> compact; bark gray or brown, furrowed;<br />
twigs stout, angled, with thick, soft pith; lateral<br />
buds green, scaly. Leaves: Opposite, pinnately<br />
compound, 13–18 cm long; leaflets 3–5, elliptical<br />
with serrated edges, 3–13 cm long, base often<br />
oblique, margins coarsely serrate, apex pointed;<br />
green <strong>and</strong> glabrous above, paler, glabrous or<br />
pubescent beneath. Flowers: Inflorescence<br />
in flat-topped clusters with or without a stalk; many-branched, commonly<br />
10–25 cm wide. Flowers bisexual, yellowish-white, fragrant, 4–7 mm wide,<br />
corolla 5-lobed. Fruits: Berries in clusters; dark blue with whitish coating, 6<br />
mm diameter, juicy, 3–5 seeded; maturing in summer <strong>and</strong> autumn. Ecology:<br />
Moist soils along streams, in canyons, <strong>and</strong> loamy bottoml<strong>and</strong>s; 2,500–5,000 ft<br />
(762–1524 m); flowers June–August. Notes: Diagnostic characteristics include<br />
its thick, pithy twigs; opposite, pinnately compound leaves; flat-topped cluster<br />
of flowers; dark blue berries with whitish coating. This species is still in a<br />
bit of systematic netherl<strong>and</strong> regionally, with a measure of uncertainty as to<br />
the correct placement <strong>and</strong> taxonomic separation. There are a few questions<br />
about the taxonomy of this species. An effort should be made at TUMA to<br />
collect specimens to clarify the precise identity. Note the new family name.<br />
Ethnobotany: Elderberries were often eaten when cooked, as some species<br />
are poisonous in raw form. They were often used in preserves, wine, or liquor<br />
(Sambuca). Washes made from bark were used to soothe external sores. Berries<br />
dried, mashed for cakes <strong>and</strong> mush, beverages including wine by the Gila River<br />
Pima, but it was important as winterfood. Stems used for orange dye, while<br />
berries make black or purple dye. Flowers stimulate sweating in dry fevers,<br />
while leaves have a mild laxative effect. Flowers <strong>and</strong> dried berries are diuretic<br />
<strong>and</strong> is useful in rheumatism <strong>and</strong> arthritis. Etymology: Sambucus comes from<br />
the Greek Sambuke, referring to an ancient instrument, however there seems<br />
to be some debate as to the construction <strong>and</strong> use of this instrument; nigra<br />
refers to the dark berries. Synonyms: See Tropicos<br />
90 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
© 2008 T. Beth Kinsey
© 2009 Pstrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Atriplex canescens<br />
fourwing saltbush<br />
General: Shrub, frequently 1.5–2 m, moundlike,<br />
much branched <strong>and</strong> drought deciduous.<br />
Leaves: Alternate, simple, gray-green, entire,<br />
narrowly spatulate to narrowly oblong,<br />
5 cm long or less, salty tasting. Flowers:<br />
Inconspicuous, tiny, yellow, in clusters on<br />
stem; dioecious. Fruit: Small seeds enclosed<br />
by 4-winged bracts, often 1–2 cm <strong>and</strong> nearly<br />
as wide. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y or gravelly<br />
soils, from desert scrub to pinon-juniper<br />
communities from 300–6,500 ft (100–2400 m)<br />
Notes: Browse for livestock, deer <strong>and</strong> antelope;<br />
seeds eaten by birds <strong>and</strong> rodents; very tolerant<br />
of salty soils. Ethnobotany: Seeds used for meal, yellow dye. Havasupai used<br />
it to make soap for hair washing <strong>and</strong> to treat itches <strong>and</strong> rashes. Hopi used the<br />
ashes as a substitute for baking soda. Navajo used it as an emetic, to treat ant<br />
bites, cough, <strong>and</strong> as a hair tonic. They also used it as feed for cattle, sheep <strong>and</strong><br />
goats. Etymology: Atriplex is an old Latin name for this plant, canescens<br />
means covered with short gray or white hairs. Synonyms: None<br />
Atriplex linearis<br />
thinleaf saltbush<br />
General: Shrub 1–2 m high <strong>and</strong> wide. Leaves: Linear to narrowly oblong, the<br />
larger leaves often 1–3 cm by 2–4 mm. Flowers: Dioecious, enclosed in a sepallike<br />
accrescent bracts. Fruits: Fruiting bracts 4-winged, often 5 mm <strong>and</strong> about<br />
as wide. Ecology: Found in dry places, s<strong>and</strong>y soils, dunes, flats, often saline<br />
soil below 3,000 ft (914 m); flowers May–July. Notes: Most floras identify<br />
this species as being below 2,500 ft (762 m), the specimen was documented<br />
in inventory work at Tumacácori. Ethnobotany: Seeds used for meal, yellow<br />
dye. Havasupai used it to make soap for hair washing <strong>and</strong> to treat itches <strong>and</strong><br />
rashes. Hopi used the ashes as a substitute for baking soda. Navajo used it as<br />
an emetic, to treat ant bites, cough, <strong>and</strong> as a hair tonic. They also used it as feed<br />
for cattle, sheep <strong>and</strong> goats. Etymology: Atriplex is an old Latin name for this<br />
plant, linearis mean linear, or parallel sided. Synonyms: Atriplex canescens ssp.<br />
linearis, Atriplex linearis<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 91<br />
Amaranthaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs
Anacardiaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs<br />
Rhus aromatica var. trilobata<br />
skunkbush sumac, squaw bush, lemonade<br />
berry<br />
General: Upright shrubs, deciduous; to 3<br />
m tall, thicket-forming. Branchlets brown,<br />
becoming gray with age. Leaves: Alternate,<br />
ternately compound or simple; leaflets 1–4.5<br />
cm long, lobed, often 3-lobed, margins<br />
coarsely toothed; shiny, dark green above,<br />
paler green beneath, glabrous or puberulent<br />
on one or both sides, turning red in fall.<br />
Flowers: Inflorescence in dense, spikelike<br />
clusters; lateral, arising from twigs of the previous years; 1–1.5 cm long; sessile.<br />
Ovate pinkish sepals, obovate pale yellow petals, to 3 mm long. Fruits: Drupes<br />
crowded in clusters; reddish-orange, rounded, 5–8 mm diameter, covered<br />
with short, sticky, red hairs. Ecology: Dry hillsides, canyons, <strong>and</strong> mesas from<br />
2,500–7,500 ft (762–2286 m); flowers March–June. Notes: Ternately compound<br />
leaves; clusters of sticky, reddish-orange, hairy drupes; flowers appearing<br />
before leaves; strong citrusy odor when bruised. There is a bit of uncertainty<br />
surrounding this species. Anderson 2007 suggested that all species of R.<br />
trilobata <strong>and</strong> its varieties be subsumed under R. aromatica. Anderson treated<br />
the species as polymorphic, suggesting our species differed from those in the<br />
East by virtue of its sparsely pubescent fruits; secondly, he indicated that var.<br />
trilobata is more ill-smelling than its citrusy eastern counterpart. Anderson<br />
indicated several varieties of this species, but that the species be treated as<br />
one complex. Ethnobotany: Fruit is eaten raw. Leaves are chewed to alleviate<br />
stomachache. Oil from fruit is used to treat hair loss. Wild <strong>and</strong> tended forms<br />
very dfferent, so that tended shrubs have long, straight shoots used in basketry.<br />
Extensively tended in CA, AZ, for basketry materials (hats, baskets). Fruit sour<br />
but edible, often mixed with water for a refreshing beverage. Also ground into<br />
a meal, after drying in the sun. Fruits, leaves <strong>and</strong> bark used in making dye.<br />
Navajo used it to treat skin problems <strong>and</strong> stomach problems. Different parts<br />
are used for dying wool <strong>and</strong> baskets. Etymology: Rhus is derived from rhous,<br />
an ancient Greek name for Sumac, Trilobata refers to three lobed. Synonyms:<br />
Schmaltzia anisophylla, Schmaltzia trilobata var. anisophylla<br />
92 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2009 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
© 2000 Wynn Anderson<br />
Rhus lanceolata<br />
prairie sumac, flame-leaf sumac<br />
General: Deciduous large shrub, can<br />
grow as single trunked tree to 10 m or<br />
from suckers forming colonies. Bark:<br />
Bark light brown to gray, smooth with<br />
numerous lenticels when young, later<br />
large, thin scales. Leaves: Alternate,<br />
pinnately compound, lanceolate up<br />
to 12 inches long, 7 to 15 leaflets per<br />
leaf; leaflets narrowly lance-shaped<br />
<strong>and</strong> somewhat hooked, entire<br />
margins; rachis have prominent<br />
wings between the leaflets, shiny, dark green above, paler, slightly fuzzy below.<br />
Flowers: Monoecious, greenish-yellow to white <strong>and</strong> small, borne on 3–5-in<br />
wide, terminal, pyramidal panicle in mid to later summer. Fruits: Dark red<br />
drupe, borne on terminal cluster, covered with short, sticky, red hairs. Matures<br />
in fall, present through winter. Ecology: Found on rocky hillsides in limestone<br />
<strong>and</strong> calcareous soils; blooms July–August. Notes: Sumacs often thrive in the<br />
poorest soil <strong>and</strong> tolerate extremes of heat, cold, <strong>and</strong> drought. Larval host <strong>and</strong><br />
nectar source for Hairstreak butterfly. Ethnobotany: Female plants produce<br />
berries that can be soaked in water for a tart but high in Vitamin C tea.<br />
Etymology: Rhus is derived from rhous, an ancient Greek name for Sumac,<br />
lanceolata ‘lance-like’ refers to the shape of the leaves. Synonyms: Rhus<br />
copallina var. lanceolata, R. copallinum var. lanceolata<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 93<br />
Anacardiaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs
Asparagaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs<br />
Dasylirion wheeleri<br />
sotol, desert spoon<br />
General: Large, succulent shrub emerging from<br />
a central thick, woody, subterranean caudex.<br />
Leaves: Linear, basally clumped, elongated<br />
about 1 m long, 3–4 cm broad, margins armed<br />
with sharp, curved spines. Flowers: Dense<br />
racemes in elongated panicles, stalk 1.5–5 m<br />
tall. Perianth about 2–2.5 mm long, sepals<br />
<strong>and</strong> petals thin, whitish, stamens longer than<br />
perianth, slender filaments. Catkinlike spikes.<br />
Fruits: Capsule 7–9 mm long, 6–8 mm broad,<br />
1-celled, 3-winged. Ecology: Found on rocky or gravelly hillsides <strong>and</strong> slopes<br />
from 3,000–6,000 ft (914–1829 m); flowers May–July. Notes: Known to be eaten<br />
by livestock in years of extreme drought. Ethnobotany: Crowns pit-baked,<br />
crushed, <strong>and</strong> fermented for use as a beverage. Stalks roasted, boiled, eaten raw.<br />
Stalks used for cradleboard backs, as a source for material for basketry, mats,<br />
<strong>and</strong> for ceremonial purposes. Etymology: Dasylirion comes from the Greek<br />
root dasys ‘shaggy, thick, hairy, rough’, while wheeleri is named for George<br />
Wheeler (1842–1905) an early American explorer. Synonyms: None<br />
Yucca elata<br />
soaptree yucca<br />
General: Native shrub with definite trunk,<br />
rarely up to 9 m tall, not often over 1 to 2 m,<br />
simple with a few branches. Stalk can reach 9<br />
m Leaves: Rigid linear leaves, sharp-pointed<br />
white margined, with curly filaments 2-5<br />
cm long, about 5 mm wide, plano-convex.<br />
Flowers: Inflorescence a spreading panicle<br />
that extends well above foliage; closed to<br />
open, uppermost flowers racemose. Flowers<br />
campanulate to globose, 4-6 cm long, white to<br />
cream, pendant on slender to stout pedicels. Ecology: Mesas, desert washes,<br />
s<strong>and</strong>y plains, <strong>and</strong> grassl<strong>and</strong>s from 1,500-6,000 ft (457-1829 m); flowers May-<br />
July. Notes: Plant arborescent. Fruits indehiscent <strong>and</strong> erect. Inflorescences<br />
racemose. Oblong-cylindric capsule, 4-7 cm long. Seeds dull black, with or<br />
without marginal wing. High drought tolerance, no fire tolerance. Bare-root<br />
<strong>and</strong> seed propagation. Livestock use leaves as secondary or seasonal food<br />
source. Woodrats, jackrabbits, <strong>and</strong> cottontails consume leaves <strong>and</strong> seeds. Mule<br />
deer consume leaves <strong>and</strong> inflorescence stalks, while pronghorn consumes<br />
inflorescence. It is cover for small mammals <strong>and</strong> birds, while birds also use<br />
it for perching. Ethnobotany: Flowers <strong>and</strong> buds were used as food. Roots<br />
used as substitute for soap, leaves used for basketweaving. Etymology: Yucca<br />
comes from Haitian for uuca, or manihot, because young inflorescences are<br />
sometimes roasted for food, while elata means tall. Synonyms: None<br />
94 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
© 2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2009 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
2011 <strong>NPS</strong>/Steve Buckley<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Ambrosia monogyra<br />
singlewhorl burrobrush<br />
General: Slender shrub to 2.5 m, with multiple,<br />
slender, mostly erect stems branching above.<br />
Leaves: Sparse, drought deciduous, mostly<br />
2–7 cm; young leaves of vigorous shoots often<br />
pinnately divided into several segments, upper<br />
leaves reduced <strong>and</strong> mostly entire. Leaves 0.5<br />
mm wide, grooved above (involute) grooves<br />
filled with short, white, elongate-conical hairs.<br />
Flowers: Wind-pollinated, inconspicuous <strong>and</strong><br />
monoecious, disk florets only, pistillate heads<br />
below staminate heads clustered in upper axils<br />
of branches. Membranous, spreading bracts<br />
of the fruiting head distinctive. Fruits: Fruiting bur spindle shaped 3.5–4 mm<br />
wide, bract wings in a single whorl, wings 0.8–1.4 mm wide, longer than wide.<br />
Ecology: Found on floodplains <strong>and</strong> along arroyos <strong>and</strong> washes from 1,000–4,000<br />
ft (305–1219 m); flowers September–November. Notes: Thrives on disturbance<br />
created by occasional floods, seeds are transportable by flood making it an early<br />
successional floodplain species. Ethnobotany: Used as a remedy for abdominal<br />
pains, while the Seri used the seeds for food. Etymology: Hymenoclea is from<br />
hymen ‘membrane’ <strong>and</strong> kleio ‘to encose, while monogyra refers to being in or<br />
with one circle. Synonyms: Ambrosia monogyra<br />
Baccharis salicifolia<br />
mule’s fat, seep willow, batamote<br />
General: Perennial deciduous shrub 1–4 m<br />
tall. Willow-like branches grow long, tan,<br />
<strong>and</strong> w<strong>and</strong>like. Leaves: Mostly 8–15 mm wide,<br />
alternate, strongly serrate, only sometimes<br />
denticulate to entire, sticky or resinous to<br />
glabrous, three-nerved. Flowers: Whitishyellow,<br />
without petals, tubular-filiform pistillate<br />
heads in terminal, flat-topped clusters. Fruits:<br />
Small achenes have copious pappus 8–10 mm long, off-white. Ecology: Found<br />
along streams <strong>and</strong> drainages, often forms thickets, from sea level to 5,000 ft<br />
(0–1524 m); flowers April–October. Notes: Characteristic of riparian areas <strong>and</strong><br />
often increases in degraded riparian areas, not grazed by livestock or wildlife,<br />
it is good erosion control. Readily reproduces from stem cuttings along stream<br />
channels, tends to form thickets. Ethnobotany: Used as a hair wash to prevent<br />
baldness, as an infusion it was used as an eyewash, while the young shoots were<br />
roasted <strong>and</strong> eaten as a famine food. The stems were used in house construction<br />
when mixed with adobe, <strong>and</strong> also for arrows to hunt small game. Etymology:<br />
Baccharis is named for Bacchus, the god of wine, salicifolia means salix-leaved.<br />
Synonyms: Baccharis glutinosa, B. viminea, Molina salicifolia<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 95<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs
Asteraceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs<br />
Baccharis sarothroides<br />
desert broom<br />
General: Woody shrubs often 2–2.5 m with<br />
broomlike green branches, often nearly<br />
leafless. Twigs angled or striate-ridged. Leaves:<br />
Few, quickly deciduous leaves linear to linearlanceolate<br />
reaching 1–3 cm, larger leaves often<br />
minutely toothed, most leaves much smaller or<br />
reduced to scales. Flowers: Cylindroid pistillate<br />
heads about 1 cm long, 5 mm in diameter, erose<br />
to ciliate membranous, outer phyllaries broadly<br />
ovate, inner ones linear. Fruits: Achene, 1.5–2.7<br />
mm, 10-ribbed, pappus 7–11 mm. Ecology: Found in s<strong>and</strong>y-gravelly washes,<br />
watercourses, shallow drainages, flats, <strong>and</strong> low hills, sometimes in saline soil<br />
from 1,000–5,500 ft (305–1676 m); flowers September–December. Notes:<br />
Because of its evergreen nature often used as an ornamental, not particularly<br />
palatable to livestock or grazing. Ethnobotany: Infusions were used for coughs<br />
<strong>and</strong> stomach aches, while many stalks were tied together to make brooms <strong>and</strong><br />
single stalks made arrows. Etymology: Baccharis is named for Bacchus, the<br />
god of wine, sarothroides means broom-like. Synonyms: None<br />
Ericameria nauseosa<br />
rubber rabbitbrush<br />
General: Native perennial shrub up to 2 m tall.<br />
Stem twigs flexible, covered with dense, felt-like<br />
tomentum. Leaves: Alternate, linear to filiform,<br />
up to 8 cm long; glabrous to tomentose. Flowers:<br />
Heads numerous in terminal clusters involucres<br />
6–14 mm high; phyllaries in more-or-less vertical<br />
rows; flowers generally 5 per head, 6–12 mm long.<br />
Fruits: Achene Ecology: Open places in valleys,<br />
plains, <strong>and</strong> foothills from 2,000–8,000 ft (610–2440 m); flowers July–October.<br />
Notes: Larger than similar Gutierrezia sarothrae, with pale green stems <strong>and</strong><br />
longer leaves. It has more <strong>and</strong> longer involucre bracts <strong>and</strong> flexible fleshy stems<br />
with more white pubescence on leaves. Two subspecies in Arizona; a total of<br />
22 varieties, 10 of these in Arizona. Poisonous to mammals. Ethnobotany:<br />
Numerous uses as utilitarian items such as brooms, brushes, baskets, dye <strong>and</strong><br />
arrows, <strong>and</strong> sometimes provide windbreaks. Bark makes green dye <strong>and</strong> flowers<br />
make yellow dye. Navajo used this plant for coughs, colds, fever, rheumatism,<br />
internal injuries, headach <strong>and</strong> menstrual pain. Etymology: Eric- is ancient root<br />
for heath or broom, amari means bitter <strong>and</strong> nauseosa means to vomit or be<br />
nauseous. Synonyms: Chrysothamnus nauseosus<br />
96 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
© 2009 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2007 WNMU, Zimmerman Herbarium
© 2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
© 2004 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Isocoma tenuisecta<br />
burroweed<br />
General: Shrub to sub-shrub, .3–1 m tall <strong>and</strong> 1<br />
m wide. Bark of larger branches gray. Leaves:<br />
Alternate, dark-green to gray, gl<strong>and</strong>ular,<br />
pinnately cleft into four to eight linear acute<br />
lobes. Main axis of leaves 2–3.5 cm long, about<br />
1 mm broad, divisions .2–2 cm long, about 1 mm<br />
broad. Flowers: Yellow, discoid, with no ray<br />
flowers, arranged into dense terminal clusters.<br />
Flowers dry <strong>and</strong> turn a light brown but remain<br />
on stems. Bracts are gl<strong>and</strong>ular as well. Fruits: Achene with pappus of many<br />
coarse persistent bristles of uneven length. Ecology: Found on dry slopes,<br />
mesas, <strong>and</strong> alluvial plains from 2,000–5,500 ft (610–1676 m); flowers from<br />
August–October. Notes: Significant invader of depleted rangel<strong>and</strong>s, often<br />
coming to constitute the principle cover. Susceptible to drought <strong>and</strong> is not<br />
fire tolerant. This plant is toxic to livestock. Ethnobotany: No known uses.<br />
Etymology: Isocoma is from the greek meaning ‘an equal hair-tuft’ referring<br />
to flowers, while tenuisecta means thinly or narrowly cut. Synonyms:<br />
Happlopappus tenuisectus<br />
Chilopsis linearis<br />
desert willow<br />
General: Native tree or shrub reaching 10<br />
m at maturity. Bark is dark <strong>and</strong> ridged on<br />
older stems. Leaves: Whorled, opposite or<br />
alternate; simple, deciduous; very long linear<br />
less than 15.2 cm long, 10 mm wide, curved.<br />
Flowers: Large, 2-lipped, showy, 2.5 cm<br />
long; white to purplish, fragrant; in clusters<br />
of several. Fruit: Long slender capsule 10.2–<br />
20.3 cm long, 6 mm diameter; two halves<br />
persistent in winter, seed flat with 2 hairy<br />
wings. Ecology: Found along washes in<br />
deserts <strong>and</strong> foothills from 1,500–5,500 ft (457–1740 m); flowers April–August.<br />
Notes: Diagnostic characters of this plant are its very long slender <strong>and</strong> whorled<br />
leaves, long, slender pod, <strong>and</strong> the strikingly beautiful bilabiate flowers. The<br />
Flora of Arizona project identifies the only extant subspecies in the state as ssp.<br />
arcuata, which is characterized by its arcuate, drooping leaves. Ethnobotany:<br />
Havasupai used in basketry. Hualapai used to make cradleboards. It is a good<br />
anti-fungal <strong>and</strong> general antimicrobial. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 97<br />
Asteraceae – Bignoniaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs
Cannabaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs<br />
Celtis ehrenbergiana<br />
spiny hackberry<br />
General: Densely branches shrub 1–6 m high.<br />
Paired, straight spines <strong>and</strong> short, lateral thorntipped<br />
branches. Leaves: Subentire to serrate,<br />
ovate to elliptic, 1–3 cm long, 0.6–2 cm wide.<br />
Flowers: Perfect, staminate, <strong>and</strong> pistllate,<br />
greenish yellow flowers in small cymes growing<br />
at leaf base. Fruits: One seeded drupe, yellow or<br />
orange 5–8 mm in diameter. Ecology: Common<br />
along washes <strong>and</strong> on rocky <strong>and</strong> gravelly slopes,<br />
occasionally dominates bajadas, grows in<br />
Sonoran desertscrub <strong>and</strong> semidesert grassl<strong>and</strong><br />
from 1,500–4,000 ft (457–1219 m); flowers March–<br />
April <strong>and</strong> again July–October. Notes: Paired spines at node distinguish this<br />
shrub from other thorny, simple-leaved shrubs in the region. Ethnobotany:<br />
Wood is used for fuel <strong>and</strong> fence posts, many birds <strong>and</strong> animals eat drupes <strong>and</strong><br />
use shrub for cover. Etymology: Celtis is a Greek name for the tree, while its<br />
old name pallida means pale. Synonyms: Celtis pallida, C. spinosa var. pallida,<br />
C. tala var. pallida, Momisia pallida<br />
Celtis reticulata<br />
netleaf hackberry<br />
General: Trees or shrubs with a rounded crown<br />
up to 10 m, bark is smooth or warty with age,<br />
gray to whitish. Leaves: Alternate, simple,<br />
deciduous, two-ranked, ovate, less than 5 cm<br />
long, asymmetrical; thick with 3 primary veins<br />
but numerous cross veins (hence reticulate);<br />
scabrous above. Flowers: Small, greenish.<br />
Fruits: Orange-red drupe 6 mm diameter; dry,<br />
sweet, 1 hard seed. Bark: Smooth, gray becoming<br />
rough with large corky warts on trunk. Ecology: On dry slopes, often on<br />
limestone or basalt, ravine banks, rocky outcrops, 1,000–7,500 ft (300–2300<br />
m); flowers March–May. Notes: Diagnostics include: asymmetrical, scabrous<br />
leaf; corky warts on bark; witches brooms <strong>and</strong> galls; reticulate venation<br />
undersurface. Ethnobotany: Fuel, posts, wildlife food; Navajo–Kayenta use<br />
medicinally to treat indigestion. Etymology: Celtis is a Greek name for the<br />
tree, while laevigata means smooth or slippery, lustrous or shining, reticulata<br />
means net-veined. Synonyms: Celtis douglasii, C. occidentalis var. reticulata, C.<br />
reticulata, C. reticulata var. vestita<br />
98 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
2011 <strong>NPS</strong>/Steve Buckley<br />
© 2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Juniperus coahuilensis<br />
redberry juniper<br />
General: Evergreen small tree or large shrub<br />
1–4.5 m with spreading branches forming<br />
an irregular, open crown; bark is shreddy<br />
but formed close to trunk, ashy gray to<br />
brown; multi–trunked at base. Needles:<br />
Erect branchlets with tricussate, scalelike,<br />
appressed leaves green to light green, abaxial<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>s obvious <strong>and</strong> elliptic to ovate. Cones:<br />
Dioecious terminal pollen cones, 3–4 mm<br />
long, oblong; seed cones terminal, 10–12<br />
mm long, spheric to ovoid, bluish but<br />
maturing blue–brown to reddish–brown<br />
the second year; dry, hard, <strong>and</strong> fibrous.<br />
Seeds: Ovulate cones contain 1–3<br />
seeds per, ovate to pyriform, grooved,<br />
tip acuminate. Ecology: Found on dry,<br />
well–drained soils in full sun, from<br />
4,000–6,500 ft (1372–1981 m); flowers<br />
October–November. Notes: The complex of Juniperus can be confusing in<br />
the field, but with fruit this species st<strong>and</strong>s apart. Absent that, it can be difficult<br />
to distinguish it from J. monosperma in the field, the only apparent point of<br />
departure between the two is the gl<strong>and</strong>s on J. coahuilensis are covered (more<br />
than 25 percent) by conspicuous white resin. Ethnobotany: Used for fuelwood<br />
<strong>and</strong> posts, mats, saddles, fleshy cones were ground for flour. Seeds when dried<br />
used for beads, often as measure of protection. Etymology: Juniperus is the<br />
Latin name for Juniper, Coahuilensis is named for the type specimen from<br />
Coahuila, Mexico. Synonyms: None<br />
Editor’s Note: The junipers are actually gymnosperms, or plants with naked<br />
seeds. But because this is the only species from the gymnosperms, we have<br />
included it here. Please note that this species does not have flowers <strong>and</strong> has<br />
cones with a naked seed, rather than a seed enclosed by an ovule as is found in<br />
the angiosperms.<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 99<br />
Cupressaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs
Fabaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs<br />
Calli<strong>and</strong>ra eriophylla<br />
fairyduster<br />
General: Spreading shrub growing to 1 m<br />
high, with unarmed light gray to whitish<br />
stems. Young stems <strong>and</strong> twigs densely to<br />
moderately pubescent with short white<br />
hairs. Leaves: Widely spaced leaves twicepinnate<br />
with 2–4 pairs of pinnae, each<br />
with 7–9 (occasionally 10) pairs of leaflets<br />
2–3 mm long. Generally cold deciduous.<br />
Flowers: Showy, dense spherical heads<br />
4–5 cm in diameter. Corollas 5–6 mm long<br />
<strong>and</strong> inconspicuous; stamens showy, pink,<br />
rose, or reddish purple up to 1.5 cm long. Fruits: Linear velvety pods 5–7<br />
mm wide <strong>and</strong> 3–7 cm long with thickened margins. Ecology: Grows along<br />
washes, on slopes <strong>and</strong> mesas, typically low <strong>and</strong> creeping, from 2,000–5,000<br />
ft (762–1676 m); flowers February–April, occasionally September–October.<br />
Notes: Readily identifiable because of its stamens. Ethnobotany: Decoction<br />
taken as a gynecological aid after childbirth by Yavapai. Etymology: Calli<strong>and</strong>ra<br />
is from Greek kallos ‘beautiful’ <strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong>ra ‘stamen’, while eriophylla is from<br />
Greek erion ‘wool’ <strong>and</strong> phyllon ‘leaf’ referring to matted white hairs that cover<br />
the plant when young. Synonyms: Calli<strong>and</strong>ra eriophylla var. chamaedrys, C.<br />
eriophylla var. eriophylla<br />
Mimosa aculeaticarpa<br />
catclaw mimosa, wait-a-minute bush<br />
General: Shrub or small tree 0.6–2 m with paired<br />
recurved thorns at the nodes. Leaves: Twice<br />
pinnate leaves with 4–7 pairs of pinnae, each<br />
with 6–13 pairs of leaflets 2 mm long. Flowers:<br />
Capitate cluster about 15 mm broad, pink or<br />
white. Fruits: Pod 4 mm wide, curved, valves<br />
not jointed, with marginal prickles. Ecology:<br />
Grows in thickets on hills <strong>and</strong> canyon slopes<br />
<strong>and</strong> along washes from 3,000-6,000 ft (1067–<br />
1981 m). Notes: Common shrub in thickets,<br />
chaparral, good honey plant, soil binder; eatable<br />
pods. Diagnostics include: stout recurved spines in pairs, broadened far<br />
above base; round flower head; fruit NOT jointed. Taxonomists recognize var.<br />
biuncifera as a distinct species, found in the semidesert grassl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Madrean<br />
evergreen woodl<strong>and</strong>s, while M. aculeaticarpa is a more widespread species<br />
in the Sonoran Desert. Both are documented at Tumacácori. Ethnobotany:<br />
Pods of this plant were ground into a meal. Synonyms: Mimosa biuncifera<br />
100 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
© 2008 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
© 2008 T. Beth Kinsey
© 2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
© 2011 Max Licher<br />
<strong>Park</strong>insonia aculeata<br />
Mexican palo verde, Jerusalem thorn<br />
General: Trees with well-developed trunk smooth,<br />
green bark on upper branches <strong>and</strong> brown, rough<br />
bark on trunk <strong>and</strong> main limbs, to 12 m tall. Young<br />
twigs have paired nodal, spines with small white<br />
hairs, soon becoming glabrous. Leaves: Leaves<br />
obscurely twice-pinnate, with reduced primary<br />
rachis, 1–3 flattened pinnae, up to 30 cm long, with<br />
10–40 pairs of ephemeral leaflets 2–8 mm long.<br />
Flowers: On racemes 10–16 cm, relatively fewflowered;<br />
showy, 27–35 mm wide, sepals <strong>and</strong> petals yellow, banner petal at<br />
first with basal red-orange spots or flecks, anthers pale orange to somewhat<br />
rose colored. Fruits: Pods few seeded, more or less indehiscent or tardily<br />
semidehiscent. Ecology: Found along arroyos, s<strong>and</strong>y plains, or other lowlying<br />
areas where water accumulates in the low desert from 3,000–4,500 ft<br />
(914–1372 m); flowers March–May, occasionally post-monsoon. Notes: The<br />
flattened pinnae <strong>and</strong> the brown bark on the trunk <strong>and</strong> main branches set P.<br />
aculeata from the other <strong>Park</strong>insonia. Not considered a native, instead it is<br />
widely planted <strong>and</strong> its range is exp<strong>and</strong>ing as a consequence. Ethnobotany:<br />
Many tribes to seeds winnowed, parched, dried, cooked <strong>and</strong> stored them for<br />
food. Etymology: <strong>Park</strong>insonia is named after John <strong>Park</strong>inson (1567–1650),<br />
while aculeata means prickly. Synonyms: None<br />
<strong>Park</strong>insonia florida<br />
blue paloverde<br />
General: Large shrubs to small trees reaching<br />
7–10 m tall with a well-developed trunk. Small<br />
straight spines borne singly at nodes. Bark of<br />
twigs <strong>and</strong> branches bluish green, while older<br />
trunks are often gray. Leaves: Leaves are pinnate<br />
with single pair of pinnae, with 2–4 pairs of<br />
obovate leaflets 4–8 mm long, darkening when<br />
dried. Flowers: Found in terminal racemes, 22–<br />
28 mm wide, calyx green to yellow-green, lobes<br />
reflexed; Petals bright yellow, banner with small<br />
orange-red spots basally. Fruits: Straw colored<br />
oblong pods 4–10 cm long moderately flattened, mostly indehiscent, seeds 1–6.<br />
Ecology: Generally found along washes, plains, <strong>and</strong> canyons, sometimes on<br />
slopes from sea level to 4,000 ft (1219 m); flowers March–April. Notes: Larger<br />
than most other species of this genus. Ethnobotany: The seeds were dried<br />
<strong>and</strong> roasted before being ground into meal for mush or cakes. Green pods can<br />
be eaten raw, similar to edamame (soybean) in texture. The wood was used<br />
for carving ladles. Etymology: <strong>Park</strong>insonia is named after John <strong>Park</strong>inson<br />
(1567–1650), florida refers to either free-flowering, abundant flowers or bright.<br />
Synonyms: Cercidium floridum, C. floridum ssp. floridum<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 101<br />
Fabaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs
Fabaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs<br />
Prosopis velutina<br />
velvet mesquite<br />
General: Common, shrub or tree, reaching to<br />
17 m. Leaves: Alternate, deciduous, bipinnately<br />
compound, with 1 or 2 pairs of pinnae each<br />
with 9–30 pairs leaflets; leaflet 4–13 mm long,<br />
oblong, closely spaced on stalk; paired straight<br />
stipular spines 1–2 cm borne at nodes. Flowers:<br />
Greenish yellow flowers in spikelike racemes<br />
5–12 cm long. Fruits: Legume 7.6–20.3 cm<br />
long, pubescent, non-dehiscent, sweetish pulp.<br />
Bark: Dark brown, thick, long narrow strips.<br />
Hard, heavy, reddish-brown, yellow sapwood. Ecology: Common along<br />
washes, in bottoml<strong>and</strong>s, slopes <strong>and</strong> mesas from 3,000–5,500 ft (914–1675 m).<br />
Notes: Diagnostic features include: bipinnate leaf with 1 or 2 pairs of pinnae,<br />
always with hairs; stout, straight stipular spines; pubescent leaves, twigs, pods.<br />
Ethnobotany: Excellent fuel, charcoal, posts, novelties, cattle eat the pods,<br />
browse, honey; grassl<strong>and</strong> invader; pods make highly edible flour. Etymology:<br />
Prosopis was a Greek name for burdock (seemingly misnamed), while velutina<br />
refers to velvet-like. Synonyms: Neltuma velutina, Prosopis articulata, P.<br />
chilensis var. velutina, P. juliflora, P. juliflora var. articulata, P. juliflora var.<br />
velutina<br />
Senegalia greggii<br />
catclaw acacia<br />
General: Native shrub or tree reaching to 6 m or<br />
more. Leaves: Alternate, deciduous, bipinnately<br />
compound; 2.5–7.6 cm long, with 2 or 3 pairs of<br />
pinnae, each with 4–6 pairs leaflets; pinnae 1–1.5 mm<br />
long. Flowers: Cream colored, fragrant, spikes 5.1<br />
cm long, 13 mm diameter; summer. Fruits: Legume<br />
5.1–12.7 cm long, 13 mm wide, flat, often twisted<br />
<strong>and</strong> narrowed between seeds; persists into winter.<br />
Wood: Hard, heavy, sapwood cream to yellow;<br />
heartwood, reddish-brown. Ecology: Found on<br />
flats, washes, <strong>and</strong> slopes below 5,000 ft (1524 m). Notes: Diagnostics include:<br />
small double-compound leaves less than 7.6 cm long; very stout recurved<br />
solitary spines; flat twisted pod constricted between seeds. Ethnobotany:<br />
Disagreeable because of stout spines, tool h<strong>and</strong>les, fuel, good honey plant,<br />
quail, ground up into a meal. Used as an astringent, emollient, disinfectant,<br />
antiinflammatory. Havasupai used in basket making. Etymology: Acacia is<br />
from Greek akakie taken from ake or akis, ‘a sharp point, greggii is reference<br />
to Josiah Gregg (1806–1850), a frontier trader <strong>and</strong> author who worked with Dr.<br />
George Engelman. Synonyms: Acacia greggii<br />
102 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
© 2011 Liz Makings<br />
© 2011 Max Licher
© 2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
© 2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Vachellia constricta<br />
whitethorn acacia<br />
General: Spreading shrubs to 3 m,<br />
symmetrical with generally straight branches.<br />
Bark smooth, light gray to mahogany-colored,<br />
lower branches spreading near ground level.<br />
Stipular spines in pairs at the nodes of the<br />
stems, usually white, 1–3 cm. Leaves: Winter<br />
deciduous <strong>and</strong> tardily drought deciduous,<br />
even-pinnate, 3.5–4 cm long, the pinnae 3–9<br />
pairs, leaflets many 1.5–3 mm. Petioles with a<br />
prominent nectary gl<strong>and</strong>. Flowers: Fragrant,<br />
bright yellow in rounded heads about 1 cm in<br />
diameter. Fruits: Pods 4.5–13.5 cm long by 4–6 mm width, constricted between<br />
each seed, moderately compressed, reddish with viscid gl<strong>and</strong>s, gradually<br />
dehiscent. Ecology: Found along washes, on slopes <strong>and</strong> mesas from 2,000–<br />
6,500 ft (610–1981 m); flowers April–June. Notes: Specimens are thought to<br />
be var. paucispina, which is described as one with few or no spines <strong>and</strong> less<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular leaves. Many taxonomists reject this taxon because it is not clear<br />
because spininess is variable. Ethnobotany: Seri made a tea from the mashed<br />
seeds <strong>and</strong> leaves to relieve diarrhea or upset stomachs. Powdered, dried pods<br />
<strong>and</strong> leaves have been used to treat skin rashes, medicinal tea can be made from<br />
the roots. Etymology: Acacia is from Greek akakie taken from ake or akis, ‘a<br />
sharp point, while constricta refers to constricted or contracted. Synonyms:<br />
Acacia constricta<br />
Fouquieria splendens<br />
ocotillo<br />
General: Long-lived desert “shrub” 3–5 m tall, with<br />
slender w<strong>and</strong>like spiny branches from reduced<br />
trunk. Adults have 12 or more branches. Leaves:<br />
Short-shoot leaves appear after ground-soaking<br />
rain, turning yellow with hot weather or high soil<br />
moisture. Flowers: Dense panicles at branch tip,<br />
often 19–24 cm, with conspicuous leafy bracts<br />
falling at about anthesis. Bright red-orange, the<br />
corolla lobes reflexed. Fruits: Capsule with 6–15<br />
flat, papery-winged seeds. Ecology: Found on dry, rocky or gravelly slopes <strong>and</strong><br />
s<strong>and</strong>y plains from sea level to 5,000 ft (0–1524 m); flowers February–March.<br />
Notes: Very distinct plant in our region, particularly good for hummingbirds.<br />
Ethnobotany: Blossoms soaked for a summer drink, as a blood purifier <strong>and</strong><br />
tonic, while seeds were parched <strong>and</strong> ground into flour for mush or cakes.<br />
Papago pressed the nectar out of blossoms, hardened it like rock c<strong>and</strong>y <strong>and</strong><br />
chewed. Flowers sucked for nectar. Stems used for fences <strong>and</strong> houses. Apache<br />
use it powdered root paste to ease swelling <strong>and</strong> a gum from the bark used to<br />
wax leather. Etymology: Fouquieria is named for Pierre Eloi Fouquier (1776–<br />
1850) a French physician, professor of medicine <strong>and</strong> naturalist, while splendens<br />
means splendid. Synonyms: Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 103<br />
Fabaceae – Fouquieriaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs
Jugl<strong>and</strong>aceae – Krameriaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs<br />
Juglans major<br />
Arizona walnut<br />
General: Tree up to 15 m tall, with a trunk diameter<br />
of 1 m or more, but usually much less. Bark is grayishbrown,<br />
furrowed on mature trees. Leaves: Alternate,<br />
15–30 cm long, odd-pinnate with mostly 9–15 leaflets,<br />
coarsely serrate, acuminate at apex, cuneate, rounded<br />
or somewhat asymetrical at the base, pubescent when<br />
young, later glabrous or nearly so, yellowish-green. 2009 <strong>NPS</strong>/Beth Fallon<br />
Flowers: Greenish catkins. Fruits: Round, brown-haired husks about 2–3 cm<br />
in diameter, with deeply grooved. Ecology: Along streams <strong>and</strong> in canyons in<br />
all counties in Arizona from 3,500–7,000 ft (1000–2100 m). Notes: Diagnostic<br />
characteristics include large alternate, odd-pinnate, fragrant leaves, <strong>and</strong><br />
2–3 cm diameter dark brown husks that surround the fruit. Monoecious.<br />
Ethnobotany: Nutshells were used to make brown dye. Nuts eaten by<br />
Chiricahua <strong>and</strong> Mescalero Apache, Hualapai, <strong>and</strong> Navajo. The Yavapai make<br />
a decoction of purverised nut juice as a drink, trees used in building lodges by<br />
Mescalero. Etymology: Juglans is Latin for walnut. Synonyms: J. elaeopyren, J.<br />
microcarpa var. major, J. rupestris var. major<br />
Krameria erecta<br />
littleleaf ratany<br />
General: Low shrub often 0.3–0.5 m, usually<br />
less than 1 m across, with many short, crowded,<br />
spreading branches. Stems tough <strong>and</strong> woody with<br />
gray bark, upper branches knotty due to many<br />
short spur branches. Densely pubescent herbage<br />
<strong>and</strong> grayish with short white hairs, stems root at<br />
nodes. Leaves: Alternate, linear 3–9 long by 0.8–1.3<br />
mm wide, drought deciduous, sessile. Flowers:<br />
Showy, about 1.5 cm in diameter, solitary or in short<br />
racemes with leafy bracts. Sepals bright magentapurple<br />
inside, white hairy outside. Filaments whitish, anthers dull cream colored,<br />
styles magenta-purple. Fruits: Globose <strong>and</strong> moderately compressed, about 6 mm<br />
wide, with spines about 3.5 mm with small barbs more or less evenly distributed<br />
along upper part of shaft. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y, gravelly plains adjacent to<br />
mountains <strong>and</strong> rocky hills from 500–5,000 ft (152–1524 m); flowers at various times<br />
during the year. Notes: Plant is in part a root parasite on other species. Palatable to<br />
both livestock <strong>and</strong> wildlife. Ethnobotany: Used predominantly as a red dye <strong>and</strong><br />
as a poultice of root for sores. Etymology: Krameria named after Johann Georg<br />
Heinrich Kramer (1684–1744) <strong>and</strong> Austrian physician <strong>and</strong> botanist, while erecta<br />
means upright. Synonyms: Krameria gl<strong>and</strong>ulosa, K. imparta, K. parvifolia, K.<br />
parvifolia var. gl<strong>and</strong>ulosa, K. parvifolia var. imparata<br />
104 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
Morus microphylla<br />
Texas mulberry, littleleaf mulberry<br />
General: Shrub or small tree with<br />
smooth, light gray bark, up to 11 m tall.<br />
Leaves: Smaller than other Morus,<br />
blades up to 7 cm long, roughly ovate,<br />
frequently lobed, with toothed margins,<br />
extended tip, rounded or slightly lobed<br />
base. Flowers: Inconspicuous, drooping<br />
clusters. Fruits: Cluster of minute,<br />
fleshy, berrylike fruits from red to black.<br />
© 2007 WNMU, Zimmerman Herbarium<br />
Ecology: Found on hillsides, slopes, in<br />
canyons from 3,500–5,000 ft (1067–1524 m); flowers March–April. Notes: Eaten<br />
by many birds, leaves are a favorite food for worms. Ethnobotany: Berries eaten<br />
raw, dried <strong>and</strong> used as a spread, or pressed into pulpy cakes, dried <strong>and</strong> stored.<br />
Twigs split in half lengthwise to make baskets. Etymology: Morus is the classical<br />
name for mulberry, microphylla refers to being small-leaved. Synonyms: Morus<br />
confinis, M. crataegifolia, M. grisea, M. radulina to make bows, <strong>and</strong> as a sharp tool<br />
for gathering mescal agave. Etymology: Velutina refers to velvety. Synonyms:<br />
F. pennsylvanica ssp. velutina, F. velutina var. coriacea, P. velutina var. glabra, P.<br />
velutina var. toumeyi<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 105<br />
Moraceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs
Oleaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs<br />
Fraxinus velutina<br />
velvet ash<br />
General: Small to medium sized trees, 8–9 m<br />
tall, occasionally reaching 12–15 m tall; 30–45<br />
cm in diameter; rounded crown composed<br />
of many thin, spreading branches. Bark<br />
is gray to grayish-red, furrowed <strong>and</strong> zigzagged.<br />
Opposite branching twigs light gray<br />
<strong>and</strong> covered with small, fine hairs, becoming<br />
shiny gray <strong>and</strong> hairless with age; buds<br />
approximately .3 cm in length, comprised of<br />
three slightly hairy, oval-shaped scales; large,<br />
dark chocolate buds with fine, dark hairs. Leaves: Leaves opposite, pinnately<br />
compound, 10–13 cm in length; 3–5 elliptical or oval leaflets with pointed tips;<br />
leaflet margins may be finely round toothed; pale green <strong>and</strong> shiny above, green<br />
<strong>and</strong> slightly hairy below; young leaves covered with velvety hairs. Flowers:<br />
Flowers covered by bud scales with dense hairs; clusters of inconspicuous<br />
flowers on thin stalks. Fruits: Samara flat, paddle shaped 2 cm in length <strong>and</strong><br />
0.75 cm wide; paddle end may be slightly notched. Ecology: Moist soils along<br />
streams <strong>and</strong> riparian areas from 3,000–7,000 ft (914–2134 m); flowers March–<br />
May. Notes: Characterized by opposite leaves, with 3–5 leaflets having pointed<br />
tips, <strong>and</strong> winged fruits. Low palatability for livestock, deer will browse <strong>and</strong> over<br />
browse when other preferred species not available. Provides habitat for wild<br />
ungulates <strong>and</strong> small rodents, as well as nesting sites for songbirds <strong>and</strong> other<br />
avian species. Host plant for Two-Tailed Swallowtail butterfly. Ethnobotany:<br />
Hualapai used wood to make bows, <strong>and</strong> as a sharp tool for gathering mescal<br />
agave. Etymology: Velutina refers to velvety. Synonyms: F. pennsylvanica ssp.<br />
velutina, F. velutina var. coriacea, P. velutina var. glabra, P. velutina var. toumeyi<br />
106 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
© 2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
© 2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
2009 <strong>NPS</strong>/Beth Fallon<br />
Platanus wrightii<br />
Arizona sycamore<br />
General: Fast growing deciduous tree to 25 m,<br />
trunks erect to inclined or basally reclined or<br />
prostrate, white bark, plated appearance with<br />
older brown bark <strong>and</strong> younger whitish bark<br />
beneath. Branches are lateral buds hidden by leaf<br />
petiole. Leaves: Alternate, simple, 3–5 lobed less<br />
than 25 cm long, older leaves paler undersurface.<br />
Flowers: Male <strong>and</strong> female in clusters of 2–5<br />
balls each. Fruits: Brownish ball (multiple of<br />
achenes) 2.5 cm diameter, in clusters of 2–4 per<br />
stalk; gradually break up through fall to winter.<br />
Ecology: Found in canyons <strong>and</strong> along riparian streams from 2,000–6,500 ft<br />
(610–1981 m); flowers April–May. Notes: Ornamental, shade tree, stream bank<br />
erosion control. Diagnostic character is the mottled bark, which is brown with<br />
whitish <strong>and</strong> greenish patches. Needs to have its feet wet, usually indicative of<br />
good riparian habitat. Older growth P. wrightii indicative of excellent Elegant<br />
Trogon habitat in southeastern Arizona sky isl<strong>and</strong>s. Ethnobotany: Fuel,<br />
shelter for small mammals <strong>and</strong> birds. Etymology: Platanus is Greek platanos<br />
for the long-lived oriental plane tree, wrightii is for Charles Wright (1811–1885)<br />
an American botanical collector who was on the Mexican Boundary Survey.<br />
Synonyms: Platanus racemosa var. wrightii<br />
Ceanothus greggii<br />
desert ceanothus<br />
General: Intricately branched shrubs<br />
0.5–2 m tall. Bark is gray with branches<br />
opposite, stiff but not spiny. Leaves:<br />
Opposite, petioles only 1–3 mm long,<br />
blades narrowly ovate to elliptic or<br />
obovate, 5–18 mm long, 3–10 mm wide,<br />
entire to dentate, dark green above,<br />
paler <strong>and</strong> distinctly pinnate-veined<br />
beneath. Flowers: Infloresence in small<br />
umbel-like clusters, clayx lobes about 2<br />
mm long, whitish, petals white slightly<br />
longer than the calyx. Fruits: Capsule<br />
globose, slightly 3-lobed, 3–5 mm in<br />
diameter. Ecology: Grows on dry, rocky slopes, foothills, canyons, gullies <strong>and</strong><br />
in erosion channels from 3,000–7,000 ft (915–2135 m); flowers March–April.<br />
Notes: Diagnostic characteristics include its lack of thorns, grayish bark,<br />
<strong>and</strong> leaves that are distinctly pinnate veined beneath. Some nitrogen fixation.<br />
Provides cover for wildlife, while small mammals <strong>and</strong> quail eat seeds. Host plant<br />
for Hedgerow Hairstreak butterfly. Ethnobotany: Important medicinal root for<br />
cleansing lymphs <strong>and</strong> blood. Berries eaten once sweetened with sugar, inner<br />
bark also edible. Used for tonsil inflammation, sore throats <strong>and</strong> enlarged lymph<br />
nodes. Etymology: Named after Josiah Gregg (1806–1850), frontier trader <strong>and</strong><br />
author, who sent many specimens to Dr. George Engelmann in St. Louis from<br />
little known areas of the southwest. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 107<br />
Platanaceae – Rhamnaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs
Rhamnaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs<br />
Condalia globosa<br />
bitter snakewood<br />
General: Shrubs to small trees 1–4.5 m, more or<br />
less symmetrical <strong>and</strong> densely-branched, often<br />
with short, thick trunks. Branches <strong>and</strong> twigs<br />
rigid, twigs thorn-tipped. Leaves: Spatulate,<br />
entire, 3–12 mm long <strong>and</strong> 1.6–5 mm wide, may<br />
be alternate or fasciculate, lower surface has 3–4<br />
pairs of prominent veins. Larger leaves petioled,<br />
the smaller leaves subsessile. Flowers: In small<br />
axillary clusters, yellowish green , about 3 mm<br />
wide, the disk at anthesis awash with sticky glistening nectar, no petals. Fruits:<br />
Globose drupes 3–5 mm long, black <strong>and</strong> very bitter at maturity. Ecology:<br />
Occasional to common in s<strong>and</strong>y washes, rare on rocky slopes, grows below<br />
4,500 ft (1372 m); flowers March–May <strong>and</strong> October–December. Notes: To<br />
tell apart from C. mexicana, C. corelleii one need only look at the spatulate,<br />
dull green leaves. The presence of this <strong>and</strong> a petiole, combined with a more<br />
diffusely branched architecture help to diagnosis it. Ethnobotany: Papago ate<br />
the fruits raw. Etymology: Condalia is named after Antonio Condal, <strong>and</strong> 18th<br />
century Spanish physician <strong>and</strong> botanist, globosa refers to the globose fruits.<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
Condalia correllii<br />
Mexican bluewood<br />
General: Shrubs or small trees, openly branched, 1–2 m tall, 1–1.5 m wide.<br />
Several stems, bark light gray to whitish, primary lateral branches spreading to<br />
divergent, secondary lateral branches thorn-like. Leaves: Obovate, 8–16 mm<br />
long, 4–6 mm wide, acute to mucronate, bright green, sparsely hispidulous;<br />
veins inconspicuous. Flowers: Borne on delicate elongate, secondary shoots;<br />
sessile or with pedicels less than 0.5 mm long. Fruits: Drupe with stone<br />
distinctly longer than wide, 5–7 mm long, 3–5 mm wide. Ecology: Found on<br />
dry slopes, drainages, canyons, from 4,000–5,000 ft (1219–1524 m); flowers<br />
July–September. Notes: Confusion! Usual systematic madness. The collection<br />
from Tumacácori has been identified as C. correllii under a 1962 revision of<br />
the genus <strong>and</strong> the Flora of Arizona project does not even include C. correllii<br />
as a possibility, although C. mexicana is identified only from collections in<br />
Cochise county. Some consider C. correllii to be a segregate of C. mexicana,<br />
even the revision considers that C. correllii could be easily considered a variety<br />
of C. mexicana. Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species, although the berries<br />
of other species in the genus are eaten. Etymology: Condalia is named after<br />
Antonio Condal, <strong>and</strong> 18th century Spanish physican <strong>and</strong> botanist, mexicana<br />
refers to the type specimen being from Mexico. Synonyms: None<br />
108 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
© Hank Jorgensen
©Lee Dittman, www.nazflora.org<br />
Ziziphus obtusifolia<br />
lotebush<br />
General: Shrubs to 4 m tall, armed. Stems green to<br />
gray, or brown, canescent to glaucous, branchlets<br />
thorn-tipped, occasionally with axillary recurved<br />
thorns, thorn tips glabrous <strong>and</strong> brown. Leaves: Thin<br />
or thick, deciduous; stipules triangular, petioles 0.5–5<br />
mm long, blades linear to narrowly elliptic to oblong<br />
or ovate, 5–20 mm long, 2–15 mm wide, green to<br />
pale green, glabrous to canescent, margins entire to<br />
serrate or crenate. Flowers: Inconspicuous, 2–15 per<br />
inflorescence, hypanthium 1–2 mm long, glabrous<br />
to canescent, sepals yellowish green, glabrous to<br />
canescent, petals about 1 mm, white to light green,<br />
stigma 2-lobed. Fruits: Blue to purple to black with<br />
white waxy bloom, 5–8 mm wide, pedicles become thicker in fruit, flower cup<br />
persistent. Ecology: Found on mesas, canyon slopes, desert grassl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> along<br />
drainages from 1,000–5,000 ft (305–1524 m); flowers May–September. Notes:<br />
To discern from Condalia, the following characteristics are found in Ziziphus:<br />
inflorescence a cyme, three nerved basal venation, no thorn tipped branches,<br />
ovate or oblong branches, stipular spines, easily falling seeds. Two varieties in the<br />
region: var. obtusifolia <strong>and</strong> var. canescens. Var. obtusifolia is found on gypsum soils<br />
in Cochise Co., about 3 m tall, thin, glabrous leaves, with a glabrous hypanthium,<br />
<strong>and</strong> fruits 7–8 mm wide. Ziziphus obtusifolia var. canescens is more widespread, to<br />
4 m tall, leaves thick, mostly canescent, hypanthium canescent, fwith fruits about<br />
5–8 mm wide. Ethnobotany: A decoction from the roots of var. canescens was<br />
used to treat sore eyes by the Pima <strong>and</strong> roots have been used in place of soap.<br />
Etymology: Ziziphus comes from the Persian word zizufun or Arabic zizouf, the<br />
Arabian name for a shrubby Mediterranean tree, obtusifolia means obtuse- or<br />
blunt-leaved. Synonyms: None for Z. obtusifolia, several for both varieties, see<br />
Tropicos<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 109<br />
Rhamnaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs
Salicaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs<br />
Populus fremontii<br />
Fremont cottonwood<br />
General: Trees up to 30 m tall with open crown,<br />
whitish, smooth bark, that is deeply furrowed at<br />
maturity <strong>and</strong> twigs stout, glabrous or nearly so.<br />
Leaves: Leaves glabrous, the blades deltoid 4–7<br />
mm long <strong>and</strong> about as wide or wider, slightly<br />
cordate or cuneate at base, sharbly pointed<br />
at the tip, coarsely <strong>and</strong> irregularly dentate,<br />
bright green. Petioles flattened laterally, nearly<br />
as long as the blades. Flowers: Catkins 4–5 cm long, stamens 60 or more.<br />
Fruits: Capsule up to 12 mm long. Ecology: Found along streams banks <strong>and</strong><br />
near lakes <strong>and</strong> ponds from 6,500 ft (1981 m) <strong>and</strong> lower; flowers March–June.<br />
Notes: Identified by its coarsely-toothed, delta-shaped leaves, larger size, <strong>and</strong><br />
spreading crown. Good nesting habitat for birds, especially cavity nesters.<br />
Beavers, elk, deer, <strong>and</strong> squirrels feed on it, horses eat inner bark, but only fair<br />
to poor livestock palatability. Host plant for Red-spotted Admiral, Viceroy,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Swallowtail butterflies. There is potential that ssp. mesetae (which may<br />
simply be ssp. fremontii) enters Arizona but would require more taxonomic<br />
investigation. Ethnobotany: Hopi frequently use this specific species for<br />
Katsina dolls. For the Navajo many household game pieces were made with<br />
cottonwood. Etymology: Populus is Latin for “people” because the many<br />
moving leaves in a breeze resemble a moving populace. Synonyms: None<br />
110 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
© 2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Salix gooddingii<br />
Goodding’s willow<br />
General: Deciduous, medium to large<br />
sized trees to 25 m or more. Bark is thick<br />
<strong>and</strong> gray; split into many furrows <strong>and</strong><br />
ridges. Twigs yellowish <strong>and</strong> hairy; smooth<br />
buds with a single conspicuous bud scale<br />
margin. Leaves: Leaves linear to very<br />
narrowly elliptical, but widest at the<br />
base, 6–13 cm long <strong>and</strong> 0.8–1.6 cm wide;<br />
margins finely toothed; upper <strong>and</strong> lower surfaces green to yellow green <strong>and</strong><br />
hairless. Flowers: Catkins yellowish, 2–8 cm long. Fruits: Short stalked <strong>and</strong><br />
hairy capsules 3–7 mm long, containing many cottony seeds. Ecology: Along<br />
streams, <strong>and</strong> in canyons <strong>and</strong> wet meadows up to 7,500 ft (2286 m); flowers<br />
March–June. Notes: Can be distinguished by its lance shaped, entirely green<br />
leaves, hairy yellowish twigs <strong>and</strong> its conspicuous bud scale margins. A similar<br />
species S. laevigata has wider leaves, whitish leaf undersides <strong>and</strong> more reddish<br />
twigs. Rapid growth <strong>and</strong> resprout ability. Coppice potential. High fire, medium<br />
drought tolerance. Propagated with cuttings, bare roots, <strong>and</strong> seeds. Preferred<br />
food for beavers, <strong>and</strong> is used in beaver dams. St<strong>and</strong>s provide habitat for many<br />
types of wildlife, as well as providing shade for streams <strong>and</strong> ponds. Major<br />
source of browse for elk <strong>and</strong> deer, while shoots buds, <strong>and</strong> catkins eaten by birds<br />
<strong>and</strong> small mammals. Highly palatable to livestock <strong>and</strong> wild ungulates. Host<br />
plant for Mourning Cloak butterfly. Ethnobotany: Not a valuable commercial<br />
species in Arizona. Its close relative S. nigra has been harvested comercially in<br />
the southeast U.S. for furniture <strong>and</strong> building materials. Pima used this species<br />
in basket making. Etymology: Salix is the Latin name for willow, meaning ‘to<br />
leap or spring’, while goodingii is named after Leslie Newton Gooding (1880–<br />
1967), botanist <strong>and</strong> collector, one of the first to explore the southern Arizona<br />
area. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 111<br />
Salicaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs
Salicaceae – Simaroubaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs<br />
Salix taxifolia<br />
yewleaf willow<br />
General: Slow growing large shrub or tree up to 12 m<br />
tall, trunk 50–70 cm diameter, bark rough <strong>and</strong> fissured.<br />
Leaves: Linear or linear-lanceolate, entire or dentate<br />
with few obscure teeth toward apices, 2–4 mm long by<br />
1–4 mm wide, sessile or subsessile. Flowers: Catkins,<br />
yellow, deciduous, 2 separate stamens, stigmas 0.5–0.7<br />
mm long, slender. Fruits: Capsule, densely appressedhairy,<br />
silky, reddish brown. Ecology: Found along<br />
streams <strong>and</strong> washes from 3,500–6,000 ft (1067–1829<br />
m); flowers May–July. Notes: Easily identifiable by<br />
its remarkable similarity to yew leaves, <strong>and</strong> almost<br />
silvery gray cast. Ethnobotany: Inner bark can be dried <strong>and</strong> ground into a<br />
powder made into bread, very bitter flavor, only considered a famine food.<br />
Bark contains salicin, which decomposes into salicylic acid (aspirin), used as<br />
anodyne, febrifuge, <strong>and</strong> as remedy for malaria. Etymology: Salix is the Latin<br />
name for willow, meaning ‘to leap or spring’, while taxifolia refers to the leaves<br />
being like yew, from the genus Taxus. Synonyms: Salix taxifolia var. lejocarpa,<br />
S. taxifolia var. limitanea, S. taxifolia var. seriocarpa<br />
Ailanthus altissima<br />
Impact risk level<br />
H M L<br />
tree of heaven<br />
General: Highly invasive tree, native of China, reaches 15 m in only 25 years.<br />
Bark is smooth <strong>and</strong> light gray, often becoming rougher with light tan fissures.<br />
Leaves: Large, odd or even pinnately compound arranged alternately on stem,<br />
from 30–90 cm in length with 10–41 leaflets in pairs, largest leaves found on<br />
vigorous young sprouts. Rachis is light to reddish green with swollen base.<br />
Leaflets are ovate-lanceolate with entire margins. Flowers: Dioecious, small,<br />
appear in panicles up to 50 cm long, flowers yellowish green to reddish, five<br />
petals <strong>and</strong> sepals. Fruits: Samara, twisted at tips, to aid in wind dispersal,<br />
2.5 cm long, 1 cm broad. Ecology: Found widespread in US, highly invasive;<br />
flowers April–July. Notes: Host plant for the ailanthus silkmoth, brought to<br />
US in 1784. Allelopathic, so it spreads quickly as it colonizes disturbed areas.<br />
Thought to be the fastest growing tree in North America. Ethnobotany: Used<br />
in Chinese medicine as an astringent, wood can be used for cabinetry, the dried<br />
bark is actually a listed Chinese medicine,<br />
some treatments listed as antimalarial agent,<br />
for cardiac palpitation, asthma, <strong>and</strong> epilepsy.<br />
Etymology: Ailanthus is form a Moluccan<br />
name ailanto meaning ‘sky tree’, while<br />
altissima means very tallest. Synonyms:<br />
Ailanthus gl<strong>and</strong>ulosa<br />
© 2007 Luigi Rignanese<br />
112 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
© 2006 Sally <strong>and</strong> Andy Wasowski
© 1998 Larry Blakely<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Lycium <strong>and</strong>ersonii<br />
wolfberry, water jacket<br />
General: Thorny rounded shrub 0.5-3 m high<br />
with densely branched, spinose ridgid branches<br />
<strong>and</strong> flexuous, silvery-white to tan barked<br />
twigs. Leaves: Alternate or clustered, sessile<br />
or on petiole 1-3 mm, mostly linear to linearspatulate,<br />
1-2 mm wide, 3-16 mm long, rounded<br />
to acute at apex, tapers to base. Flowers:<br />
Pedicel 3-9 mm long, filiform; calyx shallowly<br />
campanulate, glabrous to sparsely puberulent,<br />
1-2.5 mm long, irregularly 4-5 toothed, teeth one-fourth as long as tube, sparsely<br />
ciliolate, stamens equaling corolla tube or exserted 2-3 mm, dingy-lavender;<br />
filaments adnate to basal one-third of corolla tube, sparsely pilose on lower part<br />
of free portion; style about equaling stamens. Fruits: Berry ellipsoid to ovoid,<br />
bright orange-red, 3-9 mm, juicy, with multiple seeds. Ecology: Found along arid<br />
washes <strong>and</strong> arroyos, bajadas, rocky slopes, mesas <strong>and</strong> foothills up to 5,500 ft (1676<br />
m); flowers February-May, rarely August-September. Notes: Three recognized<br />
varieties in the area: var. wrightii whose leaves are broadly spatulate to obovate;<br />
var. <strong>and</strong>ersonii whose leaves are 3-16 mm, linear terete to narrowly spatulate; <strong>and</strong><br />
var. deserticola whose leaves are 20-35 mm, narrowly spatulate to spatulate. Some<br />
taxonomists place var. deserticola <strong>and</strong> var. <strong>and</strong>ersonii as probably indistinct. Var.<br />
<strong>and</strong>ersonii is the most widespread of the three species. Clarity is necessary for the<br />
genus, take a specimen <strong>and</strong> get identification. Similar to L. exsertum in stamens <strong>and</strong><br />
adnate hairy filament bases, differs in non-pendulous flowers. Told apart from L.<br />
berl<strong>and</strong>ieri by the lighter colored bark. Ethnobotany: Berries were eaten fresh <strong>and</strong><br />
dried, dried for winter use, boiled into mush or ground into flour, or made into a<br />
drink. Etymology: Lycium is from Greek name Lykion used to describe a thorny<br />
tree or shrub, <strong>and</strong>ersonii is named after Robert Clark Anderson (1908–1973) a USFS<br />
forest ranger or Dr. Charles Lewis Anderson (1827–1910) a physician <strong>and</strong> naturalist.<br />
Synonyms: None, just three varieties.<br />
Lycium berl<strong>and</strong>ieri<br />
Berl<strong>and</strong>ier’s wolfberry<br />
General: Thorny shrub, reclining or spreading,<br />
glabrous to hairy to 2.5 m. Leaves: Finely hairy<br />
or glabrous, linear to linear-spatulate, leaves 10-<br />
30 mm long, 1-2.5 mm broad. Flowers: Wide as to<br />
wider than long, corolla tube campanulate, corollas<br />
whitish to pale lavender, filaments densely hairy at<br />
base of free portion, stamens usually protruding,<br />
rarely enclosed by corolla. Fruit:Nearly spherical<br />
berry about 4 mm in diameter, red, fleshy <strong>and</strong> many<br />
seeded. Ecology: Found on alluvial plains <strong>and</strong><br />
rocky foothills slopes below 3,000 ft (914 m); flowers March-September. Notes:<br />
Told apart from other Lycium by the minute puberulent or glabrous leaves, <strong>and</strong><br />
often exp<strong>and</strong>ed funnelform corolla. The leaves of Lycium berl<strong>and</strong>ieri are much less<br />
succulent <strong>and</strong> often larger. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Lycium is from<br />
Greek name Lykion used to describe a thorny tree or shrub, berl<strong>and</strong>ieri is named<br />
after Jean Louis Berl<strong>and</strong>ier (1805-1851) a Belgian botanist. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 113<br />
Solanaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs
Solanaceae – Tamaricaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs<br />
Nicotiana glauca<br />
H M L<br />
tree tobacco<br />
General: Common weed, originally from Bolivia <strong>and</strong> Argentina, naturalized,<br />
much branched shrub to small tree growing to 8 m tall. Leaves: Thick <strong>and</strong><br />
rubbery to 20 cm long, lance-shaped, smooth on short stalks, opposite on lower<br />
branches. Upper leaves lack stalks <strong>and</strong> lie on upward angle against branch.<br />
Flowers: Small, tubular, cream-colored, greenish white flowers form at branch<br />
ends, corolla flares at apex, 5-cleft, unequally toothed calyx. Fruits: Capsules<br />
contain many small brown seeds, sticky. Ecology: Found on disturbed soils,<br />
vacant lots, roadsides, along stream banks, washes <strong>and</strong> drainages below 4,500<br />
ft (1372 m); flowers March–November. Notes: Found through the range,<br />
escaped cultivar in many cases, spreads by<br />
prolific seeds. Ethnobotany: Plant is toxic.<br />
Contains anabasine, an alkaloid similar to<br />
nicotine which can be extracted to be used<br />
as an insecticide. Etymology: Nicotiana is<br />
named for Jean Nicot (1530–1600), the French<br />
ambassador to Portugal responsible for<br />
introducing tobacco to France in 1560, glauca<br />
comes form Greek meaning bluish-gray,<br />
referring to leaves. Synonyms: None<br />
Tamarix ramosissima<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Impact risk level<br />
H M L<br />
salt cedar, tamarisk<br />
General: Invasive, exotic shrubs <strong>and</strong> trees 1–7 m tall with many slender<br />
branches. Leaves: Minute, alternate, scale like leaves. Flowers: Pale pink<br />
to white, small, perfect <strong>and</strong> regular, arranged in spike-like racemes. Distinct<br />
petals occur in fours or fives. Fruits: Capsule with many, many, many, many<br />
seeds that have feathery hairs. Ecology: Found just about anywhere, this thing<br />
spreads like, well, a weed along any disturbed riparian area below 5,000 ft (1524<br />
m); flowers January–October. Notes: Tamarisk systematics is in a perpetual<br />
state of confusion because the members of the genus have few constantly<br />
differentiating features. Hybridization is a real potential, which may account<br />
for why there were thought to be eight<br />
introduced species that now really<br />
cannot be told apart. Ethnobotany:<br />
You can burn it, but it is stinky.<br />
Etymology: Tamarix comes from the<br />
Latin name derived from the Tamaris<br />
River in Spain, ramosissima means<br />
very branched. Synonyms: None<br />
© 2006 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
114 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Larrea tridentata<br />
creosote bush<br />
General: Aromatic, much branched evergreen<br />
shrub up to 3.5 m, growing from at or just<br />
above ground. Leaves: Alternate, persistent,<br />
composite (2 leaflets) 13–25 mm long; elliptical,<br />
dark “varnished” green, strong-scented<br />
(especially after rain). Flowers: Yellow, showy,<br />
7–11 mm long. Fruits: Five-segmented, white<br />
silky pilose. Ecology: Widespread <strong>and</strong> common<br />
on dry plains <strong>and</strong> mesas below 5,000 ft (1676<br />
m); flowers any time after adequate rain. Needs<br />
minimum 12 mm for flowering. Notes: Most common <strong>and</strong> widespread shrub<br />
in warm deserts of North America, ordinarily untouched by livestock; causes<br />
dermatitis in some people. Diagnostics include: sympodial stems, dark green,<br />
lustrous <strong>and</strong> paired leaves, 13 mm long; leaves 2-pinnate; strong “creosote”<br />
odor. Ethnobotany: Used to treat arthritis <strong>and</strong> allergies. As a salve it is a<br />
strongly antimicrobial <strong>and</strong> a moderate sunblock. Etymology: Larrea is named<br />
for Bishop Juan Antonio Hern<strong>and</strong>ez Perez de Larrea (1731–1803) in Valladolid,<br />
Spain, while tridentata means three-toothed, the appearance of the leaves<br />
being three-toothed. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 115<br />
Zygophyllaceae<br />
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs
Trees <strong>and</strong> Shrubs<br />
116 Educational use only; not for sale
Cacti<br />
Cactaceae<br />
Known for their tiny leaves, which are usually deciduous <strong>and</strong> absent, these plants<br />
produce spines. Their axillary buds (called areoles) are flattened <strong>and</strong> usually<br />
spine-producing. Each areole gives rise to leaf tissue, which constitutes the<br />
spines. Solitary inflorescences occur at the top of each branch. The flowers are<br />
bisexual (or perfect) <strong>and</strong> some have a well-developed hypanthium (a fused floral<br />
cup). They have numerous tepals that are spirally arranged, with the outer ones<br />
sepaloid <strong>and</strong> inner ones petaloid, <strong>and</strong> each flower has numerous stamens.<br />
The ovary is distinctly inferior (or borne below the flowers) <strong>and</strong> sunken into<br />
the stem tissue that bears more areoles. The ovary is comprised of two or more<br />
carpels (count styles to know), with one locule that has parietal placentation. The<br />
fruit is considered to be a berry.<br />
Subfamilies:<br />
Pereskoideae: Leaves broad, flat; no glochids; seeds black, nor aril (leaf cacti)<br />
Opuntioideae: Leaves small, terete; minute glochids, almost invisible to the<br />
naked eye, spines at the base of big ones; seeds with pale aril or winged<br />
Cactoideae: Leaves none or very small; no glochids; seeds black, no aril<br />
(the touchy feely cactuses with no glochids).<br />
Quick guide to the genera:<br />
Carnegia: Large columnar cacti, many–ribbed stems <strong>and</strong> branches, crowded<br />
areoles bearing spines with tuft of brown felt. Flowers borne singly, often in<br />
crown at apex.<br />
Cylindropuntia: The genus of the true chollas. Taxonomists recently separated<br />
this out of the Opuntia, to only include those species with the jointed chain<br />
structure familiar to the genus.<br />
Echinocereus: Stem with ridges <strong>and</strong> grooves on surface, flowers produced within<br />
the spine bearing areoles at side of plant or slightly below apex of branch, length<br />
of stem 15–100 times the diameter<br />
Ferocactus: Simple-stemmed, ovoid to cylindric, often large. Areoles large,<br />
tomentose or woolly, spines large <strong>and</strong> strong, in three distinct series, ribbed.<br />
Escobaria: Escobaria is a small North American genus extending from the<br />
southwestern U.S. into northern Mexico. It is closely related to Coryphantha<br />
<strong>and</strong> somewhat more distantly to Mammillaria. Escobaria spp. have small, funnelshaped<br />
flowers in the spring <strong>and</strong> summer. The flowers are generally yellow, pink,<br />
or brownish.<br />
Mammillaria: Solitary or few-branched, with globose, short, cylindrical stems<br />
with watery to milky juice. Terete or angled tubercles, areoles crowning tubercles,<br />
central spine or spines like radials.<br />
Opuntia: Stem a series of cylindroid or flat joints, areoles with glochids.<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 117<br />
Cacti
Cacti<br />
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis<br />
Christmas cactus<br />
General: A bushy cactus 0.5–1 m tall but sometimes<br />
spreading to more than 1 m, sparingly to densely<br />
branched with long cylindrical joints that are 3–6 mm<br />
diameter, usually bearing similar spineless terminal<br />
branchlets that are arranged at right angles along<br />
major axes. The stems are glabrous <strong>and</strong> yellow green,<br />
gray–green, or purplish, with riblike wrinkles. The<br />
areoles are broadly elliptic, wool white to yellow <strong>and</strong><br />
aging to gray. Spines: The areoles usually have one<br />
short (less than 1 cm) or long (2.5–5 cm) spine, usually<br />
in apical areoles or well distributed, the spines are<br />
erect <strong>and</strong> flexible, reflexed or deflexed, red–brown to gray, yellow, or white,<br />
aging red–brown, with sheaths gray to purple–gray with yellow to red–brown<br />
tips or yellow throughout. The glochids are in an adaxial tuft or crescent to<br />
encircling areole, yellow to reddish–brown. Flowers: Inner tepals are pale<br />
yellow to greenish yellow, cream, or bronze, sometimes tipped red, 1–1.5 cm<br />
wide, the tepals are narrow obovate, with yellow anthers, a yellow style, <strong>and</strong><br />
green–yellow stigma lobes. Fruits: Fruits yellow to scarlet, obovoid <strong>and</strong> up to 12<br />
mm long when ripe, fleshy, covered in minute glochids or smooth, occasionally<br />
proliferating. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y, loamy, or gravelly soils in deserts,<br />
grassl<strong>and</strong>s, chaparrals, woodl<strong>and</strong>s, flats, bajadas, <strong>and</strong> slopes from 200–5,000 ft<br />
(61–1524 m); flowers March– August. Notes: Notable red fruits are usually the<br />
dead give away of this plant along with the very narrow stems. This plant grows<br />
much taller when growing within nurse association with mesquite or palo verde.<br />
Ethnobotany: Fruits were eaten, crushed <strong>and</strong> mixed with a beverage to produce<br />
narcotic effects; the small fruits were also eaten raw. Etymology: Cylindropuntia<br />
is from Greek kylindros or a cylinder, leptocaulis is Greek leptos for slender <strong>and</strong><br />
caulis meaning stemmed. Synonyms: Opuntia leptocaulis<br />
Cylindropuntia spinosior<br />
cane cholla, walkingstick cactus<br />
General: Small trees or shrubs 1-2.5 m,<br />
trunk short, rarely up to 12 cm, joints<br />
growing at right angles to stem, 10-20 cm<br />
long about 3-5 cm wide. Spines: Numerous<br />
<strong>and</strong> closely arranged tubercules cover<br />
stems, 10-20 spines per areole, spreading in<br />
every direction, barbed. Flowers: Purplish<br />
generally, but color varies considerably,<br />
1-2 cm long, 0.2-1 cm broad, emarginated<br />
with tooth in notch. Fruits: Berry, bright lemon-yellow, fleshy at maturity,<br />
spineless, obovoid, strongly tubercled, falling off in March. Ecology: Found<br />
in desert grassl<strong>and</strong>s from 2,000-6,500 ft (610-1981 m); flowers May-June.<br />
Notes: Distinctive with its grey to purplish-grey spines <strong>and</strong> whorls of short<br />
joints growing a right angles to stem. Ethnobotany: Papago pit baked buds,<br />
fruits <strong>and</strong> joints considered a staple food. Etymology: Cylindropuntia is from<br />
Greek kylindros or a cylinder, spinosior is from the Latin for spiny. Synonyms:<br />
Opuntia spinosior, O. whipplei var. spinosior<br />
118 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
2009 <strong>NPS</strong><br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2008 SEINET-ASU, Liz Makings ©2006 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Ferocactus wislizeni<br />
c<strong>and</strong>y barrelcactus, compass barrel cactus<br />
General: Barrel cactus is about as tall as wide,<br />
to columnar plant, ribs 20-28, not markedly<br />
tuberculate. Spines: Hooked central spines<br />
obscure the stem, central spines red, or the<br />
surface layer of ashy gray, 4 per areole, forming<br />
cross, not flattened against the stem, strongly<br />
cross-ribbed 3-8 cm long. Radial spines ashy<br />
gray, mostly 12-20 per areole, spreading, curling<br />
irregularly back <strong>and</strong> forth, not cross-ribbed.<br />
Flowers: Yellow-reddish cup-shaped, perianth<br />
parts narrowly lanceolate, apically sharply acute<br />
<strong>and</strong> mucronate, borne on crowns of stem, distinct purplish middle stripe.<br />
Fruits: Yellow, barrel-shaped, flesh, covered by numerous almost circular,<br />
shallowly fimbriate scales. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y desert soils, gravelly<br />
slopes <strong>and</strong> in grassl<strong>and</strong>s from 1,000-4,500 ft (305-1372 m); flowers July-<br />
September. Notes: Called the compass cactus because it tends to lean south<br />
toward sun, species can live up to 100 years. Spines are said to cripple a horse<br />
unless they are treated the same day. Ethnobotany: The top of the cactus was<br />
lopped off <strong>and</strong> the interior pulp was crushed as a source of water in extreme<br />
circumstances; the seeds were parched, ground, <strong>and</strong> boiled into a mush; the<br />
spines were used as fish hooks by the Pima, <strong>and</strong> the fruit was made into a c<strong>and</strong>y.<br />
Etymology: Ferocactus from Latin ferus, fierce <strong>and</strong> cactus referring to spines,<br />
while wislizeni is named after Frederick Adolf Wislizenus (1810-1889) <strong>and</strong><br />
Army surgeon, explorer, <strong>and</strong> botanist. Synonyms: Echinocactus wislizeni<br />
Opuntia macrorhiza<br />
twist-spine pricklypear<br />
General: Prickly-pear cactus; clump forming, with<br />
clumps 0.5-2 m wide <strong>and</strong> 8-13 cm high; joints 6-10 cm<br />
long, 5-7 cm wide. Spines: Mainly on the uppermost<br />
aereoles; 1-6 spines per aereole, to 6 cm long, mostly<br />
pointing downward, straight or slightly curved.<br />
Flowers: Yellow, sometimes with reddish centers;<br />
5-6 cm wide, 5-6 cm long. Fruits: Purple or reddish<br />
purple; fleshy, with sparse glochids; 2-4 cm long, 2-3<br />
cm wide, with a shallow cup at the top. Ecology: S<strong>and</strong>y<br />
or rocky soils in grassl<strong>and</strong>s, pinon-juniper woodl<strong>and</strong>s,<br />
<strong>and</strong> ponderosa pine forests from 2,000-8,000 ft (610-<br />
2440 m); flowers April-June. Notes: Our plants<br />
belong to var. macrorhiza. This species hybridizes or intergrades freely with O.<br />
martiniana <strong>and</strong> O. phaeacantha, producing plants intermediate in characters<br />
<strong>and</strong> very difficult to key. Ethnobotany: Fruit was traditionally eaten raw or<br />
dried <strong>and</strong> used as thickening agent for soups. Inner stems were boiled <strong>and</strong><br />
fried. Inner stems were used as wound dressings or made into a drink to treat<br />
diarrhea. Cacti juice has also been shown to reduced blood sugar. Etymology:<br />
Opuntia from ancient root puncti- for prickled. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 119<br />
Cacti
Cacti<br />
Opuntia phaeacantha<br />
tulip pricklypear<br />
General: Prickly-pear cactus; prostrate<br />
or sprawling, with clumps 0.5-2.5 or even<br />
6 m wide <strong>and</strong> 30-90 cm high; joints 10-25<br />
cm long, 7.5-20 cm wide. Spines: Usually<br />
covering at least the upper third to quarter<br />
of the joint; 1-5 or 9 spines per aereole, 3-<br />
7 cm long; straight or curved, spreading<br />
or pointed downwards. Flowers: Yellow,<br />
sometimes with reddish centers; 6-8 cm<br />
wide, 6-8 cm long. Fruits: Purple or reddish purple; fleshy <strong>and</strong> smooth; 3-6<br />
cm long, 2-4 cm wide, with a shallow cup at the top. Ecology: S<strong>and</strong>y or rocky<br />
soils in pinon-juniper woodl<strong>and</strong>s, grassl<strong>and</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> ponderosa pine forests from<br />
1,000-7,500 ft (305-2285 m); flowers spring <strong>and</strong> early summer. Notes: Very<br />
common in the pinon-juniper woodl<strong>and</strong>s. Hybridizes or intergrades freely with<br />
O. macrorhiza <strong>and</strong> O. martiniana, producing plants intermediate in characters<br />
<strong>and</strong> very difficult to key. Ethnobotany: Fruit was traditionally eaten raw or<br />
dried <strong>and</strong> used as thickening agent for soups. Inner stems were boiled <strong>and</strong><br />
fried. Inner stems were used as wound dressings or made into a drink to treat<br />
diarrhea. Cacti juice has also been shown to reduced blood sugar. Etymology:<br />
Opuntia from ancient root puncti- for prickled. Species name from Greek<br />
roots phaeo- for dark or dusky <strong>and</strong> cantharo for beetle. Synonyms: None<br />
Opuntia santa-rita<br />
Santa Rita pricklypear<br />
General: Sprawling shrub, violet or<br />
purple-hued, basal portion of plant often<br />
takes trunk-like from, with nearly circular<br />
segments. Spines: Few, if any spines along<br />
margins of pads, those present are 1 cm or<br />
less. Flowers: Bright yellow, found along<br />
upper margins of pads. Fruits: Barrel<br />
shaped, 3-5 cm long. Ecology: Found on<br />
s<strong>and</strong>y or rocky soils in plains or grassl<strong>and</strong>s,<br />
canyons, oak woodl<strong>and</strong> edges from 3,000-5,000 ft (914-1524 m); flowers April-<br />
June. Notes: Distinctive purple hue of pads make this a particularly notable<br />
species. Vulnerable to both drought <strong>and</strong> to overgrazing. Ethnobotany: Used<br />
widely as an ornamental plant because of its coloration. Etymology: Opuntia<br />
is Greek from the name used by Pliny for a different plant that grew around<br />
the town of Opus, santa-rita is named for the Santa Rita for the location of the<br />
type-locality. Synonyms: Opuntia chlorotica var. santa-rita, Opuntia violacea<br />
var. santa-rita<br />
120 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
2008 <strong>NPS</strong>/Beth Fallon<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
Forbs<br />
Forbs are non-grasslike herbaceous plants, neither woody nor persistent,<br />
that die back at the end of a growing season. Herbaceous plants can be either<br />
annual (short-lived), perennial (living longer than a single season), or biennial<br />
(living two years <strong>and</strong> only flowering in the second), but they will grow into<br />
trees or shrubs because they lack any kind of persistent woody stem.<br />
Forbs can take a variety of physical forms. They can be upright, tall, tiny, bushy,<br />
even vines. Most forbs have a consistent structure of roots <strong>and</strong> stems, leaves,<br />
<strong>and</strong> an inflorescence (flower-bearing part) of flowers <strong>and</strong> fruits enclosed in an<br />
ovary. The structures vary widely between families but tend to be similar within<br />
families. For example, all plants in the family Caryophyllaceae, the Pink family,<br />
share a common characteristic of swollen nodes with opposite leaves.<br />
Forbs are part of a larger grouping of plants known as the angiosperms,<br />
demarcated by the presence of a seed contained within an enclosed ovary.<br />
Flower types <strong>and</strong> structure are as diverse, occur in many different colors, <strong>and</strong><br />
all sorts different numbers of petals, seeds, <strong>and</strong> even leaves.<br />
121<br />
Forbs
Forbs<br />
122
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Carlowrightia arizonica<br />
Arizona wrightwort<br />
General: Subshrub 15–30 cm, or up to 1 m in the<br />
protection of a spiny shrub, much branched,<br />
often leafless. Stems slender <strong>and</strong> brittle, herbage<br />
densely pubescent with minute hairs <strong>and</strong><br />
inconspicuous understory of minute gl<strong>and</strong>s.<br />
Leaves: Quickly drought deciduous, sessile<br />
to petioled, blades mostly lanceolate, entire.<br />
Flowers: Corollas 1 cm in diameter, pealike, fall<br />
as unit, white with yellow eye <strong>and</strong> purple guide<br />
lines on upper lip, formed by 2 fused petals.<br />
Fruits: Capsule about 1 cm, glabrous, 4 seeds. Ecology: Found on dry rocky<br />
slopes from 2,500–4,000 ft (762–1219 m); flowers April–May. Notes: Grazed by<br />
rabbits <strong>and</strong> rodents, livestock. There is considerable variation in appearance<br />
in different seasons or at different stages of growth. Corollas open at sunrise<br />
<strong>and</strong> fall by late morning with the heat of the day. Ethnobotany: No uses.<br />
Etymology: Carlowrightia is named for American botanist Charles (Carlos)<br />
Wright (1811–1885), <strong>and</strong> arizonica refers to Arizona. Synonyms: None<br />
Dicliptera resupinata<br />
Arizona foldwing<br />
General: Perennial, ascending to erect herb<br />
to 80 cm tall, stems branching, glabrous or<br />
sparingly puberulous about nodes, hairs curved.<br />
Leaves: Petioles to 2 cm long, blades lanceolate<br />
to lance–oblong or ovate to 8 cm long, blunt<br />
tip, narrowed at base, glabrous or nearly so,<br />
inconspicuously ciliolate. Flowers: Peduncles<br />
short or elongate, bibracteate at apex, 3–5–<br />
branched, branches to 3 cm long; involucral<br />
bracts cordate, deltoid–subcordate, or rarely<br />
round–obovate to 7 mm long <strong>and</strong> 8 mm wide, rounded or obtuse at apex, often<br />
emarginated, sometimes subapiculate, very flat, veiny, glabrous or nearly so;<br />
corolla purple with darker purple dots about 1.5 cm long, lips obovate. Fruits:<br />
Capsules about 5 mm long, glabrous, flat. Ecology: Found on dry wooded<br />
slopes or flats from 3,000–6,000 ft (914–1829 m); flowers September–May.<br />
Notes: With age the plants are usually leafless <strong>and</strong> the bracts become papery<br />
<strong>and</strong> white. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Resupinata means upside<br />
down due to twisting of the pedicel. Synonyms: Diapedium resupinatum, D.<br />
torreyi, Dicliptera pseudoverticillaris, D. torreyi, Justicia resupinata<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 123<br />
Acanthaceae<br />
Forbs
Acanthaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Elytraria imbricata<br />
purple scalystem<br />
General: Acaulescent or leaves crowded at tip<br />
of a glabrous or sparingly pilose stem to 30 cm<br />
long. Leaves: Blades ovate to oblong or obovate,<br />
rarely linear–lanceolate, usually 3–12 cm long,<br />
1.5–4 cm wide, blunt or acute at apex, narrowed<br />
at base to a slender winged petiole, both surfaces<br />
appressed–pilose or glabrate, margins undulate.<br />
Flowers: Numerous scapes, axillary, usually<br />
5–24 cm long, simple or branched, covered<br />
by tightly appressed, ovate to subulate scales;<br />
spikes 1 to several to 6 cm long, bracts oblong to<br />
elliptic, 3–6 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, firm, awn–<br />
tipped <strong>and</strong> bearing near apex a pair of triangular<br />
or rhombic hyaline teeth; bractlets 3 mm long,<br />
calyx segments thin, upper bidentate; corolla narrowly funnelform blue, 5–8<br />
mm long. Fruits: Glabrous capsule. Ecology: Found on dry rocky slopes,<br />
banks, or ledges from 3,500–5,000 ft (1067–1524 m); flowers September–May.<br />
Notes: Widely distributed species, extremely variable in its growth habit.<br />
Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Imbricata means overlapping, closely<br />
put together, referring to the calyx lobes. Synonyms: Justicia imbricata<br />
Ruellia nudiflora<br />
violet wild petunia<br />
General: Erect perennial forb from a woody<br />
caudex, 30–50 cm; sparsely pubescent with<br />
flexuous trichomes about 2.5 mm long,<br />
sometimes with dense understory of straight<br />
trichomes <strong>and</strong> gl<strong>and</strong>s. Leaves: Opposite,<br />
petiolate, ovate to broadly ovate 10–17 cm long,<br />
long attenuate to truncate–attentuate at base,<br />
rounded to subacute at apex, margin undulate–<br />
crisped, surfaces pubescent. Flowers: Tubular,<br />
purple, slightly irregular, 3 cm long, in loose,<br />
open terminal panicles; corolla 30–50 mm long, lobes 10–12 mm long. Fruits:<br />
Capsule ellipsoid, 12–22 mm long, gl<strong>and</strong>ular. Ecology: Found in s<strong>and</strong>y washes<br />
<strong>and</strong> ditches:, in desert scrub <strong>and</strong> desert grassl<strong>and</strong> from 1,500– 4,500 ft (457–<br />
1372 m); flowers April–September. Notes: Note the ovate leaves, quite unlike<br />
the other species in Acanthaceae which are more lanceolate. Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown Etymology: Nudiflora means bare flower. Synonyms: None<br />
124 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er ©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey ©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Tetramerium nervosum<br />
hairy fournwort<br />
General: Herb to 30 cm high, stems terete,<br />
branched, brittle, pilosulous or glabrous.<br />
Leaves: Blades lanceolate to ovate–lanceolate<br />
1–7 cm long, 0.5–2.5 cm wide, obtuse at apex,<br />
rounded to cuneate at base, pilose; petioles to<br />
8 mm long, slender, pilose. Flowers: Borne in<br />
terminal <strong>and</strong> lateral spikes to 9 cm long <strong>and</strong><br />
about 8 mm in diameter, rachis glabrous or<br />
sparingly pilose; bracts lanceolate to ovate–<br />
lanceolate, 7–15 mm long, about 4 mm wide,<br />
acute, ending in spine .5 mm long, ciliate, 3–5–nerved, closely imbricate; corolla<br />
bilabiate 1 cm long, white to deep yellow with occasional purplish markings,<br />
glabrous, tube slender, lips 5 mm long, entire upper lip, lower 3–lobed, lobes<br />
elliptic, 3 mm long. Fruits: Capsule 4.5 mm long, pubescent or glabrate.<br />
Ecology: Found on dry open ground <strong>and</strong> slopes from 3,000–5,000 ft (914–1524<br />
m); flowers September–June. Notes: Often found sprawling. Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown Etymology: Tetramerium is from tetras, four <strong>and</strong> meris, part,<br />
meaning four parts, while nervosum means having distinct veins or nerves.<br />
Synonyms: Tetramerium hispidum, T. nervosum var. hispidum<br />
Trianthema portulacastrum<br />
desert horsepurslane<br />
General: Annual forb, hot weather ephemeral,<br />
semisucculent, usually reddish green. Stems<br />
first ascending then spreading, relatively<br />
weak <strong>and</strong> prostrate, often 15–60 cm, glabrous.<br />
Leaves: Opposite, 3–4.5 cm on robust, young<br />
plants, older plants usually thicker around<br />
2 cm, prominent petioles, blades obovate to<br />
orbicular. Stipules <strong>and</strong> exp<strong>and</strong>ed leaf bases form<br />
membranous sheath around stem. Flowers:<br />
Solitary, perianth sessile, enclosed by sheathing<br />
leaf bases. Calyx lobes petal–like, 2.3–12.5 mm, pink with a green horn, anthers<br />
pink–violet. Stamens 6–10. Fruits: Several seeded, crested capsule. Ecology:<br />
Common in disturbed areas, fields with s<strong>and</strong>y, gravelly, or rocky soils from<br />
1,00–4,000 ft (305–1219 m); flowers June–October. Notes: Host plant of the beet<br />
leafhopper. Ethnobotany: Plants are cooked <strong>and</strong> eaten as greens in summer.<br />
Etymology: Trianthema is from Greek treis for three <strong>and</strong> anthemon for flower,<br />
portulacastrum comes from a combination of Portulaca <strong>and</strong> astrum meaning<br />
star to indicate a portulaca–like plant with star shaped flowers. Synonyms:<br />
None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 125<br />
Acanthaceae–Aizoaceae<br />
Forbs
Amaranthaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Alternanthera pungens<br />
H M L<br />
khakiweed<br />
General: Introduced herbaceous perennials with thick, woody, vertical root,<br />
stems prostrate or procumbent, forming mats. Leaves: Opposite leaves, oval or<br />
obovate, the pairs unequal, pilose, glabrate. Flowers: On short axillary spikes<br />
with conspicuous white bracts, 5 perianth segments, pubescent with stiff,<br />
jointed hairs, minutely barbed at apex. Fruits: Utricles compressed within<br />
tepals, brown 1.8 mm, apex truncate. Seeds lenticular 1.3–1.5 mm. Ecology:<br />
Common weed, spreading mat–like from 2,500–5,500 ft (762–1676 m); flowers<br />
July–September. Notes: Resembles Guilleminea densa but A. pungens has larger<br />
leaves <strong>and</strong> flower spikes. Ethnobotany: None regionally, but in Africa where<br />
this plant is native it is used for a variety<br />
of internal disorders, including worms<br />
<strong>and</strong> other stomach troubles. Etymology:<br />
Alternanthera is from Latin alternus,<br />
alternate <strong>and</strong> anthera, anthers which refers<br />
to alternating stames <strong>and</strong> staminodia, while<br />
pungens means spiny, sharp–pointed.<br />
Synonyms: Achyranthes leiantha, A. repens,<br />
Alternanthera achyrantha, A. repens<br />
Amaranthus palmeri<br />
carelessweed<br />
General: Annual forb, 0.2–3 m tall, usually<br />
erect with a well–developed main axis, highly<br />
variable depending on soil moisture; glabrous<br />
or sparsely pubescent but not gl<strong>and</strong>ular. Leaves:<br />
Mostly lanceolate, highly variable in size, the<br />
lower stem leaves largest <strong>and</strong> soon deciduous,<br />
often with petioles 1.5–7.5 cm <strong>and</strong> blades 3–12<br />
cm. Flowers: Dioecious, inflorescence terminal,<br />
indeterminate, long <strong>and</strong> slender, tips usually<br />
drooping, <strong>and</strong> also with short axillary clusters.<br />
Floral bracts <strong>and</strong> sepals still <strong>and</strong> spinescent, 5<br />
pistillate sepals. Fruits: Cicumscissile, seeds less than 1 mm, obovoid–lenticular,<br />
red–brown to blackish when fully ripe. Ecology: Widespread weed, grows<br />
quickly in disturbed areas, abundant in river bottoms <strong>and</strong> irrigated l<strong>and</strong><br />
below 5,500 ft (1676 m); flowers June–October. Notes: Usually top–killed with<br />
first frost in the fall. Grows quickly <strong>and</strong> prolifically where present in the seed<br />
bank. Ethnobotany: Amaranthus spp. all have similar medicinal qualities. Tea<br />
made from leaves is used to relieve stomach pain. Herb stimulates mucous<br />
membranes. Leaves mixed with lavender may be steeped in milk for infants that<br />
are undergoing continuous vomiting. Seed can be ground into meal for food.<br />
Leaves are highly in vitamins <strong>and</strong> minerals, excellent as greens or cooked like<br />
spinach. Etymology: Amaranthus is ancient word for unfading, palmeri is an<br />
honorific for Edward Palmer (1829–1911) an American explorer <strong>and</strong> botanical<br />
collector. Synonyms: None<br />
126 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2007 Zoya Akulova<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2003 Michael L. Charters<br />
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Atriplex elegans<br />
wheelscale saltbush<br />
General: Annual, rarely perennial 5–45 cm tall, stems<br />
ascending or procumbent to erect, stramineous or whitish,<br />
simple or much branched at base, obtusely angled in<br />
age, slender or stout, scurfy to glabrate. Leaves: Many,<br />
subsessile or shortly petiolate; blade elliptic to spatulate,<br />
oblanceolate, oblong, or obovate 5–30 mm long by 2–8<br />
mm wide, base cuneate to attenuate, margin entire or<br />
irregularly dentate, densely scurfy abaxially, usually green<br />
<strong>and</strong> glabrate adaxially. Flowers: Staminate flowers with 3–5 parted perianth;<br />
pistillate flowers intermixed with staminate in small axillary clusters. Fruits:<br />
Bracteoles subsessile or short stipulate, orbiculate, strongly compressed, 2–4 m<br />
<strong>and</strong> as wide, united except at thin margin, margin dentate, terminal teeth often<br />
prominent, faces smooth or with appendages; seeds brown, 1–1.5 mm wide.<br />
Ecology: Found in alluvial soils, ditchbanks, field edges, roadsides, washes,<br />
generally disturbed soil below 3,500 ft (1067 m); flowers March–August. Notes:<br />
This species can be distinguished readily when fruiting because of the two bracts<br />
deeply toothed all around the margins that enclose the seed. Two varieties are<br />
recognized: var. elegans whose bracteole margin is dentate to incised with teeth<br />
0.5–1 mm, found from Chihuahuan to the Sonoran; <strong>and</strong> var. fasiculata with a finely<br />
toothed bracteole margin, 0.3–0.5 mm, <strong>and</strong> a strongly samaralike bracteole, found<br />
from Mohavean to the Sonoran. Ethnobotany: Gila Pima ate as a famine food, or<br />
rarely boiled the plant with mean. Etymology: Atriplex is the Latin name for the<br />
plant, while elegans means elegant. Synonyms: None<br />
Atriplex wrightii<br />
Wright’s orach<br />
General: Native, bushy annual with erect to<br />
ascending stems, sparsely branched 1.5–10<br />
dm, scurfy when young. Leaves: Sessile or<br />
short petiolate, blade white abaxially, green<br />
adaxially, linear to lanceolate, elliptic, or<br />
oblong, 2.5–6 cm, irregularly toothed margins.<br />
Flowers: Staminate flowers in glomerules,<br />
forming dense, naked terminal paniculate<br />
spikes, panicles 6–30 cm, with small 2–3 mm<br />
thick, beadlike glomerules. Pistillate flowers<br />
in axillary clusters. Fruits: Bracteoles, short stipitate, compressed 2–2.5<br />
mm, basally united. Ecology: Found on alkaline or saline soils, often along<br />
roadsides <strong>and</strong> in other disturbed ground from 1,000–4,000 ft (305–1219 m);<br />
flowers in summer. Notes: One of the few annuals that commonly grows<br />
through the hot early summer (Felger). Ethnobotany:Unknown, plants of the<br />
genus have many uses. Etymology: Atriplex is the Latin name for the plant,<br />
while wrightii is named for Charles Wright (1811–1885), an American botanical<br />
collector. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 127<br />
Amaranthaceae<br />
Forbs
Amaranthaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Chenopodium berl<strong>and</strong>ieri<br />
pitseed goosefoot<br />
General: Stems erect to ascending, much–branched<br />
to simple, 1–10.5 dm, farinose. Leaves: Nonaromatic;<br />
petiole 0.2–9 cm; blade narrowly to broadly<br />
lanceolate, rhombic, ovate, or triangular, 1.2–12 cm<br />
long by .5–7.5 cm long, base cuneate to truncate,<br />
margins serrate, irregularly dentate, or entire, often<br />
with 2 basal lobes, apex acute to acuminate, farinose.<br />
Flowers: Glomerules in compound spikes, 5–17 cm;<br />
glomerules irregularly rounded, 4–7 mm diameter;<br />
bracts absent; perianth segments 5, distinct nearly to<br />
base, lobes ovate to deltate 0.7–1.5 mm by 0.7–1.3 mm,<br />
apex obtuse, farinose, often prominently keeled, covering fruit at maturity,<br />
stamens 5, stigmas 2. Fruits: Achenes or utricles, depressed–ovoid; pericarp<br />
adherent or nonadherent near base of style, alveolate–rugose; round seeds<br />
1–2 mm diameter; brown to black. Ecology: Widespread, often in disturbed<br />
habitats below 8,000 ft (2438 m). Notes: Ethnobotany: Edible leaves, many<br />
other uses for species in this genera. Etymology: Chenopodium is goose foot<br />
in Latin, berl<strong>and</strong>ieri is named after Jean Louis Berl<strong>and</strong>ier (1805–1851) a Belgian<br />
botanist. Synonyms: None<br />
Chenopodium incanum<br />
mealy goosefoot<br />
General: Stems erect to spreading, branched<br />
profusely from base, 6–75 cm, farinose. Leaves:<br />
Petiole 0.5–1 cm, blade broadly triangular to<br />
broadly ovate, distal leaves narrowly triangular<br />
to narrowly ovate, 1–1.5 cm by 0.5–1.6 cm, thin<br />
or thick, base cuneate to subtruncate, margins<br />
usually with two basal teeth or lobes, acute<br />
to acuminate, obtuse or rounded, farinose<br />
abaxially. Flowers: Perianth segments 5, distinct<br />
nearly to base, lobes ovate, 0.8–1.1 mm by 0.7–1<br />
mm, apex acute to obtuse, keeled or not, smooth, completely covering fruit at<br />
maturity, 5 stamens, 2 stigmas. Fruits: Ovoid utricles, nonadherent pericarp,<br />
smooth, round seeds, 0.9–1.25 mm diameter, rounded margins with narrow<br />
rim, dark black <strong>and</strong> wrinkled. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y soils, disturbed,<br />
<strong>and</strong> waste areas from 1,500–8,000 ft (457–2438 m); flowers May–September.<br />
Notes: Uncertain if this species is at Tumacacori, single specimen collected<br />
in 1951 along road near park. Ethnobotany: Stem used ceremonially, seeds<br />
ground <strong>and</strong> eaten, young shoots boiled, as were leaves all eaten as greens.<br />
Etymology: Chenopodium is goose foot in Latin, incanum means grayish or<br />
hoary. Synonyms: None<br />
128 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2003 Keir Morse<br />
© Al Schneider,<br />
www.swcoloradowildflowers.com
©2011 Max Licher<br />
©2011 SEINet<br />
Chenopodium pratericola<br />
desert goosefoot<br />
General: Strictly erect stems, simple or<br />
branching above, 20–80 cm tall, moderately<br />
to densely farinose. Leaves: Petiole 0.4–1<br />
cm, blade linear to narrowly lanceolate, or<br />
oblong–elliptic, 3–veined, 1.5–4.2 cm by 0.4–1<br />
cm, thick <strong>and</strong> somewhat fleshy, cuneate base,<br />
margins entire or with pair of lobes near<br />
base, apex acute, abaxial surface densely to<br />
sparingly white–mealy. Flowers: Glomerules<br />
in terminal <strong>and</strong> axillary panicles, 1–13 cm by<br />
0.15–0.5 cm; densely disposed, maturing irregularly, bracts leaflike; perianth<br />
segments 5, distinct nearly to base, lobes oblong–ovate, 0.8–1 mm by 0.5–0.7<br />
mm, apex obtuse, rounded or emarginated, strongly keeled along midvein,<br />
densely farinose, usually spreading from fruit; stamens 5, stigmas 2. Fruits:<br />
Ovoid utricles, pericarp nonadherent, smooth; round seeds, black, 0.9–1.3<br />
mm diameter, rounded margins. Ecology: Open s<strong>and</strong>y soils, often in saline or<br />
alkaline places from sea level to 8,000 ft (2438 m); flowers May–September.<br />
Notes: Ethnobotany: Leaves boiled <strong>and</strong> eaten by the Gila Pima. Etymology:<br />
Chenopodium means goose foot, pratericola is from Latin partum, a meadow,<br />
meaning it dwells in meadows. Synonyms: Chenopodium albescens, C.<br />
desiccatum var. leptophylloides, C. pratericola ssp. eupratericola, C. pratericola<br />
var. leptophylloides<br />
Chenopodium rubrum<br />
red goosefoot<br />
General: Annual, 20–60 cm tall; erect, glabrous.<br />
Leaves: Leaves triangular to rhombic, cuneate<br />
base, dentate margins or entire; glabrous;<br />
toothed, 15–90 mm. Flowers: Axillary spike,<br />
flowers inconspicuous, generally 3 sepals,<br />
glabrous to sparsely powdery, calyx green<br />
in fruit. Fruits: Utricle (0.5–1 mm). Ecology:<br />
Found in open, saline places, drying mudflats<br />
old fields below 3,500 ft (1067 m); flowers June–<br />
September. Notes: Difficult to distinguish from<br />
C. capitatum which has a bright red calyx in fruit; cannot be distinguished from<br />
the introduced C. murale. Low drought, no fire tolerance. Low browse <strong>and</strong><br />
graze potential. Ethnobotany: Seeds are staple in Gosiute diet. Etymology:<br />
Chenopodium means goose foot. Rubrum means red. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 129<br />
Amaranthaceae<br />
Forbs
Amaranthaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Gomphrena sonorae<br />
Sonoran globe amaranth<br />
General: Annual or short–lived perennial<br />
with erect, sparingly branched, sparsely<br />
villous to glabrate stems with conspicuously<br />
swollen nodes. Leaves: Short–petiolate<br />
or upper sessile, narrowly elliptic, oblong,<br />
or oblanceolate, 3–21 mm wide, 2–9 cm<br />
long, acute to acuminate at apex, gradually<br />
attenuate at base, entire, green, sparsely<br />
villous when young, often glabrate with<br />
age. Flowers: Solitary or in few–headed glomerules <strong>and</strong> the end of branches<br />
<strong>and</strong> sessile in some axils, subglobose to short–cylindric, about 10–12 mm in<br />
diameter; ovate bracts, short–acuminate, 2.5–4 mm long, scarious, white or<br />
bright stramineous, bractlets ovate–acuminate, 5–6 mm long, carinate but not<br />
cristate, white or tinged with red, perianth lobes lanceolate–acuminate, almost<br />
equals bractlets, densely woolly below. Fruits: Utricle ovoid, 1.5–2 mm long,<br />
membranous, reddish brown seed, obovoid–lenticular, 1.5 mm long. Ecology:<br />
Found on stony hills <strong>and</strong> plains, occasionally on grassy slopes, from 3,000–<br />
5,500 ft (914–1676 m); flowers August–March. Notes: Gomphrena is identifiable<br />
by the globose heads which are consipuously subtended by cream to pale<br />
orange, scarious bracts. Ethnobotany: None Etymology: Sonorae means of<br />
or from Sonora, Mexico. Synonyms: None<br />
Guilleminea densa<br />
small matweed<br />
General: Prostrate mat–forming<br />
perennial herb with densely lanate stems,<br />
much branched 3–30 cm from woody root.<br />
Leaves: Basal leaves short lived, other<br />
leaves opposite, oblanceolate to elliptic,<br />
blades 4–9 mm wide, 1–2.5 cm long,<br />
petioles about equaling blades, woolly<br />
pubescent underneath, asymmetric,<br />
3–15 mm long, 2–10 mm wide, abruptly<br />
narrowed at base, acute or rounded<br />
at apex. Flowers: In dense axillary<br />
glomerules, bracts ovate–acute, white, scarious, glabrous, 1–1.5 mm long; calyx<br />
2–2.5 mm long, lobes lance–ovate, actue, glabrous, white–scarious. Fruits:<br />
Glabrous utricle, compressed–ovate, about equaling perianth tube, seeds<br />
ovoid–lentiular, .5 mm long, brown, lustrous. Ecology: Found on dry soil, from<br />
2,500–6,000 ft (762–1829 m); flowers May–October. Notes: Flora of North<br />
America rejects calling this species var. densa but this it is considered to be the<br />
most widespread species in our region by most taxonomists. Ethnobotany:<br />
None Etymology: Guilleminea is named for Jean Baptiste Antoine Guillemin<br />
(1796–1842) a French botanist <strong>and</strong> author, densa simply means compact or<br />
dense. Synonyms: Brayulinea densa, Illecebrum densum<br />
130 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2006 Louis–M. L<strong>and</strong>ry H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Salsola kali<br />
Russian thistle<br />
General: Annual 5–50 cm tall, papillose to hispid, occasionally glabrous, stems<br />
erect to ascending, branched from base, arcuate, occasionally prostrate. Leaves:<br />
Alternate, blade linear, mostly 1–2 mm wide, fleshy, apex acuminate into firm 1–1.5<br />
mm spine. Flowers: Interrupted inflorescence at maturity, usually 1–flower per axil<br />
of bract, bracts alternate, not imbricate at maturity, reflexed, not distinctly swolled<br />
at base, apex narrowing into subulate spine; bracteoles free or becoming connate<br />
<strong>and</strong> adnate to perianth base; perianth segments with comparatively narrow wing<br />
or in lower flowers occasionally wingless. Fruits: Fruiting perianth 4–6 mm<br />
diameter. Ecology: Found widespread in disturbed areas. Notes: Widespread<br />
agricultural weed, told apart from S. tragus,<br />
by the reddish, longitudinal striations in S.<br />
tragus. Ethnobotany: Used medicinally<br />
against bee stings, smallpox, <strong>and</strong> for<br />
influenza; the seeds were roasted <strong>and</strong> eaten<br />
as were the young sprouts. Etymology:<br />
Salsola is from Latin salsus, for salty, <strong>and</strong><br />
kali which is thought to be a derivation of<br />
alkali. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 131<br />
Amaranthaceae<br />
Forbs
Amaranthaceae–Amaryllidaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Tidestromia lanuginosa<br />
woolly tidestromia<br />
General: Procumbent, ascending, or<br />
prostrate but much branched annual,<br />
yellowish green to gray–green or reddish, to<br />
50 cm, densely rough pubescent to glabrate<br />
with age. Leaves: Opposite on petiole 2.5 cm<br />
long, ovate–orbicular to lanceolate 1–3 cm<br />
each direction, densely pubescent. Flowers:<br />
Minute <strong>and</strong> perfect in axillary glomerules, the<br />
perianth yellow 1.5–3 mm long, the segments<br />
oblong, acute to obtuse, 5 stamens, filaments<br />
united at base, glabrous or villous perianth segments, with globose ovary,<br />
stigma capitate or 2 lobed. Fruits: Utricle subglobose, glabrous, indehiscent,<br />
brown globose seeds. Ecology: Found on dry plains, hillsides, <strong>and</strong> often on<br />
disturbed soils below 5,000 ft (1524 m); flowers August–October. Notes: Two<br />
species are found in the area, generally T. languinosa is a slightly more common<br />
higher elevation species, while T. oblongifolia is found in more true desert.<br />
Generally, this species as an annual is clearly distinguishable from the others<br />
in the genus. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Tidestromia is named for<br />
the American botanist Ivar (Frederick) Tidestrom (1864–1956) who wrote the<br />
Flora of Arizona <strong>and</strong> New Mexico, while lanuginosa means woolly or downy.<br />
Synonyms: Achyranthes lanuginosa, Alternanthera lanuginosa, Cladothrix<br />
lanuginosa, Tidestromia lanuginosa ssp. eliassoniana<br />
Nothoscordum bivalve<br />
crowpoison<br />
General: Perennial scapose herb with a globose<br />
to subglobose bulb, to 1–1.5 cm with brown<br />
membranous coats. Leaves: Narrowly linear,<br />
1–4 mm wide, acute to obtuse at apex, equaling<br />
scape or shorter. Flowers: The scape is solitary<br />
<strong>and</strong> terete, 20–40 cm tall by less than 3 mm<br />
wide, the sheaths envelop the neck of the bulb,<br />
topped by 6–12 flowered asymmetrical umbel,<br />
the unfragrant flowers white 10–12 mm long, the<br />
outer ones with a red or purplish red midvein, elliptic, the apex acute.Fruits:<br />
Capsule subglobose or obovoid, 6–8 mm long <strong>and</strong> wide, obtusely 3–lobed.<br />
Ecology: Found in s<strong>and</strong>y soil <strong>and</strong> open sites from 2,500–8,000 ft (762–2438 m),<br />
flowers April–May. Notes: FNA folds the former N. texanum under one single<br />
taxonomic entity as done here. Notably there is no onion–like smell. Nearly<br />
identical to higher elevation Allium species minus the tell–tale onion smell.<br />
Ethnobotany: Unknown, but probably eaten. Etymology: Nothoscordum is<br />
from Greek nothos for false <strong>and</strong> scordum for garlic, while bivalve means two<br />
sides. Synonyms: Nothoscordum texanum<br />
132 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2003 Michael L. Charters<br />
Bowlesia incana<br />
hoary bowlesia<br />
General: Delicate winter–spring annual<br />
with stellate hairs throughout; stems<br />
weak 4–45 cm, slender, prostrate <strong>and</strong><br />
dichotomously branching. Leaves: Simple,<br />
petioled, wider than long, 10–23 mm wide<br />
with 5 or 7 broad lobes, entire to dentate.<br />
Flowers: Borne in simple umbels, sepals<br />
<strong>and</strong> petals scalelike 0.5 mm, peduncles 2–6<br />
flowered, shorter than petioles, sometimes<br />
vestigal, inconspicuous corolla greenish white with prominent calyx teeth.<br />
Fruits: Sessile or nearly so, ovate, 1–1.5 mm, stellate–pubescent, turgid. Ecology:<br />
Found under bushes <strong>and</strong> canopies from 100–3,500 ft (30–1067 m); flowers<br />
January–June. Notes: Distinguished by habit, basal <strong>and</strong> opposite leaves, <strong>and</strong> its<br />
tendency to form extensive mat; whole plant is covered in downy, star–shaped<br />
hairs. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Bowlesia is named for William<br />
Bowles (1705–1780) an Irish naturalist, while incana means grayish or hoary.<br />
Synonyms: Bowlesia septentrionalis<br />
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Conium maculatum<br />
poison hemlock<br />
General: Tall, hairless biennial herb; 0.5–3 m tall; stems streaked or spotted<br />
with purple blotches; large taproot; pungent odor. Introduced from Eurasia.<br />
Leaves: Leaves pinnately compound, finely divided, <strong>and</strong> sometimes toothed.<br />
Flowers: Loose inflorescence of umbels; flowers white. Fruits: Seeds ribbed<br />
(crenulate), about 2 mm long. Ecology: Widely distributed in moist disturbed<br />
areas, streams, <strong>and</strong> canyons from 5,000–7,500 ft (1525–2285 m) <strong>and</strong> lower;<br />
flowers June–September. Notes: The purple streaked/spotted stems <strong>and</strong> habitat<br />
of moist areas leads to poison hemlock. Also look for the finely dissected<br />
leaflets <strong>and</strong> loose axillary <strong>and</strong> terminal<br />
umbels. Host for Black Swallowtail butterfly.<br />
No effective biological control techniques are<br />
known, but mechanical removal (h<strong>and</strong> pulling,<br />
grubbing, or mowing) is effective if done prior<br />
to flowering. Ethnobotany: All parts of this<br />
plant are highly toxic. Notorious from ancient<br />
times as the poison that Socrates drank.<br />
Differentiated from many other members<br />
of Apiaceae by the purple–spotted stems.<br />
Etymology: Name from “koneion,” ancient<br />
Greek name for this species. Maculatum refers<br />
to spotted, referring to purple splotches on the<br />
stems of leaves or on petals. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 133<br />
Apiaceae<br />
Forbs
Apiaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Daucus pusillus<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Cyclospermum leptophyllum<br />
H M L<br />
marsh parsley, slender celery<br />
General: Exotic annual, erect to spreading stems 30 cm, rather coarse,<br />
grooved. Leaves: Pinnately 3 or 4 times divided into linear–filiform segments,<br />
3–8 cm. Flowers: Petals 0.3–0.4 mm, white, often fading pink. Fruits: Broadly<br />
ellipsoid to globose, 1.5–2 mm, mericarps each with 5 prominent narrow ribs.<br />
Ecology: Widespread weed, thrives in lawns,<br />
where it becomes knotty or spreading. Notes:<br />
Very widespread weed, thought to be from<br />
Brazil. Ethnobotany: Some in this genus<br />
(<strong>and</strong> old genus Apium) used for flavoring, for<br />
tuberculosis, <strong>and</strong> as potherb. Etymology:<br />
Cyclospermum from Greek kyklos, circle or<br />
ring <strong>and</strong> sperma, seed, referring to the shape<br />
of the fruit <strong>and</strong> seeds. Synonyms: Apium<br />
leptophyllum, A. tenuifolium, Cyclospermum<br />
ammi<br />
American wild carrot<br />
General: Winter–spring ephemeral with stiff<br />
white hairs sometimes papilla–based on stems<br />
<strong>and</strong> inflorescence branches, the stems slender,<br />
7–50 cm. Leaves: Highly dissected into small,<br />
narrow segments. Flowers: Densely flowered<br />
umbels, on stout peduncles 3.5–2.7 cm, the bracts<br />
leafy. Sepals absent, petals 0.6 mm, pale yellow.<br />
Fruits: Burlike, body dark colored, 3 mm,<br />
intricately sculptured with yellow barb–tipped<br />
spines. Ecology: Common in disturbed habitats<br />
from 5,000 ft (1524 m) <strong>and</strong> lower; flowers spring. Notes: Its cultivated relative<br />
D. carota ssp. sativa is similar <strong>and</strong> much larger. Ethnobotany: Decoction<br />
of plant taken to clean the blood, as a remedy for colds, itching, fevers, <strong>and</strong><br />
snakebite. Roots were gathered <strong>and</strong> eaten both raw <strong>and</strong> steamed. Etymology:<br />
Daucus is a Greek name, while pusillus means weak, small, or insignificant.<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
134 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2011 Max Licher<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Spermolepis echinata<br />
bristly scaleseed<br />
General: Taprooted annual, low spreading<br />
5–40 cm. Leaves: Leaves ternately<br />
decompuond, ovate with petiole 3–20 mm,<br />
blade 7–25 mm wide, segments 2–18 mm,<br />
thread–like. Flowers: White, on peduncle<br />
1–5 cm, few bractlets, thread–like to linear,<br />
entire or toothed; rays 5–14, 1–15 mm generally<br />
ascending, very unequal, pedicels generally<br />
less than 7 mm. Fruits: Widely ovate 1.5–2<br />
mm wide, prominent ribs, short bristles.<br />
Ecology: Found on rocky slopes <strong>and</strong> s<strong>and</strong>y flats from 1,000–5,000 ft (305–1524<br />
m); flowers February–May. Notes: Mature fruit is critical for identification.<br />
Ethnobotany: None Etymology: Spermolepis is from Greek sperma, seed<br />
<strong>and</strong> lepis, scale, for scale seeded, while echinata means covered with prickles<br />
like a hedgehog. Synonyms: Apium echinatum<br />
Funastrum cynanchoides var. hartwegii<br />
Hartweg’s twinevine<br />
General: Stems numerous, from woody root,<br />
slender, herbaceous above, 1–3 m long or<br />
more, somewhat glaucescent. Leaves: Linear<br />
to lanceolate, sometimes auriculate–lobed or<br />
even cordate–hastate at base, 1–5 mm wide,<br />
2.5–6 cm long, short–petiolate, glabrous to<br />
puberulent. Flowers: Peduncles slender, 1–5 cm<br />
long, few to many flowered, pedicels 5–12 mm<br />
long, sparsely puberulent with spreading hairs;<br />
calyx lobes ovate, 1–1.5 mm long, puberulent,<br />
corollas purplish, 8–10 mm broad, lobes acute to slightly acuminate, sparsely<br />
puberulent to subglabrous without, ciliate on margins, glabrous within, corona<br />
ring rectanguloid, widest below middle, 0.5–0.8 mm high, free from vesicles.<br />
Fruits: Follicles slender 6–9 mm in diameter, attenuate at each end, 7–11 cm<br />
long. Ecology: Found along arroyos <strong>and</strong> in arid valleys below 5,500 ft (1676 m);<br />
flowers February–September. Notes: Leaves can be diagnostic for this species,<br />
as can its drier habitat. Ethnobotany: Plant was eaten raw, the sap secretions<br />
were heated over coals <strong>and</strong> eaten like gum by the Papago. Etymology:<br />
Funastrum is from funis, a rope, cord, or sheet <strong>and</strong> astrum, incomplete<br />
resemblance, while cynanchoides refers to being like the genus Cynanchum.<br />
Synonyms: Funastrum cynanchoides ssp. heterophyllum, F. heterophyllum, F.<br />
lineare, Philibertia heterophylla, Sarcostemma cynanchoides ssp. hartwegii, S.<br />
cynanchoides var. hartwegii<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 135<br />
Apiaceae – Apocynaceae<br />
Forbs
Aristolochiaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Aristolochia watsonii<br />
Watson’s dutchman’s pipe, Indian piperoot,<br />
birthwort<br />
General: Perennial from a single, thickened,<br />
carrot–shaped rook, dying back to root in<br />
drought or with freeze. Stems slender, training,<br />
herbaceous, often less than 30 cm or vining<br />
to 1–1.5 m in shaded, moist habitats. Leaves:<br />
Alternate, larger leaves 3.5–12 cm, blades<br />
narrowly triangular–hastate, with lower leaves<br />
often broadly triangular to triangular–hastate<br />
under favorable conditions, lobes as long as<br />
or longer than the petioles. Flowers: Solitary in leaf axils, calyx tube slightly<br />
inflated surrounding style <strong>and</strong> stamens, just above ovary, narrowed at the<br />
throat, curved, deciduous, limb somewhat tooth–shaped (1–lobed), yellow–<br />
green with brown–purple spots mostly along 5 prominent veins, margin <strong>and</strong><br />
tip dark maroon. Fruits: Capsule, ovoid, 1.6–2.5 m, with narrow ridge or<br />
wing along the midrib of each of 5 valves; seeds flattened, blackish. Ecology:<br />
Widespread in gravelly soils, along rocks in drier areas from 2,000–4,500<br />
ft (610–1372 m); flowers July–September. Notes: Easily identifiable by its<br />
maroon leaves with prominent central vein of light green <strong>and</strong> its triangular–<br />
hastate shape. Ethnobotany: Used as a snakebite remedy, as a decoction it<br />
was medicinal for fever, <strong>and</strong> as a toxin for the removal of afterbirth (hence<br />
name birthwort). Etymology: Aristolochia is from Greek, aristos, the best,<br />
most excellent <strong>and</strong> locheia or lochia, childbirth, hence name birthwort <strong>and</strong><br />
watsonii for Sereno Watson (1826–1892) an assistant to Asa Gray. Synonyms:<br />
Aristolochia porphyrophylla<br />
136 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Hydrocotle verticillata<br />
whorled marshpennywort,<br />
water pennywort<br />
General: Glabrous perennial,<br />
floating or creeping stem or<br />
rootstock. Leaves: Round,<br />
peltate on petioles 3–10 cm,<br />
blades 18–35 mm wide, shallowly<br />
lobed. Flowers: Sessile to short<br />
stalked, axillary; greenish white,<br />
petals 0.5–0.8 mm. Fruits:<br />
©Erica Asai @ USDA–NRCS Plants DB<br />
Ribbed 2 mm wide, 1.5 mm high,<br />
ovoid to ellipsoid. Ecology: Aquatic or wet ground, widespread; flowers May–<br />
August. Ethnobotany: Other species in this genus used for shortness of breath<br />
<strong>and</strong> cough, while some species used for greens. Etymology: Hydrocotyle<br />
is from Greek hydor, water <strong>and</strong> kotyle, a small cup, while verticillata means<br />
whorled. Synonyms: None<br />
Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum<br />
bluedicks<br />
General: Perennial herb with large<br />
underground deep–seated corm (bulb),<br />
scape 20–80 cm tall. Leaves: Slender 2–4<br />
mostly shorter than scape, 2–15 mm wide,<br />
scaberulous margins. Flowers: Bracts 8–15<br />
mm long, broadly ovate, abruptly acuminate;<br />
slender pedicels 2–10 mm long, perianth<br />
deep violet–purple, rarely reddish purple<br />
or white, 12–18 mm long, thin tube 4–8 mm<br />
long, constricted at throat. Umbels are open with 2–12 flowers. Fruits: Capsule<br />
6–10 mm long with persistent style. Ecology: Found on dry open ridges <strong>and</strong><br />
grassy plains, especially on heavier textured soils such as clays <strong>and</strong> heavy loams<br />
below 5,000 ft (1524 m); flowers February–May. Notes: Obvious plant in<br />
spring with its violet–colored flowers. Ethnobotany: Corms were eaten raw or<br />
cooked <strong>and</strong> eaten. Etymology: Dichelostemma comes from Greek dicha, bifid,<br />
<strong>and</strong> stemma, a garl<strong>and</strong> or crown, refers to appendages on the stamens, while<br />
capitatum refers to the way the flowers form in a head–like cluster. Synonyms:<br />
Brodiaea capitata, B. pulchella, Dichelostemma lacuna–vernalis, D. pulchellum,<br />
D. pulchellum var. capitatum, Hookera pulchella<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 137<br />
Araliaceae–Asparagaceae<br />
Forbs
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Acourtia nana<br />
dwarf desertpeony<br />
General: Low perennial herb 5–30 cm tall from a<br />
woody, platform–like rootstock 1–5 cm below soil,<br />
densely covered with a thick brownish tomentum<br />
<strong>and</strong> bearing several to many tough woody roots<br />
1–2 mm in diameter on lower side; stems erect or<br />
ascending, simple or moderately branched, finely<br />
scabrous with simple <strong>and</strong> gl<strong>and</strong>–tipped hairs.<br />
Leaves: Sessile or short–petioled, leathery, pale<br />
green, obovate–suborbicular or suborbicular, 2–5<br />
cm long <strong>and</strong> nearly or quite as wide, coarsely <strong>and</strong> unequally spinulose–dentate,<br />
scaberulous, veins conspicuous on both surfaces. Flowers: Solitary heads at<br />
ends of branches on stoutish peduncles 4–10 mm long or subsessile, campanulate<br />
involucre about 1.5 cm high, 9–12 mm high; broadly ovate bracts <strong>and</strong> abruptly<br />
attenuate to lance–linear <strong>and</strong> acute to apiculate in 4–5 series, inner ones narrow,<br />
often purplish, slightly scarious margins <strong>and</strong> lanate–ciliate below, fragrant pale<br />
pink flowers 10–14 mm long, glabrous. Fruits: Linear achene 5–6 mm long,<br />
strongly ribbed, pappus of numerous slender silky hairs 10–15 mm long, silvery<br />
white to tawny. Ecology: Found on mesas, arid plains, <strong>and</strong> slopes, usually under<br />
shrubs below 6,000 ft (1829 m); flowers March–June. Notes: Simple, grayish green<br />
leaves clasp the stems, are leathery <strong>and</strong> holly–like with rippled, spiny–toothed<br />
margins. Ethnobotany: Cottonlike material at root base place on a newborn’s<br />
umbilicus. Etymology: Acourtia is named for Mary Elizabeth Catherine Gibbes<br />
A’Court (1792–1878), nana is from Greek nannos, dwarf. Synonyms: Perezia nana<br />
Agoseris heterophylla<br />
annual agoseris<br />
General: Annual from slender taproot. Leaves:<br />
Oblong, spatulate or linear, entire, denticulate or<br />
sinuate–pinnatifid, 0.2–3 cm wide, 5–15 cm long,<br />
sparsely villous or glabrous, lobes on pinnatifid<br />
blades ovate to oblong, spreading or ascending,<br />
nearly as wide as long. Flowers: Slender scapes<br />
5–40 cm tall, often several from single root,<br />
glabrous or very sparsely villous, involucres 10–18<br />
mm high, often nearly as broad, bracts lance–<br />
acuminate, inner ones glabrous <strong>and</strong> hyaline–<br />
margined, outer ones shorter <strong>and</strong> arachnoid–<br />
villous to glabrate; inconspicuous ligules, barely<br />
surpassing involucres <strong>and</strong> withering early; yellow<br />
corolla. Fruits: Fusiform achenes, body smooth or longitundinally 10–ribbed,<br />
3–4 mm long, glabrous to villosulous, slender beak 5–8 mm long; pappus bristles<br />
white, 5 mm long. Ecology: Found on grassy hillsides <strong>and</strong> openings in brush from<br />
2,500–5,000 ft (762–1524 m); flowers March–May. Notes: Overlaps with A. glauca<br />
in the transition zones in our region. Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species,<br />
other species in this genera have medicinal <strong>and</strong> edible uses. Etymology: Agoseris<br />
is from Greek name for goat chicory, heterophylla means the leaves are different<br />
on the same plant. Synonyms: None<br />
138 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
2009 <strong>NPS</strong>/Beth Fallon ©2004 Steve Matson
©2006 Louis–M. L<strong>and</strong>ry<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Ambrosia artemisiifolia<br />
annual ragweed<br />
General: Annual herb that is variously<br />
pubescent; mostly branching above but<br />
sometimes below; 10–100 cm tall. Leaves: Leaves<br />
all cauline; opposite below but alternate above,<br />
once or twice pinnatifid, 3–10 cm long, middle<br />
<strong>and</strong> lower leaves petiolate. Flowers: Staminate<br />
heads nodding in terminal racemes, 3–5 mm<br />
wide; involucre 2–3 mm high, only scarcely lobed<br />
<strong>and</strong> with coarse hairs, no thickened dark stripes;<br />
lobes on staminate corolla notably dark–lined on margins. Pistillate heads in<br />
sessile clusters, involucres 1–flowered, 3–5 mm long, with one whorl of spines<br />
that are about 1 mm long. Fruits: Burs globose to pyriform, 2–3 mm, 3–5 spines.<br />
Ecology: Weed on roadsides, old fields, or other waste places; but not common;<br />
5,000–8,000 ft (1524–2438 m); flowers August–September. Notes: Probably a<br />
native to eastern U.S. <strong>and</strong> similar in appearance to A. acanthicarpa, but with<br />
generally more dissected leaves. Host plant for Bordered Patch butterfly.<br />
Ethnobotany: Various non–regional tribes use this plant. Etymology:<br />
Ambrosia is Greek for food of the gods, artimisiifolia means having leaves that<br />
resemble Artemisia. Synonyms: None<br />
Ambrosia confertiflora<br />
weakleaf burr ragweed<br />
General: Herbaceous perennial from a hard,<br />
knotty base, with stout, deeply buried, woody<br />
taproots, stems often 40–75 cm, erect, <strong>and</strong> leafy<br />
with white, mostly appressed hairs. Leaves:<br />
Green, often 6–17 cm, 2 or 3 times pinnately<br />
divided. Flowers: Heads small, numerous,<br />
in terminal panicles; corollas pale yellow,<br />
puberulent; pistillate heads disposed singly<br />
or in small clusters near base of racemes, 1–2<br />
flowered. Fruits: Burs 3–4 mm with small, terete, hooked spines. Ecology:<br />
Found on hillsides, slopes, mesas, <strong>and</strong> sometimes a weed in fields <strong>and</strong> along<br />
roadsides from 1,000–6,500 ft (305–1981 m); flowers March–October. Notes:<br />
Pinnately divided leaves are one diagnostic for this species. Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown for this species, other species in this genera have many uses.<br />
Etymology: Ambrosia is Greek for food of the gods, while confertiflora means<br />
crowded flowers. Synonyms: Franseria confertiflora, F. strigulosa, Gaertneria<br />
tenuifolia<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 139<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Ambrosia cordifolia<br />
Tucson burr ragweed<br />
General: Shrubby perennial with several<br />
slender ascending branches from a<br />
woody base; minutely but densely white–<br />
tomentose branches when young, growing<br />
to sparingly floccose or gabrate, striate;<br />
silvery in appearance. Leaves: On slender<br />
petioles, nearly or quite equaling blades,<br />
ovate–cordate in outline 1–5 cm broad,<br />
1.5–6.5 cm long, moderately 3–7 lobed <strong>and</strong><br />
coarsely dentate, densely cinereous–tomentulose beneath, deep green <strong>and</strong><br />
often scaberulous above. Flowers: Heads in terminal racemes to 15 cm long,<br />
saucer–shaped staminate involucres 4–5 mm in diameter, densely puberulent<br />
in youth, later subglabrate, lobes broader than long; staminate corollas finely<br />
puberulent on brownish lobes; pistillate heads solitary or in small clusters at<br />
base of raceme, sessile or on short axillary branches to 2.5 cm long, 2–flowered.<br />
Fruits: Bur–like ellipsoidal, 6–8 mm long, densely gl<strong>and</strong>ular–puberulent,<br />
conical beaks, united below, somewhat hooked. Ecology: Found in canyons,<br />
arroyos, <strong>and</strong> on rocky slopes from 1,500–3,500 ft (457–1067 m); flowers<br />
January–April. Notes: The leaves of this plant help identify it: heart–shaped,<br />
bluntly toothed <strong>and</strong> lobed, with silvery veins. Ethnobotany: Unknown for this<br />
species, but many other uses for species in this genus. Etymology: Ambrosia is<br />
Greek for food of the gods, cordifolia means heart–shaped leaves. Synonyms:<br />
Franseria cordifolia<br />
140 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2003 Michelle Cloud Hughes<br />
©2005 Louis–M. L<strong>and</strong>ry<br />
Ambrosia psilostachya<br />
Cuman ragweed<br />
General: Colonial perennial herb arising from<br />
deep, creeping rhizomes; rough–pubescent;<br />
20–100 cm tall. Leaves: Leaves all cauline,<br />
opposite below but alternate above, thick <strong>and</strong><br />
firm, pinnatifid with broad midstripe; 2–15 cm<br />
long, 1–8 cm wide. Flowers: Staminate heads<br />
nodding <strong>and</strong> numerous, involucre 2–3 mm high,<br />
moderately hispidulous, only shallowly lobed.<br />
Pistillate involucres 1–flowered, 4–6 mm long,<br />
with one set of short tubercles (or tubercles<br />
obsolete). Fruits: Burs obpyramidal to globose, 2–3 mm, hirsutulous, spines 1–6.<br />
Ecology: Disturbed places <strong>and</strong> streamsides from 4,000–7,000 ft (1300–2100 m);<br />
flowers July–October. Notes: The leaves generally appear narrower, firmer, less<br />
dissected <strong>and</strong> less petiolate than A. artemisiifolia. Species may have moderate<br />
forage value, seed is eaten by upl<strong>and</strong> game birds, <strong>and</strong> plant is used in habitat of<br />
small mammal communities. Also used as nesting material <strong>and</strong> habitat by small<br />
mammals <strong>and</strong> non–game birds. Although species is an invader it is native <strong>and</strong><br />
may be used in prairie restoration. Post–fire regeneration strategy is mostly from<br />
rhizomes. Ethnobotany: Cheyenne used leaves <strong>and</strong> stems to remedy painful<br />
digestion, as a laxative, for labor pain <strong>and</strong> as a cold treatment. Keres, Kiowa <strong>and</strong><br />
Deguena tribes used stem <strong>and</strong> leaf tonic for d<strong>and</strong>ruff. Plant also rolled with sage<br />
in Kiowa sweatlodge. Etymology: Species name from ancient word psilo for<br />
smooth or bare <strong>and</strong> stachy for spike–like. Ambrosia is the word depicting food<br />
of ancient Greek gods. Synonyms: None<br />
Ambrosia trifida<br />
great ragweed<br />
General: Large annual, 2–3 meters tall; stem<br />
sometimes glabrous below. Leaves: Leaves<br />
always opposite, petiolate, up to 20 cm long,<br />
serrate, <strong>and</strong> palmately 3–5 lobed (small leaves<br />
sometimes not lobed). Flowers: Staminate<br />
heads nodding, involucre shallowly or<br />
obscurely lobed with 3 dark strips extending<br />
from the center to the margin. Pistillate<br />
involucres 5–10 mm long, several ribbed with<br />
each rib ending in short spine, the spines form<br />
a cycle around the stout, cone–shaped beak.<br />
Fruits: Burs pyramidal 3–5 mm, glabrous or<br />
glabrate, spines 4–5. Ecology: Weed in waste<br />
places, usually in moist soil but not particularly<br />
common; ranges from 2,500–8,000 ft (760–2400<br />
m); flowers July–October. Notes: Distinguished<br />
from other ragweeds by its palmately lobed leaves. Ethnobotany: Numerous<br />
non–regional tribes have uses. Etymology: Ambrosia is Greek for food of the<br />
gods, while trifida means cleft into three parts. Synonyms: A. aptera<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 141<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Artemisia ludoviciana<br />
white sagebrush, wormwood<br />
General: Perennial herbs arising from rhizomes;<br />
stems 20–100 cm tall; glabrous to tomentose.<br />
Leaves: Mostly cauline, entire to lobed to<br />
pinnately divided (mostly at tip), white tomentose<br />
on lower surface, green glabrous to tomentose<br />
on upper surface, 0.8–9 cm long, 0.1–2 cm wide.<br />
Flowers: Paniculate to spicate; heads numerous,<br />
small, sessile to short pedunculate, somewhat<br />
pendulous; involucres 2.5–4.5 mm long, 3–7<br />
mm wide, the bracts glabrous to tomentose,<br />
with broad scarious margins; corolla with disk<br />
flowers only, marginal. Fruits: Achenes glabrous Ecology: Found on exposed<br />
slopes, hillsides, rocky slopes, <strong>and</strong> flat plaints from 2,500–8,500 ft (760–2590<br />
m); flowers August–November. Notes: Easily confused with A. carruthii<br />
but leaves are larger with wider, more robust lobes (vs. smaller leaves with<br />
thin linear lobes in A. carruthii). These two species may hybridize. Used in<br />
sweathouses. Five subspecies are found in AZ: ssp albula, ssp. ludoviciana, ssp.<br />
mexicana, ssp. redolens (rare) <strong>and</strong> ssp. sulcata. Ethnobotany: Branches used<br />
in sweathouses. Often found in moist waterways but can be found in many<br />
zones in Arizona. Widely distributed <strong>and</strong> used throughout the Intermountain<br />
west as a medicinal bitter, purifying <strong>and</strong> cleansing plant, <strong>and</strong> in making towels.<br />
Etymology: Named after queen Artemisia of Caria, Asia Minor. Ludoviciana<br />
means of or from Louisiana. Synonyms: None<br />
142 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
2011 <strong>NPS</strong>?Steve Buckley
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Baileya multiradiata<br />
desert marigold<br />
General: Annual or short lived perennial<br />
with floccose stems <strong>and</strong> leaves, stems<br />
branch at base, decumbent to ascending,<br />
20–40 cm tall, leafy on lower portion only.<br />
Leaves: Basal, 3–5 cm long, spatulate, 3–<br />
lobed <strong>and</strong> crenate early in season, later<br />
ones deeply 3–cleft <strong>and</strong> lobed, all densely<br />
white–floccose; upper cauline leaves linear<br />
to spatulate, entire, 2–4 cm long. Flowers:<br />
Peduncles 10–30 cm long, involucres 7–8 mm high, 10–15 mm broad, lanate; one<br />
head per stem; phyllaries 5.5–6.5 mm, linear–lanceolate 20–35; flower heads<br />
3.5–5.3 cm wide including rays; rays many, bright yellow, 15–20 mm by 5–8 mm,<br />
the apex conspicuously 3–toothed, style branches truncate to slightly rounded<br />
at tips. Fruits: Achenes cylindrical–truncate, 3–4 mm long, evenly striate.<br />
Ecology: Found on arid plains, arroyos, outwash slopes, s<strong>and</strong>y plains <strong>and</strong><br />
roadsides below 5,000 ft (1524 m); flowers March–October. Notes: Not always<br />
readily distinguishable from B. pleniradiata, but when sampled in the correct<br />
time of year the shape of the style is diagnostic. Ethnobotany: Rubbed under<br />
the arms as a deodorant, or mixed with clay <strong>and</strong> used in making adobes <strong>and</strong><br />
in plaster. Etymology: Baileya is named for Jacob Whitman Bailey (1811–1857)<br />
an early American microscopist, multiradiata comes from the Latin for multi–<br />
radiata. Synonyms: Baileya multiradiata var. thurberi<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 143<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Bidens laevis<br />
smooth beggartick<br />
General: Annual or perennial herb, up to<br />
100 cm tall, glabrous. Leaves: Leaves sessile,<br />
lanceolate to elliptic, up to 20 cm long, glabrous,<br />
<strong>and</strong> coarsely serrate. Flowers: Heads erect at<br />
anthesis, not so consistently nodding in fruit<br />
as B. cernua; rays yellow <strong>and</strong> showy, 1.5–3 cm<br />
long; disk corollas yellow; outer phyllaries 5–9,<br />
green, oblong <strong>and</strong> ciliate, up to 25 mm long;<br />
inner phyllaries ovate to 10 mm long, brownish<br />
with hyaline margins; receptacular bracts often<br />
reddish at tip. Fruits: Achenes 6–9 mm long, brown or purplish–brown with<br />
2–4 retorsely barbed awns. Ecology: Low, wet places or in shallow water from<br />
4,000–9,000 ft (1220–2740 m) ; flowers July–October. Notes: The ray flowers<br />
are larger <strong>and</strong> more showy than in B. cernua, <strong>and</strong> the inflorescence is not so<br />
consistently nodding in fruit. Very similar to B. cernua, except this species has<br />
showier rays that are 1.5–3 cm long. Ethnobotany: Used by Paiute for food.<br />
Etymology: Bidens is derived from the Latin bis, twice <strong>and</strong> dens, tooth, hence<br />
meaning 2–toothed. Synonyms: B. elegans, B. nashii, Helianthus laevis<br />
Bidens leptocephala<br />
fewflower beggarticks<br />
General: Herbaceous annual with moderately<br />
branched, quadrangular, striate, slender stems<br />
10–50 cm tall. Leaves: Sparsely ciliate–hispid<br />
petioles, connate at base, 0.3–4 cm long, leaf<br />
blades 1.5–5.5 cm wide, 2–10 cm long, once or<br />
twice pinnately divided into linear to ovate<br />
segments, hispid to glabrate, margins <strong>and</strong> lower<br />
surfaces of veins more or less hispid–ciliate.<br />
Flowers: Heads obscurely radiate or sometimes<br />
apparently discoid, 4–8 mm wide, 3–5 mm high<br />
at anthesis, on slender peduncles 2–8 cm long,<br />
exterior involucral bracts 4–6, linear, marginally ciliate, 1–2.5 mm long, inner<br />
ones half as long, lanceolate, puberulent at apices; ray flowers usually 2–3,<br />
ligules 2.5 mm long, one–half as wide, pale yellow to white. Fruits: Achenes<br />
5–13, linear, hispidulous above, glabrous below, all bearing 2 retrorsely barbed<br />
awns 1–3 mm long. Ecology: Found in moist soil, usually in shaded, s<strong>and</strong>y<br />
soil from 3,000–6,000 ft (914–1829 m); flowers August–October. Notes: These<br />
little buggers will attach their little retrorsely barbed angles to everything in<br />
fall. Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species, others in genus have many uses.<br />
Etymology: Bidens is derived from the Latin bis, twice <strong>and</strong> dens, tooth, hence<br />
meaning 2–toothed, leptocephala means thin headed. Synonyms: None<br />
144 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2005 Dr. Dean Wm. Taylor,<br />
Jepson Herbarium<br />
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2004 James M. Andre<br />
Calycoseris wrightii<br />
white tackstem<br />
General: Plant simple <strong>and</strong> erect to much<br />
branched with spreading–ascending branches,<br />
5–30 cm tall. Leaves: Lower leaves pinnately<br />
cleft to midrib in linear divisions, 0.5–2 mm wide<br />
<strong>and</strong> 2 cm long, whole blade 10 cm long, central<br />
rachis 5 mm wide or less, glabrous or essentially<br />
so, upper leaves linear <strong>and</strong> entire or with<br />
1–3 subbasal lobes; upper one have of stems,<br />
branches, <strong>and</strong> involucres with gl<strong>and</strong>ular hairs,<br />
pale reddish, brownish, tack–shaped. Flowers: Involucres 9–15 mm long<br />
at anthesis, bracts to 2.5 mm wide, acute to slightly acuminate, ligules white<br />
with pinkish or pinkish–brown spots or streaks on under side <strong>and</strong> turning<br />
purplish or reddish when dry. Fruits: Achenes about 6 mm long, including<br />
beak, usually 1–1.5 mm long, body of achene dark brown, shallowly sulcate<br />
between ribs <strong>and</strong> bearing row of low, rounded bumps; pappus bristles 7–8<br />
mm long. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y plains, rocky mesas, <strong>and</strong> slopes from<br />
500–4,000 ft (152–1219 m); flowers from March–May. Notes: Often growing<br />
up through shrubs. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Calycoseris is from<br />
Greek kalux, cup <strong>and</strong> seris, a chicory–like genus, while wrightii is named for<br />
Charles Wright (1811–1885) an American botanical collector. Synonyms: None<br />
Chaetopappa ericoides<br />
rose heath<br />
General: Native perennial herb from a<br />
branching woody caudex <strong>and</strong> deep–seated<br />
rhizomes; stems numerous, much–branched,<br />
5–15 cm tall; more–or–less pubescent with<br />
appressed hairs, <strong>and</strong> sometimes gl<strong>and</strong>ular.<br />
Leaves: Numerous, all cauline, linear to<br />
oblanceolate, 6–20 mm long, up to 2.5 mm wide,<br />
entire, ascending to more–or–less appressed to<br />
the stem; pubescent with short, rough hairs<br />
on the surface <strong>and</strong> margins. Flowers: Heads<br />
solitary on numerous slender branches,<br />
forming a flat–topped inflorescence across the top of the plant; involucre<br />
5–7 mm high, with phyllaries imbricated in 3–7 vertical series; rays 8–25,<br />
white or vaguely pinkish, 4–8 mm long; disk flowers yellow. Fruits: Achenes<br />
more–or–less pubescent, with a pappus of copious white bristles. Ecology:<br />
Open, dry sites from 3,000–7,500 ft (914–2285 m); flowers March–October.<br />
Notes: The linear leaves on wiry, much–branched stems make this plant<br />
distinctive. Ethnobotany: Havasupai use for gastrointestinal benefit. Hopi<br />
use as panacea, stimulant, for divining sex of baby. Zuni use as cold remedy,<br />
Navajo use for kidney remedy. Etymology: From chaeto– meaning hair–like<br />
<strong>and</strong> ericoides meaning heath–like. Synonyms: Aster arenosus, A. hirtifolius, A.<br />
leucelene; Inula ericoides; Leucelene ericoides<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 145<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Cirsium neomexicanum<br />
New Mexico thistle<br />
General: Native biennial herb from a stout<br />
taproot; stems stout, 30–200 cm tall; pubescent<br />
with tangled, wooly hairs. Leaves: Basal<br />
<strong>and</strong> cauline; basal <strong>and</strong> lower cauline leaves<br />
lanceolate to elliptic or oblong, up to 40 cm<br />
long <strong>and</strong> 7 cm wide, shallowly <strong>and</strong> regularly<br />
pinnately lobed, the lobes further toothed <strong>and</strong><br />
with spines 2–8 mm long, or rarely almost entire<br />
with spiny margins; stem leaves reduced <strong>and</strong> scattered above, sometimes with<br />
short (about 1 cm) downward extensions of the leaf bases; pubescent with<br />
tangled, wooly hairs. Flowers: Heads solitary or a few at the ends of stems<br />
<strong>and</strong> branches; involucre 2.5–5 cm high, pubescent with tangled, woolly hairs,<br />
with outer <strong>and</strong> middle phyllaries spine–tipped <strong>and</strong> reflexed, inner phyllaries<br />
appressed, with long, tapering tips; flowers white to lavender or pink. Fruits:<br />
Achenes 5–6 mm long; pappus bristles 20–25 mm long. Ecology: Dry, exposed<br />
slopes from 1,000–6,500 ft (305–1980 m); flowers March–September. Notes:<br />
Characterized by the few or solitary white to lavender or pink flower heads<br />
with spine–tipped <strong>and</strong> reflexed outer <strong>and</strong> middle phyllaries. Products of the<br />
plant provide food for some insects <strong>and</strong> some bird species. Second season<br />
plants may be killed by fire. Post–fire regeneration process is via seed. Seeds<br />
favorite of Goldfinches <strong>and</strong> other birds while flowers provide nectar <strong>and</strong><br />
pollen for bees. Host plant for Painted Lady butterfly. Ethnobotany: Taproots<br />
of young plants are eaten raw or roasted. They are often sliced, fried, mashed<br />
or ground into flour. Flowers may be eaten raw or cooked <strong>and</strong> have high<br />
nutrition content. Navajo use for chills, fever. Used also as a panacea as root<br />
infusion, especially for colds. Etymology: Cirsium is Greek for thistle, while<br />
neomexicanum means of or from New Mexico. Synonyms: None<br />
146 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2007 Luigi Rignanese<br />
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Conyza bonariensis<br />
asthmaweed<br />
General: Introduced annual 10–40 cm tall with 1 to several stems from base <strong>and</strong><br />
corymbosely branching above, herbage hirsute <strong>and</strong> slightly scabrous, grayish.<br />
Leaves: Linear, numerous, 1.5–4 mm wide, 1.5–9 cm long, shallowly dentate to<br />
entire. Flowers: Heads 6–8 mm in diameter, numerous, corymbosely arranged,<br />
peduncles 3–20 mm long, involucral bracts lance–subulate to linear–subulate,<br />
4–6 mm long, greenish, hirsutulous, margins slightly scarious; inconspicuous<br />
ray flowers, ligules barely equaling or slightly surpassing pappus, 3–4.5 mm long,<br />
disk corollas 3–3.5 mm long, greenish yellow, slender tube 1.2 mm long, lobes<br />
narrowly lance–triangular, 0.2–0.3 mm long. Fruits: Brownish achenes, 1.2 mm<br />
long, faintly compressed, minutely <strong>and</strong> sparsely strigulose to glabrate, pappus<br />
bristles capillary 3–4 mm long, tawny or shining<br />
white in youth, reddish in age. Ecology: Found<br />
along irrigation ditches, river bottoms <strong>and</strong><br />
occasionally as a roadside weed below 3,500 ft<br />
(1067 m); flowers June–September. Notes: This<br />
is a widespread weed, generally on disturbed,<br />
urban sites. Ethnobotany: Unknown, but C.<br />
canadensis has many uses. Etymology: Name<br />
used by Theophrastus, Pliny, <strong>and</strong> Dioscorides,<br />
presumably from the Greek konops (flea),<br />
bonariensis means of or from Buenos Aires.<br />
Synonyms: Erigeron bonariensis, E. crispus, E.<br />
linifolius, Leptilon bonariense, L. linifolium<br />
Conyza canadensis<br />
Canadian horseweed<br />
General: Native annual herb; stems simple<br />
below inflorescence, 50–150 cm tall; glabrous to<br />
spreading–hairy. Leaves: Alternate, numerous;<br />
basal leaves up to 10 cm long, reduced above;<br />
mainly oblanceolate <strong>and</strong> petiolate below,<br />
increasingly linear <strong>and</strong> sessile above; serrate.<br />
Flowers: Inflorescence terminal, open, with<br />
numerous flower heads; involucres 2–4 mm<br />
high, 3–7 mm wide; inconspicuously radiate.<br />
Fruits: Achene Ecology: Disturbed soil from<br />
1,000–8,000 ft (305–2440 m); flowers July–October. Notes: Characterized<br />
by its numerous alternate, serrate leaves <strong>and</strong> its terminal, open inflorescence<br />
with many small flower heads. Often weedy especially in disturbed <strong>and</strong> moist<br />
areas. Ethnobotany: Dried parts used as astringent for face. Used by Hopi<br />
as a poultice of rubbed plant on temples for headaches. Used by navajo for<br />
pimples, earaches, stomaches. Etymology: Name used by Theophrastus,<br />
Pliny, <strong>and</strong> Dioscorides, presumably from the Greek konops (flea). Synonyms:<br />
Erigeron canadensis<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 147<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Diaperia verna var. verna<br />
spring pygmycudweed<br />
General: Annual, diffusely branched from<br />
base with leafy, decumbent branches 5–15<br />
cm long, these bearing small, densely<br />
crowded glomerules of heads nearly hidden<br />
by bractlike leaves. Leaves: Cauline leaves<br />
broadly spatulate 1.5–3.5 mm wide, 5–12<br />
mm long, sessile, arachnoid–tomentose.<br />
Flowers: Heads subglobose, 2–3 mm high,<br />
bracts of fertile flowers oblong, scarious<br />
below, densely inflexed–woolly at apex, those of sterile flowers wooly farther<br />
down. Fruits: Achenes 1–1.2 mm long, smooth, yellowish. Ecology: Found in<br />
s<strong>and</strong>y soil from 1,500–3,000 ft (457–914 m); flowers March–April. Notes: Low<br />
taprooted annual that is woolly all over. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology:<br />
Verna means of spring. Synonyms: Diaperia multicaulis, Evax multicaulis,<br />
Filaginopsis multicaulis, Filago nivea, F. verna<br />
Erigeron arisolius<br />
arid throne fleabane, dry–sun fleabane<br />
General: Annual or short–lived perennial, 3–70 cm, taproot. Erect stems,<br />
coarsely hirsute to hispid (hairs only along ribs, bases thickened), minutely<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular. Leaves: Mostly cauline, blades linear to linear–oblong, lanceolate<br />
to oblanceolate, 25–50 mm long by 2–5 mm wide, margins entire or sometimes<br />
lobed (lobes 1–2 pairs, coarse, rounded). Flowers: Heads 20–50+ in loose,<br />
corymbiform arrays (erect buds); involucres 2.5–3.5 mm by 5–8 mm, phyllaries<br />
in 3–4 series, minutely hispid, minutely gl<strong>and</strong>ular; ray flowers 125–180; corollas<br />
white, sometimes lavender or pinkish, 6–7 mm, laminae reflexing; disc corollas<br />
2–25 mm (throats indurate <strong>and</strong> inflated). Fruits: Cypselae (achene with adnate<br />
calyx) 0.7–1 mm, 2–nerved (nerves orange), faces sparsely strigose to glabrate,<br />
pappus 12–17 bristles. Ecology: Found in grassl<strong>and</strong>s, often in moist areas,<br />
sometimes with mesquite, in openings, roadsides, oak from 4,000–5,500 ft<br />
(1219–1676 m); flowers May–June. Notes: Of conservation concern. Similar in<br />
appearance to E. divergens; the erect buds <strong>and</strong> reflexing rays of E. arisolius<br />
contrast with the nodding buds <strong>and</strong> non–reflexing rays of E. divergens.<br />
E. divergens also has evenly distributed stem pubescence. Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown for this species, other species in this genera have many uses.<br />
Etymology: Name means Early–Old–Man, named by Theophrastus, arisolius<br />
means dry sun. Synonyms: None<br />
148 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Erigeron divergens<br />
spreading fleabane<br />
General: Native biennial herb; stems<br />
branched from base <strong>and</strong> above, 5–50 cm<br />
tall; spreading–hairy. Leaves: Alternate;<br />
basal leaves up to 5 cm long, reduced above;<br />
oblanceolate <strong>and</strong> long–petioled below,<br />
to nearly linear above; entire to slightly<br />
lobed. Flowers: Heads several to many on<br />
leafy peduncles; involucres 4–5 mm high;<br />
disk 7–11 mm wide; rays 75–150, 5–10 mm<br />
long, pale blue, pink or white; disk yellow. Fruits: Achenes sparsely hairy,<br />
2–4 veined, with a double pappus of 5–12 long, fragile bristles surrounded<br />
by short, narrow scales. Ecology: Semi–arid, open to lightly wooded areas<br />
from 1,000–9,000 ft (305–2740 m); flowers May–August. Notes: Lacks the<br />
numerous stolons of E. flagellaris; related species Erigeron colomexicanus (=E.<br />
divergens var. cinereus), which has leafy stolons. Ethnobotany: Aerial parts<br />
are sometimes used to make oil to treat pets for fleas (Hence the common<br />
name – fleabane). Many Erigeron spp. used similarly. Etymology: Name<br />
means Early–Old–Man, named by Theophrastus. Divergens is ancient word<br />
for diverging. Synonyms: Erigeron divergens var. typicus<br />
Eriophyllum lanosum<br />
white easterbonnets<br />
General: Loosely floccose, spreadingly<br />
branched annual with slender stems 5–15<br />
cm long, erect, ascending or the lowermost<br />
often decumbent. Leaves: Linear to narrowly<br />
oblanceolate, entire 1–3 mm wide, 5–20 mm long,<br />
acute to apiculate at apex, gradually narrowing<br />
toward base. Flowers: Slender peduncles, 1–6<br />
cm long, campanulate involucres 5–8 mm wide,<br />
5–6 mm high, 8–11 bracts, oblanceolate, short–<br />
acuminate, 1–1.5 mm wide floccose; ray flowers<br />
8–10 with white ligules 6 mm long, 3–4 mm wide, yellow disk corollas, 2.5–3<br />
mm long, sparsely gl<strong>and</strong>ular–puberulent, tube about equaling throat <strong>and</strong> limb.<br />
Fruits: Achenes, linear–obpyramidal, 3–3.5 mm long, sparsely strigose, black;<br />
pappus of 4–5 slender, lance–subulate, scaberulous awns about equaling<br />
corollas <strong>and</strong> about as many or a few more short, obtuse <strong>and</strong> whitish. Ecology:<br />
Found on arid mesas, gravelly slopes <strong>and</strong> washes from 1,000–3,000 ft (305–914<br />
m); flowers March–April. Notes: Distinguished by its tomentose herbage,<br />
slender achenes <strong>and</strong> white to rosy rays. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology:<br />
Lanosum means woolly. Synonyms: Eriophyllum lanosum<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 149<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Gamochaeta purpurea<br />
spoonleaf purple everlasting<br />
General: Biennial or short–lived<br />
perennial, often flowering in<br />
first season, usually considerably<br />
branched from base <strong>and</strong> with<br />
ascending to erect stems<br />
10–35 cm tall, closely woolly–<br />
canescent. Leaves: Broadly<br />
spatulate, 4–15 mm wide, 2–6<br />
cm long, finely <strong>and</strong> compactly<br />
tomentose beneath, greenish <strong>and</strong><br />
©1995 Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary’s College<br />
glabrate above, mostly obtuse to rounded <strong>and</strong> often minutely apiculate at apex,<br />
gradually narrowed to a petiole–like base. Flowers: Heads spicately arranged,<br />
inflorescence 1–10 cm long, heads 3.5–5 mm high, outer bracts brownish or<br />
purplish, at least tips, obtuse, shining, inner most bracts oblong, thinner <strong>and</strong><br />
paler than outer, often acutish or minutely erosulate <strong>and</strong> apiculate at apex;<br />
pistillate flowers about 1.5–1.8 mm long, very slender, pappus bristles 7–15,<br />
connate in funnelform ring at base, falling together. Fruits: Achenes straw–<br />
colored, about .5 mm long, faintly roughened. Ecology: Found on open plains<br />
<strong>and</strong> slopes, ditch banks <strong>and</strong> waysides from 3,000–7,500 ft (914–2286 m); flowers<br />
from March–May. Ethnobotany: Infusion of dried plant taken for the grippe<br />
<strong>and</strong> colds. Etymology: Gamochaeta is from Greek gamos, marriage, stigma, or<br />
female part, <strong>and</strong> chaite, bristle, mane, long hair, while purpurea means purple.<br />
Synonyms: Gnaphalium purpureum<br />
Gnaphalium palustre<br />
western marsh cudweed<br />
General: Low annual, commonly much<br />
branched at base with erect or ascending stems<br />
10–25 cm long, herbage loosely floccose–lanate.<br />
Leaves: Wool persistent on stems but often<br />
more or less deciduous from spatulate to linear–<br />
spatulate leaves, these 5 mm wide <strong>and</strong> 3 cm long<br />
but usually smaller, uppermost ones subtending<br />
<strong>and</strong> exceeding heads, usually lanceolate to<br />
oblong. Flowers: Heads in dense subglobose<br />
glomerules at tips of branchlets, each 2–3 mm<br />
high, involucral bracts deeply embedded in<br />
loose wool, only scarious tips showing, scarious<br />
part usually obtuse, often denticulate; flowers<br />
<strong>and</strong> pappus bristles about equaling longer<br />
involucral bracts; pappus falling separately or in groups. Fruits: Achenes<br />
about 0.5 mm, papillate. Ecology: Found along streams, grassy plains <strong>and</strong> on<br />
valley floors from 1,000–5,000 ft (305–1524 m); flowers March–October. Notes:<br />
Diagnostics for this plant are the heads clustered at the tips of the stem <strong>and</strong><br />
branches <strong>and</strong> the loosely floccose–woolly herbage. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
for this species, but others in the genera have medicinal use. Etymology:<br />
Gnaphalium is derived from the Greek gnaphalon, a lock of wool, <strong>and</strong> palustre<br />
means growing in marshes. Synonyms: Filaginella palustris<br />
150 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 Keir Morse
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Gutierrezia microcephala<br />
threadleaf snakeweed<br />
General: Native perennial subshrub<br />
from a woody base; stems more–or–less<br />
herbaceous (though generally more<br />
woody than G. sarothrae), branched,<br />
30–100 cm tall, dying back somewhat<br />
in winter. Leaves: Alternate; primary<br />
leaves linear to linear–oblanceolate, 2–5<br />
cm long, 2–4 mm wide, often deciduous<br />
by flowering; secondary leaves in fascicles in axils of primary ones, shorter <strong>and</strong><br />
narrower. Flowers: Heads numerous, usually in clusters of 3–several at tips of<br />
branchlets; inflorescence usually dry <strong>and</strong> persistent throughout non–growing<br />
season above green living parts; involucres 3–4 mm high; disk 1–1.5 mm wide,<br />
yellow; rays 1–2, 3–4 mm long; phyllaries whitish or yellowish with a green tip.<br />
Fruits: Achenes 2–3 mm long, hairy, with a pappus 0.5–1 mm long. Ecology:<br />
Dry, open, often disturbed/overgrazed areas from 1,000–7,000 ft (305–2134 m);<br />
flowers June–October. Notes: Similar to G. sarothrae, except for the somewhat<br />
more woody stems <strong>and</strong> smaller flower heads. Usually only one ray <strong>and</strong> one<br />
disk flowers. Poisonous <strong>and</strong> unpalatable to livestock. Presence indicates<br />
overgrazing, <strong>and</strong> may decrease biodiversity even after grazing has stopped.<br />
Invasive in overgrazed l<strong>and</strong>s. Ethnobotany: Hopi use for gastric problems,<br />
as decorations for paaho (prayer sticks), <strong>and</strong> in roasting sweet corn. Navajo<br />
use it to heal cuts <strong>and</strong> bites. The ashes are rubbed on the forehead to cure a<br />
headache, nervousness, or fever. The flowers make a yellow dye. Etymology:<br />
Gutierrezia is named for Pedro Gutierrez (Rodriguez), a 19th century Spanish<br />
noblemen <strong>and</strong> botanist, while microcephala means small head. Synonyms:<br />
G. sarothrae var. microcephala, Xanthocephalum microcephalum, Brachyris<br />
microcephala<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 151<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Helianthus annuus<br />
sunflower<br />
General: Native annual herb; stems stout,<br />
erect, 30–200 cm or more tall; rough–hairy.<br />
Leaves: Only the lowermost leaves opposite,<br />
otherwise alternate; long–petioled, ovate<br />
or even broader, especially below, 4–20<br />
cm long, 3–15 cm wide, coarsely toothed to<br />
(less commonly) almost entire; rough–hairy.<br />
Flowers: Heads solitary or few at the ends<br />
of stems <strong>and</strong> branches; phyllaries ovate with<br />
a long narrow tip, more–or–less pubescent <strong>and</strong> ciliate–margined; disk usually<br />
3–4 cm wide, purplish–brown or occasionally yellow; rays 15–40 mm long,<br />
yellow; central receptacle bracts inconspicuously pubescent at the tips. Fruits:<br />
Achenes plump, glabrous or finely pubescent, with a pappus of 2 or more awns<br />
or scales. Ecology: Open or disturbed areas from 1,000–7,000 ft (305–2134 m);<br />
flowers March–October. Notes: A related species, H. petiolaris, is very similar<br />
but smaller <strong>and</strong> more slender in all respects, with phyllaries lanceolate <strong>and</strong><br />
usually not ciliate–margined, <strong>and</strong> the central receptacle scales conspicuously<br />
white–bearded at the tip. Medium drought tolerance, no fire tolerance. Stalks<br />
used as fuel, livestock fodder, poultry food, <strong>and</strong> silage. Stems used as source of<br />
commercial fiber. Fiber may be used in paper. Host plant for California Patch,<br />
Bordered Patch, <strong>and</strong> Painted Lady butterflies. Ethnobotany: Seed is dried,<br />
ground <strong>and</strong> mixed with water to make a coffee–like drink. It is also ground to<br />
make sunflower seed cakes or crushed <strong>and</strong> boiled to make oil. The oil relieves<br />
coughs. The pith of a sunflower stalk has also been burned <strong>and</strong> used as a wart<br />
remover. Etymology: From ancient root helio– for sun loving <strong>and</strong> meros–<br />
meaning part. Synonyms: Numerous, see USDA Plants db<br />
152 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2008 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Helianthus petiolaris<br />
prairie sunflower<br />
General: Erect stems, strict to<br />
moderately branched annual 3–10<br />
dm tall or more with scaberulous<br />
but distinctly green stems <strong>and</strong> leaves.<br />
Leaves: Petioles slender 1–5 cm long,<br />
sparsely scaberulous, often tinged with<br />
red, leaf blades narrowly lanceolate to<br />
ovate–lanceolate, 0.5–5 cm broad, to 15<br />
cm long, cuneate to subtruncate at base,<br />
acute at apex, scaberulous <strong>and</strong> dark<br />
green above, paler <strong>and</strong> more densely pubescent beneath, margins entire to<br />
serrate or sinuate–serrate. Flowers: Slender peduncles to 15 cm long or more,<br />
sparsely puberulent below, densely so just beneath heads; involucres 1–1.8 cm<br />
wide, phyllaries lanceolate to lance–ovate, 6–10 mm long, slightly acuminate,<br />
equaling or barely surpassing disk corollas, scaberulous dorsally; ligules 1.5–2<br />
cm long; yellow disk corollas 4–5 mm long, nearly glabrous, lobes dark brown<br />
to nearly black; receptacular bracts rather thin, puberulent dorsally, entire <strong>and</strong><br />
acuminate to obscurely tridentate at apex, inner ones black–tipped. Fruits:<br />
Achenes 4.5–5 mm long, striate <strong>and</strong> faintly mottled, sparsely silky–puberulent<br />
below, more densely so above; pappus paleae about 1 mm long, thin, caducous.<br />
Ecology: Found on hillsides <strong>and</strong> valley floors from 500–7,500 ft (152–2286 m);<br />
flowers March–October. Notes: H. petiolaris, is very similar to H. annuus<br />
but smaller <strong>and</strong> more slender in all respects, with phyllaries lanceolate <strong>and</strong><br />
usually not ciliate–margined, <strong>and</strong> the central receptacle scales conspicuously<br />
white–bearded at the tip. Ethnobotany: Used as a spider bite medicine by the<br />
Hopi, for good luck in hunting when flower infusion is sprinkled on clothing,<br />
as life medicine, as an ointment on sores <strong>and</strong> swellings, seeds saved <strong>and</strong> eaten,<br />
ground as meal. Flower petals mixed with corn meal for ceremonial powder,<br />
<strong>and</strong> used as an indicator of rainfall. Etymology: From ancient root helio–<br />
for sun loving <strong>and</strong> meros– meaning part, petiolaris means with conspicuous<br />
petioles. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 153<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Heliomeris longifolia<br />
longleaf false goldeneye<br />
General: Native annual herb; stems slender,<br />
simple or often branched above, 15–70<br />
cm tall; sparsely to moderately pubescent<br />
with mostly appressed hairs, or almost.<br />
Leaves: Opposite below, usually alternate<br />
above; linear to lanceolate, 1.5–11 cm long,<br />
1.5–14 mm wide, with a deep midvein;<br />
sparsely to moderately pubescent with<br />
mostly appressed hairs, or almost glabrous.<br />
Flowers: Heads solitary or in loose clusters; involucres 3–7 mm high; disk 6–14<br />
mm wide, yellow; rays mostly 8–12, 8–17 mm long, yellow. Fruits: Achenes 2.5–3<br />
mm long, with no pappus. Ecology: Found on plains, arroyos, along washes,<br />
<strong>and</strong> on slopes from 2,500–8,000 ft (760–2440 m); flowers May–November.<br />
Notes: Two varieties thought to occur in at Tumacacori: Heliomeris longifolia<br />
var. longifolia <strong>and</strong> Heliomeris longifolia var. annua; var. longifolia has wider<br />
leaves <strong>and</strong> slightly bigger flowers than var. longifolia (description as written<br />
accounts for both varieties). Ethnobotany: Ramah Navajo use as life medicine<br />
<strong>and</strong> fodder for sheep food. Etymology: Heliomeris is from ancient roots<br />
helio– for sun loving <strong>and</strong> meros– meaning part, while longifolia means long<br />
leaved. Synonyms: H. annua, Viguiera annua, V. longifolia<br />
Heliomeris multiflora var. multiflora<br />
showy goldeneye<br />
General: Native perennial herb, sometimes<br />
slightly woody at base; stems several, often<br />
somewhat reddish, 25–130 cm tall; more–or–<br />
less covered with short, stiff hairs. Leaves:<br />
Opposite below, often alternate above; linear to<br />
ovate, 2–25 mm wide, 3–8 cm long, with a deep<br />
midvein; covered with short, stiff, appressed<br />
hairs. Flowers: Heads solitary or in loose<br />
clusters; involucres 5–10 mm high; disk 6–15 mm<br />
wide, yellow; rays mostly 10–16, 7–20 mm long,<br />
yellow. Fruits: Achenes 2.5–3 mm long, with no pappus. Ecology: Open slopes<br />
<strong>and</strong> riparian areas from 3,000–9,500 ft (915–2895 m); flowers May–October.<br />
Notes: One variety occurs in the area: var. multiflora has wider leaves <strong>and</strong><br />
occurs in more moist habitats. Ethnobotany: Navajo use for sheep <strong>and</strong> deer<br />
feed. Gosiute report use of seeds for food. Etymology: From ancient roots<br />
helio– for sun loving <strong>and</strong> meros– meaning part. Multiflora is ancient word for<br />
many–flowered Synonyms: Viguiera multiflora<br />
154 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Heterotheca subaxillaris<br />
camphorweed<br />
General: Erect annual to biennial herb 40–150<br />
cm tall with striate <strong>and</strong> short–hirsute stems,<br />
moderately branched above. Leaves: Leaves<br />
ovate–lanceolate to somewhat lyrate in outline,<br />
0.8–3.5 cm wide, 2.5–10 cm long, at least upper<br />
cordate–clasping, serrate–dentate, acute to<br />
obtuse <strong>and</strong> apiculate at apex, short hirsute–<br />
scabrous on both sides. Flowers: Heads<br />
corymbosely or broadly paniculately arranged,<br />
6–8 mm high, 10–18 mm wide at anthesis;<br />
involucral bracts in several series, lance–linear to subulate, rather rigid, outer<br />
ones acute <strong>and</strong> apiculate, innermost attenuate <strong>and</strong> scraggly brush of spreading<br />
<strong>and</strong> ascending hairs on terminal part, pale greenish to stramineous below,<br />
tips often brownish or reddish; ray flowers 30–50, ligules about 5 mm long, 1<br />
mm wide, yellowish but soon turning brown; corollas 4–5 mm long. Fruits:<br />
Achenes of ray flowers about 3 mm long, glabrous, epappose; achenes of disk<br />
flowers about as long as ray achenes but more slender, densely silky–villous;<br />
pappus bristles reddish–brown, longer inner ones about 15 mm long. Ecology:<br />
Found along streams, ditches, fence–rows, <strong>and</strong> in disturbed soils from 1,000–<br />
5,500 ft (305–1676 m); flowers August–November. Notes: Sometimes known as<br />
camphor–weed because of the odor of the plant. Ethnobotany: Unknown for<br />
this species, other species in this genera have medicinal, poisonous, <strong>and</strong> as a<br />
dermatological aid. Etymology: Heterotheca is from Greek heteros, different,<br />
<strong>and</strong> theke, ovary for the different achenes, while subaxillaris means below the<br />
axil. Synonyms: Many, see Tropicos<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 155<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Lactuca serriola<br />
Laennecia coulteri<br />
Impact risk level<br />
H M L<br />
prickly lettuce<br />
General: Annual herb; leafy–stemmed with milky sap. Introduced from<br />
Europe. Stems 30–150 cm tall; glabrous for most of length, but prickly at bottom<br />
of stem. Leaves: Leaves have large prickles on the midrib on the underside, <strong>and</strong><br />
have finer prickles on the margins of the leaves. Leaves are sometimes lobed,<br />
<strong>and</strong> are clasping. Milky sap is apparent. Flowers: Numerous small heads<br />
arranged in a panicle or corymb. Flowers are all ligulate <strong>and</strong> perfect, yellow,<br />
often drying to blue. Fruits: Achenes, white pappus Ecology: Wide range,<br />
weed of fields, waste places, <strong>and</strong> disturbed areas, naturalized throughout<br />
much of the U.S.; flowers July–September. Notes: Distinguished by milky<br />
sap, prickles on midvein of underside of leaf.<br />
Differs primarily by leaves without prickly<br />
margins <strong>and</strong> achenes that are not spinulose.<br />
The inflorescence also resembles a spike,<br />
whereas the inflorescence of L. serriola is<br />
an open panicle, with spreading branches.<br />
Ethnobotany: Navajo use steeped plant tea<br />
as ceremonial emetic. Etymology: Lactuca is<br />
Latin for milky sap; serriola is for ranked salad<br />
leaves. Synonyms: L. scariola<br />
conyza<br />
General: Annual herb; forming densely hairy<br />
basal rosette when young. Stems 10–100 cm tall;<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular or sticky hairs all over plant, hairs<br />
resembling spider web (arachnoid); taproot.<br />
Leaves: Numerous leaves, almost all cauline<br />
<strong>and</strong> clasping <strong>and</strong> with an oblong shape, many<br />
of them are irregularly toothed, especially near<br />
the base. Leaves become smaller <strong>and</strong> have many<br />
course teeth. Flowers: Corollas of the pistillate<br />
flowers are tubular–filiform, without a ligule.<br />
Fruits: Achenes, 0.5–0.8 mm long, with a very short neck. Ecology: Found in<br />
ditch banks, dry stream–beds <strong>and</strong> disturbed sites from 1,500–9,000 ft (457–<br />
2743 m); flowers September–October. Notes: Similar to L. schiedeana except<br />
that the achenes in L. schiedeana are 1–1.4 mm long, <strong>and</strong> the leaves are much<br />
less toothed. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Laennecia is named for<br />
Rene Theophile Hyancinthe Laennec (1781–1826), coulteri is named for John<br />
Merle Coulter (1851–1928) an American botanist. Synonyms: Conyza coulteri<br />
156 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2005 Carlos M. Gonzalez Leon<br />
Laennecia sophiifolia<br />
leafy marshtail<br />
General: Annual herb, forming densely hairy basal<br />
rosette; stems 10–100 cm tall, gl<strong>and</strong>ular hairs all over plant,<br />
hairs resembling spider web; taproot. Leaves: Leaves<br />
1–3.5 cm long <strong>and</strong> once or twice pinnately parted into<br />
linear lobes. Flowers: Corollas of the pistillate flowers are<br />
tubular–filiform, without a ligule, only about 3 mm high.<br />
Fruits: Achenes glabrous <strong>and</strong> puncticulate in fine lines.<br />
Ecology: Found on arid hills, mesas, <strong>and</strong> plains from<br />
2,500–6,000 ft (762–1829 m); flowers August–October.<br />
Notes: Less densely villous <strong>and</strong> more gl<strong>and</strong>ular than<br />
L. coulteri, along with smaller heads. Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown Etymology: Laennecia is named for Rene<br />
Theophile Hyancinthe Laennec (1781–1826). Synonyms:<br />
Conyza coulteri var. tenuisecta, C. sophiifolia, Eschenbachia tenuisecta<br />
Machaeranthera tagetina<br />
mesa tansyaster<br />
General: Annual, or possibly biennial<br />
under favorable conditions, stems slender,<br />
moderately branched, 10–40 cm long,<br />
puberulent with both egl<strong>and</strong>ular <strong>and</strong><br />
gl<strong>and</strong>–tipped hairs, slightly cinereous.<br />
Leaves: Lower leaves pinnatifid, 1.5–2.5 cm<br />
long, 3–7 lobes acute, spinulose–tipped,<br />
0.5–3 mm broad, 2–6 mm long, upper leaves<br />
reduced <strong>and</strong> denticulate, all hirsutulous<br />
<strong>and</strong> gl<strong>and</strong>ular–puberulent. Flowers: Stems<br />
leafy to heads, these 10–15 mm wide, bracts lance–linear, 3–8 mm long, green<br />
herbaceous part triangular to lance–triangular, nearly as wide as chartaceous<br />
part, densely gl<strong>and</strong>ular; rays 10–20, ligules 2–2.5 mm wide, 6–7 mm long,<br />
purplish; disk corollas 6–6.5 mm long, slender, slightly <strong>and</strong> gradually ampliate,<br />
glabrous. Fruits: Achenes about 4 mm long, silky–villous; pappus bristles<br />
slender, 5–6 mm long, whitish. Ecology: Found on arid mesas, plains, <strong>and</strong><br />
roadsides from 1,500–4,500 ft (457–1372 m); flowers from April–October.<br />
Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species, other species in this genus have<br />
limited use. Etymology: Name comes from the Greek “machaira” meaning<br />
sword <strong>and</strong> “anthera” or anther, referring to the shape of the anther–tips,<br />
tagetina refers to the genus Tagetes. Synonyms: Aster tagetinus<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 157<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Machaeranthera tanacetifolia<br />
tansyleaf tansyaster<br />
General: Native annual herb; 0.5–4 dm tall,<br />
highly branched when mature; taprooted.<br />
Leaves: Numerous, 2–10 cm long, pinnately<br />
incised to tripinnatifid. Flowers: Heads<br />
terminal on the branches; large, showy;<br />
involucre gl<strong>and</strong>ular <strong>and</strong> sometimes puberulent,<br />
imbricate bracts in several series with long,<br />
loose or reflexed green tips; 12–36 rays, blue.<br />
Fruits: Silky achenes 2.5–4 mm long. Ecology:<br />
Dry, open places <strong>and</strong> along streams <strong>and</strong> washes,<br />
lowl<strong>and</strong>s from 1,000–6,000 ft (305–2300 m);<br />
flowers March–October. Notes: This is a very<br />
distinct plant with characteristic pinnately<br />
incised to tripinnatifid leaves, sharp bracts, <strong>and</strong><br />
blue ray flowers. This is a very distinct plant with very characteristic leaves <strong>and</strong><br />
sharp bracts. Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species, other species in this<br />
genus have limited use. Etymology: Name comes from the Greek “machaira”<br />
meaning sword <strong>and</strong> “anthera” or anther, referring to the shape of the anther–<br />
tips. Synonyms: Aster tanacetifolius, M. coronopifolia, M. parthenium<br />
Malacothrix clevel<strong>and</strong>ii<br />
Clevel<strong>and</strong>’s desert d<strong>and</strong>elion<br />
General: Diffusely branched, slender–stemmed<br />
annual 10–60 cm tall with numerous heads<br />
paniculately arranged at tips of branches; herbage<br />
glabrous throughout, stems <strong>and</strong> lower leaves<br />
often reddish–tinged. Leaves: Basal leaves linear<br />
to narrowly lanceolate, 2–7 cm long to 1.5–2 cm<br />
wide, lobed to pinnatifid or less commonly with<br />
linear segments; cauline leaves remote, linear to<br />
lanceolate, entire or nearly so, gradually reduced<br />
upward to linear bracts 5–10 mm long. Flowers:<br />
Involucres cylindro–campanulate, 4–8 mm tall, 2–5 mm broad, bracts linear,<br />
0.4–0.7 mm wide, equal <strong>and</strong> scarcely imbricated, green with purple–dotted tips,<br />
margins narrow, scarious; basal bracts calyculate, ovate, 1–2 mm long; ligules<br />
pale yellow or rarely white, exceeding involucre only 1–3 mm. Fruits: Achenes<br />
linear–fusiform, truncate at apex, 1.4–1.8 mm long, finely 15–ribbed, 5 ribs more<br />
prominent that rest, buff to pale brown, truncate crown, bearing 14–17 minute<br />
white, scarious teeth; deciduous pappus bristles silvery white, 5–6 mm long.<br />
Ecology: Found along arroyos <strong>and</strong> streams, on slopes <strong>and</strong> grassy hillsides from<br />
2,500–4,500 ft (762–1372 m); flowers from March–May. Notes: Told apart from<br />
Malacothrix fendleri by the pale yellow petal color. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
for this species, but other species in this genera have use as food <strong>and</strong> medicine.<br />
Etymology: Malacothrix is from malakos, soft <strong>and</strong> thrix, hair, while clevel<strong>and</strong>ii is<br />
named after Daniel Clevel<strong>and</strong> (1838–1929) a botanical collector. Synonyms: None<br />
158 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2005 James M. Andre<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
Malacothrix fendleri<br />
Fendler’s desert d<strong>and</strong>elion<br />
General: Sparingly to moderately<br />
branched annual with spreading to<br />
©2007 WNMU, Zimmerman Herbarium<br />
ascending stems 5–30 cm long, stems,<br />
upper leaves <strong>and</strong> involucres glabrous.<br />
Leaves: Basal leaves oblong–oblanceolate<br />
to spatulate in outline, 2–8 cm long,<br />
sinuately lobed to remotely pinnatifid,<br />
lobes or teeth deltoid to oblong, mostly<br />
less than 1 cm long, sinuately lobed to<br />
remotely pinnatifid, lobes or teeth deltoid<br />
to oblong, mostly less than 1 cm long, petioles often with a dense mat of wool on<br />
upper surface near base, cauline leaves few, smaller, glabrous or essentially so.<br />
Flowers: Fairly numerous heads, paniculately arranged or some solitary at tips<br />
of unbranched but sparsely leafy branches, involucres broadly campanulate,<br />
7–8 mm tall, basal bracts ovate, 1.5–3 mm long, main ones equal, scarcely<br />
imbricated, 1–1.5 mm wide, purplish at tip <strong>and</strong> along midrib, margins narrowly<br />
scarious; ligules yellow, washed with purple or lavender on underside, 7–10<br />
mm long. Fruits: Achenes cylindric, 1.8–2 mm long, dark brown, finely <strong>and</strong><br />
evenly 15–ribbed or striate, glabrous; pappus bristles white, 5–6 mm long, 1–2<br />
of them persistent or all of them deciduous. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y pains,<br />
mesas, <strong>and</strong> rocky hillsides from 2,000–5,000 ft (610–1524 m); flowers March–<br />
June. Ethnobotany: Used for sores, seeds for food, <strong>and</strong> as an eye wash for sore<br />
eyes. Etymology: Malacothrix is from malakos, soft <strong>and</strong> thrix, hair, fendleri is<br />
named for Augustus Fendler (1813–1883). Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 159<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Malacothrix glabrata<br />
smooth desert d<strong>and</strong>elion<br />
General: Ascending, moderately branched,<br />
wholly glabrous plant except slightly pubescent<br />
on youngest leaves in some plants, <strong>and</strong> on<br />
smallest outer involucral bracts, stems 10–40 cm<br />
tall. Leaves: 1–2 cauline leaves near base, usually<br />
with 2–3 or rarely only 1 large head at tips of upper<br />
branches; basal leaves oblong–oblanceolate, 2–8<br />
cm long, sinuately lobed to remotely pinnatifid<br />
into linear segments, glabrous. Flowers:<br />
Involucres 5–12 mm high, glabrous or lowest<br />
bracts sparsely arachnoid–pubescent; ligules yellow, often tinged with purple<br />
or lavender on lower surface. Fruits: Achenes cylindric, 1.6–2 mm long, finely<br />
<strong>and</strong> evenly 15–ribbed or nerved, glabrous, truncate <strong>and</strong> with a low ring of<br />
tissue at apex, bearing a white–scarious, denticulate ring inside that tissue;<br />
pappus bristles white, 5–6 mm long. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y <strong>and</strong> gravelly<br />
plains, rocky hillsides <strong>and</strong> mesas below 7,000 ft (2134 m); flowers March–<br />
June. Ethnobotany: The roots were used by the Apache as a blood medicine.<br />
Etymology: Malacothrix is from malakos, soft <strong>and</strong> thrix, hair, glabrata means<br />
somewhat glabrous. Synonyms: Malacothrix californica var. glabrata<br />
Melampodium longicorne<br />
Arizona blackfoot<br />
General: Erect annual 10–40 cm tall<br />
moderately branched from near base, stems<br />
<strong>and</strong> branches spreading–hispidulous.<br />
Leaves: Oblanceolate to oblong–spatulate,<br />
5–15 mm wide (without projecting lobes),<br />
1.5–5 cm long, entire with 1–2 pairs of<br />
abruptly spreading lobes 3–9 mm long,<br />
cuneate toward sessile base, acute at<br />
apex, blade sparsely scabro–hispidulous.<br />
Flowers: Heads sessile or subsessile at tips<br />
of branchlets, subtended by leaves 3–6 times as long as heads, outer involucral<br />
bracts distinct, obovate, abruptly short–acuminate, sparsely hispid on midrib<br />
<strong>and</strong> along margins, 3.5–4 mm long; ray flowers inconspicuous, ligules 1–2 mm<br />
long or less, barely equaling or usually shorter than outer involucral bracts;<br />
disk flowers few, often only 3–5, inconspicuous. Fruits: Fruit about 4 mm long,<br />
lightly but distinctly ridged, 3 low ridges on each lateral face <strong>and</strong> one fainter<br />
dorsal one, outer angles each bearing 1–3 low conical tuber–like swelling<br />
or projection, oblique cup, outer margin drawn into a recurvingly coiled,<br />
puberulent awn; achene black, shining, longitudinally striate. Ecology: Found<br />
in canyons, on hillsides, along streams, <strong>and</strong> often on limestone from 4,000–<br />
5,500 ft (1219–1676 m); flowers March–October. Notes: Yellow ray flowers <strong>and</strong><br />
the larger hooded fruit enveloping the achene set this plant apart from M.<br />
leucanthum. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Longicorne refers to the<br />
long spur, or hook on the fruit. Synonyms: None<br />
160 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©20072–2009 Michael L. Charters<br />
2009 <strong>NPS</strong>/Steve Buckley
2010 <strong>NPS</strong>/Steve Buckley<br />
2009 <strong>NPS</strong>/Steve Buckley<br />
Parthenice mollis<br />
annual monsterwort<br />
General: Moderately to profusely branched<br />
herb to 2 m tall. Leaves: Ample, blades lance–<br />
ovate to broadly ovate–cordate, 1–15 cm broad,<br />
3–20 cm long, upper smaller ones entire, larger<br />
coarsely <strong>and</strong> irregularly dentate, bright green <strong>and</strong><br />
sparsely puberulent to glabrate above, paler <strong>and</strong><br />
more densely puberulent beneath; petioles to<br />
10 cm long, blades decurrent on upper portion.<br />
Flowers: Panicles 10–40 cm long, involucres 4–5<br />
mm in diameter at anthesis; bracts obtuse or rounded, thin, densely short–<br />
puberulent <strong>and</strong> somewhat scurfy; corollas of sterile disk flowers 1–1.3 mm long,<br />
tube very short, abruptly exp<strong>and</strong>ing into narrowly funnelform throat, lobes<br />
minute, densely cobwebby with hairs of adjacent corollas intertangled; corollas<br />
of pistillate flowers tubular, about .3 mm long or less. Fruits: Achenes 1–1.3 mm<br />
long, ovoid, compressed, attached to <strong>and</strong> falling with paleae of 2 disk flowers<br />
immediately adjacent. Ecology: Found along watercourses, hillsides, <strong>and</strong><br />
mesas from 3,500–5,000 ft (1067–1524 m); flowers February–September. Notes:<br />
Endemic to Arizona. Very unique in appearance, with stalks to 5 cm in diameter,<br />
or larger. Odd flowers; plant appears to be farinose. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
Etymology: Parthenice alludes to members of the genus Parthenium, mollis<br />
means soft or with soft velvety hair. Synonyms: None<br />
Pectis prostrata<br />
spreading cinchweed<br />
General: Diffuse annual branching from base,<br />
1–30 cm across, with prostrate to ascending stems,<br />
often mat–forming, densely leafy <strong>and</strong> puberulent.<br />
Leaves: Linear to narrowly oblanceolate, 10–40<br />
mm long by 1.5–7 mm wide, margins with 4–12<br />
pairs of bristles 1–3 mm near base, faces glabrous,<br />
dotted below with round oil gl<strong>and</strong>s 0.1–0.3 mm.<br />
Flowers: Heads borne singly or in congested<br />
cymiform arrays on peduncles 1–2 mm, surpassed<br />
by subtending leaves; involucres campanulate,<br />
cylindric to ellipsoid; phyllaries coherent, oblong to obovate, 5–8 mm long by<br />
1–3 mm wide, dotted in submarginal rows of elliptic oil gl<strong>and</strong>s, 0.1–0.3 mm; ray<br />
florets 5, yellow, corollas 2.5–3.5 mm, scarcely surpassing phyllaries; disc florets<br />
3–17, about 2 mm long. Fruits: Cypselae 2.5–4.5 m, strigillose, with pappus of<br />
(2 ray <strong>and</strong> 5 disc) lanceolate scales, 1.5–2.5 mm long. Ecology: Found in open,<br />
dry <strong>and</strong> hot, often s<strong>and</strong>y soils from sea level to 6,500 ft (1981 m); flowers July–<br />
November. Notes: In this species the phyllaries stay together <strong>and</strong> fall as a unit<br />
with the achenes. Notably, the Pectis have C4 photosynthetic pathways which<br />
accounts for why they inhabit such hot, dry sites. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
Etymology: Pectis is from the Greek pecteo, to comb, while prostrata means<br />
prostrate. Synonyms: Pectis multisetosa, P. prostrata var. urceolata<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 161<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Pseudognaphalium canescens ssp.canescens<br />
Wright’s cudweed<br />
General: Erect or ascending, short–<br />
lived, perennial herb much branched at<br />
base, densely <strong>and</strong> closely white–woolly.<br />
Leaves: Leaves crowded <strong>and</strong> matted<br />
at base, oblong to oblanceolate or<br />
somewhat spatulate, to 1 cm wide, 2–4.5<br />
cm long, cauline leaves oblong to oblong–<br />
oblanceolate, 1.5–5 mm wide, 1.5–3 cm<br />
long, densely tomentose on both sides, rarely slightly greenish on upper surface,<br />
acute <strong>and</strong> apiculate at apex, sessile <strong>and</strong> not at all or only slightly decurrent at base.<br />
Flowers: Inflorescence of numerous, small, ovoid–turbinate heads arranged in<br />
open corymbose panicle of few–headed glomerules, each head 4–5.5 mm long;<br />
bracts well imbricated in 3–5 series, white <strong>and</strong> shining, outermost woolly at base<br />
only, mostly obtuse, sometimes apiculate; pistillate flowers capillary about 3 mm<br />
long, about equaled by pappus bristles; perfect flowers about same length. Fruits:<br />
Achenes ovoidal, 0.5–0.7 mm long, pale brown, smooth, dull; pappus bristles<br />
distinct. Ecology: Found on arid rocky slopes from 3,500–7,000 ft (1067–2134<br />
m); flowers August–October. Ethnobotany: Ground flowers inhaled for head<br />
colds, or leaves used as a paste for linament. Etymology: Pseudognaphalium is<br />
false gnaphalium, the former genus name, <strong>and</strong> canescens means covered with<br />
short gray or white hairs. Synonyms: Gnaphalium canescens, G. canescens ssp.<br />
canescens, G. wrightii<br />
Pseudognaphalium leucocephalum<br />
white cudweed<br />
General: Erect perennial with 1 to<br />
several stems 30–80 cm tall, stems leafy,<br />
persistently tomentose with dense,<br />
finely packed wool. Leaves: Narrowly<br />
linear–attenuate or lowermost linear–<br />
oblanceolate, 1.5–6 mm wide, 2–8 cm long,<br />
green <strong>and</strong> only puberulent gl<strong>and</strong>ular<br />
above, persistently white–tomentose<br />
beneath, sessile. Flowers: In corymbose<br />
panicle, often 20 cm broad, many heads,<br />
turbinate, 6–7 mm high, 7–8 mm wide<br />
at anthesis, bracts well inbricated in 4–6 series, broadly ovate to oblong, dull<br />
pearly white, obtuse <strong>and</strong> erosulate at apex, only bases of outermost embedded<br />
in loose wool; flowers 4 mm long, pistillate barely equaling capillary pappus<br />
bristles, perfect ones 0.1–0.3 mm longer than pistillate or equaling them. Fruits:<br />
Achenes 0.8 mm long, pale brown or stramineous, smooth, dull, pappus bristles<br />
distinct, falling separately. Ecology: Found in s<strong>and</strong>y washes, dry hillsides,<br />
<strong>and</strong> disturbed areas from 2,000–5,000 ft (610–1524 m); flowers July–October.<br />
Notes: Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species, but others in genus have<br />
medicinal use. Etymology: Pseudognaphalium is false gnaphalium, the former<br />
genus name, leucocephalum means white or dusky–headed. Synonyms:<br />
Gnaphalium leucocephalum<br />
162 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2008 SEINET–ASU, Liz Makings
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2003 Keir Morse<br />
Rafinesquia neomexicana<br />
New Mexico plumseed<br />
General: Simple to very branched, glabrous<br />
plant 15–50 cm tall with weak, zigzag, fistulous,<br />
purplish stems, frequently growing upward<br />
through shrubs. Leaves: To 15 cm long, 1–3 cm<br />
wide, deeply <strong>and</strong> often rucinately pinnatifid,<br />
lobes to 2 cm long, acute; blades sessile <strong>and</strong><br />
auriculate–clasping or short–petioled. Flowers:<br />
Heads solitary <strong>and</strong> scattered at tips of branchlets,<br />
involucres about 2 cm long, main bracts lance–<br />
linear, with purplish midribs; ligules white<br />
within, rose–tinged without, outer ones 15–20 mm long. Fruits: Achenes<br />
12–15 mm long, body tapering only slightly into beak, nearly twice as long as<br />
latter, minutely <strong>and</strong> closely papillate or puberulent, pale to dark gray; pappus<br />
bristles 10–15 mm long, silvery white, about three times as wide as thick at base.<br />
Ecology: Found on arid plains, mesas, <strong>and</strong> gentle slopes 200–3,500 ft (61–1067<br />
m); flowers March–May. Notes: One of the more conspicuous flowers in<br />
the spring. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Rafinesquia is named for<br />
Constantine Samuel Rafinesque–Schmaltz (1783–1840) a 19th century botanist,<br />
while neomexicana is for New Mexico. Synonyms: None<br />
Senecio flaccidus<br />
threadleaf ragwort<br />
General: Native soft shrub or half–<br />
shrub or suffrutescent perennial;<br />
up to 1 m in height; numerous<br />
long, slender erect stems; dies<br />
back annually to ground; herbage<br />
tomentose. Leaves: Leaves<br />
numerous, well–distributed along<br />
the stem; 3–10 cm long, linear or<br />
linear–filiform, less than 2 mm<br />
wide, sometimes with a few short<br />
to elongate, spreading lateral segments. Flowers: Heads short–pedunculate<br />
in small to fairly large cymose clusters on each stem; seldom > 20 per stem,<br />
relatively large, with numerous involucral bracts (20–30), 7–11 mm long;<br />
bracteoles small <strong>and</strong> inconspicuous, not more than 1/4 the height of involucre.<br />
Ecology: Common on dry plains, mesas, slopes <strong>and</strong> along washes, <strong>and</strong><br />
common in sagebrush <strong>and</strong> pinon–juniper zone, from 2,500–7,500 ft (760–2285<br />
m); flowers May–October. Notes: This species has numerous long, slender<br />
tomentose stems, giving the plant a grayish appearance; leaves are cauline,<br />
numerous, <strong>and</strong> linear to filiform; cymose clusters of flower heads occur on<br />
each stem. Ethnobotany: Senecio species are poisonous. Navajo use this<br />
species as medicine for arthritis, rheumatism <strong>and</strong> boils. Etymology: From<br />
the Latin senex – old man. Flaccidus is ancient word for flabby. Synonyms: S.<br />
douglasii var. jamesii, S. douglasii var. longilobus, S. douglasii ssp. longilobus, S.<br />
filifolius, S. longilobus<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 163<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Sonchus asper<br />
Impact risk level<br />
H M L<br />
spiny sowthistle<br />
General: A simple or scantily branched annual 0.3–2.5 m tall, herbage glabrous,<br />
peduncles <strong>and</strong> involucres with tack–shaped, gl<strong>and</strong>ular hairs. Leaves: Basal<br />
leaves oblanceolate to spatulate in outline, to 30 cm long, blades lyrately or<br />
rucinately pinnatifid into broadly ovate to oblong lobes <strong>and</strong> these saliently<br />
dentate with spinulose teeth or sometimes blades only dentate; petiole often<br />
equaling blade, cauline leaves similar but usually sessile, auricles to 2 cm long,<br />
rounded <strong>and</strong> saliently toothed. Flowers: Heads urceolate–turbinate in bud,<br />
on peduncles 1–10 cm long, involucres 10–16 mm long <strong>and</strong> campanulate or<br />
cylindric in anthesis; main bracts lance–linear, acute to attenuate, thickened<br />
along midrib toward base in age, glabrous or sparsely gl<strong>and</strong>ular–pubescent,<br />
outer bracts ovate, more commonly gl<strong>and</strong>ular, but rarely thickened; ligules<br />
3–6 mm long, pale yellow, quickly withering. Fruits: Achenes ovoid 2–2.5<br />
mm long, about 1 mm wide, strongly compressed, each face 3–ribbed <strong>and</strong><br />
smooth in intervals, lateral margins very thin; pappus hairs 6–10 mm long,<br />
often much tangled, holding several achenes together in cluster. Ecology:<br />
Widespread, along roadsides, fields, <strong>and</strong> disturbed sites from 200–8,000 ft<br />
(61–2438 m); flowers April–August. Notes: Told apart from S. oleraceus by<br />
achenes, which are strongly 3–5 ribbed on each face, thin–margined; while<br />
S. oleraceus achenes are striate <strong>and</strong><br />
strongly wrinkled transversely, not thin–<br />
margined. Ethnobotany: Given to babies<br />
as a sedative, taken as a heart medicine,<br />
while other tribes considered this species<br />
a poison. Etymology: Sonchus is the<br />
Greek name for sowthistle, while asper<br />
means rough. Synonyms: Sonchus asper<br />
ssp. asper, S. asper ssp. glaucescens, S.<br />
nymanii<br />
164 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Sonchus oleraceus<br />
common sowthistle<br />
General: Annual introduced herb; native to Europe; 10 cm–2 m tall; from a<br />
short taproot; glabrous except for an occasional spreading gl<strong>and</strong>–tipped hair<br />
on the involucres <strong>and</strong> peduncles; milky sap. Leaves: Leaves alternate; pinnatifid<br />
to occasionally merely toothed; soft; the margins only weakly or scarcely<br />
prickly; 6–30 cm long <strong>and</strong> 1–15 cm wide; all but the lowermost prominently<br />
auriculate; leaves progressively less divided upwards. Flowers: Heads several<br />
in a corymbiform inflorescence; relatively small; 1.5–2.5 cm wide in flower;<br />
involucre 9–13 mm high in fruit; yellow rays; 120–150 flowers per plant. Fruits:<br />
Achenes 2.5–3.5 mm long; transversely rugulose <strong>and</strong> 3–5 ribbed on each face.<br />
Ecology: Disturbed areas, from 600–8,000 ft (185–2440m); flowers March–<br />
October. Notes: Two other species of Sonchus in the Intermountain West. S.<br />
arvensis is also native to Europe <strong>and</strong> widely introduced in North America;<br />
prefers fairly moist to wet soil. It is a perennial with deep–seated creeping<br />
roots <strong>and</strong> relatively large flowers. S. asper is an annual introduced species<br />
occurring in meadows, along streambanks <strong>and</strong> obviously disturbed habitats.<br />
It differs from S. oleraceus by having mature several–nerved achenes that are<br />
not rugulose (mature achenes are transversly rugulose as well as several–<br />
nerved in S. oleraceus). Ethnobotany:<br />
Young leaves are used in salads or<br />
cooked in curry <strong>and</strong> rice dishes. Salves<br />
are used to treat hemorrhoids <strong>and</strong> ulcers.<br />
Tea is used to treat anxiety <strong>and</strong> asthma.<br />
The milky juice is often used as eyewash.<br />
Etymology: Sonchus is the Greek name<br />
for sowthistle, while oleraceus means<br />
resembling garden herbs or vegetables<br />
used in cooking. Synonyms: None<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 165<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Tagetes minuta<br />
Tithonia thurberi<br />
Impact risk level<br />
H M L<br />
muster John Henry<br />
General: Introduced exotic annual 2–10 dm tall, erect, glabrous. Leaves:<br />
Leaflets serrate or dentate, pinnately divided, dotted with embedded with oil<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>s. Flowers: In terminal cymes, peduncles<br />
5–5.5 mm, slender, involucre 7–10 mm, narrowly<br />
cylindric, phyllaries 3–5, not splitting apart; ray<br />
flowers 1–3, corollas pale yellow, ligules 1–2<br />
mm, inconspicuous; disk flowers 3–5, corollas<br />
yellow 3–4 mm. Fruits: Cylindric achene 4.5–7<br />
mm, pappus of 1–2 acuminate scales, 2–3 mm,<br />
<strong>and</strong> 3–5 ovate to lanceolate scales. Ecology:<br />
Found in disturbed places below 3,500 ft (1067<br />
m); flowers throughout year. Notes: This is<br />
considered invasive in Arizona, still uncertain<br />
as to its distribution. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
Etymology: Tagetes is named after the<br />
Etruscan god Tages, while minuta means very<br />
small, minute. Synonyms: Tagetes bonariensis,<br />
T. gl<strong>and</strong>ulifera, T. gl<strong>and</strong>ulosa, T. porophylla<br />
Arizona sunflowerweed<br />
General: Slender, moderately branched annual<br />
0.5–2 m tall with whitish, striate stems sparsely to<br />
densely hispid–pilose with spreading; tuberculate–<br />
based, coarse hairs interspersed with finer ones,<br />
eventually glabrate. Leaves: Lower leaves opposite,<br />
upper ones alternate, blades ovate to broadly<br />
triangular–ovate, acute to acuminate, 3–27 cm wide,<br />
5–28 cm long, cuneately decurrent along petiole<br />
from a cuneate to broadly cordate base, crenate–<br />
dentate with mucronulate teeth, deep green<br />
<strong>and</strong> hispidulous with incurved hairs above, paler green <strong>and</strong> sparsely granular or<br />
hispidulous <strong>and</strong> hispid–pilose along veins beneath, petioles 2–10 cm long. Flowers:<br />
Fistulose peduncles, striate, 10–30 cm long, spreadingly hispid–pilose <strong>and</strong> finely<br />
hispidulous; heads 2.5–3.5 cm wide, involucres of graduated bracts in 3 series, 1–2<br />
cm tall, outer bracts lanceolate, oblong–ovate, or obovate, acute to acuminate; rays<br />
5–10, orange–yellow, oval–oblong 4–6 mm wide, 7–12 mm long; disk corollas 6–6<br />
mm long, hispidulous on lobes, gl<strong>and</strong>ular–pilosulous below, tube about 1 mm long,<br />
throat cylindrical; oblong receptacular bracts 1–1.5 cm long, abruptly acuminate at<br />
tip with a small tooth on each side just below tip, striate–ribbed, smooth. Fruits:<br />
Oblong–obovate achenes, 8.5–9 mm long, pappus awn solitary on outer angle of<br />
achene, linear–subulate, 5–6 mm long. Ecology: Found in rich soil along banks<br />
of streams, ditches, <strong>and</strong> margins of water bodies from 3,000–4,500 ft (914–1372<br />
m); flowers August–September. Notes: This plant is distinguishable by its orange<br />
rays <strong>and</strong> sunflower–like leaves <strong>and</strong> habit. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology:<br />
Thurberi is named for Dr. George Thurber (1821–1890). Synonyms: None<br />
166 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2011 Liz Makings<br />
©2010 Anthony Mendoza
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Trixis californica<br />
American threefold<br />
General: Profusely branched subshrub to 1 m<br />
or less, slender, brittle branches, appressed–<br />
puberulent branchlets, new growth gl<strong>and</strong>ular<br />
<strong>and</strong> often densely pubescent with brown hairs.<br />
Leaves: Leaves <strong>and</strong> flowers appear at various<br />
seasons, leaves mostly 3–8 cm, upright, blades<br />
relatively thin, lanceolate, with minute hairs to<br />
sometimes glabrate, densely gl<strong>and</strong>ular below<br />
<strong>and</strong> sometimes above but not as densely so,<br />
the margins toothed to nearly entire; sessile or<br />
petioles mostly 1–2 mm, usually winged, dead leaves semipersistent. Flowers:<br />
Heads in corymbose panicles, usually 12–14–flowered, inner phyllaries green,<br />
10–15 mm, oblong, with thickened yellow–brown bases extending into midrib;<br />
flowers yellow, corollas 1 cm long, sparsely puberulent at tips of lobes. Fruits:<br />
Achenes 8–10 mm long, slender, densely gl<strong>and</strong>ular with short stout hairs,<br />
pappus twice as long as achenes. Ecology: Found on rocky slopes <strong>and</strong> ridges<br />
below 5,000 ft (1524 m); flowers February–June, rarely flowering again in<br />
autumn. Notes: The leaves are densely gl<strong>and</strong>ular–dotted beneath, with corky<br />
thickened bracts at base of leaves. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Trixis<br />
is from Greek trixos, three–fold, referring to three–cleft outer corolla lip, while<br />
californica refers to California. Synonyms: Trixis californica var. californica<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 167<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Uropappus lindleyi<br />
Lindley’s silverpuffs<br />
General: Spring ephemeral with milky sap, glabrous<br />
or slightly puberulent herbage, scapes 10–60 cm tall.<br />
Leaves: Linear to linear–lanceolate or pinnate with<br />
few slender segments, in basal rosette, 10–15 cm long,<br />
stems above leafless with small gl<strong>and</strong>s near flower<br />
head. Flowers: Each stem bearing single, erect head;<br />
outer involucral bracts 1 cm long, acute, ligules barely<br />
surpassing involucre, ephemeral, pale yellow but<br />
drying reddish or purplish. Fruits: Achenes 8.5–10<br />
mm long, blackish, linear–cylindric <strong>and</strong> slightly<br />
tapered at each end, apex slightly flared; pappus with<br />
5 papery, silvery, linear–lanceolate scales 9–10 mm,<br />
these deeply notched at the apex with long, slender awn from notch. Ecology:<br />
Found on mesas, plains, outwash slopes <strong>and</strong> arroyos below 5,000 ft (1524<br />
m); flowers March–June. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Uropappus<br />
refers to the pappus having a long tail–like dip, while lindleyi is named for<br />
John Lindley (1799–1865) a British botanist. Synonyms: Microseris linearifolia,<br />
Uropappus lindleyi, U. linearifolius<br />
Verbesina encelioides<br />
golden crownbeard<br />
General: Native (double check) taprooted<br />
annual; 20–100 cm tall; simple when small<br />
<strong>and</strong> branched above or throughout when<br />
well developed; stem strigose to villous–<br />
puberulent. Leaves: Leaves all cauline;<br />
well distributed along stem; lower leaves<br />
opposite; others alternate, evident petioles;<br />
coarsely toothed to subentire; narrowly<br />
to broadly triangular to merely lance–<br />
ovate; strigose beneath; thinly strigose on upper surface. Flowers: Heads<br />
terminating the branches; erect on peduncles up to 10 cm long; phyllaries<br />
green; ligules yellow <strong>and</strong> evidently 3–toothed at the tip. Fruits: Achenes 5–7<br />
mm long, thinly hairy. Ecology: Open, s<strong>and</strong>y or rocky places, sometimes on<br />
dunes or along roadsides from 3,000–8,500 ft (914–2591 m); flowers April–<br />
September. Notes: 2 subspecies in Arizona: exauriculata <strong>and</strong> encelioides.<br />
Most of the Arizona plants are of ssp. exauriculata which is the dryl<strong>and</strong>, more<br />
western phase <strong>and</strong> distinguished by petioles that are not auriculate–dilated at<br />
the base. ssp. encelioides is native to the Gulf Coast. It has more prominently<br />
auriculate leaves <strong>and</strong> mostly longer involucral bracts (how long?) Host plant<br />
for Bordered patch butterfly. Ethnobotany: Hopi make plant tea into wash<br />
for fever or spider bites. Navajo make lotion for similar uses. Navajo also use<br />
liquid of strained leaves for stomach trouble. It is also a good luck token.<br />
Etymology: Verbesina is derived from Verbena. Synonyms: None<br />
168 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2005 Robert Sivinski<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2005 James M. Andre<br />
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Xanthisma gracile<br />
slender goldenweed<br />
General: Herb; annual; native. Stems<br />
10–30 cm tall, freely branching.<br />
Leaves: Leaves are erect on the stem<br />
<strong>and</strong> branches; sessile <strong>and</strong> reduced<br />
on the upper part of the stem; few<br />
scattered teeth on leaves, each with a<br />
stiff bristle 1–2 mm long (also each leaf<br />
tip); leaves sometimes lobed. Flowers:<br />
Terminal composite flower heads with<br />
small disks (6–10 mm wide). Fruits:<br />
Achene Ecology: Open, dry sites from 3,000–7,500 ft (914–2286 m); flowers<br />
April–October. Notes: Stem leaves of this annual are erect, with teeth a sharp<br />
bristle scattered along the margin; flowers are small <strong>and</strong> yellow. Ethnobotany:<br />
Navajo make cold tea as wash for pimples, sores, boils <strong>and</strong> sore eyes. Steeped<br />
tea is used to treat internal injuries <strong>and</strong> to clear nasal passages. Etymology:<br />
From Greek anthemon for flower. Gracilis means graceful or slender.<br />
Synonyms: Machaeranthera gracilis, Dieteria gracilis, Haplopappus gracilis, H.<br />
ravenii, Sideranthus gracilis<br />
Xanthisma spinulosum<br />
lacy tansyaster, spiny haplopappus<br />
General: Perennial or subshrub 10–100<br />
cm, branched caudices, woody, tap<br />
roots 2–18 cm; stems 1–30+ branched<br />
throughout, moderately stout, not<br />
wiry, hairy or glabrous, often stipitate–<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular. Leaves: Oblong to lanceolate<br />
0.2–8 cm by 0.1–3 cm, not reduced<br />
markedly distally, margins deeply lobed<br />
to coarsely dentate or entire, teeth 4–18<br />
per side, tipped with white bristles 0.2–<br />
1.8 mm, hairy or glabrous; basal leaves sometimes wither by flowering, pinnatifid<br />
to twice pinnatifid. Flowers: Glabrous to hairy peduncles, often stipitate–<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular, bracts 0–3 leaflike, hemispheric to cupulate involucres, 6–10 mm<br />
by 8–25 mm; phyllaries in 5–6 series, linear to linear–lanceolate, 0.1–0.9 mm,<br />
apices acute to acuminate, tipped with white bristle, faces glabrous or hairy;<br />
ray florets 14–60, corollas yellow; disc florets 30–150; corollas 4–5 mm. Fruits:<br />
Cypselae narrowly obovoid, 1.8–2.5 mm, nerves 16–24, sparsely to moderately<br />
tawny hairy; pappus tawny, 4–6 mm. Ecology: Found on arid plains, mesas,<br />
hillsides from 1,000–5,500 ft (305–1676 m); flowers March–June. Notes: This is<br />
an excessively difficult taxon <strong>and</strong> there are a number of varieties that make this<br />
difficult to tease out which is which. Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species,<br />
other species in this genus have limited use. Etymology: Xanthisma is a Greek<br />
name meaning that which is dyed yellow, while pinnatifida means pinnately<br />
cut. Synonyms: Machaeranthera pinnatifida<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 169<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Xanthium strumarium<br />
rough cocklebur<br />
General: Erect annual herb; 2–20 dm tall,<br />
appressed–hairy or sub–glabrous. Leaves:<br />
Long–petiolate, blade broad, ovate to sub–<br />
orbicular or reniform, generally cordate or<br />
deltoid at the base, toothed <strong>and</strong> sometimes<br />
shallowly 3–5 lobed, often 15 cm long.<br />
Flowers: Heads in several or many short,<br />
axillary <strong>and</strong> terminal inflorescences; burs<br />
brownish or yellowish–brownish, broadly<br />
cylindric to ovoid, ellipsoid, or subglobose, mostly 2–3.5 cm long, terminated by<br />
two stout, incurved beaks, <strong>and</strong> covered with stout, hooked prickles. Ecology:<br />
Fields, waste places, floodplains <strong>and</strong> lake beaches; cosmopolitan weed;<br />
originally native to the New World <strong>and</strong> possibly to Europe. From 3,500–7,500 ft<br />
(1067–2286 m); flowers April–October. Notes: Easily distinguished by its large<br />
fruits that are burs with long hooked bristles. The leaves s<strong>and</strong>–papery to the<br />
touch. Ambrosia–like flowers. Ours are of the var. canadense. Burrs become<br />
entangled in hides <strong>and</strong> wool decreasing value. Seeds <strong>and</strong> cotyledon leaves<br />
poisonous to all livestock, while morning doves eat seeds. Ethnobotany: The<br />
leaves made into a tea make a useful diuretic. In large quantities it can have<br />
toxic effects. Etymology: From the ancient Greek name of a plant producing a<br />
yellow dye. Synonyms: var. canadense, many others.<br />
Xanthocephalum gymnospermoides<br />
San Pedro matchweed<br />
General: Stout herbaceous annual to 1.5<br />
m tall, glutinous <strong>and</strong> sometimes sparingly<br />
tomentose in youth, very leafy to apex.<br />
Leaves: Lanceolate to oblong–lanceolate,<br />
5–20 mm wide, 5–10 cm long, tapering<br />
toward each end, entire or sometimes<br />
sparingly denticulate, obscurely pinnately<br />
veined. Flowers: Heads numerous in<br />
corymbose cymes, radiate, pedicels<br />
stipitate–gl<strong>and</strong>ular, involucres hemispherical, 6–8 mm high, bracts linear to<br />
narrowly oblong, subequal, greenish <strong>and</strong> loose to slightly spreading at tips;<br />
ray flowers 12–19, ligules yellow, 4–5 mm long, about equaling tubes; disk<br />
flowers 40–60, golden yellow. Fruits: Achenes oblong, compressed, those<br />
of rays glabrous, devoid of pappus; disk achenes sparingly strigillose, with a<br />
very short, toothed, coroniform pappus on outer ones, inner usually with 4–8<br />
longer, stiff paleae. Ecology: Found along arroyos, alluvial, <strong>and</strong> saline soils from<br />
1,000–5,500 ft (305–1676 m); flowers August–October. Notes: Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown Etymology: Xanthocephalum is from a Greek name meaning<br />
that which is dyed yellow <strong>and</strong> the word for head, while gymnospermoides<br />
means naked seed. Synonyms: Grindelia gymnospermoides, Gutierrezia<br />
gymnospermoides<br />
170 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey ©2008 SEINET–ASU, Liz Makings
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
2009 <strong>NPS</strong>/Steve Buckley<br />
Zinnia acerosa<br />
desert zinnia<br />
General: Much branched low rounded or<br />
flat–topped subshrub 10–25 cm tall, with<br />
slender cinereous–puberulent branches,<br />
irregularly scaly grayish bark. Leaves:<br />
Linear to oblanceolate–linear, acerose<br />
leaves 0.3–2.5 mm wide, numerous, often<br />
longer than internodes, 5–20 mm long,<br />
cinereous–puberulent, golden punctate<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>s interspersed among hairs. Flowers:<br />
Peduncles 5–35 mm long, campanulate involucres 5–7 mm long, 3–5 mm wide;<br />
phyllaries suborbicular to oblong, greenish <strong>and</strong> tomentulose at first, later glabrate<br />
<strong>and</strong> stramineous but dull; ray flowers mostly 5–7, ligules suborbicular to broadly<br />
oblong, 7–10 mm long, white or faintly yellow, strongly green veined beneath,<br />
persist, strongly reflexed in fruit; disk corollas 5–6 mm, tinged with purple. Fruits:<br />
Disk achenes 2.5–3.5 mm long, striate, strigose or only upwardly ciliate, pappus<br />
usually of 2–3 unequal awns or much reduced; ray achenes oblanceolate, 3–angled<br />
in cross–section, receptacular chaffy bracts uniformly yellow, erose at apex.<br />
Ecology: Found on arid rocky slopes <strong>and</strong> mesas from 2,500–5,000 ft (762–1524 m);<br />
flowers March–November. Notes: The color of the ray flowers is usually sufficient<br />
to tell it apart from Z. gr<strong>and</strong>iflora. Ethnobotany: Plant was crushed <strong>and</strong> used as<br />
a paste on swellings or aches. Also given to children to help them learn to talk.<br />
Etymology: Acerosa means sharp, or with stiff needles. Synonyms: Zinnia pumila<br />
Zinnia peruviana<br />
Peruvian zinnia<br />
General: Annuals 30–50 cm tall, with greenish<br />
unbranched or sparingly branched stems, becoming<br />
purplish or yellowish, strigose. Leaves: Opposite, ovate<br />
to elliptic or broadly lanceolate blades, 3–5 nerved,<br />
25–70 cm long by 8–35 mm wide, scabrellous. Flowers:<br />
On peduncles 10–50 mm long, with narrowly to broadly<br />
campanulate involucres, phyllaries obovate to oblong,<br />
becoming scarious, glabrous with rounded apices,<br />
usually entire to erose, sometimes ciliate; paleae red to<br />
purple or yellow with obtuse tips, erose or subentire;<br />
ray florets 6–15, usually scarlet red or maroon, linear to<br />
spatulate in shape 8–35 mm; disc florets 12–50, corollas<br />
yellow 5–6 mm, with 1 mm lobes. Fruits: Cypselae 7–10<br />
mm long, 3–angled in ray flowers or compressed in the<br />
disc flowers, ribbed <strong>and</strong> ciliate with pappi of 1 stout awn 4–6 mm long. Ecology:<br />
Found on rocky soils, often calcareous, from 4,000–5,500 ft (1219–1676 m); flowers<br />
in summer to fall. Notes: In flower the distinctive red flower is a dead give away.<br />
The stems can be decumbent <strong>and</strong> are deceiving, but the ribbed leaves help when<br />
flowers are not present. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Zinnia is named for<br />
Johan G. Zinn (1729–1759) a German botanist, while peruviana means of or from<br />
Peru. Synonyms: Crassina multiflora, Zinnia multiflora, Z. pauciflora<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 171<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Forbs
Forbs<br />
172 Educational use only; not for sale
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Amoreuxia palmatifida<br />
Mexican yellowshow<br />
General: Herbaceous perennial from<br />
fusiform tuberous rootstock, stems 1<br />
to several, erect 25–35 cm tall, stipules<br />
linear–subulate, 4–7 mm long. Leaves:<br />
Alternate, narrow to broadly cuneate,<br />
7–9 lobed, lobes to 2 cm wide, coarsely<br />
serrate, rounded or obtuse at apex.<br />
Flowers: Sepals narrowly lanceolate,<br />
acute or somewhat attenuate, 15–20<br />
mm long; petals orange–yellow with 1–2 maroon spots at base of each, 2.5–3<br />
long; anthers all dark maroon or only lower set dark maroon, ovary densely<br />
puberulent papillose. Fruits: Ovoid capsule, 3–4 cm long, pendant, weakly<br />
striate longitudinally, 2–2.5 cm wide, finely <strong>and</strong> sparsely puberulent <strong>and</strong> with<br />
scattered, sessile, reddish gl<strong>and</strong>s intermingled with fine crisped hairs. Ecology:<br />
Found on dry rocky slopes <strong>and</strong> mesas from 2,500–5,000 ft (762–1676 m);<br />
flowers July–September. Notes: Alternate species A. gonzalezii is separated<br />
from A. palmatifida by its ellipsoid capsule, silky ovary, <strong>and</strong> lower set of cream–<br />
colored anthers as opposed to dark maroon. Howard Gentry reported that this<br />
plant yields lots of seed, but it is difficult to grow. Ethnobotany: All parts of<br />
the plants were used as food, including roots, young leaves, flowers, fruits <strong>and</strong><br />
seeds. Etymology: Palmatifida means palmately divided. Synonyms: None<br />
Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia<br />
Menzies’ common fiddleneck<br />
General: Erect <strong>and</strong> slender annual form with<br />
rough–hispid stems <strong>and</strong> foliage, 30–150 cm tall,<br />
or under favorable conditions frequently <strong>and</strong><br />
widely branched. Leaves: Basal leaves narrowly<br />
oblanceolate or oblong, entire, to 20 cm long,<br />
gradually narrowed to a slender petioled 1–6 m<br />
long, upper leaves gradually reduced to linear–<br />
lanceolate bracts 1 cm long or less, intermediate<br />
ones usually lanceolate, sessile or subsessile.<br />
Flowers: Spike leafy–bracted at base, 5–30 cm<br />
long or more, tip continues to produce flowers after basal nutlets have matured,<br />
calyx lobes linear–lanceolate, reddish–hispid, 3–5 mm long in flower, elongating<br />
to 6–10 mm in fruit, corolla dark yellow to orange, 7–12 mm long, rotate limb<br />
3–6 mm wide, glabrous without, short throat narrow, 10 nerved below stamens.<br />
Fruits: Ovoid nutlets, incurved, dorsally keeled, scabrous–rugose, grayish, 1.5–3<br />
mm long. Ecology: Found on grassy hillsides, valleys, along washes, abundant<br />
on s<strong>and</strong>y or gravelly soil below 4,000 ft (1219 m); flowers March–May. Notes:<br />
Varieties of this species <strong>and</strong> this genus more broadly are determined by the<br />
size of the nutlets, when collecting it is critical to obtain flowers, fruit, AND<br />
seed. Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species, other species in genus used for<br />
food, both seeds <strong>and</strong> young leaves eaten fresh. Etymology: Amsinckia named<br />
for Wilhelm Amsinck (1752–1831), while menziesii is named for Archibald<br />
Menzies (1754–1842) a Scottish botanist. Synonyms: Amsinckia intermedia, A.<br />
intermedia var. echinata, several others: see Tropicos<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 173<br />
Bixaceaee–Boraginaceae<br />
Forbs
Boraginaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Cryptantha angustifolia<br />
Panamint cryptantha<br />
General: Much branched herb 8–25 cm tall,<br />
usually with many slender, ascending or<br />
spreading–ascending, brownish stems sparsely<br />
hispidulous with slender white hairs, epidermis<br />
eventually exfoliating in irregular strips <strong>and</strong><br />
shreds. Leaves: Linear, usually 1 mm wide or<br />
less, 5–30 cm long, hispidulous with white hairs<br />
from pustulate bases. Flowers: Inflorescence<br />
of numerous short scorpioid spikes, elongating<br />
in fruit; calyx lobes lance–linear, 1–1.5 mm long<br />
at anthesis, hispid with stiff spreading hairs,<br />
white corolla about 1.5 mm long, limb 1.5–2 mm<br />
broad. Fruits: Nutlets, 4, heteromorphous, all<br />
ovoid, acute, brownish or pale gray; lateral angles rounded or rather sharp,<br />
ventral groove narrow above. Ecology: Found in gravelly or rocky soil on<br />
hillsides, along washes, <strong>and</strong> on disturbed soil below 4,000 ft (1219 m); flowers<br />
February–June. Ethnobotany: Other species in the genus used the plant for<br />
fatigue, coughs, against throat cancer, as sheep feed, for intestinal problems,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the plant was chewed for colds. Etymology: Cryptantha is from the Greek<br />
krypsis, meaning hiding, suppression, concealment, thus a hidden flower,<br />
while angustifolia means narrow foliage. Synonyms: Eremocarya angustifolia<br />
Cryptantha micrantha<br />
redroot cryptantha, dwarf cryptantha<br />
General: Plant 3–10 cm, branched mostly<br />
above, stems very slender, bark peeling on the<br />
lower stems of larger, older plants; hairs small,<br />
mostly appressed; roots <strong>and</strong> stems stain bright<br />
purple when pressed. Leaves: Relatively few<br />
<strong>and</strong> scattered, 3–8 mm, those of the first 1 or<br />
2 nodes opposite <strong>and</strong> not in a basal rosette.<br />
Flowers: Infloresence branches not strongly<br />
helidoic, reaching 5 mm; flowers minute,<br />
subtended by leafy bract, corollas white with a<br />
yellow center, lobes broadly obovate–spatulate,<br />
notched at apex. Fruits: Nutlets 4, 0.9 mm,<br />
slender, margins rounded; either all smooth or all rough. Ecology: Found<br />
on s<strong>and</strong>y soil, often among Larrea from sea level to 7,000 ft (2134 m); flowers<br />
March–June. Notes: This is the smallest of the Cryptantha. Ethnobotany:<br />
Other species in the genus used the plant for fatigue, coughs, against throat<br />
cancer, as sheep feed, for intestinal problems, <strong>and</strong> the plant was chewed for<br />
colds. Etymology: Cryptantha is from the Greek krypsis, meaning hiding,<br />
suppression, concealment, thus a hidden flower, micrantha means small–<br />
flowered. Synonyms: None<br />
174 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2004 James M. Andre ©2003 Michael Charters
©2004 James M. Andre<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Cryptantha nevadensis<br />
Nevada cryptantha<br />
General: Annual 10–60 cm, simple to branched<br />
throughout, strigose, some hairs ascending.<br />
Leaves: 1–4 cm, linear to oblong, generally<br />
bristly, bristles more or less ascending. Flowers:<br />
Inflorescence generally dense in fruit, lowest<br />
flowers sometimes not touching; sepals 3–3.5<br />
mm, 6–10 mm <strong>and</strong> linear in fruit, densely<br />
rough–hairy <strong>and</strong> bristly, hairs ascending,<br />
bristles spreading; corolla limb 1–2 mm wide.<br />
Fruits: Nutlets 4, 2–2.5 mm, lanceolate, back<br />
densely tubercled, groove more or less closed,<br />
forked or flared open at base. Ecology: Found<br />
on s<strong>and</strong>y, gravelly soils below 4,000 ft (1219 m);<br />
flowers March–May. Notes: Frequently found<br />
under shrubs <strong>and</strong> bushes. Ethnobotany: Other species in the genus used the<br />
plant for fatigue, coughs, against throat cancer, as sheep feed, for intestinal<br />
problems, <strong>and</strong> the plant was chewed for colds. Etymology: Cryptantha is from<br />
the Greek krypsis, meaning hiding, suppression, concealment, thus a hidden<br />
flower, nevadensis is for Nevada. Synonyms: None<br />
Cryptantha pterocarya<br />
wingnut cryptantha<br />
General: Annual 10–40 cm, stem erect or with<br />
mostly few, ascending branches, few strigose <strong>and</strong><br />
rough–hairs, hairs generally ascending. Leaves:<br />
Simple, entire, linear to oblong, 0.5–5 cm, bristly;<br />
bristles ascending; basal whorled; cauline<br />
generally opposite below, alternate above.<br />
Flowers: Inflorescences not heliocoid or only<br />
slightly so on larger plants, more cymose; calyx<br />
appears angled due to thickened sepal midribs,<br />
sepals broadly ovate, obtuse, corolla generally white, tube 1–13 mm, appendages<br />
5, white to yellow. enlarging as the fruit matures to 4.5–6 mm. Fruits: Nutlets<br />
4, 2.5–3 mm, intricately sculptured, studded with blunt tubercles <strong>and</strong> edged by<br />
broad light–colored wing edged with blunt, finger–like projections. Ecology:<br />
Found on rocky <strong>and</strong> gravelly soils below 8,000 ft (2438 m); flowers March–June.<br />
Notes: More common in wet years. Wing nut clearly distinguishes it from other<br />
Cryptantha. Ethnobotany: Other species in the genus used the plant for fatigue,<br />
coughs, against throat cancer, as sheep feed, for intestinal problems, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
plant was chewed for colds. Etymology: Cryptantha is from the Greek krypsis,<br />
meaning hiding, suppression, concealment, thus a hidden flower, pterocarya<br />
means wing nut from Greek pteron <strong>and</strong> karyon. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 175<br />
Boraginaceae<br />
Forbs
Boraginaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Cryptantha pusilla<br />
low cryptantha<br />
General: Annual with many prostrate–ascending, slender branches 10–20 cm<br />
long, pubescence rather densely strigose <strong>and</strong> more sparsely spreading–hirsute.<br />
Leaves: Crowded below, less abundant above, narrowly oblanceolate, 1.5–2.5<br />
cm long, little reduced above, densely hirsute, hairs from pustulate bases with<br />
some finer hairs intermixed. Flowers: Corolla small 1.5–3 mm long, calyx<br />
sessile or nearly so, early deciduous, calyx lobes equal, hirsute, lance–ovate<br />
to oblong–lanceolate, midrib but thickened, 2–2.5 mm long. Fruits: Nutlets 4,<br />
strongly bent above base, about 1 mm long, closed, areola shallow, triangular,<br />
style much surpassing nutlets. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y <strong>and</strong> rocky soils from<br />
4,000–5,500 ft (1219–1676 m); flowers March–June. Notes: Diagnostic for this<br />
species is the bent nutlet. Ethnobotany: Other species in the genus used the<br />
plant for fatigue, coughs, against throat cancer, as sheep feed, for intestinal<br />
problems, <strong>and</strong> the plant was chewed for colds. Etymology: Cryptantha is from<br />
the Greek krypsis, meaning hiding, suppression, concealment, thus a hidden<br />
flower, pusillus means small, weak or insignificant. Synonyms: Eritrichium<br />
pusillum<br />
Eucrypta micrantha<br />
dainty desert hideseed<br />
General: Small, dainty annual, gl<strong>and</strong>ular–viscid,<br />
with stalked gl<strong>and</strong>ular hairs intermixed with non–<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular hairs. Stems often 5–23 cm, slender,<br />
erect to ascending, sometimes spreading on<br />
large plants or when shaded. Leaves: Pinnatifid,<br />
1.5–5 cm by 0.5–2.6 cm. Flowers: Calyx usually<br />
divided about halfway up or more to base, with<br />
stalked gl<strong>and</strong>ular <strong>and</strong> non–gl<strong>and</strong>ular hairs; not<br />
spreading open at maturing, revealing only<br />
the tip of the capsule; corolla lobes white, pale<br />
violet, or lavender, throat yellow with yellow nectarines <strong>and</strong> often nectar filled<br />
in the morning. Fruits: Capsule, splitting, but the 2 carpels not falling free, the<br />
halves obovoid, obtusely pointed at tip. Ecology: Widespread, often in shade<br />
of shrubs, dies out as soil dries out from 4,000 ft (1219 m) <strong>and</strong> lower; flowers<br />
February–May. Notes: Grows particularly well in years of abundant moisture,<br />
can form small mats, often in shade where ground has slightly more moisture.<br />
Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Eucrypta is from Greek eu, well or true<br />
<strong>and</strong> crypta, secret, alluding to hidden inner seeds, while micrantha means<br />
small–flowered. Synonyms: None<br />
176 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Lappula redowskii var. occidentalis<br />
flatspine stickseed<br />
General: Native annual; puberulent or<br />
shortly hirsute throughout herbage; 10–80<br />
cm tall; often with many branches above the<br />
middle. Leaves: Numerous leaves; blades<br />
linear to oblong; upper blades sessile,<br />
1–2 mm long; lower blades petioled <strong>and</strong><br />
longer, up to 6 cm; petioles 1–2 mm long;<br />
basal leaves often deciduous. Flowers:<br />
Inconspicuous corolla; white to light blue or<br />
ochroleucous. Fruits: Marginal prickles of the nutlets in a single row; prickles<br />
often swollen <strong>and</strong> confluent toward the base, forming a cupulate border to<br />
the nutlet. Ecology: Dry to moderately moist, sunny, usually disturbed sites,<br />
roadsides, overgrazed areas; widely distributed to 8,500 ft (2590 m); flowers<br />
March–September. Notes: This may not be a showy plant but it makes itself<br />
known by attaching its many distinctive seeds to the socks of passers by. Two<br />
varieties of L. occidentalis are found in Arizona: var. cupulata is mainly found<br />
in the southwestern US <strong>and</strong> var. redowskii is found throughout the range. L.<br />
squarrosa has nutlets with marginal prickles in at least 2 rows <strong>and</strong> prickles are<br />
slender, not confluent at the base as in L. occidentalis. Ethnobotany: Navajo<br />
make poultice for insect bites <strong>and</strong> other skin irritations. Etymology: Lappula<br />
is from ancient root lappa meaning a bur, while occidentalis means of the west.<br />
Synonyms: L. redowskii, L. texana<br />
Nama demissa<br />
bristly nama<br />
General: First flowering as rosettes,<br />
often developing stems 5–30 cm, erect to<br />
ascending or spreading with age. Larger<br />
stem hairs 1–1.2 mm, dense, bristly, straight.<br />
Leaves: Narrowly spatulate 1.5–4.6 cm,<br />
gradually narrowed to a winged petioled,<br />
the upper leaves smaller, sessile. Flowers:<br />
Corollas lavender, 13–15 mm, 2 styles,<br />
distinct to base, calyx divided nearly to<br />
base. Fruits: Superior ovary, nutlets, ellipsoid–ovoid, 0.5–0.6 mm, about twice<br />
as long as wide, yellowish. Ecology: Widespread on gravelly, rocky <strong>and</strong> s<strong>and</strong>y<br />
soils from 5,000 ft (1524 m); flowers from February–June. Notes: N. hispidum<br />
is identifiable by larger more robust habit, usually thicker stems, stouter <strong>and</strong><br />
stiffer hairs, especially on stems. Ethnobotany: Used by the Navajo as a lotion<br />
for spider or tarantula bites. Etymology: Nama comes from the Greek nama for<br />
spring or stream, while hispidum means rough with bristly hairs. Synonyms:<br />
Nama hispidum var. mentzelii, N. hispidum var. revolutum, N. hispidum var.<br />
spathulatum<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 177<br />
Boraginaceae<br />
Forbs
Boraginaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Pectocarya heterocarpa<br />
chuckwalla combseed<br />
General: Stems prostrate to procumbent, several<br />
from vase, 5–25 cm long, stigulose with finer hairs<br />
than most species. Leaves: Linear to narrowly<br />
oblanceolate, 0.5–1.2 mm wide, 5–25 mm long,<br />
strigulose. Flowers: Small, about 2 mm long, sepals<br />
elliptic–lanceolate or linear lanceolate, 1.5–2 mm<br />
long at anthesis, corolla white. Fruits: Two broadly<br />
margined nutlets, margins lacerate–toothed <strong>and</strong><br />
deltoid teeth tipped with uncinate hairs, other 2<br />
nutlets unmargined <strong>and</strong> somewhat reflexed, tuft<br />
of uncinate hairs distally. Ecology: Found on arid,<br />
gravelly, s<strong>and</strong>y slopes, in valleys <strong>and</strong> washes <strong>and</strong><br />
in disturbed areas below 5,000 ft (1524 m); flowers<br />
February–May. Notes: Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Pectocarya<br />
from the Greek pectos, combed <strong>and</strong> karua, nut, while heterocarpa is from<br />
Greek heteros, different <strong>and</strong> karphos, a chip of wood, splinter, nail. Synonyms:<br />
Pectocarya penicillata var. heterocarpa<br />
Pectocarya recurvata<br />
curvenut combseed<br />
General: Plants slender, prostrate to ascending,<br />
5–20 cm long, minutely cinereous–strigulose.<br />
Leaves: Filiform–linear to narrowly linear–<br />
oblanceolate, 0.6–2 mm broad, 1–3 cm long,<br />
rather harshly strigose. Flowers: Axillary to<br />
leaves from the very base to apex of individual<br />
branches, minute; sepals lance–linear, 1.5–2 mm<br />
long, slightly longer in fruit, strigose; corolla<br />
short–salverform, about 2 mm long, lobes<br />
ascending. Fruits: Nutlets linear about 0.8 mm<br />
broad, 2.5–3.2 mm long, distinctly <strong>and</strong> often strongly reflexed, often forming<br />
a semicircle, margins deeply dissected to form series of distinct, short teeth,<br />
gradually tapering into <strong>and</strong> terminated by slender, elongated, uncinate<br />
hair equaling or surpassing tooth. Ecology: Found on arid slopes, plains,<br />
mesas, washes below 5,000 ft (1524 m); flowers February–April. Notes: The<br />
recurved nutlet margin is conspicuous. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology:<br />
Pectocarya from the Greek pectos, combed <strong>and</strong> karua, nut, recurvata means<br />
curving backwards. Synonyms: None<br />
178 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2006 Steve Matson<br />
©2004 Michelle Cloud–Hughes
©2005 James M. Andre<br />
©2007 WNMU, Zimmerman Herbarium<br />
Phacelia affinis<br />
limestone phacelia<br />
General: Annual forb mostly several–<br />
branched from near base, 4–20 cm; herbage,<br />
inflorescences <strong>and</strong> calyx with dense stiff white<br />
hairs <strong>and</strong> sessile gl<strong>and</strong>s. Leaves: Mostly basal<br />
<strong>and</strong> on lower stem 3–6 cm, pinnately lobed<br />
to pinnatifid, mostly narrowly oblong; upper<br />
leaves reduced. Flowers: Cymes moderately<br />
helicoids, especially on larger plants, flowers<br />
few to numerous; calyx lobes oblanceolate to<br />
spoon–shaped, gl<strong>and</strong>ular; corollas white (rarely<br />
pale purple) with a pale yellow–green throat;<br />
filaments whitish, the anthers included <strong>and</strong><br />
cream colored. Fruits: Many seeds nearly 1 mm, brown, reticulate transversely<br />
corrugated. Ecology: Found along streams, washes, arroyos from 2,000–4,000<br />
ft (610–1219 m); flowers March–May. Notes: These plants are known to cause<br />
light dermatitis. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Phacelia is based on<br />
Greek phakelos, meaning cluster alluding to crowded spikes, while affinis<br />
means bordering on or related or similar to. Synonyms: None<br />
Phacelia arizonica<br />
Arizona phacelia<br />
General: Annual with several procumbent<br />
to ascending stems 5–30 cm long, villous <strong>and</strong><br />
hirsutulous, inflorescence somewhat gl<strong>and</strong>ular.<br />
Leaves: Ovate, oblong, to oblong–oblanceolate in<br />
outline, 8–20 mm wide, 3–8 cm long, pinnatifid,<br />
lobes entire, dentate or again pinnatifid, mostly<br />
obtuse. Flowers: Slender petioles 5–18 mm long,<br />
compact cyme, usually branched 1–3 cm long in<br />
flower, erect <strong>and</strong> to 10 cm in fruit; slender pedicel,<br />
1 mm long at anthesis to 4 mm long <strong>and</strong> ascending<br />
in fruit, calyx lobes lance–elliptic 2 mm long at<br />
anthesis, 4 mm in fruit; campanulate corolla 4–5<br />
mm, white to pale lavender. Fruits: Globose capsule 3 mm in diameter sparsely<br />
hirsutulous. Ecology: Found on rocky hillsides, plains, <strong>and</strong> mesas from 1,500–<br />
5,000 ft (457–1524 m); flowers February–May. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
Etymology: Phacelia from Greek phacelo– for bundle; arizonica for Arizona.<br />
Synonyms: Phacelia popei var. arizonica<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 179<br />
Boraginaceae<br />
Forbs
Boraginaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Phacelia crenulata<br />
cleftleaf wildheliotrope<br />
General: Annual, pungent, allergenic,<br />
stems 10–40 (up to 80) cm tall, erect, openly<br />
branched, stems <strong>and</strong> leaves with copious<br />
stalked gl<strong>and</strong>s as well as non–gl<strong>and</strong>ular<br />
hispid hairs, gl<strong>and</strong>s are yellow to orange<br />
<strong>and</strong> odiferous. Leaves: Oblong in outline,<br />
2–12 cm, reduced upwards, mildly to deeply<br />
lobed, with crenate lobes. Lower sinuses<br />
quite deep, upper sinuses becoming shallow.<br />
Lower leaves petiolate, cauline leaves becoming sessile. Leaves bearing<br />
numerous stalked gl<strong>and</strong>s as well as hispid hairs. Flowers: Inflorescence of<br />
dense terminal <strong>and</strong> lateral scorpioid cymes. Cymes several to many flowered.<br />
Corolla showy, blue to purple to lavender to occasionally white basally. Stamens<br />
conspicuously exserted <strong>and</strong> with yellow anthers. Fruits: Globose capsule with<br />
4 seeds. Ecology: Dry, gravelly hillsides <strong>and</strong> flats, s<strong>and</strong>y <strong>and</strong> clay soils from<br />
3,500–7,000 ft (1067–2134 m); flowers April–September. Notes: Positive field<br />
identification of Phacelia is quite difficult as specific delimitations usually rely<br />
on seed morphology. Ethnobotany: Keres make root tea for sore throat <strong>and</strong><br />
into rub for swellings. Etymology: Phacelia from Greek phacelo– for bundle;<br />
crenulata from crenata for toothed margins. Synonyms: P. corrugata<br />
Phacelia distans<br />
distant phacelia, caterpillar phacelia<br />
General: Annual forb 15–45 cm, erect <strong>and</strong><br />
simple to much branched <strong>and</strong> spreading to<br />
procumbent; herbage moderately sticky <strong>and</strong><br />
often scabrous with conspicuous white hairs,<br />
sometimes with swollen white bases <strong>and</strong> also<br />
sessile gl<strong>and</strong>s, golden when fresh; stems leafy,<br />
semisucculent <strong>and</strong> relatively stout. Leaves:<br />
Usually relatively thin <strong>and</strong> fernlike, 6–17 cm,<br />
1 or 2 times pinnatifid, segments pinnately<br />
lobed or toothed to pinnatifid. Flowers:<br />
Cymes helicoids, calyx lobes enlarging moderately in fruit, reaching 6 mm;<br />
corollas 8–9.5 mm, pale violet to blue, the lobes spreading; stamens usually<br />
no or scarcely exserted. Fruits: Seeds 4 or fewer around 2 mm, red–brown,<br />
narrowly ovoid, pitted, the back convex, the ventral side angled <strong>and</strong> convex.<br />
Ecology: Found under bushes along washes <strong>and</strong> along s<strong>and</strong>y–gravelly washes<br />
<strong>and</strong> bajadas <strong>and</strong> less often rocky slopes from 1,000–4,000 ft (305–1219 m);<br />
flowers from February–May. Notes: Delicate foliage <strong>and</strong> bright–blue flowers<br />
are indicative of this species, plants often disappearing quickly along with<br />
soil moisture. Ethnobotany: Leaves were steamed <strong>and</strong> eaten as greens by<br />
Kawaiisu. Etymology: Phacelia from Greek phacelo– for bundle, distans<br />
means separated, apart, widely–spaced in reference to the long, exserted<br />
stamens. Synonyms: Phacelia cinerea, P. distans var. australis<br />
180 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey ©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Plagiobothrys arizonicus<br />
lipstick weed, Arizona popcornflower<br />
General: Annual herb with 1 to several stems<br />
from base, these usually simple, erect, ascending<br />
or slightly decumbent, 10–30 cm long, hispid<br />
herbage with slender spreading hairs 1–2.5<br />
mm long; sparsely puberulent with tangled,<br />
mostly appressed, delicate hairs among bases<br />
of spreading hairs, stems, roots, <strong>and</strong> leaves,<br />
particularly midribs, which are distinctively<br />
purplish–red. Leaves: Lanceolate to linear–<br />
oblanceolate, 1.5–5 mm broad, 1–6 cm long, basal<br />
ones gradually narrowed to slender base, acute to obtuse at apex, strigose <strong>and</strong><br />
with some spreading hairs, not noticeable pustulate. Flowers: Spikes compact<br />
at anthesis, elongated <strong>and</strong> lax in fruit, to 15 cm long, naked or few–bracteate<br />
toward base; calyx lobes ovate, distinct about one–half way to base, densely<br />
tawny–hirsute; calyx 3–4 mm long in fruit, at length circumscissile, lobes<br />
equal; corolla 2 mm long, 1.5–2 mm broad, white. Fruits: Nutlets usually 2,<br />
sometimes fewer, ovoid, short–acute, 1.5–2 mm long, transversely rugulose,<br />
reticulate dorsal <strong>and</strong> lateral keels. Ecology: Found on arid s<strong>and</strong>y hillsides <strong>and</strong><br />
plains below 5,000 ft (1524 m); flowers February–May. Notes: Lipstick red leaf<br />
midribs <strong>and</strong> margins are tell–tale for this species. Ethnobotany: Red coating<br />
on outside leaves <strong>and</strong> lower stems used as a red pigment to paint the body<br />
<strong>and</strong> face. Etymology: Plagiobothrys is derived from Greek plagios, oblique or<br />
placed sideways, <strong>and</strong> bothros, a pit or scar, arizonicus is named for Arizona.<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
Plagiobothrys pringlei<br />
Pringle’s popcornflower<br />
General: Prostrate or decumbent annual with several rather coarse stems 10–<br />
25 cm long, from slender taproot, herbage hispid throughout. Leaves: Leaves<br />
not developing a distinct rosette, lowermost commonly opposite, upper ones<br />
alternate, blades linear to linear–oblong, 2–3 cm long, acute or obtuse at apex.<br />
Flowers: Borne throughout length of stems, even in axils of basal leaves;<br />
calyx lobes narrowly linear–lanceolate, 1.5–2 mm long, somewhat spreading<br />
in fruit; corolla white, minute. Fruits: Nutlets 4, ovoid, finely wrinkled <strong>and</strong><br />
finely roughed, keeled both dorsally <strong>and</strong> ventrally. Ecology: Found on arid<br />
plains, s<strong>and</strong>y mesas, <strong>and</strong> hillsides from 1,000–4,500 ft (305–1372 m); flowers<br />
February–April. Notes: Long striped nutlets is unique among the borages.<br />
Of conservation concern in Arizona. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology:<br />
Plagiobothrys is derived from Greek plagios, oblique or placed sideways, <strong>and</strong><br />
bothros, a pit or scar, pringlei is named for Cyrus Guernsey Pringle (1838–<br />
1911). Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 181<br />
Boraginaceae<br />
Forbs
Brassicaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Capsella bursa–pastoris<br />
H M L<br />
shepherd’s purse<br />
General: Annual introduced herb; stem 20–50 cm, simple or occasionally<br />
branched above; pubescent below with stellate hairs, usually glabrous above.<br />
Leaves: Basal leaves 3–16 cm long, 1–3 cm wide, toothed to (more often) pinnately<br />
divided or lobed into angular, forward–pointing lobes or segments; stem leaves<br />
greatly reduced upwards <strong>and</strong> auriculate–clasping. Flowers: Inflorescence many–<br />
flowered; pedicels spreading or ascending, 10–15 mm long; petals 2–4 mm long,<br />
white to pinkish. Fruits: Silicles 5–8 mm long, 3–5 mm wide, shaped like an inverted<br />
triangle with the top side dented. Ecology: Disturbed areas up to 9,000 ft (2740<br />
m); flowers March–September. Notes: Oddly shaped silicles are distinctive <strong>and</strong><br />
the source of the common name “shepherd’s purse.” Host plant for Checkered<br />
White, Cabbage White, <strong>and</strong> Sara Orangetip butterflies. Ethnobotany: Cheyenne<br />
use leaves <strong>and</strong> stems for head pain. Chippewa, Costanoan, <strong>and</strong> Mahuna all use<br />
plant for painful diarrhea. Menominee use plant wash to alleviate poison ivy<br />
discomfort. Mohegan eat seed pods to kill internal worms. Apache, Chiricahua,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Mescalero use seed flour for bread. Mendocino eat seed as staple grain.<br />
Cherokee use leaf spice in cooking. Seeds<br />
are known to stimulate digestive juices,<br />
which aids in the digestive process. The<br />
seeds are also useful in stopping internal or<br />
external bleeding. Etymology: Capsella is<br />
ancient word for small box, depicting the<br />
fruit. Bursa–pastoris translates to sheperd’s<br />
purse. Synonyms: Bursa bursa–pastoris,<br />
Bursa gracilis, Capsella rubella, Thlaspi<br />
bursa–pastoris<br />
182 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2003 Michael Charters<br />
Descurainia pinnata<br />
western tansymustard<br />
General: Native annual herb; stems 10–70 cm tall,<br />
usually branched, sparsely to densely pubescent.<br />
Leaves: Lower leaves mostly bipinnate <strong>and</strong> upper<br />
leaves pinnate; leaflets usually pinnatifid, pubescent<br />
like the stem. Flowers: Racemes terminal; flowers<br />
with pedicels 3–20 mm long, spreading; petals 2–3<br />
mm long, white to yellow. Fruits: Siliques 4–20 mm<br />
long, more or less club–shaped; seeds numerous,<br />
in two rows. Ecology: Found on a variety of soils<br />
<strong>and</strong> conditions from 3,000–7,000 ft (914–2134 m);<br />
flowers April–August. Notes: Distinguished from<br />
other Descurainia by some of the siliques (at least) having seeds in two rows<br />
(vs. in one row in D. sophia) <strong>and</strong> the lower leaves bipinnate (vs. once pinnate<br />
in D. obtusa). Toxic to livestock, although lightly consumed by mule deer in<br />
winter <strong>and</strong> spring. Rodents <strong>and</strong> lagomorphs graze on it, while it is larval food<br />
for several butterflies. Host plant for Spring White, Checkered White, Pearly<br />
Marble, <strong>and</strong> Sara Orangetip butterflies. Ethnobotany: Edible greens <strong>and</strong> seeds.<br />
Tansy mustard appears in clan names <strong>and</strong> migration tales as an important plant.<br />
Etymology: Named for French physician Franscois Descourain. Pinnat means<br />
feathered or winged. Synonyms: None<br />
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Descurainia sophia<br />
herb sophia<br />
General: Exotic annual herb, naturalized from Europe; stems 25–75 cm tall,<br />
branched, stellate pubescent. Leaves: Leaves 2 or 3 times pinnate, 2–9 cm long,<br />
the ultimate divisions linear. Flowers: Racemes terminal; flowers with pedicels<br />
8–15 mm long; sepals 2 mm long; petals greenish–yellow, about as long as the<br />
sepals. Fruits: Siliques linear, 1–3 cm long, often curved, loosely ascending;<br />
seeds numerous, 10–20 in each locule, in one row. Ecology: Found on open<br />
<strong>and</strong> disturbed ground from 3,000–7,500 ft (914–2286 m); flowers April–June.<br />
Notes: Distinguished from other Descurainia by some of the siliques (at least)<br />
having seeds in one row (vs. in two rows in D. pinnata); leaves bipinnate to<br />
tripinnate; siliques larger (10–30 mm long). Species is often found in dry <strong>and</strong><br />
disturbed areas. Species may be dominant on sites due to large seed crops.<br />
This attribute may increase browse potential. Species is rapidly killed by fire<br />
but will re–establish quickly due to large<br />
seed crops. Toxic to livestock, <strong>and</strong> is larval<br />
food for several butterflies. Host plant<br />
for Checkered White <strong>and</strong> Beckers White<br />
butterflies. Ethnobotany: Edible greens <strong>and</strong><br />
seeds. Tansy mustard appears in clan names<br />
<strong>and</strong> migration tales as an important plant.<br />
Etymology: Commemorating Francois<br />
Descourain, famous French physician.<br />
Sophia translates to wisdom. Synonyms:<br />
Sophia sophia, Sisysibrium sophia<br />
© 2011 Max Licher<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 183<br />
Brassicaceae<br />
Forbs
Brassicaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Draba cuneifolia var. cuneifolia<br />
wedgeleaf draba<br />
General: Native annual herb; plants 1–25 cm<br />
tall, stems simple or branched at the base;<br />
pubescent at least near the base with simple<br />
<strong>and</strong>/or forked hairs. Leaves: Crowded at<br />
or near the base; basal leaves orbicular to<br />
ovate or obovate, 0.5–5 cm long, 2–27 mm<br />
wide, entire or often with a few teeth near<br />
the tips, pubescent with 2–4 forked hairs <strong>and</strong><br />
sometimes simple ones as well; stem leaves<br />
few to several, similar to the basal leaves<br />
but usually much reduced. Flowers: Racemes 3–many flowered, crowded<br />
or elongating in fruit; pedicels spreading to ascending, 1–10 mm long, with<br />
branched hairs; sepals 1.5–2.5 mm long, pubescent; petals white, 3–5 mm long.<br />
Fruits: Silicles strongly laterally compressed, 4–15 mm long, 2–4 mm wide,<br />
pubescent; seeds 20 or more. Ecology: S<strong>and</strong>y soil from 1,000–7,000 ft (305–<br />
2135 m); flowers February–May. Notes: Flowers white, leaves cluster at the<br />
base of the flower stalk. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Draba is from<br />
the Greek drabe for sharp or acrid, while cuneifolia means leaves tapered to<br />
the base. Synonyms: D. sonorae<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Erysimum rep<strong>and</strong>um<br />
H M L<br />
spreading wallflower<br />
General: Introduced annual herb; stems usually much branched, 10–50 cm<br />
tall; pubescent throughout with short, appressed hairs. Leaves: Basal <strong>and</strong><br />
cauline, mostly lanceolate, wavy margined <strong>and</strong> finely toothed, 1–11 cm long,<br />
1–8 mm wide; pubescent with short, appressed hairs. Flowers: Sepals 3–6<br />
mm long, yellowish or greenish; petals 5–8 mm long, yellow. Fruits: Pedicels<br />
2–5 mm long, nearly or as wide as the<br />
fruits; siliques 3–8 cm long, 1–2 mm wide,<br />
glabrous or nearly so, generally spreading to<br />
ascending. Ecology: Disturbed areas from<br />
4000–7000 ft (1219–2134 m); flowers March–<br />
July. Notes: Annual, with small flowers<br />
<strong>and</strong> generally a highly branching habit.<br />
Etymology: Erysimum is Greek meaning<br />
to help, given for its medicinal uses, name<br />
given by Theophratus. Rep<strong>and</strong>um is ancient<br />
word referring to wavy margin. Synonyms:<br />
Cheirinia rep<strong>and</strong>a<br />
184 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 Dan Tenaglia, missouriplants.com<br />
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Lepidium lasiocarpum<br />
shaggyfruit pepperweed<br />
General: Annual from 5–20 cm, larger<br />
plants much–branched, herbage with<br />
simple, spreading, white, rather thick hairs<br />
less than 0.4 mm. Leaves: Alternate, basal<br />
rosette 2.5–6 cm, oblanceolate leaves,<br />
quickly withering as stems develop; stem<br />
leaves smaller, oblanceolate, variable,<br />
withering as plant matures. Flowers:<br />
Racemes 2–10 cm, numerous <strong>and</strong> often crowded on larger plants, pedicels<br />
conspicuously flattened, glabrous or pubescent; flowers bisexual, sepals 4,<br />
less than 1 mm, wide margins, petals white, 6 stamens, superior ovary, quickly<br />
deciduous. Fruits: Orbicular <strong>and</strong> flattened, 2–celled pod, 2–3 mm across,<br />
with tiny notch at apex, gelatinous when wetted. Ecology: Found on playas,<br />
washes, arroyos, beaches, saline soils, roadsides <strong>and</strong> other disturbed areas<br />
below 6,500 ft (1981 m); flowers February–May. Ethnobotany: Plant used as<br />
a disinfectant, seeds were gathered <strong>and</strong> ground, parched, eaten in a variety<br />
of ways. Etymology: Lepidium is from Greek lepidion, meaning little scale, a<br />
reference to the shape of the fruits, lasiocarpum means having woolly seeds or<br />
fruits. Synonyms: None<br />
Lepidium thurberi<br />
Thurber’s pepperweed<br />
General: Annual or biennial<br />
under ideal conditions with erect,<br />
ascending, freely branched stems 10–<br />
60 cm tall, stems hirsute–canescent<br />
to pilose throughout, longer hairs<br />
obviously flattened, shorter ones<br />
usually papilliferous or clavate.<br />
Leaves: Lower leaves oblanceolate in<br />
©2005 Carlos M. Gonzalez Leon<br />
outline, 3–7.5 cm long, 1–1.5 cm wide,<br />
pinnatifid into 3–8 pairs of more or less lobed or dissected segments, ultimate<br />
divisions linear to obovate, acute, or apiculate; cauline leaves reduced but<br />
similar to lower leaves. Flowers: Many flowered raceme, elongating at 1.5–2<br />
cm in fruit; slender pedicels, spreading 6–9 mm long in fruit, slightly flattened,<br />
pilosulous along margins; sepals broadly ovate, white, 1–1.5 mm long, petals<br />
white 2–3 mm long, glabrous filaments. Fruits: Silicles ovate to suborbicular<br />
2–2.5 mm wide, 2–3 mm long, very shallowly <strong>and</strong> narrowly notched, glabrous.<br />
Ecology: Found in waste places, roadsides, along washes, <strong>and</strong> disturbed<br />
areas below 5,000 ft (1524 m); flowers February–September. Notes: Flattened<br />
hirsute to pilose hairs is one diagnostic for this plant. Ethnobotany: Papago<br />
gathered seeds, winnowed them, parched, dried, cooked, <strong>and</strong> used for food.<br />
Etymology: Lepidium is from Greek lepidion, meaning little scale, a reference<br />
to the shape of the fruits, thurberi is named for Dr. George Thurber (1821–1890)<br />
a member of the Mexican Boundary Survey. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 185<br />
Brassicaceae<br />
Forbs
Brassicaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Nasturtium officinale<br />
Physaria gordonii<br />
Impact risk level<br />
H M L<br />
watercress<br />
General: Perennial aquatic or semi–aquatic herb; succulent stems floating,<br />
creeping or ascending, rooting at the nodes, 10–80 cm or more long; glabrous.<br />
Leaves: Pinnately divided into ovate to orbicular segments, the terminal one<br />
the largest, 1–10 cm long, narrowly clasping at the base. Flowers: Racemes<br />
without bracts; pedicels spreading to ascending, 5–13 mm long; sepals 2–3<br />
mm long, green or with white tips; petals white, 3–5 mm long, oblanceolate.<br />
Fruits: Siliques spreading or curved upward, 1–3 cm long, 2–3 mm wide; style<br />
about 1 mm long. Ecology: Found in water or very wet soil from 1,500–7,500<br />
ft (460–2285 m); flowers April–August. Notes: Usually found in streams.<br />
White petals <strong>and</strong> leaves with a long terminal lobe that is larger than the lateral<br />
ones. Ethnobotany: Havasupai used for food. Other tribes eat as greens.<br />
Etymology: Rorippa is an Anglo–<br />
Saxon work rorippen with an uncertain<br />
meaning, while nasturtium–aquaticum<br />
is from the Latin nasus tortus, a twisted<br />
nose. Synonyms: Rorippa nasturtium–<br />
aquaticum, Sisymbrium nasturtium–<br />
aquaticum, Nasturtium nasturtium–<br />
aquaticum<br />
Gordon’s bladderpod<br />
General: Densely stellate–canescent<br />
annual with several to many decumbent<br />
stems 10–30 cm long. Leaves: Basal leaves<br />
narrowly oblanceolate to spatulate, entire<br />
to slightly rep<strong>and</strong> (rarely lyrate), 1.5–3.5<br />
cm long, acute at apex, gradually narrows<br />
to slender petiole nearly equal to blade;<br />
numerous cauline leaves, 1–3 cm long, linear<br />
to narrowly oblanceolate, entire or faintly<br />
wavy. Flowers: Racemes compact in flower, elongating later; stout pedicels,<br />
slightly recurved, 7–10 mm long; petals yellow, narrowly obovate, claw slightly<br />
dialated basally. Fruits: Pod globose <strong>and</strong> glabrous, 3.5–4 mm diameter on a tip<br />
0.5–0.8 mm long. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y plains, mountain slopes <strong>and</strong> mesas<br />
below 5,000 ft (1524 m); flowers February–June. Notes: This is widespread<br />
in the desert <strong>and</strong> some years has truly remarkable blooms. Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown for this species, however, other species have wide medicinal <strong>and</strong><br />
ceremonial uses. Etymology: Lesquerella is named for Leo Lesquereaux<br />
(1805–1889) an American botanist, <strong>and</strong> gordonii is named for Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Gordon (c. 1795?) an English horticulturalist <strong>and</strong> nurseryman. Synonyms:<br />
Lesquerella gordonii<br />
186 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2003 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Sisymbrium irio<br />
London rocket<br />
General: Erect annual, strict or branching from above base, glabrous or sparsely<br />
pubescent on part of herbage <strong>and</strong> pedicels. Leaves: Petioled, pinnatifid, larger<br />
ones 7–20 cm, blades thin. Flowers: Flowering stems usually branched, sepals<br />
green, petals, filaments, <strong>and</strong> anthers yellow; petals 3–4 mm, slender, spreading<br />
pedicels 5–14 mm. Fruits: Siliques linear, slender, 0.5–0.6 or rarely 1 mm in<br />
diameter, 2–5 cm long, curving upward. Ecology: Fairly widespread weed<br />
of all disturbed areas below 4,500 ft (1372 m); flowers February–May. Notes:<br />
Introduced from Europe, this is an<br />
abundant weed. Ethnobotany: Used by<br />
the Pima as food, as seeds were parched<br />
<strong>and</strong> made into pinole, while leaves<br />
were eaten raw <strong>and</strong> boiled or fried.<br />
Etymology: Sisymbrium is from a Greek<br />
name for some plants of the mustard<br />
family, irio is a reference to an old kind<br />
of cress. Synonyms: Norta irio<br />
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 187<br />
Brassicaceae<br />
Forbs
Campanulaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Nemacladus gl<strong>and</strong>uliferus<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular threadplant<br />
General: Winter spring ephemeral, 3.5–18<br />
cm, glabrous or sparsely to moderately<br />
pubescent with short white hairs at base;<br />
stems threadlike, much branched <strong>and</strong><br />
upright or spreading. Herbage usually dark<br />
olive–green to purple brown. Leaves: Basal<br />
leaves 3–10 mm long, oblanceolate with<br />
toothed margins, soon drying, stem leaves<br />
are bractlike. Flowers: Racemes zigzag,<br />
pedicels ascending to spreading, calyx segments green, 0.8–1.5 mm, corollas<br />
twice as long as calyx, lobes pointed, white with maroon–purple tips. Fruits:<br />
Capsule, 2–celled, loculicidally dehiscent. Ecology: Found on rocky slopes,<br />
s<strong>and</strong>y–gravelly soils, along washes, arroyos below 5,000 ft (1524 m); flowers<br />
April–June. Notes: Notable for its diffuse much branched habit <strong>and</strong> stiffer<br />
branches. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Nemacladus is from Greek<br />
nema, a thread <strong>and</strong> clados, branch, meaning thread–like branches, while<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>uliferus means bearing or producing gl<strong>and</strong>s. Synonyms: None<br />
Triodanis perfoliata<br />
clasping Venus’ looking–glass<br />
General: Native annual herb; stem erect,<br />
simple or somewhat branched, 10–50<br />
cm tall, spreading hairy, at least near the<br />
base. Leaves: Alternate, 0.5–3 cm long<br />
(sometimes wider than long), sessile <strong>and</strong><br />
clasping the stem, round to cordate, with<br />
rounded teeth, hairy on the veins <strong>and</strong><br />
margins. Flowers: Borne singly or in<br />
clusters of two or three in leaf axils; calyx<br />
3–8 mm long; corolla 6–12 mm long, purple to bluish lavender. Fruits: Capsule<br />
5–10 mm long. Ecology: Found on hillsides, under shrubs <strong>and</strong> in the shade of<br />
rocks from 5,000–8,500 ft (1524–2591 m); flowers June <strong>and</strong> July. Notes: Leaves<br />
of this slender annual are hairy, alternate, clasping, <strong>and</strong> relatively small <strong>and</strong><br />
rounded; flowers are sessile, purple to blue, <strong>and</strong> borne in spikes. Etymology:<br />
Triodanus is from Greek treis, “three,” <strong>and</strong> odons, “tooth,” hence “three–<br />
toothed.” Perfoliata refers to the stem which perforates the stem. Synonyms:<br />
None<br />
188 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey ©2006 Vince Scheidt
©Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowidlflowers.com<br />
2010 <strong>NPS</strong>/Steve Buckley<br />
Cleome lutea var. jonesii<br />
yellow spiderflower (Jones’ spiderflower)<br />
General: Tall glabrous annual herb with branching<br />
stems 30–60 cm tall; leaves with 5 (sometimes 7)<br />
palmately compound leaflets; flowers yellow. Leaves:<br />
Leaves with 5 (sometimes 7) palmately compound<br />
leaflets, glabrous; lower leaf petioles longer than<br />
upper leaf petioles which can be sessile; leaflets<br />
oblong to oblanceolate, 2–5 cm long, entire. Flowers:<br />
Racemes elongate in fruit, rather persistent sepals<br />
united below; petals pale yellow, 4–7 mm long;<br />
filaments 10–15 mm long. Fruits: Capsules 1–4 cm<br />
long on stipes 10–20 mm long; seeds nearly round<br />
<strong>and</strong> yellowish, 2 mm long. Ecology: Mostly along<br />
streams from 2,000–7,000 ft (600–2130 m); flowers<br />
May-August Notes: Characterized by 5–7 palmately<br />
compound, entire leaflets <strong>and</strong> a raceme of yellow flowers. High drought<br />
tolerance, no fire tolerance. Ethnobotany: Navajo used with tobacco in some<br />
chants. Plant also used for insect bites. Capers can also be gathered to eat.<br />
Etymology: Cleome is early European name for mustard–like plant. Lutea<br />
means yellow, from a source of yellow dye called lutum. Synonyms: None<br />
Polanisia dodec<strong>and</strong>ra<br />
redwhisker clammyweed<br />
General: Annual herb, strong–scented,<br />
20–80 cm tall, gl<strong>and</strong>ular–pubescent.<br />
Leaves: Leaves palmately trifoliate, leaflets<br />
oblanceolate to oval, 1–4 cm long; petioles<br />
1–4 cm long. Flowers: Flowers in terminal<br />
racemes; sepals 4, purple–tinged, 4–5 mm<br />
long; petals 4, clawed, whitish, 8–12 mm<br />
long; stamens 8–32, with purple filaments,<br />
long–exserted; style 4–6 mm long. Fruits:<br />
Capsule almost sessile, 2–3 cm long,<br />
elongate <strong>and</strong> somewhat compressed.<br />
Seeds numerous, brown, almost round, about 2 mm long. Ecology: Found in<br />
outwash slopes, in disturbed areas from 1,000–6,500 ft (305–1981 m); flowers<br />
May–October. Notes: Distinguished from Cleome lutea by having 3 leaflets <strong>and</strong><br />
whitish petals that are 8–12 mm long; there is one subspecies in our region, ssp.<br />
tracysperma. Ethnobotany: Pueblo use for food, as greens, boiled <strong>and</strong> stored<br />
for winter food. Zuni use ceremonially. Etymology: Polanisia is from Greek<br />
polys “many” <strong>and</strong> anisos “unequal”, referring to the numbers of stamens.<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 189<br />
Cleomaceae<br />
Forbs
Caryophyllaceae –Commelinaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Loeflingia squarrosa<br />
Commelina erecta<br />
H M L<br />
spreading pygmyleaf<br />
General: Gl<strong>and</strong>ular pubescent, somewhat fleshy, stiff stems, dichotomously<br />
branched at or near the base, variously branched, prostrate or decumbent<br />
5–15 m long. Leaves: Usually connate proximally into short, scarious sheath,<br />
stipules filamentous to spinose, .4–1.5 mm; blade erect to recurved, 0.4–5.5 mm<br />
apex blunt to spine–tipped. Flowers: Secund inflorescence, flowers. Sepals<br />
similar to leaves 4–5 mm long, recurved, rigid, bristle–tipped; calyx squarrose<br />
owing to spreading–recurved tips of sepals; petals minute or wanting; stamens<br />
3–5, 0.4–0.7 mm long, equaling ovary at anthesis. Fruits: Oblong capsule 3–<br />
angled, 1.5–3.7 mm, 2–5 times as long as sepals. Ecology: Found in s<strong>and</strong>y <strong>and</strong><br />
gravelly soils from sea level to 7,000 ft (2134<br />
m); flowers March–April. Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown Etymology: Loeflingia is named<br />
for Pehr Lofling (1729–1756) a Swedish<br />
botanist, while squarrosa means scaly or<br />
rough. Synonyms: None<br />
whitemouth dayflower<br />
General: Erect to ascending perennial,<br />
freely branching, fleshy roots, tufted.<br />
Leaves: Sessile or petiolate, linear,<br />
lanceolate to lanceolate–ovate, 2.5–17 cm<br />
long, 0.3–3 cm wide, apex acuminate, rarely<br />
acute. Flowers: Solitary or clustered spathe<br />
1–2.5 cm long, 0.7–1.5 cm wide, peduncle<br />
0.5–1 cm, margins fused at base, glabrous<br />
except for fused edge, surface green, usually<br />
variously pubescent, apex acute to acuminate. Flowers perfect <strong>and</strong> staminate,<br />
1.5–4 cm wide, upper petals blue (rare: lavender or white), lower petal minute,<br />
white; staminodes <strong>and</strong> medial stamen anther yellow. Fruits: Loculicidal<br />
capsule, 1 locule warty indehiscent, 2 locules smooth dehiscent. Ecology:<br />
Found in grassl<strong>and</strong>s to meadows in mesquite woodl<strong>and</strong>s to pine forests on<br />
granitic <strong>and</strong> limestone soils from 4,000–7,500 ft (1219–2286 m); flowers July–<br />
November. Notes: Told from C. dianthifolia by the spathe margins, fused in<br />
C. erecta, free in C. dianthifolia. Ethnobotany: One variety was used by the<br />
Seminole to soothe irritations. Etymology: Commelina comes from the Dutch<br />
botanists Jan (1629–1692) <strong>and</strong> nephew Caspar (1667–1731) Commelijn, while<br />
erecta refers to its upright habit. Synonyms: None<br />
190 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2011 Keir Morse<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Convolvulus arvensis<br />
bindweed<br />
General: Introduced perennial herb; stems slender, prostrate or twining,<br />
20–120 cm long, glabrous or somewhat hairy; often forming large patches.<br />
Leaves: Alternate, variable, oblong to ovate, usually with hastate base; 3–4 cm<br />
long <strong>and</strong> almost as wide. Flowers: 1–3 per node on long (1–5 cm) peduncles in<br />
leaf axils, w/narrow bracts near middle of flower stalk; calyx of oblong lobes,<br />
3–5 mm long; funnel–shaped corolla of fused petals, 15–25 mm long, white to<br />
pink, often w/darker b<strong>and</strong>s outside on folds. Fruits: Capsule 5–8 mm high;<br />
seeds black, 4 mm long. Ecology: Disturbed habitats, orchards, <strong>and</strong> gardens<br />
from 3,500–8,000 ft (1067–2438 m); flowers May–September. Notes: Looks<br />
vegetatively similar to Polygonum convolvulus, but lacks the lacerate stipules<br />
of that species. A related species C. equitans, is occasionally found near Tonto<br />
<strong>National</strong> Monument, <strong>and</strong> can be distinguished by leaves much longer than<br />
broad, calyx much longer (6–12 mm), <strong>and</strong> not forming large patches. Species<br />
is competitive in disturbed areas. Cattle may be a vector for species spread.<br />
When restoring an area where C. arvensis may be a problem it is recommended<br />
that extreme precautions to be taken in maintaining native species. Plant is top<br />
killed by fire but readily resurges from rhizomes. Hence, fire is not an adequate<br />
tactic to control invasive populations. One of most common “weeds” in all of<br />
North America. Highly palatable to pigs, but<br />
sheep <strong>and</strong> cattle will not eat it. Poor palatability<br />
to wild ungulates. Host plant for Painted<br />
Crescent butterfly. Ethnobotany: Navajo<br />
make cold plant tea for spider bites. Pomo make<br />
slow plant tea for painful menses. Okanagon–<br />
colville use stems for roping hunted animals.<br />
Etymology: Convolvulus means interwoven<br />
<strong>and</strong> arvensis means of cultivated alpine fields.<br />
Synonyms: Convolvulus ambigens; C.incanus;<br />
©1995 Br. Alfred Brousseau,<br />
Saint Mary’s College<br />
Strophocaulos arvensis<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 191<br />
Convolvulaceae<br />
Forbs
Convolvulaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Cuscuta umbellata<br />
flatglobe dodder<br />
General: Parasitic perennial forb with<br />
slender but profuse stems, twining or<br />
trailing, yellow–orange Leaves: Reduced<br />
to scales or not present. Flowers:<br />
Glabrous or slightly puberulent, 4–6<br />
mm long, pentamerous, on pedicels 2–8<br />
mm long, forming dense compound<br />
cymes; calyx turbinate, lobes as long<br />
©Pedro Acevedo–Rodriguez @ USDA–NRCS Plants DB<br />
as or longer than campanulate corolla,<br />
acute to acuminate; corolla lobes equal corolla tube, oblong to lancolate,<br />
acute to acuminate, usually reflexed; campanulate corolla almost colorless,<br />
whitish. Fruits: Depressed–globose capsule, with ring of low, road, rounded<br />
tubercules about intrastylar aperture, circumscissile, whithering corolla in<br />
fruit. Ecology: Found on various hosts, mostly herbaceous. Notes: Parasitic<br />
on Polygonum, Atriplex, Suaeda, Alternanthera, Amaranthus, Boerhaavia,<br />
Trianthema, Kallstroemia, Tribulus, <strong>and</strong> Euphorbia. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
for this species, but other species in this genera have many uses. Etymology:<br />
Cuscuta is the name of an Arabic derivation meaning dodder, umbellata<br />
refers to the form of the flowers. Synonyms: Cuscuta umbellata var. reflexa,<br />
Grammica umbellata<br />
Evolvulus arizonicus<br />
wild dwarf morning–glory<br />
General: Suffrutescent herbs, densely<br />
appressed–pilose to almost woolly tomentose<br />
throughout; few to many stems from a woody<br />
base, erect to ascending or decumbent, 10–30<br />
cm tall. Leaves: Lanceolate to linear–lanceolate,<br />
10–25 mm long, 2.5–6 mm wide, gradually<br />
decreasing in size toward apex, the upper leaves<br />
linear, acute or obtuse apically, attenuate basally,<br />
petioles absent or short. Flowers: 1–3 flowered<br />
cymes on slender peduncles as long as or longer<br />
than leaves; flowers on pedicels 3–4 mm long, reflexed in fruit, bracteoles<br />
linear–subulate, 1.5–3 mm long; sepals equal, lanceolate, acuminate, 3–3.5 mm<br />
long, corollas blue or blue with white stripes, rotate to broadly campanulate,<br />
12–22 mm wide, filaments inserted near base, 1.5–2 times as long as the linear<br />
anthers; glabrous ovary. Fruits: Globose fruit, 3.5–4 mm long. Ecology: Found<br />
in disturbed, often rocky sites from 3,000–6,000 ft (914–1829 m); flowers April–<br />
October. Notes: Similar to E. alsinoides also found in SE Arizona, but with a<br />
larger corolla. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Arizonicus refers to<br />
being from Arizona. Synonyms: Evolvulus arizonicus var. laetus, E. laetus<br />
192 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Ipomoea barbatisepala<br />
canyon morning–glory<br />
General: Low–climbing glabrous annual vine.<br />
Leaves: Orbicular–ovate in outline, 3–8 cm<br />
long, 1.5–8.5 cm wide, deeply 5–7 lobed, glabrous<br />
often with gl<strong>and</strong>ular dots at least below, the base<br />
cordate, lobes lanceolate <strong>and</strong> narrowed toward<br />
base, the apex acute to acuminate, the petioles<br />
1–5.5 cm long. Flowers: Axillary inflorescences,<br />
1–3 flowered cymes, peduncles 2–6 cm long,<br />
glabrous or remotely appressed–hairy; bracts<br />
foliaceous, elliptic to linear, 5–6 mm long;<br />
flowers on pedicels 4–5 mm long, glabrous, erect<br />
in fruit, sepals 10–12 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, hispid–pilose except at base, tips<br />
elongate, narrowly linear, bases slightly dilated; corollas funnelform, 1.6–2<br />
cm long, glabrous, blue to light rosy–purple or white, the limb 1.8–2 cm wide,<br />
stamens 10–11 mm long. Fruits: Glabrous capsule 8–9 mm long, rounded,<br />
apiculate, 2–3 locular. Ecology: Found in chaparral <strong>and</strong> desertscrub from<br />
2,500–8,000 ft (762–2438 m); flowers July–December. Notes: Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown Etymology: Ipomoea comes from Greek ips, a worm <strong>and</strong> homoios,<br />
like, referring to plant’s habit. Synonyms: None<br />
Ipomoea costellata<br />
crestrib morning–glory<br />
General: Native annual herb; stems slender,<br />
erect when young, later trailing, not or only<br />
weakly twining, 10–120 cm or more long, more–<br />
or–less glabrous but with 8–10 low longtudinal<br />
ridges. Leaves: Alternate, sessile or on petioles<br />
1–3 cm long, deeply incised into 5–9 linear to<br />
oblanceolate segments (the outer of which may<br />
be further divided), 7–35 mm long, 1–3 mm wide.<br />
Flowers: Mostly solitary in leaf axils, on 2–5 cm<br />
long flower stalks with tiny bracts up to 1 mm;<br />
sepals somewhat unequal, oblong to lanceolate, with membranous margins,<br />
3–6 mm long, 1–3 mm wide, more–or–less rough–textured on the veins; corolla<br />
funnel–shaped, 8–12 mm long, pink to lavender to white. Fruits: Stalk erect in<br />
fruit; globose tan capsules 4–6 mm wide. Ecology: Rocky areas in chaparral,<br />
oak woodl<strong>and</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> ponderosa pine forests from 3,000–7,000 ft (914–2134 m);<br />
flowers July–October. Notes: This species has pink to lavender flowers with<br />
a long peduncle, <strong>and</strong> a small corolla tube that is 8–12 mm long. Etymology:<br />
Ipomoea comes from Greek ips, a worm <strong>and</strong> homoios, like, referring to plant’s<br />
habit, costellata comes from costa, Latin for ribbed. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 193<br />
Convolvulaceae<br />
Forbs
Convolvulaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Ipomoea cristulata<br />
redstar<br />
General: Freely climbing, slender,<br />
glabrous annual with showy, bright red<br />
flower; stems several meters long. Leaves:<br />
Slender petioles, 2.5–10 cm long, blades<br />
ovate to deltoid–cordate, 3–8 cm wide,<br />
to 10 cm long, entire or sagittately lobed<br />
basally, acute to acuminate, truncate to<br />
broadly <strong>and</strong> shallowly cordate at base.<br />
Flowers: Peduncles slender, to 25 cm long,<br />
surpassing leaves, 1 to several flowered; pedicels 3–15 mm long, sepals oblong,<br />
obtuse, about 2 mm wide, 4–5 mm long; horn–like appendage 4–8 mm long,<br />
borne by each sepal, tips curved inward against corolla tube; corolla scarlet,<br />
sometimes orange–tipped, tube 2–4 cm long, limb cup–shaped, 1–2 cm broad,<br />
very shallowly angulate. Fruits: Capsule subglobose 7–8 mm in diameter,<br />
mucronate at apex, glabrous. Ecology: Found climbing on shrubs, rocks, <strong>and</strong><br />
trees along arroyos, plains, hillsides, <strong>and</strong> mesa from 2,500–6,000 ft (762–1829<br />
m); flowers August–December. Notes: Easily distinguished from all other<br />
species in Arizona by the scarlet, narrowly trumpet–shaped corolla. There is<br />
a long history of mis-naming this species as Ipomoea coccinea. Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown Etymology: Ipomoea comes from Greek ips, a worm <strong>and</strong> homoios,<br />
like, referring to plant’s habit, coccinea means scarlet or bright, deep pink.<br />
Synonyms: Quamoclit coccinea<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Ipomoea hederacea<br />
H M L<br />
ivyleaf morning–glory<br />
General: Twining introduced annual, stems densely to sparsely pubescent.<br />
Leaves: Ovate to orbicular, 5–12 cm wide <strong>and</strong> long, entire to 3–5–lobed, basally<br />
cordate, lobes apically acute to acuminate, pubescent, petioles to 12 cm long,<br />
rarely longer. Flowers: 1–3 flowered cymes, peduncles 5–10 cm long; bracts<br />
foliaceous, elliptic to lanceoate, 5–8 mm long; pedicels 3–7 mm long, erect in<br />
fruit; sepals 12–24 mm long, 4–5 mm wide, herbaceous, lanceolate, narrowed<br />
form rounded base to narrow acuminate apex, curved in fruit, apex sometimes<br />
strongly curved, densely long–hirsute; funnelform corolla 2–3.7 cm long, light<br />
blue, tube white or pale yellow inside, limb 1.7–3.5 cm wide. Fruits: Globose<br />
capsule, 8–12 mm wide, enclosed within sepals. Ecology: Found on disturbed<br />
sites, roadsides from 3,000–6,000 ft<br />
(914–1829 m); flowers August–November.<br />
Notes: Weedy species, widespread, leaves<br />
help to tell it apart from Convolvulus<br />
arvensis. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
Etymology: Ipomoea comes from Greek<br />
ips, a worm <strong>and</strong> homoios, like, referring<br />
to plant’s habit, hederacea means of or<br />
pertaining to ivy. Synonyms: Many, see<br />
Tropicos<br />
194 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2008 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2006 Louis M. L<strong>and</strong>ry<br />
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Ipomoea purpurea<br />
tall morning–glory<br />
General: Annual, loosely pubescent to tomentose with short, appressed<br />
retrorse trichomes, often with large spreading trichomes which may reach 4<br />
mm long, stems twining, branched to simple. Leaves: Blades ovate, entire to 5–<br />
lobed, 1–11 cm long, 1–12 cm wide, the base cordate, the apex acute to acuminate,<br />
rarely obtuse, mucronate, petioles 1–14 cm long. Flowers: 2–5 flowered cymes,<br />
linear to lanceolate bracts, 1.3–9 mm long; pedicels 5–16 mm long, erect in<br />
flower, reflexed <strong>and</strong> enlarged in fruit, to 25 mm long; bracteoles 4.5 mm long;<br />
sepals 8–15 mm long, outer sepals narrowly ovate–lanceolate to elliptic, 2.5–4.5<br />
mm wide, acute to abruptly acuminate apically, more pubescent near base,<br />
inner sepals ovate–lanceolate, 2.5–3 mm wide, acute to abruptly acuminate;<br />
funnelform corollas 2.5–4.3 cm long, blue, white within tube, glabrous, limb<br />
2.4–4.8 cm wide. Fruits: Globose to ovoid capsule 7–8 mm wide. Ecology:<br />
Found in disturbed sites <strong>and</strong> in cultivated areas from 1,000–7,500 ft (305–2286<br />
m); flowers from July–November. Notes: Introduced weed, highly variable<br />
species, largely due to cultivated selection.<br />
Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology:<br />
Ipomoea comes from Greek ips, a worm<br />
<strong>and</strong> homoios, like, referring to plant’s<br />
habit, purpurea means purple. Synonyms:<br />
Convolvulus purpureus, Ipomoea hirsutula,<br />
I. purpurea var. diversifolia, Pharbitis<br />
purpurea<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 195<br />
Convolvulaceae<br />
Forbs
Cucurbitaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Cucurbita digitata<br />
fingerleaf gourd<br />
General: Perennial prostrate vine with deep<br />
root, slender branches distantly run, but rarely<br />
climb; slender stems, glabrous, ribbed, whitish–<br />
pustulate with flat oval trichomes on anges,<br />
tendrils shot–petiolate, 3–5 parted, branches<br />
gl<strong>and</strong> tipped. Leaves: Leaves 5–cleft nearly<br />
to base of blade, lobes 4–10 cm long, linear–<br />
lanceolate to linear–oblanceolate, variably<br />
sublobed, green, bearing conic trichomes above <strong>and</strong> below, sometimes<br />
paler below; stout petioles, ribbed, shorter than lobes, muricate <strong>and</strong> hispid.<br />
Flowers: Calyx cylindric to narrowly campanulate, 4–6 cm long, sparsely<br />
hispid, tube 2.5–3 cm long, lobes subulate, 3–5 mm long, corolla sparsely<br />
hispid, bright yellow. Fruits: Globose, vivid dark green with 10 narrow stripes<br />
<strong>and</strong> variably speckled. Ecology: Found mostly in s<strong>and</strong>y alluvial soil of washes<br />
<strong>and</strong> valleys or on dry plains <strong>and</strong> mesas below 5,000 ft (1524 m); flowers June–<br />
October. Notes: Smell it. You’ll know if it is not C. foetitissima. Ethnobotany:<br />
The Gila Pima roasted the seeds <strong>and</strong> ate them. Etymology: Cucurbita is the<br />
Latin name for gourd, digitata means lobed like fingers. Synonyms: None<br />
Cucurbita foetidissima<br />
coyote gourd, Missouri gourd<br />
General: Coarse, large–leaved prostrate<br />
vine with large, deeply penetrating root,<br />
long–lived. Stems radiate, forming dense<br />
cover 30–40 cm high over several square<br />
meters, scabrous with curved, dimorphic,<br />
hair like trichomes. Leaves: Triangular–<br />
lanceolate to quadrangular–lanceolate,<br />
commonly 10–20 cm long, evenly <strong>and</strong><br />
progressively smaller toward the tips<br />
of stems, densely <strong>and</strong> coarsely white–<br />
pubescent above, scabrous beneath with<br />
conical trichomes along veins. Thick<br />
petioles, scabrous, one–half as long as<br />
blade; tendrils thick, long–petiolate, branches short <strong>and</strong> capitately coiled.<br />
Flowers: Short peduncle, staminate calyx lobes subulate, equaling tube,<br />
corollas with several kinds of hair. Fruits: Globose, 6–8 cm across, green<br />
with conspicuous, whitish stripes, white–mottled. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y<br />
soils, along fields, in disturbed areas from 1,000–7,000 ft (305–2134 m); flowers<br />
May–August. Notes: Conspicuous because of its utterly foul smell, crush it in<br />
your fingers <strong>and</strong> they’ll stink for days. You can use the crushed plant leaves<br />
soaked in water as a spray to ward off squash bugs. Ethnobotany: Poultice of<br />
roots applied to boils <strong>and</strong> sores, to soothe horses’ backs, ground fruit shell as<br />
shampoo, as an emetic <strong>and</strong> as a rattle, or dried for other purposes. Etymology:<br />
Cucurbita is the Latin name for gourd, while foetitissima means very evil<br />
smelling. Synonyms: Pepo foetidissima<br />
196 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2009 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2008 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2010 Anthony Mendoza<br />
Echinopepon wrightii<br />
wild balsam apple<br />
General: Native, coarse annual vine with<br />
lobate leaves <strong>and</strong> large, long–spined fruits;<br />
stems coarsely ribbed, tendrils strongly ribbed,<br />
pubescent. Leaves: Orbicular, deeply <strong>and</strong><br />
broadly notched at base, dentate, undulate, 3–5<br />
lobed, acute lobes, mucronate, blade 5–8 cm<br />
wide, finely hispid on both surfaces. Flowers:<br />
Staminate flowers in simple or compound<br />
racemes; pubescent calyx, corolla 6–8 mm wide,<br />
rotate. Fruits: Obovate, tapering to base, 2–2.5 cm long, stipitate–gl<strong>and</strong>ular,<br />
4–8 seeded, prickles 1–2 cm long. Ecology: Found on alluvial plains <strong>and</strong> on<br />
gentle slopes, along streams <strong>and</strong> climbing on shrubs from 3,000–4,000 ft<br />
(914–1219 m); flowers July–October. Notes: The fruits are quite distinctive with<br />
the large prickles. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Echinopepon comes<br />
from the Greek echinos for hedgehog or spine <strong>and</strong> pepon derives form pepo,<br />
while wrightii is named for Charles Wright (1811–1885), an American botanical<br />
collector. Synonyms: Elaterium wrightii<br />
Sicyosperma gracile<br />
climbing arrowheads<br />
General: Native, annual vine with slender,<br />
twinging, narrowly grooved or striate stems,<br />
glabrous or sparsely pubescent; slender<br />
tendrils. Leaves: Blades broadly triangular to<br />
shallowly 3–lobed, thin, conic–hispid on both<br />
surfaces, margins entire to denticulate; petioles<br />
shorter than blades. Flowers: In short racemes<br />
or panicles, very slender pedicels; corolla white,<br />
2–3 mm wide, petals bifid at apex, with fine clavate marginal gl<strong>and</strong>s. Fruits:<br />
Smooth, indehiscent, enclosed in enveloping bracts, whitish, 5 mm long,<br />
enclosing solitary seed. Ecology: Found in canyons <strong>and</strong> along streams, often<br />
in partial shade from 3,500–5,500 ft (1067–1676 m); flowers August –September.<br />
Notes: The leaves could be confused with Marah spp. but the flowers are<br />
distinctive. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Unsure about the origin of<br />
Sicyosperma, but gracile means slender, graceful. Synonyms: None<br />
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Cucurbitaceae<br />
Forbs
Euphorbiaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Acalypha neomexicana<br />
New Mexico copperleaf<br />
General: Erect or ascendingly branched<br />
annual 10–40 cm tall with thin, bright green<br />
leaves, slender petioles <strong>and</strong> stems, finely<br />
puberulent to subglabrate foliage. Sap not<br />
milky. Leaves: Alternate, on petioles 1–3<br />
cm long, puberulent with fine, spreading,<br />
slightly curved hairs; blades ovate, 8–30<br />
mm wide, 1–4.5 cm long, rounded at base,<br />
acute to fairly acuminate at apex, thin,<br />
serrate, tinged with red when growing in<br />
full sun, becoming subglabrate <strong>and</strong> slightly<br />
papillose on lower surface, veins puberulent beneath. Flowers: Slender<br />
staminate spikes 5–12 mm long, axillary but inserted at base of pistillate<br />
spikes, latter both terminal <strong>and</strong> axillary, 1–5 cm long, rhomboid–ovate bracts<br />
5–11 mm long, 7–9–dentate, central tooth prolonged <strong>and</strong> five times as long<br />
as lateral teeth, veined but glabrous or essentially so on back, short–ciliolate<br />
along margins. Fruits: Capsule depressed–globose, 3–4 mm wide, 2–2.5<br />
mm high, distinctly 3–lobed, sparsely hirsute <strong>and</strong> faintly muricate dorsally.<br />
Ecology: Found in moist areas <strong>and</strong> rocky soils from 2,500–7,500 ft (762–2286<br />
m); flowers August–November. Notes: Distinguished by the conspicuously<br />
veined pistillate bracts. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Acalypha is<br />
from Greek akalephes for nettle, while neomexicana refers to New Mexico.<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
Acalypha ostryifolia<br />
pineleaf threeseed mercury<br />
General: Erect, simple to ascending branched<br />
annual 10–80 cm tall with dark green minutely<br />
puberulent to glabrate stems <strong>and</strong> foliage.<br />
Leaves: Slender petioles 1–7 cm long, blades<br />
ovate 2–6 cm wide, 2.5–12 cm long, obtuse,<br />
rounded, sometimes subcordate at base,<br />
acute to short–acuminate at apex, serrate,<br />
thin, becoming sparsely puberulent to nearly<br />
glabrous <strong>and</strong> puncticulate in age. Flowers:<br />
Slender axillary staminate spikes 1–3 cm long,<br />
flowers separate below, densely crowded above middle; pistillate spikes<br />
terminal on branches 2–7 cm long, bracts 5–9 mm in diameter, lobed one–half<br />
to two–thirds of way to base into 11–15 narrowly subulate–linear lobes, these<br />
closely beset with short–stiped, nearly granular gl<strong>and</strong>s. Fruits: Depressed–<br />
globose capsule 3.5–4.5 mm wide, 2–3 mm high, strongly 3–lobed, papillose <strong>and</strong><br />
muricate on upper surface. Ecology: Found along washes, in shade of shrubs<br />
<strong>and</strong> in wet cienegas from 3,000–5,500 ft (914–1676 m); flowers June–October.<br />
Notes: Comb–like teeth on pistillate bracts help to tell this species apart.<br />
Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Acalypha is from Greek akalephes for<br />
nettle. Synonyms: Acalypha caroliniana<br />
198 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
2008 <strong>NPS</strong>/Beth Fallon<br />
© SEINET
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Cnidoscolus angustidens<br />
mala mujer<br />
General: Robust herb or slightly<br />
suffrutescent plant 1.5–12 dm tall from<br />
fleshy rhizome with stems, leaves, <strong>and</strong><br />
inflorescences sparsely to densely armed<br />
with stiff stinging hairs 4–8 mm long, each<br />
hair surmounting a conspicuous, rounded,<br />
whitish pustule. Papery stipules, whitish,<br />
5–6 mm long. Leaves: Petioles 2–10 cm long,<br />
blades orbicular to subreniform in outline,<br />
8–15 cm wide, 3–5 lobed nearly to middle, broadly or shallowly subcordate<br />
at base, lobes coarsely incised–dentate, teeth 1–2.5 cm long, blade glabrous<br />
between bases of coarse stinging hairs. Flowers: Stout peduncles 1–5 cm long,<br />
monoecious flowers, staminate in broad cymes to 8 cm wide, staminate calyx<br />
white, papery, 9–14 mm long, funnelform, armed with spreading stinging hairs<br />
2–5 mm long; pistillate calyx of 5 distinct, ligulate to oblanceolate segments<br />
10–12 mm long, sparsely hispid with stinging hairs without, early deciduous.<br />
Fruits: Capsule 10–12 mm long, hispid. Ecology: Found on plains <strong>and</strong><br />
hillsides from 2,500–5,000 ft (762–1524 m); flowers May–July. Notes: Notable<br />
for its transparent, stinging hairs from conspicuous, white, pustulate bases.<br />
Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Unknown Synonyms: None<br />
Croton pottsii var. pottsii<br />
leatherweed<br />
General: Erect suffrutescent plant 10–<br />
50 cm tall with few to many stems from<br />
woody base <strong>and</strong> rootstock, stems,<br />
leaves <strong>and</strong> outer floral parts covered<br />
with fine, stellate, slightly lepidote,<br />
grayish to silvery pubescence. Leaves:<br />
Slender petioles 0.5–2 cm long,<br />
tomentulose, blades ovate to loblong,<br />
5–18 mm wide, 1–4.5 cm long, acute<br />
to mucronulate at apex, rounded<br />
at base, entire, greenish <strong>and</strong> lepidote–pubescent above, gray to silvery <strong>and</strong><br />
densely stellate–tomentulose beneath, pinnately 5–9–veined. Flowers:<br />
Monoecious, rarely dioecious; on pedicels to 6 mm long, staminate, calyx<br />
densely tomentulose without, lobes narrowly deltoid, 1.5–2 mm long, petals<br />
spatulate, nearly twice as long as sepals, bearded with slender crisped hairs;<br />
6–18 stamens, filaments villous near base. Fruits: Capsule globose to ovoid 4–7<br />
mm long. Ecology: Found on arid rocky slopes from 2,500–6,000 ft (762–1829<br />
m); flowers March–October. Notes: Ethnobotany: Infusion taken for kidney<br />
infections. Etymology: Croton comes from Greek word kroton, meaning a<br />
tick, because of the appearance of the seeds. Synonyms: Croton corymbulosus<br />
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Euphorbiaceae<br />
Forbs
Euphorbiaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Croton texensis<br />
Texas croton<br />
General: Erect or ascendingly branched<br />
annual 0.5–1.5 m tall with slender–rayed, stellate<br />
pubescence scattered over stems <strong>and</strong> leaves,<br />
stems slender, yellowish green, plants mainly<br />
dioecious, stipules lacking. Leaves: Slender<br />
petioles 5–20 mm long, densely stellate–<br />
pubescent, blades linear, lanceolate, or ovate–<br />
lanceolate, 0.5–5 cm wide, 2–12 cm long, obtuse<br />
to acuminate at apex, obtuse to rounded at base, entire, upper surface green,<br />
with scattered stellate trichomes that rarely overlap, lower surface more<br />
closely stellate–puberulent <strong>and</strong> more or less cinereous, especially on young<br />
growth. Flowers: Staminate flowers in short racemes, subtended by minute<br />
bracts; sepals about 1 mm long, thin, densely pubescent without, glabrous<br />
within, petals none; sepals narrowly deltoid about 2 mm long, tomentulose<br />
without; pistillate flowers 1–5 per inflorescence. Fruits: Capsule, 3–celled,<br />
ovoid–globose, 4–6 mm tall, stellate–scurfy. Ecology: Found on roadsides,<br />
fields, ditch banks, washes, <strong>and</strong> along arroyos from 500–7,000 ft (152–2134<br />
m); flowers May–November. Notes: Plant sometimes called dove–weed,<br />
because it is a favorite food for the bird. Ethnobotany: Used as a cathartic,<br />
on open sores, for hemorrhoids, as a purgative, for stomach troubles, as an<br />
eye wash, for gonorrhea or syphilis, <strong>and</strong> for headaches. The leaves are burned<br />
<strong>and</strong> clothes smoked to remove skunk smell. Etymology: Croton comes from<br />
Greek word kroton, meaning a tick, because of the appearance of the seeds.<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
Ditaxis neomexicana<br />
New Mexico silverbush<br />
General: Annual or short–lived perennial,<br />
much branched <strong>and</strong> densely pubescent<br />
with stiff, coarse hairs; to 35 cm tall.<br />
Leaves: Broadly elliptic to oblanceolate,<br />
13–34 mm, apex acute to obtuse, margins<br />
entire or with a few small teeth; leaves<br />
longer broader, greener, not as thick <strong>and</strong><br />
less hairy during warm, wet conditions.<br />
Flowers: Racemes glomerate–congested<br />
in axils, staminate flowers 2–2.5 mm long with lanceolate–acuminate, pilose<br />
sepals <strong>and</strong> glabrous petals parley exceeded by sepals; sepals green 3.2–4 mm,<br />
petals obovate white with red–purple veins 1.5–3 mm; gl<strong>and</strong> ovate–lanceolate .5<br />
mm transparent–membranous, becoming yellow–brown <strong>and</strong> thickened with<br />
age. Fruits: Depressed–globose capsule 3–4 mm wide, densely long–pilose.<br />
Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y <strong>and</strong> rocky slopes <strong>and</strong> along washes from 1,000–4,000<br />
ft (305–1219 m); flowers throughout the year. Notes: Notably distinguishable by<br />
its lanceolate, acute, <strong>and</strong> serrulate to entire leaves. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
Etymology: Argythamnia is from Greek argyro, silvery <strong>and</strong> the word for<br />
shrub, while neomexicana refers to New Mexico. Synonyms: Argythamnia<br />
neomexicana<br />
200 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2007 WNMU,<br />
Zimmerman Herbarium<br />
©2008 SEINET–ASU, Liz Makings
©2007 Lara Hartley<br />
Euphorbia abramsiana<br />
Abrams’ s<strong>and</strong>mat<br />
General: Prostrate annual forming open to moderately dense mat 5–45 cm in<br />
diameter herbage <strong>and</strong> stems finely pubescent to glabrate red–brown; or, tips of<br />
stems spreading–ascending <strong>and</strong> green among dense vegetation <strong>and</strong> in shade.<br />
Leaves: Ovate–elliptic to oblong, 2.5–12 mm, entire to minutely toothed mostly<br />
toward leaf apex, with reddish blotch near the center. Flowers: Cyathia on<br />
congested lateral branches but also solitary at nodes, inconspicuous, 0.4–0.5<br />
mm wide, involucral gl<strong>and</strong>s dotlike, rounded or nearly so, 0.1 mm wide,<br />
appendages absent to 0.2 mm wide, white to pink. Fruits: Glabrous capsules,<br />
bright green with red margins <strong>and</strong> furrows, margins rather sharp, 1.3–1.7 mm<br />
long. Ecology: Found on desert slopes, washes, playas, <strong>and</strong> flats from 200–<br />
3,500 ft (61–1067 m); flowers July–October. Notes: Plant told apart by the<br />
combination of glabrous capsule <strong>and</strong> entire leaves. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
for this species, other species in genera have medicinal use. Etymology:<br />
Euphorbia is named for Euphorbus, which derives from eu, good, <strong>and</strong> phorbe,<br />
meaning well–fed, while abramsiana is named for LeRoy Adams (1874–1956) a<br />
professor of botany at Stanford. Synonyms: Chamaesyce abramsiana<br />
Euphorbia albomarginata<br />
whitemargin s<strong>and</strong>mat<br />
General: Perennial herb with glabrous <strong>and</strong> often<br />
glaucous herbage; stems prostrate <strong>and</strong> freely<br />
branched, sometimes creeping belowground <strong>and</strong><br />
rooting at the nodes, 5–40 cm long; mat–forming.<br />
Leaves: Leaf blades orbicular to oblong, entire,<br />
3–8 mm long; stipules united into a membranous,<br />
white scale with entire or lacerate margins.<br />
Flowers: Cyathia solitary at the nodes, with 1<br />
female <strong>and</strong> 15–30 male flowers; gl<strong>and</strong>s oblong,<br />
dark brown, 0.5–1 mm long, petaloid appendages<br />
consipicuous, white, entire or subcrenate. Fruits:<br />
Capsule ovoid, 2 mm long, acutely angled <strong>and</strong><br />
glabrous; seeds 4–sided, oblong, whitish, 1–2<br />
mm long. Ecology: Open, s<strong>and</strong>y or gravelly dry places up through the pinon–<br />
juniper zone from 1,000–7,000 ft (305–2135 m); flowers April–September.<br />
Notes: Distinctively marked from other species in our range by the prominent<br />
interpetiolar stipules. Ethnobotany: Diegueno brew plant into tea to treat<br />
sores. Shoshoni <strong>and</strong> Kawaitsu use leaves <strong>and</strong> flowers for snakebite. Keres treat<br />
eye problems by rub from plant. Navajo use slow tea from whole plant for colds<br />
or stomachaches. Etymology: Euphorbia is named for Euphorbus, which<br />
derives from eu, good, <strong>and</strong> phorbe, meaning well–fed, while albomarginata<br />
refers to white margins. Synonyms: Chamaesyce albomarginata<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 201<br />
Euphorbiaceae<br />
Forbs
Euphorbiaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Euphorbia florida<br />
Chiricahua mountain s<strong>and</strong>mat<br />
General: Erect annual 10–65 cm tall, glabrous,<br />
stem branched from near base, slender branches<br />
green or faintly tinged red, internodes 1.5–5 cm or<br />
occasionally to 7 cm. Leaves: Linear, 0.5–3 mm<br />
wide, 0.5–6 cm long, remotely serrulate, revolute<br />
in age, on petioles 1.5–2.5 mm long. Flowers:<br />
Cyathia 1 to several at nodes, on peduncles<br />
1–3 mm long, campanulate involucre 1.5–2<br />
mm diameter, 2 mm high at anthesis, glabrous<br />
without, densely pubescent with straight white<br />
hairs around inner rim; lobes of cyathia triangular–acuminate, entire or<br />
toothed, about 0.3 mm high; discoid gl<strong>and</strong>s, 4 of them .5 mm, fifth filiform,<br />
nearly equaling lobes; appendages white or pink, obovate to elliptic 1–2.8 mm<br />
long. Fruits: Capsule rounded–triangular in cross–section, oblate–globose<br />
2.5 mm diameter, glabrous. Ecology: On arid flats, washes, <strong>and</strong> hillsides from<br />
2,000–5,000 ft (610–1524 m); flowers August–November. Notes: The linear<br />
leaves, very delicate appearance of the plant, <strong>and</strong> the distinctively beautiful<br />
flowers help to identify this plant. Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species,<br />
other species in genera have medicinal use. Etymology: Euphorbia is named<br />
for Euphorbus, which derives from eu, good, <strong>and</strong> phorbe, meaning well–fed,<br />
florida means free–flowering or bright. Synonyms: Chamaesyce florida<br />
202 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©Larry Allain @ USDA–NRCS Plants DB<br />
©2000 Pedro Tenorio Lezama<br />
Euphorbia heterophylla<br />
Mexican fireplant, painted spurge<br />
General: Erect annual 30–70 cm tall, beginning<br />
to branch ascendingly near base, stems light<br />
green, faintly striate, glabrous or essentially<br />
so. Leaves: Leaves opposite below, alternate<br />
from above first to third nodes to floral whorls,<br />
slender petioles 0.5–3 cm long, often gradually<br />
widening to cuneate base to leaf blade, latter<br />
ovate, obovate, elliptic, or lanceolate in outline<br />
1–6 cm wide to 10 cm long, bright green above,<br />
pale to slightly glaucous beneath, margin entire<br />
or shallowly dentate <strong>and</strong> often lyrately lobed,<br />
lobes acutely to obtusely deltoid. Flowers:<br />
Floral leaves similar to cauline ones, but some<br />
or all have white, pink, or scarlet near base; involucres clustered at tips of<br />
branches, 1.5–2 mm high, narrowly campanulate, green <strong>and</strong> glabrous, bearing a<br />
single unappendaged, discoid, sessile gl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> deeply fimbriate–dentate lobes<br />
which slightly surpass gl<strong>and</strong>. Fruits: Capsules depressed–globose, strongly 3–<br />
lobed, 3.5–4.5 mm high, 5–6 mm in diameter, glabrous. Ecology: Found on the<br />
margins of streams, washes, <strong>and</strong> hillsides from 2,500–5,000 ft (762–1524 m);<br />
flowers August–October. Notes: The partially colored leaves are diagnostic<br />
of this species. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Euphorbia is named for<br />
Euphorbus, which derives from eu, good, <strong>and</strong> phorbe, meaning well–fed, while<br />
heterophylla means that the leaves are different on the same plant. Synonyms:<br />
Euphorbia geniculata, E. prunifolia, Poinsettia geniculata, P. heterophylla<br />
Euphorbia hirta<br />
pillpod s<strong>and</strong>mat<br />
General: Few–stemmed, erect to decumbent,<br />
sparingly branched annual 2–25 cm tall, stems strigose<br />
to pilose with yellowish hairs. Leaves: Stout petioles<br />
1–2 cm long, pilose, narrowly lanceolate, rhombic–<br />
lanceolate, or ovate leaves 3–12 mm wide, 8–30 mm<br />
long, acute at apex, asymmetrical at base, sharply to<br />
inconspicuously serrulate, sparsely hispid but glabrate<br />
above, appressed to spreadingly hirsute beneath, often<br />
reddish or with reddish splotches on lower surface.<br />
Flowers: Cyathia in dense pedunculate heads,<br />
peduncles sparsely strigose to glabrate, involucres<br />
obconic–campanulate 0.6–0.9 mm in diameter, strigose without, glabrous<br />
within; gl<strong>and</strong>s stipitate, orbicular to transversely oval, appendages white or<br />
sometimes absent; staminate flowers 2–8 per cyanthium. Fruits: Capsule 1–1.2<br />
mm long, truncate at base. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y or light soil from 3,000–<br />
5,000 ft (914–1524 m); flowers March–September. Notes: The cyathia in dense<br />
pedunculate heads helps to separate out this species. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
for this species, other species in genera have medicinal use. Etymology:<br />
Euphorbia is named for Euphorbus, which derives from eu, good, <strong>and</strong> phorbe,<br />
meaning well–fed, while hirta means hairy. Synonyms: Chamaesyce hirta, E.<br />
pilulifera<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 203<br />
Euphorbiaceae<br />
Forbs
Euphorbiaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Euphorbia hyssopifolia<br />
hyssopleaf s<strong>and</strong>mat<br />
General: Erect to strongly ascending annual<br />
5–60 cm tall with mostly glabrous but<br />
sometimes sparsely pilose herbage, stems<br />
simple to moderately branched at or near base.<br />
Leaves: Leaves lanceolate to oblong, 4–20 mm,<br />
sometimes with a red blotch at center, margins<br />
evenly serrated, paler beneath than above.<br />
Flowers: Cyathia 0.4–0.9 mm wide, solitary or<br />
in few–flowered cyme, peduncle .5–2 mm long,<br />
involucral gl<strong>and</strong>s 0.2–0.4 mm wide oval pink<br />
to maroon, appendages 0.3–0.6 mm wide, broader than long, white to pink,<br />
darkening with age; staminate flowers 4–15 per cyathium. Fruits: Strongly<br />
3–lobed capsule, 1.6–2.1 mm long, with obtuse to rounded angles, glabrous.<br />
Ecology: Found on valley flowers, grassy slopes, washes, <strong>and</strong> rocky hillsides<br />
from 1,000–6,000 ft (305–1829 m); flowers throughout year under favorable<br />
moisture. Notes: Mucilaginous when wetted; evenly serrate margins indicative<br />
of this plant. Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species, other species in genera<br />
have medicinal use. Etymology: Euphorbia is named for Euphorbus, which<br />
derives from eu, good, <strong>and</strong> phorbe, meaning well–fed, hyssopifolia means<br />
having leaves like Hyssop. Synonyms: Chamaesyce hyssopifolia, Chamaesyce<br />
brasiliensis, Euphorbia brasiliensis<br />
Euphorbia micromera<br />
Sonoran s<strong>and</strong>mat<br />
General: Prostrate, glabrous to<br />
puberulent annual with stems 2–25<br />
cm long <strong>and</strong> internodes extremely<br />
variable in length. Leaves: Petioles<br />
.5 mm slender, leaf blades 1.5–7 mm<br />
long, ovate to oblong, base oblique in<br />
larger leaves, rounded in smaller ones,<br />
glabrous to sparsely puberulent, margins<br />
entire. Flowers: Pubescent to glabrate peduncles 1.2 mm long; campanulate<br />
involucres, slightly constricted above, about 1 mm long, 0.9 diamteter, crispate–<br />
hirsutulous without, or less commonly glabrous, lobes minute, deltoid, about<br />
equaling gl<strong>and</strong>s; gl<strong>and</strong>s 0.12–0.25 mm wide, dotlike, rounded or sometimes<br />
oval, maroon, without appendages; rarely appendages represented by minute<br />
white margin. Fruits: Globular capsule, 3–angled, 1.2–1.4 mm long, puberulent<br />
to glabrous. Ecology: Found on flats, washes, bajadas, <strong>and</strong> hillsides from<br />
500–5,000 ft (152–1524 m); flowers throughout the year. Notes: Very similar<br />
to E. polycarpa, consult more detailed flora if uncertain. E. polycarpa is<br />
found in more specifically desert habitats. Ethnobotany: Unknown for this<br />
species, other species in genera have medicinal use. Etymology: Euphorbia<br />
is named for Euphorbus, which derives from eu, good, <strong>and</strong> phorbe, meaning<br />
well–fed, while micromera means having a small number of parts. Synonyms:<br />
Chamaesyce micromera<br />
204 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2006 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2011 Max Licher<br />
Euphorbia pediculifera<br />
Carrizo mountain s<strong>and</strong>mat<br />
General: Prostrate to slightly procumbent annual with spreading dichotomous<br />
branches 3–30 cm long, herbage puberulent with sparse, simple, spreading<br />
hairs. Herbage often red–brown to gray–brown. Leaves: Leaves at least twice<br />
as long as wide, petioled, blades 5.5–15.5 mm, ovate to obovate or oblong,<br />
margins entire or sometimes with a few small, irregular teeth. Flowers:<br />
Cyathia 1.2–1.5 mm wide, gl<strong>and</strong>s maroon, oval, 0.6–0.9 m wide, appendages<br />
rather showy, white, fading pink, usually considerably wider <strong>and</strong> longer than<br />
the gl<strong>and</strong>s; staminate flowers 20–25 in a cyathium. Fruits: Capsules sharply<br />
3–angled, 1.2–1.4 mm long <strong>and</strong> wide, hirsutulous, exserted <strong>and</strong> reflexed at<br />
maturity. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y flats <strong>and</strong> on gentle slopes from 500–4,000<br />
ft (152–1219 m); flowers throughout the year. Ethnobotany: Unknown for this<br />
species, other species in genera have medicinal use. Etymology: Euphorbia<br />
is named for Euphorbus, which derives from eu, good, <strong>and</strong> phorbe, meaning<br />
well–fed, pediculifera means bearing lice. Synonyms: Chamaesyce pediculifera<br />
Tragia nepetifolia<br />
catnip noseburn<br />
General: Perennial forb, stems slender, often<br />
twining, herbage with stinging hairs. Leaves:<br />
Alternate, serrate, elliptic less than 3 cm.<br />
Flowers: Monoecious flowers borne in terminal<br />
or lateral bracteate racemes staminate flowers<br />
above, 2 to many, pistillate flowers below, 1–2,<br />
sepals 6. Fruits: 3–seeded capsule. Ecology:<br />
Found on canyons, hillsides, <strong>and</strong> valley floors<br />
from 2,500–7,000 ft (762–2134 m); flowers<br />
March–November. Notes: One recognized<br />
variety in Arizona, var. dissecta. Ethnobotany: Plant used as a lotion to keep<br />
snakes away by the Navajo, while the Ramah Navajo used the plant as a life<br />
medicine. The Kayenta Navajo sprinkle the plant on the Hogan during rain<br />
storms for protection from lightning. Etymology: Tragia is the Latin name of<br />
Hieronymus Bock (1498–1554) a German herbalist, while nepetifolia means<br />
leaves like catnip. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 205<br />
Euphorbiaceae<br />
Forbs
Forbs<br />
206 Educational use only; not for sale
©2008 SEINET–ASU, Liz Makings<br />
Astragalus allochrous<br />
halfmoon milkvetch<br />
General: Perennial from a short<br />
woody caudex, stems erect or<br />
ascending, 30–50 cm tall, sparsely<br />
strigose, usually more or less purplish;<br />
stipules broadly deltoid acute to<br />
acuminate 2–5 mm long, scarious,<br />
sparsely pubescent to subglabrate.<br />
Leaves: 10–12 cm long, ascending,<br />
©2007 WNMU, Zimmerman Herbarium<br />
rachis strongly grooved above, leaflets<br />
11–19, obovate to oblong, 2–4 mm wide, 8–25 mm long, rounded to retuse<br />
at apex, acute at base, sparsely strigose but green on both surfaces. Flowers:<br />
Peduncles 3–8 cm long, racemes 3–10 cm long, 8–15 flowered, purplish, strigose<br />
with white <strong>and</strong> black hairs; teeth narrowly subulate, 1.5–2 mm long, corollas<br />
6–8 mm long, purplish; banner obovate, slightly exceeding wings, glade of wings<br />
slightly longer than claw; keel often ochroleucous, strongly curved, obliquely<br />
obovate, rounded at apex. Fruits: Pods sessile, ovoid, 2.5–4 cm long, 1.5–2 cm<br />
wide, strigulose, often slightly tinged with purple. Ecology: Common on plains<br />
<strong>and</strong> mesas from 1,500–7,000 ft (457–2134 m); flowers March–May. Notes:<br />
One of the most conspicuous species of Astragalus because of its large size <strong>and</strong><br />
bladdery pods. Ethnobotany: Used ceremonially by the Navajo. Etymology:<br />
Astragalus is from Greek astragalos meaning ankle bone <strong>and</strong> is an early name<br />
applied to the genus because of the shape of the seeds, allochrous means of a<br />
different color. Synonyms: None<br />
Astragalus arizonicus<br />
Arizona milkvetch<br />
General: Prostrate to decumbent perennial<br />
from a tough taproot. Many stems, more or<br />
less flexuous, 10–50 cm long, finely white–<br />
strigose, stipules broadly deltoid, 1.5–3 mm<br />
long, usually as wide. Leaves: 5–10 cm long,<br />
ascending, leaflets 9–17, linear, oblong,<br />
or lance–oblong; 2–3 mm wide, 8–15 mm<br />
long, canescent. Flowers: Racemes 3–8 cm<br />
long, lax, several to many flowered, bracts<br />
lanceolate, 2.5–3 mm long, villous without; calyx tube cylindro–campanulate,<br />
3–4 mm long, white–strigose; teeth deltoid, subulate–acuminate, about 2 mm<br />
long, corolla white, more or less suffused with greenish yellow, purplish, or<br />
maroon, 9–11 mm long; banner obovate, arched but not reflexed; wings slightly<br />
shorter than banner <strong>and</strong> keel, falcate, obtuse at apex; keel broadly lunate, apex<br />
blunt, strongly arcuate. Fruits: Pods linear, ascending, 1.5–3 cm long, about 3<br />
mm wide, slightly arcuate, flat to slightly sulcate along lower suture, finely white–<br />
strigose. Ecology: Found on grassy hillsides <strong>and</strong> in flats, on plains <strong>and</strong> mesas<br />
from 4,500 ft (1372 m) <strong>and</strong> lower; flowers March–May. Notes: The radiating,<br />
nearly prostrate stems, narrow, silvery–sericeous leaflets, <strong>and</strong> dingly–purple<br />
flowers are characteristic. Ethnobotany: Astragalus spp. used medicinally for<br />
chest cough, colds. Etymology: Astragalus is from Greek astragalos meaning<br />
ankle bone <strong>and</strong> is an early name applied to the genus because of the shape of<br />
the seeds, arizonicus is named for Arizona. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 207<br />
Fabaceae<br />
Forbs
Fabaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Astragalus nuttallianus<br />
smallflowered milkvetch<br />
General: Slender, diminutive annual<br />
with stems 10–50 cm long, strigose,<br />
white <strong>and</strong> firm. Leaves: Leaves often<br />
2–5.5 cm, leaflets 7–11, mostly all alike,<br />
elliptic to linear, very slender, 2.5–5 cm;<br />
strigose on both surfaces or sometimes<br />
glabrous above, acute to obtuse at apex.<br />
©2006 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Flowers: Peduncles 3–10 cm long, slender, mostly surpassing leaves, racemes<br />
subcapitate, compact, 3–8 flowered. Corolla white or tips tinged with purple,<br />
4–7 mm long; banner obovate, retuse, slightly exceeding wings. Fruits: Pods<br />
horizontally spreading to ascending, moderately arcuate, 1.5–2 cm long,<br />
2–2.5 mm wide, about 3 mm deep, strigose to glabrous. Ecology: Found on<br />
arid plains <strong>and</strong> on hillsides, mesas, <strong>and</strong> slopes from 100–4,000 ft (33–1219 m);<br />
flowers February–May. Notes: This species has ten known varieties (Barneby<br />
1964) in the region. Ethnobotany: None Etymology: Astragalus is from<br />
Greek astragalos meaning ankle bone <strong>and</strong> is an early name applied to the genus<br />
because of the shape of the seeds, nuttallianus is named for Thomas Nuttall<br />
(1786–1859) an English botanist. Synonyms: None<br />
Chamaecrista nictitans<br />
partridge pea<br />
General: Slender stemmed annual to<br />
50 cm tall, stems covered in dense hairs.<br />
Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound<br />
leaves, each leaf divided into 10–25 narrow<br />
oblong leaflets with small spines on the<br />
tips; stalked gl<strong>and</strong> on petiole, just below last<br />
pair of leaflets; leaves fold when disturbed.<br />
Flowers: Short axillary pedicels bearing<br />
irregular yellow flowers up to 1.4 cm<br />
wide, 5 petals, lower petal larger <strong>and</strong> more<br />
spreading. Fruits: Legume Ecology: Found in open woods, prairies, thickets,<br />
<strong>and</strong> on wet shores from 3,500–5,000 ft (1067–1524 m); flowers July–August.<br />
Notes: At Tumacacori both C. nictitans <strong>and</strong> C. nictitans var. lept<strong>and</strong>enia have<br />
been documented. Ethnobotany: Used medicinally for endurance <strong>and</strong> given<br />
against fainting spells. Etymology: Chamaecrista come from Greek chamae,<br />
dwarf <strong>and</strong> crista for cross. Synonyms: Chamaecrista nictitans var. nictitans,<br />
Cassia nictitans<br />
208 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
2008 <strong>NPS</strong>/Beth Fallon
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2006 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Crotalaria pumila<br />
low rattlebox<br />
General: Erect, ascending annual 20–60 cm<br />
tall with puberulent to glabrate stems <strong>and</strong><br />
glabrous or glabrate leaflets, stipules linear<br />
or filiform, 4–6 mm long, caducous. Leaves:<br />
Petioles 2.5 cm long or less, leaflets 3, narrowly<br />
elliptic to linear–oblanceolate, 3–15 mm wide<br />
to 6 cm long, bright green <strong>and</strong> glabrous above,<br />
slightly glaucous <strong>and</strong> appressed–puberulent<br />
beneath. Flowers: Racemes to 30 cm long, many<br />
flowered; calyx 3–4 mm long, lobes triangular,<br />
equaling tube, petals 10 mm long, bright yellow, keel <strong>and</strong> sometimes banner<br />
faintly washed with red <strong>and</strong> drying reddish to purple; acumen of keel slender,<br />
7–8 m long, conspicuously exserted beyond wings. Fruits: Pods oboid or<br />
broadly rounded–oblong, 6–9 mm in diameter, 10–15 mm long, appressed–<br />
strigose; persistent style that forms slender beak 1.5–2.5 mm long. Seeds yellow<br />
to red–brown, reniform, about 3 mm long, smooth. Ecology: Weedy species<br />
on s<strong>and</strong>y, gravelly, or clayey soils on flats <strong>and</strong> along margins of washes from<br />
4,000–6,000 ft (1219–1829 m); flowers June–October. Notes: Varies greatly in<br />
size of the plant <strong>and</strong> of the flowers <strong>and</strong> in the number of flowers in the raceme,<br />
from 1 to many. Petals often tinged or streaked with red. Ethnobotany: Seeds<br />
boiled, or ground <strong>and</strong> eaten as a pinole. Etymology: Crotalaria is from Greek<br />
drotalon, a rattle or clapper, while pumila means dwarf. Synonyms: None<br />
Desmodium neomexicanum<br />
New Mexico ticktrefoil<br />
General: Erect or ascending, moderately<br />
to much branched, annual forb 10–45 cm<br />
tall, stems <strong>and</strong> branches slender but deeply<br />
grooved, terete or subangulate, sparsely<br />
to densely uncinate–puberulent. Stipules<br />
slenderly linear–lanceolate, attenuate, 1.5–<br />
6 mm. long, minutely striate, glabrous above<br />
<strong>and</strong> below but ciliate–hispid along margins.<br />
Leaves: Petioles slender, grooved, 0.5–5<br />
cm long, uncinate–puberulent; leaflets 3,<br />
linear–lanceolate to ovate or rhombic–lanceolate, obtuse <strong>and</strong> mucronaulate<br />
at apex, 2–21 mm wide, 1.5–6 cm long, terminal ones similar in shape but<br />
somewhat larger than lateral, light green <strong>and</strong> sparsely strigose to glabrate<br />
above, slightly paler <strong>and</strong> sparsely strigose beneath. Flowers: Inflorescence<br />
10 cm long, pedicels filiform, 7–12 mm long, calyx small, purplish–pink to<br />
white, about 2–2.5 mm long, corolla about 2.5–3 mm long. Fruits: Loment 2–5<br />
jointed, sessile or faintly stipitate, joints rhomboidal, reticulate <strong>and</strong> uncinate–<br />
hispidulous, 2.5–3 mm wide, 3–4 mm long, margins slightly folded or revolute,<br />
terminal joint slightly larger than others. Ecology: Found on mountainsides,<br />
mesas, canyons <strong>and</strong> grassy slopes from 3,500–6,000 ft (1067–1829 m); flowers<br />
July–September. Ethnobotany: Many non–regional medicinal uses for other<br />
species. Etymology: Neomexicanum means New Mexico where the type was<br />
found in the late 1800s. Synonyms: Meibomia neomexicana<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 209<br />
Fabaceae<br />
Forbs
Fabaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Hoffmannseggia glauca<br />
hog potato, Indian rushpea<br />
General: Herbaceous perennial from deeply<br />
buried rhizomes, with stalked reddish gl<strong>and</strong>s<br />
<strong>and</strong> sparse, short white hairs. Stems renewed<br />
annually or seasonally, usually several,<br />
around 15–20 cm including the erect terminal<br />
inflorescence. Leaves: Several near base 5–13<br />
cm long with 5–11 pinnae 1–2.5 cm long,<br />
leaflets 4–12 pairs, oblong, glabrous or minutely<br />
puberulent <strong>and</strong> eventually glabrate, obtuse, 3–8<br />
mm long. Flowers: Terminal inflorescence in<br />
raceme, petals predominantly bright yellow, turning red or red–flecked with<br />
age; stamens often red 10–12 mm long, claws equaling blades <strong>and</strong> densely<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular. Fruits: Falcate pod, 5–8 mm wide, 2–4 cm long, reticulate–veined,<br />
compressed, readily deciduous, indehiscent. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y <strong>and</strong><br />
alkaline soils, disturbed sides, forming large colonies from 5,000 ft (1524 m)<br />
<strong>and</strong> below; flowers April–September. Notes: Plant is considered a good soil<br />
binder. Ethnobotany: Small tuber are collected <strong>and</strong> eaten raw, boiled, or<br />
preferably roasted. Etymology: Hoffmanseggia is named for Johan Centurius,<br />
Count Von Hoffmansegg (1766–1849) a German botanist, <strong>and</strong> glauca is from<br />
Greek meaning bluish gray, referring to leaves. Synonyms: None<br />
Lotus humistratus<br />
foothill deervetch<br />
General: Annual forb with erect, ascending,<br />
or decumbent stems .5–20 cm long, whole<br />
plant is densely villous with white to slightly<br />
tawny, soft hairs. Leaves: Petioles short,<br />
rarely over 5 mm long, rachises of leaves<br />
flattened, 5–8 mm long, leaflets 3–5, broadly<br />
elliptic to obovate, 2–6 mm wide, 4–15 mm<br />
long, cuneate at base, acute to rounded<br />
at apex. Flowers: Subsessile, solitary or<br />
in paris in axils of leaves, calyx tube 2–2.5 mm long, yellow tinged with red<br />
or rose. Fruits: Pods 2–3 mm wide, 5–10 mm long densely villous. Ecology:<br />
Found on dry gravelly slopes <strong>and</strong> s<strong>and</strong>y flats from 5,000 ft (1524 m) <strong>and</strong> below;<br />
flowers March–June. Notes: Notable for its low ground loving habit <strong>and</strong> its tiny<br />
flowers. Ethnobotany: Infusion of plant taken <strong>and</strong> used as a wash by women in<br />
labor by Karok (CA). Etymology: Lotus from the Green <strong>and</strong> originally applied<br />
to a fruit said to make those who tasted it forget their homes, while humistratus<br />
means low layer. Synonyms: Hosackia brachycarpa<br />
210 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey ©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Lupinus concinnus<br />
bajada lupine, scarlet lupine<br />
General: Erect annual 5–30 cm tall with<br />
few to many branches from base <strong>and</strong> at<br />
higher levels; herbage is densely villous with<br />
spreading hairs. Leaves: Petioles exceed<br />
leaflets, slender, lower ones 4–8 cm long,<br />
stipules lance–linear, 5–9 mm long; leaflets<br />
5–8 oblanceolate, obtuse to rounded at<br />
apex, 3–6 mm wide, 1–2 cm long, deep green<br />
through pubescence. Flowers: Racemes<br />
erect, 3–10 cm long or sometimes of only 2–3 flowers <strong>and</strong> surpassed by leaves.<br />
Papilionoid flower with a densely villous calyx, shallow cup 1–2 mm deep,<br />
upper calyx lip cleft nearly or fully halfway to base, 4–5 mm long, lower one<br />
tridentate, petals 7–9 mm long, lilac or bluish, edged with deep purple, banner<br />
obovate, rounded or emarginated at apex, keel nonciliate, nearly straight.<br />
Fruits: Pods 10–18 mm long, straight, densely villous, 2–4 seeded. Ecology:<br />
Found on dry s<strong>and</strong>y soils below 5,000 ft (1524 m); flowers March–May.<br />
Notes: Several varieties in <strong>and</strong> around the Sonoran Desert, worth collecting<br />
if uncertain. Ethnobotany: No known uses. Etymology: Lupinus comes from<br />
Latin for wolf, while concinnus means neat or elegant. Synonyms: None<br />
Marina calycosa<br />
San Pedro false prairie–clover<br />
General: Decumbent to ascending<br />
perennial herb with slender, strigose stems<br />
10–30 cm long; stipules lance–acuminate,<br />
2–4 mm long, sparsely strigose on outer<br />
surface. Leaves: 1–3 cm long, petioles 4–7<br />
mm long, leaflets 15–29, oblong to obovate,<br />
2–5 mm long, rounded, obtuse or retuse at<br />
apex, glabrous on upper surface, strigose<br />
<strong>and</strong> sparsely <strong>and</strong> minutely gl<strong>and</strong>ular–<br />
punctate beneath. Flowers: Peduncles 1–4<br />
cm long, racemes dense, 1.5–4 cm long,<br />
bracts lanceolate–attenuate, 3.5–4.5 mm long, sparsely pubescent, caudcous;<br />
flowers 7–10 mm long, calyx tube turbinate, 2–2.5 mm long, strongly 10 ribbed,<br />
pilose, gl<strong>and</strong>ular between ribs; calyx lobes linear–lanceolate, 4–5 mm long,<br />
densely pilose without, glabrous within; corollas purple <strong>and</strong> white, reniform<br />
banner. Fruits: Obovate pod 3–3.5 mm long <strong>and</strong> wide, sparsely pilosulous.<br />
Ecology: Found on dry slopes <strong>and</strong> washes from 4,000–5,000 ft (1219–1524<br />
m); flowers April–September. Notes: Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology:<br />
Marina refers to marine, or of the sea, while calycosa means having a full calyx.<br />
Synonyms: Dalea calycosa<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 211<br />
Fabaceae<br />
Forbs
Fabaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Medicago polymorpha<br />
H M L<br />
burclover<br />
General: Decumbent annual with numerous spreading branches to 80 cm<br />
long, glabrous stems <strong>and</strong> foliage, whitish stipules, asymmetrically ovate–<br />
lanceolate to 1 cm long, bearing several slender teeth 2–3 mm long. Leaves:<br />
Petioles 1–2 cm long, leaflets obovate to obcordate or suborbicular, 5–13 mm<br />
wide, 10–15 mm long, broadly cuneate to obtuse at base, dentate almost to<br />
base. Flowers: Peduncles 2–5 flowered, 2 cm long or less, calyx about 5 mm<br />
long, petals yellow, only slightly exceeding calyx. Fruits: Pods to 1 cm in<br />
diameter, tightly coiled into 2–3 spirals, reticulate<br />
on sides, margins keeled <strong>and</strong> keel armed on each<br />
side by a row of curved or hooked prickles 2–3 mm<br />
long. Ecology: Widely established, occasional in<br />
waste areas, old fields; flowers March–June. Notes:<br />
Introduced from Europe, widely naturalized at<br />
present. Ethnobotany: Seeds parched, ground to<br />
make mush; leaves eaten for forage. Etymology:<br />
Medicago derived from medike, or medick, the<br />
Greek name for alfalfa, while polymorpha means<br />
many forms, or variable. Synonyms: Numerous,<br />
see Tropicos<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Melilotus indicus<br />
H M L<br />
annual yellow sweetclover<br />
General: Erect annual to 1 m tall with glabrous herbage or leaves <strong>and</strong> inflorescences<br />
sparsely appressed–pubescent when young, stipules subulate or narrowly<br />
lanceolate, 3–8 mm long. Leaves: Slender petioles to 5 cm long, leaflets cuneate–<br />
oblong to obovate, 3–12 mm wide, 1–2.5 cm long, obtuse, rounded or truncate,<br />
denticulate. Flowers: Peduncles surpass subtending leaves, racemes numerous,<br />
2–10 cm long, about 5 mm in diameter; flowers 2.5 mm long, calyx half as long,<br />
its teeth triangular, sparsely ciliolate, pealike, petals yellow. Fruits: Ovoid pods<br />
2–2.5 mm long, reticulate, glabrous, usually 1–<br />
seeded. Ecology: Occasional along roadsides,<br />
ditches, in fields, <strong>and</strong> in disturbed areas;<br />
flowers April–September. Notes: Widespread<br />
introduced ruderal. Ethnobotany: Used as a<br />
bed bug repellant, as a strong laxative, <strong>and</strong> for<br />
games. Etymology: Melilotus is from Greek<br />
meli, honey <strong>and</strong> lotos, a leguminous plant,<br />
while indicus refers to India. Synonyms:<br />
Melilotus indica<br />
212 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2004 Carol W. Witham<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Melilotus officinalis<br />
yellow sweetclover<br />
General: Tall, erect introduced biennial. Stems to 1.5 m (approximately 60<br />
inches). Up to 10 stems per plant; originating from short rhizomes <strong>and</strong> a<br />
deep taproot. Leaves: In three’s. Leaflets oval, slightly toothed. Flowers:<br />
Inflorescence a raceme; small yellow pea flowers, 4–7 mm long. Fruits: Pods<br />
3 mm long or less, oval <strong>and</strong> smooth. Ecology: Native of Europe; found on<br />
roadsides, in waste places, agricultural <strong>and</strong> pristine areas; from foothills <strong>and</strong><br />
deserts to mountains; flowers May–frost. Notes: Tall, erect biennial with many–<br />
flowered racemes containing tiny yellow flowers. M. alba has white flowers,<br />
but is otherwise very similar in habit, <strong>and</strong> is often found growing with M.<br />
officinalis. M. indicus is a smaller yellow–flowering annual. Good forage species<br />
for domestic livestock <strong>and</strong> wild ungulates. If cut as hay <strong>and</strong> not cured properly,<br />
can cause hemorrhaging in cattle. Nitrogen fixer. Good source of nectar for<br />
honeybees. Considered noxious weed in some states. Fire scarifies the seeds,<br />
as does freezing/thawing <strong>and</strong> passage through animal digestive tracts, thus<br />
stimulating germination. Seeds can remain viable in soil seed bank for up to<br />
40 years. It persists on sites that have periodic disturbance. Fire may be used<br />
to control it if used correctly. Eaten by livestock <strong>and</strong> wild ungulates, Dabbling<br />
ducks use it as nesting habitat (mallards, gadwalls, <strong>and</strong> teals), while many birds<br />
use it for both habitat <strong>and</strong> food. Host plant<br />
for Spring Azure <strong>and</strong> Eastern–Tailed Blue<br />
butterflies. Ethnobotany: Used medicinally to<br />
reduce postsurgical blood clots. Used in tea for<br />
soft tissue inflammations. Young leaves have a<br />
vanilla flavor <strong>and</strong> are used in cooking <strong>and</strong> tea.<br />
Herb is also used to flavor Gruyere cheese.<br />
Etymology: Melilotus is from Greek meli,<br />
honey <strong>and</strong> lotos, a leguminous plant, officinalis<br />
means it is sold as an herb. Synonyms:<br />
Melilotus albus, M. albus var. annuus<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 213<br />
Fabaceae<br />
Forbs
Fabaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Phaseolus ritensis<br />
Santa Rita mountain bean<br />
General: Prostrate, sc<strong>and</strong>ent or twining<br />
perennial with slender, striate, sparsely<br />
puberulent stems 2–10 dm long, onder ones<br />
often strongly zigzag; root woody, to 1.5 cm<br />
in diameter, stipules oblong–lanceolate to<br />
narrowly lanceolate 0.8–1.5 mm wide, 3–5<br />
mm long, strongly striate, finely <strong>and</strong> sparsely<br />
puberulent to subglabrate. Leaves: Petioles 1–3<br />
cm long, sparsely puberulent, leaflets ovate to<br />
bradly rhombic–ovate, symmetrical or nearly<br />
so, entire, 1.5–3.5 cm wide, 2–5.5 cm long, rather<br />
leathery, light green, subglabrate <strong>and</strong> finely<br />
reticulate–veined above, slightly paler, sparsely<br />
puberulent <strong>and</strong> conspicuously veined beneath,<br />
acute to obtuse <strong>and</strong> slightly emarginated at<br />
apex, rounded to broadly cuneate at base.<br />
Flowers: Peduncles usually surpassing leaves,<br />
to 30 cm long, flowering racemes equaling or<br />
exceeding basal portion; pedicels slender, 3–5<br />
mm long, <strong>and</strong> ascending at anthesis, to 1.5 cm long <strong>and</strong> reflexed in fruit; calyx<br />
broadly campanulate, 2–3 mm high, fully as wide, subglabrate, teeth broader<br />
than long, shorter than tube, corolla pale lavender, 6–9 mm long. Fruits: Pods<br />
4–7 mm wide, 3–4 cm long, more or less falcate, very abruptly turned upward at<br />
base, abruptly prostrate at apex, strongly flattened, glabrous. Ecology: Found<br />
on valley floors <strong>and</strong> rocky hillsides, common to oak woodl<strong>and</strong>s to down to<br />
upper margins of Sonoran Desert from 4,500–7,000 ft (1372–2134 m); flowers<br />
August–September. Notes: Often found crawling up into canopy of mesquite<br />
<strong>and</strong> oak, this makes it easily identifiable. Ethnobotany: The seeds which are<br />
quick to fall from ripened pods are large <strong>and</strong> can be prepared like teparies.<br />
Etymology: Phaseolus is from Greek phaselos, a little boat or light vessel,<br />
referring to its pod, while ritensis is a reference to the Santa Rita Mountains.<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
214 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
2008 <strong>NPS</strong>/Steve Buckley
©2004 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Rhynchosia senna var. texana<br />
Texas snoutbean<br />
General: A slender, twining or scrambling<br />
vine with stems 1–20 dm long from a woody<br />
root, minutely puberulent throughout,<br />
stipules lance–setaceous, 2–2.5 mm long.<br />
Leaves: Petioles slender, 5–12 mm long,<br />
petiolule of terminal leaflet from half as<br />
long as to equaling petiole; leaflets narrowly<br />
ovate–lanceolate to lanceolate, 3–10 mm<br />
©2007 WNMU, Zimmerman Herbarium<br />
wide, 1–5 cm long, rounded at base, acute<br />
<strong>and</strong> muctonulate at apex. Flowers: Solitary to few flowered clusters in axils,<br />
pedicels 4–5 mm long, calyx tube 1.5 mm long, finely villous with short<br />
spreading hairs, teeth linear–subulate, 1.5–2.5 mm long, corolla yellow, 5–6<br />
mm long. Fruits: Pods lunate, 5–7 mm wide, about 2 cm long, finely <strong>and</strong><br />
closely puberulent, minute beak turned abruptly downward. Ecology: Found<br />
on the margins of grassy plains, among shrubs, <strong>and</strong> on mesas from 3,500–5,500<br />
ft (1067–1676 m); flowers May–September. Notes: Specimens in southern<br />
Arizona have hairs on the stem that are appressed or subppressed <strong>and</strong> retrorse,<br />
while those further north have spreading or ascending hair. Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown Etymology: Rhynchosia is from Greek rhynchos, horn, beak or<br />
snout, while senna from the Arabic name sana. Synonyms: Rhynchosia senna<br />
var. angustifolia, R. texana<br />
Senna bauhinioides<br />
twinleaf senna<br />
General: Herbaceous perennial from<br />
slender woody rootstock, with several<br />
ascending–spreading branches 10–30 cm<br />
tall <strong>and</strong> soft pubescent foliage; stipules<br />
lance–linear, 3–6 mm long, persistent.<br />
Leaves: Petioles slender, 1–3 cm long,<br />
cylindric gl<strong>and</strong> just below apex; leaflets<br />
1 pair, oblong, 5–12 mm broad, 1–2.8 cm<br />
long, obtuse or rounded at both ends,<br />
silky–pubescent <strong>and</strong> slightly cinereous on both surfaces. Flowers: Peduncles<br />
2.5–4 cm long, usually 2–flowered, sepals 6–8 mm long, oblong, thinnish, green<br />
with yellowish margins, pubescent outside, glabrous within; petals 12–18 mm<br />
long, distinctly brown–veined; anthers essentially alike; ovary densely appressed–<br />
hirsute. Fruits: Pods oblong, 5–6 mm in diameter, 2–3.5 cm long, scarcely<br />
compressed, dark brown, spreadingly pubescent. Ecology: Found on gravelly<br />
flats <strong>and</strong> plains, along washes, <strong>and</strong> rocky slopes from 2,000–5,500 ft (610–1676<br />
m); flowers April–August. Notes: Another species Senna hirsuta var. glaberrima<br />
is thought to be in the area, but the taxonomy remains elusive. Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown Etymology: Senna is from Arabic Sena, while bauhinioides is named<br />
from Swiss herbalist <strong>and</strong> botanist brothers Caspar <strong>and</strong> Jean Bahuin (1541–1613).<br />
Synonyms: Cassia bauhinioides, C. bauhinioides var. arizonica<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 215<br />
Fabaceae<br />
Forbs
Fabaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Senna hirsuta var. glaberrima<br />
woolly senna<br />
General: Perennial herb to subshrub,<br />
simple stemmed or branched above, often<br />
to 1 m more tall, herbage glabrate to sparsely<br />
pubescent, stems ridged with linear to lance–<br />
subulate stipules, 5–10 mm long. Leaves:<br />
Leaves to 40 cm long, petiole bearing a large<br />
gl<strong>and</strong> near base, 8–16 leaflets, lanceolate, 7–25<br />
mm wide by 4–10 cm long, glabrous except on<br />
puberulent margins, bright green. Flowers:<br />
Terminal inflorescence, but can be axillary,<br />
few flowered, on pedicels 5–25 mm long;<br />
sepals thin, oblong to obovate, rounded, 7–10<br />
mm long, petals to 1.5 cm long, exceeding the<br />
sepals, yellow. Fruits: Linear pods, 4.5–6 mm wide to 25 cm long, indehiscent to<br />
tardily dehiscent, dull grayish brown at maturity. Ecology: Found along washes<br />
<strong>and</strong> streams from 2,500–5,500 ft (762–1676 m); flowers July–September. Notes:<br />
Foliage is ill–smelling, easily identified by the bright yellow flowers <strong>and</strong> size of<br />
the plant. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Senna is from Arabic Sena,<br />
while hirsuta comes from hirsute, for hairy, <strong>and</strong> glaberrima means completely<br />
glabrous. Synonyms: Cassia leptocarpa var. glaberrima<br />
Sphinctospermum constrictum<br />
hourglass peaseed<br />
General: Stems simple or sparingly<br />
ascendingly branched, 20–60 cm tall,<br />
slender, sparingly strigose to glabrate.<br />
Leaves: Simple, sessile, linear, 1–3 mm<br />
broad, 2–8 cm long, glabrous or with a<br />
few scattered hairs, pale green. Flowers:<br />
Pedicels 1–5 mm long, lobes lance–<br />
subulate, slightly spreading, equaling or<br />
slightly exceeding tube, corolla pink about<br />
© 2008 SEINET–ASU, Liz Makings<br />
5 mm long. Fruits: Pod linear, 2.5–3 mm wide, 3–4 cm long, straight, glabrous,<br />
pendent at an angle of about 40 degrees. Ecology: Uncommon, found on<br />
grassy hillsides <strong>and</strong> plains, mostly in s<strong>and</strong>y soil. likes the open from 2,500–4,000<br />
ft (762–1219 m); flowers July–September. Notes: Hour glass shaped seeds are<br />
very distinctive. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Sphinctospermum<br />
means pinched seed, while constrictum means constricted also. Synonyms:<br />
Tephrosia constricta<br />
216 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
2009 <strong>NPS</strong>/Steve Buckley
©2008 Lara Hartley<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Erodium cicutarium<br />
redstem stork’s bill<br />
General: Annual herb; thought to be introduced from Europe, naturalized<br />
throughout U.S.; herbage gl<strong>and</strong>ular–villous; stems are erect initially becoming<br />
prostrate, few to several, often reddish with swollen nodes; slender taproot.<br />
Leaves: Pinnately <strong>and</strong> finely dissected; blade bipinnatifid (twice pinnately<br />
cleft), lance–shaped stipules. Flowers: 2–5 (usually)–flowered umbel,<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular–pubescent; rose–lavender, pink, or lilac petals; often spotted; mature<br />
stylar column. Fruits: With beak of fruit 2.7–3.8 cm. Ecology: In disturbed,<br />
often dry places from 2,500–8,000 ft (762–2438 m); naturalized throughout the<br />
West <strong>and</strong> much of the US; flowers February–July. Notes: Gl<strong>and</strong>ular–pubescent<br />
annuals of disturbed areas, 20–50 mm long stylar column, pink or lavender<br />
petals, finely dissected leaves. Told apart from E. texanum by its leaves which<br />
are simple <strong>and</strong> 3–lobed, plants are also without gl<strong>and</strong>s. Seasonal forage for<br />
rodents, desert tortoise, big game animals, <strong>and</strong> livestock. Seeds eaten by upl<strong>and</strong><br />
gamebirds, songbirds, <strong>and</strong> rodents. Plant is sensitive to pollution. Low intensity<br />
burns may allow plant survival. Moderate to severe intensity fires kill plant.<br />
Initially, post–fire germination is low but overall biomass increases. Prescribed<br />
burns are favorable to species. Ethnobotany:<br />
Costanoan make cold leaf tea to treat typhoid<br />
fever. Navajo use plant to disinfect <strong>and</strong><br />
treat bobcat <strong>and</strong> mountain lion bites. Zuni<br />
make chewed leaf poultice for sores <strong>and</strong><br />
rashes. Navajo also use it to treat excessive<br />
menstruation. Etymology: Erodium is Greek<br />
for heron, which comes from the bill–like<br />
fruit. Cicut means pertaining to hemlock.<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
Erodium texanum<br />
Texas stork’s bill<br />
General: Winter spring ephemeral, stems<br />
reaching 25 cm, but usually shorter <strong>and</strong> stemless.<br />
Herbage with small, coarse white hairs, not<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular. Leaves: Blades 9–21 mm, ovate to<br />
heart–shaped or rounded in outline, usually 3–<br />
lobed or parted, margins toothed, petioles 10–42<br />
mm. Flowers: Umbels 2–3 flowered, petals pink<br />
to purple, readily falling, longer than the sepals;<br />
fruiting sepals 5.5–9 mm. Fruits: Beak of fruit<br />
3.2–5 cm long. Ecology: Widespread, mostly at<br />
lower elevations on s<strong>and</strong>y or fine–textured soils, sometimes among rocks from<br />
1,000–5,000 ft (305–1524 m); flowers February–April. Notes: Common as E.<br />
cicutarium, but easily distinguishable by the flowers. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
Etymology: Erodium is Greek for heron, which comes from the bill–like fruit,<br />
texanum refers to Texas. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 217<br />
Geraniaceae<br />
Forbs
Lamiaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Lamium amplexicaule<br />
H M L<br />
henbit deadnettle<br />
General: Annual or biennial with sparsely pubescent herbage <strong>and</strong> decumbent<br />
to ascending stems 5–35 cm long, branching at base <strong>and</strong> from some axils.<br />
Leaves: Broadly ovate to suborbicular, truncate to cordate at base, obtuse to<br />
rounded at apex, coarsely crenate, dark green above, slightly paler beneath,<br />
lower leaves 5–10 mm wide, slenderly petiolate, upper sessile <strong>and</strong> often<br />
clasping, 20–25 mm wide, nearly as long. Flowers: Cymules few–flowered;<br />
calyx hispidulous 4–5 mm long, teeth equaling or slightly longer than broad<br />
tube, corolla purple to lavender, 10–16 mm long, tube slender, sparsely hirsute<br />
below, becoming densely pubescent upward, upper lip bearded with lavender<br />
to purplish hairs, lower lip with very small lateral lobes, middle lobe spotted<br />
with white <strong>and</strong> deep purple. Fruits: Nutlets obovoid–oblong, round back,<br />
trigonous in cross section, narrowly grooved down ventral midline, pale brown<br />
with paler numerous tubercles. Ecology: Found in waste places, disturbed<br />
areas, cultivated fields <strong>and</strong> lawns, very<br />
widespread. Flowers March–October.<br />
Notes: Widespread weed, naturalized<br />
extensively in United States, from Eurasia.<br />
Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology:<br />
Lamium is the ancient Latin name for the<br />
mints, while amplexicaule refers to the<br />
leaf base clasping the stem. Synonyms:<br />
Lamium amplexicaule var. album<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Marrubium vulgare<br />
H M L<br />
horehound<br />
General: Perennial exotic herb from a taproot; stems several, prostrate to<br />
ascending–erect, 20–100 cm long/tall, densely white wooly. Leaves: Opposite,<br />
blades 1–6 cm long, conspicuously wrinkled, ovate to round, with crenate<br />
margins; generally green <strong>and</strong> pubescent above, white wooly below. Flowers:<br />
Whorled in globular clusters in leaf axils, with spiny calyces; corolla 5–10 mm<br />
long, whitish. Fruits: 4 nutlets Ecology: On disturbed ground from 2,000–7,500<br />
ft (610–2286 m); flowers April–October. Notes: Distinguished by noticeably<br />
wrinkly leaves <strong>and</strong> white–wooly pubescence on stems <strong>and</strong> undersides of<br />
leaves. Ethnobotany: Herb is useful in<br />
tincture form to alleviate lung congestion.<br />
Species is sometimes substituted in brewing in<br />
place of hops. Navajo use it to treat indigestion,<br />
stomachache, influenza, colds, coughs, sore<br />
throats, <strong>and</strong> general aches <strong>and</strong> pains. It is<br />
also used in childbirth. Etymology: Possibly<br />
from the Hebrew for “bitter juice”. Vulgare is<br />
ancient word for common. Synonyms: None<br />
218 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2007 WNMU, Zimmerman Herbarium<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Salvia subincisa<br />
sawtooth sage<br />
General: Erect annual herb with several to many<br />
slender branches 30–50 cm tall, internodes<br />
3–10 cm, quadrangular in cross section, closely<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular–hirtellous with capitate hairs. Leaves:<br />
Slender petioles, gl<strong>and</strong>ular–hirtellous, 1–1.5 cm<br />
long, broadening gradually above to cuneate<br />
base of leaf blades, the oblong–elliptic to linear–<br />
lanceolate, 3–15mm wide, 1.5–6 cm long, acute<br />
to attenuate at apex, irregularly incised–serrate,<br />
sparsely hirtellous <strong>and</strong> minutely gl<strong>and</strong>ular, slightly<br />
paler beneath that above. Flowers: Solitary<br />
flowers, but sometimes 2–3 flowered verticals<br />
1–3 cm apart in a raceme 3–15 cm long; bracts ovate, 2–3.5 mm long, ciliate–<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular, caducous; calyx 4.5–5.5 mm long in flower, corolla 4–4.5 mm long,<br />
upper lip 2–2.5 mm long, bluish, sparsely hirtellous without; lower lip 7–8 mm,<br />
slightly hirtellous beneath. Fruits: Nutlets ellipsoidal, 2.5–3 mm long, 1.8–2<br />
mm wide, smooth but dull, buff to pale brown. Ecology: Found along canyons<br />
<strong>and</strong> rocky shaded slopes <strong>and</strong> on margins of meadows below 5,500 ft (1676 m);<br />
flowers August–September. Notes: Irregularly incised–serrate leaves are one<br />
key diagnostic. Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species, but other species in<br />
this genus have medicinal, culinary, or food value. Etymology: Salvia comes<br />
from Latin salveo, I am well, <strong>and</strong> subincisa means below incised, deeply or<br />
irregularly cut. Synonyms: None<br />
Calochortus kennedyi<br />
desert mariposa lily<br />
General: Simple stems, stoutish, 10-25 cm<br />
tall, glaucous. Leaves: Basal leaves linear,<br />
deeply channeled, 2-5 mm wide, about<br />
equaling stems, glaucous; upper leaves<br />
1-2 or wanting, 3-6 mm wide at base, 3-5<br />
cm long, recurved <strong>and</strong> thick, attenuate,<br />
scarious along margins. Flowers: Umbels<br />
2-4 flowered, sepals broadly ovate to lanceovate,<br />
2-3 cm long, 6-10 mm wide, acute,<br />
orange-red within, usually brownish spot near base; petals broadly cuneateobovate,<br />
2.5-3.5 cm long, orange-red with brownish purple claws; large hairy<br />
gl<strong>and</strong> at base. Fruits: Capsule broadly linear-lanceolate, 4-5 cm long, obtusely<br />
triquetrous, slightly attenuate above. Ecology: Found on gravelly hills, mesas<br />
<strong>and</strong> outwash slopes below 5000 ft (1524 m); flowers April-June. Notes: Several<br />
species of this genus are in the region, petal color usually is the diagnostic.<br />
Ethnobotany: Large bulbs were eaten. Etymology: Calochortus is Greek,<br />
meaning beautiful herb, while kennedyi is named after William Kennedy<br />
(c1827?). Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 219<br />
Lamiaceae–Liliaceae<br />
Forbs
Loasaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Mentzelia albicaulis<br />
whitestem blazingstar<br />
General: Annuals with sticky leaves, stems to 45<br />
cm tall. Leaves: Sticky surface due to barbed hairs;<br />
sessile, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate; margins lobed<br />
often with teeth in the sinuses; up to 15 cm long.<br />
Flowers: Sessile; petals yellow, 2–5 mm long; 15–30<br />
stamens; style 2–3 mm long. Fruits: Capsules club–<br />
shaped (widens toward tip <strong>and</strong> often long–tapering to<br />
base); 8–28 mm long; Seeds hang down, not winged,<br />
grain–like seeds in upper half of capsule. Ecology:<br />
Found in dry places from 1000–7500 ft (305–2286m);<br />
flowers February–June. Notes: M. albicaulis has<br />
more consistently deeply pinnately lobed leaves, at times with shallowly lobed<br />
leaves above. Ethnobotany: Gosiute rub seeds on burned skin. Hopi use<br />
plant for toothaches. Navajo use leaf concoction for snakebites. Numerous<br />
tribes use seed flour as staple for gravy, bread porridge, etc. Etymology:<br />
Mentzelia named for Christian Mentzel (1622–1701), a 17th century German<br />
botanist, botanical author <strong>and</strong> physician. Albicaulis translates to whitish–stem.<br />
Synonyms: Acrolasia albicaulis, M. gracilis, M. mojavensis<br />
Mentzelia aspera<br />
tropical blazingstar<br />
General: Annual herb with spreading, ascending, longitudinally striate stems<br />
10–40 cm long, puberulent with straight or slightly curved, spinelike hairs,<br />
retrorsely barbed. Leaves: Lanceolate to ovate–lanceolate, to broadly ovate<br />
10–15 cm long to 8 cm broad, acute to acuminate at apex, more or less cuneate<br />
to subcordate at base, serrateor deeply incised or sometimes hallowly 3–lobed,<br />
dark green on upper surface, paler <strong>and</strong> more densely scabrous beneath.<br />
Flowers: Calyx tube 6–11 mm long, attenuate at base, lobes lanceolate 3–4 mm<br />
long, 1–1.5 mm wide, acuminate; 5 petals, obovate to obovate–orbicular, 4–8<br />
mm long. Fruits: Subcylindrical capsule, 1.5–2.5 cm long, 3–5 mm in diameter,<br />
terete, obtuse at base, papery, sessile. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y or rocky soil<br />
below 4000 ft (1219 m); flowers July–October. Notes: Diagnostic for this plant<br />
is the striate stems. Ethnobotany: Unknown, but others of this genera had<br />
wide use as food, medicine, <strong>and</strong> for ceremony. Etymology: Mentzelia named<br />
for Christian Mentzel (1622–1701), a 17th century German botanist, botanical<br />
author <strong>and</strong> physician, while aspera means rough. Synonyms: None<br />
220 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2004 James M. Andre
©2008 SEINET–ASU, Liz Makings<br />
©2005 James M. Andre<br />
Abutilon mollicomum<br />
Sonoran Indian mallow<br />
General: Shrubs 1–2 m tall, stems <strong>and</strong> petioles<br />
with spreading simple hairs 2–4 mm long. Leaves:<br />
Broadly ovate or weakly lobulate, 10–20 cm long,<br />
irregularly dentate, softly pubescent, markedly<br />
discolorous. Flowers: In ample terminal panicle<br />
rising above leaves, calyx 4–6 mm long, petals<br />
5–8 mm long, staminal column glabrous, around<br />
10 styles. Fruits: Exceeding calyx, 8–10 mm<br />
diameter, stellate–pubescent, mericarps 10,<br />
short–apiculate. Ecology: Found in grassl<strong>and</strong>s<br />
<strong>and</strong> along waterways from 3,000–4,500 ft (914–<br />
1372 m); flowers September–December. Notes: Easy to identify because of<br />
its huge leaves. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Abutilon is from the<br />
Arabic word for a mallow–like plant. Synonyms: Abutilon sonorae<br />
Abutilon parvulum<br />
dwarf Indian mallow<br />
General: Herbs or subshrubs with trailing branches,<br />
stems minutely stellate–pubescent, sometimes<br />
also with simple hairs 1 mm long. Leaves: Broadly<br />
ovate, up to 5 cm long, often smaller, coarsely<br />
dentate, sparsely stellate–pubescent, concolorous.<br />
Flowers: Solitary in leaf axils, calyx 3–5 mm long,<br />
lobes reflexed in fruit, petals orange or pink, 4–7<br />
mm diameter, minutely stellate–pubescent. Fruits:<br />
Mericarps 5, apically acute or apiculate. Ecology:<br />
Found on dry plains <strong>and</strong> arid slopes from 2,500–<br />
5,500 ft (762–1676 m); flowers throughout the year.<br />
Notes: The green of the leaf tissue showing through the sparser, longer–rayed<br />
pubescence on the lower sides of the leaf blade readily sets it apart in the field.<br />
Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Abutilon is from the Arabic word for a<br />
mallow–like plant, while parvulum means somewhat small. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 221<br />
Malvaceae<br />
Forbs
Malvaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Anoda cristata<br />
crested anoda<br />
General: Suberect or decumbent herb, stems<br />
hispid. Leaves: Usually ovate to hastate, dentate to<br />
subentire, sparsely pubescent, often with purple<br />
blotch along midvein. Flowers: Solitary in leaf axils<br />
on long pedicels, calyx 5–10 mm long (12–20 mm in<br />
fruit); petals 8–16 mm long, lavender (rarely white);<br />
pubescent staminal column, shorter than petals,<br />
styles 10–19. Fruits: Disk–shaped, 8–11 mm diameter<br />
(excluding spines), hispid; mericarps 10–19 with<br />
horizontal spines 1.5–4 mm long dorsally. Ecology:<br />
Found along streams, in meadows, roadsides, fields<br />
<strong>and</strong> gentle slopes or flats from 3,500–6,000 ft (1067–1981 m); flowers throughout<br />
the year. Notes: Considered a weed by many sources, common throughout the<br />
region, noxious in some states, including Colorado. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
Etymology: Anoda comes from Greek, a, without <strong>and</strong> Latin nodus, joint<br />
or node, a nod to the stems lacking nodes, while cristata means comb–like.<br />
Synonyms: Anoda acerifolia, A. cristata var. brachyantha, A. cristata var.<br />
digitata, A. lavaterioides, Sida cristata<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Malva parviflora<br />
H M L<br />
cheeseweed mallow<br />
General: Introduced, trailing or ascending herb, slightly pubescent to glabrate.<br />
Leaves: Orbicular or reniform, 2–7 cm long, crenate, undulate, or 5–7 lobed.<br />
Flowers: 1–4 in leaf axils, short–pedicellate, calyx 3–4 mm long, accrescent<br />
to 7–8 mm in fruit, petals lavender or white, 4–5 mm long. Fruits: Nearly<br />
glabrous, mericarps around 10, rugose or wrinkled dorsally <strong>and</strong> winged at the<br />
angle between the dorsal <strong>and</strong> lateral walls. Ecology: Found on roadsides <strong>and</strong><br />
in fields, disturbed ground <strong>and</strong> urban habitats from 1,000–7,000 ft (305–2134<br />
m); flowers most of the year. Notes: Similar to the other weed species Malva<br />
neglecta, which is generally found at higher elevations, but can also be told<br />
apart by the pedicels being shorter than the calyx in M. parviflora, along<br />
with shorter petals, <strong>and</strong> fewer mericarps.<br />
Ethnobotany: Decoction of leaves used as a<br />
rinse for d<strong>and</strong>ruff <strong>and</strong> to soften hair, used for<br />
enema <strong>and</strong> bath for babies with fevers, <strong>and</strong> for<br />
swelling, sores, or boils. Etymology: Malva is<br />
the Latin name for mallow taken from Greek<br />
malache, referring to the leaves; parviflora is<br />
from Greek parvus, small <strong>and</strong> flora, flower,<br />
hence small–flowered. Synonyms: None<br />
222 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2000 Pedro Tenorio Lezama
©2007 Lynn Watson<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Malvella leprosa<br />
scaly alkali mallow<br />
General: Trailing stems with a mixture of<br />
stellate hairs <strong>and</strong> lepidote scales. Leaves:<br />
Triangular, acute, irregularly dentate, 1–2<br />
cm long. Flowers: Pedicel subequal to<br />
the corresponding leaf, involucel usually<br />
absent, calyx 6–8 mm long, lepidote, petals<br />
12–15 mm long. Fruits: Oblate, 5–6 mm<br />
in diameter, mericarps about 7, dorsally<br />
rounded. Ecology: Found in heavy, saline<br />
soils on roadsides or mud flats from 4,500–5,500 ft (1372–1676 m); flowers<br />
throughout year. Notes: The stellate puberulence on the backs of the petals<br />
is a striking character. Ethnobotany: Used for dysentery, diarrhea, <strong>and</strong><br />
inflammation of the bowels. Etymology: Malvella is a diminutive of Malva<br />
meaning little malva, while leprosa means scurfy or spotted like a leper.<br />
Synonyms: Sida hederacea, S. leprosa, S. leprosa var. hederacea<br />
Rhynchosida physocalyx<br />
buffpetal, bladder calyx<br />
General: Herbs with large taproot, stems<br />
trailing to ascending, with scattered coarse<br />
stellate hairs. Leaves: Oblong–ovate, 2–5<br />
cm long, coarsely pubescent, with ciliate<br />
margins. Flowers: Solitary in leaf axils,<br />
calyx lobes broadly cordate, overlapping<br />
<strong>and</strong> strongly 5–angled basally, petals 5–8<br />
mm long, subequal to calyx. Fruits: 8–9 mm<br />
in diameter, surrounded by inflated calyx;<br />
mericarps 8–10. Ecology: Found in canyons <strong>and</strong> along waterways from 2,500–<br />
5,000 ft (762–1524 m); flowers throughout year. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
Etymology: Rhynchosida comes from Greek rhynchos, horn, beak, snout, <strong>and</strong><br />
sida which Theophrastus called the water lily, while physocalyx comes from<br />
Greek physa meaning bladder, or pair of bellows <strong>and</strong> calyx meaning flower.<br />
Synonyms: Sida physocalyx<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 223<br />
Malvaceae<br />
Forbs
Malvaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Sida abutifolia<br />
Sida neomexicana<br />
Impact risk level<br />
H M L<br />
spreading fanpetals<br />
General: Introduced procumbent perennial herbs, stellate–pubescent <strong>and</strong><br />
usually with simple hairs 1–2 mm long. Leaves: Ovate to oblong, crenate, up to<br />
1.5 cm long or occasionally larger. Flowers: Solitary in the leaf axils on slender<br />
pedicels, calyx 4–5 mm long, petals white, 5–6 mm long, 5 styles. Fruits: Oblate–<br />
conical, pubescent, 5 mm diameter, mericarps 5, with apical spines to 0.5 mm<br />
long. Ecology: Found on arid, s<strong>and</strong>y plains <strong>and</strong> on roadsides, from 2,500–<br />
6,000 ft (762–1981 m); flowers throughout<br />
year. Notes: Diagnostic for this plant is the 5<br />
mericarps which are the smallest, procumbent<br />
habit, <strong>and</strong> setose hairs. Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown Etymology: Sida is the name<br />
Theophrastus gave to the lily, abutifolia comes<br />
from abutilon <strong>and</strong> folia for leaves, meaning<br />
mallow–like leaves. Synonyms: Sida filicaulis,<br />
S. filiformis, S. procumbens, S. supina<br />
New Mexico fanpetals<br />
General: Multi–stemmed erect perennial<br />
herbs up to 0.5 m tall, minutely stellate–<br />
puberulent. Leaves: Narrowly oblong–<br />
lanceolate, dentate, 3–9 mm wide, pubescent<br />
beneath. Flowers: Axillary but apically<br />
congested through shortened internodes,<br />
calyx 6–7 mm long, petals yellow–orange<br />
to reddish, 10–12 mm long, styles 10–12,<br />
©2007 WNMU, Zimmerman Herbarium<br />
obscurely reticulate laterally, muticous.<br />
Fruits: Apically pubescent, 5–7 mm diameter, 7–14 per schizocarp. Ecology:<br />
Found on rocky slopes, in canyons, <strong>and</strong> generally in open vegetation from<br />
4,000–6,000 ft (1219–1829 m); flowers June–October. Notes: Diagnostic of this<br />
plant is the congestion of the flowers <strong>and</strong> fruits at the end of the stem, the 1<br />
cm pedicel, <strong>and</strong> narrowly oblong–lanceolate leaves. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
Etymology: Sida is the name Theophrastus gave to the lily, neomexicanum<br />
means New Mexico for location of type specimen. Synonyms: None<br />
224 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
2008 <strong>NPS</strong>/Steve Buckley<br />
©2006 James M. Andre<br />
Sida spinosa<br />
prickly fanpetals<br />
General: Herbs or subshrubs, rarely annuals to<br />
1 m tall, minutely stellate–puberulent. Leaves:<br />
Broadly ovate to narrowly oblong–lanceolate,<br />
dentate, 2–4 cm long, discolorous. Flowers:<br />
Solitary (rarely grouped) in leaf axils, sometimes<br />
crowded apically, calyx 5–7 mm long, petals<br />
yellow (rarely white); 5 styles. Fruits: Broadly<br />
conical, 4–5 mm diameter, 5 mericarps, apical<br />
spines about 1 mm long, antrorsely pubescent.<br />
Ecology: Found on open arid slopes <strong>and</strong> s<strong>and</strong>y plains, sometimes in fields from<br />
3,500–4,000 ft (1067–1219 m); flowers throughout the year. Notes: Diagnostic<br />
is its erect habit, 5 mericarps about 1 mm long, <strong>and</strong> stellate–puberulence.<br />
Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Sida is the name Theophrastus gave to<br />
the lily, spinosa means spiny. Synonyms: Sida alba, S. angustifolia, S. spinosa<br />
var. angustifolia<br />
Sphaeralcea angustifolia<br />
copperleaf globemallow<br />
General: Perennial, stems several, canescent to<br />
1 m or taller; stems erect to floppy <strong>and</strong> curving.<br />
Leaves: Leaves broadly ovate to ovate–oblong,<br />
somewhat cordate at base, angulate to 3–parted<br />
or 3–cleft, crenate or dentate on margins, 2–9<br />
cm long. Flowers: Three or more per node, in<br />
many–flowered interrupted raceme, pedicels<br />
shorter than sepals; calyx 5–10 mm , densely<br />
stellate–tomentose;, lobes acute to acuminate;<br />
petals grenadine–pink to pale red–orange, 10–20<br />
mm long. Fruits: Mericarps 2–or–3 seeded,<br />
2.7–4.3 mm, longer than wide, dehiscent section<br />
about as large as the body. Ecology: Found in s<strong>and</strong>y or loamy soil, s<strong>and</strong>y<br />
plains or waste places below 3,000 ft (914 m); flowers April–June. Notes: Big<br />
ovate leaves, 3–cleft, helps to identify this species. Ethnobotany: Taken as a<br />
decoction of root for diarrhea by Pima. Etymology: Sphaeralcea is from Greek<br />
sphaira, a globe, <strong>and</strong> alcea, a related genus. Synonyms: Many, see Tropicos<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 225<br />
Malvaceae<br />
Forbs
Malvaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Sphaeralcea fendleri<br />
Fendler’s globemallow<br />
General: Perennial herbs to 120 cm tall, with<br />
woody crowns, the leaves <strong>and</strong> stems more or<br />
less canescent with stellate hairs, hairs gray<br />
or white. Leaves: Leaves narrowly to broadly<br />
ovate, deeply cleft, the lateral lobes triangular<br />
<strong>and</strong> acute. Flowers: Flowers bright red to pink,<br />
the petals 8–15 mm long, the calyx 4–6 mm long,<br />
with lobes about as long as the tube. Fruits:<br />
Rounded capsules often remaining attached to the axis after maturity by a<br />
thread–like extension of the dorsal nerve, seeds 1–3. Ecology: Found in pine<br />
forests <strong>and</strong> down to the oak <strong>and</strong> mixed oak woodl<strong>and</strong>s from 3,000–8,000 ft<br />
(914–2438 m); flowering July–September. Notes: Similar to S. incana but with<br />
generally glabrescent leaves, ssp. albescens has been reported as collected from<br />
Tumacácori NHP, but Fryxell in his Malvaceae of Mexico does not recognize<br />
infraspecific taxa. La Duke 1986 indicates that this subspecies is only to be<br />
found in southern Arizona <strong>and</strong> northern Mexico, but even this remains a little<br />
finicky. Ethnobotany: The plant was used to treat s<strong>and</strong> cricket bites, an infusion<br />
of the plant was taken for mouth sores <strong>and</strong> for internal injury <strong>and</strong> hemorrhage,<br />
<strong>and</strong> as a lotion to treat external injury. The juice of the plant was made into a<br />
paste <strong>and</strong> mixed with clay before forming it into a pot. Etymology: Sphaeralcea<br />
comes from the Greek sphaira, “a globe,” <strong>and</strong> alcea, a related genus, referring<br />
to the spherical fruits, the common name of this genus being “globe–mallow”,<br />
while fendleri is named for August(us) Fendler (1813–1883), a German plant<br />
collector in North <strong>and</strong> Central America. Synonyms: Sphaeralcea leiocarpa<br />
226 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Proboscidea altheifolia<br />
desert unicorn–plant<br />
General: Perennial from deeply set tuberous<br />
root, shoots emerging with summer rains,<br />
stems <strong>and</strong> petioles semi–succulent <strong>and</strong><br />
viscid–sticky. Leaves: Often with petioles<br />
4–11 cm long, blades 2–6 cm, broadly ovate to<br />
orbicular or kidney–shaped <strong>and</strong> shallowly<br />
lobed. Flowers: Flowers 4 cm, showy,<br />
corollas bright yellow inside tube <strong>and</strong> on<br />
lobes with brown–purple speckles <strong>and</strong><br />
dark yellow–orange nectar guides, tube often bronze colored outside. Fruits:<br />
Capsule body 4–6.6 cm, claws 9–14 cm. Seeds 6–9 mm, obovoid, blackish <strong>and</strong><br />
warty. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y–gravelly soils of arroyos, washes, below 4,500<br />
ft (1372 m); flowers May–August. Notes: Notably, black seeds are only found in<br />
the native, undomesticated species. Ethnobotany: Widely eaten, both seeds<br />
<strong>and</strong> fruit. When young, fruit is similar to okra. Seri peeled the fleshy root <strong>and</strong><br />
ate the cortex. Used for basketry. Etymology: Proboscidea is from Greek<br />
proboskis, elephant’s trunk, <strong>and</strong> althaeifolia means with leaves like the genus<br />
Althaea. Synonyms: Martynia althaeifolia, M. arenaria, Proboscidea arenaria<br />
Proboscidea parviflora<br />
doubleclaw, devil’s claw<br />
General: Densely viscid–pubescent annual with<br />
spreading branches to 1 m long, roots small <strong>and</strong><br />
poorly developed, stems <strong>and</strong> petioles thick <strong>and</strong><br />
semisucculent. Leaves: Larger leaves 12–30 cm,<br />
petioles as long as broadly ovate blades that<br />
are shallowly lobed. Flowers: Few–flowered,<br />
pedicels 1–2 cm long at anthesis, corolla 3 cm,<br />
pale lavender with purple blotches <strong>and</strong> white–<br />
<strong>and</strong>–yellow nectar guides. Fruits: Body of<br />
capsule 2 cm in diameter, 5–7 cm long, claws 10–<br />
15 cm, seeds obovoid, blackish warty. Ecology:<br />
Found on s<strong>and</strong>y <strong>and</strong> gravelly soils, fields, roadsides, <strong>and</strong> disturbed areas from<br />
1,000–5,000 ft (305–1524 m); flowers from March–October. Notes: Diagnostic<br />
for this plant is the white–lavender color. Ethnobotany: Widely eaten, both<br />
seeds <strong>and</strong> fruit. When young, fruit is similar to okra. The more common<br />
cultivated varieties have much longer claws than the wild annual, but both have<br />
wide usage in basketry <strong>and</strong> as food. Etymology: Proboscidea is from Greek<br />
proboskis, elephant’s trunk, while parviflora is from Greek parvus, small <strong>and</strong><br />
flora, flower. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 227<br />
Martyniaceae<br />
Forbs
Menispermaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Cocculus diversifolius<br />
snailseed<br />
General: Woody, climbing vine with slender<br />
stems. Leaves: Alternate, simple, thickish,<br />
linear to broadly ovate, .3–3 cm wide, 2–7 cm<br />
long, rounded <strong>and</strong> mucronulate to acute at<br />
apex, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, especially<br />
along margins <strong>and</strong> veins beneath. Flowers:<br />
Short axillary raceme 1–5 cm long, pubescent,<br />
three greenish ovate sepals, outer 1 mm long,<br />
inner 1.5 mm long, with three petals 2–2.5 mm long, rounded at apex. Fruits:<br />
Globose drupe, dark purplish black, fleshy, staining, 5–6 mm in diameter.<br />
Ecology: Found mostly in the shade of trees <strong>and</strong> larger shrubs from 3,500–<br />
5,000 ft (1067–1524 m); flowers May–August. Notes: Stems gray to brown with<br />
short, confluent ridges, younger stems green to gray to brown, finely grooved,<br />
with fine, appressed hairs. The alternate leaves <strong>and</strong> climbing habit are key,<br />
along with the three parted flowers. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology:<br />
Diversifolius refers to diverse foliage. Synonyms: None<br />
228 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
2012 <strong>NPS</strong>
©2007 Neal Kramer<br />
Mollugo verticillata<br />
green carpetweed<br />
General: Prostrate annual forming mats 1–35<br />
cm across. Leaves: Spatulate, 5–6 in a whorl,<br />
5–40 mm long, 2–8 mm wide, basal ones distinctly<br />
petiolate. Flowers: Several at node on<br />
slender pedicels, 5–15 mm long but not pedunculate,<br />
oblong sepals 2–2.5 mm long with<br />
green midrib <strong>and</strong> white margins; usually 3<br />
stamens, alternating with cells of ovary about<br />
1.5 mm long. Fruits: Ovoid capsule, slightly surpassing sepals. Ecology: Found<br />
in s<strong>and</strong>y soil <strong>and</strong> disturbed areas from 2,500–5,000 ft (762–1524 m); flowers<br />
September–October. Notes: One other species of Mollugo in our region, M.<br />
cerviana, easy to tell apart as it is erect. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology:<br />
Mollugo is an old name for the genus Galium, transferred because of similarly<br />
whorled leaves, while verticillata means whorled also. Synonyms: Mollugo<br />
berteriana<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 229<br />
Molluginaceae<br />
Forbs
Montiaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Cistanthe parryi<br />
Parry’s pussypaws, Arizona pussypaws<br />
General: Annual herb to 10 cm tall, stems spreading to ascending. Leaves:<br />
Found in ephemeral basal rosette, spatulate, to 7.5 cm long. Flowers:<br />
Inflorescence 1–sided raceme to 4.5 cm long, bracts ovate to elliptic, sessile<br />
flowers, sepals scarious or scarious–margined, ovate, 1.5–5 mm long, 3 petals,<br />
white to pinkish, 1.5–3 mm long, stamens 1–3, stiles absent, 2 sessile stigmas.<br />
Fruits: Capsule with 2 valves, ovoid to cylindric, 2–8 mm long, not more than<br />
twice as long as sepals. Ecology: Found in s<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> gravel washes <strong>and</strong> open<br />
areas from 2,500–4,500 ft (762–1372 m); flowers February–May. Notes: This<br />
variety is somewhat up for questioning. The voucher from the inventory at<br />
Tumacacori indicates this as var. parryi, however that variety is only found<br />
in California, up to this point. This description essentially follows the species<br />
description for both, as the only difference is that the seeds in the var. arizonica<br />
are smooth <strong>and</strong> shiny. Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species, other species<br />
used for food. Etymology: Cistanthe parryi for Charles Parry (1823–1890) a<br />
naturalist on the Mexican Boundary Survey. Synonyms: Calyptridium parryi,<br />
C. parryi var. parryi<br />
Cal<strong>and</strong>rinia ciliata<br />
fringed redmaids<br />
General: Annual from slender to thick<br />
taproot, to 30 cm tall, spreading, prostrate<br />
to ascending. Leaves: Alternate, linear to<br />
oblanceolate, to 10 cm long, glabrous or<br />
ciliate. Flowers: 2–15 on elongated raceme,<br />
leaf–like bracts, pedicels 4–13 mm long,<br />
sepals 2.5–8 mm long; petals 4–11 mm long,<br />
red to purple. Fruits: Capsule with 3 valves,<br />
5–20 seeds. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y to<br />
loamy soil, s<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> gravel washes, rocky slopes from 1,500–5,000 ft (457–1524<br />
m); flowers February–June. Ethnobotany: Seeds were eaten for food, as were<br />
the greens. Etymology: Cal<strong>and</strong>rinia is named for J.L. Cal<strong>and</strong>rini (1703–1758)<br />
a Swiss botanist, while ciliata is the name given to describe slight fringing of<br />
petals like an eyelash. Synonyms: Cal<strong>and</strong>rinia ciliata var. menziesii<br />
230 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Phemeranthus aurantiacus<br />
orange flameflower<br />
General: Perennial herb to 50 cm tall, woody<br />
tuberous roots, stems simple to branching, erect,<br />
sometimes suffrutescent. Leaves: Subsessile,<br />
linear to lanceolate, rarely oblanceolate, basally<br />
attenuate, to 6 cm long. Flowers: Inflorescence<br />
later with flowers inserted singly or occasionally<br />
in cymules, pedicels recurving in fruit; sepals<br />
ovate, sometimes cuspidate, 5–10 mm long,<br />
deciduous, petals obovate, 9–15 mm long,<br />
yellow to reddish–orange, stamens 20–30, 3<br />
linear stigmas. Fruits: Ovoid to globose capsule, 4–7 mm long. Ecology:<br />
Found in desert scrub <strong>and</strong> grassl<strong>and</strong>s, savannahs <strong>and</strong> open woodl<strong>and</strong>s, in<br />
rocky soil, often granitic, sometimes calcareous from 2500–6500 ft (762–1981<br />
m); flowers May–October. Notes: Variable in size, flower color, capsule shape<br />
over the range. There is a recognized form P. angustissimum that has yellow<br />
petals, very narrow leaves, short slender stems, <strong>and</strong> small globose capsule;<br />
found in southern AZ. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Phemeranthus<br />
comes from Greek ephemoros, living for one day <strong>and</strong> anthos, flowers; while<br />
aurantiacus means orange, orange–yellow, or orange–red. Synonyms: Talinum<br />
aurantiacum<br />
Allonia incarnata<br />
trailing windmills<br />
General: Ephemeral annual or short–lived<br />
perennial herb with stout taproot, dying<br />
back to roots during drought; Gl<strong>and</strong>ular<br />
hairy <strong>and</strong> sticky viscid throughout except<br />
the flowers, often with s<strong>and</strong> sticking to<br />
herbage. Stems sometimes reach more than<br />
1 m. Leaves: Petioles0.2–3.5 cm long, leaves<br />
2–6 cm long, broadly deltoid–orbicular<br />
to oval, usually rounded at base, unequal,<br />
green above, paler beneath. Flowers: Involucres on slender peduncles 3–5 cm<br />
long, lobes free, ovate–orbicular, 5–9 mm long, perianth 6–15 mm long, purplish<br />
red, rarely white. Fruits: Anthocarp 3–4.5 mm long, inner side 3–nerved,<br />
margins with 3–5 broad teeth or sometimes entire, strongly incurved. Ecology:<br />
Found in s<strong>and</strong>y or rocky soil below 6,000 ft (1829 m); flowers April–October.<br />
Notes: The fruits of this species are unique in being bilaterally rather than<br />
radially symmetrical. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Allonia is from<br />
Greek allos, meaning different or other <strong>and</strong> incarnata means flesh–colored.<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 231<br />
Montiaeae–Nyctaginaceae<br />
Forbs
Nyctaginaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Boerhavia coccinea<br />
scarlet spiderling<br />
General: Decumbent or prostrate<br />
perennial, branching from base with<br />
many stout stems 30–140 cm long, viscid–<br />
pubescent <strong>and</strong> sometimes gl<strong>and</strong>ular–<br />
hirsute below, more or less gl<strong>and</strong>ular above,<br />
occasionally glabrate. Leaves: Opposite,<br />
2–6 cm long, ovate–orbicular to oblong,<br />
rounded to acute at apex, green above,<br />
pale below, with a brown–punctate margin,<br />
glabrous to hirsute, often viscid. Flowers:<br />
Cymose, much branched, branches slender,<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular–pubescent, flowers in heads on<br />
slender peduncles, bracts minute, lanceolate; perianth purplish red, 2 mm<br />
long; stamens 1–3, barely exserted. Fruits: Obovoid, 2.5–3.5 mm long, densely<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular–puberulent with dark, blunt, usually gl<strong>and</strong>–tipped hairs. Ecology:<br />
Found in s<strong>and</strong>y soil along drainages, washes, roadsides, disturbed areas below<br />
7,000 ft (2134 m); flowers April–November. Notes: This plant tends to take over<br />
areas, so it is identifiable often by the large patches. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
Etymology: Boerhavia is for Hermann Boerhaave (1663–1738) a Dutch botanist,<br />
while coccinea means scarlet or bright, deep pink. Synonyms: None<br />
Boerhavia coulteri<br />
Coulter’s spiderling<br />
General: Slender annual, usually with many branches<br />
spreading from base, more or less pubescent <strong>and</strong><br />
sometimes a little ciliate below, not conspicuously<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular, sometimes with viscid b<strong>and</strong>s. Leaves:<br />
Opposite, ovate to ovate–deltoid, 1.5–5 cm long,<br />
obtuse, often rounded at apex, mostly truncate at<br />
base, margin entire or sinuate, upper leaves smaller,<br />
lanceolate to ovate–lanceolate. Flowers: Cymose–<br />
paniculate, much branched, flowers in loose, slender,<br />
interrupted spikes; minute bracts, lanceolate–ovate,<br />
usually brown–punctate; perianth 1–1.5 mm long,<br />
white or pale pink, stamens 1–3, included or short–exserted. Fruits: Anthocarp<br />
narrowly obovoid, 2.5–3 mm long, 5 angled, ridges broad, smooth, obtuse,<br />
groove closed or nearly closed, rugulose. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y soil from<br />
500–5,000 ft (152–1524 m); flowers August–October. Notes: One of the most<br />
common Boerhavia species in Arizona. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology:<br />
Boerhavia is for Hermann Boerhaave (1663–1738) a Dutch botanist, coulteri<br />
is named for Dr. Thomas Coulter (1793–1843) an Irish botanist. Synonyms:<br />
Senkenbergia coulteri<br />
232 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2011 Max Licher<br />
©2005 James M. Andre
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Boerhavia erecta<br />
erect spiderling<br />
General: Usually coarse, glaucous annuals 30–<br />
100 cm, glabrous or hirsutulous below, branching<br />
from base <strong>and</strong> above, branches ascending, basal<br />
branches sometimes procumbent. Leaves:<br />
Opposite, ovate to oblong–ovate, usually<br />
acute, rarely rounded at apex, entire or<br />
subsinuate, glabrous, lower leaves 2.5–8<br />
cm long, upper ones short, narrowly<br />
ovate–lanceolate; sometimes with<br />
moderately to densely gl<strong>and</strong>ular patches.<br />
Flowers: Cymosely paniculate, much<br />
branched, branches <strong>and</strong> branchlets erect<br />
or strictly ascending; flowers umbellate,<br />
or subracemose in clusters of 3–6 flowers,<br />
occasinally in twos or solitary on older<br />
inflorescences, perianth greenish or white, sometimes tinged with pink, 1 mm or<br />
longer; stamens 2–3, subtending bracts minute, deciduous. Fruits: Anthocarp<br />
greenish or brownish green, 5 angled, 3–4.5 mm long, narrowly obpyramidal,<br />
strongly narrowed below, ridges smooth. Ecology: Found in open places <strong>and</strong><br />
disturbed areas from 1,000–5,000 ft (305–1524 m); flowers July–August. Notes:<br />
Widely distributed in the topics. Ethnobotany: The Hopi would take the stem<br />
<strong>and</strong> leaves <strong>and</strong> hang them upside down in the house as a fly–trap. Etymology:<br />
Boerhavia is for Hermann Boerhaave (1663–1738) a Dutch botanist, erecta<br />
means upright. Synonyms: None<br />
Boerhavia purpurascens<br />
purple spiderling<br />
General: Erect, slender annual 15–45<br />
cm high, 1–3 stems from base, more<br />
or less gl<strong>and</strong>ual–hirtellous, branches<br />
spreading above into paniculate–cymose<br />
inflorescence. Leaves: Brown–punctate<br />
<strong>and</strong> pale below, glabrous or nearly<br />
so, oblong, acute or rounded at apex,<br />
sinuate–margined, 2.5–3 cm long, upper<br />
leaves lanceolate, reduced <strong>and</strong> sessile;<br />
petioles shorter than blade, 6–11 mm long.<br />
Flowers: In headlike glomerules at ends of branches of cymose–paniculate<br />
inflorescence; perianth rotate–spreading, pink to rose–pink, about 2 mm<br />
long; 3 stamens, much exserted; ovate subtending bracts, scarious with short,<br />
spreading, villous hairs, as long as or longer than fruit. Fruits: Anthocarp<br />
obovoid 2–2.5 mm long, 5 angled. Ecology: Found on hill slopes, often in<br />
limestone <strong>and</strong> among chapparal from 3,500–5,500 ft (1067–1676 m); flowers<br />
August–September. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Boerhavia is for<br />
Hermann Boerhaave (1663–1738) a Dutch botanist, purpurascens means<br />
becoming purple. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 233<br />
Nyctaginaceae<br />
Forbs
Nyctaginaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Boerhavia sc<strong>and</strong>ens<br />
climbing wartclub<br />
General: Suffrutescent or shrubby, much<br />
branched perennial with long, weak,<br />
slender, pale reclining branches. Leaves:<br />
Opposite, scattered, glabrous 1.5–6 cm long,<br />
ovate to ovate–deltoid, typically cordate<br />
to truncate at base, attenuate at apex or<br />
sometimes acute, often apiculate. Flowers:<br />
Terminal inflorescence or axillary,<br />
flowers arranged in umbels on leafy or<br />
bracteate cymose branches; umbels 5–10<br />
rayed, forked, rays lanceolate–attenuate, sparsely hairy, caducous; greenish<br />
perianth, rotate–spreading, 3–4 mm broad, stamens 2, much exserted. Fruits:<br />
Greenish anthocarp, narrowly clavate, finely ribbed, glabrous or occasionally<br />
finely hirsutulose, 10–12 mm long. Ecology: Found in canyons <strong>and</strong> thickets<br />
from 2,000–4,500 ft (610–1372 m); flowers September–April. Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown Etymology: Boerhavia is for Hermann Boerhaave (1663–1738) a<br />
Dutch botanist, sc<strong>and</strong>ens means climbing. Synonyms: Commicarpus sc<strong>and</strong>ens<br />
Boerhavia spicata<br />
creeping spiderling<br />
General: Erect or procumbent annual to 65 cm<br />
high, stems densely coarse, gl<strong>and</strong>ular–villous<br />
except those of upper inflorescence, often<br />
reddish. Leaves: Ovate or lanceolate, 1.5–5<br />
cm, acute to narrowly acute at apex, the upper<br />
reduced <strong>and</strong> narrowly lanceolate, subsessile,<br />
margins entire or subsinuate, puberulent<br />
or short–villous, often gl<strong>and</strong>ular; petioles<br />
usually one–half to one–third as long as blade.<br />
Flowers: Cymose–paniculate, few branched,<br />
bracts beneath flowers deciduous, flowers<br />
white to pale pink, in short, dense slender spikes at the ends of branchlets.<br />
Fruits: Anthocarp 2.1–2.5 mm, narrowly obovoid, ridges smooth, broad.<br />
Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y soil, plains, washes, arroyos, disturbed habitats from<br />
1,500–4,500 ft (457–1372 m); flowers September–October. Notes: Widespread.<br />
Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Boerhavia is for Hermann Boerhaave<br />
(1663–1738) a Dutch botanist, spicata refers to the spicate flowers. Synonyms:<br />
Boerhavia torreyana, B. watsonii<br />
234 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
2009 <strong>NPS</strong>/Steve Buckley<br />
2009 <strong>NPS</strong>/Steve Buckley
2010 <strong>NPS</strong>/Jason Welborn<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Mirabilis jalapa<br />
marvel of Peru<br />
General: Much branched <strong>and</strong> bushy perennial<br />
60–150 cm tall with erect to ascending<br />
branches, the plant covered in viscid to short–<br />
villous <strong>and</strong> puberulent pubescence. Leaves:<br />
Opposite, ovate <strong>and</strong> rounded at base to acute<br />
at apex, 4–13 cm long, on a shot petiole but<br />
subsessile above. Flowers: Leafy bracted<br />
inflorescence, cymose at the ends of the<br />
branches, the involucre campanulate, with<br />
lobes longer than the tube, these 15 mm long,<br />
the perianth 3–5.5 cm long, reddish purple, but also whitish <strong>and</strong> yellowish with<br />
other variations in cultivation, 5 stamens, little exserted. Fruits: Anthocarp<br />
7–9 mm long, obovoid, rugose <strong>and</strong> 5 sided, glabrous to puberulent. Ecology:<br />
Found widespread in lowl<strong>and</strong> desert or warmer climates, often as an escapee<br />
of cultivation. Notes: The beautiful flowers of this plant leave little room to<br />
wonder why it has been cultivated as widely as it has been. Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown Etymology: Mirabilis is Latin for miraculous or wonderful, while<br />
jalapa is named for the city of Xalapa in Mexico. Synonyms: Mirabilis jalapa<br />
ssp. lindheimeri, Mirabilis lindheimeri<br />
Mirabilis longiflora<br />
sweet four o’clock<br />
General: Several stems 5–15 dm, herbage<br />
lightly puberulent basally, gl<strong>and</strong>ular–<br />
puberulent distally, erect or ascending.<br />
Leaves: Leaves at midstem with petiole<br />
2–6 cm; blade usually cordate, less often<br />
deltate, ovate or ovate–lanceolate, 5–14<br />
cm by 3–8 cm. Flowers: Dense clusters<br />
of flowers among conspicuous foliaceous<br />
bracts 5–20 mm, peduncle 0.5–2 mm, bracts<br />
40–60% connate, 7–11 mm in flower, 10–18 mm in fruit, apex triangular to<br />
narrowly triangular; perianth white, tube blushed with green or purple, 8–15<br />
cm, pubescent externally. Fruits: Black to dark brown anthocarp, bluntly 5–<br />
angled in cross section. Ecology: Found in rocky canyons <strong>and</strong> on slopes from<br />
2,500–9,000 ft (762–2743 m); flowers from August–September. Notes: Plant<br />
remarkable for the very long <strong>and</strong> slender perianth tube of the white or pinkish<br />
flowers. There is one recognized variety, var. wrightiana found north of the<br />
Mexican border. Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species, while other species<br />
in this genera have many uses. Etymology: Mirabilis is Latin for miraculous or<br />
wonderful, while longiflora means long flower. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 235<br />
Nyctaginaceae<br />
Forbs
Onagraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Camissonia californica<br />
Californica suncup<br />
General: Annual or perennial, slender<br />
<strong>and</strong> often much taller than wide, 15–70 cm,<br />
with erect main axis; solitary or sparsely<br />
branched with ascending straight branches;<br />
young plant with sparsely pubescent hairs<br />
as well as small gl<strong>and</strong>ular hairs, becoming<br />
glabrous with age. Leaves: First in basal<br />
rosette, or no basal rosette at all; lower<br />
leaves 3–24 cm long by 0.4–0.7 cm wide,<br />
petioled, blades linear to narrowly elliptic, margins pinnately <strong>and</strong> coarsely<br />
lobed <strong>and</strong> toothed, steim leaves reduced above. Plants leafy when you, leafless<br />
or nearly so at flowering time. Flowers: Flowers vespertine (closed until 10pm,<br />
open at 5am) often 15–18 mm wide, petals 5–7 mm, bright yellow, flecked with<br />
red, fading orange, drying pink. Style, stigma, anthers, <strong>and</strong> filaments bright<br />
yellow. Fruits: Capsules 4–8 cm long by 1–1.5 mm wide, slender, straight to<br />
slightly curved, turning downward. Ecology: Found on rocky, gravelly, s<strong>and</strong>y<br />
<strong>and</strong> cinder soils of bajadas, plains, washes below 4,500 ft (1372 m); flowers<br />
February–June. Notes: This plant is identifiable by how strikingly it looks like<br />
a mustard. Ethnobotany: Unknown, but other species in the genera have<br />
medicinal <strong>and</strong> culinary uses. Etymology: Camissonia is named for Ludolf Karl<br />
Adelbert von Chamisso (1781–1838) a German botanist, which californica is<br />
named for California. Synonyms: Eulobus californicus, Oenothera californica,<br />
O. leptocarpa<br />
Eremothera chamaenerioides<br />
willow–herb primrose, longcapsule suncup<br />
General: Erect annual with slender stem, 10–50<br />
cm tall with gl<strong>and</strong>ular hairs <strong>and</strong> small coarse non–<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular hairs near inflorescence, reddish. Leaves:<br />
Basal <strong>and</strong> cauline, thin, 1.5–7 cm long by 1–15 mm wide,<br />
green to reddish with dark red spots, blades more or<br />
less elliptic, entire to sparsely <strong>and</strong> shallowly toothed<br />
or crenulate. Flowers: Racemose inflorescence to 20<br />
cm long in fruit, narrowly funnelform hypanthium,<br />
cream–white inside, pink outside 2–2.5 mm, whitish,<br />
often with broad pink midstripe or markings, turning<br />
pink with age; flowers open near sunset. Fruits:<br />
Linear capsule, terete in cross section 0.5–0.8 mm in diameter, 2.5–5 cm long,<br />
divariacate–spreading, glabrous <strong>and</strong> beakless at apex. Ecology: Found on<br />
arid hills <strong>and</strong> plains below 5,500 ft (1676 m); flowers February–June. Notes:<br />
Smallest flowered evening primrose in the Sonoran Desert region. Widespread.<br />
Pay attention to the small spots on the leaves, often quite variable in shape.<br />
Ethnobotany: Unknown, but other species in the genera have medicinal <strong>and</strong><br />
culinary uses. Etymology: Camissonia is named for Ludolf Karl Adelbert von<br />
Chamisso (1781–1838) a German botanist, chamaenerioides is from root chamai,<br />
low–growing, dwarf added to something that looks like the genus Nerium.<br />
Synonyms: Camissonia chamaenerioides, Oenothera chamaenerioides<br />
236 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey ©2004 James M. Andre
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Ludwigia repens<br />
creeping primrose–willow<br />
General: Perennial, matted herb with stems 10–30 cm long, decumbent,<br />
rooting at nodes, subglabrous. Leaves: Opposite, less than 5 cm, narrowly<br />
elliptic to round, entire, subglabrous to densely <strong>and</strong> minutely strigose.<br />
Flowers: Axillary, sepals 4, 1.8–5 mm; petals 4, 1–3 mm, yellow, stamens 4<br />
anthers 0.4–0.9 mm. Fruits: Erect, pedicel 0–3 mm, fruit 4–10 mm, oblong to<br />
narrowly obconic, sometimes hairy. Ecology: Grows along waters edge, or<br />
along s<strong>and</strong>y streambanks, ponds, <strong>and</strong> ditches below 3,500 ft (1067 m); flowers<br />
July–September. Notes: Always along streams, this species is invasive in Puerto<br />
Rico, but native to lower–48. Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species, other<br />
species in genera have medicinal use. Etymology: Ludwigia is named for<br />
Christian Gottlieb Ludwig (1709–1773) a German botanist, while repens means<br />
having creeping <strong>and</strong> rooting stems. Synonyms: Isnardia intermedia, I. repens,<br />
Ludwigia natans, L. natans var. stipitata, L. repens var. rotundata, L. repens var.<br />
stipitata<br />
Oenothera curtiflora<br />
velvetweed<br />
General: Coarse, erect, taprooted native annual<br />
or biennial; single–stemmed, branched above;<br />
up to 2 m. Herbage clothed with soft long hairs,<br />
sometimes gl<strong>and</strong>ular. Leaves: Lance–ovate to<br />
lanceolate or oblong, obtuse at the base, remotely<br />
denticulate, up to 10 cm long; larger leaves<br />
usually at least 4 cm. Flowers: Inflorescence of<br />
elongate many–flowered spikes, bracts slender<br />
1.5–5.5 mm long, deciduous; flowers quite small,<br />
self–pollinating; floral tube 1.5–5 mm long; 4<br />
sepals 2–3.5 mm long; separately reflexed at anthesis; 4 petals 1.5–3 mm long,<br />
red to pink. Fruits: Capsule glabrous or seldom short–hairy, 5–10 mm long,<br />
spindle–shaped to lanceolate, 4–angled, tapering to a slender base. Ecology:<br />
Native weed of fields, pastures, <strong>and</strong> streamsides, up to about 6,500 ft (2000 m);<br />
flowers June–October. Notes: Ethnobotany: Hopi used root to treat snake<br />
bites. Navajo used to treat burns, inflammation <strong>and</strong> snake bites. Etymology:<br />
From the Greek “gauros” superb or proud, presumably because of the erect,<br />
proud petals. Mollis means smooth, or with soft velvety hair. Synonyms:<br />
Gaura mollis, Gaura parviflora, Gaura parviflora var. lachnocarpa, Gaura<br />
parviflora var. typica<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 237<br />
Onagraceae<br />
Forbs
Onagraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Oenothera primiveris<br />
desert evening–primrose<br />
General: Annual in basal rosette, nearly<br />
stemless or often developing stout leafy<br />
stems 10–20 cm; thick taproot; dense<br />
pubescence of spreading papillate–based<br />
white hairs. Leaves: Leaves 5–27 cm, larger<br />
ones 3.5–7 cm wide, mostly pinnatifid into<br />
toothed or rounded lobes, narrowed to<br />
long, winged petiole exp<strong>and</strong>ed at very base.<br />
Flowers: Yellow, petals 3.5–5.5 cm, notched<br />
at apex; opening at dusk closing the following morning. Fruits: Ovary <strong>and</strong><br />
capsule densely hairy with spreading white hairs; capsules 2.8–4.5 cm long<br />
by 6.5–7.5 mm wide at base, thick <strong>and</strong> woody, upright, straight, 4–angled,<br />
tapering to conspicuously narrowed tip. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong> flats, playas,<br />
gravelly–s<strong>and</strong>y washes, common but not very abundant below 4,500 ft (1372<br />
m); flowers March–May. Notes: Plants are easy to know by their caespitose<br />
habit, yellow flowers <strong>and</strong> pinnatifid leaves. Ethnobotany: Dried flowers used<br />
for ceremonies <strong>and</strong> poultice applied to swellings. Etymology: Oenothera is<br />
from Greek oinos, wine <strong>and</strong> thera, to imbibe. Synonyms: None<br />
Oenothera rosea<br />
rose evening–primrose<br />
General: Perennial with several slender, simple or<br />
branched stems 10–50 cm long, ascending or erect,<br />
finely strigillose, occasionally a few spreading hairs<br />
on lower stems. Leaves: Distant, oblanceolate to narrowly<br />
obovate, 25 cm long, entire to sinuate–dentate<br />
or pinnatifid, upper ones reduced. Flowers: Slender<br />
racemes, hypanthium 4–8 mm long, slender, strigillose–canescent<br />
outside, puerulent within, sepals<br />
ovate–acuminate, 5–8 mm long, petals rose to red–violet,<br />
5–10 mm long, broadly obovate. Fruits: Obovoid<br />
capsule, 8–10 mm long, 3–4 mm diameter, pedicel–like<br />
stipe 5–20 mm long, hollow, ribbed. Ecology: Found<br />
on plains, stream banks, hillsides, <strong>and</strong> in river bottoms from 1,000–5,500 ft<br />
(305–1676 m); flowers April–August. Notes: Occasionally flowers November;<br />
similar to O. speciosa, which differs by having larger more deeply pinnatifid<br />
leaves <strong>and</strong> nodding rather than erect buds. Ethnobotany: Unknown for this<br />
species, other Oenothera species have wide usage. Etymology: Oenothera is<br />
from Greek oinos, wine <strong>and</strong> thera, to imbibe, rosea refers to rose. Synonyms:<br />
None<br />
238 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey ©2006 Michael L. Charters
2009 <strong>NPS</strong><br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Castilleja exserta<br />
exserted Indian paintbrush<br />
General: Stems simple to diffusely branched<br />
from near base <strong>and</strong> closely ascending 10–40<br />
cm tall, villous–pubescent. Leaves: Sessile<br />
1–5 cm long, parted into few or many linear<br />
or filiform divisions 1–12 mm long or lower<br />
ones entire, linear, villous–pubescent with<br />
shining, white, spreading hairs. Flowers:<br />
Spikes 2–20 cm long, dense, bracts 10–20<br />
mm long, central portion lanceolate, 2–4<br />
pairs of linear or filiform divisions palmately<br />
or pectinate–ascendingly disposed, upper<br />
lobes crimson to purple, conspicuously pilose<br />
with shining white hairs at base; calyces 12–20 mm long, 4 lobed to middle<br />
or slightly below, lobes resemble bracts in shape <strong>and</strong> color; corolla 12–30 mm<br />
long crimson, lower lip purple, crimson, pink, yellow or white, usually purple<br />
tipped with yellow, 3–5 mm wide, 3–7 mm long; bilabiate. Fruits: Ovoid capsule<br />
8–15 mm long. Ecology: Found on grassy valley floors <strong>and</strong> hillsides from 1,500–<br />
4,500 ft (457–1372 m); flowers March–May. Notes: Sometimes this species can<br />
be found covering large areas. One subspecies found in our area, ssp. exserta.<br />
Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species, many other species have medicinal<br />
or food uses. Etymology: Castilleja is for the Spanish botanist Domingo Castillejo<br />
(1744–1793), while exserta means exserted or protruding out or beyond<br />
surrounding structure. Synonyms: Orthocarpus purpurascens<br />
Orobanche cooperi<br />
desert broomrape<br />
General: Stout <strong>and</strong> fleshy, 10–45 cm tall, simple<br />
or branching sparingly at base, viscid–puberulent<br />
throughout; stems brownish to purplish. Leaves:<br />
Cauline bracts 5–10 mm long, obtuse to rounded.<br />
Flowers: Inflorescence 5–20 cm long, spicate<br />
<strong>and</strong> densely flowered, branching into 2–3 axillary<br />
spikes; lowest flowers on slender pedicels longer<br />
than scales, calyx densely puberulent 5–10 mm<br />
long, lobes lance–attenuate, three to five times<br />
as long as cup; corolla 1.5–3 cm long, purplish<br />
within, palatal folds yellow, puberulent <strong>and</strong> gray–purple without, lips 4–8 mm<br />
long, upper lip erect, cleft at apex, lobes broadly to narrowly acute. Fruits:<br />
Capsule Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y desert flats below 3,500 ft (1067 m); flowers<br />
February–May. Notes: Known to be parasitic on Hymenoclea <strong>and</strong> other shrubs.<br />
Ethnobotany: The stalk, below the ground, was eaten cooked or raw by the<br />
Gila Pima; as were the roots. Etymology: Orobanche is from Greek orobos, a<br />
kind of vetch, <strong>and</strong> anchone, choke or strangle because of the parasitic nature<br />
of the genus, cooperi is named for Dr. James Graham Cooper (1830–1902) a<br />
geologist. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 239<br />
Orobanchaceae<br />
Forbs
Oxalidaceae–Papaveraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Oxalis corniculata<br />
creeping woodsorrel<br />
General: Delicate perennial, fleshy taproot,<br />
creeping stems that root at nodes, less than 30<br />
cm long, more or less hairy. Leaves: Cauline,<br />
petiole less than 7 cm, leaflets less than 2 cm,<br />
often maroon. Flowers: Cyme, 2–5 flowered,<br />
pedicel less than 1 cm; sepals less than 4.5<br />
mm, petals less than 8 mm, yellow. Fruits:<br />
Explosively dehiscent capsule, cylindric,<br />
6–25 mm. Ecology: Found widely; flowers<br />
throughout the year. Notes: Naturalized weed. Ethnobotany: Taken as an<br />
infusion for hookworms, to stop vomiting, as a blood medicine, for mouth aid,<br />
sore throat, <strong>and</strong> as a food. Etymology: Oxalis is from Greek oxys for sharp,<br />
sour, <strong>and</strong> corniculata means horned. Synonyms: Many, see Tropicos<br />
Argemone polyanthemos<br />
crested pricklypoppy<br />
General: Plants annual or biennial, stems 4–8<br />
dm, sparingly prickly. Leaves: Distal clasping,<br />
abaxial surface scattered–prickly on main<br />
veins, adaxial surface unarmed; proximal<br />
lobed 2/3 distance to midrib. Flowers: Buds<br />
ellipsoid–oblong, body 15–22 mm by 10–15 mm,<br />
sparingly prickly; sepal horns terete, 6–10 mm,<br />
usually unarmed; 7–10 cm broad, usually closely<br />
subtended by 1–2 foliaceous bracts; white petals,<br />
very rarely lavender, stamens 150 or more,<br />
filaments lemon yellow, pistil 3–4 carpellate.<br />
Fruits: Capsule narrowly to broadly ellipsoid 35–50 mm by 10–17 mm (including<br />
stigma <strong>and</strong> excluding prickles), prickly, surface clearly visible, prickles widely<br />
spaced, longest 4–10 mm, interspersed with a few shorter ones. Ecology: Found<br />
on prairies, foothills <strong>and</strong> mesas 1,000–7,500 ft (305–2286 m); flowers March–<br />
August. Notes: Huge questions about this species collection, as Flora of Arizona<br />
neither mentions A. polyanthemos or its predecessor A. intermedia as occurring<br />
here. Flora of North America does not list it as being in AZ, neither does Plants<br />
db, could simply be a subspecies of A. pleicantha, likely ssp. ambigua. Only<br />
collection in Santa Cruz Co. made at Tumacacori. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
for this species, but many other uses for species in this genus. Etymology:<br />
Argemone from Greek argemos, a white spot (cataract) on the eye, what it was<br />
supposed to cure, polyanthemos refers to having many anthers. Synonyms:<br />
Argemone intermedia, A. intermedia var. polyanthemos, A. platyceras<br />
240 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2007 Luigi Rignanese<br />
©2009 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
2009 <strong>NPS</strong>/Beth Fallon<br />
Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana<br />
California poppy<br />
General: Annual with leaves forming rosette,<br />
stems mainly scapose. Leaves: Mainly 3–15<br />
cm long, segments oblong, mostly 1 mm<br />
wide, faintly glaucous, glabrous, flabelliform<br />
dissected blade usually one–third as long as<br />
petiole or less. Flowers: Calyptra broadly<br />
ovoid–undulate, mostly 1 mm wide or less,<br />
petals flabelliform–obovate 1.5–3.5 cm long,<br />
yellow to deep orange or rarely white tinged<br />
with pink. Fruits: Capsule 4–6 cm long,<br />
longitudinally ridged, the grooves glaucous.<br />
Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y or gravelly soil, widespread below 4,500 ft (1372<br />
m); flowers February–May. Notes: Closely related to E. californica but it is<br />
smaller, more scapose, probably always annual plant <strong>and</strong> in having a narrower,<br />
sometimes nearly obsolete, outer rim of the hypanthium. Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown for this species, other species in the genera widely used medicinally.<br />
Etymology: Eschscholzia is named for Dr. Johan Friedrich Gustav von<br />
Eschscholtz (1793–1831) a Latvian or Estonian surgeon <strong>and</strong> botanist, while<br />
californica refers to California, <strong>and</strong> mexicana refers to Mexico. Synonyms:<br />
Eschscholzia californica<br />
H M L<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Papaver rhoeas<br />
corn poppy<br />
General: Introduced annual, 30–80 cm, hairy. Leaves: Basal <strong>and</strong> cauline leaves<br />
3–15 cm, deeply pinnately lobed. Flowers: Solitary, terminal, petals 20–40 mm,<br />
white (sometimes red–marked) red or purple; 2<br />
sepals, shed at flower; 4 petals, free, obovate or<br />
wedge–shaped. Fruits: Capsule, dehiscent by<br />
valves or pores, septicidal, 1–2 cm, widely obovate<br />
to round. Ecology: Found in disturbed areas<br />
<strong>and</strong> fallow fields below 3,500 ft (1067 m). Notes:<br />
Native to Eurasia, found in cultivated areas.<br />
Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Papaver is<br />
the Latin name for poppy, rhoeas is the Latin name<br />
for the common red poppy. Synonyms: None<br />
©2007 Luigi Rignanese<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 241<br />
Forbs
Passifloraceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Passiflora mexicana<br />
Mexican passion flower<br />
General: Vine 2–8 m long, glabrous<br />
throughout. Leaves: Bilobed, occasionally<br />
variegated, margins entire, laminar nectaries<br />
borne abaxially between main veins, petioles<br />
egl<strong>and</strong>ular, setaceous stipules to linear<br />
triangular, subfalcate. Flowers: Bracts, 1.5–4 mm<br />
long, 0.2–0.8 mm wide, setaceous to narrowly<br />
lanceolate, 3–toothed; flowers 2–3 cm in<br />
diameter, light green or yellowish green, corona<br />
red or reddish purple, sepals longer than<br />
inconspicuous petals, coronal filaments in<br />
2 series, outer 8–12 mm long, inner 2 mm<br />
long, ovary glabrous or nearly so. Fruits:<br />
Subglobose to widely ellipsoid, purplish<br />
black, 0.8–1.6 cm long. Ecology: Found<br />
in thickets near riparian zones <strong>and</strong> washes<br />
from 2,500–4,000 ft (762–1219 m); flowers<br />
July–October. Notes: Bilobed leaves, red to<br />
reddish purple corona, <strong>and</strong> purplish black<br />
fruit are diagnostic of this species. Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species,<br />
other species in this genera have medicinal <strong>and</strong> food value. Etymology:<br />
Passiflora is from the Latin passio, passion, <strong>and</strong> flos, flower, while mexicana is<br />
for Mexico. Synonyms: None<br />
242 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2005 James M. Andre<br />
Mimulus guttatus<br />
seep monkeyflower<br />
General: Native annual or perennial herb, rarely<br />
stoloniferous but often rooting at the nodes; stems<br />
erect to lying down, simple or sparingly branched,<br />
5–55 cm tall; usually more–or–less glabrous<br />
below <strong>and</strong> gl<strong>and</strong>ular–hairy in the inflorescence.<br />
Leaves: Opposite, petiolate below <strong>and</strong> sessile<br />
above, broadly ovate to orbicular, 15–55 mm long,<br />
10–40 mm wide, with irregularly toothed margins;<br />
more–or–less glabrous. Flowers: Solitary from<br />
the leaf axils on stalks 1–6 cm long; calyx bell–<br />
shaped, ribbed, 6–16 mm long in flower (becoming inflated <strong>and</strong> to 20 mm long<br />
in fruit); corolla yellow, 9–23 mm long, two–lipped with the lower lip hairy <strong>and</strong><br />
spotted with red, soon deciduous after anthesis. Fruits: Capsule oblong, 7–12<br />
mm long, included in the inflated, more–or–less closed up calyx. Ecology:<br />
Wet areas, especially near streams, from 1,000–9,500 ft (305–2896 m); flowers<br />
March–September. Notes: A large Mimulus, with big yellow flowers; can be<br />
distinguished vegetatively by its broader, generally glabrous leaves. Host plant for<br />
Mylitta Crescent butterfly. Ethnobotany: Leaves <strong>and</strong> stems were used as flavor<br />
enhancers. Juice of leaves make a soothing poultice for minor burns <strong>and</strong> skin<br />
irritations. Yavapai use decoction for stomachache. Etymology: Guttatus is from<br />
Latin meaning “a drop–like spot” which describes the red dots on both petals <strong>and</strong><br />
sepals. Synonyms: Numerous, see Tropicos<br />
Mimulus rubellus<br />
little redstem monkeyflower<br />
General: Native annual herb; stems simple or<br />
loosely branched, with elongated internodes,<br />
1–22 cm tall; gl<strong>and</strong>ular–hairy throughout, <strong>and</strong><br />
often reddish. Leaves: Opposite, sessile (<strong>and</strong><br />
often connate at the base), lanceolate to linear,<br />
3–20 mm long, entire or nearly so. Flowers:<br />
Solitary from the leaf axils on stalks 7–20 mm<br />
long; calyx tubular, reddish–ribbed, 4–9 mm<br />
long, with ciliate teeth; corolla weakly two–<br />
lipped with the lips hardly spreading, 6–9 mm<br />
long, yellow with maroon dots, or often pinkish to violet. Fruits: Capsule 4–6.5<br />
mm long, included in the persistent calyx. Ecology: Dry sites in shadscale,<br />
rabbitbrush, Joshua tree, catclaw, blackbrush, sagebrush, live oak, ephedra,<br />
pinon–juniper, <strong>and</strong> ponderosa pine commununties from 2,500–9,000 ft<br />
(762–2743 m); flowers February–April. Notes: Generally a smaller species with<br />
sessile, usually entire leaves. Ethnobotany: Leaves <strong>and</strong> stems were used as<br />
flavor enhancers. Juice of leaves make a soothing poultice for minor burns <strong>and</strong><br />
skin irritations. Etymology: Mimulus– ape–flower, or a diminutive of the Latin<br />
minimus, a comic or mimic actor, because of the grinning corolla. Rube– is in<br />
reference to the color red. Synonyms: M. gratioloides<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 243<br />
Phrymaceae<br />
Forbs
Phytolaccaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Rivina humilis<br />
rougeplant<br />
General: Perennial or suffrutescent, 0.3–1<br />
m tall. Leaves: Ovate–acuminate, rounded<br />
to subcordate at base, 3–13 cm long, 1–5 cm<br />
wide, sparsely puberulent to glabrous, slender<br />
petioles 2–4 cm long, 2–4 cm long. Flowers:<br />
Inflorescence erect or somewhat curved, 3–8 cm<br />
long, rachis green, short–puberulent to sparsely<br />
pilose, bracteoles minute, sepals broadly elliptic,<br />
2–3 mm long, pink or purplish with a greenish<br />
midvein, spreading; stamens about equaling or<br />
slightly shorter than sepals. Fruits: Sleek black, turning to red, shining or short–<br />
puberulent, 2.5–3 mm long. Ecology: Found in the shade of shrubs <strong>and</strong> trees in<br />
moist places, along watercourses or on flats from 1,500–4,500 ft (457–1372 m);<br />
flowers throughout year. Notes: Often found where water st<strong>and</strong>s during the<br />
rainy season. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Rivina has a root in the<br />
word for along streams, humilis means low–growing or humble. Synonyms:<br />
None<br />
244 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
2009 <strong>NPS</strong>/Steve Buckley<br />
Maur<strong>and</strong>ella antirrhiniflora<br />
roving sailor<br />
General: Sc<strong>and</strong>ent perennial herb<br />
climbing to 2 m or more by tortuous<br />
petioles <strong>and</strong> pedicles; slender stems,<br />
vine–like, glabrous except for sparse<br />
tomentum at base of stems. Leaves:<br />
Thin, green trianglular to hastate or<br />
3–5 lobed, 5–25 mm long, often nearly<br />
as wide, cordate at base, central lobe<br />
acuminate, lateral lobes mucronate; petioles 5–25 mm long. Flowers:<br />
Solitary in axils, pedicels subfiliform 1–2 cm long, glabrous; calyx<br />
narrowly campanulate, 5–parted almost to base, sepals lance–linear or<br />
narrowly lanceolate 10–13 mm long at anthesis; corolla purple, carmine,<br />
or rarely white 2.5–3 cm long, glabrous without, throat broadly ampliate,<br />
whitish but tinged with blue, about 1 cm wide. Fruits: Capsule ovoid–<br />
globose, 7–8 mm long, dehiscence subterminal, irregular. Ecology:<br />
Found mainly in limestone soils, on stony slopes, usually among shrubs from<br />
1,500–6,000 ft (457–1981 m); flowers April–October. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
Etymology: Maur<strong>and</strong>ella is a diminutive of Maur<strong>and</strong>ya, while antirrhiniflora<br />
means having flowers like those of Antirrhinum. Synonyms: Antirrhinum<br />
maur<strong>and</strong>ioides, Asarina antirrhiniflora, Maur<strong>and</strong>ya antirrhiniflora<br />
Mecardonia procumbens<br />
baby jump–up<br />
General: Creeping or ascending glabrous herbs,<br />
branching at base, sometimes rooting at lower<br />
nodes, branches to 15 cm long, flexuous, stems<br />
strongly angled. Leaves: Opposite, ovate, mostly<br />
10–15 mm long, 8–10 mm wide with 7 even,<br />
ascending teeth on upper two–thirds of margin,<br />
apically obtuse, basally cuneate, gl<strong>and</strong>ular<br />
punctate with sessile gl<strong>and</strong>s, short or indistinct<br />
petiole. Flowers: At first terminal, soon axillary,<br />
a solitary flower in leaf axil, on slender pedicels,<br />
with bracts 2–4 mm long, linear entire, located at<br />
base of pedicel; flowers 8 mm long, 5 –lobed, lobes<br />
recurved, rounded, yellow, bearded in throat with darker veins; 4 stamens. Fruits:<br />
Capsule narrowly ovoid, about 4 mm long, dehiscent loculicidally <strong>and</strong> septicidally<br />
from apex. Ecology: Found in wet, s<strong>and</strong>y soil along streams from 3,000–4,500 ft<br />
(914–1372 m); flowers March–September. Notes: Its opposite leaves <strong>and</strong> slightly<br />
dentate margins will help steer identification toward Phrymaceae <strong>and</strong> Mimulus,<br />
but pay attention to the way the flower emerges from what appears to be a sheath.<br />
Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Mecardonia is named for the Spaniard<br />
Antonia de Meca y Cardona, a patron of botany, while procumbens means having<br />
trailing or prostrate stems. Synonyms: Mecardonia dianthera, M. peduncularis, M.<br />
tenuis, M. v<strong>and</strong>ellioides<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 245<br />
Plantaginaceae<br />
Forbs
Plantaginaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Nuttallanthus texana<br />
Texas toadflax<br />
General: Slender, erect, annual or biennial with<br />
1 to several branches 10–80 cm long from base,<br />
stems <strong>and</strong> leaves glabrous, dark green. Leaves:<br />
Glabrous, dark green, rather densely leafy below,<br />
pedunculate–racemose above; leaves of sterile<br />
stems crowded, ovate, elliptic or linear, entire,<br />
obtuse to acute at both ends, 1–3 mm wide, 3–20<br />
mm long, petioles 1–2 mm long; leaves on fertile<br />
stems linear to linear–oblong, opposite or ternate<br />
at base of stem; alternate above, entire, acute or<br />
obtuse, sessile, 1–3 mm wide, 5–30 mm long. Flowers: Raceme spikelike, 5–30<br />
cm long, on peduncles 2–15 cm long, pedicels filiform, 2–10 mm long, glabrous<br />
or finely <strong>and</strong> sparsely gl<strong>and</strong>ular–puberulent, bracts subulate 0.5–2 mm long,<br />
calyx lobes lanceolate, 2–3 mm long, corolla pale blue with darker veins, 9–12<br />
mm long (exclusive of spur); upper lip 4–5 mm long, reflexed, oblong lobes 2–3<br />
mm long, lower lip deflexed–spreading; palate prominent, densely pubescent.<br />
Fruits: Capsule globose to subcylindrical 2.5–4 mm long, irregularly dehiscent.<br />
Ecology: Found along arroyos, stream banks, <strong>and</strong> on grassy hillsides or in<br />
open chaparral from 1,500–5,000 ft (457–1524 m); flowers March–June. Notes:<br />
Often found in cracks in rocks <strong>and</strong> in slightly wetter microsites. Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown Etymology: Nuttallanthus is named for Thomas Nuttall (1786–1859)<br />
an English botanist. Synonyms: Linaria canadensis var texana, L. texana<br />
Penstemon parryi<br />
Parry’s beardtongue<br />
General: Herbaceous, stems 1 to several<br />
from a tough root, erect or ascending,<br />
0.3–1.2 m tall, glabrous <strong>and</strong> glaucous<br />
throughout. Leaves: Elliptic, spatulate or<br />
oblanceolate 1–2.5 cm wide, 4–15 cm long,<br />
gradually narrowing to a winged petiole 1–4<br />
cm long, upper ones narrowly lanceolate<br />
to lanceolate–oblong, 1–2.5 cm wide, 3–12<br />
cm long, obtuse tip, auriculate–clasping at<br />
base. Flowers: Virgate inflorescence 10–50 cm long, peduncles few to many<br />
flowered, erect or divergent to 2.5 cm long, glabrous; calyx 3–5 mm high,<br />
ovate sepals glabrous, acute or short–acuminate, corolla rose, cerise, or rose–<br />
magenta, 13–21 mm long, tube 3–5 mm long, pilose at base of lower lip. Fruits:<br />
Ovoid capsule 4–6 mm long. Ecology: Found on hillsides, outwash slopes, <strong>and</strong><br />
along canyons from 1,500–5,000 ft (457–1524 m); flowers March–May. Notes:<br />
Diagnostic is the glabrous stem <strong>and</strong> clasping leaves. Ethnobotany: Unknown<br />
for this species, other species in this genera have many uses. Etymology:<br />
Penstemon is from Greek pente, five <strong>and</strong> stemon, indicating the five stamens<br />
of the genus, while parryi is named for Dr. Christopher Parry (1823–1890) an<br />
English–born, American botanist. Synonyms: None<br />
246 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2008 Michael L. Charters<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Plantago major<br />
common plantain<br />
General: Perennial to 42 cm tall. Leaves: Petiolate<br />
with broadly ovate blades, 3.5–15 cm long, 2–9 cm<br />
wide, attenuate at base, acute at apex, sparsely<br />
pubescent, becoming glabrate, distinctly 3–5 veined,<br />
margins with shallow lobes near base. Flowers:<br />
Peduncle 4–20 cm long, sparsely pubescent to<br />
glabrous, appearing ridged to four sided; spikes 3–24<br />
cm long, interrupted near base, bracts broadly ovate,<br />
1.5–4.5 mm long, broad scarious–margined, glabrous<br />
midvein; perfect flowers, sepals broadly ovate to<br />
elliptic, 1.2–2.3 mm long, broadly scarious margined,<br />
glabrous midvein, corolla lobes spreading or reflexed, ovate, 0.7–1.5 mm long,<br />
4 stamens. Fruits: Capsule breaks below middle. Ecology: Weed of wet<br />
areas from 2,000–8,500 ft (610–2591 m); flowers May–October. Notes: Easily<br />
distinguished by its prostrate broadly ovate leaves <strong>and</strong> its habitat of disturbed<br />
yet moist areas such as lawns; also diagnostic are the broadly ovate <strong>and</strong> entire<br />
bracts. Ethnobotany: Used for pain relief, rheumatism <strong>and</strong> swellings, as blood<br />
medicine, leaves used as a poultice, decoction taken for coughs, for stomach<br />
problems, <strong>and</strong> as a laxative. Many, many other uses by other non–regional<br />
tribes. Etymology: Plantago translates to foot–sole in reference to leaf habit<br />
on ground, major means larger, or greater. Synonyms: Many, see Tropicos<br />
Plantago patagonica<br />
woolly plantain<br />
General: Native annual; mostly woolly<br />
throughout <strong>and</strong> hairs on upper part of<br />
scape; very common. Leaves: Leaves<br />
linear to narrowly oblanceolate. Bracts<br />
pointed or narrowly lanceolate. Flowers:<br />
Inflorescence in dense spikes; petals<br />
spreading 2 mm long, suborbicular to ovate;<br />
stamens 4. Fruits: Capsule 3.5 mm long;<br />
seeds 2 Ecology: Dry open places up to<br />
7,000 ft (2100 m); flowers February–July. Notes: Characterized by hairy, linear<br />
to narrowly oblanceolate leaves <strong>and</strong> a spike inflorescence. More robust <strong>and</strong><br />
with a denser spike; lower bracts are lanceolate to subulate <strong>and</strong> longer than the<br />
calyx. Hairs on upper part of scape usually apppressed or closely ascending.<br />
Ethnobotany: Keres, Navajo, <strong>and</strong> Zuni make plant tea to treat diarrhea <strong>and</strong><br />
headaches. Havasupai include seeds in diet. Etymology: Plantago translates<br />
to foot–sole in reference to leaf habit on ground. Patagonica means from<br />
Patagonia in South America. Synonyms: P. picta, P. spinulosa, P. wyomingensis,<br />
P. purshii (4 varieties)<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 247<br />
Plantaginaceae<br />
Forbs
Plantaginaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Plantago virginica<br />
pale–seeded plantain, Virginia<br />
plantain<br />
General: Annual herb to 34.5 cm tall.<br />
Leaves: Petiolate, blades lanceolate<br />
2.5–10 cm long, 0.8–2.7 cm wide,<br />
attenuate at base, acute at apex, sparsely<br />
villous, distinctly 3–veined, sometimes<br />
2–4 widely–spaced teeth. Flowers:<br />
Peduncles 1–20 cm long, spikes 1.5–17<br />
cm long, sparsely to densely villous, subulate bracts narrowly or broadly<br />
triangular, 2–4.8 mm long, narrowly scarious–margined at base, ciliate; more or<br />
less dioecious flowers, ovate sepals 2.5–3 mm long, 4 stamens. Fruits: Capsule<br />
breaks at middle. Ecology: Found in disturbed areas from 1,500–4,500 ft (457–<br />
1372 m); flowers March–July. Notes: Similar to P. rhodosperma, but otherwise<br />
clearly distinguishable. Ethnobotany: Used ceremonially Etymology:<br />
Plantago translates to foot–sole in reference to leaf habit on ground, while<br />
virginica means Virginia. Synonyms: Plantago virginica var. viridescens<br />
Veronica anagallis–aquatica<br />
water speedwell<br />
General: Perennial, generally decumbent,<br />
rooting at lower nodes, glabrous, simple to<br />
many–branching from base, 10–60 cm. Leaves:<br />
20–80 mm long, elliptic to ovate, clasping to<br />
cordate, entire to serrate, light green, sessile.<br />
Flowers: Axillary inflorescence, glabrous to<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular–puberulent, flowers generally more<br />
than 30, bracts linear–lanceolate, pedicels 4–8<br />
mm upcurved; sepals 3–5.5 mm, lanceolate to<br />
elliptic, corolla 5–10 mm, pale lavender–blue,<br />
violet–lined; style 1.5–3 mm. Fruits: Capsule,<br />
2.5–4 mm, at least as wide, rounded, barely notched. Ecology: Found in wet<br />
meadows, streambanks, <strong>and</strong> along slow streams from 1,500–7,000 ft (457–2134<br />
m); flowers March–September. Notes: Widespread in western hemisphere.<br />
Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species, other species in genera have<br />
medicinal uses. Etymology: Veronica is named for Saint Veronica, while<br />
anagallis–aquatica means water Anagallis. Synonyms: Many, see Tropicos<br />
248 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2004 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2006 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Veronica peregrina<br />
neckweed<br />
General: Annual native herb; stems<br />
simple or branched, erect, ascending,<br />
15–30 cm tall; herbage gl<strong>and</strong>ular <strong>and</strong><br />
pubescent, leaves <strong>and</strong> bracts often<br />
glabrous or the plant wholly glabrous;<br />
short taproot. Leaves: Leaves sessile<br />
or the lowermost leaves narrowed to a<br />
petiolar base, blades 0.5–2.2 mm long,<br />
0.5–5 mm wide, narrowly oblong to<br />
oblanceolate, entire or irregular, crenate–serrate. Flowers: Raceme terminal,<br />
elongate, gl<strong>and</strong>ular–puberulent, bracts foliaceous at the base, gradually<br />
reduced upwards, corolla inconspicuous, whitish. Fruits: Capsules 3–4 mm<br />
long <strong>and</strong> slightly wider, obcordate with a broad notch at the top; numerous<br />
seeds. Ecology: Usually along streams <strong>and</strong> washes to 10,000 ft (3050 m);<br />
flowers March–September. Notes: Differs from other species by the terminal<br />
raceme, annual habit, fibrous roots or taproot, short pedicels, <strong>and</strong> whitish<br />
corolla. Ethnobotany: Navajo use plant as ceremonial emetic. Chewed plant<br />
is blown toward deer for good luck while hunting. Etymology: Peregrina is<br />
foreign or exotic, w<strong>and</strong>ering or straggling in growth. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 249<br />
Plantaginaceae<br />
Forbs
Polemoniaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Eriastrum diffusum<br />
miniature woollystar<br />
General: Annual 3–35 cm tall, erect <strong>and</strong> simple<br />
to diffusely branching. Leaves: Subglabrous<br />
to sparsely woolly, entire or with 1–2 pairs<br />
of lobes near the base of the rachis, 1–3 cm<br />
long. Flowers: Calyx 6–7 mm long, corolla<br />
actinomorphic, narrowly funnelform to slightly<br />
zygomorphic, throat white to yellow, lobes<br />
white to pale blue or bluish lavender, tube<br />
<strong>and</strong> throat 4–7 mm long, slightly longer that<br />
the calyx tube, lobes 3–5 mm long, stamens<br />
inserted on throat near sinuses, less than corolla lobes, filaments unequal in<br />
length, pistil 5–7 mm long. Fruits: Capsule 2–4 mm long Ecology: Found in<br />
open sites, desert shrubl<strong>and</strong>s, sagebrush, <strong>and</strong> piñon–juniper woodl<strong>and</strong> from<br />
500–5,500 ft (457–1676 m); flowers February–June. Notes: Distinguished by<br />
its shorter corolla lobes. Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species, others in<br />
genera have medicinal use. Etymology: Eriastrum is form Green erion, for<br />
wool <strong>and</strong> astrum, star, meaning woolly with starlike flowers, while diffusum<br />
means diffuse. Synonyms: Eriastrum diffusum ssp. jonesii<br />
Gilia mexicana<br />
El Paso gilia<br />
General: Annual, 10–35 cm tall, usually branched, stems cobwebby pubescent<br />
below, sparsely gl<strong>and</strong>ular above. Leaves: Cobwebby pubescent, reduced above<br />
basal rosette; basal <strong>and</strong> lower deeply lobed, the lobes linear, entire or toothed,<br />
cauline leaves basally lobed to entire. Flowers: Open inflorescence with 1–2<br />
pedicelled flowers at branch tips; calyx 2.5–5 mm long, glabrous, lobes acute to<br />
acuminate; corolla funnelform, 4–8 mm long, the tube <strong>and</strong> throat equal to or<br />
slightly exceeding the calyx, white, throat white with yellow flecks, lobes white<br />
to pale blue, sometimes streaked with violet flecks, stamens inserted on throat,<br />
anthers slightly exserted, stigma among anthers. Fruits: Capsule 3.5–6 mm<br />
long, oblong–ovoid. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y soils, bajadas, canyons, desert<br />
shrubl<strong>and</strong>s, coniferous or oak woodl<strong>and</strong>s from 3,500–5,500 ft (1067–1676 m);<br />
flowers April–June. Notes: Thin basal leaf lobes are distinctive in this species.<br />
Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species, but many medicinal <strong>and</strong> edible uses<br />
for others in genera. Etymology: Gilia is named for Filippo Luigi Gilii (1756–<br />
1821) an Italian naturalist, while mexicana refers to Mexico. Synonyms: None<br />
250 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey
©2005 James M. Andre<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Gilia sinuata<br />
rosy gilia<br />
General: Annual 9–30 cm tall, simple or branched<br />
above rosette, glabrous <strong>and</strong> glaucous below,<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular above. Leaves: Cobwebby pubescent on<br />
upper surface, abruptly reduced above the basal<br />
rosette, basal deeply lobed once, the lobes oblong,<br />
cauline clasping, dentate to entire. Flowers: Open<br />
inflorescence with 1–3 short pedicelled flowers at<br />
branch tips; calyx 3–5 mm long, gl<strong>and</strong>ular, lobes<br />
short acuminate, corolla funnelform, 7–12 mm<br />
long, tube exserted, purple <strong>and</strong> white striate,<br />
throat yellow or purple tinged below, lobes white<br />
to lavender, stamens exserted on throat, anthers<br />
exserted. Fruits: Capsule 4–7 mm long, ovoid. Ecology: Found in s<strong>and</strong>y soils,<br />
shrubl<strong>and</strong>, woodl<strong>and</strong> from 1,000–6,000 ft (305–1829 m); flowers March–<br />
May. Notes: Cauline leaves clasping, rachis of basal leaves strap shaped<br />
both diagnostic. Ethnobotany: Used by the Havasupai, seeds were parched,<br />
ground, <strong>and</strong> kneaded into seed butter. Etymology: Gilia is named for Filippo<br />
Luigi Gilii (1756–1821) an Italian naturalist, sinuata means having sinuous or<br />
wavy margins. Synonyms: Gilia inconspicua var. sinuata<br />
Ipomopsis longiflora<br />
flaxflowered ipomopsis<br />
General: Annual or biennial 25–100 cm<br />
tall, simple to branched, stems glabrous<br />
to sparsely short pubescent. Leaves:<br />
Glabrous to sparsely short pilose, deeply<br />
lobed. Flowers: Diffuse inflorescence with<br />
1–3 subsessile to long pedicelled flowers at<br />
tips of branches; calyx 5–11 mm long, short<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular pubescent, lobes lanceolate to<br />
ovate, acuminate; corolla white to bluish,<br />
tube 30–50 mm long, throat 2–3 mm wide, lobes ovate, rounded to acuminate;<br />
stamens inserted on tube. Fruits: Capsule 7–15 mm long. Ecology: Found on<br />
open sites, washes, desert <strong>and</strong> sagebrush shrubl<strong>and</strong>s, woodl<strong>and</strong>s from 1,500–<br />
7,000 ft (457–2134 m); flowers April–November. Notes: Two subspecies known<br />
to southern Arizona, ssp. australis <strong>and</strong> ssp. neomexicana. Ssp. australis apices<br />
of calyx lobes short pubescent, capsules 7–10 mm long. Ssp. neomexicana<br />
has apices of calyx lobes that are glabrous to sparsely short pubescent, with<br />
capsules 10–15 mm long. Ethnobotany: Used medicinally as an emetic to<br />
eliminate the ozone in cases of lightning shock; for stomachache <strong>and</strong> arthritis,<br />
to prevent hair loss, <strong>and</strong> ceremonially. Etymology: Ipomopsis is from the<br />
Greek ipo, to strike <strong>and</strong> opsis, appearance, while longiflora means long<br />
flowered. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 251<br />
Polemoniaceae<br />
Forbs
Polygalaceae–Polygonaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Polygala barbeyana<br />
blue milkwort<br />
General: Suffrutescent herb with erect,<br />
ascending, stiff, crowded stems 3–25 cm long<br />
from a woody root; stems densely leafy, flexuous,<br />
densely canescent–puberulent. Leaves: Broadly<br />
elliptic to oblong–oval, 8–18 mm long, 5–7 mm<br />
wide, middle <strong>and</strong> upper leaves progressively<br />
narrower <strong>and</strong> longer, oblong–lanceolate to<br />
linear–lancelate, 1.5–4 mm wide, 1.5–3.5 cm long,<br />
acute to acuminate or rarely obtuse. Flowers:<br />
Loose racemes 2–10 cm long, purplish flowers,<br />
lanceolate sepals 2.2–3.5 mm long, minutely puberulent, wings suborbicular to<br />
broadly oval 2.4–4 mm wide, 3.5–5.5 mm long, rounded at apex, puberulent<br />
on outer surface <strong>and</strong> near apex; keel 4–5.7 mm long glabrous. Fruits: Oval<br />
capsule 7–8 mm long, ciliate margins, glabrous sides, finely reticulate–veined.<br />
Ecology: Found on the banks of arroyos <strong>and</strong> rocky hillsides from 3,000–5,000<br />
ft (914–1524 m); flowers March–May, September–October. Notes: Alternate<br />
or whorled leaves <strong>and</strong> ciliate capsule sets this species apart. Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown for this species, but other species in this genera have many uses.<br />
Etymology: Polygala is from Greek polys, many or much, <strong>and</strong> gala, milk.<br />
Synonyms: Polygala longa, P. racemosa, P. reducta, P. tenuiloba<br />
Eriogonum abertianum<br />
Abert’s buckwheat<br />
General: Annual, profusely branched from or near<br />
base with ascending appressed–hirsute stems 10–40<br />
cm long. Leaves: Basal leaves petiolate, blade ovate<br />
to oblong, 1–2 cm wide, 1.5–2.5 cm long, petiole 6 cm<br />
long, upper leaves usually sessile, obovate–lanceolate<br />
to linear, all loosely villous to hoary. Flowers: Soliatry<br />
involucre, broadly campanulate, villous–canescent<br />
on outside, tube 2–3 mm long, 5 oblong lobes 4–6<br />
mm long, 1–2 mm wide reflexed in maturity; calyx<br />
papery, white to pale yellow tinged with rose, deep<br />
rose midribs, outer lobes orbicular–cordate, 3–4 mm<br />
in diameter, sparingly gl<strong>and</strong>ular, inner lobes spatulate,<br />
0.7–1.2 mm wide, slightly longer than outer. Fruits:<br />
Achenes dark brown, smooth <strong>and</strong> shining or transversely rugulose, 0.6–0.8<br />
mm long. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y plains, washes, <strong>and</strong> granitic hills from<br />
1,500–7,000 ft (457–2134 m); flowers March–September. Notes: One of our<br />
most common buckwheats with several varieties known. Ethnobotany:<br />
Used as a lotion for skin cuts on humans <strong>and</strong> horses by Navajo. Etymology:<br />
Eriogonum is from Greek erion, wool <strong>and</strong> phyllon, leaf, while abertiaum is<br />
named for James William Abert (1820–1897), a US Army officer. Synonyms:<br />
Many, see Tropicos<br />
252 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2008 Christopher L. Christie
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2005 Keir Morse<br />
Eriogonum polycladon<br />
sorrel buckwheat<br />
General: Native annual; 15–60 cm tall; branched<br />
in inflorescence. Leaves: Leaves scattered along<br />
stem; alternate; lanceolate or oblanceolate; 5–15<br />
mm long, margins curled under; tomentose.<br />
Flowers: Involucres sessile <strong>and</strong> solitary; 10–<br />
flowered or fewer; sepals petal–like, pink or<br />
whitish, glabrous, 1–2 mm; petals none. Fruits:<br />
Achenes about 2 mm long, blump, ovoid body<br />
abruptly narrowed to minutely scaberulous beak<br />
of equal length. Ecology: Common on roadsides<br />
<strong>and</strong> in washes from 2,500–7,500 ft (762–2286 m);<br />
flowers June–November. Notes: This annual species is distinguished by its<br />
tomentose hairs, leaves with curled–under margins scattered along the stem,<br />
<strong>and</strong> white or pink flowers. Host plant for Rita Blue butterfly. Ethnobotany:<br />
Unknown Etymology: Eriogonum is from Greek erion, wool <strong>and</strong> phyllon, leaf,<br />
while polycladon means many branched. Synonyms: E. densum, E. vimineum<br />
var. densum<br />
Persicaria punctata<br />
dotted smartweed<br />
General: Glabrous perennial with simple to<br />
much–branched, slender, erect or ascending<br />
stems 30–150 cm tall. Stipule sheath<br />
cylindrical on young stems, often split on<br />
older parts 1–1.5 cm long, truncate, glabrous<br />
to sparsely strigillose, fringed with bristles.<br />
Leaves: Blades narrowly lanceolate to<br />
oblong–lanceolate, 3–15 cm long, acuminate<br />
at both ends, glabrous, margin <strong>and</strong> midrib<br />
subscabrous with short, stout, forward–pointing hairs. Flowers: Inflorescence<br />
paniculate, narrow racemes 3–8 cm long, erect, pedunculate, ocreolae<br />
funnelform 2–3 mm long, sparingly bristly–cilliate, slender pedicels 3–4 mm<br />
long, greenish, conspicuously punctate–gl<strong>and</strong>ular, lobes ovate to oblong; 8<br />
stamens, 3 style branches. Fruits: Triquetrous or sometimes lenticular achene<br />
about 2.5 mm long, black, smooth, shiny. Ecology: Found along margins<br />
of ponds, along ditches, <strong>and</strong> in moist ground from 2,500–5,000 ft (762–1524<br />
m); flowers April–October. Ethnobotany: Plant used for stomach pain, for<br />
pains <strong>and</strong> swellings in legs <strong>and</strong> joints, <strong>and</strong> as a psychological aid. Etymology:<br />
Polygonum is derived from Greek polys, many, <strong>and</strong> gonu, knee or joint, while<br />
punctatum means spotted. Synonyms: Polygonum punctatum<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 253<br />
Polygonaceae<br />
Forbs
Polygonaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Impact risk level<br />
Polygonum argyrocoleon<br />
H M L<br />
silversheath knotweed<br />
General: Erect annual 10–60 cm high with simple or moderately branched,<br />
finely striate stems. Leaves: Elliptic–lanceolate to oblong, or oblanceolate,<br />
5–20 mm long, 1.5–5 mm wide, acute or rarely obtuse, cuneate at base, glabrous.<br />
Stipule sheath 3–6 mm long, lacerate, hyaline to faintly rosaceous. Flowers:<br />
In 1–6–flowered axillary fascicles, pedicels 1–4 mm long, calyx 1.5–2 mm long,<br />
oblong, greenish with white or pinkish margins, erect, surpassed by achene,<br />
8 stamens, 3 style branches. Fruits: Trigonous achene, 2.2–2.5 mm long,<br />
minutely granular–striate, dark brown, dull. Ecology: Found on roadsides <strong>and</strong><br />
in disturbed habitats from 100–3,500 ft (30–1067 m); flowers April–October.<br />
Notes: Plant resembles P. ramosissimum but the inflorescences are more<br />
spicate. Naturalized from central Asia. Ethnobotany: Seeds were parched,<br />
ground, <strong>and</strong> eaten by the Cocopa. Etymology: Polygonum is derived from<br />
Greek polys, many, <strong>and</strong> gonu, knee or joint, while argyrocoleon means silvery<br />
<strong>and</strong> is from the Greek work koleos meaning sheath. Synonyms: None<br />
Rumex crispus<br />
Impact risk level<br />
H M L<br />
curly dock<br />
General: Introduced perennial herb; tap root; 30–120 cm tall; erect; glabrous.<br />
Leaves: Basal leaves 10–40 cm long, lanceolate, crenulate, petioled; stem leaves<br />
reduced. Flowers: Panicle 10–50 cm long; densely flowered; sepals ~1 mm long,<br />
green. Fruits: Achene. Ecology: Moist areas from 3,000–9,000 ft (914–2743<br />
m); ubiquitous in temperate North America; flowers March–October. Notes:<br />
Tall plant with little axillary branching below the inflorescence. Thick stems,<br />
large leaves that are wavy, crinkled <strong>and</strong>/or curled. Introduced from Europe.<br />
There are currently 2 varieties recognized as occurring in the United States: R.<br />
crispus var crispus <strong>and</strong> R. crispus var. fauriei. Only R. crispus var. crispus occurs<br />
in Arizona. Host plant for Purplish Copper butterfly. Ethnobotany: Plant is<br />
used by many tribes medicinally. Common uses are root or seed poultices for<br />
swelling <strong>and</strong> skin irritations. Considered a liver<br />
stimulant <strong>and</strong> blood purifier. Some tribes make tea<br />
to purify blood or treat urinary problems. Tea salve<br />
is made for skin problems. Slow root tea is used to<br />
treat diarrhea, stimulate appetite, <strong>and</strong> for intestinal<br />
cold. Tea is also made into a wash for face, h<strong>and</strong>s<br />
<strong>and</strong> clothing as love med. Seeds, greens <strong>and</strong> stems<br />
are consumed by many tribes. Pima, Cheyenne,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Choctaw also make yellow dye from roots.<br />
Etymology: Crispus is from Latin meaning “curled<br />
or wavy” in reference to the leaves. Synonyms: R.<br />
fauriei<br />
254 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2005 Luigi Rignanese
Impact risk level<br />
H M L<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Portulaca oleracea<br />
little hogweed<br />
General: Native annual; several spreading, succulent stems. Leaves: Ovate<br />
to spoon–shaped; simple; opposite; succulent; 5–30 mm. Flowers: Solitary or<br />
in clusters of 2–5 at stem tips; sepals 2, fused at base, green or reddish; petals<br />
5, yellow, 3–5 mm. Fruits: Capsule, 3–8 mm wide; seeds 0.6–1 mm wide, dark<br />
brown to black. Ecology: Likes open, disturbed locations from 4000–8500 ft<br />
(1220–2590 m); flowers August–September. Notes: This spreading annual has<br />
succulent stems <strong>and</strong> opposite, succulent, spoon–shaped leaves; the flowers are<br />
small <strong>and</strong> yellow. Likes warm, sunny, open, disturbed areas. Ethnobotany:<br />
Hopi boil plant with meats or make into<br />
gravy. Pima eat boiled leaves. San Felipe<br />
fry young plants <strong>and</strong> mix with peas.<br />
Etymology: Portulaca means “milk–<br />
carrier.” It is also Latin for small gate<br />
or door, from the capsule lid. Oleracea<br />
means “of cultivation” meaning edible.<br />
Synonyms: Portulaca neglecta, P. retusa<br />
Portulaca suffrutescens<br />
shrubby purslane<br />
General: Native, erect or ascending fleshy<br />
herb 5–30 cm tall, from tuberous rootstocks,<br />
somewhat woody at base, hairs in axils of<br />
leaves conspicuous. Leaves: Blades linear,<br />
terete, 1–3 cm long, 1–2 mm broad, acute at<br />
apex. Flowers: In few–flowered terminal<br />
clusters, surrounded by 6–8 leaves <strong>and</strong> pale<br />
brown hairs 4–6 mm long, sepals broadly<br />
ovate to suborbicular, 5–8 mm broad, 6–7<br />
mm long; petals copper or buff colored, 7–12 mm long, emarginate to obcordate.<br />
Fruits: Subglobose capsule, 3.5–5 mm in diameter, 5–6 mm long, circumsessile<br />
below middle. Ecology: Found on plains <strong>and</strong> in open areas of full sun, often<br />
in dry sites from 3000–5500 ft (914–1676 m); flowers July–September. Rarely, in<br />
spring. Notes: One of the showiest species of Portulaca, with flowers to 3 cm<br />
or more. Ethnobotany: Unknown, but other species in genus have some uses.<br />
Etymology: Portulaca means “milk–carrier,” it is also Latin for small gate or<br />
door, from the capsule lid, while suffrutescens means woody base. Synonyms:<br />
None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 255<br />
Portulacaceae<br />
Forbs
Portulacaceae–Primulaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Portulaca umbraticola<br />
wingpod purslane<br />
General: Annual with fibrous roots, stems<br />
erect or ascending 10–23 cm, stems glabrous,<br />
with sparse hairs at nodes. Leaves: Mostly<br />
alternate, sometimes subopposite, few, flat,<br />
lanceolate or spatulate, 10–35 mm long, 2–15<br />
mm wide, glabrous. Flowers: Glabrous with<br />
4–5 conspicuous involucral leaves, 10–30<br />
mm long, 1–7 mm wide; flowers clustered at<br />
ends of branches; petals pink, purple, yellow or orange tipped with red, 5–10<br />
mm long, stigmatic branches 5–18. Fruits: Capsule 3–5 mm in diameter with<br />
exp<strong>and</strong>ed circular membranous wing just below rim. Ecology: Found in s<strong>and</strong>y<br />
or rocky soils, along washes <strong>and</strong> disturbed sites from 3,000–6,000 ft (914–1829<br />
m); flowers June–October. Notes: Ours are generally ssp. lanceolata, which is<br />
distinguished by the 8–15 mm flower diameter with the bi–colored flowers. One<br />
characteristic to key in on is the circular membranous wing just below the rim<br />
of the capsule. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Portulaca means “milk–<br />
carrier,” but it comes from the Latin for small gate or door, from the capsule lid,<br />
while umbraticola comes form Latin umbraculum, for shady place. Synonyms:<br />
None, but ssp. lanceolata has two, see Tropicos<br />
Androsace occidentalis<br />
western rockjasmine<br />
General: Small delicate annual herb to 10 cm tall,<br />
sparsely puberulent throughout. Leaves: Basal,<br />
narrowly obovate to oblanceolate or oblong, 1.5–4<br />
mm wide, 4–15 mm long, obtuse to short–acuminate<br />
at apex, narrowed to short peiole or subsessile, entire<br />
or slightly denticulate, scapes several, ascending to<br />
erect, 1.5–5 cm long. Flowers: Umbels 2–15–flowered<br />
(usually 2–8–flowered), bracts subtending umbel<br />
ovate or elliptic, somewhat rhombic 2–5 mm long<br />
foliaceous, green; pedicels slender, 5–20 mm long,<br />
outer curved–ascending, inner erect or nearly so;<br />
calyx tube 2–2.5 mm in flower, green or often reddish, lobes ovate or narrowly<br />
triangular, 1.2–1.5 mm long in flower, green or reddish, spreading or even slightly<br />
reflexed in fruit. Fruits: Capsule about 3 mm in diameter. Ecology: Found on<br />
grassy hillsides <strong>and</strong> along streams <strong>and</strong> washes from 1,000–5,000 ft (305–1524<br />
m); flowers February–April. Ethnobotany: This plant is used for postpartum<br />
hemorrhage, for birth injury, for internal pain, <strong>and</strong> as a ‘life medicine.’<br />
Etymology: Androsace from Green name for sea–plant from Greek <strong>and</strong>ros, a<br />
man, male <strong>and</strong> sakos, a shield, while occidentalis means western. Synonyms:<br />
Androsace arizonica, A. occidentalis var. arizonica, A. occidentalis var. simplex<br />
256 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2005 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Clematis drummondii<br />
Drummond’s clematis<br />
General: Sc<strong>and</strong>ent <strong>and</strong> climbing vine with<br />
slender woody stems to 10 m long or more,<br />
bark tawny or light gray, striate <strong>and</strong> eventually<br />
stringy. Leaves: Petioles 3–8 cm long, sparsely<br />
puberulent, coiling like tendrils when in support<br />
of vine; leaflets 3–5 (rarely 7), lanceolate<br />
to narrowly ovate, 5–15 mm broad, usually less<br />
than 5 cm long, divergently 1–3–toothed or entire,<br />
grayish–pubescent, often copiously so.<br />
Flowers: Cymose panicles, on pedicels 1–2.5 cm<br />
long, sepals obovate to narrowly oblanceolate, 1 cm long or less, spreading but<br />
soon involute <strong>and</strong> irregularly reflexed; stamens about 7–8 mm long. Fruits:<br />
Achenes, narrowly ovoid, about 4 mm long, pubescent, tails 5–10 cm long,<br />
filiform, shining white but turning slightly rusty in drying. Ecology: Climbing<br />
over rocks <strong>and</strong> shrubs below 4,500 ft (1372 m); flowers March–September.<br />
Notes: Diagnostic for C. drummondi versus C. ligusticifolia involves the longer<br />
filiform tail off the achene <strong>and</strong> the grayish pubescence on the leaves, whereas<br />
C. ligusticifolia is glabrous <strong>and</strong> green. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology:<br />
Clematis is Greek name given to climbing plants, drummondii is named after<br />
Thomas Drummond (1790–1835) a Scottish naturalist. Synonyms: None<br />
Clematis ligusticifolia<br />
western white clematis<br />
General: Native perennial vine often 4–6<br />
m tall; stems woody at the base. Leaves:<br />
Leaves pinnately compound; leaflets<br />
5–7, lanceolate, toothed sparsely hairy;<br />
petioles tendril–like. Flowers: Flowers<br />
imperfect; dioecious; sepals ~10mm<br />
long, petal–like, white; petals none.<br />
Fruits: Achenes pubescent with long,<br />
straight hairs. Ecology: Along streams<br />
from 3,000–8,500 ft (915–2590m); flowers<br />
May–September. Notes: This species is a perennial vine with white dioecious<br />
flowers. There are currently 3 varieties recognized in the United States:<br />
C. ligusticifolia var. brevifolia, C. ligusticifolia var. californica, C. ligusticifolia<br />
var. ligusticifolia. Only C. ligusticifolia var. ligusticifolia is listed as occurring in<br />
Arizona. Medium drought <strong>and</strong> fire tolerance. Used to rehabilitate roadsides<br />
<strong>and</strong> stream–banks. Develops thick mat that may inhibit livestock movement.<br />
Cold stratification required. Ethnobotany: Native Americans used the roots<br />
as a stimulant for exhausted or dehydrated horses. The plant was chewed as a<br />
cold remedy <strong>and</strong> to cure sore throats. Similar uses as C. hirsutissima. Etymology:<br />
Clematis is Greek name given to climbing plants <strong>and</strong> hirsutissima means<br />
very hairy. Synonyms: C. neomexicana, C. suksdorfii<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 257<br />
Ranunculaceae<br />
Forbs
Ranunculaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Delphinium scaposum<br />
tall mountain larkspur<br />
General: Native perennial; stems leafless;<br />
20–50 cm tall; glabrous. Leaves: Leaves<br />
mostly basal, occasional reduced stem<br />
leaves; 3–5 divisions; divisions lobed; 2–3<br />
cm wide. Flowers: Raceme 5–15 flowers;<br />
sepals 5, petal–like, 10–15mm, blue; petals<br />
4 in 2 unequal pairs, white; spur as long as<br />
sepals, bronze–tipped. Fruits: Follicles 10–<br />
20 mm long, glabrous; seeds dark brown.<br />
Ecology: Exposed rocky areas from 1,500–8,500 ft (460–2590m); flowers<br />
March–June. Notes: Distinguished from other Delphinium by more or less<br />
leafless stems <strong>and</strong> flowers with blue sepals <strong>and</strong> white petals. Ethnobotany:<br />
Hopi use as emetic in Po–wa–mu ceremony. Also used as after birth wash.<br />
Navajo make blue dye from flower. Etymology: Delphinium is Discorides’<br />
name for dolphin–head. Scaposum is ancient word referring to leafless stems.<br />
Synonyms: D. <strong>and</strong>ersonii var. scaposum<br />
Myosurus minimus<br />
tiny mousetail<br />
General: Native annual; 2–18 cm tall; stems generally<br />
leafless. Leaves: Filiform to linear; 2–8 cm long.<br />
Flowers: In spikes 1–6 cm long; sepals 5, 1–4 mm,<br />
spurred; petals 5, 1.5–3 mm, whitish. Fruits: Achenes<br />
Ecology: Wet areas from 3,000–7,000 ft (915–2135<br />
m); flowers March–April. Notes: This small annual<br />
has spikes of tiny flowers with spurred sepals <strong>and</strong> 5<br />
whitish petals. Ethnobotany: Chewed plant poultice<br />
is used by Navajo for ant bites. Etymology: Myosurus<br />
translates to mouse– tail, pertaining to receptacle<br />
when mature. Minimus means least or smallest.<br />
Synonyms: M clavicaulis; M. lepturus<br />
258 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey ©2004 Carol W. Witham
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
2009 <strong>NPS</strong>/Beth Fallon<br />
Diodia teres<br />
poorjoe<br />
General: Erect annuals, 7–25 cm tall, simple, with<br />
four–angled stems above, glabrous, or with short<br />
scattered hairs. Leaves: Opposite with connecting<br />
stipules, fimbriate; blades 1.5–3.5 cm long, linear<br />
to narrowly lanceolate–oblanceolate, apices<br />
subulate bearing a sharp terminal hair, scabrous<br />
margins, bases somewhat hyaline, this forming<br />
the fimbriate stipules that contain the sessile<br />
flowers. Flowers: One to several in leaf axils,<br />
calyx 2–4 lobes, unequal, ovate or lanceolate,<br />
smallest above; other 3 large <strong>and</strong> adhering to the lower nutlet; corolla white or<br />
pink, glabrous or hispid externally, 3 mm long, 4 small lobes; stamens <strong>and</strong> style<br />
included or scarcely exserted. Fruits: Nutlets 3 mm long, obovoid–turbinate,<br />
flattened at plane of separation, covered with stiff straight, apically directed hairs,<br />
topped with persistent calyx. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y, gravelly slopes <strong>and</strong> along<br />
washes, often in disturbed soils from 3,500–8,000 ft (1067–2438 m); flowers<br />
August–October. Notes: Flowers to make you think Houstonia or Hedyotis, but<br />
this species is delicately annual <strong>and</strong> with the connective stipules, quite unlike<br />
the close ground habit of the other two species. Ours are thought to be of var.<br />
angustata. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Diodia is from the Greek<br />
for thoroughfare, for its habit, while teres means cylindrical in cross–section.<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
Phoradendron californicum<br />
mesquite mistletoe<br />
General: Branches arching to drooping,<br />
often forming much branched masses in<br />
desert trees, especially legumes. Stems<br />
terete, at first silvery–green pubescent<br />
with minute, appressed scalelike hairs,<br />
soon glabrous <strong>and</strong> green to reddish<br />
green. Leaves: Closely appressed to<br />
stem, 1–2.5 mm, at first green or yellow–<br />
green <strong>and</strong> quickly drying as persistent<br />
scales or remaining green only at base.<br />
Flowers: Dioecious or occasionally<br />
monoecious. Fragrant, calyx thick,<br />
fleshy, <strong>and</strong> yellow–green. Anthers short <strong>and</strong> yellow. Fruits: Globose, 4.5–5.5<br />
mm when fresh, the fresh pulp viscid <strong>and</strong> translucent white, salmon colored on<br />
exposed surfaces <strong>and</strong> whitish to yellow–white when not exposed to sunlight.<br />
Explosive dehiscence. Ecology: Found on host plants through southwest; flowers<br />
December–February. Notes: Flowering <strong>and</strong> fruiting non–seasonally, birds love<br />
this species <strong>and</strong> help to spread. Ethnobotany: Decoction of the berries was taken<br />
as purge by the Pima. It was used for washing sores, for stomachaches, boiled,<br />
dried <strong>and</strong> stored for food. Etymology: Phoradendron is from Greek phor, a thief<br />
<strong>and</strong> dendron, tree—hence tree thief because of its parasitism, while californicum<br />
refers to California. Synonyms: Phoradendron californicum var. distans, P.<br />
californicum var. leucocarpum<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 259<br />
Rubiaceae–Santalaceae<br />
Forbs
Solanaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Calibrachoa parviflora<br />
seaside petunia<br />
General: Prostrate annual herb with diffusely<br />
branched stems 2–40 cm, gl<strong>and</strong>ular–viscid<br />
herbage. Leaves: Linear, elliptic, or oblong–<br />
oblanceolate, 4–18 mm long, 1–4.5 mm wide,<br />
narrowed to short petiole or nearly sessile, 1<br />
nerved, acute to rounded at apex, margins entire<br />
to slightly undulate. Flowers: Solitary in axils on<br />
slender pedicels, 2–5 mm long at anthesis, calyx<br />
lobes linear–spatulate to linear–lanceolate, .5–1<br />
mm wide, 2–3 mm long in flower, 5–8 mm long in<br />
fruit, cup 1–2 mm deep, funnelform corolla 5–7 mm long, pale blue to purplish,<br />
often paler to nearly white on one side, lobes rounded but apiculate, more or<br />
less spreading. Fruits: Capsule broadly ovoid, 3–4 mm long, firm, yellowish<br />
or whitish, glabrous. Ecology: Found on s<strong>and</strong>y flats, arroyos, s<strong>and</strong> bars <strong>and</strong><br />
stream banks from 500–5,000 ft (152–1524 m); flowers December–September,<br />
although it flowers sporadically the rest of the year. Notes: Relative of the<br />
showy cultivated petunias. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Calibrachoa<br />
is named for Mexican botanist Antonio de la Cal y Bracho (1766–1833) while<br />
parviflora means small flowered. Synonyms: Petunia parviflora<br />
Chamaesaracha conoides<br />
gray five eyes<br />
General: Copiously branched, gl<strong>and</strong>ular–<br />
pubescent plant with ascending or slightly<br />
decumbent stem 10–40 cm long, viscid <strong>and</strong><br />
often discolored with adhering soil <strong>and</strong> debris.<br />
Leaves: Numerous, lance–ovate to broadly<br />
ovate, blades 4–18 mm wide, 1–3.5 cm long,<br />
rounded to acute at apex, cuneately narrowed<br />
to narrowly winged petiole, margin entire,<br />
undulate, occasionally pinatifid. Flowers:<br />
Pedicels 1–2.5 cm long, gl<strong>and</strong>ular–hirsute, calyx<br />
3–4 mm deep, teeth 1–1.5 mm long, ascending<br />
to erect, lanceolate, triangular; corolla rotate 10–15 mm in diameter, greenish<br />
yellow to purplish, densely pubescent in throat, stamens 3–5 mm long, erect,<br />
filaments glabrous, yellowish anthers 2 mm long. Fruits: Dry berries, globose<br />
5–6 mm diameter, glabrous, pale yellow to whitish. Ecology: Found on<br />
roadsides, grassy plains, rocky hillsides <strong>and</strong> mesas from 3,500–5,500 ft (1067–<br />
1676 m); flowers April–August. Notes: Told apart from C. coronopus by its<br />
herbage which is composed for simple hairs intermingled with gl<strong>and</strong>–tipped<br />
ones, making it more or less viscid. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology:<br />
From Greek for low or dwarf <strong>and</strong> Saracha, a genus in Solanaceae from South<br />
America, conoides is cone like. Synonyms: None<br />
260 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2011 Anthony Mendoza
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Chamaesaracha coronopus<br />
greenleaf five eyes<br />
General: Herbaceous perennial, ascending to<br />
procumbent, 10–50 cm long, slightly angular in<br />
cross section, longitudinally ridged or subulate,<br />
ridges more pubescent than intervening channels;<br />
herbage sparsely scurfy with coarse dendritic to<br />
stellately branched hairs, branches stubby, white.<br />
Leaves: Oblong–linear to elliptic–oblanceolate,<br />
usually pinnatifid with teeth 1–2 mm long, leaves<br />
2–5 mm wide but vigorously growing plants often<br />
have shallowly pinnatifid leaves or only undulate.<br />
Flowers: Solitary in axils on slender pedicels to 4 cm long <strong>and</strong> often deflexed <strong>and</strong><br />
curved in fruit; calyx 3–4 mm deep at anthesis, densely pubescent–scurfy, teeth<br />
broadly to narrowly deltoid, corolla rotate or shallowly cup–shaped, 12–18 mm in<br />
diameter, greenish–yellow, more or less blotched with purple, densely puberulent<br />
around base of filaments, tips sparsely pubescent; glabrous yellow stamens.<br />
Fruits: Globose berry, dry, 5–8 mm diameter, glabrous. Ecology: Along ditches,<br />
roadsides, pasturel<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> mesas from 2,500–7,500 ft (762–2286 m); flowers<br />
April–September. Notes: Told apart from C. conoides by the mostly pinnatifid<br />
leaves <strong>and</strong> the coarse pubescence. Ethnobotany: Used for swellings <strong>and</strong> the<br />
Kayenta used it in case of drowning. Etymology: From Greek for low or dwarf<br />
<strong>and</strong> Saracha, a genus in Solanaceae from South America, coronopous is from<br />
Greek korone, crown <strong>and</strong> pous, foot from the deeply cleft leaves being like the<br />
points of a crown. Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 261<br />
Solanaceae<br />
Forbs
Solanaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Datura wrightii<br />
sacred thorn–apple<br />
General: Perennial herbs; spreading <strong>and</strong><br />
branching; herbage grayish–green; 50–180 cm tall.<br />
Leaves: Leaves alternate with short petioles <strong>and</strong><br />
toothed lobes, usually asymetric at the base, 4–15<br />
cm long, grayish–green <strong>and</strong> short–pubescent.<br />
Flowers: Calyx tube 6–10 cm long with 1–3 cm long<br />
teeth; corolla white, often with hints of lavender or<br />
purple, 15–25 cm long, with 5–10 slender teeth that<br />
are 5–20 mm long; anthers white or lavender, 15<br />
mm long. Fruits: Capsule round, 3–4 cm in diameter, nodding, <strong>and</strong> very prickly;<br />
prickles 5–12 mm long; seeds flat <strong>and</strong> cream–colored. Ecology: Found in creosote<br />
brush, Joshua tree, sagebrush, <strong>and</strong> pinon–juniper communties from 1,000–6,500 ft<br />
(300–1980 m); flowers April–October. Notes: Characterized by its spreading habit,<br />
large ovate leaves, <strong>and</strong> large white funnel–shaped corolla. Entire plant is poisonous.<br />
Ethnobotany: Apache use plant juice, flower, roots as disinfectant. Cahuilla <strong>and</strong><br />
others use leaf powder to make ointment for setting bones. Also used as antidote<br />
for tarantula, snake, spider <strong>and</strong> poisonous insect bites. In Cahuilla given to shaman<br />
so he may visit the l<strong>and</strong> of the dead <strong>and</strong> offer messages to those living. In other<br />
tribes given to medicine men to “see” the disease <strong>and</strong> give proper diagnosis. Used<br />
in numerous tribes in ceremonies marking boy initiation into manhood. Plant is<br />
most poisonous narcotic known. Etymology: Datura is an ancient Hindu name.<br />
Wrightii named for Charles Wright (1811–1885), an American botanical collector.<br />
Synonyms: D. inoxia, D. meteloides, D. metel<br />
Physalis acutifolia<br />
sharpleaf groundcherry<br />
General: Erect or ascending annual 10–<br />
100 cm tall with strongly angled, much–<br />
branched stems <strong>and</strong> sparingly pubescent<br />
to subglabrous foliage. Leaves: Slender<br />
petioles 1.5–5 cm long, lanceolate, 6–35<br />
mm wide, 2.5–8 cm long, deeply sinuate–<br />
toothed, cuneate at base, acute, attenuate<br />
at apex, margins finely ciliate. Flowers:<br />
Pedicels 5–20 mm long, finely puberulent<br />
at anthesis, campanulate calyx, scarcely<br />
angular, 3–5 mm long with narrowly deltoid lobes, rotate corolla 12–20 mm<br />
diameter, whitish or light yellow with deeper yellow center; greenish anthers,<br />
linear, 3–4.5 mm long. Fruits: Ovoid globose berry 1.5–2.5 cm long. Ecology:<br />
Found on roadsides, fields, ditches from 100–4,000 ft (30–1219 m); flowers<br />
April–September. Notes: Smaller, low growing habit help identify this species.<br />
Ethnobotany: Fruit eaten primarily by children as a snack food by the Gila<br />
River Pima; eaten raw, cooked into sauces, preserves <strong>and</strong> jams, dried <strong>and</strong> stored<br />
as food. Etymology: Physalis from Greek physallis, a bladder or bubble, due<br />
to inflated calyx, while acutifolia means pointed leaves. Synonyms: Physalis<br />
wrightii<br />
262 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2008 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2006 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2004 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Physalis longifolia<br />
longleaf groundcherry<br />
General: Stout erect perennial 0.5–1<br />
m tall with angulate–striate, glabrous<br />
stems Leaves: Lance–elliptic, glabrous<br />
or subglabrous entire leaves 1–2.2 cm<br />
wide <strong>and</strong> 3–9 cm long, acute, cuneate <strong>and</strong><br />
deccurrent on petioles at base; petioles 1–4<br />
cm long. Flowers: Pedicels 8–12 mm long<br />
at anthesis; campanulate calyx, truncate<br />
at base, sparsely puberulent toward base,<br />
lanceolate lobes 2.5–3 mm wide, 4–5 mm<br />
long; corolla campanulate–rotate, 12–20 mm wide, about 10–15 mm long,<br />
yellow with darker center; anthers 2–3 mm long, yellow. Fruits: Fruiting calyx<br />
ovoid 2–3 cm long, glabrous, distinctly veined, berry. Ecology: Found on plains<br />
<strong>and</strong> along stream banks from 2,500–5,000 ft (762–1524 m); flowers April–<br />
August. Notes: Fairly rare in Arizona, large size compared to other ground<br />
loving Physalis distinguish this species. Ethnobotany: Berries were widely<br />
eaten, whether raw or boiled. Etymology: Physalis from Greek physalis, a<br />
bladder or bubble, due to inflated calyx, while longifolia means long leaved.<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
Solanum eleagnifolium<br />
silverleaf nightshade<br />
General: Perennial herb or woody at base<br />
to 1 m tall, emerges from tough creeping<br />
rhizomes, foliage <strong>and</strong> stems canescent with<br />
finely stellate pubescence; stems, petioles<br />
<strong>and</strong> midribs of leaves sparsely to densely<br />
prickly with slender yellowish spines 1–5<br />
mm long. Leaves: Petioles with shallowly<br />
longitudinal grooves on upper surface,<br />
3–20 mm long, leaves linear, oblong, or<br />
lanceolate 4–25 mm wide, 3–10 cm long, broadly cuneate at base, obtuse to<br />
acute at apex, with prominent veins. Flowers: Cymose, peduncles, pedicels<br />
<strong>and</strong> calyces prickly with yellow spines, calyx ovate to lance–linear, corollas 2–3<br />
cm diameter, violet or blue; anthers 7–9 mm long, subequal, yellow. Fruits:<br />
Berries globose 9–14 mm in diameter, yellow to brownish. Ecology: Found on<br />
s<strong>and</strong>y plains, arroyos, outwash slopes <strong>and</strong> disturbed areas from 1,000–5,500<br />
ft (305–1676 m); flowers April–October. Notes: Rhizomatousness, spines, <strong>and</strong><br />
distinct purple–blue flowers help identify this species. Ethnobotany: Used in<br />
a variety of medicinal capacities, considered to be highly toxic. Etymology:<br />
Solanum is Latin for quieting, reference to the narcotic properties of some<br />
species, elaeagnifolium refers to being like plants in the genus Eleagnus.<br />
Synonyms: None<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 263<br />
Verbenaceae<br />
Forbs
Talinaceae–Urticaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Talinum paniculatum<br />
pink baby breath, jewels of Opar<br />
General: Perennial herb to 1 m tall, tuberous roots,<br />
erect stem. Leaves: Short–petiolate, blades elliptic<br />
to obovate, basally attenuate, to 12 cm long, reduced<br />
upward. Flowers: Inflorescence spreading to 25 cm<br />
long, sepals ovate to suborbiculate, 2.5–4 mm long,<br />
sometimes reflexed, petals ovate to suborbiculate, 3–5<br />
mm long, red or pink, sometimes orangish, yellowish,<br />
or purplish, 15–20 stamens, 3 linear stigmas. Fruits:<br />
Subglobose capsule, sometimes triquetrous, 3–5<br />
mm long. Ecology: Found in moist to dry habitats in<br />
woodl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> savannas, desert scrub <strong>and</strong> grassl<strong>and</strong>s,<br />
in grassy soil <strong>and</strong> crevices, in open <strong>and</strong> often in shade from 2,500–5,500 ft (762–<br />
1676 m); flowers July–October. Notes: Its very fleshy leaves <strong>and</strong> weak stems<br />
help to identify this plant.Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Paniculatum<br />
means with panicles. Synonyms: Portulaca paniculata, Talinum chrysanthum,<br />
T. paniculatum var. paniculatum, T. paniculatum var. sarmentosum, T. reflexum,<br />
T. spathulatum<br />
Parietaria pensylvanica<br />
Pennsylvania pellitory<br />
General: Erect, slender stemmed annual<br />
10–40 cm tall, simple or sparingly branched<br />
at base, glabrate or more commonly<br />
sparsely to moderately villous with weak,<br />
white hairs. Leaves: Lanceolate to lance–<br />
oblong, cuneate to slightly rounded at<br />
base, acute to acuminate at the apex,<br />
puberulent to villosulous, blades 5–12 mm<br />
wide, 2.5–7.5 cm long long slender petioles about one half as long as blade.<br />
Flowers: In glomerules in most axils, bracts linear or lance–linear, 4–6 mm<br />
long, sparsely pubescent, sepals lance–linear, about 2 mm long, acute. Fruits:<br />
Achenes, brownish about 2 mm long. Ecology: Found along watercourses, in<br />
the shade of trees, cliffs, <strong>and</strong> rocks from 1,500–4,500 ft (457–1372 m); flowers<br />
March–June. Notes: This plant is common through temperate North America.<br />
Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Parietaria comes form Latin parietarius,<br />
of walls which details the preferred habitat, while pensylvanica comes from<br />
its being of Pennsylvania. Synonyms: Parietaria obtusa, P. occidentalis, P.<br />
pensylvanica var. obtusa<br />
264 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2006 Pedro Tenorio Lezama<br />
©2006 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Gl<strong>and</strong>ularia gooddingii<br />
southwestern mock vervain<br />
General: Annual or perennial; stems<br />
several from a common base, 20–45 cm<br />
tall, branched, densely hairy <strong>and</strong> gl<strong>and</strong>ular.<br />
Leaves: Mostly 3–cleft, the divisions are<br />
toothed or cleft, hairy on both sides, tapering<br />
at the base to a short petiole. Flowers:<br />
Spikes capitate in anthesis, elongated in<br />
fruit, bracts a little shorter than the calyx,<br />
which is gl<strong>and</strong>ular; corolla pink, lavender,<br />
violet or blue, tube a little longer than calyx. Fruits: Nutlets, about 3 mm long,<br />
reticulate, base striate. Ecology: Found at 5,000–10,000 ft (1524–3048 m) in<br />
coniferous forests; flowers throughout year. Notes: Corollas large <strong>and</strong> showy,<br />
pink, lavender, violet or blue, 3–cleft leaves. G. gooddingii has large <strong>and</strong> showy<br />
corolla, but the corolla tube is only slightly longer than the calyx. Herbage is<br />
conspicuously villous <strong>and</strong> stems <strong>and</strong> stems are gl<strong>and</strong>ular. Ethnobotany: Acts<br />
as a sedative, diphoretic, diuretic, bitter tonic, <strong>and</strong> antispasmodic. Etymology:<br />
Verbena is the Latin name for the leafy twigs used in the wreaths for ritual use<br />
<strong>and</strong> medicine. Gl<strong>and</strong>ularia is ancient word meaning full of gl<strong>and</strong>s. Synonyms:<br />
Verbena arizonica, V. gooddingii, V. gooddingii var. nepetifolia, V. verna, V. var.<br />
fissa<br />
Tetraclea coulteri<br />
Coulter’s wrinklefruit<br />
General: Perennial with several branching<br />
obscurely 4–angled ascending or spreading<br />
stems about 40 cm tall from a woody root;<br />
branchlets slender, gray, obtusely tetragonal,<br />
densely puberulent with appressed, strigose,<br />
whitish hairs, nodes not swollen, principal<br />
nodes 9–32 mm long. Leaves: Decussate–<br />
opposite, slender petioles, 4–10 mm long,<br />
flattened with distinct margin from apex to<br />
base, appressed–puberulent throughout, blades<br />
thin–chartaceous or submembranous, uniformly bright green, ovate 1.5–3.5<br />
cm long, 6–18 mm wide, sharply acute <strong>and</strong> mucronulate at apex, irregularly<br />
<strong>and</strong> coarsely dentate, finely puberulent. Flowers: Mostly 3–flowered, slender<br />
peduncles 3–8 mm long, densely puberulent, cream–colored corolla, tinged<br />
with red outside, lobes elliptic–obovate, entire. Fruits: Pyriform pyrene,<br />
strongly <strong>and</strong> coarsely reticulated, finely pubescent. Ecology: Found in s<strong>and</strong>y<br />
soil below 4,500 ft (1372 m); flowers April–August. Notes: Ashy–green foliage<br />
<strong>and</strong> fine, rough pubescence helps to separate this plant. Ethnobotany: Plant<br />
used as a ceremonial medicine <strong>and</strong> as a fever medicine. Etymology: Tetraclea<br />
comes from tetra meaning four, <strong>and</strong> coulteri which is named for Dr. Thomas<br />
Coulter (1793–1843) an Irish botanist. Synonyms: Tetraclea coulteri var.<br />
angustifolia<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 265<br />
Verbenaceae<br />
Forbs
Vitaceae<br />
Forbs<br />
Vitis arizonica<br />
canyon grape<br />
General: Native, sprawling or weakly climbing<br />
perennial vine; stems generally 2–6 m long; the<br />
young twigs densely woolly, but losing this over<br />
time <strong>and</strong> the bark becoming shreddy. Leaves:<br />
Broadly cordate, 3–10 cm long <strong>and</strong> about<br />
as wide, irregularly toothed <strong>and</strong> sometimes<br />
shallowly 3–lobed, more–or–less cottony hairy;<br />
petiole 1–3 cm long; tendrils opposite the leaves,<br />
more–or–less branched, withering quickly if not<br />
attached to something. Flowers: Inflorescence<br />
opposite leaves, usually branched, 2–10 cm long; flowers with five, white petals.<br />
Fruits: Edible (but sometimes bitter) grapes, 8–10 mm thick, black. Ecology:<br />
Generally in canyons <strong>and</strong> along streams from 2,000–7,500 ft (610–2286 m);<br />
flowers April–July. Notes: Characterized by a sprawling or vine–like habit;<br />
broad, irregularly–toothed leaves with tendrils opposite; <strong>and</strong> inflorescences<br />
opposite of the leaves that bare dark purple to black grapes. Ethnobotany:<br />
Navajo use in courtship gifts. Apache dry <strong>and</strong> eat fruits like raisins, eaten<br />
fresh. Havasupai use to make toys/games, other tribes have uses as well. Leaves<br />
can be salted <strong>and</strong> soaked <strong>and</strong> used similarly like domesticated grape leaves.<br />
Etymology: Vitis is Latin for vine. Synonyms: Vitus treleasei<br />
266 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
©2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey<br />
Kallstroemia gr<strong>and</strong>iflora<br />
Arizona poppy, caltrop<br />
General: Diffuse annual with hirsute,<br />
spreading to ascending stems 10–40 cm<br />
long, stipules linear–subulate, 4–6 mm long,<br />
hirsute; procumbent with age. Leaves:<br />
Leaves 4.5–12 cm, with 5–9 pairs of leaflets;<br />
obliquely oblong, 2–5 mm wide, 8–25 mm<br />
long, obtuse or acute, asymmetrical at base,<br />
usually glabrous above, pubescent with<br />
both coarse <strong>and</strong> fine hairs or glabrate beneath. Flowers: Pedicels 1–2 cm long<br />
at anthesis, to 4 cm long in fruit, sepals narrowly linear–lanceolate, about 5 mm<br />
long, hirsute, persistent; petals deep dark orange that fades to yellow with the<br />
day, narrowly obovate 5–7 cm wide corolla, corolla center <strong>and</strong> filaments dark<br />
orange–red, anthers yellow, ovary <strong>and</strong> style green. Fruits: Fruiting pedicels<br />
3–7 cm, body of fruits 4–5 mm <strong>and</strong> knobby, beaks 8–12 mm long, columnar.<br />
Ecology: Widespread <strong>and</strong> common on desert flats, gravelly or s<strong>and</strong>y soils<br />
from 5,000 ft (1524 m) <strong>and</strong> below; flowers February–September. Notes:<br />
The color of the petals is diagnostic between the three species in the region.<br />
Ethnobotany: K. californica was used as an antidiarrheal <strong>and</strong> a dermatological<br />
aid. Etymology: Kallstroemia is named for Anders Kallstrom (1733–1812) a<br />
contemporary of Giovanni Antonio Scopoli, the author of the genus, while<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>iflora refers to the large flower. Synonyms: None<br />
Tribulus terrestris<br />
puncturevine<br />
General: Prostrate annual herb with diffusely branching stems 10–80 cm long;<br />
herbage sparsely silky–strigose throughout or upper surfaces of leaflets nearly<br />
glabrous; stipules subulate, 2–3 mm long. Leaves: Leaves 2–5 cm long, with 3–9<br />
pairs of elliptic or oblong leaflets 3–13 mm long, oblique, acute to obtuse at apex;<br />
leaflets of the lower pair unequal in size. Flowers: Peduncles axillary to the<br />
shorter of the pair of leaves <strong>and</strong> exceeded by subtending leaf; sepals narrowly<br />
lance–ovate, 3–3.5 mm long, caducous; petals pale yellow, 4–5 mm long. Fruits:<br />
15–18 mm broad exclusive of spines, breaking into 5 spiny nutlets, each with 2<br />
larger spines, after separation the vicious tacklike nutlets l<strong>and</strong> with the larger<br />
spines upward. Ecology: Introduced<br />
<strong>and</strong> abundant in cultivated areas, along<br />
roads, disturbed sites; flowers July–<br />
October. Notes: Introduced <strong>and</strong> weedy<br />
where established. Ethnobotany: Used<br />
by the Navajo as a ceremonial medicine.<br />
Etymology: Tribulus is Latin for three–<br />
pointed, a caltrop, while terrestris in<br />
Latin means on l<strong>and</strong>. Synonyms: None<br />
©2008 T. Beth Kinsey H M L Impact risk level<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 267<br />
Zygophyllaceae<br />
Forbs
Forbs<br />
268 Educational use only; not for sale
A<br />
Abaxial: the side away from the axis<br />
Acaulescent: stemless<br />
Accumbent: a term referring to seeds in which the embryonic root is wrapped<br />
around <strong>and</strong> lies along the edges of the two cotylodons (compare incumbent)<br />
Acerose: needle-shaped<br />
Achene: a small, dry, one-seeded, indehiscent fruit (i.e. one that does not split<br />
open), deriving from a one-chambered ovary, typical of the Asteraceae<br />
Acicular: needle-shaped, as applied to some kinds of foliage<br />
Acorn: hard, dry, indehiscent with a single large seed <strong>and</strong> a cupule<br />
Actinomorphic: radially symmetrical<br />
Aculeate: pointed or prickly<br />
Acuminate: tapering gradually to a pointed apex with more or less concave sides<br />
along the tip<br />
Acute: tapering to a sharp-pointed apex with more or less straight sides along<br />
the tip<br />
Acyclic: with the floral parts arranged spirally rather than in whorls<br />
Adaxial: the side toward the axis<br />
Adenophorous: gl<strong>and</strong>-bearing<br />
Adherent: two or more organs appearing to be fused but actually separable<br />
Adnate: grown together, used only to describe unlike parts (compare connate)<br />
Adventitious: occurring in unusual or unexpected locations such as roots on<br />
aerial stems or buds on leaves. Also meaning: out of the usual place, introduced<br />
but not yet naturalized<br />
Aestivation: the arrangement of floral parts in a bud<br />
Aggregate: densely clustered<br />
Albumen: the nutritive tissue in a seed<br />
Alkaline: soils that contain high amounts of various salts of potassium <strong>and</strong>/or<br />
sodium, as well as other soluble minerals, <strong>and</strong> are basic rather than acidic with a<br />
pH greater than 7.0<br />
Allelopathy: a characteristic of some plants according to which chemical<br />
compounds are produced that inhibit the growth of other plants in the immediate<br />
vicinity<br />
Allopatric: occupying different geographic regions<br />
Alternate: a leaf arrangement along the axis in which the leaves are not opposite<br />
to each other or whorled<br />
Alveolate: Honeycombed, with pits separated by thin, ridged partitions<br />
Ament: an inflorescence consisting of a dense spike or raceme or apetalous,<br />
unisexual flowers, another name for a catkin<br />
Ammophilous: s<strong>and</strong>-loving<br />
Amplexicaul: describing a sessile leaf that has its base completely surrounding<br />
the stem<br />
An<strong>and</strong>rous: without stamens<br />
Ananthous: without flowers<br />
Androecium: a collective term for the stamens of a flower (compare<br />
gynoecium)<br />
Androgynous: having staminate <strong>and</strong> pistillate flowers in the same inflorescence<br />
Anemophilous: wind-pollinated<br />
Angled: sided, as in the shape of stems or fruits<br />
Angular: having sharp angles or corners, generally used in reference to structures<br />
such as stems to contrast them with rounded stems<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 269<br />
Glossary
Glossary<br />
Annual: a plant that completes its life cycle from the its germination as a seed to<br />
the production of new seeds in a single year <strong>and</strong> then dies<br />
Anterior: on the front side away from the axis<br />
Anther: the pollen-bearing portion of a stamen<br />
Anthesis: time during which the flower is open<br />
Antrorse: pointing forward or upward (compare retrorse)<br />
Aperturate: with one or more openings or apertures<br />
Apetalous: lacking petals<br />
Apex: the tip of a plant part<br />
Aphyllous: without leaves<br />
Apiculate: ending in an abrupt slender tip which is not stiff<br />
Applanate: flattened<br />
Appressed: lying flat against or nearly parallel to, as leaves on a stem or hairs on<br />
a leaf<br />
Arborescent: approaching the size <strong>and</strong> habit of a tree<br />
Arcuate: arching or curved like a bow<br />
Areole: a raised area on a cactus from which spines develop<br />
Aristate: with an awn or stiff bristle, typically at the apex<br />
Armed: provided with prickles, spines or thorns<br />
Ascending: growing obliquely upward<br />
Asymmetrical: not divided into like <strong>and</strong>/or equal parts<br />
Attenuate: gradually narrowing to a tip or base<br />
Auricle: a small earlike lobe or appendage<br />
Auriculate: having earlike appendages<br />
Autophilous: self-pollinated<br />
Awn: a slender, stiff terminal bristle attached at its base to another structure or<br />
organ such as a leaf or grass stem<br />
Axil: the upper angle formed between two structures or organs, such as a leaf <strong>and</strong><br />
the stem from which it grows<br />
Axillary: borne or carried in the axil<br />
Axis: the main stem<br />
B<br />
Banner: the upper petal of a pea flower<br />
Barbed: with a backward-facing tip<br />
Barbellate: with short, stiff hairs or barbs<br />
Basal: at or near the base, often describing leaves <strong>and</strong> where they attach<br />
Basifixed: attached by the base (compare dorsifixed, versatile)<br />
Beak: a firm, pointed terminal appendage<br />
Berry: a fleshy, indehiscent fruit in which the seeds are not encased in a stone <strong>and</strong><br />
are typically more than one<br />
Biennial: a plant that takes two years to complete its life cycle, usually growing<br />
vegetation in the first year <strong>and</strong> producing flowers <strong>and</strong> seeds in the second, then<br />
dying<br />
Bifurcate: divided into two forks or branches<br />
Bilabiate: two-lipped<br />
Bipinnate: twice pinnately compound<br />
Bipinnatifid: two times pinnately cleft<br />
Bisexual: having both stamens <strong>and</strong> pistils<br />
Bladdery: thin-walled <strong>and</strong> inflated<br />
Blade: the exp<strong>and</strong>ed terminal portion of a leaf, petal or other structure, i.e. that<br />
portion of the leaf that does not include the stalk<br />
270 Educational use only; not for sale
Bloom: a white, powderlike coating sometimes found on a leaf or stem surface<br />
Bole: the trunk or stem of a tree<br />
Brackish: a mixture of salt <strong>and</strong> fresh water, somewhat saline<br />
Bract: a modified leaf which may be reduced in size or different in other<br />
characteristics from the foliage leaves <strong>and</strong> which usually subtends a flower or an<br />
inflorescence<br />
Bracteole: a small bract, often secondary in nature, a bractlet<br />
Bristle: a stiff hair, usually erect or curving away from its attachment point<br />
Bud: a developing leaf, stem or flower<br />
Bulb: an underground plant part derived from a shoot that is enclosed in<br />
numerous overlapping thickened leafy scales whose purpose is to store food<br />
Bundle scar: scar left on a twig by the vascular bundles when a leaf falls<br />
Bur: a prickly or spiny seed or fruit<br />
Burl: a woody swelling where the stem joins the roots<br />
C<br />
Caducous: falling off very early compared to similar structures in other plants<br />
Caespitose (Cespitose): having a densely clumped, tufted or cushion-like growth<br />
form with the flowers extending above the clump<br />
Callus: a hardened or thickened area at the point of attachment<br />
Calyptra: a hood or lid<br />
Calyx: the outer whorl of the perianth, composed of the sepals, usually but not<br />
always green, which enclose other flower parts in bud<br />
Campanulate: bell-shaped<br />
Canescent: with gray or white short hairs, often having a hoary appearance<br />
Capillary: very slender <strong>and</strong> hairlike<br />
Capitate: in a globular or head-shaped cluster<br />
Capsule: a dry, generally many-seeded fruit divided into two or more seed<br />
compartments that dehisces or splits open longitudinally with the line of<br />
dehiscence either through the locule (loculicidal) or through the septa<br />
(septicidal), or, less commonly, through pores (poricidal) or around the<br />
circumference (circumscissile)<br />
Carnose: with a fleshy texture<br />
Carpel: a simple pistil, or a single unit of a compound pistil, the ovule-bearing<br />
portion of a flower<br />
Caruncle: a protuberance or appendage near the hilum of seed<br />
Caryopsis: the grain or fruit of grasses<br />
Catkin: a spikelike, often pendulous, inflorescence of petalless unisexual flowers,<br />
either staminate or pistillate<br />
Caudate: bearing a tail or slender tail-like appendage<br />
Caudex: the persistent, often woody base of an otherwise annual herbaceous<br />
stem<br />
Cauline: attached to or referring to the stem, as opposed to ‘basal’, often used to<br />
describe leaf position<br />
Ceraceous: waxy in texture or appearance<br />
Cernuous: drooping or nodding<br />
Chaff: thin scales or bracts subtending individual flowers in many species of the<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Chaparral: an area characterized by dense, leathery-leaved, evergreen shrubs<br />
Chartaceous: with a papery texture, usually not green<br />
Cilia: marginal hairs<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 271<br />
Glossary
Glossary<br />
Ciliate: with a row of fine hairs along the margin of a structure such as a leaf<br />
Ciliolate: with a marginal fringe of minute hairs<br />
Cinereous: ash-colored, light-gray due to a covering of short hairs<br />
Circumboreal: distributed around the globe at northern latitudes<br />
Circumsessile: dehiscing along a transverse circular line around the fruit or<br />
anther, so that the top separates or falls off like a lid<br />
Clasping: having the lower edges of a leaf blade partly surrounding the stem<br />
Clavate: club-shaped, gradually thickened or widened toward the apex<br />
Claw: the narrow, basal stalklike portion of some sepals <strong>and</strong> petals<br />
Cleft: deeply cut, usually more than one-half the distance from the margin to the<br />
midrib or base<br />
Cleistogamous: flowers which self-fertilize without opening<br />
Collar: found in grasses, the outer side of the leaf at the junction of the sheath<br />
<strong>and</strong> blade<br />
Colleter: a gl<strong>and</strong>ular hair<br />
Column: a structure formed by the union of staminal filaments<br />
Coma: a tuft of hairs, often at the tip of seeds<br />
Complete: describing flowers that contain petals, sepals, pistils <strong>and</strong> stamens<br />
Compound: made up of two or more similar parts, as in a leaf which has leaflets<br />
Compressed: flattened<br />
Concolor: of uniform color<br />
Conduplicate: folded together lengthwise with the upper surface within, as the<br />
leaves of many grasses<br />
Cone: a dense cluster of sporophylls on an axis<br />
Confluent: running together or blending of one part into another<br />
Connate: Describing similar structures that are joined or grown together<br />
(compare adnate)<br />
Connivent: converging, but not actually fused or united<br />
Contracted: narrowed or shortened as opposed to open or spreading<br />
Convergent: meeting together, as leaf veins which come together at the apex<br />
Convex: rounded or curved outward on the surface<br />
Convolute: rolled up longitudinally, with one edge inside the other <strong>and</strong> the upper<br />
surface on the inside (compare revolute, involute)<br />
Coppice: a thicket of bushes or small trees; sprouts arising from a stump<br />
Cordate: heart-shaped<br />
Coriaceous (Coreaceous): leathery in texture<br />
Corm: an enlarged underground structure of stem tissue <strong>and</strong> thin scales<br />
Corneous: horny<br />
Corniculate: having little horns or hornlike appendages<br />
Corolla: the inner whorl of the perianth, between the calyx <strong>and</strong> the stamens, a<br />
collective term for the petals of a flower<br />
Corolla tube: the hollow, cylindric portion of a corolla of united petals<br />
Corona: petal-like or crown-like structures between the petals <strong>and</strong> stamens in<br />
some flowers<br />
Coroniform: crown-shaped<br />
Corrugated: wrinkled, folded<br />
Corymb: a broad, flat-topped inflorescence in which the flower stalks arise from<br />
different points on the main stem <strong>and</strong> the marginal flowers are the first to open<br />
(compare cyme)<br />
Costa (pl. costae): a rib or prominent mid-vein<br />
Cotyledon: a primary leaf of the embryo; a seed leaf<br />
Crenate: with shallow roundish or bluntish teeth on the margin, scalloped<br />
272 Educational use only; not for sale
Crenulate: similar to crenate, but with smaller, rounded teeth<br />
Crisped: curled on the margin like a strip of bacon<br />
Cristate: with a terminal tuft or crest<br />
Crosier: the curled top of a young fern frond<br />
Cruciform: cross-shaped<br />
Crustaceous: dry <strong>and</strong> brittle<br />
Cucullate: hooded or hood-shaped<br />
Culm: a hollow or pithy slender stem such as is found in the grasses <strong>and</strong> sedges<br />
Cultivar: a form of a plant derived from cultivation<br />
Cuneate: wedge-shaped, with the narrow part at the point of attachment<br />
Cupule: a cup-shaped involucre, as in an acorn<br />
Cuspidate: tipped with an abrupt short, sharp, firm point (compare mucronate)<br />
Cuticle: the waxy layer on the surface of a leaf or stem<br />
Cyathiform: cup-shaped<br />
Cyathium: the specialized inflorescence characteristic of the Euphorbiaceae,<br />
consisting of a flower-like, cup-shaped involucre which carries the several true<br />
flowers within<br />
Cyme: a broad, flat-topped inflorescence in which the central flower is the first to<br />
open (compare corymb)<br />
Cymose: with flowers in a cyme<br />
Cypselae: dry, single-seeded, indehiscent fruit with an adnate calyx, essentially<br />
an achene<br />
D<br />
Deca-: a prefix meaning ten<br />
Decompound: more than once-compound, the leaflets again divided<br />
Decumbent: prostrate at the base but ascending at the end<br />
Decurrent: adnate to the petiole or stem <strong>and</strong> extending downward, as a leaf base<br />
that extends downward along the stem (compare surcurrent)<br />
Decussate: arranged in pairs along the stem with each pair at right angles to the<br />
one above <strong>and</strong> below<br />
Deflexed: Bent downward or backward<br />
Defoliation: the shedding of leaves<br />
Dehiscent: opening spontaneously when ripe to discharge the seed content<br />
(compare indehiscent)<br />
Deltoid: broadly triangular in shape<br />
Dendritic: with a branching patter similar to that in a tree, describes a hair type<br />
Dense: congested, describing the disposition of flowers in an inflorescence<br />
(compare open)<br />
Dentate: with sharp, outward-pointing teeth on the margin<br />
Depauperate: starved or stunted, describing small plants or plant communities<br />
that are growing under unfavorable conditions<br />
Determinate: describes an inflorescence in which the terminal flower blooms<br />
first, thereby halting further elongation of the flowering stem (compare<br />
indeterminate)<br />
Dextrorse: turned to the right or spirally arranged to the right (compare<br />
sinistrorse)<br />
Di-: prefix meaning two or twice<br />
Diadelphous: stamens united into two, often unequal, sets by their filaments<br />
Di<strong>and</strong>rous: having two stamens<br />
Dichasium: a cymose inflorescence in which each axis produces two opposite or<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 273<br />
Glossary
Glossary<br />
subopposite lateral axes<br />
Dichotomous: branching regularly <strong>and</strong> repeatedly in pairs<br />
Diclinous: with the stamens <strong>and</strong> pistils in separate flowers, imperfect<br />
Dicotyledon: a plant having two seed leaves, one of the two major divisions of<br />
flowering plants (compare monocotyledon)<br />
Didymous: twinned, being in pairs<br />
Didynamous: with two pairs of stamens of unequal length<br />
Diffuse: looosely branching or spreading<br />
Digitate: radiating from a common point, having a fingered shape, i.e. a shape<br />
like an open h<strong>and</strong><br />
Digynous: having two pistils<br />
Dimorphic: having two forms<br />
Dioecious: having staminate <strong>and</strong> pistillate flowers on separate plants (compare<br />
monoecious)<br />
Diploid: with two full sets of chromosomes in each cell<br />
Disarticulating: separating at maturity at a joint<br />
Disciform: having a flowering head that contains both filiform <strong>and</strong> disk<br />
flowers, referring to members of the Asteraceae<br />
Discoid: having only disk flowers, referring to flower heads in the Asteraceae<br />
Disjunct: separated from the main distribution of the population<br />
Disk: the central portion of composite flowers, made up of a cluster of disk<br />
flowers<br />
Dissected: finely cut or divided into many, narrow segments<br />
Distal: the end opposite the point of attachment, away from the axis (compare<br />
proximal)<br />
Distichous: two-ranked, that is with leaves on opposute sides of a stem <strong>and</strong><br />
in the same plane<br />
Distinct: having separate, like parts, those not at all joined to each other, often<br />
describing the petals on a flower (compare united)<br />
Disturbed: referring to habitats that have been impacted by the actions of<br />
people<br />
Dithecal anthers: anthers lacking septi between the loculi, so there are only<br />
two anther cells<br />
Diurnal: growing in the daytime<br />
Divaricate: widely diverging or spreading apart<br />
Divergent: diverging or spreading<br />
Divided: cut deeply, nearly or completely to the midrib<br />
Dolabriform: ax-shaped or cleaver-shaped; pick-shaped; attached at some<br />
point other than the base, usually near the middle<br />
Dorsal: referring to the back or outer surface<br />
Dorsifixed: attached at the back (compare basifixed, versatile)<br />
Drooping: erect or spreading at the base, then bending downwards<br />
Drupe: a fleshy indehiscent fruit enclosing a nut or hard stone containing<br />
generally a single seed such as a peach or cherry<br />
E<br />
E-: prefix usually meaning without, from, or away<br />
Echinate: prickly<br />
Ecotone: transition zone between two adjoining communities<br />
Ecotype: those individuals adapted to a specific environment or set of<br />
conditions<br />
274 Educational use only; not for sale
Edaphic: due to, or pertaining to, the soil<br />
Elater: structures attached to spores to aid in dispersal<br />
Elliptic: broadest near the middle <strong>and</strong> tapering gradually to both ends<br />
Elongate: stretched out, many times longer than broad<br />
Emarginate: with a shallow notch at the apex<br />
Endemic: confined to a limited geographic area<br />
Endocarp: the inner layer of the pericarp, which is the wall of the ripened ovary<br />
or fruit (compare mesocarp, exocarp)<br />
Endogenous: growing from, or originating from within<br />
Ensiform: sword-shaped, as applied to a leaf<br />
Entire: describing a leaf that has a continuous, unbroken margin with no teeth<br />
or lobes<br />
Entomophilous: insect-pollinated<br />
Ephemeral: describes a plant or flower that lasts for only a short time or blooms<br />
only occasionaly when conditions are right<br />
Epi-: meaning upon<br />
Epicalyx: an involucre which resembles an outer calyx<br />
Epigynous: with stamens, pistils, <strong>and</strong> sepals attached to the top of the ovary<br />
(compare hypogynous)<br />
Epipetalous: attached to the petals<br />
Episepalous: attached to the sepals<br />
Equilateral: with sides of equal shape <strong>and</strong> length<br />
Equitant: overlapping or straddling in two ranks, as in Iris<br />
Erose: having an irregular margin as if it has been gnawed<br />
Erosulate: more or less erose<br />
Escapee: a plant escaped from cultivation that now reproduces on its own<br />
Esculent: edible<br />
Estipulate: without stipules<br />
Evanescent: fleeting, lasting for only a short time<br />
Even-pinnate: a pinnately-compound leaf ending in a pair of leaflets (compare<br />
odd-pinnate)<br />
Excurrent: extending beyond the apex, as the midrib in some leaves<br />
Exfoliating: peeling off in thin layers or flakes<br />
Exocarp: the outer layer of the pericarp of a fruit (compare endocarp,<br />
mesocarp)<br />
Exotic: not native, introduced from another area<br />
Exserted: projected from or extending beyond, as stamens from a flower<br />
Extant: still surviving, not completely extinct<br />
Extirpated: destroyed or no longer surviving in the area being referred to, but<br />
may survive outside of that area<br />
Extrorse: turned or opening outward away from the axis (compare introrse)<br />
Exudate: a substance exuded or secreted from a plant<br />
F<br />
Falcate: scimitar- or sickle-shaped<br />
Farinose: covered with a mealy or whitish powdery substance<br />
Fascicle: a small cluster or bundle, a fairly common leaf arrangement<br />
Faveolate: honeycombed or pitted: alveolate<br />
Fenestrate: with small slits or areas thinned so as to be translucent<br />
Ferruginous: rust-colored<br />
Fertile: having the capacity to produce fruit, having a pistil<br />
Fetid: with an offensive odor, stinking<br />
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Glossary
Glossary<br />
Fibril: a delicate fiber or hair<br />
Filament: the basal, sterile portion of a stamen below the anthers<br />
Filiform: (1) threadlike; (2) a type of flower in the Asteraceae which is pistillate<br />
<strong>and</strong> has a very slender, tubular corolla<br />
Fimbriate: having fringed margins<br />
Fistulose: hollow like a tube or pipe<br />
Flaccid: soft <strong>and</strong> weak, limp<br />
Flagellate: with long, slender runners<br />
Flange: a projecting rim or edge<br />
Fleshy: thick <strong>and</strong> pulpy, succulent<br />
Flexuose or flexuous: with curves or bends, somewhat zigzagged<br />
Floccose: bearing tufts of long, soft, tangled hairs<br />
Floret: a small individual flower in a flower head<br />
Fluted: with furrows or grooves<br />
Foliar: pertaining to the leaves, leaf-like<br />
Foliolate: of or pertaining to, or having leaflets<br />
Follicle: a dry, many-seeded fruit derived composed of a single carpel <strong>and</strong><br />
opening along one side only like a milkweed pod<br />
Forb: a non-grasslike herbaceous plant<br />
Fringed: with hairs or bristles along the margin<br />
Frond: a fern leaf<br />
Fructiferous: fruit-bearing<br />
Frutescent: shrubby or bushy in the sense of being woody<br />
Fugacious: falling or withering early; ephemeral<br />
Fulvous: dull yellowish-brown or yellowish-gray, tawny<br />
Funiculus: the stalk connecting the ovule to the placenta, the stalk of a seed<br />
Funnelform: gradually widening upwards, as in the flowers of morning glory<br />
Furcate: forked<br />
Fuscous: dark grayish-brown, dusky<br />
Fusiform: spindle-shaped, thickest in the middle <strong>and</strong> drawn out at both ends<br />
G<br />
Galbulus: a cone of Cupressus<br />
Gall: an abnormal growth on a plant that is caused by insects<br />
Geniculate: bent abruptly like a knee or a stove pipe<br />
Gibbous: swollen or enlarged on one side, ventricose<br />
Glabrate: becoming glabrous in age<br />
Glabrous: smooth, without hairs<br />
Gl<strong>and</strong>: a depression or protuberance that exists for the purpose of secreting<br />
Gl<strong>and</strong>ular: producing tiny globules of sticky or oily substance<br />
Glans: a dry dehiscent fruit borne in a cupule, such as the acorn<br />
Glaucescent: slightly glaucous<br />
Glaucous: covered with a thin, light-colored waxy or powdery bloom<br />
Globose: globe-shaped, spherical<br />
Glochids: barbed bristles on cacti<br />
Glomerate: crowded, congested or compactly clustered<br />
Glume: in grasses, the bracts (generally two) that form the lowermost parts of<br />
the spikelet<br />
Glutinous: having a sticky surface<br />
Gracile: slender <strong>and</strong> graceful<br />
Grain: the fruit of grasses<br />
Gregarious: growing in groups or colonies<br />
276 Educational use only; not for sale
Gynobase: an elongation or enlargement of the receptacle that supports the<br />
carpels or nutlets, as in many species of the Boraginaceae<br />
Gynoecium: a collective term for the pistils of a flower (compare <strong>and</strong>roecium)<br />
H<br />
Habit: the overall appearance of a plant<br />
Halophyte: a plant that can tolerate an abnormal amount of salt in the soil<br />
Haploid: with a single full set of choromosomes in each cell<br />
Hastate: spear- or arrowhead-shaped with the basal lobes facing outward<br />
Haustorium: a specialized root-like organ used by parasitic plants to draw<br />
nourishment from host plants (Phoradendron)<br />
Head: a dense cluster of sessile or subsessile flowers, found in Asteraceae<br />
Helicoid: coiled spirally like a spring or a snail shell<br />
Heliotropic: the movement of plant parts in response to a light source<br />
Hemiparasite: a plant that derives its energy both from parasitism <strong>and</strong> from<br />
photosynthesis<br />
Herbaceous: fleshy-stemmed, not woody<br />
Heteromorphic: of one or more kind or form<br />
Heterostylous: having different kinds of style (<strong>and</strong> stamen) lengths<br />
Hexa-: a prefix meaning six<br />
Hibernal: flowering or appearing in the winter<br />
Hilum: a scar on a seed indicating its point of attachment<br />
Hip: a fleshy, berry-like fruit, as in some members of the Rosaceae<br />
Hirsute: pubescent with stiff, coarse hairs<br />
Hirsutulous: pubescent with very small, coarse, stiff hairs<br />
Hispid: rough-haired with firm, stiff hairs<br />
Hoary: covered with white or gray, short, fine hairs<br />
Holosericeous: covered with fine, silky hairs<br />
Homomorphic: all of the same kind or form<br />
Hood: a hollow, arched covering, found in Asclepias<br />
Hooked: abruptly curved at the tip<br />
Host: a plant providing nourishment to a parasite<br />
Humifuse: spreading along or over the ground<br />
Humistrate: lying on the ground<br />
Hyaline: thin, translucent or transparent<br />
Hydrophytic: adapted to growing in water<br />
Hypanthium: a cup-shaped enlargement of the receptacle, creation by the fusion<br />
of sepals, petals <strong>and</strong> stamens<br />
Hypogynous: with stamens, petals <strong>and</strong> sepals attached below the ovary (compare<br />
epigynous)<br />
I<br />
Imbricate: overlapping, like shingles on a roof<br />
Imparipinnate: odd-pinnate, unequally pinnate<br />
Imperfect: describes a flower that has stamens or pistils but not both<br />
Implicate: twisted together, intertwined<br />
Incised: cut, often deeply, usually irregularly, but seldom as much as one-half the<br />
distance to the midrib or base<br />
Incumbent: a term referring to seeds in which the embronic root is wrapped<br />
around <strong>and</strong> lies adjacent to the back of one of the two cotylodons (compare<br />
accumbent)<br />
Indehiscent: not opening by itself, said of a seed pod (compare dehiscent)<br />
Indeterminate: describes an inflorescence in which the outer or lower flowers<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 277<br />
Glossary
Glossary<br />
bloom first, allowing an indefinite elongation of the flowering stem (compare<br />
determinate)<br />
Indigenous: native to an area<br />
Induplicate: with petals or sepals edge to edge along their entire length, the<br />
margins rolled inward<br />
Indurate: hardened <strong>and</strong>/or stiffened<br />
Indusium: a scale-like outgrowth on a fern leaf which forms a covering for<br />
the sporangia<br />
Inferior ovary: one that is situated below the point of attachment of the sepals<br />
<strong>and</strong> petals, <strong>and</strong> possibly below the point of attachment of all other flower parts<br />
<strong>and</strong> embedded in the floral stem<br />
Inflexed: turned abruptly or bent inwards<br />
Inflorescence: the flowering portion of a plant<br />
Infra-: a prefix meaning below or beneath<br />
Infraspecific: below the species level<br />
Infundibular: funnel-shaped<br />
Innate: borne at the apex<br />
Inserted: attached to or growing out of<br />
Integument: the covering of the ovule which will become the seed coat<br />
Inter-: a prefix meaning between or among<br />
Internode: the portion of a stem between two successive nodes<br />
Interrupted: not continuous, with gaps<br />
Introrse: turned or opening inward toward the axis as an anther toward the<br />
center of a flower (compare extrorse)<br />
Invaginated: sheathed, folded<br />
Involucel: a secondary involucre as in the Apiaceae<br />
Involucre: a set of bracts subtending a flower or an inflorescence<br />
Involute: with both edges inrolled toward the midnerve on the upper surface<br />
(compare revolute)<br />
Irregular: describes a flower that is not radially symmetric, the similar parts of<br />
which are unequal in size or form<br />
J<br />
Joint: the point on a plant stem from which a leaf or leaf-bud grows, more<br />
commonly termed a node<br />
Jugate: with parts in pairs<br />
Junciform: rush-like in appearance<br />
K<br />
Keel: the two lower petals of most pea flowers, united or partially joined to<br />
form a structure similar to the keel of a boat<br />
Knee: a joint or articulate, as in grass<br />
Krummholz: literally crooked forest, low wind-contorted forest that can be<br />
found at timberline<br />
L<br />
Labellum: lip, an exceptional petal found in some flowers, like Orchidaceae<br />
Labiate: lipped<br />
Lacerate: irregularly cut or cleft<br />
Laciniate: cut into slender lobes<br />
Lacustrine: growing around lakes<br />
278 Educational use only; not for sale
Laevigate: lustrous, shining<br />
Lamella: erect scale inserted on the petal in some corollas <strong>and</strong> forming part of<br />
the corona<br />
Laminar: thin, flat, <strong>and</strong> exp<strong>and</strong>ed, as the blade of a leaf (laminar stamens)<br />
Lanate: with long tangled wooly hairs<br />
Lanceolate: significantly longer than wide <strong>and</strong> widest below the middle, gradually<br />
tapering toward the apex<br />
Lanulose: with very short hairs, minutely downy or wooly<br />
Lateral: borne at or on the side of<br />
Latex: a milky sap<br />
Latifoliate: with broad leaves<br />
Leaflet: one segment of a compound leaf<br />
Legume: a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a single carpel <strong>and</strong> usually opening<br />
along two lines of dehiscence like a pea pod<br />
Lemma: in grasses, the lower <strong>and</strong> usually larger of the two bracts of the floret<br />
Lenticel: Raised, corky , lens-shaped area on the surface of a young stem.<br />
Lepidote: covered with small scurfy scales<br />
Liana: a herbaceous or woody, usually perennial, climbing vine that roots in the<br />
ground <strong>and</strong> is characteristic especially of tropical forests<br />
Ligneous: woody<br />
Ligule: strap-shaped organ, membranous appendage arising from inner surface<br />
of leaf at the junction with the leaf sheath in many grasses <strong>and</strong> some sedges<br />
Ligulate: (1) Describing a floral head in the Asteraceae that contains only ray<br />
flowers, or ligules; (2) strap-shaped<br />
Limb: the upper, exp<strong>and</strong>ed portion of a corolla which has fused petals<br />
Linear: long <strong>and</strong> narrow with sides that are parallel or nearly so<br />
Lingulate: tongue-shaped<br />
Lip: one of the two projections or segments of an irregular, two-lipped corolla<br />
or calyx<br />
Littoral: growing along the shore<br />
Livid: pale grayish-blue<br />
Lobate: in the form of a lobe, lobed<br />
Lobe: usually a rounded segment of an organ<br />
Lobed: more or less deeply cut but not as far as the midrib<br />
Lobulate: with small lobes<br />
Locule: a cavity of the ovary which contains the ovules<br />
Loculicidal: said of a capsule, longitudinally dehiscent through the ovary wall at<br />
or near the center of each chamber or locule (compare poricidal, septicidal)<br />
Lodicule: paired, rudimentary scales at the base of the ovary in grass flowers<br />
Loment: a legume which is constricted between the seeds<br />
Lunate: crescent-shaped<br />
Lurid: pale brown to yellowish-brown<br />
Lustrous: shiny or glossy<br />
Lyrate: lyre-shaped, pinnatifid with the terminal segment large <strong>and</strong> rounded <strong>and</strong><br />
the lower lobes increasingly smaller toward the base<br />
M<br />
Machaerantheroid: having involucral bracts with recurved tips<br />
Macro-: prefix meaning large or long<br />
Macrophyllous: having large leaves<br />
Maculate: spotted or blotched<br />
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Glossary
Glossary<br />
Malvaceous: mallow-like<br />
Mammilate: with nipple-like protuberances<br />
Manicate: with a thick, interwoven pubescence<br />
Margin: the edge, as of a leaf blade<br />
Marginate: distinctly margined<br />
Mealy: describing a surface that is covered with minute, usually rounded<br />
particles<br />
Medial: of the middle, situated in the middle<br />
Mega-: prefix meaning large<br />
Membranous: thin, flexible <strong>and</strong> more or less translucent, like a membrane<br />
Meristem: undifferentiated, actively dividing tissues at the growing tips of<br />
shoots <strong>and</strong> roots<br />
-merous: a suffix utilized to indicate the number of parts or divisions in a<br />
particular structure or organ, as in 4-merous or 4-parted<br />
Mesic: describes a habitat that is generally moist throughout the growing<br />
season (compare xeric)<br />
Meso-: prefix meaning middle<br />
Mesocarp: the middle layer of the pericarp of a fruit (compare endocarp,<br />
exocarp)<br />
Mesophytic: adapted to growing under medium or average conditions,<br />
especially relating to water supply<br />
Micro-: prefix meaning small<br />
Microphyllous: bearing small leaves<br />
Midnerve: the central nerve<br />
Midrib: the main or central rib or vein of a leaf, a midvein<br />
Monadelphous: having stamens with filaments united in a single group,<br />
bundle or tube<br />
Mono-: prefix meaning one<br />
Monocarpic: flowering <strong>and</strong> bearing fruit only once <strong>and</strong> then dying, the term<br />
may be applied to perennials, biennials, or annuals<br />
Monochasium: a type of cymose inflorescence with only a single main axis<br />
Monocotyledon: a plant having only one seed-leaf (compare dicotyledon)<br />
Monoecious: having both male <strong>and</strong> female flowers on the same plant (compare<br />
dioecious)<br />
Monotypic: describing a genus that contains only a single species<br />
Montane: of or pertaining to, or growing in, the mountains<br />
Mucilaginous: slimy <strong>and</strong> moist<br />
Mucro: a short, sharp, abrupt point, usually at the tip of a leaf or other organ<br />
Mucronate: having a short projection at the tip, as of a leaf<br />
Mucronulate: tipped with a very small mucro<br />
Multi-: prefix meaning many<br />
Multifid: cleft into very many narrow lobes or segments<br />
Multiflorus: many-flowered<br />
Multifoliate: bearing many leaves<br />
Muricate: rounded or roughened with short, hard or warty points<br />
Mycorrhizal: having a symbiotic relationship between a fungus <strong>and</strong> the root<br />
of a plant<br />
N<br />
Nacreous: having a pearly luster<br />
280 Educational use only; not for sale
Naked: lacking hairs, structures or appendages, as in a flower lacking a perianth<br />
Nascent: in the process of being formed<br />
Nebulose: indistinct, as in a fine, diffuse inflorescence<br />
Nectariferous: with nectar<br />
Nectary: a plant part that secretes nectar, a sweet liquid that attracts bees, insects<br />
<strong>and</strong> birds<br />
Needle: a slender, needle-shaped leaf<br />
Nerve: a prominent, simple vein or rib of a leaf or other organ<br />
Net-veined: in the form of a network, reticulate<br />
Netted: same as reticulated, in the form or pattern of a network<br />
Neuter: lacking a pistil or stamens<br />
Nidulent: lying within a cavity, embedded within a pulp<br />
Nitid: lustrous, shining<br />
Nocturnal: functioning at night, as in flowers which open at night<br />
Nodding: hanging down<br />
Node: a point on a stem where leaves or branches originate<br />
Numerous: eleven or more, same as ‘many’<br />
Nut: a dry, usually one-seeded, indehiscent fruit with a hard-walled exterior<br />
Nutlet: a small nut or one of the sections of the mature ovary of some members<br />
of the Boraginaceae, Verbenaceae or Lamiaceae<br />
O<br />
Ob-: prefix signifying inversion or reversal of normal direction<br />
Obcordate: inversely heart-shaped, attached at the point<br />
Oblanceolate: inversely lanceolate<br />
Oblate: spheroidal <strong>and</strong> flattened at the poles<br />
Obligate: restricted to particular conditions or circumstances<br />
Oblique: with sides unequal, usually describing the base of a leaf<br />
Oblong: two to four times longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, but<br />
broader than ‘linear’<br />
Obovate: inversely ovate<br />
Obovoid: inversely ovoid, with the attachment at the narrower end<br />
Obtuse: blunt or rounded at the apex<br />
Obverse: describing a leaf that is narrower at the base than at the apex<br />
Obvolute: a vernation in which two leaves are overlapping in the bud in such a<br />
manner that one-half of each is external <strong>and</strong> the other half is internal, i.e. each<br />
leaf both overlaps the next <strong>and</strong> is in turn overlapped by the one before<br />
Ochroleucous: yellowish-white; cream-colored<br />
Ocrea: a sheath around the stem derived from the leaf stipules, primarily used in<br />
the Polygonaceae<br />
Octo-: prefix meaning eight<br />
Odd-pinnate: describing a pinnately-compound leaf with a single terminal<br />
leaflet (compare even-pinnate)<br />
Open: uncongested, usually describing the organization of flowers in an<br />
inflorescence (compare dense)<br />
Opposite: describing leaves that are situated in pairs at each node along an axis<br />
Orbicular: circular<br />
Oval: broadly elliptic, the width over half the length<br />
Ovary: the basal portion of a pistil where female germ cells develop into seeds<br />
after germination<br />
Ovate: egg-shaped, wider below the middle<br />
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Glossary
Glossary<br />
Ovoid: an egg-shaped solid<br />
Ovule: the structure that develops into the seed inside the ovary<br />
P<br />
Palate: an appendage or raised area on the lower lip of the corolla which<br />
partially blocks the throat<br />
Palea: in grasses, the upper <strong>and</strong> generally smaller of the two bracts of the<br />
floret<br />
Pallid: pale<br />
Palmate: radiating from a single point like the spreading fingers of an<br />
outstretched h<strong>and</strong><br />
Palmate-pinnate: with the primary leaflets palmately arranged <strong>and</strong> the<br />
secondary leaflets pinnately arranged<br />
Palmatifid: palmately cleft or lobed<br />
Palustrine: same as paludose<br />
P<strong>and</strong>urate: fiddle-shaped<br />
Panicle: a compound inflorescence in which the branches are racemose <strong>and</strong><br />
the flowers are pedicelled on the branches<br />
Papilla: short, rounded nipple-like bump or projection<br />
Pappose: pappus-bearing<br />
Pappus: collectively, the bristles, hairs or scales at the apex of an achene in the<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Parasite: a plant which derives most or all of its food from another organisim<br />
to which it attaches itself<br />
Parietal: attached to the wall of the ovary instead of the axis<br />
Paripinnate: even pinnate, lacking a terminal leaflet<br />
Parted: lobed or cut in over half-way <strong>and</strong> often very close to the base or<br />
midrib<br />
Pectinate: describing a pinnatifid leaf whose segments are narrow <strong>and</strong><br />
arranged like the teeth of a comb<br />
Pedicel: the stalk of a single flower that is part of an inflorescence<br />
Peduncle: the stalk of a flower cluster, or of a solitary flower not associated<br />
with others in an inflorescence<br />
Pellucid: transparent or translucent<br />
Peltate: a type of leaf having its petiole attached to the center of the lower<br />
surface of the blade<br />
Pendent: hanging downward or drooping<br />
Penicillate: with a tuft a short hairs at the end, like a brush<br />
Penta-: prefix meaning five<br />
Pepo: a fleshy, indehiscent fruit with a hard, more or less thickened rind <strong>and</strong> a<br />
single many-seeded locule, characteristic of the Cucurbitaceae<br />
Perennial: a plant living for more than two years<br />
Perfect: containing both stamens <strong>and</strong> pistils<br />
Perfoliate: the stem apparently piercing the leaf or surrounded by basally<br />
joined opposite leaves<br />
Perianth: a collective term for the calyx <strong>and</strong> corolla<br />
Pericarp: the outer wall of mature fruit<br />
Perigynous: situated around but not attached to the ovary directly, describing<br />
a flower whose stamens <strong>and</strong> pistils are joined to the calyx tube <strong>and</strong> the ovary<br />
is superior<br />
282 Educational use only; not for sale
Pernicious: harmful, destructive, or deadly in nature<br />
Persistent: remaining attached after the usual time of falling<br />
Petal: a single segment of a divided corolla<br />
Petaloid: having the appearance of a petal<br />
Petiole: the stalk of a leaf<br />
Petiolule: the stalk of a leaflet of a compound leaf<br />
Phloem: the food conducting tissue of vascular plants, bark<br />
Phyllary: one of the bracts below the flowerhead in the Asteraceae<br />
Pilose: having long, soft, straight hairs<br />
Pilosulose: bearing minute, long, soft, straight hairs<br />
Pinnate: with separate segments which are arranged feather-like on either side<br />
of a common axis<br />
Pinnatifid: so deeply cleft or cut as to appear pinnate<br />
Piriform: pear-shaped<br />
Pistil: the central reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of ovary, style <strong>and</strong><br />
stigma<br />
Pistillate: a female flower that has two or more pistils but no functional<br />
stamens<br />
Pith: the spongy central tissue in some stems <strong>and</strong> roots<br />
Plane: with a flat surface<br />
Planoconvex: flat on one side <strong>and</strong> rounded on the other<br />
Plumose: appearing plumelike or feathery from fine hairs that line two sides<br />
of a central axis<br />
Pod: any dry, dehiscent fruit, especially a legume or follicle<br />
Pollinum: a mass of waxy pollen grains, in Asclepias <strong>and</strong> Orchidaceae<br />
Poly-: prefix meaning many<br />
Poly<strong>and</strong>rous: with many stamens<br />
Polyanthous: with many flowers<br />
Polycephalous: with many flower heads<br />
Polygamous: having both unisexual <strong>and</strong> bisexual flowers on the same plant<br />
Polyploid: with three or more complete sets of chromosomes in each cell<br />
Pome: a fleshy indehiscent fruit derived from an inferior, compound ovary<br />
<strong>and</strong> consisting of a modified floral tube surrounding a core with several seeds,<br />
such as an apple<br />
Poricidal: opening by pores, like a poppy capsule (compare loculicidal,<br />
septicidal)<br />
Posterior: on the side next to the axis (compare anterior)<br />
Praemorse: terminating abruptly, as if bitten off<br />
Prehensile: adapted for grasping, as in a tendril<br />
Prickle: a superficial, sharp-pointed outgrowth of the bark or epidermis<br />
Procumbent: lying flat or trailing but not rooting at the nodes<br />
Prostrate: lying flat<br />
Proximal: nearest the axis or base (compare distal)<br />
Prurient: causing itching<br />
Ptero-: prefix meaning winged<br />
Pterocarpous: with winged fruits<br />
Puberulence: fine, short hairs<br />
Puberulent: minutely pubescent<br />
Pubescent: covered with short, soft hairs<br />
Pulvinus: a swelling or enlargement at the base of a petiole or petiolule<br />
Punctate: dotted with pits or with translucent, sunken gl<strong>and</strong>s or colored dots<br />
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Glossary
Glossary<br />
Puncticulate: minutely punctate<br />
Punctiform: reduced to a point<br />
Pungent: tipped with a sharp, rigid point<br />
Pustulose: with small blisters or pustules, often at the base of a hair<br />
Pyrene: the stone or pit of a drupe or drupelet<br />
Pyriform: pear-shaped<br />
Pyxis: a circumscissile capsule, the top coming off as a lid<br />
Q<br />
Quadrate: square, rectangular<br />
Quadri-: prefix meaning four<br />
Quilled: with tubular florets, especially in cases whre the florets are typically<br />
ligulate, as in some Asteraceae<br />
Quinate: with five nearly similar structures from a common point<br />
Quinque-: prefix meaning five<br />
R<br />
Raceme: an elongate, unbranched inflorescence with pedicelled flowers on<br />
the main stem<br />
Racemose: raceme-like or bearing racemes<br />
Rachilla: a small rachis, in particular the axis of a grass spikelet<br />
Rachis: the main stalk of a flower cluster or of a compound leaf, also that part<br />
of a fern frond stem that bears the leaflets<br />
Radical: belonging to or proceeding from the root<br />
Radiate: describing a flower head in the Asteraceae that contains both ray <strong>and</strong><br />
disk flowers<br />
Radicant: rooting from the stem<br />
Radicle: part of the plant embryo which will develop into the primary root<br />
Ramose: with many branches, branching<br />
Rank: a vertical row usually of leaves or bracts that can be either opposite or<br />
alternate<br />
Ray: strap-like portion of a ligulate flower in Asteraceae<br />
Receptacle: the exp<strong>and</strong>ed apex of a flower stalk which bears the floral organs,<br />
either such structures as individual petals, sepals etc., or entire flowers in headlike<br />
inflorescences such as is typical of the Asteraceae<br />
Recumbent: leaning or reposing upon the ground<br />
Recurved: curved backwards or outwards<br />
Reflexed: abruptly bent or curved downward<br />
Regular: describes a flower with petals or sepals all of equal size <strong>and</strong> shape, i.e.<br />
radially symmetrical or capable of being divided into mirror images on either<br />
side of any plane that passes through the center<br />
Reniform: kidney-shaped or rounded with a notch at the base<br />
Rep<strong>and</strong>: with an undulating margin, less strongly wavy than ‘sinuate’<br />
Replum: partition or septum between the two valves or compartments of<br />
silicles or siliques in the Brassicaceae<br />
Resupinate: upside down due to twisting of the pedicel<br />
Reticulate: having a netted pattern<br />
Retrorse: bent backward or downward, reflexed (compare antrorse)<br />
Retuse: having a rounded apex with a shallow notch<br />
Revolute: having the margins inrolled toward the underside (compare<br />
convolute, involute)<br />
284 Educational use only; not for sale
Rhizomatous: rhizome-like, with rhizomes<br />
Rhizome: an underground stem capable of producing new stems or plants at its<br />
nodes<br />
Rhombic: with the shape of a diamond<br />
Rosette: a cluster of leaves in a circular arrangement at the base of a plant, often<br />
called the basal rosette<br />
Rostrum: a beak-like structure<br />
Rotate: a rotate corolla is wheel-shaped with a short tube <strong>and</strong> a wide horizontally<br />
flaring limb<br />
Ruderal: growing in disturbed habitats, weedy<br />
Rudiment: an imperfectly developed organ, a vestige<br />
Rufous: reddish-brown<br />
Rugose: wrinkled<br />
Rugulose: slightly wrinkled<br />
Rucinate: sharply pinnatifid or cleft, the segments directed downward<br />
Runner: a slender stolon or prostrate stem rooting at the nodes or at the tip<br />
S<br />
Saccate: with a sac, or in the shape of a sac<br />
Sagittate: arrowhead-shaped, with two retrorse basal lobes<br />
Salient: projecting outward<br />
Salverform: with a slender tube abruptly exp<strong>and</strong>ed into a rotate limb<br />
Samara: dry fruit with wings that do not open when mature, as in maple trees<br />
Sanguineous: blood-red<br />
Saponaceous: soapy<br />
Saprophytic: deriving food from dead or decaying organic material in the soil<br />
<strong>and</strong> usually lacking in chlorophyll<br />
Scaberulent: slightly scabrous<br />
Scabrous: rough to the touch<br />
Scale: a greatly reduced leaf or other outgrowth on a plant surface<br />
Scape: a leafless flowering stem arising directly from the ground<br />
Scapose: with flowers borne on a scape<br />
Scarify: to roughen, score or scrape the hard, outer coating of a seed to assist in<br />
the absorption of moisture before germination, a process that many desert wash<br />
seeds require<br />
Scarious: thin, dry, membranous <strong>and</strong> more or less translucent<br />
Schizocarp: a dry, indehiscent fruit which splits into separate one-seeded<br />
segments (carpels) at maturity<br />
Scissile: splitting easily<br />
Sclerphyllous: with stiff, firm leaves<br />
Scobina: the zigzag rachilla of some grass spikelets<br />
Scorpioid: describing a coiled inflorescence<br />
Scurfy: covered with small scale-like or bran-like particles or projections<br />
Secund: borne from only one side of an axis<br />
Semi-: prefix meaning half<br />
Sepal: a single segment of a divided calyx<br />
Septicidal: said of a capsule, longitudinally dehiscent through the ovary wall at or<br />
near the center of each septa, preserving each locule as an intact entity (compare<br />
loculicidal, poricidal)<br />
Septum: any kind of a partition, specifically the wall between chambers in a<br />
compound ovary<br />
Seriate: arranged in rows or series<br />
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Glossary
Glossary<br />
Sericeous: covered with long, soft, straight, appressed hairs giving a silky<br />
appearance<br />
Serpentine: refers to soils that are low in calcium <strong>and</strong> high in magnesium <strong>and</strong><br />
iron, derived from greenish or gray-green rocks that are essentially magnesium<br />
silicate, other characteristics of which are a high nickel <strong>and</strong> chromium content,<br />
<strong>and</strong> a low content of nutrients such as nitrogen<br />
Serrate: having sharp, forward-pointing teeth on the margin<br />
Serrulate: serrate with very small teeth<br />
Sessile: attached directly <strong>and</strong> without a petiole, pedicel or other type of stalk,<br />
said of either leaves or flowers<br />
Setaceous: bristle-like, with bristles<br />
Sheath: leafy, tubular structure on a sedge or grass that envelops the stem<br />
Shrub: a small, woody plant with several stems<br />
Silicle: fruit similar to a silique, but much shorter, not much longer than wide<br />
Silique: a type of capsule found in the Brassicaceae, either half of which peels<br />
away from a central, transparent, dividing membrane<br />
Simple: a leaf that has one part, not subdivided into leaflets<br />
Sinuate: strongly or deeply wavy, usually referring to a leaf margin<br />
Sinuous: of a wavy or serpentine form<br />
Sinus: the space or division, usually on a leaf, between two lobes or teeth<br />
Sori: clusters of spore sacs on a fern frond (singular: sorus)<br />
Sp: abbreviation for ‘species’<br />
Spadix: a floral spike or head in which the flowers are borne on a fleshy axis<br />
Spathe: a large bract or pair of bracts subtending <strong>and</strong> usually partially enclosing<br />
an inflorescence<br />
Spatulate: spoon-shaped, gradually widening to a rounded apex<br />
Specific epithet: second part of a scientific name which identifies the species<br />
Spicate: arranged in a spike<br />
Spike: an elongated, unbranched inflorescence with sessile or nearly-sessile<br />
flowers<br />
Spikelet: in grasses, the smallest aggregation of florets plus any subtending<br />
glumes<br />
Spine: sharp-pointed rigid structure, usually a highly modified leaf or stipule<br />
Spinose: having a stiff <strong>and</strong> tough acuminate tip<br />
Spinulose: bearing very small spines<br />
Sporangium: a spore-case or sac in which spores are produced in a fern<br />
Spore: a reproductive cell resulting from meiotic cell division in a sprangium,<br />
representing the first cell of the gametophyte generation<br />
Spp: abbreviation for the plural of ‘species’<br />
Spray: a slender shoot or granch with its leaves, flowers, or fruits<br />
Spur: a hollow extension of a petal or sepal such as characterizes the larkspurs,<br />
<strong>and</strong> which often produces nectar<br />
Squarrose: having spreading, recurved tips<br />
Ssp: abbreviation for ‘subspecies’<br />
Stamen: the male or pollen-bearing organ of a flower, composed of filament<br />
<strong>and</strong> anthers<br />
Staminate: describing a male flower that contains one or more stamens but<br />
no functional pistils<br />
Staminode: a sterile stamen or other nonfunctional structure occupying the<br />
position <strong>and</strong> having the overall appearance of a stamen<br />
St<strong>and</strong>ard: also called a banner, this is the upper petal or segment of a<br />
papilionaceous flower<br />
286 Educational use only; not for sale
Stellate: starlike, with radiating branches <strong>and</strong> often referring to the pattern of<br />
hairs on the surface of a leaf<br />
Stem: the main upward-growing axis of a plant which bears the leaves <strong>and</strong><br />
flowers<br />
Stigma: the terminal portion of a pistil, which receives the pollen<br />
Stipe: that portion of a fern frond below the rachis, i.e. below where the leaflets<br />
are attached<br />
Stipitate: borne on a stipe or stalk<br />
Stipule: an appendage at the base of a petiole, usually in pairs<br />
Stolon: an elongated horizontal shoot above or below the ground, rooting at<br />
the nodes or apex<br />
Stomate: a small pore or opening on the surface of a leaf through which<br />
gaseous exchange takes place, i.e. the diffusion of carbon dioxide, oxygen <strong>and</strong><br />
water vapor<br />
Stone: the hard, woody endocarp enclosing the seed of a drupe<br />
Stramineus: straw-colored<br />
Strap-shaped: elongated <strong>and</strong> flat<br />
Striate: with fine longitudinal lines or ridges<br />
Strigose: covered with rough, stiff, sharp hairs that are more or less parallel to<br />
a particular surface<br />
Strobilus: a cone-like cluster of sporophylls on an axis, a cone<br />
Style: the narrowed portion of a pistil between <strong>and</strong> connecting the ovary <strong>and</strong><br />
the stigma<br />
Sauveolent: fragrant<br />
Sub-: prefix meaning under, slightly, somewhat or almost<br />
Suber: cork<br />
Suberose: corky in texture<br />
Subshrub: a suffrutescent perennial plant<br />
Subspecies: a group of plants within a species that has consistent, repeating,<br />
genetic <strong>and</strong> structural distinctions<br />
Subtend: to occupy a position below <strong>and</strong> adjacent to<br />
Subulate: awl-shaped<br />
Succulent: fleshy, juicy <strong>and</strong> thickened<br />
Sucker: a shoot originating from below ground<br />
Suffrutescent: somewhat shrubby, slightly woody at the base<br />
Sulcate: with longitudinal grooves or furrows<br />
Summer annual: plant with seeds germinating in spring or early summer <strong>and</strong><br />
completing flowering <strong>and</strong> fruiting in late summer or early fall (compare winter<br />
annual)<br />
Superior ovary: one that is located above the perianth <strong>and</strong> free of it<br />
Surcurrent: extending upward from the point of insertion, as a leaf base that<br />
extends up along the stem<br />
Surficial: growing near the ground, or spread over the surface of the ground<br />
Suture: a junction or seam of union, or a line of dehiscence<br />
Swale: a depression or shallow hollow in the ground, typically moist<br />
Sympatric: growing together with, or having the same range as<br />
Sympetalous: having the petals more or less united<br />
Syn-: prefix meaning united<br />
Syn<strong>and</strong>rous: with united anthers<br />
Synoecious: having male <strong>and</strong> female flowers in the same flowerhead<br />
Synsepalous: having the sepals more or less united<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 287<br />
Glossary
Glossary<br />
T<br />
Taproot: the primary root continuing the axis of the plant downward often<br />
quite deeply into the ground<br />
Taxon: any group of plants occupying a particular hierarchical category, such<br />
as genus or species<br />
Tendril: a slender portion of a leaf or stem, modified for twining<br />
Tepal: a collective term for sepals <strong>and</strong> petals, used when they cannot be easily<br />
differentiated<br />
Terete: round in cross-section, cylindrical<br />
Terminal: at the end of the branch or stem<br />
Ternate: in three’s, as a leaf which is divided into three leaflets<br />
Tetra-: prefix meaning four<br />
Thallus: a plant body which is not obviously differentiated into stems, roots,<br />
<strong>and</strong> leaves<br />
Theca: a pollen sac or cell of the anther<br />
Thorn: a short, stiff, sharp-pointed branch<br />
Three-ranked: in three vertical ranks or rows around an axis<br />
Throat: in some corollas with fused petals, the point of juncture between the<br />
tube <strong>and</strong> limb, a somewhat difficult point to distinguish<br />
Thryse: a compact, cylindrical, or ovate panicle with an interderminate main<br />
axis <strong>and</strong> cymose subaxes<br />
Tiller: in grasses the young vegetative shoots<br />
Tomentose: wooly, with long, soft, matted hairs<br />
Toothed: having small lobes or points along the margin (as on a leaf)<br />
Transpiration: emission of water vapor from the leaves<br />
Transverse: at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of a structure<br />
Tri-: prefix meaning three<br />
Triad: a cluster of three, as spikelets of Hordeum or Hilaria<br />
Tri<strong>and</strong>rous: having three stamens<br />
Trichome: a hair-like outgrowth from the epidermis<br />
Trichotomous: three-forked<br />
Trifid: three-cleft to about the middle<br />
Trifoliate: having three leaves<br />
Trifoliolate: having three leaflets<br />
Tripinnate: thrice divided<br />
Tripinnatifid: thrice pinnately cleft<br />
Tropism: the turning of a plant part such as a leaf in response to some external<br />
stimuli<br />
Truncate: with a base or apex appearing as if cut straight across<br />
Tube: the lower or narrower portion of a corolla or calyx<br />
Tuber: a short, thickened underground stem which bears numerous buds<br />
Tubercle: a knoblike projection<br />
Tufted: in a dense cluster<br />
Tumescent: somewhat tumid, swelling<br />
Turbinate: shaped like a top or inverted cone<br />
Turgid: swollen, exp<strong>and</strong>ed or inflated<br />
Twining: climbing by coiling around some support<br />
Two-ranked: in vertical ranks or rows on opposite sides of an axis (compare,<br />
distichous)<br />
288 Educational use only; not for sale
U<br />
Umbel: a flat-topped or convex inflorescence with the pedicels arising more<br />
or less form a common point, like the struts of an umbrella<br />
Umbellulate: in the form of or having the appearance of an umbel<br />
Unarmed: lacking thorns or prickles<br />
Uncinate: hooked near the apex or having the form of a hook<br />
Unctuous: greasy, oily<br />
Undulate: wavy<br />
Uni-: prefix meaning one<br />
Unilocular: having only a single locule in the ovary<br />
Uniseriate: arranged in one row or series<br />
Unisexual: bearing either stamens or pistils but not both<br />
United: describes petals that are fused together<br />
Urceolate: urn-shaped or pitcher-like, contracted at the mouth<br />
Utricle: a small, thin-walled, single-seeded, bladdery-inflated fruit<br />
Uva: a grape-like berry formed from a superior ovary<br />
V<br />
Vaginate: provided with or surrounded by a sheath<br />
Valvate: opening by valves or provided with valves<br />
Valve: one of the parts or segments into which a dehiscent fruit splits<br />
Varicose: swollen or enlarged in places<br />
Variegated: having a variety of colors<br />
Vascular: containing both xylem, the principal water <strong>and</strong> mineral-conducting<br />
tissue, <strong>and</strong> phloem, food conducting tissue<br />
Vein: the vascular portion of a leaf<br />
Velutinous: velvety<br />
Venation: the arrangement of veins in a leaf<br />
Ventral: on the inner or axis side of an organ or the upper surface of a leaf<br />
Ventricose: inflated or swollen unequally on one side<br />
Vermicular: worm-shaped or wormlike, or of worm-eaten appearance<br />
Vernation: the arrangement of leaves within a bud<br />
Versatile: referring to an anther which attaches at or near its middle <strong>and</strong> is<br />
able to turn freely on its support (compare basifixed, dorsifixed)<br />
Verticil: an arrangement of similar parts around a central axis or point of<br />
attachment, a whorl<br />
Verticillate: same as ‘whorled’<br />
Vesicle: a bladder or cavity<br />
Vespertine: opening or functioning in the evening<br />
Villous: with fine, long, unmatted hairs<br />
Vine: a plant with the stem not self-supporting, but climbing or trailing on<br />
some support<br />
Virgate: w<strong>and</strong>-like, straight, slender, <strong>and</strong> erect<br />
Viscid: sticky or greasy<br />
Vitreous: transparent<br />
W<br />
Wanting: absent, lacking, nonexistent<br />
Weed: a troublesome or aggressive plant that intrudes where it is not wanted,<br />
especially a plant that vigorously colonizes disturbed areas<br />
Whorl: a circle of three or more structures radiating outward from the same<br />
node<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 289<br />
Glossary
Glossary<br />
Wing: a thin, paperlike flat margin bordering or extending from a seed capsule,<br />
stem or flower<br />
Winter annual: plant with seeds germinating in late summer or fall <strong>and</strong><br />
completing flowering <strong>and</strong> fruiting in spring or summer (compare summer<br />
annual)<br />
Woolly: having soft, woollike hairs<br />
X<br />
X: a symbol which when placed before a specific epithet indicates a hybrid of<br />
two species<br />
Xeric: pertaining to arid or desert conditions, implying a minimal water supply<br />
throughout most of the year (compare mesic)<br />
Xero-: prefix meaning dry<br />
Xerophytic: adapted to dry or arid conditions, places where fresh water is<br />
scarce or where water absorption is difficult due to an excess of dissolved salts<br />
Xylem: the water-conducting tissue of vascular plants<br />
Xylocarp: a hard, woody fruit such as the coconut<br />
Z<br />
Zygomorphic: with inequality in the size or form of similar parts, specifically<br />
bilaterally symmetric <strong>and</strong> capable of being bisected into equal mirror-image<br />
halves along one plane only<br />
290 Educational use only; not for sale
Works cited<br />
Botany is an aggregative science <strong>and</strong> it is impossible to write a field guide<br />
without liberally depending upon the work of others. The entries in this field<br />
guide are to be considered edited because they are compilations of other<br />
descriptions. In compiling entries, multiple sources were used to get the best<br />
description for field identification. In most cases, language was used that is<br />
directly from the work of others. The frequency in which editorial choices<br />
were made renders in-text attribution impossible due to space limitations.<br />
Please consider this list for further consultation <strong>and</strong> as a complete listing of<br />
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Tucson, AZ.<br />
Springer, J., M. Daniels, <strong>and</strong> M. Nazaire. 2009. Field Guide to Forest <strong>and</strong><br />
Mountain Plants of Northern Arizona. Flagstaff, AZ: Ecological<br />
Restoration Institute.<br />
Stefanovic, S., D.F. Austin, R.G. Olmstead. 2003. Classification of<br />
Convolvulaceae: a phylogenetic approach. Systematic Botany 28(4):<br />
791-806.<br />
Stefanovic, S., L. Krueger, R.G. Olmstead. 2002. Monophyly of the<br />
Convolvulaceae <strong>and</strong> circumscription of their major lineages based<br />
on DNA sequences of multiple chloroplast LOCI. American Journal<br />
of Botany 89(9): 1510-1522.<br />
Steinmann, V. W. <strong>and</strong> J. M. Porter. 2002. Phylogenetic relationships in<br />
Euphorbieae (Euphorbiaceae) based on ITS <strong>and</strong> ndhF sequence<br />
data. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 89:453–490.<br />
Tamura, MN, J. Yamashita, S. Fuse, <strong>and</strong> M. Haraguchi. 2004. Molecular<br />
phylogeny of monocotyledons inferred from combined analysis of<br />
plastid matK <strong>and</strong> rbcL gene sequences. Journal of Plant Research<br />
117(2): 109-120.<br />
295<br />
Works Cited
Works Cited<br />
Tank, D., J.M. Egger, <strong>and</strong> R.G. Olmstead. 2009. Phylogenetic classification of<br />
subtribe Castillejinae (Orobanchaceae). Systematic Botany 34(1):<br />
182-197.<br />
Turner, R. M., J. E. Bowers, T. L. Burgess. 1995. Sonoran Desert Plants: An<br />
Ecological Atlas. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.<br />
Vargas, P., J. A. Rossello, R. Oyama, <strong>and</strong> J. Güemes. 2004. Molecular<br />
evidence for naturalness of genera in the tribe Antirrhineae<br />
(Scrophulariaceae) <strong>and</strong> three independent evolutionary lineages<br />
from the New World <strong>and</strong> the Old. Plant Systematics <strong>and</strong> Evolution<br />
249:151–172.<br />
Wagner, W. L., P. C. Hoch, <strong>and</strong> P. H. Raven. 2007. Revised classification of the<br />
Onagraceae. Systematic Botany Monographs 83:1–240.<br />
Webb, R. H., S. A. Leake, <strong>and</strong> R. M. Turner. 2007.<br />
The Ribbon of Green. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ.<br />
Weigend, M. [et al. 2010], Gottschling, M., Selvi, F., & Hilger, H. H. 2010.<br />
Fossil <strong>and</strong> extant western hemisphere Boragineae, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
polyphyly of “Trigonotidae” Riedl (Boraginaceae:<br />
Boraginoideae). Systematic Botany 35: 409-419.<br />
Whitlock, B. A., & Hale, A. M. 2011. The phylogeny of Ayenia, Byttneria, <strong>and</strong><br />
Rayleya (Malvaceae s.l.) <strong>and</strong> its implications for the evolution of<br />
growth forms. Systematic Botany 36: 129-136.<br />
Whittemore, A. T. 2005. Genetic structure, lack of introgression, <strong>and</strong><br />
taxonomic status in Celtis laevigata–C. reticulata complex<br />
(Cannabaceae). Systematic Botany 30(4): 809-817.<br />
Wilken, D. H. <strong>and</strong> J. M. Porter. 2005. Polemoniaceae. Canotia 1:<br />
1-37.<br />
Wolfe, A., C. R<strong>and</strong>le, S. Datwyler, J. Morawetz, N. Arguedas, <strong>and</strong> J. Diaz.<br />
2006. Phylogeny, taxonomic affinities, <strong>and</strong> biogeography of<br />
Penstemon (Plantaginaceae) based on ITS <strong>and</strong> cpDNA sequence<br />
data. American Journal of Botany 93(11): 1699-1713.<br />
Woodson, R.E., R.W. Schery, <strong>and</strong> W.G. D’Arcy. 1979. Flora of Panama. Part<br />
IX. Family 171. Scrophulariaceae. Annals of the Missouri Botanical<br />
Garden 66(2): 173-274.<br />
Yarborough, S.C. <strong>and</strong> A.M. Powell. 2002. Ferns <strong>and</strong> Fern allies of the Trans-<br />
Pecos <strong>and</strong> Adjacent Areas. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press.<br />
296
Notes on the photography<br />
The photography in this field guide is drawn from a number of different<br />
sources. The decision to utilize photographs that are under copyright was<br />
made with the underst<strong>and</strong>ing that this guide an educational, non-commercial<br />
tool for resource managers, educators, researchers, <strong>and</strong> the public. In the spirit<br />
of this non-commerical use, the decision to utilize copyrighted material was<br />
made according to the fair-use provision of United States copyright law. Under<br />
the fair-use provision, all copyright holders have been notified <strong>and</strong> permission<br />
requested where appropriate, permissions are noted with the image. The<br />
images in this field guide have been scaled to 300 dpi to assure the quality of the<br />
images for printing. Most of the images are smaller than 500 × 500 pixels. All<br />
photographs under copyright have been properly attributed with the photo’s<br />
author <strong>and</strong> year. Many thanks to the photographers <strong>and</strong> publishers willing to<br />
allow reproduction of this work.<br />
Online sources for photos used in this volume:<br />
Alex<strong>and</strong>er, Patrick. 2003–2011. Polyploid.net.<br />
http://www.polyploid.net/plants.html<br />
Charters, Michael L. 2002–2009. Wildflowers <strong>and</strong> Other Plants of Southern<br />
California. http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants<br />
Kinsey, T. Beth. 2003–2008. Wildflowers of Tucson.<br />
(Subsequently Wildflowers of Southeastern Arizona)<br />
http://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/<br />
Western New Mexico University, Zimmerman Herbarium. 2007.<br />
Vascular plants of the Gila Wilderness.<br />
http://www.wnmu.edu/academic/nspages2/gilaflora/index.html<br />
297<br />
Works Cited
Works Cited<br />
Web resources<br />
The single best online resource for collections information in Arizona is the<br />
Southwest Environmental Information Network. This website is a digital<br />
archival project of all the herbariums in Arizona with a searchable database,<br />
plant photos, descriptions, <strong>and</strong> distribution data.<br />
http://seinet.asu.edu/seinet/index.php<br />
SEINet is also an online repository for <strong>NPS</strong> checklists from this <strong>and</strong> other<br />
national parkl<strong>and</strong>s in the region. All these lists are associated with all known<br />
collections found on <strong>NPS</strong> l<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> include photographs <strong>and</strong> interactive keys<br />
to help identify plants. Visit the <strong>NPS</strong> Flora page at:<br />
http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/projects/index.php?proj=5<br />
Plant etymology information is drawn from:<br />
Charters, Michael L. 2003-2008 California Plant Names.<br />
http://www.calflora.net/botanicalnames/index2.html<br />
Most ethnobotanical information is drawn from:<br />
Moerman, Daniel. 2003. Native American Ethnobotany.<br />
http://herb.umd.umich.edu/<br />
eFloras is the portal to the online Flora of North America. The site is also a link<br />
to many other useful floras.<br />
http://www.efloras.org<br />
Nomenclature <strong>and</strong> synonymy come from these sources:<br />
Tropicos: http://www.tropicos.org<br />
The Plant List: http://www.theplantlist.org<br />
Integrated Taxonomic Information System: http://www.itis.gov<br />
USDA Plants DB: http://plants.usda.gov<br />
298
A<br />
Abert’s buckwheat 252<br />
Abrams’ s<strong>and</strong>mat 201<br />
Abutilon mollicomum 221<br />
Abutilon parvulum 221<br />
Acacia constricta 103<br />
Acacia greggii 102<br />
Acalypha neomexicana 198<br />
Acalypha ostryifolia 198<br />
Acourtia nana 138<br />
Agoseris heterophylla 138<br />
Ailanthus altissima 112<br />
alkali sacaton 83<br />
Allonia incarnata 231<br />
Alternanthera pungens 126<br />
Amaranthus palmeri 126<br />
Ambrosia artemisiifolia 139<br />
Ambrosia confertiflora 139<br />
Ambrosia cordifolia 140<br />
Ambrosia monogyra 95<br />
Ambrosia psilostachya 141<br />
Ambrosia trifida 141<br />
American threefold 167<br />
American wild carrot 134<br />
Amoreuxia palmatifida 173<br />
Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia 173<br />
Androsace occidentalis 256<br />
Anisacanthus thurberi 89<br />
annual agoseris 138<br />
annual monsterwort 161<br />
annual rabbitsfoot grass 78<br />
annual ragweed 139<br />
annual yellow sweetclover 212<br />
Anoda cristata 222<br />
Arabian schismus 78<br />
Argemone polyanthemos 240<br />
Argythamnia neomexicana 200<br />
arid throne fleabane 148<br />
Aristida adscensionis 49<br />
Aristida purpurea 50<br />
Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi 50<br />
Aristida purpurea var. purpurea 50<br />
Aristida ternipes 51<br />
Aristida ternipes var. gentilis 51<br />
Aristolochia watsonii 136<br />
Arizona blackfoot 160<br />
Arizona cottontop 62<br />
Arizona foldwing 123<br />
Arizona milkvetch 207<br />
Arizona needle grama 52<br />
Arizona phacelia 179<br />
Arizona popcornflower 181<br />
Arizona poppy 267<br />
Arizona pussypaws 230<br />
Arizona signalgrass 85<br />
Arizona sunflowerweed 166<br />
Arizona sycamore 107<br />
Arizona walnut 104<br />
Arizona wrightwort 123<br />
Artemisia ludoviciana 142<br />
Arundo donax 51<br />
asthmaweed 147<br />
Astragalus allochrous 207<br />
Astragalus arizonicus 207<br />
Astragalus nuttallianus 208<br />
Atriplex canescens 91<br />
Atriplex elegans 127<br />
Atriplex linearis 91<br />
Atriplex wrightii 127<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 299<br />
B<br />
baby jump-up 245<br />
Baccharis salicifolia 95<br />
Baccharis sarothroides 96<br />
Baileya multiradiata 143<br />
bajada lupine 211<br />
barnyard grass 63<br />
batamote 95<br />
Berl<strong>and</strong>ier’s wolfberry 113<br />
Bermudagrass 60<br />
Bidens laevis 144<br />
Bidens leptocephala 144<br />
Bigelow’s bluegrass 77<br />
big sacaton 84<br />
bindweed 191<br />
birthwort 136<br />
bitter snakewood 108<br />
bladder calyx 223<br />
bluedicks 137<br />
blue grama 55<br />
blue milkwort 252<br />
blue paloverde 101<br />
blue threeawn 50<br />
Boerhavia coccinea 232<br />
Boerhavia coulteri 232<br />
Boerhavia erecta 233<br />
Boerhavia purpurascens 233<br />
Boerhavia sc<strong>and</strong>ens 234<br />
Boerhavia spicata 234<br />
Boer lovegrass 67<br />
Bothriochloa barbinodis 52<br />
bottlebrush squirrel-tail 64<br />
Bouteloua aristidoides 52<br />
Bouteloua barbata 53<br />
Bouteloua chondrosioides 53<br />
Bouteloua curtipendula 54<br />
Bouteloua gracilis 55<br />
Bouteloua repens 56<br />
Bouteloua rothrockii 56<br />
Bowlesia incana 133<br />
bristly nama 177<br />
bristly scaleseed 135<br />
Bromus catharticus 57<br />
Bromus tectorum 57<br />
browntop signalgrass 86<br />
buffpetal 223<br />
burclover 212<br />
burroweed 97<br />
bush muhly 75<br />
C<br />
Cal<strong>and</strong>rinia ciliata 230<br />
Calibrachoa parviflora 260<br />
Index
Index<br />
California poppy 241<br />
Californica suncup 236<br />
Calli<strong>and</strong>ra eriophylla 100<br />
Calochortus kennedyi 219<br />
caltrop 267<br />
Calycoseris wrightii 145<br />
Camissonia californica 236<br />
Camissonia chamaenerioides 236<br />
camphorweed 155<br />
Canadian horseweed 147<br />
c<strong>and</strong>y barrelcactus 119<br />
cane beardstem 52<br />
cane cholla 118<br />
canyon grape 266<br />
canyon morning-glory 193<br />
Capsella bursa-pastoris 182<br />
carelessweed 126<br />
Carlowrightia arizonica 123<br />
carrizo 51<br />
Carrizo mountain s<strong>and</strong>mat 205<br />
Castilleja exserta 239<br />
catclaw acacia 102<br />
catclaw mimosa 100<br />
caterpillar phacelia 180<br />
catnip noseburn 205<br />
Ceanothus greggii 107<br />
Celtis ehrenbergiana 98<br />
Celtis pallida 98<br />
Celtis reticulata 98<br />
Cenchrus longispinus 58<br />
Cenchrus spinifex 58<br />
Chaetopappa ericoides 145<br />
Chamaecrista nictitans 208<br />
Chamaesaracha conoides 260<br />
Chamaesaracha coronopus 261<br />
Chamaesyce florida 202<br />
Chamaesyce hirta 203<br />
Chamaesyce hyssopifolia 204<br />
Chamaesyce micromera 204<br />
Chamaesyce pediculifera 205<br />
cheatgrass 57<br />
cheeseweed mallow 222<br />
Chenopodium berl<strong>and</strong>ieri 128<br />
Chenopodium incanum 128<br />
Chenopodium pratericola 129<br />
Chenopodium rubrum 129<br />
Chilopsis linearis 97<br />
Chiricahua mountain s<strong>and</strong>mat 202<br />
Chloris virgata 59<br />
Christmas cactus 118<br />
chuckwalla combseed 178<br />
chufa flatsedge 47<br />
chuparosa 89<br />
Cirsium neomexicanum 146<br />
Cistanthe parryi 230<br />
clasping Venus’ looking-glass 188<br />
cleftleaf wildheliotrope 180<br />
Clematis drummondii 257<br />
Clematis ligusticifolia 257<br />
Cleome lutea var. jonesii 189<br />
Clevel<strong>and</strong>’s desert d<strong>and</strong>elion 158<br />
climbing wartclub 234<br />
Cnidoscolus angustidens 199<br />
coastal s<strong>and</strong>bur 58<br />
Cocculus diversifolius 228<br />
Commelina erecta 190<br />
common barley 72<br />
common elderberry 90<br />
common Mediterranean grass 79<br />
common plantain 247<br />
common sowthistle 165<br />
compass barrel cactus 119<br />
Condalia correllii 108<br />
Condalia globosa 108<br />
Conium maculatum 133<br />
Convolvulus arvensis 191<br />
conyza 156<br />
Conyza bonariensis 147<br />
Conyza canadensis 147<br />
copperleaf globemallow 225<br />
corn poppy 241<br />
cotta grass 59<br />
Cottea pappophoroides 59<br />
Coulter’s spiderling 232<br />
Coulter’s wrinklefruit 265<br />
coyote gourd 196<br />
creeping primrose-willow 237<br />
creeping spiderling 234<br />
creeping woodsorrel 240<br />
creosote bush 115<br />
crested anoda 222<br />
crested pricklypoppy 240<br />
crestrib morning-glory 193<br />
Crotalaria pumila 209<br />
Croton pottsii var. pottsii 199<br />
Croton texensis 200<br />
crowpoison 132<br />
Cryptantha angustifolia 174<br />
Cryptantha micrantha 174<br />
Cryptantha nevadensis 175<br />
Cryptantha pterocarya 175<br />
Cryptantha pusilla 176<br />
cuchillo 56<br />
Cucurbita digitata 196<br />
Cucurbita foetidissima 196<br />
Cuman ragweed 141<br />
curly dock 254<br />
curly-mesquite 70<br />
curvenut combseed 178<br />
Cuscuta umbellata 192<br />
Cyclospermum leptophyllum 134<br />
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis 118<br />
Cylindropuntia spinosior 118<br />
Cynodon dactylon 60<br />
Cyperus esculentus 47<br />
Cyperus odoratus 47<br />
300 Educational use only; not for sale<br />
D<br />
Dactyloctenium aegyptium 60<br />
dainty desert hideseed 176<br />
dallis grass 76<br />
Dasylirion wheeleri 94<br />
Dasyochloa pulchella 61<br />
Datura wrightii 262
Daucus pusillus 134<br />
delicate muhly 74<br />
Delphinium scaposum 258<br />
Descurainia pinnata 183<br />
Descurainia sophia 183<br />
desert broom 96<br />
desert broomrape 239<br />
desert ceanothus 107<br />
desert evening-primrose 238<br />
desert goosefoot 129<br />
desert horsepurslane 125<br />
desert marigold 143<br />
desert mariposa lily 219<br />
desert spoon 94<br />
desert unicorn-plant 227<br />
desert willow 97<br />
desert zinnia 171<br />
Desmodium neomexicanum 209<br />
devil’s claw 227<br />
Diaperia verna var. verna 148<br />
Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum 137<br />
Dicliptera resupinata 123<br />
Digitaria californica 62<br />
Digitaria sanguinalis 62<br />
Diodia teres 259<br />
distant phacelia 180<br />
Ditaxis neomexicana 200<br />
dotted smartweed 253<br />
doubleclaw 227<br />
Draba cuneifolia var. cunenifolia 184<br />
Drummond’s clematis 257<br />
dry-sun fleabane 148<br />
dwarf cryptantha 174<br />
dwarf desertpeony 138<br />
dwarf Indian mallow 221<br />
E<br />
Echinochloa colona 63<br />
Echinochloa crus-galli 63<br />
Echinopepon wrightii 197<br />
Egyptian grass 60<br />
Eleocharis montevidensis 48<br />
El Paso gilia 250<br />
Elymus elymoides 64<br />
Elytraria imbricata 124<br />
Equisetum laevigatum 44<br />
Eragrostis barrelieri 65<br />
Eragrostis cilianensis 66<br />
Eragrostis curvula 67<br />
Eragrostis intermedia 67<br />
Eragrostis lehmanniana 42, 68<br />
erect spiderling 233<br />
Eremothera chamaenerioides 236<br />
Eriastrum diffusum 250<br />
Ericameria nauseosa 96<br />
Erigeron arisolius 148<br />
Erigeron divergens 149<br />
Eriochloa acuminata 69<br />
Eriogonum abertianum 252<br />
Eriogonum polycladon 253<br />
Eriophyllum lanosum 149<br />
Erodium cicutarium 217<br />
Erodium texanum 217<br />
Erysimum rep<strong>and</strong>um 184<br />
Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana 241<br />
Eucrypta micrantha 176<br />
Euphorbia abramsiana 201<br />
Euphorbia albomarginata 201<br />
Euphorbia florida 202<br />
Euphorbia heterophylla 203<br />
Euphorbia hirta 203<br />
Euphorbia hyssopifolia 204<br />
Euphorbia micromera 204<br />
Euphorbia pediculifera 205<br />
Evolvulus arizonicus 192<br />
exserted Indian paintbrush 239<br />
eyelash grass 55<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 301<br />
F<br />
fairyduster 100<br />
feather fingergrass 59<br />
Fendler’s desert d<strong>and</strong>elion 159<br />
Ferocactus wislizeni 119<br />
Festuca octoflora 69<br />
fewflower beggarticks 144<br />
field s<strong>and</strong>bur 58<br />
fingerleaf gourd 196<br />
flame-leaf sumac 93<br />
flatglobe dodder 192<br />
flatspine stickseed 177<br />
flaxflowered ipomopsis 251<br />
fluffgrass 61<br />
foothill deervetch 210<br />
Fouquieria splendens 103<br />
fourwing saltbush 91<br />
fragrant flatsedge 47<br />
Fraxinus velutina 106<br />
Fremont cottonwood 110<br />
fringed redmaids 230<br />
Funastrum cynanchoides var. hartwegii 135<br />
G<br />
Gamochaeta purpurea 150<br />
Gaura mollis 237<br />
giant reed 51<br />
Gilia mexicana 250<br />
Gilia sinuata 251<br />
Gl<strong>and</strong>ularia goodingii 265<br />
gl<strong>and</strong>ular threadplant 188<br />
Gnaphalium palustre 150<br />
Gnaphalium purpureum 150<br />
Gomphrena sonorae 130<br />
Goodding’s willow 111<br />
Gordon’s bladderpod 186<br />
gray five eyes 260<br />
great ragweed 141<br />
green bristlegrass 81<br />
green carpetweed 229<br />
green sprangletop 72<br />
Grisebach’s bristlegrass 79<br />
Guilleminea densa 130<br />
Gutierrezia microcephala 151<br />
Index
Index<br />
H<br />
hairy crabgrass 62<br />
hairy fournwort 125<br />
halfmoon milkvetch 207<br />
Hall’s panicgrass 75<br />
hardstem bulrush 48<br />
Hartweg’s twinevine 135<br />
Helianthus annuus 152<br />
Helianthus petiolaris 153<br />
Heliomeris longifolia 154<br />
Heliomeris longifolia var. annua 154<br />
Heliomeris longifolia var. longifolia 154<br />
Heliomeris multiflora var. multiflora<br />
154<br />
henbit deadnettle 218<br />
herb sophia 183<br />
Heterotheca subaxillaris 155<br />
Hilaria belangeri 70<br />
hoary bowlesia 133<br />
Hoffmannseggia glauca 210<br />
hog potato 210<br />
Hopia obtusa 70<br />
Hordeum murinum ssp. glaucum 71<br />
Hordeum pusillum 71<br />
Hordeum vulgare 72<br />
horehound 218<br />
hourglass peaseed 216<br />
Hydrocotle verticillata 137<br />
hyssopleaf s<strong>and</strong>mat 204<br />
I<br />
Indian piperoot 136<br />
Indian rushpea 210<br />
Ipomoea barbatisepala 193<br />
Ipomoea costellata 193<br />
Ipomoea cristulata 194<br />
Ipomoea hederacea 194<br />
Ipomoea purpurea 195<br />
Ipomopsis longiflora 251<br />
Isocoma tenuisecta 97<br />
ivyleaf morning-glory 194<br />
J<br />
Jerusalem thorn 101<br />
jewels of Opar 264<br />
Johnsongrass 82<br />
Jones’ spiderflower 189<br />
Juglans major 104<br />
Juncus bufonius 49<br />
jungle rice 63<br />
Juniperus coahuilensis 99<br />
K<br />
Kallstroemia gr<strong>and</strong>iflora 267<br />
khakiweed 126<br />
knotgrass 77<br />
Krameria erecta 104<br />
L<br />
Lactuca serriola 156<br />
lacy tansyaster 169<br />
Laennecia coulteri 156<br />
Laennecia sophiifolia 157<br />
Lamium amplexicaule 218<br />
Lappula redowskii var. occidentalis 177<br />
Larrea tridentata 115<br />
leafy marshtail 157<br />
leatherweed 199<br />
Lehmann lovegrass 42, 68<br />
lemonade berry 92<br />
Lepidium lasiocarpum 185<br />
Lepidium thurberi 185<br />
Leptochloa dubia 72<br />
Leptochloa panicea 73<br />
Lesquerella gordonii 186<br />
limestone phacelia 179<br />
Lindley’s silverpuffs 168<br />
lipstick weed 181<br />
little barley 71<br />
littleleaf mulberry 105<br />
littleleaf ratany 104<br />
little redstem monkeyflower 243<br />
littleseed muhly 74<br />
Loeflingia squarrosa 190<br />
London rocket 187<br />
longcapsule suncup 236<br />
longleaf false goldeneye 154<br />
longleaf groundcherry 263<br />
lotebush 109<br />
Lotus humistratus 210<br />
low cryptantha 176<br />
low rattlebox 209<br />
Ludwigia repens 237<br />
Lupinus concinnus 211<br />
Lycium <strong>and</strong>ersonii 113<br />
Lycium berl<strong>and</strong>ieri 113<br />
M<br />
Machaeranthera gracilis 169<br />
Machaeranthera pinnatifida 169<br />
Machaeranthera tagetina 157<br />
Machaeranthera tanacetifolia 158<br />
Malacothrix clevel<strong>and</strong>ii 158<br />
Malacothrix fendleri 159<br />
Malacothrix glabrata 160<br />
mala mujer 199<br />
Malva parviflora 222<br />
Malvella leprosa 223<br />
Marina calycosa 211<br />
Marrubium vulgare 218<br />
marsh parsley 134<br />
marvel of Peru 235<br />
mat s<strong>and</strong>bur 58<br />
Maur<strong>and</strong>ella antirrhiniflora 245<br />
mealy goosefoot 128<br />
Mecardonia procumbens 245<br />
Medicago polymorpha 212<br />
Mediterranean lovegrass 65<br />
Melampodium longicorne 160<br />
302 Educational use only; not for sale
Melilotus indicus 212<br />
Melilotus officinalis 213<br />
Mentzelia albicaulis 220<br />
Mentzelia aspera 220<br />
Menzies’ common fiddleneck 173<br />
mesa tansyaster 157<br />
mesquite mistletoe 259<br />
Mexican bluewood 108<br />
Mexican fireplant 203<br />
Mexican palo verde 101<br />
Mexican panicgrass 76<br />
Mexican passion flower 242<br />
Mexican yellowshow 173<br />
Mimosa aculeaticarpa 100<br />
Mimulus guttatus 243<br />
Mimulus rubellus 243<br />
miniature woollystar 250<br />
Mirabilis jalapa 235<br />
Mirabilis longiflora 235<br />
Missouri gourd 196<br />
Mollugo verticillata 229<br />
Morus microphylla 105<br />
mucronate sprangletop 73<br />
Muhlenbergia fragilis 74<br />
Muhlenbergia microsperma 74<br />
Muhlenbergia porteri 75<br />
mule’s fat 95<br />
muster John Henry 166<br />
Myosurus minimus 258<br />
N<br />
Nama demissa 177<br />
Nasturtium officinale 186<br />
neckweed 249<br />
needle grama 52<br />
Nemacladus gl<strong>and</strong>uliferus 188<br />
netleaf hackberry 98<br />
Nevada cryptantha 175<br />
New Mexico copperleaf 198<br />
New Mexico fanpetals 224<br />
New Mexico plumseed 163<br />
New Mexico silverbush 200<br />
New Mexico thistle 146<br />
New Mexico ticktrefoil 209<br />
Nicotiana glauca 114<br />
Nothoscordum bivalve 132<br />
Nuttallanthus texana 246<br />
O<br />
ocotillo 103<br />
Oenothera curtiflora 237<br />
Oenothera primiveris 238<br />
Oenothera rosea 238<br />
Opuntia leptocaulis 118<br />
Opuntia macrorhiza 119<br />
Opuntia phaeacantha 120<br />
Opuntia santa-rita 120<br />
orange flameflower 231<br />
Orobanche cooperi 239<br />
Oxalis corniculata 240<br />
P<br />
painted spurge 203<br />
pale-seeded plantain 248<br />
Panamint cryptantha 174<br />
Panicum hallii 75<br />
Panicum hirticaule 76<br />
Panicum obtusum 70<br />
Papaver rhoeas 241<br />
Parietaria pensylvanica 264<br />
<strong>Park</strong>insonia aculeata 101<br />
<strong>Park</strong>insonia florida 101<br />
Parry’s beardtongue 246<br />
Parry’s pussypaws 230<br />
Parthenice mollis 161<br />
partridge pea 208<br />
Paspalum dilatatum 76<br />
Paspalum distichum 77<br />
Passiflora mexicana 242<br />
Pectis prostrata 161<br />
Pectocarya heterocarpa 178<br />
Pectocarya recurvata 178<br />
Pennsylvania pellitory 264<br />
Penstemon parryi 246<br />
Persicaria punctata 253<br />
Peruvian zinnia 171<br />
Phacelia affinis 179<br />
Phacelia arizonica 179<br />
Phacelia crenulata 180<br />
Phacelia distans 180<br />
Phaseolus ritensis 214<br />
Phemeranthus aurantiacus 231<br />
Phoradendron californicum 259<br />
Physalis acutifolia 262<br />
Physalis longifolia 263<br />
Physaria gordonii 186<br />
pillpod s<strong>and</strong>mat 203<br />
pineleaf threeseed mercury 198<br />
pink baby breath 264<br />
pitseed goosefoot 128<br />
Plagiobothrys arizonicus 181<br />
Plagiobothrys pringlei 181<br />
plains lovegrass 67<br />
Plantago major 247<br />
Plantago patagonica 247<br />
Plantago virginica 248<br />
Platanus wrightii 107<br />
Poa bigelovii 77<br />
poison hemlock 133<br />
Polanisia dodec<strong>and</strong>ra 189<br />
Polygala barbeyana 252<br />
Polygonum argyrocoleon 254<br />
Polygonum punctatum 253<br />
Polypogon monspeliensis 78<br />
Populus fremontii 110<br />
Portulaca oleracea 255<br />
Portulaca suffrutescens 255<br />
Portulaca umbraticola 256<br />
prairie sumac 93<br />
prairie sunflower 153<br />
prickly fanpetals 225<br />
prickly lettuce 156<br />
Pringle’s popcornflower 181<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 303<br />
Index
Index<br />
Proboscidea altheifolia 227<br />
Proboscidea parviflora 227<br />
Prosopis velutina 102<br />
Pseudognaphalium canescens ssp.canescens 162<br />
Pseudognaphalium leucocephalum 162<br />
puncturevine 267<br />
purple scalystem 124<br />
purple spiderling 233<br />
purple threeawn 50<br />
R<br />
Rafinesquia neomexicana 163<br />
redberry juniper 99<br />
red goosefoot 129<br />
redroot cryptantha 174<br />
redstar 194<br />
redstem stork’s bill 217<br />
redwhisker clammyweed 189<br />
rescuegrass 57<br />
Rhus aromatica var. trilobata 92<br />
Rhus lanceolata 93<br />
Rhynchosia senna var. texana 215<br />
Rhynchosida physocalyx 223<br />
Rivina humilis 244<br />
Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum 186<br />
rose evening-primrose 238<br />
rose heath 145<br />
rosy gilia 251<br />
Rothrock’s grama 56<br />
rougeplant 244<br />
rough cocklebur 170<br />
roving sailor 245<br />
rubber rabbitbrush 96<br />
Ruellia nudiflora 124<br />
Rumex crispus 254<br />
Russian thistle 131<br />
S<br />
sacred thorn–apple 262<br />
sacred throrn-apple 262<br />
Salix gooddingii 111<br />
Salix taxifolia 112<br />
Salsola kali 131<br />
salt cedar 114<br />
Salvia subincisa 219<br />
Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis 90<br />
s<strong>and</strong> dropseed 84<br />
s<strong>and</strong> spikerush 48<br />
San Pedro false prairie-clover 211<br />
San Pedro matchweed 170<br />
Santa Rita mountain bean 214<br />
Santa Rita pricklypear 120<br />
sawtooth sage 219<br />
scaly alkali mallow 223<br />
scarlet lupine 211<br />
scarlet spiderling 232<br />
Schismus arabicus 78<br />
Schismus barbatus 79<br />
Schoenoplectus acutus 48<br />
seaside petunia 260<br />
seep monkeyflower 243<br />
seep willow 95<br />
Senecio flaccidus 163<br />
Senegalia greggii 102<br />
Senna bauhinioides 215<br />
Senna hirsuta var. glaberrima 216<br />
Setaria grisebachii 79<br />
Setaria leucopila 80<br />
Setaria pumila 80<br />
Setaria viridis 81<br />
shaggyfruit pepperweed 185<br />
sharpleaf groundcherry 262<br />
shepherd’s purse 182<br />
showy goldeneye 154<br />
shrubby purslane 255<br />
Sicyosperma gracile 197<br />
Sida abutifolia 224<br />
Sida neomexicana 224<br />
Sida spinosa 225<br />
sideoats grama 54<br />
silverleaf nightshade 263<br />
silversheath knotweed 254<br />
singlewhorl burrobrush 95<br />
Sisymbrium irio 187<br />
sixweeks fescue 69<br />
sixweeks grama 53<br />
sixweeks threeawn 49<br />
skunkbush sumac 92<br />
slender celery 134<br />
slender goldenweed 169<br />
slender grama 56<br />
slim tridens 85<br />
smallflowered milkvetch 208<br />
small matweed 130<br />
smooth barley 71<br />
smooth beggartick 144<br />
smooth desert d<strong>and</strong>elion 160<br />
smooth horsetail 44<br />
snailseed 228<br />
soaptree yucca 94<br />
Solanum eleagnifolium 263<br />
Sonchus asper 164<br />
Sonchus oleraceus 165<br />
Sonoran globe amaranth 130<br />
Sonoran Indian mallow 221<br />
Sonoran s<strong>and</strong>mat 204<br />
sorghum 81<br />
Sorghum bicolor 81<br />
Sorghum halepense 82<br />
sorrel buckwheat 253<br />
sotol 94<br />
southwestern mock vervain 265<br />
Spermolepis echinata 135<br />
Sphaeralcea angustifolia 225<br />
Sphaeralcea fendleri 226<br />
Sphinctospermum constrictum 216<br />
spidergrass 51<br />
spike dropseed 83<br />
spiny hackberry 98<br />
spiny haplopappus 169<br />
spiny sowthistle 164<br />
spoonleaf purple everlasting 150<br />
Sporobolus airoides 83<br />
304 Educational use only; not for sale
Sporobolus contractus 83<br />
Sporobolus crypt<strong>and</strong>rus 84<br />
Sporobolus wrightii 84<br />
spreading cinchweed 161<br />
spreading fanpetals 224<br />
spreading fleabane 149<br />
spreading pygmyleaf 190<br />
spreading wallflower 184<br />
spring pygmycudweed 148<br />
sprucetop grama 53<br />
squaw bush 92<br />
stinkgrass 66<br />
streambed bristlegrass 80<br />
sunflower 152<br />
sweet four o’clock 235<br />
T<br />
Tagetes minuta 166<br />
Talinum paniculatum 264<br />
tall morning-glory 195<br />
tall mountain larkspur 258<br />
tamarisk 114<br />
Tamarix ramosissima 114<br />
tansyleaf tansyaster 158<br />
tapertip cupgrass 69<br />
Tetraclea coulteri 265<br />
Tetramerium nervosum 125<br />
Texas croton 200<br />
Texas mulberry 105<br />
Texas snoutbean 215<br />
Texas stork’s bill 217<br />
Texas toadflax 246<br />
thinleaf saltbush 91<br />
threadleaf ragwort 163<br />
threadleaf snakeweed 151<br />
Thurber’s desert honeysuckle 89<br />
Thurber’s pepperweed 185<br />
Tidestromia lanuginosa 132<br />
tiny mousetail 258<br />
Tithonia thurberi 166<br />
toad rush 49<br />
Tragia nepetifolia 205<br />
trailing windmills 231<br />
tree of heaven 112<br />
tree tobacco 114<br />
Trianthema portulacastrum 125<br />
Tribulus terrestris 267<br />
Tridens muticus 85<br />
Triodanis perfoliata 188<br />
Trixis californica 167<br />
tropical blazingstar 220<br />
Tucson burr ragweed 140<br />
tulip pricklypear 120<br />
twinleaf senna 215<br />
twist-spine pricklypear 119<br />
U<br />
Urochloa arizonica 85<br />
Urochloa fusca 86<br />
Uropappus lindleyi 168<br />
V<br />
Vachellia constricta 103<br />
velvet ash 106<br />
velvet mesquite 102<br />
velvetweed 237<br />
Verbesina encelioides 168<br />
Veronica anagallis-aquatica 248<br />
Veronica peregrina 249<br />
vine mesquite 70<br />
violet wild petunia 124<br />
Virginia plantain 248<br />
Vitus arizonica 266<br />
W<br />
wait-a-minute bush 100<br />
walkingstick cactus 118<br />
watercress 186<br />
water jacket 113<br />
water pennywort 137<br />
water speedwell 248<br />
Watson’s Dutchman’s pipe 136<br />
weakleaf burr ragweed 139<br />
wedgeleaf draba 184<br />
weeping lovegrass 67<br />
western bottle-brush 64<br />
western marsh cudweed 150<br />
western rockjasmine 256<br />
western tansymustard 183<br />
western white clematis 257<br />
wheelscale saltbush 127<br />
white cudweed 162<br />
white easterbonnets 149<br />
whitemargin s<strong>and</strong>mat 201<br />
whitemouth dayflower 190<br />
white sagebrush 142<br />
whitestem blazingstar 220<br />
white tackstem 145<br />
whitethorn acacia 103<br />
whorled marshpennywort 137<br />
wild dwarf morning-glory 192<br />
willow-herb primrose 236<br />
wingnut cryptantha 175<br />
wingpod purslane 256<br />
wolfberry 113<br />
woolly plantain 247<br />
woolly senna 216<br />
woolly tidestromia 132<br />
wormwood 142<br />
Wright’s cudweed 162<br />
X<br />
Xanthisma gracile 169<br />
Xanthisma spinulosum 169<br />
Xanthium strumarium 170<br />
Xanthocephalum gymnospermoides 170<br />
Y<br />
yellow bristlegrass 80<br />
yellow nut-grass 47<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 305<br />
Index
Index<br />
yellow spiderflower 189<br />
yellow sweetclover 213<br />
yewleaf willow 112<br />
Yucca elata 94<br />
Z<br />
Zinnia acerosa 171<br />
Zinnia peruviana 171<br />
Ziziphus obtusifolia 109<br />
Ziziphus obtusifolia var. canescens 109<br />
306 Educational use only; not for sale
Tumacácori NHP Plant Checklist<br />
This park checklist is part of the Flora of the Sonoran Desert Network, a project of<br />
the Vegetation Mapping program at the Sonoran Desert Network (http://science.<br />
nature.nps.gov/im/units/sodn).<br />
This checklist has been derived from baseline inventory data, herbarium records,<br />
the phylogenetic <strong>and</strong> ecological literature, <strong>and</strong> agency study records. All non-native<br />
species are in bold. Voucher Status Codes: X = voucher in regional herbaria, O =<br />
observed in park, U = unconfirmed<br />
Acanthaceae<br />
Voucher<br />
Status<br />
Anisacanthus thurberi (Torr.) A. Gray Thurber’s desert honeysuckle X<br />
Carlowrightia arizonica A. Gray Arizona wrightwort X<br />
Dicliptera resupinata (Vahl) Juss. Arizona foldwing X<br />
Elytraria imbricata (Vahl) Pers. purple scalystem X<br />
Ruellia nudiflora (Engelm. & A. Gray) Urban violet wild petunia X<br />
Tetramerium nervosum Nees hairy fournwort X<br />
Adoxaceae<br />
Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea Linnaeus common elderberry X<br />
Aizoaceae<br />
Trianthema portulacastrum Linnaeus desert horsepurslane X<br />
Amaranthaceae<br />
Alternanthera pungens Kunth khakiweed U<br />
Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson carelessweed X<br />
Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. fourwing saltbush U<br />
Atriplex elegans (Moq.) D. Dietr. wheelscale saltbush X<br />
Atriplex linearis S. Watson thinleaf fourwing saltbush X<br />
Atriplex wrightii S. Watson Wright’s saltbush X<br />
Chenopodium berl<strong>and</strong>ieri Moq. pitseed goosefoot X<br />
Chenopodium incanum (S. Watson) Heller mealy goosefoot X<br />
Chenopodium pratericola Rydb. desert goosefoot X<br />
Chenopodium rubrum Linnaeus red goosefoot X<br />
Gomphrena sonorae Torr. Sonoran globe amaranth X<br />
Guilleminea densa (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Moq. small matweed X<br />
Salsola kali Linnaeus Russian thistle X<br />
Tidestromia lanuginosa (Nutt.) St<strong>and</strong>l. woolly tidestromia U<br />
Amaryllidaceae<br />
Nothoscordum bivalve (Linnaeus) Britton crowpoison U<br />
Anacardiaceae<br />
Rhus aromatica var. trilobata skunkbush sumac U<br />
(Nutt.) A. Gray ex S. Watson<br />
Rhus lanceolata (A. Gray) Britt. prairie sumac X<br />
Schinus molle Linnaeus (not treated) Peruvian peppertree X<br />
Apiaceae<br />
Bowlesia incana Ruiz & Pavon hoary bowlesia X<br />
Conium maculatum Linnaeus poison hemlock X<br />
Cyclospermum leptophyllum marsh parsley X<br />
(Pers.) Sprague ex Britt. & Wilson<br />
Daucus pusillus Michx. American wild carrot X<br />
Spermolepis echinata (Nutt. ex DC.) Heller bristly scaleseed X<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 307<br />
Tumacácori Checklist
Tumacácori Checklist<br />
Apocynaceae<br />
Funastrum cynanchoides var. hartwegii Hartweg’s twinevine X<br />
(Vail) Krings<br />
Araliaceae<br />
Hydrocotyle verticillata Thunb. whorled marshpennywort X<br />
Aristolochiaceae<br />
Aristolochia watsonii Wooton & St<strong>and</strong>l. Watson’s dutchman’s pipe X<br />
Asparagaceae<br />
Dasylirion wheeleri S. Watson common sotol X<br />
Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum bluedicks X<br />
(Benth.) Wood<br />
Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. soaptree yucca X<br />
Asteraceae<br />
Acourtia nana (A. Gray) Reveal & King dwarf desertpeony X<br />
Agoseris heterophylla (Nutt.) Greene annual agoseris X<br />
Ambrosia artemisiifolia Linnaeus annual ragweed X<br />
Ambrosia confertiflora DC. weakleaf bur ragweed X<br />
Ambrosia cordifolia (A. Gray) Payne Tucson burr ragweed U<br />
Ambrosia monogyra singlewhorl burrobrush X<br />
(Torr. & A. Gray) Strother & B.G. Baldwin<br />
Ambrosia psilostachya DC. Cuman ragweed U<br />
Ambrosia trifida Linnaeus great ragweed X<br />
Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt. white sagebrush X<br />
Baccharis salicifolia (Ruiz & Pavon) Pers. mule’s fat X<br />
Baccharis sarothroides A. Gray desertbroom X<br />
Baileya multiradiata Harvey & A. Gray ex A. Gray desert marigold X<br />
Bidens laevis (Linnaeus) B.S.P. smooth beggartick X<br />
Bidens leptocephala Sherff fewflower beggarticks X<br />
Calycoseris wrightii A. Gray white tackstem X<br />
Chaetopappa ericoides (Torr.) Nesom rose heath X<br />
Cirsium neomexicanum A. Gray New Mexico thistle X<br />
Conyza bonariensis (Linnaeus) Cronq. asthmaweed X<br />
Conyza canadensis (Linnaeus) Cronq. Canadian horseweed X<br />
Diaperia verna var. verna Raf. spring pygmycudweed X<br />
Ericameria nauseosa rubber rabbitbrush U<br />
(Pallas ex Pursh) Nesom & Baird<br />
Erigeron arisolius Nesom arid throne fleabane X<br />
Erigeron divergens Torr. & A. Gray spreading fleabane X<br />
Eriophyllum lanosum (A. Gray) Rydb. white easterbonnets X<br />
Gamochaeta purpurea (Linnaeus) Cabrera spoonleaf purple everlasting X<br />
Gnaphalium palustre Nutt. western marsh cudweed X<br />
Gutierrezia microcephala (DC.) A. Gray threadleaf snakeweed X<br />
Helianthus annuus Linnaeus common sunflower X<br />
Helianthus petiolaris Nutt. prairie sunflower X<br />
Heliomeris longifolia longleaf false goldeneye X<br />
(Robins. & Greenm.) Cockerell<br />
Heliomeris longifolia var. annua longleaf false goldeneye O<br />
(M.E. Jones) W.F. Yates<br />
Heliomeris longifolia var. longifolia longleaf false goldeneye X<br />
Heliomeris multiflora var. multiflora Nutt. showy goldeneye X<br />
Heterotheca subaxillaris (Lam.) Britt. & Rusby camphorweed X<br />
Isocoma tenuisecta Greene burroweed O<br />
Lactuca serriola Linnaeus prickly lettuce X<br />
Laennecia coulteri (A. Gray) Nesom conyza X<br />
Laennecia sophiifolia (Kunth) Nesom leafy marshtail X<br />
Machaeranthera tagetina Greene mesa tansyaster X<br />
Machaeranthera tanacetifolia (Kunth) Nees tansyleaf tansyaster X<br />
Malacothrix clevel<strong>and</strong>ii A. Gray Clevel<strong>and</strong>’s desertd<strong>and</strong>elion X<br />
Malacothrix fendleri A. Gray Fendler’s desertd<strong>and</strong>elion X<br />
308 Educational use only; not for sale
Malacothrix glabrata smooth desertd<strong>and</strong>elion X<br />
(A. Gray ex D.C. Eat.) A. Gray<br />
Melampodium longicorne A. Gray Arizona blackfoot X<br />
Parthenice mollis A. Gray annual monsterwort X<br />
Pectis prostrata Cav. spreading cinchweed X<br />
Pseudognaphalium canescens ssp. canescens Wright’s cudweed X<br />
Pseudognaphalium leucocephalum white cudweed X<br />
(A. Gray) Anderb.<br />
Rafinesquia neomexicana A. Gray New Mexico plumeseed X<br />
Senecio flaccidus Less. threadleaf ragwort X<br />
Sonchus asper (Linnaeus) Hill spiny sowthistle X<br />
Sonchus oleraceus Linnaeus common sowthistle X<br />
Tagetes minuta Linnaeus muster John Henry X<br />
Tithonia thurberi A. Gray Arizona sunflowerweed X<br />
Trixis californica Kellogg American threefold X<br />
Uropappus lindleyi (DC.) Nutt. Lindley’s silverpuffs X<br />
Verbesina encelioides golden crownbeard X<br />
(Cav.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex A. Gray<br />
Xanthisma gracile slender goldenweed X<br />
(Nuttall) D. R. Morgan & R. Linnaeus Hartman<br />
Xanthisma spinulosum lacy tansyaster X<br />
(Pursh) D. R. Morgan & R. Linnaeus Hartman<br />
Xanthium strumarium Linnaeus rough cockleburr X<br />
Xanthocephalum gymnospermoides San Pedro matchweed X<br />
(A. Gray) Benth. & Hook. f.<br />
Zinnia acerosa (DC.) A. Gray desert zinnia X<br />
Zinnia peruviana (Linnaeus) Linnaeus Peruvian zinnia X<br />
Bignoniaceae<br />
Chilopsis linearis (Cav.) Sweet desert willow X<br />
Bixaceae<br />
Amoreuxia palmatifida Moc. & Sessé ex DC. Mexican yellowshow O<br />
Boraginaceae<br />
Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia common fiddleneck X<br />
(Lehm.) A. Nelson & J.F. Macbr.<br />
Cryptantha angustifolia (Torr.) Greene Panamint cryptantha X<br />
Cryptantha micrantha (Torr.) I.M. Johnston Redroot cryptantha X<br />
Cryptantha nevadensis A. Nelson & Kennedy Nevada cryptantha X<br />
Cryptantha pterocarya (Torr.) Greene wingnut cryptantha X<br />
Cryptantha pusilla (Torr. & A. Gray) Greene low cryptantha X<br />
Eucrypta micrantha (Torr.) Heller dainty desert hideseed X<br />
Lappula redowskii var. occidentalis flatspine stickseed X<br />
(S. Watson) Rydb.<br />
Nama hispida A. Gray bristly nama X<br />
Pectocarya heterocarpa chuckwalla combseed X<br />
(I.M. Johnston) I.M. Johnston<br />
Pectocarya recurvata I.M. Johnston curvenut combseed X<br />
Phacelia affinis A. Gray limestone phacelia X<br />
Phacelia arizonica A. Gray Arizona phacelia X<br />
Phacelia crenulata Torr. ex S. Watson cleftleaf wildheliotrope X<br />
Phacelia distans Benth. distant phacelia X<br />
Plagiobothrys arizonicus Arizona popcornflower X<br />
(A. Gray) Greene ex A. Gray<br />
Plagiobothrys pringlei Greene Pringle’s popcornflower X<br />
Brassicaceae<br />
Capsella bursa-pastoris (Linnaeus) Medik. shepherd’s purse X<br />
Descurainia pinnata (Walt.) Britt. western tansymustard X<br />
Descurainia sophia (Linnaeus) Webb ex Prantl herb sophia X<br />
Draba cuneifolia var. cuneifolia wedgeleaf draba X<br />
Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 309<br />
Tumacácori Checklist
Tumacácori Checklist<br />
Erysimum rep<strong>and</strong>um Linnaeus spreading wallflower X<br />
Lepidium lasiocarpum Nutt. shaggyfruit pepperweed X<br />
Lepidium thurberi Wooton Thurber’s pepperweed X<br />
Nasturtium officinale R. Br. watercress X<br />
Physaria gordonii (A. Gray) O’Kane & Al-Shehbaz gordon bladderpod X<br />
Sisymbrium irio Linnaeus London rocket X<br />
Cactaceae<br />
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis (DC.) F.M. Knuth Christmas cactus X<br />
Cylindropuntia spinosior (Engelm.) F.M. Knuth walkingstick cactus X<br />
Ferocactus wislizeni (Engelm.) Britt. & Rose c<strong>and</strong>y barrelcactus X<br />
Opuntia santa-rita (Griffiths & Hare) Rose Santa Rita pricklypear X<br />
Opuntia macrorhiza Engelm. twistspine pricklypear X<br />
Opuntia phaeacantha Engelm. tulip pricklypear X<br />
Campanulaceae<br />
Nemacladus gl<strong>and</strong>uliferus Jepson gl<strong>and</strong>ular threadplant X<br />
Triodanis perfoliata (Linnaeus) Nieuwl. clasping Venus’ looking-glass X<br />
Cannabaceae<br />
Celtis ehrenbergiana (Klotzsch) Liebm. spiny hackberry X<br />
Celtis reticulata Torr. netleaf hackberry X<br />
Caryophyllaceae<br />
Loeflingia squarrosa Nutt. spreading pygmyleaf X<br />
Cleomaceae<br />
Cleome lutea var. jonesii J.F. Macbr Jones spiderflower X<br />
Polanisia dodec<strong>and</strong>ra (Linnaeus) DC. redwhisker clammyweed O<br />
Commelinaceae<br />
Commelina erecta Linnaeus whitemouth dayflower X<br />
Convolvulaceae<br />
Convolvulus arvensis Linnaeus field bindweed O<br />
Cuscuta umbellata Kunth flatglobe dodder X<br />
Evolvulus arizonicus A. Gray wild dwarf morning-glory X<br />
Ipomoea barbatisepala A. Gray canyon morning-glory O<br />
Ipomoea costellata Torr. crestrib morning-glory X<br />
Ipomoea cristulata Hallier f. Trans-Pecos morning-glory X<br />
Ipomoea hederacea Jacq. ivyleaf morning-glory X<br />
Ipomoea purpurea (Linnaeus) Roth tall morning-glory U<br />
Cucurbitaceae<br />
Cucurbita digitata A. Gray fingerleaf gourd X<br />
Cucurbita foetidissima Kunth buffalo gourd X<br />
Echinopepon wrightii (A. Gray) S. Watson Wild balsam apple X<br />
Sicyosperma gracile A. Gray climbing arrowheads X<br />
Cupressaceae<br />
Juniperus coahuilensis<br />
(Martinez) Gaussen ex R.P. Adams redberry juniper X<br />
Cyperaceae<br />
Cyperus esculentus Linnaeus yellow nutsdege O<br />
Cyperus odoratus Linnaeus fragrant flatsedge X<br />
Eleocharis montevidensis Kunth s<strong>and</strong> spikerush X<br />
Schoenoplectus acutus<br />
(Muhl. ex Bigelow) A.& D. Löve hardstem bulrush X<br />
Equisetaceae<br />
Equisetum laevigatum A. Braun smooth horsetail X<br />
310 Educational use only; not for sale
Euphorbiaceae<br />
Acalypha neomexicana Muell.-Arg. New Mexico copperleaf O<br />
Acalypha ostryifolia Riddell pinel<strong>and</strong> threeseed mercury X<br />
Cnidoscolus angustidens Torr. mala mujer X<br />
Croton pottsii var. pottsii (Klotzsch) Muell.-Arg. leatherweed X<br />
Croton texensis (Klotzsch) Muell.-Arg. Texas croton X<br />
Ditaxis neomexicana Muell.-Arg. New Mexico silverbush X<br />
Euphorbia abramsiana (L.C. Wheeler) Koutnik Abrams’ s<strong>and</strong>mat X<br />
Euphorbia albomarginata (Torr. & A. Gray) Small whitemargin s<strong>and</strong>mat X<br />
Euphorbia florida (Engelm.) Millsp. Chiricahua Mountain s<strong>and</strong>mat X<br />
Euphorbia heterophylla Linnaeus Mexican fireplant X<br />
Euphorbia hirta (Linnaeus) Millsp. pillpod s<strong>and</strong>mat X<br />
Euphorbia hyssopifolia (Linnaeus) Small hyssopleaf s<strong>and</strong>mat X<br />
Euphorbia micromera Sonoran s<strong>and</strong>mat X<br />
(Boiss. ex Engelm.) Wooton & St<strong>and</strong>l.<br />
Euphorbia pediculifera (Engelm.) Rose & St<strong>and</strong>l. Carrizo Mountain s<strong>and</strong>mat X<br />
Tragia nepetifolia Cav. catnip noseburn X<br />
Fabaceae<br />
Acmispon humistratus (Benth.) D.D. Sokoloff foothill deervetch X<br />
Astragalus allochrous A. Gray halfmoon milkvetch X<br />
Astragalus arizonicus A. Gray Arizona milkvetch X<br />
Astragalus nuttallianus DC. smallflowered milkvetch X<br />
Calli<strong>and</strong>ra eriophylla Benth. fairyduster O<br />
Chamaecrista nictitans (Linnaeus) Moench partridge pea X<br />
Crotalaria pumila Ortega low rattlebox X<br />
Desmodium neomexicanum A. Gray New Mexico ticktrefoil X<br />
Hoffmannseggia glauca (Ortega) Eifert indian rushpea X<br />
Lupinus concinnus J.G. Agardh bajada lupine X<br />
Marina calycosa (A. Gray) Barneby San Pedro false prairie-clover X<br />
Medicago polymorpha Linnaeus burclover X<br />
Melilotus indicus (Linnaeus) All. annual yellow sweetclover X<br />
Melilotus officinalis (Linnaeus) Lam. yellow sweetclover O<br />
Mimosa aculeaticarpa (Benth.) Barneby catclaw mimosa X<br />
<strong>Park</strong>insonia aculeata Linnaeus Jerusalem thorn X<br />
<strong>Park</strong>insonia florida (Benth. ex A. Gray) S. Watson blue paloverde X<br />
Phaseolus ritensis M.E. Jones Santa Rita Mountain bean X<br />
Prosopis velutina Wooton velvet mesquite X<br />
Rhynchosia senna var. texana Texas snoutbean X<br />
(Torr. & A. Gray) M.C. Johnst.<br />
Senegalia greggii (A. Gray) Britton & Rose catclaw acacia X<br />
Senna bauhinioides (A. Gray) Irwin & Barneby twinleaf senna X<br />
Senna hirsuta var. glaberrima woolly senna X<br />
(M.E. Jones) H.S. Irwin & Barneby<br />
Sphinctospermum constrictum (S. Watson) Rose hourglass peaseed U<br />
Vachellia constricta (Benth.) Seigler & Ebinger whitethorn acacia X<br />
Fouquieriaceae<br />
Fouquieria splendens Engelm. ocotillo X<br />
Geraniaceae<br />
Erodium cicutarium (Linnaeus) L’Hér. ex Ait. redstem stork’s bill X<br />
Erodium texanum A. Gray Texas stork’s bill X<br />
Jugl<strong>and</strong>aceae<br />
Juglans major (Torr.) Heller Arizona walnut X<br />
Juncaceae<br />
Juncus bufonius Linnaeus toad rush X<br />
Krameriaceae<br />
Krameria erecta Willd. ex J.A. Schultes littleleaf ratany X<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 311<br />
Tumacácori Checklist
Tumacácori Checklist<br />
Lamiaceae<br />
Lamium amplexicaule Linnaeus henbit deadnettle X<br />
Marrubium vulgare Linnaeus horehound X<br />
Salvia subincisa Benth. sawtooth sage X<br />
Liliaceae<br />
Calochortus kennedyi Porter desert mariposa lily X<br />
Loasaceae<br />
Mentzelia albicaulis<br />
(Dougl. ex Hook.) Dougl. ex Torr. & A. Gray whitestem blazingstar X<br />
Mentzelia aspera Linnaeus tropical blazingstar X<br />
Malvaceae<br />
Abutilon mollicomum (Willd.) Sweet Sonoran Indian mallow X<br />
Abutilon parvulum A. Gray dwarf Indian mallow X<br />
Anoda cristata (Linnaeus) Schlecht. crested anoda X<br />
Malva parviflora Linnaeus cheeseweed mallow X<br />
Malvella leprosa (Ortega) Krapov. alkali mallow X<br />
Rhynchosida physocalyx (A. Gray) Fryxell buffpetal X<br />
Sida abutifolia P. Mill. spreading fanpetals X<br />
Sida neomexicana A. Gray New Mexico fanpetals X<br />
Sida spinosa Linnaeus prickly fanpetals X<br />
Sphaeralcea angustifolia (Cav.) G. Don copper globemallow X<br />
Sphaeralcea fendleri A. Gray Fendler’s globemallow X<br />
Martyniaceae<br />
Proboscidea altheifolia (Benth.) Dcne. Desert unicorn-plant X<br />
Proboscidea parviflora (Wooton) Wooton & St<strong>and</strong>l. doubleclaw X<br />
Menispermaceae<br />
Cocculus diversifolius DC. snailseed X<br />
Molluginaceae<br />
Mollugo verticillata Linnaeus green carpetweed X<br />
Montiaceae<br />
Cal<strong>and</strong>rinia ciliata (Ruiz & Pavon) DC. fringed redmaids X<br />
Cistanthe parryi (A. Gray) Hershkovitz Parry’s pussypaws, Arizona pussypaws X<br />
Phemeranthus aurantiacus (Engelm.) Kiger orange fameflower X<br />
Moraceae<br />
Morus microphylla Buckley Texas mulberry X<br />
Nyctaginaceae<br />
Allionia incarnata Linnaeus trailing windmills X<br />
Boerhavia coccinea P. Mill. scarlet spiderling X<br />
Boerhavia coulteri (Hook. f.) S. Watson Coulter’s spiderling X<br />
Boerhavia erecta Linnaeus erect spiderling X<br />
Boerhavia purpurascens A. Gray purple spiderling X<br />
Boerhavia sc<strong>and</strong>ens Linnaeus climbing wartclub X<br />
Boerhavia spicata Choisy creeping spiderling X<br />
Mirabilis jalapa Linnaeus marvel of Peru X<br />
Mirabilis longiflora Linnaeus sweet four o’clock X<br />
Oleaceae<br />
Fraxinus velutina Torr. velvet ash X<br />
Onagraceae<br />
Camissonia californica California suncup X<br />
(Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray) Raven<br />
Eremothera chamaenerioides longcapsule suncup X<br />
(A. Gray) W.L. Wagner & Hoch<br />
312 Educational use only; not for sale
Ludwigia repens J.R. Forst. creeping primrose-willow X<br />
Oenothera curtiflora W.L. Wagner & Hoch velvetweed X<br />
Oenothera primiveris A. Gray desert evening-primrose X<br />
Oenothera rosea L’Hér. ex Aiton rose evening-primrose X<br />
Orobanchaceae<br />
Castilleja exserta (Heller) Chuang & Heckard exserted Indian paintbrush X<br />
Orobanche cooperi (A. Gray) Heller desert broomrape X<br />
Oxalidaceae<br />
Oxalis corniculata Linnaeus creeping woodsorrel X<br />
Papaveraceae<br />
Argemone polyanthemos (Fedde) G.B. Ownbey crested pricklypoppy X<br />
Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana California poppy X<br />
(Greene) C. Clark<br />
Papaver rhoeas Linnaeus corn poppy X<br />
Passifloraceae<br />
Passiflora mexicana Juss. Mexican passionflower X<br />
Phrymaceae<br />
Mimulus guttatus DC. seep monkeyflower X<br />
Mimulus rubellus A. Gray little redstem monkeyflower X<br />
Phytolaccaceae<br />
Rivina humilis Linnaeus rougeplant X<br />
Plantaginaceae<br />
Maur<strong>and</strong>ya antirrhiniflora roving sailor O<br />
Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.<br />
Mecardonia procumbens (P. Mill.) Small baby jump-up X<br />
Nuttallanthus texanus (Scheele) D.A. Sutton Texas toadflax X<br />
Penstemon parryi A. Gray Parry’s beardtongue X<br />
Plantago major Linnaeus common plantain X<br />
Plantago patagonica Jacq. woolly plantain X<br />
Plantago virginica Linnaeus Virginia plantain X<br />
Veronica anagallis-aquatica Linnaeus water speedwell X<br />
Veronica peregrina Linnaeus neckweed X<br />
Platanaceae<br />
Platanus wrightii S. Watson Arizona sycamore O<br />
Poaceae<br />
Aristida adscensionis Linnaeus sixweeks threeawn X<br />
Aristida purpurea Nutt. purple threeawn O<br />
Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi (Vasey) Allred blue threeawn X<br />
Aristida purpurea var. purpurea purple threeawn X<br />
Aristida ternipes Cav. spidergrass X<br />
Aristida ternipes var. gentilis (Henrard) Allred hook threeawn X<br />
Arundo donax Linnaeus giant reed O<br />
Avena fatua Linnaeus wild oat X<br />
Bothriochloa barbinodis (Lag.) Herter cane bluestem X<br />
Bouteloua aristidoides (Kunth) Griseb. needle grama X<br />
Bouteloua barbata Lag. sixweeks grama O<br />
Bouteloua chondrosioides sprucetop grama X<br />
(Kunth) Benth. ex S. Watson<br />
Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr. sideoats grama X<br />
Bouteloua gracilis blue grama O<br />
(Willd. ex Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths<br />
Bouteloua repens (Kunth) Scribn. & Merr. slender grama X<br />
Bouteloua rothrockii Vasey Rothrock’s grama X<br />
Bromus catharticus Vahl rescuegrass X<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 313<br />
Tumacácori Checklist
Tumacácori Checklist<br />
Bromus tectorum Linnaeus cheatgrass U<br />
Cenchrus longispinus (Hack.) Fern. mat s<strong>and</strong>bur O<br />
Cenchrus spinifex Cav. coastal s<strong>and</strong>bur X<br />
Chloris virgata Sw. feather fingergrass X<br />
Cottea pappophoroides Kunth Cotta grass X<br />
Cynodon dactylon (Linnaeus) Pers. Bermudagrass X<br />
Dactyloctenium aegyptium (Linnaeus) Willd. Egyptian grass X<br />
Dasyochloa pulchella (Kunth) Willd. ex Rydb. wow woollygrass X<br />
Digitaria californica (Benth.) Henr. Arizona cottontop X<br />
Digitaria sanguinalis (Linnaeus) Scop. hairy crabgrass X<br />
Echinochloa colona (Linnaeus) Link jungle rice O<br />
Echinochloa crus-galli (Linnaeus) Beauv. barnyardgrass X<br />
Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey squirreltail X<br />
Eragrostis barrelieri Daveau Mediterranean lovegrass X<br />
Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) Vign. ex Janchen stinkgrass X<br />
Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees weeping lovegrass X<br />
Eragrostis intermedia A.S. Hitchc. plains lovegrass O<br />
Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees Lehmann lovegrass X<br />
Eriochloa acuminata var. minor(Vasey) R.B. Shaw tapertip cupgrass X<br />
Festuca octoflora Walter sixweeks fescue X<br />
Hilaria belangeri (Steud.) Nash curly-mesquite X<br />
Hopia obtusa (Kunth) Zuloaga & Morrone vine mesquite X<br />
Hordeum murinum ssp. glaucum (Steud.) Tzvelev smooth barley X<br />
Hordeum pusillum Nutt. little barley X<br />
Hordeum vulgare Linnaeus common barley X<br />
Leptochloa dubia (Kunth) Nees green sprangletop X<br />
Leptochloa panicea ssp. mucronata mucronate sprangeltop X<br />
(Michx.) Nowack<br />
Muhlenbergia fragilis Swallen delicate muhly O<br />
Muhlenbergia microsperma (DC.) Trin. littleseed muhly X<br />
Muhlenbergia porteri Scribn. ex Beal bush muhly X<br />
Panicum hallii Vasey Hall’s panicgrass X<br />
Panicum hirticaule J. Presl Mexican panicgrass X<br />
Paspalum dilatatum Poir. dallisgrass X<br />
Paspalum distichum Linnaeus knotgrass X<br />
Poa bigelovii Vasey & Scribn. Bigelow’s bluegrass X<br />
Polypogon monspeliensis (Linnaeus) Desf. annual rabbitsfoot grass X<br />
Schismus arabicus Nees Arabian schismus X<br />
Schismus barbatus (Loefl. ex Linnaeus) Thellung common Mediterranean grass X<br />
Setaria grisebachii Fourn. Grisebach’s bristlegrass X<br />
Setaria leucopila (Scribn. & Merr.) K. Schum. streambed bristlegrass X<br />
Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roemer & J.A. Schultes yellow bristlegrass X<br />
Setaria viridis (Linnaeus) Beauv. green bristlegrass X<br />
Sorghum bicolor (Linnaeus) Moench sorghum X<br />
Sorghum halepense (Linnaeus) Pers. Johnsongrass X<br />
Sporobolus airoides (Torr.) Torr. alkali sacaton X<br />
Sporobolus contractus A.S. Hitchc. spike dropseed X<br />
Sporobolus crypt<strong>and</strong>rus (Torr.) A. Gray s<strong>and</strong> dropseed X<br />
Sporobolus wrightii Munro ex Scribn. big sacaton X<br />
Tridens muticus (Torr.) Nash slim tridens X<br />
Urochloa arizonica Arizona signalgrass X<br />
(Scribn. & Merr.) O. Morrone & F. Zuloaga<br />
Urochloa fusca (Sw.) B.F. Hansen & Wunderlin browntop signalgrass X<br />
Polemoniaceae<br />
Eriastrum diffusum (A. Gray) Mason miniature woollystar X<br />
Gilia mexicana A.& V. Grant El Paso gilia X<br />
Gilia sinuata Dougl. ex Benth. rosy gilia O<br />
Ipomopsis longiflora (Torr.) V. Grant flaxflowered ipomopsis X<br />
Polygalaceae<br />
Polygala barbeyana Chod. blue milkwort X<br />
314 Educational use only; not for sale
Polygonaceae<br />
Eriogonum abertianum Torr. Abert’s buckwheat X<br />
Eriogonum polycladon Benth. sorrel buckwheat X<br />
Persicaria punctata (Elliott) Small dotted smartweed X<br />
Polygonum argyrocoleon Steud. ex Kunze silversheath knotweed X<br />
Rumex crispus Linnaeus curly dock X<br />
Portulacaceae<br />
Portulaca oleracea Linnaeus little hogweed X<br />
Portulaca suffrutescens Engelm. shrubby purslane X<br />
Portulaca umbraticola Kunth wingpod purslane O<br />
Primulaceae<br />
Androsace occidentalis Pursh western rockjasmine X<br />
Ranunculaceae<br />
Clematis drummondii Torr. & A. Gray Drummond’s clematis O<br />
Clematis ligusticifolia Nutt. western white clematis X<br />
Delphinium scaposum Greene tall mountain larkspur X<br />
Myosurus minimus Linnaeus tiny mousetail X<br />
Rhamnaceae<br />
Ceanothus greggii A. Gray desert ceanothus U<br />
Condalia correllii M.C. Johnston Correll’s snakewood X<br />
Condalia globosa I.M. Johnston bitter snakewood U<br />
Ziziphus obtusifolia lotebush X<br />
(Hook. ex Torr. & A. Gray) A. Gray<br />
Ziziphus obtusifolia var. canescens lotebush X<br />
(A. Gray) M.C. Johnston<br />
Rubiaceae<br />
Diodia teres Walt. poorjoe O<br />
Salicaceae<br />
Populus fremontii S. Watson Fremont cottonwood X<br />
Salix gooddingii Ball Goodding’s willow X<br />
Salix taxifolia Kunth yewleaf willow X<br />
Santalaceae<br />
Phoradendron californicum Nutt. mesquite mistletoe X<br />
Scrophulariaceae<br />
Leucophyllum frutescens Texas barometer bush X<br />
(Berl.) I.M. Johnston (not treated)<br />
Simaroubaceae<br />
Ailanthus altissima (P. Mill.) Swingle tree of heaven X<br />
Solanaceae<br />
Calibrachoa parviflora (Juss.) D’Arcy seaside petunia X<br />
Chamaesaracha coronopus (Dunal) A. Gray greenleaf five eyes U<br />
Datura quercifolia Kunth (not treated) Chinese thorn-apple X<br />
Datura wrightii Regel sacred thorn-apple X<br />
Lycium <strong>and</strong>ersonii A. Gray water jacket X<br />
Lycium berl<strong>and</strong>ieri Dunal Berl<strong>and</strong>ier’s wolfberry U<br />
Nicotiana glauca Graham tree tobacco X<br />
Physalis acutifolia (Miers) S<strong>and</strong>w. sharpleaf groundcherry X<br />
Physalis longifolia Nutt. longleaf groundcherry X<br />
Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav. silverleaf nightshade X<br />
Educational use only; not for sale 315<br />
Tumacácori Checklist
Tumacácori Checklist<br />
Talinaceae<br />
Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn. jewels of Opar X<br />
Tamaricaceae<br />
Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb. saltcedar X<br />
Urticaceae<br />
Parietaria pensylvanica Muhl. ex Willd. Pennsylvania pellitory X<br />
Verbenaceae<br />
Gl<strong>and</strong>ularia gooddingii (Briq.) Solbrig southwestern mock vervain X<br />
Tetraclea coulteri A. Gray Coulter’s wrinklefruit X<br />
Vitaceae<br />
Vitis arizonica Engelm. canyon grape X<br />
Zygophyllaceae<br />
Kallstroemia gr<strong>and</strong>iflora Torr. ex A. Gray Arizona poppy X<br />
Larrea tridentata (Sessé & Moc. ex DC.) Coville creosote bush X<br />
Tribulus terrestris Linnaeus puncturevine X<br />
316 Educational use only; not for sale
Plants of Tumacácori<br />
<strong>National</strong> Historical <strong>Park</strong><br />
Photo Credits: Clockwise from top center: 1-3, © 2007 Patrick Alex<strong>and</strong>er; 4-6 © 2008 T. Beth Kinsey