Felger, R.S., S. Rutman, CM. Guilliams, and J. Malusa. 2015. Ajo Peak to Tinajas Altas: A flora of southwestern Arizona: Part
10. Eudicots: Berberidaceae, Bignoniaceae, and Boraginaceae. Phytoneuron 2015-1: 1-60. Published 7 January 2015. ISSN
2153 733X.
AJO PEAK TO TINAJAS ALTAS: A FLORA OF SOUTHWESTERN ARIZONA
PART 10. EUDICOTS: BERBERIDACEAE, BIGNONIACEAE, AND BORAGINACEAE
Richard Stephen Felger
Herbarium, University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona 85721
Sky island Alliance
P.O. Box 41 165
Tucson, Arizona 85717
Author for correspondence: rfelger@email.arizona.edu
Susan Rutman
90 West 10th Street
Ajo, Arizona 85321
hi . i il l !■ | li m
C. Matt Guilliams
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
I . I . N i i, ■ in- i, I i.l
Santa Barbara, California 93105
i'l _■ ill li mi . I I -' I -
Jim Malusa
School of Natural Resources and the Environment
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona 85721
hi ilu i . .hi nl n i hi . .Im
ABSTRACT
A floristic account is provided for three eudicot families as part of the vascular plant flora of
the contiguous protected areas of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Cabeza Prieta National
Wildlife Refuge, and the Tinajas Altas Region in the heart of the Sonoran Desert of southwestern
Arizona : Berberidaceae with 2 species, Bignoniaceae with 1 species, and Boraginaceae sensu lato
with 34 modern species plus one fossil species no longer present. Among the 3 families, at least 13 of
these species are also known from fossils recovered from Ice Age packrat (Neotoma) middens. This
is the tenth contribution for this flora, published in Phytoneuron and also posted open access on the
website of the University of Arizona Herbarium (ARIZ).
This contribution to our flora in southwestern Arizona (Figure 1) is the tenth published in a
series in Phytoneuron and also posted open access on the website of the University of Arizona
Herbarium (ARIZ). Three eudicot families are included in this contribution: Berberidaceae (1 genus
with 2 species, and at least 1 species represented by fossils); Bignoniaceae (1 genus with 1 species),
and Boraginaceae sensu lato (14 genera with 35 species, including 12 species represented by fossils).
(Table 1). There are no non-native taxa in the flora area among the 3 families.
Figure 1. Flora area in southwestern Arizona. TA = Tinajas Altas. CP = Cabeza Prieta NWR. OP = Organ
Pipe Cactus NM. Green shading indicates approximate boundary of federally designated wilderness.
Family designations follow APG III (Angiosperm Phytogeny Group 2009; also see Stevens
2001), Fossil specimens are indicated with a dagger symbol (t) and the one fossil taxon no longer
present in the flora area is marked with two dagger symbols (ft). In the following species accounts,
the accepted scientific names are in bold and selected synonyms are italicized within brackets [--].
Common names, when known or worthwhile, are in English, Spanish, and the Hia C-ed O'odham
dialect, respectively (Spain h-language name ak uilia^d) The qualifications about and
approximately are generally omitted, with the obvious undei Maudlin* thai such quantitative values
are. to varying degrees, seldom exact. The identification keys are for the modern flora.
All photos and scans are by Sue Rutman unless otherwise stated. Photos of borage floral
parts and nutlets are by Michael G. Simpson and students, San Diego State University
(www.sci.sdsu.edu/plants/boraginaceae). All specimens cited are at the University of Arizona
Herbarium (ARIZ) unless otherwise indicated by the abbreviations for herbaria at Cabeza Prieta
National Wildlife Refuge (CAB), Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (ORPI), and the
standardized abbreviations for herbaria (Index Herbariorum, Thiers 2013). We have seen specimens
or images of all specimen cited. When no collection number is provided, the specimen is identified
by the date of collection. Generally only the first collector's name is given. Area designations are:
OP = Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, CP = Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, TA =
Tinajas Altas Region (Figure 1). Additional explanation of the format for this flora series is provided
in part 3 (Felger et al. 2013b). Descriptions and keys pertain to taxa and populations as they occur in
the flora area.
Table 1. Local distributions and growth forms of Berberidaceae, Bignoniaceae, and Boraginaceae for the flora
in southwestern Arizona, "f = Modem taxa also represented by a fossil speeimen(s), "ft = fossil taxon no longer
present in the flora area (not counted in the totals) OP = Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, CP = Cabeza
Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, TA= Trnajas Altas Region. SU = Summer/warm season ephemerals, WI =
cool- seas on/winter- spring ephemerals, AP = facultative annuals or perennials, and PR = perennials.
Region
Growth Form
Taxon
Organ
Pipe
Cabeza
Prieta
Tinajas
Altas
Ephemerals
Facultative
Summer
Winter
annual or
pinmii.il
Perennial
BERBERIDACEAE
\Berberis haematocarpa
OP
PR
Berberis harrisoniana
OP
PR
\Berberis sp.
(OP)
(PR)
BIGNONIACEAE
Chilopsis linearis
OP
— CP —
PR
BORAGINAC E AE
fAmsinclcia intermedia
OP
— 7^> —
]"Amsinckia tessellata
_OP —
¥X
— St
'■• * - ■
OP
— CP —
TA
— WI —
■ * ' .'■
— CP —
— WI —
: - * ^ - -
OP
— CP —
TA
— WI —
: - ' ^ .■ ; ■■■
OP
— CP —
— —
WI
: : - I." .'' ' ■ '
(TA)
(WI)
: . ... ... . ^
CP
WI
Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia
OP
CP
WI
: . \ r \: - ■ .'■ ^ .'
OP
CP
TA
WI
Harpagonella palmeri
OP
WI
Heliotropium curassavicum
OP
CP
PR
Johnstonella angustifolia
OP
CP
TA
WI
Johnstonella holoptera
CP
AP
^Johnstonella racemosa
CP
TA
AP
fLappula occidentalis
OP
CP
WI
CP
TA
WI
Noma hispidum
OP
CP
TA
WI
tPectocarya heterocarpa
OP
CP
TA
WI
'-:
OP
CP
WI
Pectocarya recurvata
OP
CP
WI
Phacelia qffinis
OP
WI
: - . . ... ■
CP
Phacelia coerulea
OP
WI
CP
TA
WI
: ^ . .
OP
CP
WI
Phacelia neglecta
OP
CP
TA
WI
.' ^ ■ . ;
OP
CP
TA
WI
Phacelia ramosissima
OP
PR
: • ... .... .- .. .-. ..■
OP
WI
Pholistoma auritum
OP
CP
WI
■: ... i ..■
OP
WI
Plagiobothrysjonesii
OP
WI
OP
CP
PR
Tiquilia palmeri
CP
TA
PR
Totals for Boraginaceae:
27
28
16
0
28
2
4
BERBERID AC EAE - Barberry Family
Worldwide, mostly north temperate; 15 genera with 650 species.
Berberis - Barberry
The two species in the flora area are woody shrubs with rigid branches and bright yellow
inner bark and wood. Mostly evergreen; leaves with prominent petioles, odd pinnate or 3-foliolate,
the leaflets firm with large, spine-tipped teeth. Inflorescences (those in the flora area) of small, few-
flowered racemes, the flowers bright yellow to yellow- orange, small, and 3-merous with 9 sepals in 3
whorls (the 3 outer ones also known as bracteoles) and 6 petals in 2 whorls, the petals nectiferous.
Stamens 6, tactile (closing inward when touched), the anthers opening by 2 apical valves. Fruits of
few-seeded berries, juicy and edible.
Shrubs of the two species occur at higher elevations in the Ajo Mountains, and in some parts
of Alamo Canyon they grow next to each other.
This genus is nearly worldwide with 500 species, with very few in deserts.
1. Leaflets mostly 5 or 7, conspicuously glaucous; berries reddish at maturity.
Berberis haematocarpa
1. Leaflets 3, not glaucous; berries blue-black at maturity Berberis harrisoniana
Berberis haematocarpa Wooton
[Mahonia haematocarpa (Wooton) Fedde]
Red barberry. Figure 2.
Shrubs 1-2.5 m tall; bark rough and fissured. Leaves mostly evergreen, 4-10+ cm long, the
leaflets (3) 5 or 7 (9), bluish glaucous, the terminal leaflet longest and often stalked. Sepals yellow,
the petals yellow-orange. Berries 6-8 mm in diameter, reddish purple. Flowering winter and early
spring, the fruits ripe in April.
Common at higher elevations in the Ajo Mountains, and present in these mountains for more
than 13,500 years. The nearest population is isolated on Sierra Pinacate above 800 m.
Arizona to western Texas, southeastern California, southern Nevada, Colorado, and northern
Sonora and Chihuahua; often in oak woodland and chaparral.
OP: Alamo Canyon: 18 Dec 1939, Harbison 26268 (SD); 9 Mar 1946, Gooddng A- 13-46; upper
reaches of canyon, sepals light yellow-green, petals orange, 30 Mar 1988, Baker 7600 (ASIA Arch Canyon,
3500 ft, 28 Mar 1965, Niks 536 tMontezuma's Head, leaflets, seeds, 13,500 ybp.
Berberis harrisoniana Kearney & Peebles
Kofa Mountain barberry. Figure 3.
Shrubs to 3 m tall. Leaves mostly evergreen, 4-11.5 cm long, the leaflets 3, sessile, all alike
or the terminal one largest, green to yellow-green, not glaucous; leaflets including the margins and
spines are thicker than those of B. haematocarpa. Flowers apparently monochromatic, yellow to
apparently darker (yellow- orange) with age. Berries 5-6 mm in diameter, bluish black. Flowering
January and February (March), the fruiting March and April (May).
Ajo Mountains; canyons and cliff bases at higher elevations. It has been in the Ajo
Mountains for at least 9600 years.
Felger et al.: Southwestern Arizona Flora, Berberidaceae, Bignoniaceae, and Boraginaceae 5
Documented otherwise from only three other isolated desert ranges: the Sand Tank
Mountains in Maricopa County, the Kofa Mountains in Yuma County, and southeastern California in
the Whipple Mountains. "Typical habitat is talus slopes and among bases of sheer cliffs, and canyons
between 760 and 1100 m. These microsites are generally shady with northern exposure and more
mesic than the surrounding desert. ... [It] is a relict species related to B. trifoliolata Moricand from
southeastern .Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas" (.'Anderson & De Groot 2004: 395; also see Arizona
Rare Plant Committee 2001).
OP: Pitahaya Canyon, 3400 % Nichol 23 Feb 1939. Above Pitahaya Canyon, mesic area above base
of W face of Montezuma's Head, 3400 ft, 16 Jan 1976, Phillips 76-2. Arch Canyon: S of arch, 3400 ft, deep
shaded canyon, wide crack in N lacing cliff, 18 Feb 1978, Fay 738', Shrub to 3 m, mostly shaded by east-lacing
steep slopes, 950-1000 m, 12 May 1988, Baker 7611 (ASU, ORPI). Trail from Bull Pasture to Crestline, above
The Cones, 32°00.84'N, 112°41.06'W (NAD 27), 4025 ft, 9 Apr 2005, Felger (observation). tAlamo Canyon,
leaf fragments, seeds, 9570 ybp (very common).
2. Berberis haematocarpa. Middle fork of Alamo Canyon, 24 Mar 2008.
Figure 3. Berberis harrisomana. Estes Canyon, trail to Bull Pasture: (A & B) 30 Jan 2014: (C) note the two
shrubs at base of cliff, 10 Apr 2005.
■f Berberis sp.
Ice Age midden samples from the Ajo Mountains, not identifiable to species, are probably
one or both of the present-day species. Some barberries occur today near all of the midden sites.
OP: t Alamo Canyon, leaflet fragments, seeds, 8130 to 29,110 ybp (4 samples). Montezuma's Head,
leaflet fragments, seeds, 17,830 to 21,840 ybp (3 samples).
BIGNONIACEAE - Bignonia Family
This family of about 120 genera and more than 700 species is worldwide, mostly in the
tropics and subtropics with relatively few in deserts. Chilopsis has a single species.
Chilopsis linearis (Cavanilles) Sweet subsp. arcuata (Fosberg) Henrickson
Desert willow; mimbre. Figure 4.
extrafloral nectaries (Elias 1983; Henrickson 1985). These glands, however, do not break down at the
nodes, where they likewise seem to function as extrafloral nectaries (Henrickson 1985). (Desert
willow extrafloral nectaries seem to function largely at night, attracting mutualistic ants as well as
ant-parasitoid wasps; Carrey et al. 2012). Leaves slender and often 6-20 cm long, drooping, and
winter deciduous. Corollas 3-5 cm long, sweet scented, whitish to pale pink, streaked and mottled
with purple and yellow nectar guide lines. Flowering April to August but especially in spring. Fruits
of slender capsules 13-25 cm long and 0.5 cm wide, filled with flat, papery seeds with tufts of white
hairs at each end.
Large washes in the northeastern part of Cabeza Prieta and the northern part of Organ Pipe,
e.g., Kuakatch Wash to Growler Wash. In Kuakatch Wash it grows with blue palo verde, white-thorn
acacia, desert hackberry, ironwood, and velvet mesquite in the sparse gallery of trees and shrubs
lining the wash. In November 2001 the new growth on many of these desert willows was deformed
with a "witches '-broom" apparently caused by mites.
This subspecies occurs in northern Sonora and Baja California to southeastern California,
southwestern Utah, Arizona, and western New Mexico. Subspecies linearis occurs farther east in
New Mexico, western Texas, and north-central Mexico southward to San Luis Potosi, and the
southeasternmost population in Mexico is described as var. tomenticaulis (Henrickson 1985). This
variety has dark rose-pink or purplish flowers, and is favored by the horticultural trade and widely
planted in the Southwest including at Ajo; hybridization with native desert willow populations is a
potential concern. "Fruitless" and lower-fruiting and other horticultural selections have been patented
(e.g., Mountain States Nursery 20 14). Desert willows can be clonally propagated by cuttings.
The flowers and slender fruits were eaten as a minor food by the Cahuillas (Bean & Saubel
1972). The tough, somewhat woody fruits, however, hardly seem edible. The Cahuillas and others
used the strong and flexible wood and branches for bows, house construction, and other practical
purposes including the bark or smaller branches for weaving material, nets, and in basketry (Bean &
Saubel 1972; Moerman 1998).
OP: Along washes S of Walls Well, 31 Oct 1943, Clark 11157 (ORPI). Growler Wash near Bates
Well Road, 8 Oct 2006, Rutman 2006-1008-13.
CP: Daniels Arroyo at Charlie Bell Road, 1 2 .Tun 1 992, common along margin of wash, Felger 92-547.
Growler Wash at Organ Pipe boundary, on both sides of the boundary, 12 Jun 1992, Felger (observation).
BORAGINACEAE - Borage Family
Annual (ephemeral) or perennial herbs (those in the flora area); many with rather harsh
calcified or siiicified (glassy) hairs, others with soft hairs, or glabrous. Leaves mostly alternate, tiie
lower leaves sometimes opposite; first leaves of many species form a basal rosette; stipules none.
Inflorescences mostly of circinate scorpioid cymes — coiled to one side distally, straightening as it
grows, the flowers on one side; or flowers in small cymose clusters or axillary 7 . Flowers radial (those
in the flora area), 4- or 5-merous; calyces and corollas 4- or 5-lobed; stamens epipetalous; ovary 4-
lobed in Boraginaceae sensu stricto, not lobed in Hydrophyllaceae. Many temperate and aridland
borages (including those in the flora area) have dry fruits that split into 4 or fewer 1-seeded nutlets;
those with fewer than 4 nutlets arrive at that condition by abortion of the developing fruit segments or
parts. Others have multiple-seeded capsules. (Some borages in other regions have fleshy fruits.)
Some borages are quite distinctive, while among others reliable identification often requires looking
at small but unique nutlets. All borages, sensu stricto, should be considered poisonous due to the
widespread occurrence of hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Nearly worldwide, ±120 genera,
±2300 species.
We follow APG III (Angiosperm Phylogeny Group 2009). wherein Boraginaceae includes
Hydrophyllaceae. Subsequent findings (e.g., Gottschling et al. 2014, Weigand et al. 2013; also see
Stevens 2001) would place the genera in southwestern Arizona as follows:
Boraginaceae: Amsinckia, Cryptantha, Eremocarya, Harpagonella, Johnstonella, Lappula,
Pectocarya, Plagiobothrys
Ehretiaceae: Tiquilia
I kli<-li<-|
Locally the most common cryptantha on dunes and sand flats of the Pinta Sands, often
growing with Eremocarya micrantha and Johnstonella angustifolia. Common in sand soils of
northwestern Sonora, and in Arizona known only from the Pinta Sands and Mohawk Dunes. Also
localized in sand soils in NE Baja California and in SE California. It was not confirmed for Arizona
until 1993 (Felger et al. 1993).
Cryptantha ganderi is a dune and sand endemic perhaps related to C. barbigera. Hasenstab-
Lehman and Simpson (2012) show that it is closely related to C. intermedia, which shows similarities
to C. barbigera. The vegetative plants might be confused with those of C. barbigera; C. ganderi
nutlets are similar in shape to those of C. barbigera but larger, smooth and slightly more slender, the
ventral groove narrower and straight (rather than crooked), and the sinus at the base of the groove
smaller. Also C. ganderi usually has only 1 nutlet whereas C. barbigera has 1 to 4.
CP: Dunes S of E side of Pmacate lava flow-Camino del Diablo junction, 21 Mar 1992, Harlan 90
(CAB). Pinta Sands, 1 1 Apr 1 993, Felger 93-388.
Cryptantha maritima (Greene) Greene var. maritima
[C. maritima var. pilosa I.M. Johnston]
White-haired cryptantha. Figures 8C & 11.
Plants highly variable in size, often with an erect main axis and branching mostly above the
middle. Stems dark brown to red-brown, foliage often dark green, the dead, dark brown leaves
persisting on stems. Inflorescence branches short, reaching 2 (3.5) cm, scorpioid cymes only slightly
coiled at the tips, appearing racemose. Corollas 0.5-1.5 mm wide. Fruiting calyx slender, with
relatively large glassy hairs, and much longer than the enclosed nutlet. Nutlets 1.2-1.5 mm long,
smooth, shiny, dark red-brown, slender, 1 pel' fruit. .As with C. barbigera, the plants are sometimes
deformed, apparently due to mite infestations.
Common throughout the flora area in many habitats; washes and sand flats to rocky slopes
often to their peaks. This species has been in the flora area for more than 11,000 years.
Western and southern Arizona, southern Nevada, southern California, both Baja California
states, and Sonora south to the Guaymas region, and disjunct in South America.
Variety pilosa does not seem worthy of recognition; it often occurs freely intermixed and
intergrades with var. maritima (Felger 2000; Simpson & Hasenstab 2009). Variety maritima has 2
ovules and 1 or 2 nutlets, although all specimens seen in the flora area and adjacent northwestern
Sonora have 1 nutlet; plants in California often have 2 nutlets, one smooth and one tuberculate. The
distinctive C. maritima var. cedrosensis (Greene) I.M Johnston on Isla Cedros off the coast of Baja
1 '.llll.'l III. I -1 .'Mlk^ jikI I -1 lllllkh
OP: Qmtobaqmto, 1 8 Mar 1945, Gould 3005. Sierra de Santa Rosa, 11 Feb 1978, Bowers 1032. SE
of Dripping Springs, 29 Jan 1986, Phillips 86-6 (ORPI). Aguajita Wash, 6 Apr 1988, Felger 88-269. fPuerto
Blanco Mts, calyces, nutlets, 9070 & 9720 ybp. fMontezuma's Head: fruits with calyces and nutlets (1 per
fruit, smooth, 1.8 mm long), 20,490 ybp; fruits with calyces, nutlets (1 per fruit, smooth), 21,840 ybp.
CP: Tule Tank, Goodding 6 Mar 1940 (ASU). 8 mi E of Papago Well, Agua Dolce Mts. 14 Apr 1941 ,
Benson 10758. Charlie Bell Pass, 3 Apr 1992, Whipple 3916 (CAB)." Cabeza Prieta Peak, summit, 24 Mar
1995, Yeatts 3660 (CAB).
TA: Tinajas Altas, 23 Mar 1935, Kearney 10905. tButler Mts, calyx, nutlets, 740 to 10,360 ybp (3
samples). tTinajas Altas, fruits, nutlets, 4010 to 1 1,040 ybp (8 samples).
Figure 11. Cryptantha maritimavar. maritima. (A) Desert Hot Springs, Riverside Co., CA, photo by Max
Licher (SEINet). (B-D) Nutlet, dorsal, ventral, and lateral views, bar = 1 mm; E shore of San Ignacio Lagoon,
Baja California Sur, 26 Mar 1 974, Moran211 76 (SD 86945); by Michael G. Simpson and students,
http://wviav.sci. sdsu.edu''plants/cryptantha/taxa/C_maritima/C_maritima_v_m/
Cryptantha pterocarya (Torrey) Greene var. cycloptera (Greene) J.F. Macbride
Wing-nut cryptantha, fringe-nut cryptantha. Figures 8D & 12.
Plants erect and unbranched, or with mostly few, ascending branches. Inflorescences
appearing racemose, only slightly coiled distally on larger plants. Calyx appearing angled due to
thickened midribs of calyx lobes, these broadly ovate, obtuse, and bright green, becoming tan, and
enlarging to 4.5-6 mm long as the fruit matures. Corollas 1-1.5 mm wide. Nutlets homomorphic,
2.5-3 mm long, 4 per fruit, intricately sculptured, the body studded with blunt tubercles and edged by
a broad, light-colored wing edged with blunt, finger-like projections, the wings often bent as they
grow crammed in the calyx, the wings and body the color of milk chocolate speckled with darker
blotches. (In occasional water-stressed plants the wing-margin of the odd nutlet is much narrowed
but not wingless.) This Cryptantha is readily recognized by the relatively large fruits and broad
sepals, green when fresh and only moderately hairy, and relatively large nutlets with broad,
ornamented wings.
Common throughout the flora area in many habitats including desert flats, washes, canyons,
bajadas, and rocky slopes often to their summits. Its history in the flora extends to at least 22,000
Variety cycloptera is widespread in Sonora, both Baja California states to Washington and
Utah, and eastward to New Mexico and western Texas, Two other varieties in western United States
and northwestern Mexico.
Figure 12. Cryptanthapterocaryavar. cydoptera. Alamo Wash: (A) 5 Mar 2014; (B) 11 Mar 2014. (C) Sierra
Los Tan ques near Mex Hwy 3. Sonora. 19 Mar 2010. (D) Dorsal and ventral view of nutlet. bar = ! mrn: Hills
near Tucson.. Pringle 15 Apr 1884 (SD23396). by Michael G. Simpson and students, http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/
plants/cryptantha/taxa/C _ptero carya/var_cycl optera/C _pter o carya_v cy cl optera.html
OP: Alarno Canyon. 23 Mar 1 94 1 . McDougall 19. Victoria Pass. 3 Apr 1941. McDougall 54. 2 rni
WSW of Bates Well. 30 Mar 1978.. Bowers 1124. Twin Peak. 4 Mar 1934. Van Devender 84-49. Quitobaquito.
29 Mar ',933. Fklger 88-122. [Alamo Canyon, nutlets. 3590 & 9570 ybp. [Montezuma' s Head: Nutlets.
13.500 ybp; Fruits with calyces and nutlets (nutlets 3, the body 1.6 mm long, gray with tubercles, and ve:y
narrow band-like margin, not really winged but the margin is somewhat irregular and not smooth -edged, it
appeal's to be C. pSsrocarya that has not formed a broad wing; the body color and size, shape, and tubercles
match in everyway except the narrow margin — although the nutlet margins can sometimes be nairow or absent
in modem specimens), 20.490 ybp; Fruits with calyces, nutlets 4, nearly all alike, about same size, dull gray
with whitish tubercles, and nairow slightly scalloped margins, the wings appear not fully formed, 21,340 ybp.
jPuerto Blanco Mts. nutlets. 2340 & 9070 ybp.
CP: Tule Tank, 23 Mar 1935, Kearney 10893. Charlie Bell Pass, 3 Apr 1992, Whipple 3918.
Bassansc Tank, 26 Feb 1993, Felger 93-123. Childs Mt, 2240 ft, 9 Apr 1993. Felger 93-274 (CAB). Cabeza
PnetaPeak, summit, 24 Mar 1995, Yeatts 3660.1 (CAB).
TA: Tinajas Altas, 1 700 to 1 900 ft, on cliffs, Van Devender 10 Mar 1980. t Butler Mts, nutlets, 10,360
ybp. -fTmajas Altas, nutlets, 1 1,040 ybp.
ttCryptantha utahensis (A Gray) Greene
Ephemerals, presently in the Mojave Desert and pinyon-juniper regions of Mohave County,
Arizona, above about 950 m, and east-central California to southwestern Utah.
TA: fTmajas Altas, calyx, nutlets, 1 1,040 ybp.
Eremocarya
Eremocarya has two species. Eremocarya lepida (A Gray) Greene (E. micrantha var. lepida
(A Gray) J.F. Macbride) occurs in southwestern California and northwestern Baja California
(Simpson etal. 2014).
Eremocarya micrantha (Torrey) Greene
[Cryptantha micrantha (Torrey) I.M. Johnston. Eritrichium micranthum Torrey]
Dwarf cryptantha. Figures 8E & 13.
Diminutive ephemerals with very slender steins, the roots and stems staining bright red-
purple when pressed. This is the smallest cryptantha sensu lato in the region. Plants 3-10 cm tall,
branched mostly above, stems very slender, the bark peeling on the lower stems of larger, older
plants; hairs small, mostly appressed. Leaves 3-8 mm long, relatively few and scattered, those of the
first 1 or 2 nodes opposite and not in a basal rosette. Inflorescence branches not strongly coiled,
reaching 5 (15) mm long. Flowers minute, each subtended by a leafy bract; corollas 0.8-1.5 mm
wide, white with a yellow center. Nutlets homomorphic or heteromorphic, 4 per fruit, 0.9 mm long,
slender, either all smooth or all rough (tuberculate), or with 1 rough and 3 smooth nutlets.
Sandy soils and dunes in the Pinta Sands area of Cabeza Prieta.
Oregon and California to Utah, Baja California, Aizona, and northwestern Sonora, and
eastward to western Texas.
CP: Pmacate Lava Fields, 20 Mar 1933, Shreve 6217. W side of Pinacate lava, 29 Mar 1985,
McLaughlin 2990. Pinta Sands, 1 Feb 1992, Felger 92-17.
Eucrypta
Delicate plants, aromatic and viscid-glandular. Leaves pinnatifid, opposite below, aiternate
and reduced above; petiole bases clasping the stem. Flowers axillary or more often on few-flowered
slender branches, the pedicels thread-like, elongating in fruit. Calyx divided about Vi to % of the way
to the base, the lobes enlarging slightly in fruit. Stamens not protruding from corolla. Style bifid near
apex. Seeds several to 16. The plants frequently grow under trees and shrubs and at the base of
l.'J s | Ills vuills IllJllvk- |U<- s|KCUs
1. Leaf lobes shallowly pinnatifid, the tips obtuse-angled rather than rounded; calyx glands not
stalked; calyx opening wide (like a dish) at maturity to expose the capsule, the calyx lobes broadly
spreading; seeds dimorphic Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia
1. Leaf lobes entire or sometimes few-toothed, the tips rounded; calyx with sessile and usually also
stalked glands; calyx lobes erect and enclosing the capsule (only tip of capsule visible); seeds all
alike Eucrypta micrantha
Figure 13. Eremocarya micrantha. (A) Red Rock State Park, near Sedona, Yavapai Co., 22 Apr 2001, photo
by Max Licher (SEINet). (B) Mohawk Dunes, 3 Mar 2014, photo by Sue Carnahan (SEINet). Nutlets, dorsal,
ventral, and lateral views, bar = 1 mm: (C-E) tuberculate (rough) nutlets, Pinyon Wash, Anza-Borrego State
Park, San Diego Co., CA, 12 Apr 1963, Morgan K83 (SDSU 05421); (F-H) smooth nutlets, Borrego Valley,
San Diego Co., CA, 25 Mar 1 933, Purer 4943 (SD 391 96); by Michael G. Simpson and students,
http: //www. sci .sdsu. edu/plants/eremocarya/taxa/E micrantha/
Eucrypta ch ly s a nthemi fo I ia (Bentham) Greene var. bipinnatifida (Torrey) Constance
Spotted hideseed. Figure 14.
Plants highly variable in size depending on soil moisture and shading. Stems 4-15 (25) cm
long. Leaves pinnatifid to partially bipinnatifid, mostly 1.5-7 >< 0.5-3 (4) cm, "fern-like" or finely
dissected. Calyx divided about 2 A of the way to the base, at maturity (4.5) 5.5-6.5 mm. across, rotate,
the lobes spreading to reveal the capsule; calyx pubescent but without stalked glandular hairs.
Corollas pale lavender. 'Capsules at maturity separating into 2 conic -hemispherical halves with stout
white hairs. Seeds dimorphic within the same capsule: several seeds chunky, blunt-ended, and
irregularly lumpy- wrinkled, dark brown with age, 1 mm long, and 2 seeds light brown, 1.2 mm long,
flattened and concave on one side, and sharp-edged and strongly convex (almost conic) on the other
side, essentially smooth on both sides (the convex side minutely reticulate)
Widespread and often common in canyons and on rocky slopes, especially north-facing, and
in washes, and less common on flats and in open areas. High elevations in Ajo Mountains to low
elevations across Organ Pipe and much of Cabeza Prieta, especially the eastern two-thirds. Eucrypta
chrysanihemifolia and E. micrantha often grow intermixed; E. chysanthemifolia seems to favor
slightly more mesic microhabitats and be the more common of the two at higher elevations.
Figure 14. Bucrypta chrysanthermjolia var . bipinnatifida. (A) Estes Wash, 23 Feb 2009. (B) Jesusita Trail, N
of Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara Co., CA, 11 Apr 2009, photo by Patrick Alexander (SELNet). (Q Alamo
Canyon near Alamo We!!, 1 1 Mar 2014. (D) Estes Canyon, 5 Mar 2005.
Variety bipinnatifida in deserts in Arizona, southern Californioa, Nevada, 3a|a California,
and to southern Sonora in thornserub. Replaced by var chrysanthemifolia on the Pacific coast of
California andBaja California.
OR Canyon Diablo, 21 Mai" 1935, Kearney 10327. Alamo Canyon, 14 Mar 194!, Benton 10661
Victoria Pars neat- Burnham's Mine, S Apr 1 94 1 , McDougdl 52. Quitobaquito, 29 Mar 19SS, Fe/ger 313-134.
Trail from The Cones to Mount Ajo, 4025 ft, 10 Apr 2005, Fe/ger 05-268.
CP: Camino dei Diablo, 7.6 mi E of Papago Well, 12 Mar 1983, Daniel 2656 (ASD). Heart Tank, 2?
Feb 1993, Feiger 93-158 (CAB)
Felger et: al.: Southwestern Arizona Flora, Berberidaceae, Bignoniaceae, and Boraginaceae 24
Eu crypt a micrantha (Torrey) A. Heller
Desert hideseed; pelnda. Figure 15.
Plants with stalked glandular hairs intermixed with non-glandular hairs. Stems often 5-23
(28) cm long, erect to ascending, sometimes spreading on larger plants or when shaded. Leaves
pinnatifid, 1.5-5 x 0.5-2.6 cm. Calyx usually divided about halfway or more to the base, beset with
stalked glandular hairs as well as non-glandular hairs; fruiting calyx 3-6 mm long, not spreading open
at maturity (revealing only the tip of the capsule). Corolla lobes white, pale violet, or lavender, the
throat yellow with yellow nectaries and often nectar-filled in the morning. Capsules splitting but the
2 carpels not falling free, the halves obovoid, with obtuse tips. Seeds up to 16 per capsule, all alike,
brownish black, 0.8-1 mm long, incurved and cylindrical, with sharply sculptured transverse ridges.
Figure 15. Eucrypta micrantha. Kuakatch Wash near Hwy 85: (A) 28 Jan 2013; (C) 13 Mar 2010. (B) Alamo
Canyon near the well i Feb 2014. (D)Estes Wash, 21 Mar 2010.
Widespread and common from the Ajo Mountains to low elevations across the flora area.
Southeastern California to Nevada, Utah, and Texas. Baja California, and northern Sonora.
OP: Valley back of Montezuma Head, 28 Mar 1941, McDougall 43. Qmtobaqmto, Nabhan 18 Feb
1983. ArmentaRoad 1.4 mi W of Ariz Hwy 85, 11 Mar 2003, Fetger 03-269.
CP: Eagle Tank (Srmmons 1966). Charlre Bell Pass, 3 Apr 1992, Whipple 3921. 2 mr NW of
Christmas Pass, Human 18 Feb 2002. Chrco Shum Well, 2 Feb 2003, Rutman 2003-40.
TA: Trnajas Altas. Van Devender 5 Mar 1983. Canyon below Raven Butte Tank. 29 Mar 201 0, Felger
10-229. Coyote Water, 21 Feb 2005, Felger 05-134.
Harpagonella
This genus has two taxa.
Harpagonella palmeri (A Gray) var. arizonica I.M. Johnston
Arizona grappling-hook Figure 16.
Small spring ephemerals resembling a Pectocarya. Inflorescences of scorpioid cymes, coiled
to one side distally in young plants but appearing racemose in older plants. Flowers small and white.
Pedicels ascending, recurved to coiled in fruit. Upper 2 calyx lobes partly fused, the lower 3 calyx
lobes smaller and separate from each other. Fruits tightly enclosed in a highly modified and strongly
accrescent bur-like calyx becoming indurate with spinescent sepal lobes 3-4.5 mm long with hooked
spines and enveloping the nutlets. Nutlets 2, spreading, and heteromorphic, the margins entire.
Common in open, rocky areas in Bull Pasture in the Ajo Mountains and otherwise known in
the flora area from the Santa Rosa Mountains.
Variety arizonica occurs in southwestern Arizona and northern Sonora, but not in the drier,
lower-elevation regions. In a forthcoming publication, Matt Guilliams and Bruce Baldwin treat
variety arizonica as a distinct species. Variety palmeri occurs in southwestern California and Baja
California including Isla Guadalupe. The nutlets are similar in both taxa although those of var.
arizonica are larger and the whole fruit and calyx appendages of var. arizonica are larger than those
of var. palmeri.
OP: Near Draz Peak, 1070 m, Dakan 11 Feb 1973 (ORPI). Bull Pasture, 10 Apr 2005, Felger 05-218.
Heliotropium
A diverse, worldwide genus of about 250 species.
Heliotropium curassavicum Linnaeus var. oculatum (A.A. Heller) I.M. Johnston ex Tides trom
Alkali heliotrope; hierba del sap o; babad 'i:vaki, kakaicu 'i:vaki. Figure 17.
Perennial herbs often with somewhat thickened rootstocks, and often flowering in the first
season; glabrous, semi-succulent to succulent, and bluish glaucous. Above ground parts frost-
sensitive. Leaves mostly 2.5-7.5 cm long. Inflorescences terminal, of 2-several spike-like scorpioid
cymes, coiled to one side distally. Corollas 4-7 mm wide, white with a yellow center that changes to
purple with age. Stigma sessile. Fruits of 4 ovoid nutlets. Growing and flowering with warm to hot
weather any time of year.
At various waterholes, occasionally along washes or canyons with temporary water, and
moist, alkaline soils at Aguajita, Quitobaquito, and Williams Springs. Mule deer at Dripping Spring
in Organ Pipe are known to dig down to eat the roots during the pre-summer dry season.
California east across the Southwest to Texas and northern Mexico; often in alkaline or saline
soils. The Heliotropium curassavicum complex occurs in warm regions of the Western Hemisphere
and is adventive in the Old World.
Figure 16. Harpagonella palmeri. (A & B) Var. arizonica, Bull Pasture, 7 Mar 2014. Nutlet and fruit bar = 1
mm: (C) var. palmeri, nutlet, Monte Vista Ranch S of Ramona, San Diego Co., CA, 18 May 2006, Rahman
1281 7 (SD 1 77S61 ); (D) var. arizonica, face view of calyx enclosing the fruit, NE Sierra El Humo, Sonora, 7
May 2005, VanDevender 2005-842 (ARIZ 377143); by Michael G. Simpson and students, http://www.sci.
sdsu.edu/plants/pectocarya/taxa/H_palmeri/
Alkali heliotrope was used by the Hia C-ed O'odham as a remedy for coughs and sore throat
(Felger et al. 1992): by the Gila River Pimas to treat sore eyes, sores, and wounds (Russell 1908; Rea
1997); and by Seris to treat colds and stomachaches (Felger &, Moser 1985).
OP: Quitobaquito, Nichol 28 Apr 1939. Rincon Spring, 13 Apr 3 941 , McDougatt 90. William Spring,
Van Devender 30 Aug 1978. Aguajita Spring, 6 Apr 1 988, Felger 88-276.
CP: Agua Dulce Spring, 1 3 Jun 1 992, Felger 92-577.
Felger etal.: Southwestern Arizona Flora, Berberidaceae, Bignoniaceae, and Boraginaceae 27
15 Feb 2009. (C) Las Condias, Puerto Penasco, Sonora, 14 Feb 2014.
Johnstondla
Ephemerals or facultative perennials (two species); germinating growing and flowering
during cooler seasons. Often with coarse, bulbous-based hairs.
Amphitropical in distribution: south western North America (11 species) and southern South
America (2 species) (/www. sci.sdsu.edu/plants/johnstonella/taxa. html).
Jolmstondla angustifolia (Torrey) Hasenstab &M.G. Simpson
[Cryptantha angustijblia (Torrey) Greene]
Narrow-leaf cryptantha, desert cryptantha. Figures 8F& 18.
Plants highly variable in size depending on soil moisture, several to 35 cm tall, the larger
plants often globose and bushy. Inflorescences coiled to one side distally. Calyx lobes relatively
slender, much longer man nutlets. Corollas often 2—3 mm wide. Nutlets heteromorphic (those in the
flora area, or rarely homomorphic, the 4 nutlets of the same size), 4 per fruit, all alike except the
nutlet toward the inflorescence axis almost always larger, the 4 nutlets more or less triangular, the
surfaces light brown, tuberculate (evenly dotted with tiny whitish bumps), the margins round-angled
(rarely sharp-edged but not prominently knife-edged), the larger nutlet 1-1.4 mm long, the others
(0.65) 0.8 (0.9) mm long.
One of the most widespread and abundant winter-spring ephemerals in the region. Many
habitats including dimes, washes, creosotebush plains, bajadas, and rocky slopes; often especially
large and robust on the Pinta Sands. It has been in the flora area for more than 13,500 years.
Dry regions of southwestern United States and Mexico in Baja California and Sonora south to
the vicinity of Guaymas This is one of those itchy plants that get in your socks and sleeping bag.
Figure 18. Johnstonella angustifolia. (A) Alamo Wash, 24 Mar 2008. (B) Dorsal view of heteromorphic
nutlets, bar = 1 mm; near Cottonwood Springs Campground, Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside Co., CA, 1
Apr 2008, Hasenstab 52 (SDSU 18687); by Michael G. Simpson and students,
Johnstonella racemosa (S. Watson ex A. Gray) Brand
[Cryptantha racemosa (S. Watson ex A. Gray) Greene, Eritrichium racemosum S. Watson ex A.
Gray]
Bushy cryptantha. Figures 8H & 20.
Ephemerals to perennial herbs or subshrubs (probably short-lived) to 0.5+ m tall, often
woody at the base with several upright main axes, shredding bark, and short branches above; also
flowering in the first season but these mostly do not survive the summer drought. Inflorescence
branches not strongly coiled distally. Corollas 3-3.5 mm wide. Nutlets heteromorphic, 4 per fruit,
light brown with narrow, cord-like margins, of similar shape and ornamentation but the larger nutlet 2
mm long, the others 1 .1-1 .4 mm long.
Granitic slopes of the Tinajas Altas Mountains, one record in Cabeza Prieta, and in adjacent
areas in Sonora. It has been in the flora area for more than 1 1 ,000 years.
This desert species occurs in the Mojave Desert in California and Nevada, and southward in
the Sonoran Desert to northern Baja California and northwestern Sonora. It is distinguished from the
related C. holoptera by having non-coiled inflorescence branches and markedly heteromorphic nutlets
with narrow, cord-like margins.
CP: Buckhorn Tank, ca. 35 mi S of Mohawk, 14 Jul 1955, Ahles 9089 (ASC).
TA: Vicinity of Tinajas Altas, 1700 to 1900 ft, on cliffs, Van Devender 5 Mar 1983. fButler Mts,
calyx, nutlets, 10,360 ybp. tTinajas Altas, calyces, nutlets, S970 to 1 1,040 ybp (5 samples).
4 litiJiVk
Figure 20. Johnstonella racemosa. (A & B) S of Cottonwood Springs, Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside
Co., CA, Hasenstab 68 (SDSU 18710). Fruit, calyx, and nutlets, bar = 1 mm: (C) fruit with heteromorphic
nutlets, Hasenstab 68., (D-F) nutlet, left to right, dorsal, ventral, and lateral views, W slope of Providence Mts,
San Bernardino Co.. CA, 28 May 1941, Wolf 10837 (SD 42216); (G) calyx and nutlets, Darwin Falls, Inyo Co.,
CA, 15 May 1931, Hoffman 315 (SD 107309); by Michael G. Simpson and students,
Lappula
This genus includes more than 60 species in Eurasia and Susan Rolfsmeier's (2013)
dissertation establishes 12 native and various non-native taxa in North America. North American
taxa include two varieties of L. occidentalis: var. occidentalis with homomorphic nutlets and var.
striata with heteromorphic nutlets. The regional synonymized representative of var. striata is the
Rydberg species L. leucotricha (type from Pima County), which Ronald B. Kelley (pers. comm. to R.
Felger, 2014) found in numerous locations collecting in southern Arizona in spring 2013, usually in
wash habitats. He also collected the Tucson regional volcanic endemic L. coronata Greene, which is
morphologically quite distinctive from var. stricta and recognized by Rolfsmeier (2013) as a distinct
species. Rolfsmeier also shows mat L. redowskii (Hornemann) Greene is restricted to Eurasia.
Lappula occidentalis (S. Watson) Greene var. stricta (S. Watson) S.J. Rolfsmeier
|.' ■■' : :.. Kullvi v|
Flat-spine sticks eed. Figure 21.
Spring ephemerals with coarse hairs; taprooted; 1 to several or more erect, slender, major
stems, branching mostly above the middle. Flowering branches raceme-like at maturity. Flowers
small, pale blue or white. Fruits bur-like; nutlets 4 per fruit, heteromorphic, the body 2-2.3 mm long,
ovate-triangular, the odd nutlet with barb-tipped spines separated at base, the other three nutlets with
winged margins formed of stout, barb-tipped spines fused at base.
Figure 21. Lappula occidentalis var. stricta. (A) Alamo Well, 1 1 Mar 201 4. (B & D) Victoria Mine, 1 Apt
2010. (C) Alamo Canyon, 11 Mar 2014.
Locally in sandy-gravelly and silty soils of washes and bajada plains, often beneath mesquites
and in disturbed habitats. This or a similar Lappula has been in the Ajo Mountains for 22,000 years.
This species occurs from Sonora and Arizona eastward to Oklahoma and north to Montana,
North Dakota, and British Columbia, although Rolfsmeier (2013: 151) states that, "L. occidentalis
was . . . problematic to circumscribe." Variety striata occurs in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon,
Utah, and the Sonoran Desert in Mexico. As a genus in this floristic area, Lappula most likely
represents a Pleistocene relict. Lappula occidentalis var. stricta tends to exist in ephemerally moist
habitats such as shaded washes, riparian zones, roadsides, and ruderal areas, but it appears to be a
native element of the flora (Ronald B. Kelley, pers. comm. to R. Felger, 2014).
OP: Tres Alamos Canyon, Nichol 24 Feb 1939 (ORPI). Qmtobaqmto, 17 Apr 1952, Parker 7990.
Growler Wash, at Bates Well Road, 30 Mar 1978, Bowers 1152 (ORPI). 0.6 mi E of Lukeville, broad sandy
wash, 20 Feb 1988, Felger 88-06. fMontezuma's Head, nutlets, 13,500 to 21,840 ybp (4 samples).
CP: Near Sheep Tanks, 28 Mar 1935, Kearney 11.029. Cameron Wash, Johnson 26 Mar I960. San
Cristobal Wash, road from Bates Well to Papago Well, 31 Jan 1992, Felger 92-5. Charlie Bell Road near east
Refuge boundary, 25 Feb 1993, Felger 93-57.
Nam a - Purple mat
Cool-season ephemerals, first flowering as rosette plants, with slender stems. Leaves
alternate and entire (those in the flora areas). Flowers solitary or in short cymose clusters. Calyx
divided nearly or entirely to the base. Corollas readily deciduous, the lobes rounded and usually
spreading. Stamens not exserted. Capsules many seeded.
Southwestern United States to tropical America and Hawaii; 55 species.
1. Plants semi-prostrate, matted; longer stem hairs 0.4 mm long; corollas bright lavender-pink; seeds
dark brown, about as wide as long Nama demissum
1. Plants erect with ascending branches, with age sometimes spreading-prostrate but not matted;
longer stem hairs 0.8-1.2 mm long; corollas pale lavender to purple; seeds yellowish, about twice as
long as wide Nama hispidum
Nama demissum A. Gray var. demissum
Purple mat. Figure 22.
First flowering as rosette plants, often developing slender stems 2-10 cm long, prostrate to
prostrate-ascending at tips. Stem hairs (0,3) 0,4 (0.5) mm long, often not straight, and relatively soft.
Leaves 1.5^1 cm long, narrowly spatulate, gradually narrowed to a winged petiole, the upper leaves
smaller, sessile, and mostly in compact terminal clusters. Corollas bright lavender-pink (rarely
white), 10-12 mm long. Basal portion of filaments (the part fused to corolla tube) narrowly winged.
Styles 2, distinct to the base. Seeds chunky and ovoid, dark brown at maturity, 0.55-0.6 x 0.5 mm,
the surface lumpy with transverse grooves or pits.
Mostly along washes and gravelly soils of bajadas and plains, often in open, otherwise barren
areas such as desert pavement. Localized in portions of the western part of Cabeza Prieta and the
Tinajas Altas Range.
California to Baja California Sur, Utah, Arizona, and northwestern Sonora. The plants are
more compact, closer to the ground g^net^lh smallei t nd with brighter and darker-colored flowers
than the more common N. hispidum. Two other varieties of N. demissum occur in the Baja California
Peninsula and California.
CP: E side of Tule Mts, 22 Mar 1992, Harlan 112 (CAB). 1 km N of Tule Well, 11 Apr 1993, Felger
93-442.
TA: 1 km SE of mouth of Borrego Canyon, 18 Mar 1998, Felger 98-112.
Nama hispidum A Gray
[N. hispidum var. spathulatum (Torrey) C.L. Hitchcock. N. coulteri A Gray. A r . hispidum var.
■ . i \ 1 ii. i i . i I :i.nul|
Morada; bristly nama. Figure 23.
First flowering as rosette plants, often developing stems 5-30 cm long, erect to ascending or
spreading with age. Larger stem hairs (0.8) 1-1.2 mm long, bristly, and straight. Leaves 1.5-4.5 cm
long, narrowly spatulate, gradually narrowed to a winged petiole, the upper leaves smaller and sessile.
Corollas lavender, (10) 13-15 mm long. Styles 2, distinct to the base. Seeds 0.5-0.6 mm long,
ellipsoid-ovoid, about twice as long as wide, yellowish, the surface minutely reticulate.
Widespread and common across the flora area, especially washes, sandy flats, and bajadas.
Southeastern California to Baja California Sur, western Texas, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona to
northern mainland Mexico from Sonora and Sinaloa to Coahuila and Nuevo Leon. The varieties do
not seem to be well marked, although if recognized, those in southern Arizona are var. spathulatum
(Torrey) C.L. Hitchcock
OP: Alamo Canyon, Nichol 26 Mar 1939. Quitobaquito, 18 Feb 1978, Fay 744. Puerto Blanco Drive
(two-way section) 5.3 mi W of Hwy 85, 26 Feb 1978, Bowers 1073.
CP: 1 mi N of Cabeza Pneta Tanks (Simmons 1966). San Cristobal Wash, 20 Mar 1992, Harlan 7
(CAB). Finta Sands, 11 Apr 1993, Felger 93-431. 2 mi NW of Christmas Pass, Rutman 18 Feb 2002.
TA: Coyote Water, 25 Oct 2004, Felger 04-52. Surveyors Canyon, 29 Mar 2010, Felger 10-214.
Frontera Canyon, 18 Mar 1998, Felger (observation).
Pectocarya - Comb-bur
Small, cool-season ephemerals. Leaves linear to narrowly oblanceolate or narrowly elliptical,
often small, cotyledons and first pair opposite, appearing as a basal rosette, the others alternate
Inflorescences of scorpioid cymes, not tightly coiled distally or only moderately so (those in the flora
35
area), potentially appearing racemose in age. Flowers minute, opening at maturity (chasmogamous)
or sometimes not opening (cleistogamous); corollas white, sometimes with a yellow throat. Fruits
monomorphic or dimorphic (basal and cauline fruits dissimilar). Nutlets homomorphic or
heteromorphic (nutlets within a fruit dissimilar), usually 4, in 2 pairs spreading apart like miniature
gaping jaws, the margins with bristles and/or teeth. (Key and descriptions based in part on Guilliams
etal. 2013).
Western North America from southwestern Canada (British Columbia) to northwestern
Mexico (Baja California Sur and Sonora), and South America in Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina;
13 species, 14 taxa.
igure23. Nama hispidum. (A) By Lucretia Breazeale Hamilton. (B) Ajo, Pima Co., 17 Mar 2003. (C & D)
Hwy 85, 25 mi N of Ajo, 8 Mar 2008.
1. Cauline fruits with nutlets not all alike (nutlets heteromorphic) — the pairs dissimilar in size and the
margins also dissimilar, and each nutlet within a pair slightly different.
2. Pedicel of cauline fruits not fused to lower, inner nutlet; nutlets of basal fruits and cauiine fruits
similar (fruits monomorphic), the nutlets of cauline fruits all in one plane
Pectocarya anisocarpa
2. Pedicel of cauline fruits fused to lower, inner nutlet; the nutlets of basal fruits and cauline fruits
dissimilar (fruits dimorphic), the nutlets of cauline fruits in two planes
Pectocarya heterocarpa
1. Cauline fruits with nutlets all alike (or essentially so, nutlets homomorphic).
3. Nutlets straight or only slightly recurved, the nutlet margin with a conspicuous wing of tissue,
the wing toothed, wing and teeth lighter colored (often yellowish) than body of nutlets
Pectocarya platycarpa
3. Nutlets conspicuously recurved, the nutlet margin without wing of tissue or wing very narrow
and about the same color as the body Pectocarya recurvata
Pectocarya anisocarpa Veno
Unequal comb-bur
Plants prostrate to decumbent, branched from base. Flowers opening at maturity
(chasmogamous); corollas (limb width) 0.5-1 (1.5) mm wide and 0.5-2.3 mm long. Fruits within a
plant similar (monomorphic). Nutlets within a fruit dissimilar (heteromorphic). Nutlets away from
inflorescence axis winged, wing undulate to widely-toothed, with uncinate bristles. Nutlets toward
the inflorescence axis smaller and with wing reduced or absent. All nutlets with a pectinate fringe of
uncinate bristles distally.
This species, described in Guilliams et al. (2013), is likely to be in the northern part of the
flora area. It occurs along the 1-8 highway west of Gila Bend.
Central California to southwestern Utah, southward through central and southern Arizona,
and rare in Baja California.
Pectocarya heterocarpa (I.M. Johnston) I.M. Johnston
Mixed-nut comb-bur. Figure 24.
Plants prostrate to ascending, branched from base. Cauline and basal flowers dissimilar.
Cauline flowers open at maturity (chasmogamous) and fragrant. Corollas white with a yellow throat
1.5-2 mm wide, the stigma green. Fruits within a plant dissimilar (dimorphic). Nutlets within
cauline fruits dissimilar (heteromorphic), often moderately curved or slightly curled inward (not
outward), one pair larger, winged and with marginal teeth, the other pair not winged and lacking
marginal teeth, each nutlet within a pair slightly different. Lowermost flowers often cleistogamous.
Widespread on sandy soils, especially low, stabilized dunes and sand flats, washes and their
floodplains, bajadas, and sometimes hills and mountains. Its history in the flora area extends to
10,400 years.
Southern California to western Texas and Utah, and southward to Baja California and
northern Sonora.
OP: Road to Walls Well, 26 Mar 1941, McDougall 40. Near Dripping Springs, 16 Apr 1952, Parker
7936. Qmtobaqmto, 6 Apr 1988, Feiger 88-270. t Puerto Blanco Mts, nutlets, 990 ybp.
Feiger et al.: Southwestern Arizona Flora, Berberidaceae, Bignoniaceae, and Boraginaceae 3 7
Figure 24. Pectocarya heterocarpa. CD Trail near Engineer Canyon, Burro Mts, Grant Co., NM, 20 Apr 2010:
(A) mature plant; (B) nutlets, note two are broadly winged and two are wingless; (C) flower. Photos by Russell
Kleinman (gilatlora.com).
CP: Charlie Bell Pass, 3 Apr 1 992, Whipple 3953. Prnacate Lava Flow, sand hill, 1 Feb 1 992, Feiger
92-18. Camino del Diablo at San Cristobal Wash, 26 Feb ] 993, Feiger 93-109
TA: Tinajas Altas, Van Devender 5 Mar 1983. Coyote Water, 21 Feb 2005, Feiger 05-137. f Butler
Mts, nutlets, 10,360 ybp.
Pectocarya platycarpa (Munz & I.M. Johnston) Munz & I.M. Johnston
Broad-winged comb-bur. Figure 25.
Plants erect to widely ascending, and branched from base. Flowers open at maturity
( chasm ogamous); corollas 1.25-2 mm wide. Fruits within a plant similar (monornorphic). Nutlets
homomorphic or heteromorphic, straight or slightly recurved, the margins yellow and wdnged, the
wing wide with conspicuous teeth. When heteromorphic, those nutlets toward the inflorescence axis
smaller and with reduced ornamentation. Distinguished from other regional comb-burs by the
generally larger-sized plants, larger and wider nutlets, and fewer and larger teeth on the nutlet wing.
Widespread including washes, desert flats, bajadas, and rocky slopes. It w r as at Tinajas Altas
Northern Sonora, Baja California, Arizona, southeastern California, southern Nevada, and
southwestern Utah.
OP: Puerto Blanco Mts, Nichol 25 Feb 1939. Alamo Canyon, 14 Mar 1941, Benson 10664. Near
Dripping Springs, 16 Apr 1952, Parker 7935. Quitobaquito, 29 Mar 1988, Feiger 88-127. Aguajita Wash,
Beale 8 Apr 1988 (ORPI).
CP: Growler Mts above Charlie Beil Wash, 1700 ft, 3 Apr 1992, Whipple 3949. Cristobal Wash, 11
Apr 1 992 Harlan 149 (CAB'). Wash below Heart Tank. 27 Feb 1 993, Feiger 93-167 (CAB).
Feiger et al.: Southwestern Arizona Flora, Berberidaceae, Bignoniaceae, and Boraginaceae 3 8
Figure 25. Pectocarya platycarpa. (A) Kuakatch Wash near Hwy 85, 1 3 Feb 2005. Nutlets, bar = 1 mm: (B)
dorsal and (C) ventral view, 3 mi S of A jo on Hwy 85, 3 1 Mar 1962, Howe 3182 (SDSU 04020); by Michael G
Simpson and students,
TA: Tinajas Alias, Van De vender 5 Mar 1983. Coyote Water, 21 Feb 2005, Feiger 05-1 3? A. fTinajas
Altas, nutlets, 10,600 ybp.
iVcIocii \ ,i i mil \ .il.i I I i In, i i,
Arched comb-bur. Figure 26.
Plants erect to ascending, branched from base. Flowers open at maturity (chasmogamous):
corollas 0.75-2 mm wide. Fruits within a plant similar (monomorphic). Nutlets within a fruit similar
(homomorphic), relatively small, narrow, conspicuously recurved (arched or curled back), the
margins not winged or with a very narrow wing about the same color as the nutlet body, the teeth
distinct.
Widespread in Organ Pipe and the east side of Cabeza Prieta; washes, desert fiats, bajadas,
and rocky slopes.
Northern Sonora, Baja California, southeastern California, Arizona, southern Nevada, New f
Mexico, and southern Utah.
OP: Near Dripping Springs, 1 6 Apr 1 952, Parker 7936A. Canyon Diablo, 13 Feb 1978, Bowers 1060.
Quitobaquito, 29 Mar 1988, Feiger 88-126.
CP: S of Camino del Diablo on road to Agua Dulce Pass, 19 Mar 1987, Elias 10198. Charlie Bell
Road at Daniels Arroyo, 1 0 Apr 1 993, Feiger 93-362. Chi ids Mt, 2240 ft, 25 Feb 1 993, Feiger 93-32A.
Figure 26. Pectocarya recurvata. (A) Alamo Wash, 5 Mar 2014. (B) Nutlets, Van Winkle Spring, Mohave
National Preserve, San Bernardino Co., CA, 19 Mar 2004, photo by Jim Andre (CalPhotos). (C) Nutlets, bar =
1 mm, Anza-Borrego State Park, San Diego Co., CA, 28 Mar 1998, Young 12 (SDSU 12802), by Michael G
Simpson and students,
Phacelia
The phacelias in the flora area are glandular pubescent and can cause unpleasant dermatitis,
and most are stinky. Cool-season ephemerals and one perennial (P. ramosissima). Leaves mostly
alternate, entire, pinnate or bip innate, and petioled (at least the lower, larger leaves). Inflorescences
of scorpioid cymes, coiled distally except in P. neglecta. Calyces lobed almost to the base. Corollas
lavender, blue, or white. Seeds 4 (seldom fewer) or many.
Western hemisphere, with greatest diversity in western North America; 175 species.
There are reports that young, tender plants of these spring ephemerals were cooked as greens,
but these plants, especially older ones, can be stinky and highly irritating to the skin. Rea (1997)
reports that the Gila River Pimas made use of phacelias cooked as greens, but these were not highly
esteemed.
1. Perennials, often woody at the base; Ajo Mountains Phacelia ramosissima
1. Winter-spring ephemerals: widespread including the Ajo Mountains.
2. Seeds solid, more or less terete in cross-section, similar on all sides.
3. Leaf blades pinnate to pinnatifid, more than twice as long as wide.
4. Seeds many per capsule Phacelia aftinis
4. Seeds 4 per capsule Phacelia distans
3. Leaf blades more or less ovate, shallowly lobed; about as long as wide.
5. Stems thick and succulent; inflorescences generally not taller than the leaves; seeds 0.7-0.9
mm long Phacelia neglecta
5. Stems not noticeably thick and succulent; inflorescences taller than the leaves; seeds to 0.5
mm long Phacelia rotundifolia
2. Seeds boat-shaped, one side of each seed excavated (with a cavity) on either side of a septum (a
ridge down the middle), the other side of the seed convex.
6. Fruiting pedicels 4-7 mm long, longer than the capsules; fruiting sepals 5-6.5 mm long,
about twice as long as the capsules Phacelia pedicellata
6. Fruiting pedicels mostly 1-1.5 mm long, shorter than capsules; fruiting sepals 3-5 mm long,
about as long to !4 longer than the capsules.
7. Seeds 2.2-3.5 mm long, red-brown, the margins and ventral surface of the same color as
the seed body (back) Phacelia crenulata
7. Seeds 1.5-3 mm long, the margins and ventral surface paler (tan) than, and sharply
differentiated from, the darker brown seed body (back).
8. Stamens exserted (conspicuously longer than the corollas) Phacelia bombycina
8. Stamens often not exserted (as long as or shorter than the corollas). . . .Phacelia coerulea
Phacelia affinis A Gray
Limestone phacelia. Figure 27.
Leaves mostly basal and on the lower stems, (1.5) 3-6 cm long, pinnately lobed to pinnatifid,
mostly narrowly oblong; upper leaves reduced. Inflorescences branches slightly to moderately curled
distally. Flowers white, occasionally pale purple, with a pale yellow-green throat. Seeds man;/,
nearly 1 mm long, solid, similar on both sides, transversely corrugated.
Mostly in the northern part of the Organ Pipe, wash banks at lower elevations, and rocky
slopes at middle to upper elevations in the Ajo and Puerto Blanco Mountains.
Arizona to northwestern Sonora, southwestern New Mexico, southwestern Utah, southern
Nevada, and southeastern California to Baja California Sur.
OP: Estes Canyon, 25 Feb 1978, Bowers 1069 (ORPI). SE Puerto Blanco Mts, slopes above mam
campground, Rumtan 31 Mar 1998 (ORPI). Kuakatch Wash, 0.5 mi E of Hwy 85, Rutman 9 Apr 1998 (ORPI).
Phacelia bombycina Wooton & Standley
Mangas Spring phacelia. Figure 28.
Leaves oblong to ovate, pinnately lobed, cleft, or crenate. Inflorescence branches strongly
coiled distally. Flowers nearly sessile. Sepals 2.5 mm long. Corollas pale purple. Stamens exserted.
Seeds 4 per capsule, probably 1.5 mm long; outer surface dark brown, convex, and alveolate
(minutely pitted and reticulate); inner surface and margins light tan; inner surface excavated on each
side of a prominent ridge, the ridge prominently corrugated (lumpy) on one side, the margins less
prominently corrugated.
Known from a single record in Cabeza Prieta (perhaps more common since the plants
superficially resemble those of P. crenulata). Also recorded in the mountains near Ajo and northward
and eastward in Arizona. Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, northern Baja California, northern
Sonora, and probably northwestern Chihuahua.
CP: Scarface Mt, UTM 3565000N, 317500E 12, 1650 ft, limestone and coarse sand, Autenreith 20
Mar 1992 (ASC, det. N.D. Atwood, 14 Jan 2004).
Figure 27. Fhaceliaaffinis. Alamo Well: (A) 11 Mar 2014; (E & C) 16 Mar 2014; (D) 26 Feb 2014.
Figure 28. Phacelia bombycina. (A) Hills west of Coffeepot Mtn, Sauceda Mts, Pima Co., 25 Feb 2012, (B)
Courthouse Butte, Sedona, Yavapai Co., 1 7 Feb 2003, photo by Max Licher (SEINet).
Phacelia coerulea Greene
Skyblue phacelia. Figure 29.
Leaves oblong to ovate, pinnately lobed, cleft, or divided. Inflorescence branches coiled to
one side distally. Flowers whitish to pale lavender with a white center. Stamens often not exserted
(as long as or shorter than the corollas). Seeds 4 per capsule, 1.5-3 mm long; outer surface dark
brown, convex, and alveolate (minutely pitted and reticulate); inner surface and margins paler (tan)
than and sharply differentiated from dark brown body (back), the margins incurved; inner surface
excavated on each side of a prominent ridge, and corrugated (lumpy) on one side.
Widely scattered in Organ Pipe and in the eastern part of Cabeza Prieta and at Cabeza Prieta
Tanks.
Southern Arizona to western Texas and Utah, southeastern California, Chihuahua and
northern Sonora.
Some plants in the flora area identified as P. coerulea resemble P. crenulata var. ambigua,
but P. coerulea tends to have more slender stems, the leaves tend to have larger and more rounded
lobes, the corollas are paler, the stamens usually shorter than the corollas indicating autogamous
(selling) flowers (plants clearly resembling P. coerulea sometimes have well-exserted stamens,
especially when well-watered), and the seeds are not as smooth and the margins are distinctive. In.
Alamo Canyon P. coerulea grows intermixed with P. crenulata, and the plants are easily
distinguished; P. coerulea also occurs intermixed with P. affirm and P. distans.
OP: Canyon Diablo, 21 Mar 1935, Kearney 10824. Alamo Canyon Nichol 14 Mar 1939. Arch
Canyon, 5 Apr 1978, Bowers 1172 (ORPI). Hills toE of Senita Basin, Rutman 10 Mar 199$ (ORPI).
CP: Cabeza Prieta Tanks, 6 Apr 1 979., Lehto L 23535 (ASU).
Figure 29. Phacelia coerulea. Alamo Well, 11 Mar 2014.
Phacelia crenulata Torrey ex S. Watson var. ambigua (ME. Jones) J.F. Macbride
[P. ambigua ME. Jones. P. ambigua var. minutiflora (J.W. Voss) N.D. Atwood]
Desert heliotrope. Figure 30.
Herbage stink}' and irritating, sticky-viscid with spreading white hairs, and minutely
glandular above. Stems often 10-30 (45+) cm tall, mostly erect, simple or several-branched. Larger
leaves basal and often also on the lower stem, often 3-15 cm long, pinnatifid or the lower segments
cleft to the midrib or into separate leaflets; leaves reduced upwards. Inflorescence simple to several-
branched, coiled to one side distally. Flowering and fruiting pedicels often 1-1.5 mm long. Flowers
moderately fragrant; corollas lavender with a white tube, 4-8 mm long. Stamens exserted. Fruiting
sepals 3-5 mm long, about as long as to % longer than the capsules. Seeds 4 per capsule, 2.2-3.5 mm
long, boat-shaped, red-brown, alveolate (minutely pitted and reticulate), the outer surface convex, the
inner surface excavated on each side of a prominent ridge, the ridge corrugated on one side, the
margin smooth (not corrugated) and not differentiated from the body (back).
This is the most abundant and widespread phacelia in the region, occurring in many habitats
including washes, canyons, bajadas, plains, dunes and rocky slopes often to their summits. Fossils
more than 8000 years old were found in the Ajo Mountains.
Contact with Phacelia crenulata and other Phacelia species can cause phacelia dermatitis
{Dermatitis venenata), which is a painful rash similar to poison ivy rash (Berry et al. 1962, Munz
1932). About 10 percent of the general population is susceptible. In years when Phacelia crenulata
is abundant, visitors afflicted with the rash arrive at the Organ Pipe visitor center asking about its
cause. In severe cases, victims need hospitalization.
The ambigua taxon occurs in Arizona to northwestern Sonora, southern Nevada, and
southeastern California to Baja California. The taxonomy of the P. crenulata complex can be
complicated and confusing: calling the flora area population P. crenulata var. ambigua seems to be
the most reasonable choice, and consistent with The Jepson Manual (Patterson et al. 2003). Several
varieties of P. crenulata are often recognized, extending across much of southwestern North America.
OP: Tres Alamos Canyon, Nichol 24 Feb 1939 (ORPI). Puerto Blanco Mts, Nichol 24 Feb 1939 (det.
P. minutiflora, Atwood & Smith 1994). Road to Dripping Springs. 20 Mar 1941, McDougall 2. Near road 5 mi
N of Sonoyta, 22 Mar 1941, McDougall 16 (det. as P. minutiflora, Atwood & Smith 1994). Qmtobaqmto, 18
Mar 1945, Gould 2999 (det. P. minutiflora, Atwood & Smith 1994). Bajada at Sierra de Santa Rosa, 11 Feb
1978, Bowers 1028. 2 mi E of Bates Well 30 Mar 1979, Bowers 1596 (det. as P. ambigua, Atwood & Smith
1994). fAlamo Canyon: seed (2.9 mm long, margin not well differentiated), 1150 ybp; seed, margin not
differentiated, 8130 ybp
CP: Sam Clark Mine, (Little Ajo Mts), 1800 ft, Simmons 10 Mar 1963. Tuseral Tank (Simmons
1966). Dunes, S of Las Playas, lava field 10 Apr 1978, Reeves 6766 (ASU). E side of Pinacate Lava, 21 Mar
1992, Harlan 98. Charlie Bell Road near E boundary of Refuge, 9 Apr 1993, Felger 93-318. Cabeza Pneta
Peak, S side summit, 2550 ft, 24 Mar 1995, Yeatts 3665 (CAB).
TA: Tmajas Alias: Mar 1937, Harbison 16820; Van Devender 5 Mar 1983. Coyote Water, 21 Feb
2005, Felger 05-128. 0.3 mi E of Fortuna Mine, Gila Mts, 760 ft, Van Devender 31 Dec 1972 (det. P. ambigua,
Atwood & F.J. Smith 1994).
I'h.UTll.i (llsl.ills I Nullum
Caterpillar phacelia, fernleaf phacelia. Figure 3 1.
Plants simple to often much-branched and spreading, the stems slender and leafy, 15^15+ cm
long including inflorescences. Herbage moderately sticky with conspicuous white hairs, sometimes
with swollen white bases, and also sessile glands, golden when fresh. Leaves fern-like, 6-17 cm
long, 1- or 2-times pinnatifid, the segments pinnately lobed or toothed to pinnatifid. Inflorescences
coiled to one side distally. Calyx lobes moderately enlarging in fruit, reaching 6+ mm long. Corollas
(7) 8-9.5 mm long, pale violet to blue, the lobes spreading. Seeds 4 or fewer, 2 mm long, solid, and
similar on both sides.
Widespread in Organ Pipe and the eastern part of Cabeza Prieta; washes, bajadas, canyons,
and rocky slopes including higher elevations. Often growing in the protection of spiny shrubs.
In many life zones, western and southern Arizona, and western and northern Sonora, southern
California, Baja California, and southern Nevada.
Figure 30. Phacelia crenulata var. ambigua. (A) Hwy 2 near Los Vidrios, Hnacate Biosphere Reserve. Sonora,
17 Mar 2014. (B-D) Bates Mts, 2 Mar 2008. '
Figure 31 .
Mar 2008.
Phacdia distant. (A) Alamo Well, 11 Mar 2014.
(C) Victoria Mine Trail, 1 5 Mir 2008.
(B) Trail to Victoria Mine, Puerto Blanco Ms, 4
Felger el al.: Southwestern Arizona Flora, Berberidaceae, Bignoniaceae, and Boraginaceae 47
OP: Canyon Diablo, 21 Mar 1 935, Kearney 10853. Alamo Canyon, Nichol 4 May 1939. Bates Well
22 Apr 1942, Cooper 731. Aguajita, 6 Apr 1988, Felger 88-280. Kuakatch Wash, E Monument boundary,
Rutman 4 Apr 1 998 (ORPI). Trail from The Coties to Mount Ajo, 4090 ft, 1 0 Apr 2005. Felger 05-284.
CP: Papago Well, Crooks 31 Mar 1937. Agua Dulce Springs (Simmons 1966). San Cristobal Wash,
27 Mar 1 976, McManus 661. 2 mi S of Camino del Diablo on E boundary of Refuge, 26 Feb 1 993, Felger 93-
Phacelia neglectaM.E. Jones
Alkali phacelia. Figure 32.
Plants semi- succulent, often less than 6-8 cm tall, the root and mam stem notably thick.
Leaves semi-succulent, petioled, the blades mostly 5-25 mm wide, broadly ovate to orbicular, the
margins wavy to shallowly toothed. Corollas white. Unlike most phacelias, the plants are not stinky
and the inflorescences with relatively few flowers, not appearing coiled distally. Seeds numerous,
0.7-0.9 mm long, solid, similar on both sides, resembling tiny insect pupae.
Western part of Organ Pipe and widely scattered through Cabeza Prieta and Tinajas Altas.
Generally localized on desert pavements and sandy soils, often in otherwise nearly barren areas.
Western Arizona, northwestern Sonora, southeastern California, and southern Nevada.
OP: Flats N of Custom House, 1 mi N of Sonoyia (Arizona), 22 Mar 1 941 , McDougall 18. 3 mi S of
Growler Mine, 21 Mai- 1941, McDougall 93. 2 mi WSW of Botes Well, 30 Mar 1978, Bowers 1128 (ORPI).
8.6 mi W of Ffwy 85 on road to Quitobaquito, 2 Mar 1985, Van Devender 85-8.
CP: Cabeza Prieta Tanks, 6 Apr 1979, Lehto L23540 (ASU). SE of Las Playas, desert pavement, 10
Apr 1 978, Lehto L22455 (ASU). Packrat Hill, 25 Feb 1993, Felger 93-59. 1 km N of Tule Well, 1 1 Apr 1993,
Felger 93-439.
TA: E margin of Davis Plain, W side of Tinajas Altas Mts, W branch of Camino del Diablo,
decomposed granite pediment directly downslope from rocky hill, 20 Feb 2005, Felger 05-62.
Figure 32. Phacelia neglecta. (A) Mojave National Preserve, San Bernardino Co., CA 201 0, photo by
Genevieve K. Walden (SEfNet). (B) Chocolate Mts, Imperial Co., CA 1 999, photo by Donald Myrick
(CalPhotos).
Phacelia pedicellata A. Gray
Pedicellate phacelia. Figure 33.
Plants robust, sterns often 10-45+ cm long, relatively thick and semi-succulent, and leafy.
Herbage pale green, viscid glandular-hairy and notably stinky. Leaves 5-16+ cm long, pinnatifid to
pinnately compound, and semi-succulent. Inflorescence coiled to one side distally. Flowers on
slender pedicels, the fruiting pedicels 4-7 mm long. Calyx lobes elongated; fruiting sepals 5-6.5 mm
long, about twice as long as capsules. Corollas pale lavender-blue. Seeds 4 per capsule, 2. 5-3. 1 mm
long, boat-shaped, red-brown; outer surface convex and pitted; inner surface excavated both sides of a
prominent ridge.
Figure 33. Phacelia pedicellata. (A) Near Red Cone campground, Pinacate Biosphere Reserve, Sonora, 7 Mar
2009. (B & C) Drainage NW of Kino Peak, Bates Mts, 20 Mar 2005. (D & E) Viscid, glandular-hairy stem and
leaf blade, Estes Canyon near trailhead, 7 Mai' 2014.
Felger et al.: Southwestern Arizona Flora, Berberidaceae, Bignoniaceae, and Boraginaceae 49
Scattered across the flora area including the Ajo Mountains, often in sandy-gravelly washes
and shallow soils on tuff. This species, Chenopodium watsonii, and Clerodendron coulteri (Tetraclea
coulteri) are the stinkiest plants in the flora area.
Western Arizona, northwestern Sonora, southeastern California, and eastern Baja California.
OP: Arch Canyon, 28 Mar 1965, Niles 552. Dripping Springs, Wirt 5 Mar 1991 (ORPI). Estes
Canyon. Rutman 15 Apr 1998 (ORPI), Wash 1.2 mi NW of Kino Peak, 20 Mar 2005. Rutman 2005-0320-9
(ORPI).
CP: T13S, ROW, SEVt, 26 Feb 1977, Invin 93 (ASU).
TA: Tinajas Altas, canyon bottom E of tinajas, 19 Mar 1998, Felger 98-145.
Phacelia ramosissima Douglas ex Lehmann
|/' r.lllh v ; 1 1 l.llllnll.n I . >l K \ i (. I . >n.|ll |
Branching phacelia. Figure 34.
Perennial herbs often to 1 m or more wide. Leaves pinnately lobed to twice-divided.
Inflorescences coiled to one side distally. Corollas pale blue. Seeds 2-A per capsule, probably 2.5-3
mm long, pitted, and with a ventral ridge but scarcely excavated.
Figure 34. Phacelia ramosissima. (A & C) Base of N-facing cliff above Bull Pasture, 10 Apr 2005. (B)
Catalina State Park, Pima Co., 22 Feb 2009, photo by Patrick Alexander (SEINet).
50
Middle to higher elevations in the Ajo Mountains, in coarse alluvium along washes, in shady
sites, and under trees; apparently not widespread and not common.
This species occurs from Washington to Baja California, Utah and Arizona, but generally not
in deserts. Four varieties are sometimes recognized; var. latifolia is the southernmost one.
Robust plants of P. distans in the Ajo Mountain superficially resemble P. ramosissima.
Above Bull Pasture on 10 April 2005, P. ramosissima was in bud and just beginning to flower while
the P. distans plants had dry fruits.
OP: Alamo Canyon: 15 Dec 1939, Harbison 26261; 2000 ft, Tinkham 18 Apr 1942. Bull Pasture,
2800 ft, perennial, flowers blue, 2 May 1978, Bowers 1270 (ARIZ, annotated as P. cryptantha by Richard
Halse, 1999, but the label says "perennial" and P. cryptantha is an ephemeral and is not known from Organ
Pipe). Trail from The Cones to Mount Ajo, 4025 ft, 1 0 Apr 2005, Felger 05-265.
Phacclia riitiindiliilia Toitcv c\ S Wnlson
Roundleaf phacelia. Figure 35.
Plants generally less than 15 cm tall and often much smaller. Leaf blades more or less ovate,
shallowly lobed, about as long as wide, and with scalloped margins. Inflorescences coiled to one side
distally, taller than the leaves; flowers white or faintly pink. Seeds numerous and minute, 0.5 mm
long, pitted and reticulate.
Known from a single record at the boundary of the flora area, which is one of the
southernmost records for this species.
Either rare and/or seldom recorded in southwestern Arizona. Often growing in rock crevices;
western Arizona and deserts in southern Utah southern Nevada, and southeastern California.
OP: 100 m N of Organ Pipe and 0.5 km E of Cabeza Prieta NWR, 1700 ft, crevice of rock face, 13
Mar 1993, Christy 1263 (ASU).
Figure 35. Phacelia rotundifolia. (A) Eagle Tail Mts, central- west AZ, photo by John Alcock (SEINet). (B)
Table Top Mtn, below SW side of peak, Maricopa Co., 10 Mar 2008, photo by Patrick Alexander (SEINet). (C)
Photo by Dave Sussman (SEINet).
Felger et al. : Southwest er n Ariama Flora, B er b eriba ceae, Bignoniaceae. an d Boraginaceae 5 1
Pholi stoma
This genus includes three species in California, Arizona, Baja California, and norm western
Sonora.
Pholistoma auritum (Lindley) Lilja var. arizonicum (M.E. Jones) Constance
Blue fiesta-flower. Figure 36.
Cool-season ephemerals. Stems square in cross section, brittle and semi -succulent, weak and
scrambling through bushes and across rocks. Herbage and calyx with curved hairs that hook onto
animals and clothing. Lower leaves opposite, the upper ones alternate; leaves thin, often 3—6 (8) cm
long, p innately lob ed. Flowers 1 or few in axillary or terminal cymes. Calyx enlarging in fruit; often
±1.5 cm wide, and with conspicuous auricles often 4—6.5 mm long. Corollas blue. Fruits of globose
capsules; seeds 1-4. No other member of the family in the flora area has long, scrambling weak
stems, and clinging hooked hairs.
Widespread across Organ Pipe, especially in the mountains, and in the eastern part of Cabeza
Prieta; washes, upper bajadas, canyons, and rocky slopes, often north- facing and beneath shrubs.
Figure 36. Fholi stoma auritum var. arizonicum. Estes Wash near Bull Pasture Trailhead: (A) 31 Mar 2008; (B)
16 Feb 2005. (C) Alamo Canyon, 26 Feb 2014.
Variety arizonicum occurs in western and central Arizona, and northwestern Sonora. Variety
auritum occurs west of the deserts in California and Baja California,
OP: Canyon Diablo, 21 Mar 1935, Kearney 10817 Alamo Canyon, 14 Mar 1941, Benson 10677.
Dripping Springs, 15 Apr 1952, Parker 7907. Bull Pasture Trail, 2800 ft, 2 May 1978, Bowers 1270 (ORPI).
CP: 1.8 mi N of Adobe Windmill, 2.5 Feb 1993, Felger 93-62. Agua Dulce Mts, 26 Feb 1993, Felger
93-94. Charlie Bell Road near E Refuge boundary, 9 Apr 1993, Felger 93-319. Childs Mountain, 25 Feb 1993,
Felger 93-40.
Plagiobothrys - Popcorn-flower
Cool-season ephemerals (elsewhere sometimes perennials or bona fide annuals), the herbage
pubescent. Leaves basal and cauline, simple, linear to ob lanceolate, .green, with or without a red-
purple midrib and margins. Inflorescences of scorpioid cymes, coiled distally. Flowers small;
corollas funnelform to rotate, white or white with a yellow tube and corolla appendages, the limb 1-3
mm wide. Fruits homomorphic, with 2-A nutlets, the nutlets widely lanceolate to widely ovate,
dorsal surface coarsely roughened or tessellate; attachment scar narrowly triangular to linear or ±
round, along an elongated ventral keel or at base of a short ventral keel.
The genus is amphitropical in the Americas, mostly in western North America and temperate
South America, including 80-90 species; it is not, however, monophyletic.
1. Plants staining red-purple when pressed; fruiting calyx separating around the middle
(circumscissile); nutlets 1.5-2.5 mm long, the attachment scar more or less round and at the base of a
short ventral keel Plagiobothrys arizonicus
1. Plants not red-staining; calyx not circumscissile; nutlets 2.5-3 mm long, the attachment scar
narrowly triangular to linear along a prominent ventral keel Plagiobothrys jonesii
Plagiobothrys arizonicus (A Gray) Greene ex A. Gray
Arizona popcorn-flower. Figure 37.
Plants often 10^10 cm tall. Roots, leaf mid-veins and margins red-purple and staining same
color when pressed. Plants with sharp, spreading hairs often with a hard swollen base as well as
smaller, softer hairs. Leaves lanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, the larger, lower leaves 3-8 cm long,
Calyx body rounded, the lobes free distally; fruiting calyx separating around the middle
(circumscissile). Corollas white, sometimes with yellow tube, center, and appendages. Nutlets 2,
1.5-2.5 mm long, broadly ovate, strongly arched or folded in profile, with tubercles along dorsal and
lateral ribs, and firmly attached, the attachment scar more or less round and at the base of a short
ventral keel.
Sandy loams of plains in the northeastern and north-central part of Organ Pipe. Its history in
Organ Pipe extends to 20,500 years.
Southern California to southern Utah, Arizona, northern Sonora, and presumably in
northernmost Baja California.
OP: Hwy 85, 1 mi S of N boundary of Monument, Rutman 2 Apr 1998 (ORPI). Kuakatch Wash near
E boundary, 2 Mar 2003, Rutman 2003-21 7 (ORPI). Armenia Rd, 1.4 rot W of Hwy 85, 11 Mar 2003, Felger
03-271. fMontezuma's Head, nutlets, 13,500 & 20,490 ybp.
Felger etal.: Southwestern Arizona Flora, Berberidaceae, Bignoniaceae, and Boraginaceae 53
Figure 37. Plagiobothrys arizonicus. (A) Hwy 86 between road to Kilt Peak and Sells, Pima Co., 19 Mar 2010.
(B) Abaxial leaf surface, with bulbous-based hairs and red leaf margin and midvein, Tyrone Ridge Access Road,
Grant Co., NM, 10 Mar 2010, photo by Russell Kleinman (gilatlora.com). (C) Sedona, Yavapai Co., 17 April
2001 , photo by Max Licher (SEPNet).
Plagiobothrys jonesii A. Gray
Mojave popcorn-flower. Figure 38.
Plants (8) 12^15 cm tall, not red-staimng; with coarse hairs. Leaves lanceolate to
oblanceolate, larger, lower leaves 4-8 cm long, with bulbous-based hairs. Calyx deeply 5-lobed, not
circumscissile. Corollas white with a yellow center. Nutlets 3 or 4, ovate- triangular, 2.5-3 mm long,
not strongly arched, the attachment scar narrowly triangular to linear along a prominent ventral keel.
Known from several records in the flora area. It is common north and east of the flora area in
the Maricopa and Baboquivari Mountains.
Southern California to southwestern Utah, Arizona, and northern Sonora.
This species strongly resembles Amsinckia but differs in having a white corolla; Johnston
(1923) placed it in Plagiobothrys section Amsinckiopsis owing to this morphological similarity.
Phylogenetic analyses by Matt Guilliams (unpublished data) place this taxon nearer to Amsinckia
rather than within Plagiobothrys, and the appropriate nomenclatural change will be made at a later
time.
OP: Twin Peaks, steep S-facing volcanic slope, 1900 ft. Van Devender 19 Feb 1984. W side Sierra
Santa Rosa, 485 m, upper bajada, 12 Mar 2003, Felger 03-345.
^'\{|L;. : .-.."V
Figure 38. Plagiobothrys jonesii. (A) Cady Mts, Mojave Desert, San Bernardino Co., CA, 25 Mar 2009,
Sanders 36595 (DES, UCR). (B & F) N end of Red Rock Canyon, Clark Co., NV, ! 3 Apr 2005, photo by Stan
Shebs (SEINet). (C-E) Nutlet, Providence Mts, San Bernardino Co., CA, 24 Apr 1960, Howe 2S75 (SDSU
5441), by Michael G. Simpson and students,
Tiquilia
Small, low-growing herbaceous or subshrub perennials, sometimes flowering in first season.
Stems with a forked brandling pattern (pseudo-die -hot omous). Herbage densely and variously hairy.
Leaves simple, with revolute (inrolled) margins. riower-> e~.st.ii! ulh ^.Nsile avillan single or
clustered. Corollas lavender or pinkish. Fruits dry, with 1^1 nutlets.
North and South America in dry regions, mostly deserts; 27 species.
1. Branches alternate; leaf veins obscure and covered by a dense layer of hairs; rocky habitats.
1 . Branches opposite; leaves with several pairs of conspicuous, impressed veins; sandy habitats.
2, Leaves with 2 or 3 (4) pairs of shallowly impressed veins; nutlets rounded, minutely papillate to
dull-surfaced, not smooth and shiny Tiquilia palmeri
2, Leaves with 5 or 6 (7) pairs ot dceph mipiet sed veins appearing as if pleated, nutlets ovoid,
smooth and shiny Tiquilia plicata
Tiquilia canescens (A. de Candolle) A.T. Richardson
[Coldenia canescens de Candolle]
Woody crinklemat. Figure 39.
Figure 39. Tiquilia canescens. (A & D) Trail between Twin Peaks Campground and Victoria Mine, OR 27 Mar
2008. (B) Near Bluebird Mine, Growler Mts, 9 Mar 2014. (C) Page Springs Road by US Hwy 89.4, Yavapai
Co., 8 Jun 2009, photo by Max Licher (SEINet).
Dwarf, subshrub perennials with short spreading branches, the stems with spreading hairs.
Foliage scruffy gray, the leaves about 1 cm long, ovate to elliptic, with soft, whitish-gray hairs.
Flowers pale lavender; with spring and summer -fall rains.
A calciphile on rocky ledges and mesas; Organ Pipe in the Gunsight Hills and Puerto Blanco
Mountains and scattered mountains and hills in Cabeza Prieta.
This species occurs in southeastern California to southwestern Utah, New Mexico, and Texas,
the Baja California Peninsula, northern Sonora and the Chihuahuan Desert Region in north-central
Mexico. Two varieties, distinguished primarily by flower size, are sometimes recognized: var.
canescens and var. pulchella (I.M Johnston) AT. Richardson. Both are reported from southwestern
Arizona.
OP: 13.5 mi by road NW of Visitor Center, Puerto Blanco Drive, 10 May 1979, Bowers 1716.
Gunsight Hills, 2 Mar 2003, Rutman 2003-211. W end Puerto Blanco Mts, 0 6 mi N of Golden Bell Mine, 14
Mar 2003, Rutman 2003-315 (ORPI).
CP: Cabeza Prieta Mis, 0.6 mi SW Tule Tank, 1250 ft, Van Devender 9 Mar 1980. Scarface Mt, S-
facmg limestone slope, 1650 ft, Tallarovic 20 Mar 1992 (ASC). Childs Mt. 2750 ft, IS Aug 1992, Felger 92-
643A. Cabeza Prieta Peak, near summit, 24 Mar 1995, Yeatts 3658 (CAB).
Tiquilia palmeri (A Gray) AT. Richardson
[Coldenia palmeri A Gray]
Palmer's crinklemat. Figure 40.
Low-growing, semi-prostrate perennials from very slender roots issuing from even deeper,
very thick, long, black roots. Stems very slender, not woody. Petioles prominent, often as long as or
longer than the blades; leaf blades 3-8 mm long, broadly elliptic to ovate, rhombic, or nearly
orbicular, with conspicuous but shallowly impressed veins on the upper surfaces. Herbage densely
pubescent with white hairs and scattered bristles with swollen bases. Flowers lavender-pink with a
pale yellow throat; flowering with spring and summer-fall rains. Nutlets 0.8-0.9 mm diameter, 1-4
per fruit, rounded (spheroid).
Sand flats and dunes of the Pinta Sands and near the Butler Mountains.
Southeastern California, southern Nevada, western Arizona, Baja California, and
northwestern Sonora.
Seris made a tea from the large, thick root to alleviate stomachache or a cold (Felger & Moser
1985).
CP: Pinacate Plateau, Cammo del Diablo, open sandy desert, 28 Oct 1937, Gentry 3508 (DBS). Pinta
Sands, 1 1 Apr 1 993, Felger 93-41 0.
TA: Butler Mts, Van Devender 27 Mar 1983.
Tiquilia plicata (Torrey) AT. Richardson
Figure 41.
Plants resembling T. palmeri in growth form and habit, but readily distinguished by having
more prominent and a larger number of leaf veins. Common on dunes and sandy habitats in the
nearby Gran Desierto of Sonora as well as the Mohawk Dunes and near Yuma. It is not known from
the flora area although the Pinta Sands near the Sonora border seem like suitable habitat.
1
Figure 40. Tiquilia palmeri. Cinder plains on road to Red Cone campground, Pinacate Biosphere Reserve, 3
Mar 2009.
Figure 41. Tiquilia plicata. (A) Dunes S of Sierra Blanca, Pinacate Biosphere Reserve, Sonora, 19 Feb 2005.
(B) Sandy wash below Gillespie Dam, Maricopa Co., 31 Mar 2013
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Supplementing the gratitude expressed in the introduction to our flora (Felger et al. 2013a),
we thank George Ferguson, Layla Aerne Hains, Ronald B. Kelley, Andrew C. Sanders, Michael G.
Simpson, Thomas R. Van Devender, and George Yatskievych for significant information, assistance,
and/ or reviews. Susan Davis Carnahan contributed copy-editing expertise.
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