Flora and Vegetation of the Tucson Mountains, Pima County, Arizona
Renée J. Rondeau (1,2,3), Thomas R. Van Devender (2),
C. David Bertelsen (2,3), Philip D. Jenkins (3), Rebecca K. Van Devender
(3), and Mark A. Dimmitt (2)
1 = Herbarium, Biology Dept., Colorado State University
2 = Arizona & Sonora Desert Museum
3 = Herbarium, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona
This list is organized alphabetically by plant family. Genera
are also presented alphabetically under the appropriate family. Jump to
a particular plant family here:
| A | B
| C | D |
E | F
| G | H
| I | J | K
| L | M
| N | O
| P | Q |
R | S
| T | U
| V | W |
X | Y | Z
|
Salicaceae Willow Family
- *Populus fremontii Wats. Fremont cottonwood. Local tree; rare along
washes, south and east of Camino del Cerro and Javelina Wash; 760 &
825 m (2500 & 2700 feet).
Sapindaceae Soapberry Family
- Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. Hopbush. Local shrub; rare, single plant on
Trails End Road, possible escape from cultivation; 1005 (3300 feet); February
& October.
Scrophulariaceae Figwort Family
- *Antirrhinum nuttallianum Benth. Nuttall snapdragon. Local annual;
rare (scattered and uncommon in 1992) in moist sand, Hugh Norris Trail
and King and Safford canyons; 760 & 975 m (2500 & 3200 feet); flowers
purple, March.
- *Linaria texana Scheele. Texas toad flax. Local annual; rare on rocky
slopes and in rock crevices, Apache Peak, Cat Mt., Gatuña Canyon,
canyon west of Starr's Hill, and northwest of the Red Hills Visitor Center;
840 & 945 m (2750 & 3100 feet); flowers purple, February &
March.
- *Maurandya antirrhiniflora H. & B. Snapdragon vine. Scattered herbaceous
perennial vine; common on rocky slopes and margins of washes and canyons;
730 & 1310 m (2400 & 4300 feet); flowers purple with yellow throat,
March & April, August & September.
- *Mimulus guttatus DC. Monkey flower. Scattered herbaceous perennial;
uncommon (common in wet years) in moist sand of canyons; 855 & 1035
m (2800 & 3400 feet); flower yellow with red spots, February &
April.
- *Mimulus nasutus Greene. Monkey flower. Local annual; rare in moist
gravel, Safford Canyon and Sweetwater Wash; 855 & 1035 m (2800 &
3400 feet); flowers yellow with red spots, February & April.
- Mimulus rubellus Gray. Red & stemmed Mimulus. Local annual; common
(abundant in 1992) along sandy, gravelly flats near Oeste Wash; flowers
yellow with red spots, March.
- *Orthocarpus purpurascens Benth. Owl clover. Local annual; uncommon
to common in some years (absent in wet 1992), on rocky slopes, gravelly
flats, and along washes, Picture Rocks Pass and Tumamoc Hill; 730 &
825 m (2400 & 2700 feet); flowers pink & purple, March & May.
- *Penstemon parryi Gray. Parry beard tongue. Widespread herbaceous perennial;
common on rocky slopes, roadsides, and along washes in desertscrub and
desert grassland; 715 & 1430 m (2350 & 4700 feet); flowers pink,
January & May (September).
- *Penstemon subulatus Jones. Little beardtongue. Local herbaceous perennial;
common on rocky slopes and along washes, Radio Towers Peak, Sendero Esperanza
Trail, Sweetwater Trail and wash, and windmill near Yuma Mine Trail; 760
& 1370 m (2500 & 4350 feet); flowers red, March & April.
- *Stemodia durantifolia (L.) Swartz. Local annual; rare in King Canyon;
915 m (3000 feet); flowers purple, March & April.
- Veronica anagallis-aquatica L. Water speedwell. Local exotic annual;
rare in seep along Anklam wash (1991), ASDM (V. Phelps s.n. in April 1983)
and Snyder Hill (A. E. Garwood 4447 in 1973); 810 & 870 m (2650 &
2850 feet); flowers pale lavender, March & June.
- *Veronica peregrina L. ssp. xalapensis (H.B.K.) Pennell. Necklace weed.
Local annual; abundant at mouth of Gates Pass Canyon, rare in Safford and
Sweetwater canyons; 730 & 890 m (2400 & 2920 feet); flowers whitish,
February.
Selaginellaceae Selaginella Family
- *Selaginella arizonica Maxon. Spike moss. Widespread herbaceous perennial;
abundant on rocky slopes in desertscrub and desert grassland; 640 &
1430 m (2100 & 4700 feet).
Simmondsiaceae Jojoba Family
- *Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schneid. Jojoba. Widespread shrub; very
common on rocky slopes and along washes in desertscrub and desert grassland;
670 & 1430 m (2200 & 4700 feet); January & June, August &
November.
Solanaceae Potato, Nightshade Family
- *Datura discolor Bernh. Desert thorn apple. Local annual; uncommon
on sandy flats and along washes, south of Manville and west of Sandario
roads, Sanctuary Cove, and Tumamoc Hill; 670 & 810 m (2200 & 2650
feet); flowers white with purplish throat, August & October.
- Datura wrightii Regel. [D. meteloides DC.]. Sacred datura, moon flower.
Local herbaceous perennial; uncommon on disturbed sandy roadside in desertscrub,
jct. of Sandario and San Joaquin roads; 700 m (2300 feet); flowers pale
ivory, (April) August.
- Lycium andersonii Gray. Narrowleaf wolfberry. Local shrub; rare on
northeast rocky slopes and roadsides, Camino del Oeste just south of Speedway
Blvd. and Rillito Peak; 640 & 790 m (2100 & 2600 feet); flowers
white, August & October.
- *Lycium andersonii Gray x L. fremontii Gray. Hybrid wolfberry. Local
shrub; common on rocky slopes and margins of Safford Canyon; 745 &
1035 m (2450 & 3400 feet); flowers whitish with lavender tips, February;
neither parent is common in the Tucson Mts. or in the area.
- *Lycium berlandieri Dunal. var. longistylum (L.) Hitch. Berlandier
wolfberry. Widespread shrub; very common on rocky slopes in desertscrub
and desert grassland; 640 & 1430 m (2100 & 4700 feet); January,
flowers white or purple, April & May, July & November.
- *Lycium exsertum Gray. Wolfberry. Local shrub; rare Rattlesnake Pass
(L. Benson in 1941), west slope of Tumamoc Hill, and Kinney Road in SNM;
760 & 915 m (2500 & 3000 feet); flowers white, greenish, or purple,
March.
- *Lycium fremontii Gray. Fremont wolfberry. Local shrub; uncommon on
rocky slopes, Picture Rocks Pass and Tumamoc Hill; 640 m (2100 feet); flowers
white to lavender/purple, March & April.
- +Lycium macrodon Gray. Peachthorn. Local shrub; Rattlesnake Pass (L.
Benson 10617A in 1941); 760 m (2500 feet); flowers greenish white, February
& May.
- *Margaranthus solanaceus Schlecht. Netted globeberry. Local annual;
uncommon on rocky slopes, Sweetwater Trail; 1130 & 1160 m (3700 &
3800 feet); flowers cream with purple, September.
- Nicotiana glauca Graham. Tree tobacco. Local exotic shrub; rare along
washes, east of Starr Pass on Anklam Road and Tumamoc Hill; 745 & 790
m (2450 & 2600 feet); flowers greenish turning yellow, March &
April.
- *Nicotiana trigonophylla Dunal. Desert tobacco. Widespread herbaceous
perennial; common on rocky slopes, roadsides, and along washes and canyons;
640 & 1370 m (2100 & 4500 feet); flowers white or greenish white,
August & May.
- *Petunia parviflora Juss. Wild petunia. Local annual; uncommon in moist
gravel, Anklam Wash and King Canyon; 945 m (3100 feet); flowers magenta,
March & May.
- Physalis acutifolia (Miers) Sandw. [Physalis wrightii Gray]. Sharpleaf
ground cherry. Local annual; rare on rocky slopes and roadsides, Greasewood
and Twin Peaks roads and Tumamoc Hill; 670 & 745 m (2200 & 2450
feet); flowers whitish, (April) September & December.
- *Physalis crassifolia Benth. Thickleaf ground cherry. Scattered herbaceous
perennial or annual; uncommon on rocky slopes and along washes and canyons
in desertscrub and desert grassland; 670 & 1430 m (2200 & 4700
feet); flowers yellow with brown center, April, August & November.
- Physalis lobata Torr. [Quincula lobata (Torr.) Raf.]. Purple ground
cherry. Local annual; uncommon on flats, Oeste Wash, Tucson Estates and
Tumamoc Hill; 745 & 780 m (2450 & 2550 feet); flowers purple, (March)
August & September.
- *Solanum douglasii Dunal. Nightshade. Local herbaceous perennial; common
on rocky slopes, north side of Safford Peak; 945 & 1005 m (3100 &
3300 feet); flowers white, April & May.
- *Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav. Silver horsenettle, trompillo. Scattered
herbaceous perennial; uncommon on disturbed soils; 780 & 970 m (2550
& 3180 feet); flowers purple, August.
- Solanum rostratum Dunal. Local exotic annual; rare on Greasewood Road
and at Las Lomas; 700 & 790 m (2300 & 2600 feet) flowers yellow,
July & August.
Sterculiaceae Cacao Family
- *Ayenia filiformis Wats. [A. compacta L., A. pusilla L. sensu K. &
P.]. Scattered herbaceous perennial; common on rocky slopes in desertscrub
and desert grassland; 640 & 1430 m (2100 & 4700 feet); March &
May, August & November.
- *Ayenia microphylla Gray. Widespread subshrub; common on rocky slopes
in desertscrub and desert grassland; 640 & 1430 m (2100 & 4700
feet); (April) July & October.
- *Hermannia pauciflora Wats. Hierba del soldado. Local herbaceous perennial;
rare (uncommon in 1992) on rocky slopes and in rock crevices, Amole Peak,
Arrastra Canyon, Picture Rocks Pass, Sonoran Desert Station, Twin Peaks,
and one mile east of Kinney Road in TMP; 730 & 1300 m (2400 & 4280
feet); flowers yellow, February & May.
Tamaricaceae Tamarix Family
- *Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb. [T. chinensis Loureiro, T. pentandra Pall.
sensu K. & P.]. Tamarisk. Local exotic shrub; very common, Tumamoc
Hill clay quarry and landfill, and single plant in King Canyon; 640 &
960 m (2100 & 3150 feet); flowers pink, March & November.
Typhaceae Cattail Family
- Typha domingensis Pers. Cattail. Local herbaceous perennial; very common,
Tumamoc Hill clay quarry; 730 m (2400 feet); August.
Ulmaceae Elm Family
- *Celtis pallida Torr. Desert hackberry. Widespread shrub; common on
rocky slopes and along washes and canyons in desertscrub and desert grassland;
640 & 1430 m (2100 & 4700 feet); April & May, July & October.
Umbelliferae Parsley Family
- Apium leptophyllum (Pers.) F. Muell. Wild celery. Local exotic annual;
uncommon at seep in Anklam Wash; ???? m (???? feet); March & April.
- *Bowlesia incana Ruiz & Pavon. Widespread annual; abundant on rocky
slopes and along washes and canyons, usually under trees, shrubs, and boulders;
640 & 1325 m (2100 & 4350 feet); January & March.
- +Coriandrum sativum L. Cilantro, coriander. Local exotic annual; Snyder
Hill (A. E. Garwood 4439 in 1973); 810 m (2650 feet); April.
- *Daucus pusillus Michx. Wild carrot. Widespread annual; common on rocky
slopes and bajadas; 640 & 1325 m (2100 & 4350 feet); flowers white,
February & April.
- *Lomatium nevadense (Wats.) Coult.& Rose var. nevadense. Wild parsley.
Local herbaceous perennial; very common on rocky slopes in desertscrub
and desert grassland, Radio Towers and Wasson peaks and Sweetwater Trail;
915 & 1430 m (3000 & 4700 feet); flowers white, February &
April.
- *Spermolepis echinata (Nutt.) Heller. Scale seed. Widespread annual;
common on rocky slopes, gravelly bajadas, and along washes and canyons;
730 & 1220 m (2400 & 4000 feet); flowers white, March & May.
- *Yabea microcarpa (Hook. & Arn.) K.-Pol. [Caucalis microcarpa H.
& A.]. Scattered annual; common on rocky slopes; 780 & 1310 m (2550
& 4300 feet); flowers white, March & April.
Urticaceae Nettle Family
- *Parietaria hespera B. D. Hinton. var. hespera. [P. floridana Nutt.
sensu K. & P.]. Pellitory. Widespread annual; abundant on rocky slopes
and along washes and canyons, often under trees, shrubs and boulders; 640
& 1310 m (2100 & 4300 feet); flowers cream, January & April.
- *Parietaria pennsylvanica Muhl. Hammerwort. Local annual; rare under
trees, King Canyon; 915 m (3000 feet); January & March.
Verbenaceae Vervain Family
- *Aloysia wrightii (Gray) Heller. Oreganillo. Widespread shrub; common
on rocky slopes and along washes in desertscrub and desert grassland; 640
& 1430 m (2100 & 4700 feet); flowers white, February, June, August
& December.
- Lantana camara L. Lantana. Local exotic shrub; uncommon on disturbed
sites along Silverbell Road and Tumamoc Hill, escape from cultivation;
685 & 745 m (2250 & 2450 feet); flowers pink on outside of head,
white with yellow center in middle of head, August & September.
- Tetraclea coulteri Gray. Local herbaceous perennial; uncommon on disturbed
calcareous soils and along washes, Las Lomas, Oxbow Road, 8 miles west
of Tucson, and Tumamoc Hill; 715 & 825 m (2350 & 2700 feet); leaves
aromatic; flowers pinkish white, (April) August & October.
- *Verbena gooddingii Briq. [Glandularia gooddingii (Briq.) Solbrig].
Goodding vervain. Scattered herbaceous annual or perennial; common on rocky
slopes and along washes in desertscrub and desert grassland; 790 &
1430 m (2600 & 4700 feet); flowers lavendar, January & May, August
& November.
- *Verbena neomexicana (Gray) Small. Hillside vervain. Local herbaceous
perennial; common on steep rocky slopes and in canyons in desertscrub and
desert grassland, King and Sweetwater canyons and Wasson Peak area; 945
& 1430 m (3100 & 4700 feet); flowers purple, March & May, August
& November.
Violaceae Violet Family
- *Hybanthus verticillatus (Ort.) Baill. Green violet. Local herbaceous
perennial; rare on rocky slopes and in canyons, northeast of Gates Pass,
Radio Towers Peak, and Sweetwater Trail; 990 & 1325 (3250 & 4350
feet); flowers purple, April & May, August.
Viscaceae Mistletoe Family
- *Phoradendron californicum Nutt. Desert mistletoe. Widespread perennial
parasite; common on trees and shrubs; 640 & 1310 m (2100 & 4300
feet); flowers yellow, January & March.
Zygophyllaceae Caltrop Family
- *Kallstroemia californica (Wats.) Vail. Little summer poppy, California
caltrop. Widespread annual; common on rocky slopes, gravelly bajadas, and
along washes and canyons in desertscrub and desert grassland; 640 &
1430 m (2100 & 4700 feet); flowers orange & yellow, August &
November.
- *Kallstroemia grandiflora Torr. Arizona poppy, summer poppy, orange
caltrop. Widespread annual; common on rocky slopes, gravelly bajadas, and
along washes and canyons in desertscrub and desert grassland; 640 &
1430 m (2100 & 4700 feet); flowers orange & yellow, August &
November.
- *Kallstroemia parviflora Norton. Local annual; rare along King Canyon;
965 m (3160 feet); flowers orange & yellow, probably August & November.
- *Larrea divaricata Cav. ssp. tridentata (DC.) Felger & Lowe. [L.
Tridentata (DC.) Cov.]. Creosotebush, gobernadora. Widespread shrub; abundant
on flats; 640 & 1430 m (2100 & 4700 feet); flowers yellow, March
& May, August & December.
*Tribulus terrestris L. Goathead, puncture vine. Local exotic annual; uncommon
on disturbed areas and along washes; 715 & 915 m (2350 & 3000 feet);
flowers yellow, August.