ARIZONA PLANTS

Mesquite Trees  There are three main types in AZ  Screwbean  Honey  Velvet  Mesquites have taproots that go deep into the ground to find water.

Mesquite Trees  They are important to Native Americans for the following reasons:  seed pods used to make flour  leaves used to make tea  resin used for dyes, paint and medicine  roots used to make rope  wood used to make shelters, bowls, war clubs and was burned

Mesquite Tree

Agave  Also known as the century plant.  It does not take 100 years to bloom, but instead.  The plant sends up a large, tall stalk that has many flowering blooms.  Once the stalk flowers, the plant dies.  The hearts of some agaves are used to make tequila.

Agave

Parry’s Century Plant  The leaves grow in a tight, circular cluster in which the younger, inner leaves are protected by the outer leaves.  Century plants have long, shallow roots that collect water, which is stored in the fleshy leaves.  Fibers from the leaves can be used to make ropes, nets, and baskets.

Parry’s Century Plant

Joshua Tree  It is the indicator plant for the Mojave Desert.  The name ‘Joshua Tree’ came from Mormons who thought the branches were being lifted to the heavens like the arms of the Biblical figure Joshua.  The older the plant, the more branches it has. After a stem blooms, the end of it dies. A new branch then grows out of the old one.

Joshua Tree  Moths pollinate the plant as they lay eggs. This is a mutualistic relationship.  The plant gets to reproduce while the eggs of the moth receive shelter and protection.

Joshua Tree

Yucca  The leaves are fibrous and are used to make rope, baskets, and shoes.  The seeds of the fruit are dispersed by rodents today, but used to be eaten by giant sloths.  After a yucca blooms, it does NOT die.  It is one of the indicator plants of the Chihuahuan Desert.

Yucca

Ocotillo  Also called living fences because cuttings can be placed in the ground to form a fence for livestock.  They are drought deciduous plants, which means they drop their leaves when there is not enough water.  They can drop and re-grow their leaves up to eight times a year.  When they drop their leaves, they look like they are dead, but they are just fine.

Ocotillo

Desert Marigold/Desert Baileya  The clumps of bright yellow flowers are common along roads and cover hillsides during the spring.

Penstemon  The pinkish/red blooms attract hummingbirds.

Arizona Poppy  One of the most common wildflowers in the Sonoran Desert.  These poppies have yellow petals with an orange center. Easily seen in the Superstition Mountains.

Lupine  Lupines belong to the pea family.  They have a beneficial relationship with bacteria that improves the soil.  The flowers are a beautiful bluish purple color.

Lupine

Organ Pipe Cactus  This cactus grows as a clump of column like stems.  It flowers at night.  Native Americans eat the fruits.

Organ Pipe Cactus

Senita  Also called the ‘old man cactus’.  They look similar to the organ pipe cactus, but they have a thick growth of fine thorns at the tops of the stems.  The thorns provide shade for the sensitive ends of the plants.

Senita

Barrel Cactus  The flowers grow on the top of this cactus in a circle.  Taller barrel cactus will lean towards their shaded side because the side in the sun grows faster.  Some of the thorns were used by Native Americans as fish hooks.  Do not drink liquid from the barrel cactus, it contains poison that will make you vomit.

Barrel Cactus

Palo Verde  Means green stick.  Can do photosynthesis using their branches and their trunks because they contain the green chlorophyll.  During extreme drought, palo verde trees can drop all of their leaves.

Palo Verde

Prickly Pear Cactus  The pads of the prickly pear are flattened ovals.  The fruit are bright red and edible. Another name for the fruit is ‘tuna’. The young pads are also edible and when cooked, they taste like green beans.  The pads store water for the plant, and do photosynthesis.  The flowers last for only one day.

Prickly Pear Cactus

Globemallow  Also called the sore eye poppy.  The leaves have fine hairs that can irritate the eyes.

Desert Christmas Cactus  Called the Christmas cactus because the fruits are still on the plant during the holidays.

Cholla Cactus  Even though they are commonly called ‘jumping cactus’, they cannot jump.  The joints of the plant do break off easily. The thorns are barbed and difficult to remove once embedded in the skin.  Pack rats take parts of the cholla, and use them to protect their dens.  Chain fruit cholla are named after the chains of fruit that hang down.

Cholla Cactus

Hedgehog Cactus  This is the first cactus to bloom during the spring.  The fruits are edible.

Saguaro  The largest of the U.S. cacti.  It can take up to 75 years before a saguaro will grow an arm.  They can live over 200 years.  The flower is the AZ state flower. The fruits are edible.

Saguaro  The saguaro expands like an accordion when it absorbs water. This is how it stores water. During drought, the saguaro contracts as it loses water.  Bats pollinate it.  Holes in the cactus provide shelter for animals.

Saguaro

Brittlebush  This plant can drop most of its leaves during a drought.  The blue/grey color of the leaves is designed to prevent the plant from getting too much sun.  The leaves are also covered with hairs to block some of the sunlight and prevent water loss.

Brittlebush

Creosote bush  The leaves are covered with a varnish that reduces evaporation.  After it rains, the creosote bush gives off a musty, sweet odor.  The plant produces a resin that was used to fix pottery.

Creosote bush

Jojoba  The leaves are oriented vertically so they get sunlight in the morning and late afternoon when the sunlight is not as intense. This prevents too much water loss.

Jojoba

 The seeds contain oils that are used in perfumes and shampoos. This oil has been substituted for oil from sperm whales so the whales are not hunted anymore.