Cactus Country

Natural History, Feb, 2001 by Robert H. Mohlenbrock

On some dry slopes--perhaps because they are not quite so rocky--shrubby species include quinine bush, silk tassel bush, desert sumac, mescat acacia (white thorn), and wait-a-minute bush (a type of mimosa). Wildflowers that grow here are dogweed, springleaf zinnia, wedgeleaf scurfpea, and trailing windmills (a creeping plant whose flowers are grouped by threes into what appear to be single blossoms).

Streams, although they may flow only intermittently, help support the growth of several trees, among them blue palo verde, mesquite, velvet ash, small-leaved mulberry, netleaf hackberry, and soapberry. A common shrub is seep willow, a member of the aster family whose narrow leaves resemble those of willows. Wildflowers near streams include the brightyellow-flowered monkey flower; a Mecardonia with tiny purple snapdragon-like blossoms; a thoroughwort with lavender flower heads; and Albert's dome, a plant with yellow flower heads that each have a central raised dome.

Washes support only plants that can survive long stretches of extremely arid conditions. Two shrubs here are desert broom and burro bush, while wildflowers include desert honeysuckle, with long, tubular, brick-red flowers, and woolly feverfew, with white or greenish flowers.

Robert H. Mohlenbrock, professor emeritus of plant biology at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, explores the biological and geological highlights of U. S. national forests and other parklands.

For visitor information, contact: Forest Supervisor Coronado National Forest 300 W. Congress Street Tucson, Arizona 85701 (520) 670-4552 www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado