Flora | Deer Canyon Folks.org

Wild Sweetpea — September 2011

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:52:36 -0600

Like little purple and white lights scattered amid a deep green tangle of leaves, the flowers of wild sweetpea illuminate many of the arroyos, gullies, and washes throughout the Preserve. This plant is known by a number of other common names including bush sweetpea, seemly sweetpea, bush vetchling, seemly vetchling, peavine, bush peavine, and purple peavine. Its scientific name is Lathyrus eucosmus. The genus name comes from the Greek word for pea or vetchling, lathyros. New Mexico is host to six native species in the genus Lathyrus, but to date I have only seen Lathyrus eucosmus growing on the Preserve. The species epithet comes from two Greek words; eu meaning good, well, or true and kosmos meaning order or ornament. Therefore wild sweetpea’s species name indicates it is a well- ornamented plant in the sense of being very beautiful, or seemly.

Wild sweetpea is a perennial sprawling vine growing from a taproot. Compound leaves arise in an alternate pattern from its smooth stems. Each compound leaf has six to ten narrow lance-shaped leaflets. The leaflets are leathery with conspicuous veins. The central axis of the compound leaf has leaflets on each side, but does not end in a leaflet. Instead of a leaflet, a tendril grows from the tip of the compound leaf. At the other end of the leaf, where it is attached to the stem, there are two small pointed leaf-like appendages called stipules.

Birdbill Dayflower — August 2011

Sat, 20 Aug 2011 14:43:08 -0600

Imagine the deepest blue New Mexico sky you have ever seen to approximate the vibrant color of birdbill dayflower blossoms. Popping up only in the shady, moist rocky areas of piñon-juniper woodlands this is not a common plant on the Preserve, but where it does occur it provides a truly special sight. Commelina dianthifolia is also known by the common names Western dayflower and dayflower. The genus Commelina is characterized by flowers with three petals, the two lateral ones are equal in size and the lower one is somewhat smaller. Linneaus named the genus in honor of two Dutch botanists, Johan (sometimes Jan) Commelijn (1629–1692) and Caspar Commelijn (1667-1731). Johan founded the Amsterdam botanical garden Hortus Medicus and his nephew Caspar later became director of the botanic garden, continuing and expanding his uncle’s work. Caspar’s son died young, and some believe Linneaus chose this particular genus to honor the Commelijn family with the idea that the two lateral petals symbolize major botanical contributions and the smaller petal represents unrealized potential. The species epithet means having leaves like the genus Dianthus (Greek for flower of the Gods) based on the Latin word for leaf, folium.

Prairie Zinnia — July 2011

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:40:39 -0600

The small, but abundant yellow-gold blossoms of prairie zinnia decorate many of the roadsides and other open areas of the Preserve during our summer months. This hardy perennial stands up very well to sun, heat, and dry conditions and doesn’t seem to have been adversely affected by the extreme drought conditions we endured earlier this year. Perhaps because of its reliability, this species has acquired many common names including plains zinnia, wild zinnia, desert zinnia, Rocky Mountain zinnia, paper flower, yellow zinnia, and little golden zinnia. Its scientific name is Zinnia grandiflora, one of two native species of Zinnia in New Mexico. Classified in the family Asteraceae, the genus Zinnia is named for Johann Gottfried Zinn (1727 – 1759), a German botanist, professor of medicine, and director of the Gottingen Botanical Gardens. Zinn collected Zinnia seeds in Mexico that proved to be the breeding stock for our ornamental garden Zinnia varieties. The species epithet comes from two Latin words; grandis, meaning large or abundant, and flos, meaning flower. So grandiflora can mean either large flowered, or many flowered and in the case of Zinnia grandiflora, the latter meaning is certainly more appropriate.

Buffalo Gourd — June 2011

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 22:37:44 -0600

With its large stiff leaves sticking upward like elephant ears and its huge yellow-gold blossoms beckoning all would-be pollinators, the buffalo gourd is perhaps the most distinctive and easily recognized plant species on the Preserve. This unmistakable species is a member of the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, along with other types of gourds, squashes, melons, and cucumbers. There are 14 different species of the gourd family native to New Mexico classified into nine genera. Cucurbita foetidissima is one of three native New Mexican species in the genus Cucurbita, the Latin name for gourds. The species epithet comes from the Latin word foetid, meaning stinking or ill smelling. The suffix issima indicates the superlative version of the word, so not only is buffalo gourd a foul smelling plant, its scientific name declares that it is the most stinky gourd of all. Distinctly odiferous, especially when leaves or stems are crushed, the smell has rather politely been described as sweet, but unpleasant. Other common names for Cucurbita foetidissima are coyote melon, stinking gourd, Missouri gourd, and calabacilla loca.

Yellowspine thistle — May 2011

Fri, 20 May 2011 12:55:54 -0600

Yellowspine thistle

Yellowspine thistle plant

Yellowspine thistle flower

Yellowspine thistle seeds

Like a lavender starburst when viewed from above, the flower head of yellowspine thistle is somewhat reminiscent of a snowflake. The delicate appearance of these blooms provides quite a contrast to the rest of the plant, which is covered with stout yellow spines and therefore much less inviting. Also known as Santa Fe thistle, the scientific name of yellowspine thistle is Cirsium ochrocentrum. The genus Cirsium is the primary genus of North American thistles and the name comes from the traditional Greek name for a thistle plant, kirsion. From the Greek words ochos, meaning pale yellow and kentron meaning the center of a circle, the species epithet ochrocentrum refers to the conspicuous yellow spot in the center of the flower head before it opens. Yellowspine thistle is one of 13 native species of Cirsium in New Mexico and the only species I have found on the Preserve to date.

Yellowspine thistle prefers dry sandy to gravelly soil and commonly grows in prairies, pastures and disturbed areas like roadsides. It is a biennial (or a short-lived perennial) sometimes reaching four feet in height. In addition to a taproot, creeping lateral roots may develop, which are capable of producing new plants. One to twenty erect stems emerge from each root crown. Covered with dense woolly hairs, the stems are white in color. The leaves are relatively narrow and up to eight inches long with irregular lobes that look like triangular teeth. Each lobe ends in a sharp yellow spine. Hairs are also present on the leaf surfaces but are much more abundant on the lower surface. Therefore the undersides of leaves appear white whereas the upper surfaces are gray-green.

Perky Sue — April 2011

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 18:06:15 -0600

Perky Sue plants

Perky Sue flowers & leaves

Perky Sue flower

Bright, cheery, and playful are all appropriate descriptors for this month’s native plant, a species that has one of the all-time great common names, perky sue. Its happy, yellow flowers appear along the edges of woods, in arroyo beds, as well as a variety of other open areas from early spring through the end of summer as long as the plants receive a little moisture. Perky sue is very likely the first member of the aster family (Asteraceae) to bloom on the Preserve each year. In this unusually dry year, I spotted my first bloom on March 31 and saw them regularly, even though they were somewhat less perky than usual, well into June. I have no doubt that after we get some rain later this summer, perky sue’s yellow smile will reappear on our landscape.

With 135 genera and 628 species in New Mexico, the Asteraceae is far and away our largest plant family. Plants in the genus Tetraneuris are commonly known as rubberweeds and there are six native species in New Mexico. From the Greek words tetra (four) and neuron (nerve), Tetraneuris refers to the four nerves (veins) usually visible in each petal of the ray flowers. The species epithet, argentea, is derived from the Latin word for silver, argentum, and refers to the silvery color of the leaves of Tetraneuris argentea.

Constance’s spring parsley — March 2011

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:57:18 -0600

Spring Parsley

Click any photo to view full size.

Spring Parsley Flowers

Spring Parsley Fruit

Be sure to look carefully when you’re out walking in the late winter and you might just spot flat clusters of white and purple flowers on the very small plant Constance’s spring parsley. It is very likely the earliest native plant to bloom on the Preserve and this year I found it in flower within 100 feet of my front door on February 25. Constance’s spring parsley is also known by the names wide-winged spring parsley, Lincoln’s spring parsley, and wafer parsnip. Its scientific name is Cymopterus constancei. The name Cymopterus refers to the wings present on surface of the fruit and is derived from two Greek words; kyma meaning bud or sprout, and pteron meaning wing. Plants in this genus are commonly called spring parsleys. The specific name honors the American botanist Lincoln Constance (1909 – 2001), a faculty member at the University of California at Berkeley and a widely recognized expert on the parsley (or carrot) family.

Constance’s spring parsley is a low growing herbaceous perennial that is typically found in open areas of woodlands. This small plant produces a taproot that may be several inches long, the lower half of which is often enlarged. Each plant produces only a few stems that may bear one or two leaves but are usually leafless. Most of the leaves are basal (not attached to an upright stem) with the largest leaves growing only 4 - 6 inches long. The leaves are light gray-green in color, somewhat fleshy, and divided many times into leaflets that in turn are divided into sub leaflets giving the leaves a distinctive fern-like appearance. The leaf stalks (petioles) are also fleshy and U-shaped in cross section.

Silverleaf nightshade — February 2011

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 11:15:29 -0700

Nightshade plant

Nightshade flowers

Nightshade fruit

The distinctive blossoms with pale violet, swept-back petals and stamens sticking out like five golden tongues make the silverleaf nightshade easy to recognize. Even when it is not in bloom, the plant can be readily identified based on its long, narrow, silvery leaves with wavy edges. Solanum elaeagnifolium is a member of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), notorious for producing alkaloids, some of which are narcotic. Yet this family also includes some of our most well liked and widely used crops including tomatoes, potatoes (in the genus Solanum), tobacco, and our New Mexico favorite, chilies. The genus name Solanum comes from two Latin words, solor meaning to comfort or relieve and anum meaning pertaining to. So the name means comforting, referring to the medicinal and/or narcotic properties of some species, particularly the analgesic effects of certain alkaloids. Members of this genus are commonly referred to as nightshades or horsenettles and there are seven Solanum species native to New Mexico.

Prickly Pear — January 2011

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 08:48:25 -0700

Prickly Pear Plant

Prickly Pear Flowers

Prickly Pear Tunas

With their bright, bold colors and surprisingly large size, is it any wonder that we tend to be drawn to cactus flowers? Emerging from an otherwise barren and even threatening landscape they provide an irresistible visual treat and serve the plant well by effectively attracting pollinators. The yellow blossoms of the plains prickly pear cactus do their job very well indeed. Opuntia is the genus of cactus plants commonly called prickly pears and Opuntia phaeacantha is one of the two common species of Opuntia on the Preserve and one of nine prickly pear species native to New Mexico. The genus was named for succulent plants found in the city of Opus, Greece by Joseph Pitton deTournefort (1656-1708), a French botanist noted for his clear definition of the concept of a plant genus. Phaeacantha refers to the presence of dark spines from the Greek words phaios, meaning dusky or dark gray and akantha, meaning thorn or spine. Other common names for Opuntia phaeacantha are brown-spined prickly pear, desert prickly pear, tulip prickly pear, and Mojave prickly pear.

Red barberry — December 2010

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:26:14 -0700

Barberry fruits

Barberry plant

Barberry flowers

Could it be? Do we have Christmas holly growing on the Preserve? No we don’t, but there is a native shrub called red barberry with prickly leaves and red berries that is quite reminiscent of holly. Its striking berries have led to a number of other common names such as red mahonia, red Oregon grape, red holly grape, Mexican barberry, bloodberry barberry, and desert barberry. Berberis haematocarpa is one of six Berberis species native to New Mexico (to date, I have only found one other species, B. repens, on the Preserve). The genus name Berberis comes from the Arabic word for barberry fruit, berberys. The barberry family, Berberidaceae, contains plants characterized by yellow-colored inner bark and flowers with six petals and six stamens. The family has fifteen genera worldwide, but only Berberis occurs in New Mexico. The specific epithet of red barberry, haematocarpa, comes from two Greek words; haima meaning blood and karpos meaning fruit. Berberis haematocarpa is often called by the Spanish name algerita, but that name, like many of the common names for plants, is rather imprecise because it is also often used as the name for one or more of the other native species of Berberis.

Scarlet Morning Glory — September 2010

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 15:52:22 -0600

Scarlet morning glory on saltbush

Scarlet morning glory leaves

Scarlet morning glory flower

Vines of the scarlet morning glory can be found climbing on a variety of plants in the Preserve in the fall, showing off their brilliant red blossoms like strands of randomly draped Christmas lights. The first photo shows a vine with several flowers growing on a four-wing saltbush plant. Scarlet morning glory is also known as the Trans-Pecos morning glory, starglory, red morning glory, and scarlet creeper. Its scientific name, Ipomoea cristulata, refers to characteristics of the plant other than its bright red flowers. Ipomoea comes from two Greek words, ips, meaning worm, and homos, meaning equal, alike, or agreeing. So the genus name, shared by most morning glory species, indicates the plant’s twining, or crawling growth habit. The species epithet, cristulata, comes from the Latin word crista, meaning crest, so the diminutive form, cristulata indicates having a small crest, a feature that is evident on both the sepals and the fruits of this species.

Ipomoea cristulata is an annual that grows in the wetter microhabitats of dry upland regions. Its seeds typically germinate in sandy washes after the summer monsoon rains. I have noticed that in drier summers, scarlet morning glory simply does not appear. The twining stems sometimes take on a reddish tint as they grow up a suitable host plant. Dark green leaves arise on 1-4” long petioles emerging from the stem in an alternate pattern. The leaves have smooth edges and will have one of two shapes: either broad and heart-shaped, or deeply cut into 3 or 5 distinctive lobes as shown in the second photo.

Broom Groundsel — October 2010

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 15:16:03 -0600

Broom groundsel plant

Broom groundsel flowers

Broom groundsel seeds

A large variety of yellow-flowered plants can be found on the Preserve throughout the growing season, especially composites (members of the sunflower, or daisy family; Asteraceae) and sometimes their specific identification can be challenging. In the fall one of our most obvious and vibrant yellow-flowering composites is broom groundsel, Senecio spartioides. The genus Senecio was named by Linnaeus in 1753 from the Latin word for old man, senex, because of the whitish downy hairs covering the seed heads in this genus. Senecio, with over 1,000 species worldwide, is one of the largest genera in existence, although some taxonomists have recently proposed revisions that would move many of the species out of this genus. Senecio species are commonly known as groundsels or ragworts and there are 20 species native to New Mexico. The species name spartioides means resembling the genus Spartium, a group in the legume family, Fabaceae. Other common names for broom groundsel are broom-like ragwort, many-headed groundsel, grass-leaved ragwort, and broom butterweed.

Paper Daisy — August 2010

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:13:26 -0600

Paper Daisy Plant

Paper Daisy Leaves

Paper Daisy Flowers

Bright, bold, yellow bouquets have been decorating the Deer Canyon Preserve landscape for the past two months. The paper daisy, also known as paperflower, woolly paperflower, and marigold paperflower, flowers so profusely that its stems and leaves are often totally obscured by its floral display. It prefers flat, open, sandy ground and consequently pops up in disturbed areas and open rangeland. One of four native paperflower species in New Mexico, Psilostrophe tagetina is the only species I have yet found on the Preserve. Psilostrophe is derived from two Greek words: psilos, meaning naked, bare, or smooth, and trophos, meaning one who nurses or feeds. So the name of this genus refers to the fact that the base of the flower, a structure called the receptacle that functions to nourish the flower as it develops, is smooth. The specific epithet, tagetina, means resembling the genus Tagetes (marigolds), which is named for Tages, the Etruscan god of the underworld and grandson of Jupiter.

Paper daisy is a perennial herb that grows as a hemispherical mound up to two feet tall and three feet wide. It has branching stems that may become woody at the base. Both the stems and leaves have long, soft, silky hairs that give the surfaces a gray, wool-like appearance. The narrow leaves have smooth edges; some of the leaves near the base of the plant may be lobed. Leaves on the upper branches are smaller (less than an inch long) and lack petioles, but are otherwise similar in color and texture.

Plains Beebalm — July 2010

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:04:01 -0600

Plains beebalm stem

Plains beebalm plant

Plains beebalm flowers

The plains beebalm plant is known by many names, but the one I find particularly intriguing is the pagoda plant. With groups of leaves emerging in a regularly-spaced pattern along the stem topped, on the upper parts of the stem, by hemispherical flower clusters, these plants can be quite reminiscent of those distinctive Far Eastern temples. Plants in the genus Monarda have traditionally been called beebalms because not only do their flowers attract those pollinators in great numbers, but various concoctions from these plants have traditionally been used to treat insect bites and stings. The name Monarda honors the Spanish physician and botanist Nicholas Monardes (1493–1588) who, though he never traveled to North America, wrote a book on medicinal plants of the New World. The plains beebalm, Monarda pectinata,, has its species designation derived from the Latin word pecten, meaning comb, probably alluding to the pattern of nodes along the stem. Other common names for this plant include pony beebalm, spotted beebalm, plains lemon monarda, and horse mint.

Fragrant Sand Verbena — June 2010

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:18:39 -0600

Sand Verbena Plant

Sand Verbena Cluster

Sand Verbena Flower

Snowballs in Deer Canyon Preserve in June? You bet! Just wander through our sandy-soiled open fields (for example along the trail leading east from the Preserve Center) and you are likely to come across fragrant sand verbena, oftentimes in great abundance. Abronia fragrans is also known as sweet sand verbena, snowball sand verbena, and my personal favorite, heart’s delight. The genus name comes from the Greek word abros meaning graceful or delicate. This attribute can be applied to many aspects of fragrant sand verbena such as the rounded, smooth leaves or the arching purplish stems that bear the new, unopened flower buds (seen to the right of the opened flower in the above photo), but it specifically refers to the whorl of paper-thin bracts that surrounds each developing flower cluster. The species epithet fragrans comes from the Latin word fragere, meaning sweet smelling.

Fragrant sand verbena, despite its delicate appearance, is a very hardy perennial that grows from a substantial taproot. Stems grow upright or more commonly in a widely sprawling pattern that gives the overall plant an open, somewhat unorganized look. Erect stem growth may produce a plant as tall as 3 feet, but usually these rambling plants are about half that tall. Both stems and leaves are covered with hairs that make the plant surfaces somewhat sticky. Oval or egg-shaped leaves arise rather sparsely along the stems in an opposite arrangement. Often the two leaves in each pair are distinctly different sizes with the largest leaves getting about three inches long. Each leaf is connected to the stem by a distinct stalk (or petiole) and the leaf surfaces have a somewhat blue-green color.

Fendler’s Penstemon — May 2010

Mon, 31 May 2010 18:27:25 -0600

Penstemon Plants

Fendler’s Penstemon

Penstemon Flowers

This month many open areas of the Preserve are decorated with erect stalks sporting regularly-spaced tubular flowers that are somewhat reminiscent of miniature lavender signposts pointing in all directions; like dry gulch - 22 miles, or big cat butte – 7 miles (if you dare). This sturdy perennial wildflower is Fendler’s penstemon, also known as Fendler’s beardtongue, with the comparatively easy to remember scientific name Penstemon fendleri. Penstemon comes from two Greek words, pente meaning five, and stemon the name of the male flower part we call a stamen. So this genus name means having five stamens and one of those five stamens in a penstemon flower is sterile and looks different than the other four pollen- producing stamens. Called a staminoid, this oddball has a hairy tip and is located at the throat of the floral tube, hence the other common name for flowers in this genus, beardtongue. The specific epithet is for Augustus Fendler, the same prolific German plant collector introduced in our March 2009 essay (Fendler’s bladderpod).

Easter Daisy — April 2010

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:14:29 -0600

Those who walk the Preserve in the spring with eyes carefully scanning the surface of the ground are occasionally rewarded by a bright clump of flowers appearing to emerge directly from the earth. What might look like a bouquet of silk flowers that had been cut off near the top with its stem stumps stuck straight into the ground is actually a striking spring bloomer called Easter daisy, stemless daisy, or stemless Townsend daisy. Townsendia exscapa was named to honor the American banker and botanist from West Chester, Pennsylvania, David Townsend (1787-1858). There are ten species of the genus Townsendia that are native in New Mexico; the species name exscapa refers to the absence of visible stems in this species from the Latin words ex (without) and scapus (a stalk). The Easter daisy can be found in dry plains, hillsides, and openings in piñon-juniper woodlands throughout much of Western North America, from Mexico to Canada.

Easter daisy is a perennial with a thick, branching taproot. A cluster of basal leaves emerges from the root crown with a gray color owing to a covering of microscopic hairs. Individual leaves are linear, up to two inches long and about 1/8 inch in width with smooth edges and a pointed tip. Typically obscured by the flowers, the leaves are evergreen, therefore they can be observed throughout the year, after the flowering season and even during the winter months.

Blackfoot Daisy — March 2010

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:09:32 -0600

The recent unusually wet winter promises an abundance of flowers this year: especially great news for the cheery blackfoot daisy which has one of the longest blooming periods of any of our native wildflowers. Also known as the plains blackfoot or sometimes rock daisy, this plant favors rocky soil in dry hills and canyons and pops up in a variety of open spaces throughout the Preserve. A member of the daisy, or composite family (Asteraceae), its genus name, Melampodium, means black foot from the Greek words mela, black, and podion, foot. Melampodium leucanthum is one of three native blackfoot species in New Mexico and the only one I have found thus far on the Preserve. Leucanthum describes the flowers from the Greek leukos meaning white and anthos meaning flower.

Blackfoot daisy is a low growing perennial that tends to form round, bushy plants rarely more than a foot high and sometimes up to two feet wide. The stems may be reddish in color and become woody at the base of the plant. Leaves are straplike in shape with smooth edges, less than a quarter inch wide and up to two inches long. They are arranged in an opposite pattern on the stem and are covered with stiff hairs lying flat on the surface of the leaf. The effect of the hairs is to give the plant’s herbage a grayish color.

White Stem Evening Primrose — February 2010

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:25:34 -0700

Sporting unusually large white blooms on relatively small plants, the white stem evening primrose is one of our most conspicuous spring wildflowers. This widespread plant prefers sandy soil and sunny openings of foothills or semi-desert regions. There are 34 native evening primrose species in New Mexico classified in the genus Oenothera. Linneaus adopted the Greek name for the genus of these plants, a name arising from the Greek words oinos, meaning wine, and therao, meaning to seek or to imbibe. Apparently the Greeks commonly used the root of one evening primrose species to flavor wine. The white stem evening primrose (also called prairie evening primrose, palestem evening primrose, and whitest evening primrose) is the speciesOenothera albicaulis. The species epithet derives from the Latin words albus, meaning white, and caulis, meaning stem.

White stem evening primrose is an annual with upright stems that may be branched. The stems are covered with light hairs that give the stems their distinctive whitish cast. Plants tend to grow in a spreading habit that gives them a clumped appearance, rarely exceeding 20 inches in height. The basal leaves grow to two inches in length with variable shapes and may have smooth or lobed edges. The leaves growing from the stems are long and thin, with evenly spaced short projections giving those leaves a comb-like appearance.

Claret Cup Cactus — January 2010

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:18:51 -0700

In the midst of this unusually snowy winter we would all welcome some vibrant color in the landscape and no plant on the Preserve provides that commodity like the claret cup cactus, Echinocereus triglochidiatus. Also known as kingcup cactus and Mojave mound cactus, this beauty is usually found at the base of an accommodating juniper tree as claret cup is one of the few cacti that prefers a little shade. It can be found in many parts of New Mexico, tucked into rocky slopes, mountain woodlands, as well as lower desert areas. Members of the genus Echinocereus (from the Greek echinos meaning hedgehog or sea urchin and cereus meaning waxy) are commonly referred to as the hedgehog cacti. One of 11 New Mexico native species in this genus, the species name triglochidiatus, also derives from Greek words that mean bearing three spines.

Individual stems of claret cup cacti are barrel shaped, 3-6” wide and up to one foot tall. It is a mounding cactus, sometimes found with dozens of stems in a cluster. Stems have a variable number of prominent ribs (usually seven) that bear groups of spines from distinct raised spots called areoles. A few prominent gray spines grow from each areole that are up to three inches long and quite hefty. The number of large spines/areole varies from one to six (rarely more), with groups of three, as suggested by the species epithet, being quite common on some individuals.

Ponderosa Pine — December 2009

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:15:46 -0700

Ponderosa pine is found only in the higher elevations of Deer Canyon Preserve. But it grows in so many areas throughout the western United States that it is generally recognized as the most common and widespread of all our western conifers. The famous Scottish botanist David Douglas first discovered this species in Washington in 1826. Its scientific name, Pinus ponderosa, is identical to its common name; Pinus is the Latin word for pine and ponderosa is Latin for large (or ponderous). This name is particularly appropriate as ponderosa pine is the tallest of all North American pines. The New Mexico state champion stands 129 feet tall, however ponderosa pines in other parts of the West grow more than 100 feet taller than that. It is also a relatively long-lived pine, sometimes reaching over 650 years old.

The bark of young trees is rather dark, but when the tree approaches 100 years of age the bark typically lightens and forms distinct yellow-orange plates that often have the appearance of jigsaw puzzle pieces. The bark is thick, fire resistant, resinous, and often has a pleasant aroma reminiscent of vanilla. Branches, which are typically lacking on the bottom portion of older trees, have dark colored twigs that bear needles in clusters of three. The long, yellow-green needles grow up to ten inches in length.

Winterfat — November 2009

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:50:56 -0700

Every fall the open areas of Deer Canyon Preserve are decorated with low-growing shrubs topped with erect stems that resemble long fingers of silvery cotton candy. Known as winterfat because of its value as winter browse, this playful plant also goes by the common names white sage, winter sage, feather sage, sweet sage, and lambstail. Its scientific name is much less fanciful: Krascheninnikovia lanata. The genus honors Stephan Petrovich Krascheninnikov, a Russian botanist who accompanied the Danish explorer Bering on the Great Northern Expedition to Siberia from 1733 to 1743. The species epithet is particularly descriptive, meaning wooly, from the Latin word for wool, lana.

Winterfat is a perennial shrub that can be found in deserts, arid grasslands, woodland edges at almost all but the highest elevations throughout western North America. With both a long taproot and a network of fibrous roots near the surface it is a highly successful plant and can be unusually long-lived; one plant in Idaho was documented at 136 years old. A number of hairy stems arise from a central woody stem, but the plant rarely exceeds two feet in height. The leaves are up to 2” long and narrow with rolled edges. A dense covering of hairs gives the leaves a light gray color and they tend to remain on the plant throughout the winter. A new set of leaves will replace them in the spring.

Blue grama — October 2009

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 07:19:36 -0600

Our native plant for this month may not be the most eye-catching or conspicuous plant of Deer Canyon Preserve, but if we were to rate all our native plants according to the number of individuals growing on the Preserve, blue grama grass would clearly be at the top of the list. It is the dominant grass in the rangelands of our region and it grows profusely in virtually all open areas of the Preserve. The scientific name of blue grama is Bouteloua gracilis. Bouteloua honors the brothers Claudio and Esteban Boutelou, Spanish gardeners who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The Boutelou brothers planted and maintained the living collections brought back to Spain from the New World by the Spanish botanists Sesse and Mocino who headed the Royal Botanical Expedition to New Spain from 1787–1803. The species name, gracilis, is a Latin word meaning slender and graceful which aptly describes the leaves of blue grama. Bouteloua gracilis is also known by the common names graceful grama grass, signal-arm grass, eyelash grass, and mosquito grass.

Tansy Aster — September 2009

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:55:44 -0600

Many roadsides and open areas of Deer Canyon Preserve are painted with mounds of purple this fall owing to a profusion of purple aster species. One prevalent such species is Machaeranthera tanacetifolia, the tansy aster. This genus name is derivedfrom the Greek word for sword, “machaira,” noting the tiny sword-shaped anthers (pollen sacs) in the flowers of members of this genus. The species epithet is based on a more easily observed characteristic of the plant, its leaves which are quite similar to those of the tansy plant (genus Tanacetum). Other common names for tansy aster are tansyleaf tansyaster, tansyleaf aster, prairie aster, and Tahoka daisy (seeds of this species are collected around Tahoka, Texas for commercial use).

The tansy aster is an annual plant that typically grows in open, dry habitats and prefers sandy soil. Below ground it forms a taproot to acquire and store water and above ground the plant tends to branch extensively from its base. Consequently tansy aster plants are low-growing bushy plants, rarely exceeding 18 inches in height. Leaves are positioned in an alternate pattern along the stems and are highly dissected, giving the leaves a fern- like appearance. The leaves are a gray-green in color and form small spines at their tips.

Blue Trumpets — August 2009

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:22:25 -0600

It only takes one look at the flowers of Ipomopsis longiflora to understand why the name blue trumpets is so appropriate for this plant. Still I prefer the common name pale trumpets because it is more suggestive of the delicate appearance of the plant and the subtle color of its flowers. Other common names for this plant are flax-flowered ipomopsis, long- flowered gilly, trumpet gilia, blue gilia, and pale-flowered gilia (Ipomopsis longiflora had previously been classified as Gilia longiflora, which helps explain some of its common names). Whatever common name you prefer, it denotes a plant with a wispy character and a delightfully shaped flower. The unusual flower shape is the basis for its species epithet, longiflora, and its genus name, Ipomopsis, implies a resemblance to flowers in the genus Ipomoea, which contains the morning glories.

Blue trumpets are annual, or sometimes biennial plants that occasionally reach two feet in height. They tend to branch extensively at the base, producing many thin stems. The open branching pattern makes the plants appear spindly, usually growing more outward than upward. The leaves are quite thin and sparsely positioned in an alternate arrangement on the stems. Overall blue trumpet plants have a flimsy, almost frail appearance which belies their hardy nature. The plants are actually very drought resistant and flourish in semi-desert hillsides and dry woodland openings.

Desert Four O’Clock — July 2009

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:17:50 -0600

Perhaps the showiest wildflower on the Preserve, the desert four o’clock does its best to live up to its scientific name, Mirabilis multiflora, which translates to many-flowered marvelous (or wonderful, or astonishing) plant. In full bloom it is eye-catching, to say the least. Often found growing at the base of a juniper tree, this beauty also turns up in more open, less protected spots. Other common names for this plant include wild four o’clock, Colorado four o’clock, showy four o’clock, giant four o’clock, and maravilla, the Spanish word for marvelous.

Desert four o’clock is a perennial that grows from a substantial, almost woody root and typically forms spreading clumps up to three feet tall and several feet wide. Plants have several stems that tend to grow outward rather than upward. Dark green somewhat heart-shaped leaves are arranged in an opposite pattern along the stems. Each leaf may grow up to four inches in length on a rather short petiole. Both stems and leaves are usually smooth, but sometimes have sticky hairs.

Indian Paintbrush — June 2009

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:23:18 -0600

Indian paintbrushes are among the most familiar southwestern wildflowers and they actually do look very much like the plant was plucked out of the ground, inverted, and carefully dipped in a bucket of paint. Of the 20 native species of Indian paintbrushes in New Mexico, the Southwestern Indian paintbrush, Castilleja integra, is the most common in Deer Canyon. The genus name honors the 18th century Spanish botanist Domingo Castillejo, and the species epitaph means whole or unbroken, describing the lack of lobes or teeth on the leaves and most of the bracts. Other common names for Castilleja integra include foothills paintbrush, wholeleaf Indian paintbrush, and squawfeather.

Southwestern Indian paintbrush is a perennial with one to several erect stems growing to about 16 inches in height. The stems have whitish woolly hairs and bear thin leaves up to two inches long in an alternate arrangement. Each leaf is sessile (attached directly to the stem, therefore lacking a petiole) with a smooth upper surface and a fuzzy underside. The main root is woody and the feeder roots are capable of tapping into the roots of nearby plants as they grow through the soil. Because such roots are able to acquire water and nutrients from their neighbors, Indian paintbrushes are classified as hemiparasites. They are certainly capable of making their own food photosynthetically, but they also rely on neighboring “host” plants (usually grasses, such as the blue grama in the photo below) to complete their nutritional requirements. Because of their hemiparasitic lifestyle, Indian paintbrushes are notoriously difficult to transplant, and reputable nurseries will only sell them growing in association with an appropriate “nurse plant.”

Soapweed Yucca — May 2009

Sun, 31 May 2009 17:12:52 -0600

On March 14, 1927, the yucca was officially declared as the state flower of New Mexico citing this plant as a symbol of sturdiness and beauty. Indeed yuccas are among the iconic plants of the American Southwest and their historic and cultural significance make them an excellent choice as a state symbol. Unlike most other state flowers, however, a particular species of yucca was not designated so any of the 11 native yucca species qualify as our state flower. This essay focuses on Yucca glauca, one of the two species (Yucca baccata, the banana yucca, is the other) that are prevalent on the Preserve. Yucca is derived from the Carib name for cassava, the tropical plant from which tapioca is made but which is botanically completely unrelated to yuccas. Somehow the same name was inappropriately applied to the plants known as yuccas today, and that usage became so widespread that the local name yuca was used as the basis for the plant’s scientific name. The specific epithet, glauca, describes the bluish-green, powdery coating on the surface of the leaves.

Dakota vervain — April 2009

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 19:01:38 -0600

This month many of our Deer Canyon roads are highlighted with blue edges. The abundant wildflower responsible for what might appear to be purple breakdown lanes is called Dakota vervain. Other common names for this plant include Western pink vervain, prairie vervain, Mexican vervain, fernleaf verbena, fern verbena, small-flowered verbena, and Dakota mock vervain. The abundance of common names in this case might suggest that there really is some value in the precision of botanical nomenclature. Glandularia bipinnatifida may be a mouthful, but it does clearly designate one specific plant (or does it? See “The Botanical View” below). Glandularia derives from the Latin word glandula, which means a small acorn-shaped gland, a reference to the shape of the fruits. The epithet bipinnatifida, indicating one of the 8 different species of the genus Glandularia found in New Mexico, describes a plant with twice-divided, or “feathery” leaves.

The Dakota vervain is a perennial plant that belongs to the verbena family (Verbenaceae). Although most of the 1,035 species of this family (worldwide) are herbaceous or shrubby plants, probably the best known and certainly the most economically important member of the family is the Southeast Asian timber tree that yields teak wood. Dakota vervain is commonly found in open, dry habitats, and particularly in places where the soil has been disturbed. Its stems are square in cross section and covered with stiff hairs. The branching stems often spread out over the ground and turn upright to bear flower clusters. Leaves have an opposite arrangement on the stem and are highly dissected. They have sunken veins and hairs that lie flat on the leaf surface.

Fendler’s Bladderpod — March 2009

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:37:05 -0600

With the coming of spring, we eagerly anticipate the appearance of wildflowers and usually one of the first to appear in Deer Canyon Preserve is Fendler’s bladderpod, Physaria fendleri. I noticed a rather early single bloom along a trail in Goat Canyon on March 1 this year, and now that we are at the end of the month, these bright yellow flowers are turning up much more frequently. This perennial herb will bloom throughout the spring and sometimes plants will flower again in the summer after a rain. The name bladderpod refers to the shape of the small fruits (inflated spherical pods that are between 1⁄4” and 1⁄2” in diameter). Other common names for this plant are yellowtop and popweed, the latter for the sound that may result from stepping on the pods. The genus name comes from the Greek word physa meaning bellows (another reference to the inflated pods) and the specific epithet honors Augustus Fendler, a German plant collector who arrived in Santa Fe in 1846 and collected over 1,000 specimens in New Mexico.

One–seed Juniper — February 2009

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:58:17 -0700

Late winter is a time when many are reminded of one-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma), not just because it is easily the most abundant tree on the Preserve, but also because the air fills with juniper pollen for a couple weeks sometime between late February and late March. Juniperus is an old Latin word for this type of tree and monosperma means one seed, so the scientific name of this plant is the same as its common name. This species is sometimes also called cherrystone juniper, New Mexico cedar, or Sabina (a Spanish word for juniper). It thrives in dry, rocky soil up to an elevation of about 7,000 feet.

One-seed juniper is a slow growing, long-lived tree that usually reaches a height of 10–20 feet. The largest one on record is found in New Mexico, in the

Jicarilla Mountains northeast of Alamagordo, and is 29 feet tall with a trunk circumference of 168 inches and a crown spread of 28 feet. Juniper trunks are frequently branched near the base and have gray-brown bark that detaches in long thin strips revealing a cinnamon color under the bark. The root systems of junipers often grow deep taproots giving the trees access to water that is not available to neighboring plants. Unlike many conifers, juniper leaves are scalelike, rather than needlelike. In fact, junipers are characterized by having two types of leaves. Most of the leaves are small and flattened with tiny glands that produce a white exudate. Leaves at the tips of some branches are twice as long as the scalelike leaves and sharply pointed, like tiny awls, making new branches prickly to the touch.

Tree Cholla — January 2009

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:06:25 -0700

Cholla flower

When we find ourselves in the midst of winter, many of us especially appreciate a robust and vibrant flower such as the one produced by the tree cholla, Cylindropuntia imbricata. Even though we will not see these flowers in the flesh for at least another four months (assuming we receive some spring precipitation), the tree cholla is a signature plant of the Preserve and much of New Mexico that stands out at all times of the year. It is a long-lived perennial that grows in deserts, dry plains, and in piñon-juniper woodlands to an altitude of about 7500 feet. Closely related to the prickly pear cacti characterized by flat paddle-like stems (genus Opuntia, named after a Greek city), the chollas have only recently been separated from Opuntia into their own genus, Cylindropuntia, which is characterized by cylindrical stems. Consequently you will often see the scientific name Opuntia imbricata still being used to indicate the tree cholla. Imbricata refers to the overlapping, shingle-like appearance of the stem surface. Other common names used for this plant are cane cholla, chainlink cactus, cholla, walking stick cholla, and even teddy-bear cholla, leading to confusion with similar names for some of the other six species of Cylindropuntia native to New Mexico.

Piñon Pine — December 2008

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:02:41 -0700

In the midst of the Holiday Season, what better time to turn our attention to the most common needle-leaved tree on the Preserve and the official New Mexico state tree, the piñon pine? Indeed the plant community type that dominates the Deer Canyon Preserve landscape is designated as piñon-juniper woodland. Also known as New Mexico pine, nut pine, mesa pine, two-leaved pine, pinyon pine, Rocky Mountain pinyon, and pinón, the species Pinus edulis is undoubtedly the most abundant pine in the state and perhaps the entire Southwest as piñon-juniper woodlands occur on most dry mountain slopes, mesas, and plateaus at elevations between 5,000 and 8,500 feet. It is fitting that the largest living piñon on record grows in Cuba, New Mexico and stands almost 70 feet tall with a trunk diameter of over 5.5 feet. The oldest documented piñon was found in 1956 in northeast Utah and was 973 years old.

The piñon is a relatively short tree (usually 30-45 feet tall) with a rounded, dense crown that often spreads wider than the height of the tree. The trunk and main branches are typically somewhat crooked and have a dark gray, rough bark with reddish irregular furrows.

Four–Wing Saltbush — November 2008

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:13:44 -0700

The approaching cold season means colorful flowers no longer adorn our landscape, but there are still many plants evident at this time of year that are worthy of our attention. This month we’ll look at what is probably the most abundant and significant shrub on the Preserve, four-wing saltbush. The name refers to the distinctively winged fruits and the plant’s ability to thrive on salty soil. Perhaps the most common shrub west of the Mississippi, it is understandable that four-wing saltbush is known by several other common names including saltsage, four-wing shadscale, bushy atriplex, white greasewood, as well as the Spanish name chamiso (and its derivatives chamise and chamize). Its scientific name, Atriplex canescens, comes from first, the Greek name for orache (atraphaxis), an edible weed; and second, the descriptor canescent meaning “turning hoary white.”

Four-wing saltbush is a thickly-branched, long-lived perennial that grows up to five feet tall. Its main stems are whitish in color, woody, and may become quite substantial in diameter. The root system is deep, accounting for the plant’s drought tolerance and significant value for erosion control. The gray appearance of four-wing saltbush is primarily a result of fine whitish hairs that cover the leaf surfaces. Rather small, elongated leaves are distributed along the branches in an alternate, often somewhat sparse pattern. In salty conditions the plants take up and accumulate salt from the soil, secreting excess salt as crusty deposits on the leaf surfaces.

Santa Fe Phlox — October 2008

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:07:07 -0600

This month we feature a plant that has been blooming continuously all summer and is still producing occasional flowers well into October (the photo of a single flower below was taken in Goat Canyon on October 9, 2008). Santa Fe phlox is a small perennial rarely reaching 1 foot in height that produces bright rose-pink flowers measuring about 1 inch across. Other common names are canyon phlox, because it is commonly found on rocky dry slopes, and white-eyed phlox, based on a variable flower color characteristic more evident in the photos below. Phlox nana is its scientific name; the genus name Phlox is a Latin word meaning flame flower from a Greek word for flame. The specific epithet, nana, means dwarf.

Santa Fe phlox is found a variety of habitats: scattered in open flat areas, along disturbed roadsides, as well as on rocky slopes. Like many successful desert plants, it grows a relatively deep taproot that allows the plant to survive extended periods of drought. Rhizomes (underground horizontal stems) may branch out from the taproot, but the plants spread slowly and never seem to form extensive clumps. Rather, Santa Fe phlox spreads primarily by its small seeds produced in capsules that break away from the plant soon after the seeds mature. The plant's foliage consists of small, narrow, needle-like gray-green leaves with glandular hairs that make the leaves somewhat sticky to the touch. Flowers are produced singly at the end of stems throughout the growing season. The color may vary from white (rare) to purple and the flowers often have a conspicuous central white eye. Because Santa Fe phlox exhibits a rather sparse, open branching pattern, the plants never produce dense floral displays; but the resulting scattered specks of color add a subtle cheery dimension to the landscape.

Botanically, Phlox nana is a member of the Polemoniaceae (phlox family), a group that is characterized by flowers with five petals partially fused into a trumpet-like tube with the unfused ends of the petals opening into a flat face, five stamens (pollen-bearing male reproductive structures) positioned between and often fused to the inside of the petals, and a central pistil (female reproductive structure) with its tip split into three parts. This family has its greatest diversity in western North America. There are 11 genera and 59 species of the phlox family found in New Mexico (I have identified five species so far in Deer Canyon).

I was unable to find any specific uses of Santa Fe phlox, but the well-known garden phloxes are cultivated varieties of Phlox drummondii, and several other phlox species have been used by Navajo Indians in a variety of medicinal ways such as: treatment of toothaches, burns, and dermatitis, as a diuretic, and in ceremonial medicine. Because of its long flowering period, Santa Fe phlox is a great carefree addition to any native plant garden, especially a rock garden. Phloxes in general are known to be good plants for attracting butterflies, a plus in any garden. Despite its small stature, we cannot help but appreciate Santa Fe phlox for its hardiness, reliability, versatility, and especially its bright, pleasant flowers.

A Botanical View – Why use native plants in your garden?

There has been increasing emphasis on gardening with native plants in recent years, a trend that is particularly appropriate here in the Southwest. Indeed the Deer Canyon Preserve covenants specify in part 4. Restrictions; Section R. Landscaping and Planting – "Any landscaping or planting must be of plants native to the general area and must be watered and maintained until fully established on their own." It's important that we are clear about what a native plant is in the first place. Natives are plants that evolved in the particular area in question and therefore have the necessary adaptations to survive in that particular climate and habitat. They are a functional part of their local ecological system, having vital relationships with many of the other organisms in their community such as providing food, nesting sites, or other valuable cover. Native plants have unseen and frequently unappreciated relationships with a host of soil microorganisms forming various associations that that promote healthy soil. In contrast, non-native plants, also called introduced, exotic, or alien species, have evolved in some other part of the world and arrived here by accidental or sometimes intentional means (purposely planted as a garden, forage, or an erosion control plant) sometime after the European settlement of the New World. Lists of New Mexico native and non-native plants may be found on the Native Plant Society of New Mexico website.

The phrase “native to the general area" in the DCP covenants is a little too vague for my taste. A more helpful phrase in planning your landscaping would be "native to areas in and around pinyon-juniper woodlands at 6000'-8000' elevation in central New Mexico." There are many New Mexico natives that will not survive at Deer Canyon Preserve so when purchasing native plants for your yard, be sure to let the vendor know your local conditions. One goal of this series is to help you get to know our native plants so that you can select ones appropriate for use in your garden.

Why grow natives in your garden? Primarily because they are so easy and reliable. Once established, they will require little care and will be unlikely to cause any problems for other nearby plants and animals (always a potential risk with non-natives). In fact, native plants are likely to draw additional wildlife to your yard. The best way to appreciate many of the plants with which we share Deer Canyon Preserve is to invite them into our yards where we can get to know them better.

And, at last, the downloadable pdf of this essay is here!

Globemallow — September 2008

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:40:52 -0600

Throughout September an occasional splash of orange interrupts the green, yellow, and brown colors that dominate our fall landscape. Such a welcome colorful highlight is provided by perennial plants called globemallows. Of the 14 different species of globemallows native to New Mexico, at least two are found in Deer Canyon.

Globemallow species are not easily distinguished because both the leaf shape and flower color can be quite variable, not to mention the various species are known to hybridize. I believe the species we see with upright floral spikes pictured above is the gray, or soft globemallow, Sphaeralcea incana. The name Sphaeralcea comes from the Greek words sphaira (sphere) and alkea (mallow). Incana is Latin for gray, so in this case the common name derives directly from the scientific name.

Globemallows belong to the mallow family (Malvaceae) along with hollyhocks and hibiscus plants. The mallow family is characterized by cup-shaped flowers with five petals. In the center of each flower the female structure (carpel) is surrounded by a ring of many male pollen-producing structures (stamens). The stalks of all the stamens are fused together forming a tube surrounding the carpel. The fuzzy-appearing yellow ball in the center of each flower (visible in the left photo below) results from the many ends of each stamen as they individually bend away from the central tube prior to releasing their pollen. The right photo is the other species common in Deer Canyon the scarlet globemallow, Sphaeralcea coccinea (coccinea means scarlet). It grows much lower to the ground and has leaves that are deeply divided (with thin, branching lobes).

Globemallows have a long flowering period, some species bloom from March to October; the fruits are edible and were probably eaten by Native Americans. The leaves and stems of globemallows are slimy when crushed and this characteristic has led to a variety of uses. The sticky pulp produced by pounding the plants has been added to mud to make a particularly hard flooring material, when mixed with water it produces a plaster used to cast broken bones, or added to paint preparations to make them adhere more tightly. Traditional medicinal uses include producing a poultice on sores and boils, root preparations applied to stop bleeding, and chewing leaves or flowers for a sore throat.

A Botanical View – Annuals vs. Perennials

Most people know that annuals are plants that grow from seed, flower, set seed, and die in one growing season. Perennials also grow from seed, flower, set seed (in some cases not in the first growing season), but then they overwinter so that the same individual plant can grow again the next season and repeat the cycle for many additional years. It seems that perennials have a significant advantage over annuals; if so, why aren’t all plants perennials? Whatever happened to survival of the fittest? Did annuals somehow miss the evolutionary express and become doomed to ride the local jitney? Let’s not get carried away, after all last month’s annual, the golden crownbeard, seems to be surviving quite nicely, thank you very much.

Perhaps the best way to think about this is to recognize that all species existing today are successes in their own right. However over time different species have adopted different survival strategies. All species must make due with limited resources, the question is how best to allocate the resources they are able to garner. The strategy of annuals is to be fast growing and reproductively promiscuous. Annual plants direct almost all the energy they acquire to producing as many seeds as possible and dispersing those seeds efficiently. Perennials do not have the luxury of using all their energy for reproduction. They must build energy reserves, usually in some type of underground storage organ, in anticipation of next years growing season. They also spend a larger portion of their energy budget on long-term survival issues like preventing herbivores and pathogens (structural defenses such as thorns, and/or a vast array of chemical defenses). They cannot afford to use as high a portion of their energy for reproduction, but if one year’s crop of seeds is minimal or even missing completely, it’s not a total loss – there’s always next year. And in general perennials are much better at propagating themselves vegetatively; sexual reproduction (seed production) is not their only option.

So is one strategy better than another? It’s a toss-up, clearly both strategies work very well. A little like the tortoise and the hare. The tortoise may win the race, but around here our jackrabbits constantly remind us that the hare is quite successful in the game of survival as well.

Want this essay as a pdf, complete with photos? Download it here!

Golden Crownbeard — August 2008

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:18:55 -0600

Our landscape this August is dominated by vibrant yellow color lining the roads, blanketing many of the open fields, and winding like shimmering rivers flowing between wooded areas. Most of this color results from the abundant blooms of an annual wildflower, the golden crownbeard, also called cowpen daisy or butter daisy. A member of the aster, daisy, or sunflower family (botanically, the family Asteraceae, a very large group of plants often called “composites”), its scientific name is Verbesina encelioides. Verbesina suggests that the leaves resemble those of verbena and encelioides probably is derived from Enkelados, a giant of Greek mythology with 100 arms.

The golden crownbeard plant is easily recognized by its overall shape, a single stem that branches multiple times as the plant ages, resulting in many flowers on each individual plant. The leaves are also distinctive: the blades are somewhat triangular, 2”–4” long, with toothed edges, the leafstalks sometimes have wings where they join the stem, and the leaves and stems are covered with woolly hairs that give the plant a gray-green hue. The yellow flowers appear July - September and may grow to be about 2” across. Actually the flowers of all plants in this family are clusters of dozens of very small flowers packed together in a “head” (hence the name composites). Golden crownbeards typically have about 12 outer flowers (ray flowers), each with one conspicuous petal that has characteristic clefts on its outer edge. The numerous tiny inner flowers (disk flowers) are also yellow and have inconspicuous petals.

As is usually the case with plants that are somewhat odoriferous, golden crownbeards have traditional medicinal applications, most commonly for the treatment of skin ailments and spider bites. It has also been reported that Navajos would chew the petals to insure good fortune when hunting. Along the same lines, some native peoples placed the flowers on their homes and their heads to ward off lightning. Although its abilities to help us in such ways may be questioned by some, the golden crownbeard has the undeniable ability to brighten our surroundings and lift our spirits each year in late summer.

A Botanical View – Is golden crownbeard a sunflower?

Sunflower is the common name for plants that are classified in the genus Helianthus. Helianthus is one of approximately 1500 genera (which include about 23,000 species) in the family Asteraceae worldwide. Members of the genus Helianthus are distinguished from the other genera in the family based on some rather technical features of the small structures found under the base of the flower heads and in the pattern of development and structural features of the fruits/seeds that form from the flowers. The golden crownbeard (genus Verbesina) does not share these characteristics with true sunflowers so botanically speaking it is not a sunflower. However some people may think of golden crownbeard as a sunflower for two reasons. First, no rules apply to common names, consequently such names are often local, variable, and misleading; in effect non-scientists are free to call any plant whatever they please. A second, more legitimate reason for some confusion is that the family Asteraceae is often referred to as the sunflower family. Probably the best way to think of it is that the golden crownbeard is a close relative of sunflowers, but not a true sunflower itself.

Incidentally there are 52 different North American species in the genus Helianthus, 12 of which are native to New Mexico. To date I have only seen Helianthus annus, the Kansas, or common sunflower, growing at Deer Canyon.

Field of golden crownbeards at Deer Canyon Preserve.

Downloadable essay here.