Pholisma sonorae (sand food) ( ) Boraginaceae One of the most unusual dune plants of the lower desert is sand food, a bizarre root parasite that erupts with a head of scale-like leaves and flowers from the sand. Most of the tissues of this strange plant lies in a succulent stem that extend as much as 3-6 feet below the sand surface where it attaches to roots of nearby host plants. The common name comes from the fact that the fleshy tissue is eaten raw or roasted by Native American tribes including the Sand Papagos and Cocopas. The flavor o the stems is described as slightly sweet, with the texture of a crisp radish. Because of its limited range in the lower Sonoran Desert and specific habitat requirements it has a CNPS Rare Plant Tank 1B: rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere. "Califoria Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Dicoria canescens (desert twinbugs) ( ) Asteraceae Annual plants, which must reestablish their populations from seed each yea, would seem to be poorly adapted to surviving in dune habitats. While this is generally true, there are a few annual species that are quite successful on sandy substrates such as dunes. An example of this mode of occurrence is seen in an unusual annual called desert twinbugs which forms thickets of many individuals in the desert sand. Unlike most annuals, it is aided in growth by a strong taproot and reaches heights up tp 2-3 feet. This plant has distinctive long and sharply toothed lower leaves and sharply toothed, contrasted with smaller and rounded upper leaves. Both leaf types are densely covered with white or gray hairs to reflect the sun. Each plant can produce several whitish discoid flower heads which lack ray flowers. These heads often form closely associated pairs, a characteristic which is the origin of "twinbugs". "Califoria Desert P

  Hesperocallis undulata (desert lily) ( ) Asparagaceae Desert lily, one of the few desert bulb plants, is a slender, perennial herb. This widespread species occurs on dunes but is also common on sandy flats and mesas of creosote bus scrub and Joshua tree woodlands of the southern and western Mojave Desert, as well as the lower Sonoran Desert in California. "Califoria Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Abronia villosa (desert sand verbena) (  ) Nyctaginaceae Frequently growing with dune evening primrose is desert sand verbena, an annual plant with beautiful pink to magenta-colored flowers. The many trailing stems of sand verbena grow outward for as much as 2 feet, with thick rounded leaves covered by sticky hairs along their length. This is an easy plant to recognize and perhaps the most photographed of all desert annuals. It is widely distributed in low sandy valleys and edges o dunes in lower elevations of both the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. "Califoria Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Oenothera deltoides (dune evening primrose, birdcage evening primrose) ( ) Onagraceae One of the most spectacular wildflowers of sandy soils and sand dunes throughout the California deserts is dune evening primrose. It has showy, large, and fragrant white flowers that turn pinkish with age. This herbaceous perennial often grows in profusion on lower dune slopes-presenting a spectacular wildflower display. The name evening primrose comes from the temporal pattern where flowers open in the evening for mot pollinators and close again in mid-morning. Other common names for the primrose are desert lantern and birdcage primrose (because of the unusual form of the dried flowering stalk). The flower stalk has radiating branches extending in all directions along the ground. At the end of the spring flowering season, the greenish branches eventually dry and curl up upward toward the central axis. Woody seed capsules that split into our prongs now occupy the positions where the large flowers us

  Croton wigginsii (Wiggin's croton) ( ) Euphorbiaceae The silvery coloration of the stems and leaves in many dune plants is an adaptation to the excessive solar radiation in desert regions. The leaves of some plants have a dense covering of fine hairs that give them their silvery appearance as well as a velvet-like softness. Other plants have tiny plate-like overlapping silvery scales that cover the leaves. Both these leaf surface forms aid plants in reflecting excess solar energy as well as helping control water loss. Wiggin's croton is a common species on the Algodones Dunes, but highly restricted in distribution. It has a CNPS Rare Plant Rank 2B: rare, threatened, or endangered in California; common elsewhere. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Croton californicus (sand croton) ( ) Euphorbiaceae The silvery coloration of the stems and leaves in many dune plants is an adaptation to the excessive solar radiation in desert regions. The leaves of some plants have a dense covering of fine hairs that give them their silvery appearance as well as a velvet-like softness. Other plants have tiny plate-like overlapping silvery scales that cover the leaves. Both these leaf surface forms aid plants in reflecting excess solar energy as well as helping control water loss. An example is seen in sand croton, an undistinguished semi-woody gray shrub 2-3 feet in height. It is a common sandy soil species that grows well in stabilized desert dunes as well as in sandy soils along the coast of southern California. Often individual shrubs collect sand around their base, forming low mounds. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Eriogonum deserticola (dune eriogonum) ( ) Polygonaceae Unstable dune surfaces represent the greatest threat to dune plants. Only species that survive cycles of burial and erosion are successful in such dynamic habitats. One strategy for growing on moving dunes is to have a deep ad extensive root system that can stabilize mounds of sand, thereby limiting erosion. A tolerance of irregular burial by moving sand is seen in dune eriogonum, a long-lived woody shrub primarily restricted in California to Algodones Dunes. Large plants are tolerant of being cyclically buried and uncovered by moving sand, and large  lateral roots that may extend for 10 feet or more. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Atriplex lentiformis (quailbush) ( ) Amaranthaceae Quailbush is commonly associated with mildly alkaline desert washes and wetlands around palm oases, and is often abundant in disturbed sites. It is a large sprawling shrub that is widespread on alkaline soil of the San Joaquin Valley and coastal California. Quailbush lacks spines and the large leaves are ovate to triangular, 0.5-2 inches in width, an with their surface covered by dense gray scales. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffman."

Atriplex polycarpa (allscale, cattle spinach) ( ) Amaranthaceae Allscale is widespread throughout the California desert regions in mildly alkaline flats and playa depressions, often forming the outer-ring of saltbush scrub stands around playas. Unlike the more cold-tolerant shadscale, it does not occur at elevations above 5,000 feet. Alllscale is a good-sized shrub, often reaching 4-6 feet in height, with small and narrowly oblong leaves with a short petiole. Because of its palatability to cattle, it is sometimes called cattle spinach. Although often present in mixed Atriplex stands, allscale may also be found in relatively pure stands. An interesting characteristic of allscale is it has been shown to change from male to female or back in a given flowering year depending on resource availability.   "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Atriplex Chenopodiaceae Large desert playas tend to be defined by vegetation rings that form around their margins, with salinity as the key selecting factor. As you move along the lower bajada slopes or sandy flats approaching a playa, creosote bush typically drops out quite abruptly. This boundary for the creosote closely approximates the geologic lakebed and lies well beyond the existing playa. While residual salinity may be one factor in limiting the occurrence of creosote bush, more important is the fine texture of the lakebed soils which provides poor mixing of soil gases. Below this boundary, creosote bush is replaced by a community called saltbush scrub with a dominance of various species of saltbush. These saltbush habitats typically exhibit loamy soils with low levels o residual salinity originating from evaporation out of the geological lakebed. The saltbushes form the genus Atriplex in the goosefoot family or Chenopodiaceae. Some recent evolutionary studies place this fami

  Typha dominguensis (narrow-leaved cattail) (tule) Typhaceae A group of tall marsh species are the cattails. The most common of these in our desert areas is the narrow-leaved cattail, which is distinguished by a bare area on the flowering stalks separating the male flowers above the female flowers below. It reproduces vegetatively from underground rhizomes. It is able to survive the anaerobic conditions of waterlogged soils by using hollow stems to transport air to the roots. "California Desert Plants, Philp W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Phragmites australis (common reed) ( ) Poaceae Common reed is a robust perennial grass wit ha remarkable range that extends to wetland habitats throughout the world, here common in desert marshes. It reproduces vegetatively from underground rhizomes. It is able to survive the anaerobic conditions of waterlogged soils by using hollow stems to transport air to the roots.  "California Desert Plants, Philp W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Schoenoplectus americanus (bulrush) ( ) Cyperaceae Small wetland pools, with permanent water supplied by a complex hydrologic system of regional aquifers, promote a characteristic plant assemblages dominated by freshwater marsh species more typically encountered in non-arid areas of California and the western United States. The most prominent of these are bulrushes, which reach 5-10 feet or more in height. These members of the sedge family are recognized by the triangular shape of the stem cross-section, a character easily remembered by the mnemonic phrase, "sedges have edges." It reproduces vegetatively from underground rhizomes. It is able to survive the anaerobic conditions of waterlogged soils by using hollow stems to transport air to the roots.  "California Desert Plants, Philp W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

 Prosopsis pubescens (screwbean mesquite) (mezquite tornillo)  Fabaceae Present in open or continuous stands is screwbean mesquite. known as tornillo in Spanish, which is also geographically widespread but much less common in California. It is easily recognized when fruits are present because of the shape of the pods with a tightly coiled pattern of growth. Screwbean mesquite is generally restricted in California to areas with permanent or semi-permanent groundwater, but generally is not able to root to depths more than about 10-15 feet. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Runder, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Salix exigua (sandbar willow, coyote willow) (sauce coyote) Salicaceae Sandbar willow is easily distinguished by long, thin, grayish leaves with silky hairs usually well bellow 15-20 feet. Other names for this species include narrow-leaved willow and coyote willow. The latter name derives from the fact that the shade cast by the shrubby growth provides a favored site for coyote dens. These is a common willow at lower desert elevations. Willows lose their leaves during winter months. While it may seem strange to have such moisture-loving species in the desert, the presence of a relatively permanent flow or groundwater pool of available freshwater provides conditions well suited for growth. So long as water is available, high summer temperatures present little or no threat.  "California Desert Plants, Philip W Runder, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Salix gooddingii  (Goodding's black willow) ( ) Salicaceae Black willow is tree with a prominent main trunk. It has leaves with a similar green color on both surfaces. It can be a large tree and reach heights up to 100 feet. This is a riparian willow that forms riparian thickets. Willows lose their leaves during winter months. While it may seem strange to have such moisture-loving species in the desert, the presence of a relatively permanent flow or groundwater pool of available freshwater provides conditions well suited for growth. So long as water is available, high summer temperatures present little or no threat.   "California Desert Plants, Philip W Runder, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Salix laevigata (red willow) ( ) Salicaceae Red willow is a tree with a prominent main trunk. It is characterized by leaves that are grayish or gray-white on their lower surface, reaches heights of 20-30 feet or even taller under optimal growing conditions. This is a riparian willow that forms riparian thickets. Willows lose their leaves during winter months. While it may seem strange to have such moisture-loving species in the desert, the presence of a relatively permanent flow or groundwater pool of available freshwater provides conditions well suited for growth. So long as water is available, high summer temperatures present little or no threat.   "California Desert Plants, Philip W Runder, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Atriplex lentiformis (quailbush, big salt bush) ( ) Amaranthaceae Quailbush is a large shrub that reaches as much as 8-10 feet in height, but with a sprawling growth form that makes it generally much wider than tall. Rather than being exclusively a desert species, quailbush is common in coastal areas of southern California as well. While it is found in alkalines and saline washes and in mixed salt scrub communities around playas, it is widely distributed around the margins of both coastal and desert wetlands. Although it may occasionally occur in sheltered areas at elevations up to 4.500 feet, it is more typical of the lower desert areas below 2,000 feet.   "California Desert Plants, Philip W Runder, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Washingtonia filifera (California fan palm)( ) Arecaceae The California fan pal is the only palm native to California. It is thought to be an ancient species with a history dating back to the middle Tertiary when it occurred more broadly across coastal and Mojave Desert areas of the state. Today, the natural range of this species is highly localized at scattered desert sites where permanent water exists relatively close to the soil surface. There are approximately 100 palm oases in California, with populations ranging from only a few to hundreds of mature palms. The largest groups of palm oases occur around the Coachella Valley where geologic conditions along the San Andreas fault promote shallow groundwater tables. From this center of distribution, California fan palm extends to the north to Twentynine Palms and the Cottonwood Mountains and south into northern Baja California where it is replaced by the related Mexican fan palm ( Washingtonia robusta ). Although similar in appearanc

  Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo) Fouquieriaceae Ocotillo is an unusual species with a remarkably wide range across the entire Sonoran Desert and into the Chihuahuan Desert. It is one of only a few woody species that naturally occurs in both desert regions. The spiny stems of ocotillo are highly distinctive, giving the appearance of tall wands or carriage whips. Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the ecology of ocotillo is how rapidly it responds to rainfall. For most of the year ocotillo stands leafless, but following a significant rain event it produces new cohort of leaves may remain on the plant for months. Under such conditions, showy red flowers are produced. With less rainfall, the leaves have a relatively short life span; they dry out and are shed within a few weeks. Ocotillo demonstrates remarkable flexibility in its ability to produce as many as five to six times in a season if rains are scattered. At the other extreme, in a dry year, leaf production may not occur. The st

  Bursera microphylla (elephant tree) (torote) Burseraceae  The elephant tree is a squat, stem-succulent tree reaching up to 15 feet in height found in scattered wash habitats of Anza Borrego Desert State Park. The common name comes from the thick trunk and major branches which contain succulent tissues for the storage of water an resemble and elephant's trunk. Peeling back the exfoliating bark reveals a greenish main trunk. These stem tissues maintain low levels of photosynthesis during the dry portions of the year when the plants are leafless, but probably not enough to do more than partially balance the costs of respiration. The drought-deciduous leaves are clustered at the ends of short shoots and contain highly aromatic terpenoids. A puff of these compounds can be seen spraying into the air if one carefully pulls a single leaf from a branch of elephant tree and watches carefully. It has a CNPS Rare Plant Rank 2B: plants rare, threatened or endangered in California and elsewher

  Justicia californica (Beleperone) ( ) Acanthaceae Belperone is a scraggly shrub 2-5 feet in height with gray-green photosynthetic stems that is virtually leafless most of the year. It is frequently found growing in sandy washes of our lower desert areas- and widely throughout the Sonoran Desert outside of California with summer rainfall. Both summer drought and cold temperatures can cause beleperone to lose its leaves. A prominent, tubular red flowers appear in spring and are frequently visited by hummingbirds to harvest the nectar. Beleperone is an outlier of the largely tropical Acanthaceae family, which has extended its range into the low desert region of California.   "California Desert Plants, Philip W Runder, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Baccharis sarothroides (broom baccharis) ( ) Asteraceae Broom baccharis is a wash species with narrow linear leaves no more than 2 inches in length. It occurs widely across the western Sonoran Desert, as well as extending into coastal areas of southern California. It reaches 12 feet in height. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Runder, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Bebbia juncea (sweetbush) ( ) Asteraceae Sweetbush is a commonly encountered shrub in wash habitats below 4, 000 feet in both the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. It is a highly-branched subshrub in the Asteraceae family that reaches up to 4 feet in height. The small linear leaves of sweetbush are oppositely arrayed low on the plant and alternate above; they are only present for a short period of time in the spring and the plant's stems are  the primary photosynthetic organ during the remainder of the year. The pale-yellow flower heads of sweetbush are discoid, as there are no outer flowers with petal-like organs. Sweetbush is a nondescript plant for most of the year when neither leaves nor flowers are present, but it is easily recognized by it sweetly aromatic stems from which it gets its name. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Ambrosia ilicifolia (hollyleaf bursage) ( ) Asteraceae Hollyleaf bursage is limited to sandy washes and rocky canyons in lower elevations of the Sonoran Desert. It has elongated leathery leaves with tothed margins. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Condea emoryi (desert lavender) ( ) Lamiaceae A small number of shrubby wash species exhibit a drought-deciduous behavior by shedding their leaves under summer water stress. Desert lavender is a large shrub found in rocky washes and channels throughout the Sonoran Desert and lower elevation Mojave Desert up to 3,000 feet elevation, and eastward as far as the Chihuahuan Desert. This erect shrub is generally 4-10 feet in height, with simple ovate leaves covered with a dense, white pubescence. The opposite arrangement of the leaves and the sweet fragrance of the foliage help identify desert lavender as a member of the mint family. Like other drought-deciduous shrubs, desert lavender exhibit seasonal leaf dimorphism. The first leaves produced in spring are relatively large and this, with less dense pubescence. As the season progresses and water stress slowly increases, new leaves are increasingly smaller and thicker, with denser pubescence. This seasonal leaf dimorphism allows the plant

Senna covesii (Cove's senna) ( )   Fabaceae Cove's senna is a smaller plant than Senna armata,  but has large, more persistent gray leaves covered by dense white hairs. It also displays stem photosynthesis. Cove's senna is largely restricted to washes in the Sonoran Desert and has a CNPS Rare Plant Rank 2B: plants rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Hoffmannssegia microphyla (rushpea) ( ) Fabaceae Rushpea inhabits washes and arroyos in the lower Sonoran Desert. The common name of this legume shrub comes from its green, rush-like stems that reach 2-4 feet or more in height. The pinnately divided leaves are short-lived, with a significant amount of the photosynthetic responsibility given to the green stems which can attain high rates of photosynthetic output. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Parkinsonia aculeata (Mexican palo verde) ( ) Fabaceae Mexican palo verde does not occur naturally in California but has been used widely in landscaping and shows the potential to become an invasive in our wash woodland habitats. Mexican palo verde is a large tree up to 40 feet in height. White it has yellowish-green bark on its upper young branches, it lacks a green trunk like our two native palo verde species. The most distinctive trait is its unusual leaves, which are pinnately divided with an exposed central rachis and almost no foliar area. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Parkinsonia microphylla (little-leaf palo verde) ( ) Fabaceae Little-leaf palo verde is a tree up to 20 feet in height that is typical of bajadas slopes. In California it is only found along the Colorado River in San Bernardino County and south to Imperial County near the Mexico border, however it is widespread across the broader Sonoran Desert outside of California. It displays a yellowish-green bark, and it lacks spines and has spine tipped branches with smaller ephemeral leaves that lack a petiole. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

Parkinsonia florida    (blue palo verde) ( ) Fabaceae Blue palo verde is a moderate sized tree reaching up to 25 feet in height. It is common in washes in the lower desert areas of California where it often occurs with desert ironwood. Blue palo verde species of the Coachella Valley and Salton Sea basin, it is also widespread cross the broader Sonoran Desert outside of Califoria. The bark of the blue palo verde is a distinctive blue-green, it has spines at each node and leaves with clear petioles. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

Psorothamnus spinosus (smoke tree) ( ) Fabaceae Smoke tree, which is virtually leafless, displays stems as its primary photosynthetic organs. It is a common and often dominant species in desert washes in reaches up to 25 feet in height, exhibits a dense silvery-gray pubescence that covers its spine-tipped branches, The combination of the gray branches and the leaflessness of these trees gives them a decidedly smoky appearance when viewed from a distance-especially with low sun angles near dawn or dusk. Like other legumes, smoke trees have root nodules with symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria, this clearly helps this species to successfully colonize nutrient-poor soils in desert washes. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Chilopsis linearis (desert-willow) ( ) Fabaceae Desert-willow is our only California member of the tropical bignonia family, the Bignoniaceae. The growth form of desert-willow ranges from a sprawling shrub to a small tree reaching up to 20 feet in height. The name desert-willow comes from the fact that its long and narrow leaves 4-6 inches in length, resemble those of a true willow. This species is largely restricted to low-nutrient gravelly washes in Sonoran Desert areas such as in the Coahella Valley and Anza Borrego Desert State Park-although it extends into scattered areas of the lower Mojave Desert. As with the other species described above, desert-willow loses its leaves for three to four months in winter. Large, showy pink-to whitish-flowers are produced each spring and make desert willow an attractive plant for desert gardens. The fruits of desert-willow are elongate pod-like capsules 4-10 inches in length which enclose flat wind-dispersed seeds with silky hairs tufted at eac

 Olneya tesota (ironwood) (palo fierro) Fabaceae It is a moderate-sized, winter deciduous tree that grows 15-30 feet in height with a spreading crown and this scaly gray bark. Ironwood is sensitive to cold temperatures and does not extend into the Mojave Desert or higher elevations of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. It favors broad washes and middle slopes of large alluvial fans, often occurring with blue palo verde ( Parkinsonia florida ). The pinate gray-green leaves of ironwood features a pair of sharp, curved spines beneath each leaf along the major branches and trunk of the tree. Although many desert trees serve an important ecological role as nurse plants-aiding in the establishment of seedlings. Ironwood is also a legume with root nodules that fix nitrogen. The name ironwood come from the extremely high density of its wood, which is so dense that it will sink in water. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Prosopsis glandulosa (honey mesquite) (mezquite dulce) Fabaceae Prosopsis glandulosa var. torreyana Although most common in the Sonoran Desert areas of California, honey mesquite extends its range across lower elevations of the Mojave Desert as far north as Death Valley and over huge areas of desert and semi-desert in the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico. It is a classic phreatophyte with roots that tap groundwater pools as deep as 30 feet or more below the soil surface. In semi-arid grasslands of the southwestern United States with summer rainfall, however, it behaves less like an obligate phreatophyte and readily invades desert grasslands. It must be remembered, however, that plant roots do not grow through dry soil actively seeking out groundwater. Roots will only follow moist fracture zones in soil profiles. Honey mesquite is quite variable in growth form. It may form a broad shrub 20-30 feet in diameter with multiple stems, particularly on dune habitats. Each pinna

 Carnegeia gigantea (Saguaro) Cactaceae It is arguably the most famous cactus in the world-as well as iconic image of the desert southwest- with its massive form and upraised branches that give it an almost human form. While it is common in the desert uplands of Arizona and adjacent parts of northern Mexico, it is rarely uncommon in California. It has a CNPS Rare Plant Rank: 2B, rare, threatened, or endangered in California; common elsewhere. Saguaros are found infrequently on gravelly slopes and flats of creosote bush scrub to about 1,500 feet near the Colorado River and in the Whipple Mountains of southeastern San Bernandino County. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Micahel E Kauffmann."

  Mammillaria grahamii (fish hook cactus) ( ) Cactaceae It is a relatively uncommon and known only from southeastern San Bernardino county in California. It has a CNPS Rare Plant Rank: 2B, rare, threatened, or endangered in California; common elsewhere. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Micahel E Kauffmann."

  Mammillaria dioica (fish hook cactus) (viejitos) Cactaceae It has unusual reproductive morphology as suggested by its species name. Populations having normal bisexual flowers, while other individuals display only female flowers. It is distributed along the western margin of the Sonoran Desert east of the Peninsular ranges and then in coastal sage scrub and maritime succulent scrub along the coast of southern California from Del Mar south into northwestern Baja California-where it is often abundant. Of the three species of fish hook cactus, this is the only one that can form multi-stemmed clumps, although solitary stems are also found. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Micahel E Kauffmann."

  Opuntia basilaris (beavertail cactus) ( ) Cactaceae One common prickly-pear species with a wide elevational and geographical range across our desert region is beavertail cactus. It occurs in sites from the lower Sonoran Desert through the Mojave Desert to desert mountains as high as 7,000 feet. This is a small species, generally no more than about 20 inches in height, with oval pads of a distinctive blue-green or purplish color. Large spines are generally absent but the usual potent glochids, characteristic of prickly-pear species, are certainly present. While the small size of the beavertail cactus makes it easy to overlook in summer, its large magenta flowers standout at some distance in the spring. Although the plants are relatively small, repeat photographs of desert sites where these occur suggest tat individuals can live for 60 years or more. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Micahel E Kauffmann."

 Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa (buckhorn cholla) ( ) Cactaceae At first glance  Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa is similar to Cylindropuntia echinocarpa or silver cholla, and the two may occur together. One way to separate them is to look at the shape of the tubercles, or raised mounds along the stem. In silver cholla the tubercles are never more than about twice are as long ass they are broad, while buckhorn cholla the tubercles are more elongate and their length is at least three times their width. Another difference is that the silver cholla has a distinctive main trunk that extends for a third to half of the height of the plant, while buckhorn cholla has a short trunk that forms no more than a fifth of the plant height, with branched stems above this point. In the springtime when the cacti are flowering, there is an easier way to separate the species. Silver cholla has greenish flowers while those of buckhorn cholla are typically reddish-purple to yellow.  "California Desert Plants,

  Ephedra californica (California ephedra) ( ) Ephedreaceae The most common of these is California ephedra or desert tea, which is a wide-ranging species found in broad washes below about 3,600 feet throughout both the Mojave and Sonoran Desert-as well as extending to scattered areas of Mediterranean-type shrublands in southern California. The young stems of California ephedra are yellow-green and the leaf bases are deciduous, and thus shed when the leves senesce.

 Ephedra Ephedraceae An unusual group of woody plants in our desert region are the species of Ephedra. Ephedra species are an ancient group but widespread in arid regions around the world. While most species are woody shrubs, the group also includes woody vines and small trees. What makes this group so unusual is that they are not flowering plants but instead gymnosperms, with their closest relatives being the conifers. An interesting adaptation trait of ephedras is that they have evolved an efficient water transport system in their xylem consisting of vessel elements (open tubes) and these structures are key to their ecological success in arid regions. This water transport system is much like the vessels present in flowering plants but has evolved totally independent. In contrast, conifers have a water transport system using fiber tracheis, a much less efficient structure of living cells. Euro-American settlers of the western United States brewed a medicinal tea from ephedra , giving

  Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) (jojoba) Simmondsiaceae Jojoba is a robust evergreen shrub that reaches as much as 6 feet or more in height. Jojoba is locally common on dry bajadas slopes of creosote bush scrub and Joshua tree woodlands of the Sonoran Desert and extends its range into Baja California ad western Arizona. Jojoba is easily recognized by its simple gray green leaves, 1-2 inches in length, that are arrayed in opposite pairs along the stems. Jojoba has separate male and female plants, and it is the female plants that produce a thick-walled capsule that contains jojoba oil- which is more precisely a liquid wax. Jojoba oil s widely used in cosmetics, shampoos, and body oils. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Micahel E Kauffmann."

 Fagonia pachyacantha (Sticky fagonia) ( ) Zygophyllaceae Sticky fagonia is a prostrate perennial with glandular hairs on the semi-succulent stems. It is restricted to the lower elevation Sonoran Desert in California. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Fagonia laevis (California fagonia) ( ) Zygophyllaceae California fagonia is a smal shrub up to three feet in height that is widespread at elevations below 2, 000 feet, most notably in the Sonoran Desert area. The intricate branching architecture and semisucculent stems, along with purple flowers in spring, make this species easy to recognize. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Sphaeralcea ambigua (desert, globe mallow apricot mallow) ( ) Malvaceae Apricot mallow is a perennial subshrub widely distributed on sandy flats and bajadas slopes in creosote bush scrub and Joshua tree woodlands of both of our desert regions. Like other mallows, apricot mallow has characteristic broad, three-lobed leaves with scalloped margins and wand-like clusters of showy orange-red flowers. The flower structure is typical of the hibiscus family with multiple stamens fused into a tube surrounding the stigma. The foliage and stems are densely covered by cream-colored star-shaped (stellate) hairs. Although only woody at its base, apricot mallow can reach anywhere from 1-4 feet in height. It is widespread in cultivation. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Psorothamnus emoryi (Emory indigo bush) ( ) Fabaceae Is a legume shrub with a Sonoran Desert distribution. Has leaves and stems that are whitish due to a thick matt of hairs that cover their surface. It favors desert flats, sandy washes, and dunes in creosote bush scrub at lower elevations of the Sonoran Desert and into the southern Mojave Desert. It generally forms a broad shrub no more than 3 feet in height but twice as wide with purple flowers dotted with white.  In addition to the scent present in all of the species of indigo bush, the foliage of Emory indigo bush will stain one’s hand a saffron color. “California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustaffson, Michael E Kauffmann.”

  Psorothamnus spinosus (smoketree) ( ) Fabaceae

  Lycium parishii (Parish's boxthorn) ( ) Solanaceae Parish's boxthorn is a relatively rare species found on sandy to rocky slopes and canyons of the western Sonoran Desert (CNPS rare plant rank 1B: plants rare, threatened, or endangered in California or elsewhere). "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

 Lycium fremontii (Fremont desert thorn) ( ) Solanaceae Fremont desert thorn is found on flats and alkaline soils of the Salton Sea basin and Colorado River corridor. It has elongate floral tubes, violet flower color, and finely pubescent leaves. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Lycium brevipes (desert thorn) (salicieso) Solanaceae Largely restricted to the lower Sonoran Desert. Desert thorn is an interesting coastal-desert disjunct-with most of its range in the western half of the Sonoran Desert and scattered coastal populations at sites such as San Clemente and Santa Catalina islands and the Palos Verdes peninsula. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Lycium andersonii (Anderson boxthorn) ( ) Solanaceae It is the most widespread and commonly encountered species of boxthorn, which occurs widely across our desert areas on gravelly or rocky slopes flats and slopes,  with habitats ranging from creosote bush scrub up into pinyon-juniper woodlands. It is also found in scattered locations in the arid areas of the southern San Joaquin Valley and desert slopes in the Transverse Ranges and extends eastward in the Great Basin. Anderson boxthorn is commonly 3-5 feet in height but can reach as tall as 8 feet.. It has small fleshy leaves usually less than 1/2 inch in length that are hairless, and thus generally pale greenish in color. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."

  Salvia pachypylla ( Mountain desert sage) ( ) Lamiaceae It is a prostrate shrub found in the eastern Mojave Desert and higher desert slopes of the Transverse and Peninsular ranges at elevations of 4, 000 feet and above. If often, but not invariably, grows as a mat-rooting at its nodes. The ovate leaves are generally 1 inch or more in length, with minute hairs on both upper and lower surfaces. "California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustafson, Michael E Kauffmann."