Phoradendron californicum
Common Names: MISTLETOE, DESERT MISTLETOE Arizona and California deserts: (Phoradendron californicum). Yellow-green. March. Texas-New Mexico deserts: (Phoradendron cockerelli). Yellow-green. Spring. Mistletoe family. Size: Pendant, vine-like strands several feet long.
Because they form conspicuous, dense, shapeless masses in Mesquite, Ironwood, Acacia, Cottonwood, or other trees (depending upon the species of Mistletoe), these parasitic plants attract the attention and arouse the curiosity of persons unfamiliar with the desert. P. macrophyllum, which parasitizes Cottonwood trees, is widespread throughout the Southwest, and, because of its large gray-green leaves and glistening white berries is much in demand as a Christmas green. The Mistletoe is the state flower of Oklahoma.
The species of Mistletoe that parasitize such trees as Ironwood, Mesquite, and Catclaw have small, scale-like tawny-brown leaves and stems. The tiny yellow-green flowers which appear in spring are fragrant and secrete nectar which attracts Honeybees and other insects. The handsome coral-pink berries are a major food, during the winter months, for Phainopeplas and other birds. The Arizona Verdin often builds its nest in the protected center of a clump of Mistletoe. Birds are believed to be instrumental in spreading this parasite from tree to tree.
Mistletoe saps the energy of the host tree and, where abundant, may cause considerable damage, killing branches and sometimes the entire tree. Papago Indians dry the berries in the sun and store them for winter food.
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Nicotiana trigonophylla
Nicotiana glauca
Common Names: DESERT-TOBACCO, TREE-TOBACCO Arizona and Texas deserts: (Nicotiana glauca). Pale yellow. All year. California desert: (Nicotiana trigonophylla). Green-yellow. All year. Potato family. Size: Tree-tobacco (N. glauca) up to 12 feet. Desert-tobacco, 1 to 3 feet high.
Several species of wild tobacco are found in the desert. Of these, Tree-tobacco is conspicuous because of its rank growth, its large leaves, and the spectacular clusters of tubular, yellow flowers. In addition to nicotine, Tree-tobacco contains an alkaloid, anabasine. This conspicuous plant occurs in moist locations below 3,000 feet elevation and bears flowers throughout the entire year. Although now thoroughly naturalized in the Southwest, it is a native of South America.
Desert-tobacco, sometimes perennial in southwestern Arizona, is a dark-green herb common and widespread throughout the desert areas of the Southwest. It is not nearly as noticeable as its larger relative although it, too, blossoms the year around. Flowers are a pale yellow, almost greenish-white. It provides dense ground cover in rocky canyons and along desert washes.
Leaves, which are somewhat bad smelling, were smoked (and still are during ceremonials) by the Yuma and Havasupai Indians who are reported to have cleared land, burned the brush, and scattered the seeds of Desert-tobacco in an effort to promote the growth of strong plants with many large leaves.
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Calycoseris wrighti
Calycoseris parryi
Common Names: TACKSTEM Arizona desert: (Calycoseris wrighti). White. March-May. California desert: (Calycoseris parryi). Yellow. March-April. Sunflower family. Size: 4 inches to a foot tall.
One of the handsomest of desert spring annuals, Calycoseris is common on plains, mesas, and rocky slopes at elevations between 1,200 and 4,000 feet from western Texas to southern Utah, southern California, and south into Mexico.
The name Tackstem comes from the presence of numerous tack-shaped glands which protrude from the stems.
Taking advantage of the cool, moist weather of winter, the Tackstems produce their beautiful rose, white, or yellow blossoms in early spring, and mature their seeds before the advent of hot, dry weather.
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Brickellia coulteri
Brickellia californica
Common Names: BRICKELLBUSH, DESERT BRICKELLIA, (PACHABA) Arizona desert: (Brickellia coulteri). Yellow-white. September. California desert: (Brickellia desertorum). Pale yellow. Midsummer. Texas-New Mexico deserts: (Brickellia californica). Yellow-white. July-October. Sunflower family. Size: Small, much-branched perennial shrub, up to 3 feet in height.
Intricately branched and brittle-stemmed, this shrub with blossom heads holding from 8 to 18 yellowish flowers is common throughout the Southwest from western Texas and Colorado to Nevada, Sonora and Lower California.
It grows among rocks and in rocky locations throughout much of the desert country from 3,000 up to 7,000 feet.
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