Flowers of the Southwest DesertsDodge, Natt N. (Natt Noyes)
Science
Flowers of the Southwest Deserts
Dodge, Natt N. (Natt Noyes)
Desert plants; Flowers -- Southwest, New
Common names: WILD-RHUBARB, DOCK, SORREL, _CANAIGRE_
Arizona and California deserts: (_Rumex hymenosepalus_). Pink-green.
March-April.
Texas desert: (_Rumex mexicanus_). Pink-green. Summer.
Buckwheat family. Size: Coarse perennial up to 2 feet tall.
Sturdy, conspicuous flower and seed heads together with the large leaves
of these coarse, roadside plants, although hardly to be considered as
beautiful, attract considerable attention and arouse the curiosity of
the observer. Some species are garden weeds introduced from Europe. In
the desert, the large, coarse leaves and pinkish flower stalks make
quite a showing in sandy washes and along the roadsides as early as
March and April. The plant is being considered as a source of tannin
(from its tubers) to replace that formerly obtained from Chestnuts.
GREEN
[Illustration: Simmondsia chinensis]
Common names: GOATNUT, DEERNUT, (_JOJOBA_), WILD-HAZEL, COFFEEBERRY
Arizona and California deserts: (_Simmondsia chinensis_).
Green-yellow. December-July.
Box family. Size: Shrub, 2 to 5 feet high.
_Jojoba_ (hoh-HOH-bah) is another of the desert plants which is
noticeable, not because of its flowers, but due to its leathery,
gray-green foliage which persists throughout the year. These shrubs are
numerous at elevations between 1,000 and 4,300 feet in the lower levels
of desert mountain ranges, particularly on the alluvial fans at the
mouths of canyons.
The acorn-like nuts, which taste something like filberts, but are bitter
because of their tannin content, were long an important item of food
among the Indians and the early settlers. The thickly set, evergreen
leaves are browsed by Deer and other animals, and the nuts are gathered
by Ground Squirrels.
The nuts contain an edible oil (actually a liquid wax) which has some
medicinal value and is used in small quantities in the manufacture of
hair oil. Attempts to raise the nut in commercial quantities have not
proved successful. On occasions the nuts have been roasted and used as a
substitute for coffee.
GREEN
[Illustration: Asclepias subulata
Asclepias erosa]
Common names: DESERT MILKWEED, BEDSTRAW MILKWEED, (_AJAMENTE_)
Arizona desert: (_Asclepias subulata_). Green-yellow. April-October.
California desert: (_Asclepias erosa_). Green-white.
September-October.
Texas desert: (_Asclepias texana_). Green-white. Autumn.
Milkweed family. Size: Perennials, up to 5 feet.
Readily recognizable because of their milky sap and the pods filled with
silky-winged seeds, the Milkweeds are generally considered as poisonous
to livestock, although rarely eaten. Appreciable quantities of rubber
are found in the sap of some species.
GREEN
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