Cabeza Prieta Natural History Association
Sonoran Desert Plants

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There are 473 entries in this list of Sonoran Desert plants. You may limit the list to plants that have specific characteristics by using the Plant Identificaton Form. Use the Key Word Search Form to generate a list of plants who's database record contain your search phrase.

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• Acuña cactus (Echinomastus erectocentrus var. Acunata) - low columnar cactus *
• Adenophyllum (Adenophyllum porophylloides) - low shrub *
• Ajo lily, Desert lily (Hesperocallis undulata) - perennial forb *
• Ajo oak (Quercus ajoensis) - medium tree *
• Alkali goldenbush (lobed leaves) (Isocoma acradenia var. acradenia) - low shrub,medium shrub *
• Alkali goldenbush (non-lobed leaves) (Isocoma acradenia var. acradenia) - low shrub,medium shrub *
• Alkali heliotrope, hierba del sapo (Heliotropium curassavicum) - annual forb
• Alkali sacaton, zacaton alcalino (Sporobolus airoides) - grass *
• Amolillo, Shin Dagger (Agave schottii) - succulent *
• Angel's trumpets (lanceolate leaves) (Acleisanthes longiflora) - perennial forb
• Angel's trumpets (ovate-triangular leaves) (Acleisanthes longiflora) - perennial forb
• Angle pod (Matelea parvifolia) - perennial vine
• Annual globe mallow, mal de ojo (Sphaeralcea coulteri) - annual forb *
• Arabic schismus (Schismus arabicus) - introduced annual grass *
• Arched comb-bur (Pectocarya recurvata) - annual forb *
• Arizona blanket-flower (Gaillardia arizonica) - annual forb *
• Arizona evening primrose (Oenothera arizonica) - annual forb
• Arizona fiesta flower (Pholistoma auritum var. arizonicum) - annual forb *
• Arizona fluffweed (Filago arizonica) - annual forb
• Arizona jewelflower (Streptanthus carinatus subsp.arizonicus) - annual forb *
• Arizona lupine (Lupinus arizonica) - annual forb *
• Arizona rosewood (Vauquelinia californica) - small tree,large shrub *
• Arizona scarlet-bugler (Penstemon subulatus) - perennial forb *
• Arizona snakeweed (Gutierrezia arizonica) - annual forb
• Arizona spike-moss, flor de piedra (Selaginella arizonica) - spike moss *
• Arrow weed (Pluchea purpurascens var. purpurascens (P. sericea)) - tall shrub *
• Arrow-leaf (Pleurocoronis pluriseta) - small shrub
• Arrow-leaf (Pleurocoronis pluriseta) - small shrub
• Arroyo lupine, Coulter's lupine (Lupinus sparsiflorus) - annual forb *
• Ashy limberbush (Jatropha cinerea) - medium shrub *
• Ayenia (Ayenia filiformis (Ayenia pusilla)) - subshrub
• Ayenia (Ayenia filiformis (Ayenia pusilla)) - subshrub
• Baby Bonnets (Coursetia glandulosa) - tall shrub *
• Bare-stem larkspur (Delphinium scaposum) - perennial forb,poisonous *
• Barnyard grass, zacate de agua, zacate de corral (Echinochloa crusgalli var. crusgalli) - introduced annual grass *
• Bearded cryptantha (Cryptantha barbigera) - annual forb
• Bearded cupgrass, zacate taza (Eriochloa aristata var. aristata) - annual grass *
• Beargrass, sacahuista, basket grass (Nolina microcarpa) - low shrub *
• Beaver tail cactus (Opuntia basilaris) - pad cactus *
• Bermuda grass, zacate bermuda, zacate ingles (Cynodon dactylon var. dactylon) - introduced invasive stoloniferous perennial grass *
• Big galleta, galleta grande, tobosa (Pleuraphis rigida (Hilaria rigida)) - large perennial grass *
• Bigelow bluegrass, zacate azul nativo (Poa bigelovii) - annual grass *
• Bigelow linanthus (Linanthus bigelovii) - annual forb
• Bigelow linanthus (Linanthus bigelovii) - annual forb
• Bitter condalia (Condalia globosa) - tall shrub,small tree *
• Bitterweed (Hymenoxys odorata) - annual forb *
• Bladder mallow (Herissantia crispa) - perennial forb *
• Bladder sage (Salazaria mexicana) - medium shrub
• Blazing star (Mentzelia multiflora) - perennial forb
• Blue dicks, wild-hyacinth, coveria (Dichelostemma capitatum subsp. pauciflorum) - perennial forb *
• Blue Palo Verde (Parkinsonia florida (Cercidium floridum)) - medium tree *
• Blue sand lily (Triteleiopsis palmeri) - perennial forb *
• Blue-eyed scorpion-weed (Phacelia distans) - annual forb *
• Brickell-bush (Brickellia coulteri) - low shrub *
• Bristly calico (Langloisia setosissimum) - annual forb *
• Bristly nama, morada, sandbells (Nama hispidum) - annual forb
• Brittle phacelia (Phacelia neglecta) - annual forb *
• Brittle spine-flower, short-horn spine-flower (Chorizanthe brevicornu ssp. Brevicornu) - annual forb *
• Brittlebush, incienso (Encelia farinosa) - low shrub *
• Broad-leaf gilia (Gilia latifolia) - annual forb
• Broad-leaf gilia (Gilia latifolia) - annual forb
• Broad-wing comb-bur (Pectocarya platycarpa) - annual forb
• broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) - perennial forb
• Brown-center brittlebush (Encelia farinosa var phenicodonta) - low shrub
• Brown-eyed evening primrose (Camissonia claviformis ssp. Claviformis) - annual forb *
• Brown-eyed evening primrose (Camissonia claviformis ssp. Peeblesii) - annual forb
• Brown-eyed evening primrose (Camissonia claviformis ssp. Rubescens) - annual forb *
• Brownfoot (Acourtia wrightii) - perennial forb
• Buckhorn cholla (Opuntia acanthocarpa) - low arborescent cactus *
• Buffelgrass, zacate buffel (Pennisetum ciliare (Cenchrus ciliaris)) - introduced,invasive perennial grass
• Bush muhly, zacate aparejo (Muhlenbergia porteri) - perennial grass *
• Button Brittlebush, Green brittlebush, Rayless encelia (Encelia frutescens) - low shrub *
• California brome (Bromus carinatus) - grass *
• California caltrop, mal de ojo (Kallstroemia californica) - annual forb
• California chicory (Rafinesquia californica) - annual forb
• California fagonia (Fagonia californica subsp. Californica) - subshrub
• California fagonia (Fagonia californica subsp.californica) - subshrub *
• California fagonia (Fagonia callifornica subsp. longipes) - subshrub
• California fluffweed (Filago californica) - annual forb
• California snake bush, snakewood (Colubrina californica) - tall shrub
• California suncup, mustard evening primrose (Camissonia californica) - annual forb *
• California three-awn, tres barbas de California (Aristida californica var. californica) - perennial grass *
• Cane bluestem, zacate popotillo (Bothriochloa barbinodis (Andropogon barbinodis)) - perennial grass *
• Cane cholla (Opuntia spinosior) - medium arborescent cactus *
• Cane cholla (Opuntia spinosior) - medium arborescent cactus *
• Cane cholla (Opuntia spinosior) - medium arborescent cactus *
• Canutillo, tepopote, long-leaved joint-fir (Ephedra trifurca) - medium shrub *
• Canyon ragweed, giant bursage (Ambrosia ambrosioides) - medium shrub *
• Careless weed (Amaranthus palmeri) - annual forb,invasive
• Cat Claw, Wait-a-minute Bush (Acacia greggii) - tall shrub *
• Cereus, Reina de la noche, Night-blooming cereus (Peniocereus greggii var. transmontanus (Cereus greggii)) - sprawling cactus *
• Chain-fruit cholla (Opuntia fulgida var. fulgida) - tall arborescent cactus *
• Checker fiddleneck (Amsinckia tessellata) - annual forb
• Chrysanthemum-leaved hideseed (Eucrypta chrysanthemifolia var. bipinnatifida) - annual forb *
• Chuparosa (Justicia californica) - medium shrub *
• Climbing milkweed (Sarcostemma cynanchoides var. hartwegii) - non-woody vine *
• Coldenia, crinklemats (Tiquilia palmeri) - annual forb
• Common dogweed (Thymophylla pentachaeta) -
• Common sow thistle, chinita (Sonchus oleraceus) - introduced weedy annual forb *
• Corkseed fishhook cactus (Mammillaria tetrancistra) - pincushion cactus
• Cotton-top cactus (Echinocactus polycephalus) - spherical cactus *
• Cottontop, zacate punta blanca (Digitaria californica (Trichachne californica)) - perennial grass *
• Coulter's wrinkle-fruit (Tetraclea coulteri) - perennial forb
• Coville barrel cactus (Ferocactus emoryi) - medium columnar cactus *
• Coyote gourd, calabachilla, chichi coyota (Cucurbita digitata) - vine *
• Creosote bush (Larrea divaricata subsp. tridentata (Larrea tridentata)) - medium shrub *
• Crucifixion thorn, corona de cristo (Castela emoryi) - small tree *
• Cutleaf thelypodium (Caulanthus lasiophyllus var. lasiophyllus) - annual forb *
• Delicate bladderpod (Lesquerella tenella) - annual forb
• Desert agave, Mezcal (Agave deserti subsp. Simplex) - succulent *
• Desert Broom (Baccharis sarothroides) - medium shrub *
• Desert broomrape, flor de tierra (Orobanche cooperi) - perennial forb *
• Desert cambess, slender-leaf cambess (Oligomeris linifolia) - annual forb
• Desert chia, chia, california sage (Salvia columbariae) - annual forb *
• Desert chicory (Rafinesquia neomexicana) - annual forb *
• Desert chinchweed, Manzanilla del coyote (Pectis papposa var. papposa) - annual forb *
• Desert Christmas cholla, Tasajillo (Opuntia leptocaulis) - sprawling cactus *
• Desert Christmas cholla, Tasajillo (Opuntia leptocaulis) - sprawling cactus *
• Desert club cholla, Devil cholla (Grusonia kunzei (Opuntia kunzei)) - low columnar cactus *
• Desert fir, Pygmy cedar (Peucephyllum schottii) - low shrub *
• Desert fleabane (Erigeron divergens (E.lobatus)) - annual forb
• Desert four o'clock, desert wishbone bush (Mirabilis bigelovii var bigelovii) - perennial forb *
• Desert globe mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua subsp. ambigua) - perennial forb *
• Desert groundcherry, tomatillo del desierto (Physalis crassifolia var. versicolor) - subshrub,edible fruits *
• Desert hackberry (Celtis pallida) - tall shrub *
• Desert lavender (Hyptis emoryi) - medium shrub *
• Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata) - perennial forb *
• Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata) - perennial forb *
• Desert mariposa, Red mariposa-lily, Flame mariposa (Calochortus kennedyi) - annual forb *
• Desert Milkweed (Asclepias subulata) - medium shrub *
• Desert mistletoe, Toji (Phoradendron californicum) - parasite on trees *
• Desert nest-straw (Stylocline micropoides) - annual forb
• Desert onion, cebollin (Allium macropetalum) - perennial forb *
• Desert Paintbrush (Castilleja chromosa) - perennial forb *
• Desert pellitory (Parietaria floridana (Parietaria hespera)) - annual forb
• Desert pincushion (Chaenactis stevioides) - annual forb *
• Desert rockdaisy (Perityle emoryi) - annual forb *
• Desert rose mallow (Hibiscus coulteri) - straggly shrub *
• Desert saltbush, chamiso cenizo (Atriplex polycarpa) - low shrub *
• Desert seepweed, quelite salado (Suaeda moquinii (Suaeda torreyana)) - subshrub
• Desert senna, daisillo, hojasen (Senna covesii (Cassia covesii)) - perennial forb *
• Desert snapdragon (Antirrhinum cyathiferum) - annual forb
• Desert snow (Linanthus demissus) - annual forb *
• Desert spike-moss, flor de piedra (Selaginella eremophila) - spike moss
• Desert spurge (Euphorbia polycarpa (Chamaesyce polycarpa)) - perennial forb *
• Desert starvine (Brandegea bigelovii) - perennial viny forb *
• Desert straw (Stephanomeria pauciflora var. pauciflora) - perennial forb *
• Desert sumac (Rhus kearneyi subsp. kearneyi) - tall shrub *
• Desert thorn, wolfberry (Lycium macrodon) - medium shrub *
• Desert tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia (Nicotiana trigonophylla)) - perennial forb *
• Desert tobacco, tobaco del coyote (Nicotiana clevelandii) - annual forb *
• Desert tree-beargrass (Nolina bigelovii) - low shrub *
• Desert trumpet, bladder stem, guinagua (Eriogonum inflatum) - annual forb
• Desert velvet (Psathyrotes ramosissima) - annual forb *
• Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) - medium tree *
• Desert windflower (Anemone tuberosa) - perennial forb *
• Desert wolfberry, salicieso (Lycium andersonii) - medium shrub
• Desert zinnia (Zinnia acerosa) - low shrub *
• Desert-holly (Atriplex hymenelytra) - subshrub
• Devil's claw, gato, una de gato, torito (Proboscidea altheaefolia) - annual forb
• Diamond cholla (Opuntia ramosissima) - sprawling cactus *
• Dollarweed, alkali mallow (Malvella leprosa) - perennial forb
• Drymaria (Drymaria viscosa) - annual forb
• Dune croton (Croton wigginsii) -
• Dune cryptantha (Cryptantha ganderi) - annual forb
• Dune primrose, White desert primrose (Oenothera deltoides subsp. deltoides) - annual forb *
• Dune spectacle-pod (Dimorphocarpa pinnatifida (Dithyrea wislizenii)) - annual forb
• Dune sunflower (alternate leaves), Mirasol (Helianthus niveus) - annual forb
• Dune sunflower (opposite leaves), Mirasol (Helianthus niveus) - annual forb *
• Dune Sunflower, desert sunflower (Geraea canescens) - annual forb *
• Dwarf cryptantha (Cryptantha micrantha subsp. micrantha) - annual forb
• Dwarf sedge (Cyperus squarrosus (Cyperus aristatus)) - sedge
• Elegant lupine (Lupinus concinnus) - annual forb *
• Elephant tree (Bursera microphylla) - small tree *
• Emory indigo-bush (Psorothamnus emoryi var. emoryi) - medium shrub
• Engelmann prickly pear (Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii) - pad cactus *
• Engelmann prickly pear (Opuntia engelmannii var.flavispina) - sprawling pad cactus *
• Eremalche (Eremalche exilis) - annual forb
• Eryngium (Eryngium nasturtiifolium) - perennial forb
• Euphorbia eriantha (Euphorbia eriantha) - annual forb *
• Euphorbia spathulata (Euphorbia spathulata ) -
• Euphorbia trachysperma (Euphorbia trachysperma (Chamaesyce trachysperma)) -
• Fagonia (Fagonia pachyacantha) - subshrub
• Fairy Duster (Calliandra eriophylla) - low shrub *
• False filaree, desert storksbill (Erodium texanum) - annual forb *
• False nightshade, small groundcherry, green-leaf five-eyes (Chamaesaracha coronopus) - perennial forb *
• False pennyroyal (Hedeoma nanum var. macrocalyx) - perennial forb
• feather fingergrass, cola de zorra, zacate lagunero (Chloris virgata) - annual grass *
• Fendler's desert dandelion (Malacothrix fendleri) - annual forb *
• Fiddleneck (Amsinckia intermedia var. intermedia ) - annual forb *
• Field sandbur, huipapori (Cenchrus incertus) - grass *
• Filaree, storksbill, heronsbill, alfilerillo (Erodium cicutarium) - annual forb,introduced,widespread
• fishhook barrel, Arizona barrel (Ferocactus wislizenii) - medium columnar cactus *
• Fishhook pincushion cactus (Mammillaria grahamii (Mammillaria microcarpa)) - pincushion cactus *
• Flat-globe dodder (Cuscuta umbellata) - parasitic forb
• Flowery spurge (Euphorbia florida (Chamaesyce florida)) - annual forb
• Fluff-grass, zacate borreguerro (Erioneuron pulchellum (Tridens pulchellus)) - perennial stoloniferous grass *
• Foothill bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus humistratus) - annual forb *
• Foothill paloverde (Parkinsonia microphyllum (Cercidium microphyllum)) - medium tree *
• Fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum (P. ruppelii)) - introduced, invasive perennial grass *
• Four-wing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) - medium shrub *
• Foxtail brome, red brome, bromo rojo (Bromus rubens (B. madritensis ssp. Rubens)) - introduced annual grass *
• Fremont wolfberry (Lycium fremontii) - medium shrub *
• Fremont's pincushion, morning bride (Chaenactis fremontii) - annual forb *
• Fringed pigweed, Bledo, Quelitillo (Amaranthus fimbriatus) - annual forb
• Fringed spurge (Euphorbia setiloba (Chamaesyce setiloba)) - annual forb
• Germander (Teucrium cubense subsp. depressum) - annual forb
• Germander (Teucrium glandulosum) - perennial forb *
• Giant sand-milkweed, Hierba del Cuervo (Asclepias erosa) - perennial forb
• Gila live-forever (Dudleya arizonica) - perennial forb *
• Golden hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus nicholii) - low columnar cactus *
• Golondrina (Euphorbia abramsiana (Chamaesyce abramsiana)) - annual forb
• Golondrina (Euphorbia micromera (Chamaesyce micromera)) - annual forb
• Golondrina (Euphorbia petrina (Chamaesyce petrina)) -
• Goodding's vervain (Verbena gooddingii (Glandularia gooddingii)) - perennial forb
• Gordon's bladderpod (Lesquerella gordonii) - annual forb *
• Gray-thorn (Ziziphus obtusifolia var. canescens) - tall shrub *
• Gray-thorn (Ziziphus obtusifolia var. canescens) - tall shrub *
• Ground cherry (Physalis lobata) - perennial forb *
• Gumhead (Gymnosperma glutinosa) - low shrub
• Hairy baccharis (Baccharis brachyphylla) - low shrub
• Hairy bowlesia (Bowlesia incana) - annual forb
• Hairy lotus, desert bird's-foot trfoil, desert lotus (Lotus strigosus) - annual forb *
• Hairy water-clover (Marsilea vestita) - fern
• Heart-leaf bursage (Ambrosia cordifolia) - medium shrub *
• Hierba del Cancer, copperleaf (Acalypha californica (Acalypha pringlei)) - low shrub *
• Hog potato, camote de raton (Caesalpinia glauca (Hoffmanseggia glauca)) - perennial forb
• Holly-leaf buckthorn, red berry buckthorn (Rhamnus crocea) - medium shrub *
• Holly-leaved bursage (Ambrosia ilicifolia) - low shrub *
• Honeysweet, Hierba ceniza (Tidestromia lanuginosa) - annual forb
• Hopbush (Dodonea viscosa (D.angustifolia)) - tall shrub *
• Hyssop spurge (Euphorbia hyssopifolia (Chamaesyce hyssopifolia)) -
• Indian fern, california cloak fern (Notholaena californica ssp. Californica) - fern
• Indian Mallow, Flowering Maple (Abutilon palmeri) - low shrub *
• Indian mallow, pelotazo (Abutilon incanum) - medium shrub *
• Ironwood (Olneya tesota) - medium tree *
• Jackass clover (Wislizenia refracta ssp. Refracta) - annual forb
• Jacobinia (Jacobinia ovata) - medium shrub *
• Jacobinia (Jacobinia ovata) - medium shrub *
• Janusia (Janusia gracilis) - woody vine *
• Johnson grass, zacate johnson (Sorghum halepense) - introduced perennial grass *
• Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) - medium shrub *
• Jumping bean (Sebastiania bilocularis (Sapium biloculare)) - medium shrub *
• Junglegrass, junglerice, leopard grass, zacate rayado, zacate pinto, zacate tigre (Echinochloa colonum var. colonum) - annual grass *
• Lacepod (Thysanocarpus curvipes) - annual forb *
• Lacepod (Thysanocarpus curvipes) - annual forb *
• Leather-leaved brickellia (Brickellia atractyloides var. atractyloides) - low shrub
• Lehmann lovegrass, zacate africano (Eragrostis lehmanniana) - introduced perennial grass *
• Lemilla (Carlowrightia arizonica) - low shrub
• Lemmon groundsel (Senecio lemmonii) - subshrub
• Limberbush (Jatropha cuneata) - medium shrub *
• Little gold poppy (Eschscholzia minutiflora) - annual forb *
• Little trumpet (Eriogonum trichopes var. trichopes) - annual forb
• Little-seed canary grass, alpisillo, alpiste silvestre (Phalaris minor) - annual grass *
• Littleseed muhly, liendrilla chica (Muhlenbergia microsperma) - annual grass *
• Lizard-tail, velvet-leaf gaura (Gaura parviflora) - annual forb *
• Loeflingia (Loeflingia squarrosa ssp. Cactorum) - annual forb
• London rocket, pamita (Sisymbrium irio) - annual forb,introduced,widespread *
• Long-beaked twist-flower (Streptanthella longirostris) - annual forb
• Lotus salsuginosus (Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus) - annual forb
• Louse spurge (Euphorbia pediculifera var. pediculifera (Chamaesyce pediculifera)) - perennial forb
• Lyre-pod (Lyrocarpa coulteri) - perennial forb *
• Mal de ojo (Sphaeralcea emoryi) - perennial forb
• Malvella (Malvella sagittifolia) - perennial forb *
• Manzanilla del coyote (Thymophylla concinna) - annual forb
• Mediterranean grass (Schismus barbatus) - introduced annual grass *
• Mentzelia oreophila (Mentzelia oreophila (Mentzelia puberula)) - shrub *
• Mexican crucillo (Condalia warnockii) - medium shrub *
• Mexican Gold Poppy (Eschscholtzia californica ssp. mexicana) - annual forb *
• Mexican panicgrass (Panicum hirticaule var. hirticaule) - grass *
• Miniature Woollystar (Eriastrum diffusum) - annual forb *
• Mixed-nut comb-bur (Pectocarya heterocarpa) - annual forb
• Mojave beard tongue (Penstemon pseudospectabilis var. pseudospectabilis) - perennial forb
• Mojave desert star (Monoptilon bellioides) - annual forb *
• Mojave groundsel (Senecio mohavensis) - annual forb *
• Mormon tea, Boundary ephedra, tepopote (Ephedra aspera) - low shrub *
• Morning glory, trompillo morado (Ipomoea hederacea) -
• Mountain barrel cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus) - medium columnar cactus *
• Narrow-leaf saltbush (Atriplex linearis (A. canescens ssp. Linearis)) - medium shrub
• Narrowleaf silverbush (Ditaxis lanceolata) - low shrub *
• Net-leaf goosefoot, chuhal, cuhal (Chenopodium murale) - annual forb
• New Mexico ditaxis (Ditaxis neomexicana) - perennial forb
• Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) - tall shrub *
• Odora, hierba del venado (Porophyllum gracile) - perennial forbs,strongly scented foliage *
• onyxflower (Achyronychia cooperi) - annual forb *
• Orange caltrop, baiborin, mal de ojo (Kallstroemia grandiflora) - annual forb
• Orange velvet-mallow (Horsfordia newberryi) - medium shrub *
• Orcutt globe mallow (Sphaeralcea orcuttii) - annual forb
• Oreganillo (Aloysia wrightii) - low shrub *
• Organ pipe cactus (Stenocereus thurberi) - tall columnar cactus *
• Pacific orach (Atriplex pacifica) - annual forb *
• Panamint cat's eye, popcorn flower (Cryptantha angustifolia) - annual forb *
• Pancake prickly-pear (Opuntia chlorotica) - pad cactus *
• Panicum (Panicum alatum var. alatum) - grass
• Paper flower (Psilostrophe cooperi) - low shrub *
• Parish goldeneye (Viguera parishii) - low shrub *
• Parish three-awn (Aristida parishii) - annual grass *
• Parish wolfberry (Lycium parishii) - medium shrub *
• Parry penstemon (Penstemon parryi) - perennial forb *
• Parry's false prairie-clover (Marina parryi) - perennial forb *
• Parry's lip fern (Cheilanthes parryi) - fern
• Pebble pincushion (Chaenactis carphoclinia) - annual forb *
• Peirson's brown-eyed primrose (Camissonia claviformis ssp. peirsonii) - annual forb *
• Peluda, dainty desert hideseed (Eucrypta micrantha) - annual forb
• Pencil cholla (Opuntia arbuscula) - medium arborescent cactus *
• Phlox (Phlox tenuifolia) - perennial forb *
• Pigmy-weed (Crassula connata (Tillaea erecta)) - annual forb
• pine-needle milkweed (Asclepias linaria) - perennial forb *
• Pink velvet mallow (Horsfordia alata) - straggly shrub *
• Piojillo de Arizona (Brachiaria arizonica (Panicum arizonicum)) - annual grass *
• Pipevine, Indian-root, Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia watsonii) - perennial vine
• Plantain (Plantago patagonica) - annual forb *
• Portulaca (Portulaca halimoides) - annual forb
• Poverty three-awn, zacate arana de tres barbas (Aristida ternipes var. gentilis (A. hamulosa)) - perennial grass *
• Poverty weed, patata (Monolepis nuttalliana) - annual forb
• Prickly poppy, cardo, crested pricklepoppy, bluestem pricklepoppy, chicalote (Argemone gracilenta) - perennial forb *
• Prickly sow thistle, chinita (Sonchus asper) - introduced weedy annual forb *
• Prostrate vervain (Verbena bracteata) - perennial forb
• Prostrate vervain (Verbena bracteata) - perennial forb
• Psilactis (Machaeranthera coulteri var. arida) - annual forb *
• Puncture vine, goathead, torito, toboso (Tribulus terrestris) - annual forb
• Purple owl clover (Castilleja exserta (Orthocarpus exserta)) - annual forb *
• Purple three-awn, tres barbas (Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi (A. glauca)) - annual grass *
• Purplemat (Nama demissum) - annual forb *
• Purslane speedwell, necklace-weed (Veronica peregrina subsp. xalapensis) - annual forb
• Ragged rockflower (Crossosoma bigelovii) - straggly shrub *
• Range ratany (Krameria erecta (Krameria parviflora)) - low shrub
• Rattlesnake weed (Euphorbia albomarginata) - perennial forb *
• Red grama, navajita china (Bouteloua trifida) - perennial grass *
• Red Maids (Calandrinia ciliata) - annual forb *
• Red spiderling (Boerhavia diffusa) - trailing perennial,introduced,invasive *
• Red sprangletop, zacate salado, desparramo rojo (Leptochloa mucronata (L. filiformis)) - annual grass *
• Rigid spineflower, rigid spinyherb (Chorizanthe rigida) - annual forb *
• Rock hibiscus (Hibiscus denudatus) - low shrub *
• Roseberry juniper (Juniperus coahuilensis) - Tree, Shrub *
• Russian thistle, tumbleweed, chamizo volador (Salsola tragus (Salsola kali)) - annual forb,introduced,invasive *
• Sacred datura, thornapple, western jimson (Datura discolor (Datura wrightii)) - perennial forb,halucinogenic and poisonous *
• Saguaro, Sahuara, Giant Cactus (Carnegia gigantea) - tall columnar cactus *
• Sahara mustard, wild turnip, mostaza (Brassica tournefortii) - annual forb,introduced,extremely invasive *
• Sahara mustard, wild turnip, mostaza (Brassica tournefortii) - annual forb,introduced,extremely invasive *
• Salt-cedar, tamarisk, salado, pino salado (Tamarix ramosissima) - medium tree,introduced,invasive
• Sand dropseed, zacate de arena (Sporobolus cryptandrus) - grass *
• Sand evening primrose (Camissonia arenaria) - annual forb
• Sand locoweed (Astragalus insularis var. harwoodii ) - annual forb *
• Sand peppergrass (Lepidium lasiocarpum) - annual forb *
• Sand peppergrass (Lepidium lasiocarpum) - annual forb *
• Sand Verbena (Abronia villosa) - perennial forb *
• Sandpaper plant (Petalonyx thurberi subsp. thurberi) - medium shrub
• Sangre-de-Cristo (Jatropha cardiophylla) - low shrub *
• Scale seed (Spermolepis echinata) - annual forb
• Scaly star fern (Astrolepis cochisensis ssp. Cochisensis) - fern
• Schott's wire-lettuce (Stephanomeria schottii) - annual forb
• Scorpionweed (Phacelia ambigua (Phacelia crenulata)) - annual forb *
• Screwbean mesquite (Prosopis pubescens) - medium tree *
• Seep willow, batamote (Baccharis salicifolia (B. glutinosa)) - tall shrub *
• Senita cactus (Lophocereus schottii) - tall columnar cactus *
• Serrate ditaxis (Ditaxis serrata var. serrata) - perennial forb
• Silky dalea (Dalea mollis) - perennial forb *
• Silver cholla (Opuntia echinocarpa) - low arborescent cactus *
• Silver puffs (Uropappus lindleyi ) - annual forb *
• Silver puffs (Uropappus lindleyi ) - annual forb *
• Silver-leaf nightshade, white horse-nettle (Solanum eleagnifolium) - perennial forb
• Silversheath (Polygonum argyrocoleon) - annual forb
• Sixweeks fescue, eight-flowered fescue, fescua (Festuca octoflora (Vulpia octoflora)) - annual grass *
• Six-weeks grama, navajita, zacate liebrero (Bouteloua barbata) - annual grass *
• Six-weeks needle grama, aceitilla, navajita (Bouteloua aristidoides) - annual grass *
• Six-weeks three-awn, zacate tres barbas (Aristida adscensionis) - annual grass *
• Skeleton Weed (Eriogonum deflexum) - annual forb *
• Skeleton Weed (Eriogonum deflexum) - annual forb *
• Sleepy catchfly (Silene antirrhina) - annual forb
• Slender burrobrush (Hymenoclea monogyra) - low shrub
• Slim tridens (Tridens muticus var. muticus) - perennial grass *
• Slim-Jim bean, desert bean (Phaseolus filiformis) - annual forb *
• Slim-leaf ragweed, Estafiate (Ambrosia confertiflora) - perennial forb
• Small-flowered milkvetch (Astragalus nuttallianus var. imperfectus) - annual forb *
• Smoke tree (Psorothamnus spinosus) - small tree *
• Smooth desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata) - annual forb *
• Snapdragon vine (Maurandya antirrhinum) - non-woody vine *
• Sonora croton (Croton sonorae) - medium shrub *
• Sonoran silverbush (Ditaxis brandegeei var. intonsa) - low shrub
• Spanish needles (Palafoxia arida var. arida) - annual forb *
• Spectacle-pod (Dithyrea californica) - annual forb *
• Spidergrass, zacate arana (Aristida ternipes var. ternipes) - perennial grass *
• Spiderling (Boerhavia erecta var. erecta) - annual forb
• Spiderling (Boerhavia erecta var. intermedia) - annual forb
• Spiderling (Boerhavia spicata) - annual forb
• Spiderling (Boerhavia wrightii) - annual forb
• Spike pappusgrass, zacate lobero (Enneopogon desvauxii) - perennial grass *
• Spineless chain-fruit cholla (Opuntia fulgida var. mammillata) - medium arborescent cactus *
• Spiny goldenweed (Machaeranthera pinnatifida var. gooddingii) - perennial forb *
• Staghorn cholla (Opuntia versicolor) - medium arborescent cactus *
• Star cloak fern (Notholaena standleyi) - fern *
• Star gilia (Gilia stellata) - annual forb *
• Starry bedstraw (Galium stellatum var. eremicum) - low shrub *
• Stickleaf, silver blazing-star, pega pega (Mentzelia involucrata var. megacantha) - annual forb *
• Stickseed (Lappula redowskii) - annual forb
• Sticky sprangletop, zacate salado pegajoso (Leptochloa viscida) - annual grass *
• Stillingia (Stillingia linearifolia) - perennial forb *
• Stinking lovegrass, zacate apestoso (Eragrostis cilianensis) - introduced annual grass *
• Strawberry hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus engelmannii) - low columnar cactus *
• Sweetbush (Bebbia juncea var. aspera) - low shrub *
• Tanglehead, zacate colorado (Heteropogon contortus) - perennial grass *
• Tansy mustard (Descurainia pinnata) - annual forb *
• Tansy mustard (Descurainia pinnata) - annual forb *
• Teddy bear cholla (Opuntia bigelovii) - low arborescent cactus *
• Texas virgin bower (Clematis drummondii) - woody vine
• Thomas buckwheat (Eriogonum thomasii) - annual forb *
• Thornber fishhook cactus, cabeza de viejo (Mammillaria thornberi) - short pincushion cactus
• Threadstem (Nemacladus glanduliferus var. orientalis) - annual forb
• Thurber buckwheat (Eriogonum thurberi) - annual forb
• Thurber's Desert Honeysuckle, Chuparosa (Anisacanthus thurberi) - medium shrub *
• Trailing four-o'clock (Allionia incarnata) - annual forb *
• Triangle-leaf bursage (Ambrosia deltoidea) - low shrub *
• Triangle-leaf bursage (Ambrosia deltoidea) - low shrub *
• Triangle-seed blazing-star, pega pega (Mentzelia affinis) - annual forb *
• Trixis (Trixis californica) - low shrub *
• Trixis (Trixis californica) - low shrub *
• Turpentine broom (Thamnosma montana) - shrub
• Turpentine bush (Ericamera laricifolia) - low shrub *
• Twinberry, rough menodora (Menodora scabra) - perennial forb
• Velcro plant (Eucnide rupestris) -
• Velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina) - medium tree *
• Velvetpod mimosa (Mimosa dysocarpa) - medium shrub *
• Vervain (Verbena officinalis ssp. halei) - perennial forb
• Wavy cloak fern (Astrolepis sinuata) - fern *
• Wedge-leaf draba (Draba cuneifolia var. integrifolia) - annual forb *
• Western honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana) - medium tree *
• Wheel-scale orach, chamiso cenizo (Atriplex elegans ssp fasciculata) - annual forb
• Wheel-scale orach, chamiso cenizo (Atriplex elegans ssp. elegans) - annual forb
• White burro-bush (Hymenoclea salsola var. pentalepis) - low shrub *
• White bursage (Ambrosia dumosa) - low shrub *
• White easter bonnets, woolly daisy (Eriophyllum lanosum) - annual forb *
• White easter bonnets, woolly daisy (opposite leaves) (Eriophyllum lanosum) - annual forb *
• White ratany (Krameria grayi) - low shrub *
• White tackstem (Calycoseris wrightii) - annual forb *
• White-ball acacia, fern acacia (Acacia angustissima) - medium shrub *
• White-haired bristlegrass, zacate temprano (Setaria leucopila) - grass *
• White-haired cryptantha (Cryptantha maritima var. maritima) - annual forb
• White-haired cryptantha (Cryptantha maritima var.pilosa) - annual forb
• White-stem blazing star (Mentzelia albicaulis) - annual forb
• White-stem milkweed, yamate (Asclepias albicans) - medium shrub *
• Whitethorn acacia (with spines) (Acacia constricta) - tall shrub *
• Whitethorn acacia (without spines) (Acacia constricta) - tall shrub *
• Wilcoxia (Peniocereus striatus) - sprawling cactus *
• Wild barley, cebadilla silvestre (Hordeum murinum ssp. Glaucum) - introduced annual grass *
• Wild buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) - low shrub *
• Wild carrot, Zanahoria silvestre (Daucus pusillus) - annual forb *
• Willow-herb evening primrose (Camissonia chamaenerioides) - annual forb
• Winged cryptantha (Cryptantha holoptera) - annual forb
• Wing-nut cryptantha (Cryptantha pterocarya var. cycloptera) - annual forb *
• Wiry lotus (Lotus rigidus) - annual forb *
• Wolfberry, bachata, salicieso (Lycium berlandieri) - medium shrub *
• Wolfberry, bachata, salicieso (Lycium cooperi) - medium shrub *
• Woody bottle-washer (Camissonia boothii ssp. Condensata) - annual forb *
• Woolly desert-marigold, Tecomblate (Baileya pleniradiata) - perennial forb *
• Woolly desert-marigold, Tecomblate (Baileya pleniradiata) - perennial forb
• Woolly heads (Nemacaulis denudata var. gracilis) - annual forb
• Woolly heads (Nemacaulis denudata var. gracilis) - annual forb
• Woolly plantain, Indian wheat, pastora (Plantago ovata (Plantago insularis var. fastigiata)) - annual forb
• Wooly crinklemat, oreja del perro (Tiquilia canescens) - low shrub *
• Wooly crinklemat, oreja del perro (Tiquilia canescens) - low shrub *
• Wright buckwheat (Eriogonum wrightii var. pringlei) - subshrub
• Wright buckwheat (Eriogonum wrightii var. pringlei) - subshrub
• Wrinkled spine-flower (Chorizanthe corrugata) - annual forb
• Yellow desert primrose (Oenothera primiveris) - annual forb *
• Yellow head, yellowdome (Trichoptilium incisum) - annual forb *
• Yellow Indian-mallow (Abutilon malacum) - perennial forb
• Yellow nutgrass, coquillo, amarillo, cebollin (Cyperus esculentus var. esculentus) - sedge
• Yellow thimblehead (Hymenothrix wislizeni) - forb
• Yellow thimblehead (Hymenothrix wislizenii) - forb
• Yucca (Yucca arizonica) - succulent *
• No Common Name (Prenanthella exigua (Lygodesmia exigua)) -

The scope of this page is to provide links to information and images of most or all of the plant species native to the Sonoran Desert of southwestern Arizona. Currently, not all the species in this region are on the list, but more will be added from time to time. Information and images for species already on the list are continually being added and updated. Because of this, be sure to check back occasionally.

The plant identification page and the plant images are meant to be only a first step in the identification process. In spite of our best efforts, it is not possible to insure that 100% accuracy in identifying unknown plants can be obtained by using search keys and photographs. When it is of critical importance to be absolutely sure of the identification of a plant, a specimen must be examined by a professional botanist and verified at a recognized herbarium.

* Specie page has photos.

Questions and comments are encouraged. If you have any of these or are in disagreement with any information or images being presented, please contact us at, content_mgr@cabezaprieta.org Feedback is necessary to enable us to correct incorrect information and to further fine-tune the identification process.

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