5 Native Species

FAMILY: Malvaceae
SPECIES: Sphaeralcea ambigua

Associated species: Enjoys being in the company of creosote and chaparral scrub brush. Also seen with Smoketree, Palo Verde, Joshua Tree, California Juniper and Pinyon Pine.

Range: mostly Southern California deserts, but also found in parts of Nevada, Utah, Arizona and Northwest Mexico. Tolerates cold to 15° F

Soil: Adaptable, but prefers fast draining desert soil. Tolerates Sodic Soil. Soil PH: 6.0 - 8.0 Soil PH: 6.2 - 8.2

Enjoys deserts and semidesert settings, especially among boulders.

Other Notes:
Hosts, bees, butterflies and moths.

Observations: Currently not flowering. Leaves are a greyish green and look wrinkly and are lobed. Stems and leaves look fuzzy. Found on a hillside.

FAMILY: Asteraceae
SPECIES: Encelia farinosa

Associated species: Creosote, Ocotillo, Jojoba, Blue Paloverde, White Bursage, Chuparosa, Barrel Cactus, Desert Lavender, Indigo Bush, Apricot Mallow

Range: Found native in a variety of desert habitats in the Mojave and Colorado, but spreading as they are being cultivated by Caltrans for use along roadways. Tolerates cold to 20° F. Elevation: -224" - 6450"

Soil: Prefers sandy or decomposed granite soil. Soil PH: 7.0 - 9.0.

It can be found in a variety of desert habitats from dry gravelly slopes to open sandy washes. Found in very arid slopes, canyons, washes and alluvial fans

Other Notes:
Can be used for bank stabilization. Hosts bees, butterflies and moths. Birds eat their seeds.

Leaves and stems has been held in the mouth to alleviate a toothache.

Observations: Currently not flowering. Long stems where flowers would be when blooming. Light greyish green leaves with long stems sticking far out from the plant (where the flowers would be). Leaves look crinkled. Found on a gravelly/granitey slope. Also found in a nearby dry wash. Among creosote.

Notes
FAMILY: Polygonaceae
SPECIES: Eriogonum inflatum

Associated species: Sagebrush Scrub, Creosote Bush Scrub, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, Joshua Tree Woodland

Range: Prefers rocky foot-hills, lower slopes of desert mountains, dry sand or gravel.

Found at -274" - 7179" throughout the Southwestern US.

Soil: Enjoys dry locations; sandy or gravelly soils.

Other Notes:
Hosts butterflies and moths. Indigenous people had different methods for preparing and eating the plant. They would also use them in tobacco pipes and as medicine for dog bites.

Observations: Currently not flowering. Brownish reddish color. Long stems in small clusters that start out narrow with ends that look like a pod or bubble and what look like antennae branching off of that. No noticeable smell. Found on a hillside. Probably about 2 ft in a height.

FAMILY: Cactaceae
SPECIES: Opuntia basilaris

Associated species: Agave, Desert Lavender, Brittlebrush, Palo Verde, Joshua Tree

Range: mostly the Mojave and Colorado Deserts and Northwest Mexico. Tolerates cold to 0° F

Soil: Sandy or gravelly, decomposed granite or sandstone. Soil PH: 6.2 - 8.2

Other Notes:
Insects are attracted to its flowers, including butterflies and moths.

Juicy edible paddles, especially in Mexican cuisine.

Observations: Round, flat green paddles with tiny hairlike spines found on a hillside with decomposed granite soil.