Santa Rita Mountain plants

Some of my favorites

Pinaceae - Pinus engelmannii - "Apache pine"

There are a number of species of pine in the Santa Ritas, including Chihuahua Pine and border Pinon. I am fond of the Apache pine because you don't see it in other sky islands, notably the Catalinas. It is easy to recognize because of its extremely long needles -- 6 or 8 inches long.

Polygonaceae - Eriogonum fasiculatum - "flat top or California buckwheat"

I see this in abundance near the summit of Mt. Wrightson as a "cushion plant". In late summer (August) I see it in bloom with spheres of flowers with purple exserted stamens. You can see this on the Mt. Lemmon Highway as large shrubs beginning above Molino Basin and all the way to Bear Canyon. An interesting plant that rewards close examination.

Caryophyllaceae - Silene laciniata - "red or Mexican silene"

These are fairly abundant and a nice scarlet red flower. Don't dismiss every red flower you glance at as a Penstemon- even a quick look will tell you this is quite different. These again interest me, because I never see them in the Catalinas, although there are other Silene species there.

Orchidaceae - "orchids!".

I have seen both Malaxis corymbosa and Malaxis soulei. You have to look closely in shaded areas to see these. There is usually one glossy leaf and if you are there at the right time a single inflorescence. The inflorescence for soulei is a slender finger covered with flowers. For corymbosa the flowers are in a "crest" with flowers facing in all directions. Both of these are easy to miss and will only be seen when things are wet.

Plant list(s)

• AZNPS - Santa Rita plant list
• Plant list (local copy of the above)