ABOUT THE COLLECTION

Desert Plants is a unique botanical journal published by The University of Arizona for Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum. This journal is devoted to encouraging the appreciation of indigenous and adapted arid land plants. Desert Plants publishes a variety of manuscripts intended for amateur and professional desert plant enthusiasts. A few of the diverse topics covered include desert horticulture, landscape architecture, desert ecology, and history. First published in 1979, Desert Plants is currently published biannually with issues in June and December.

Digital access to this material is made possible by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum, and the University Libraries at the University of Arizona.


QUESTIONS?

Contact Desert Plants at desertplants@cals.arizona.edu.


Table of Contents

Recent Submissions

  • Arboretum Progress

    McKittrick, Robert T.; Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum (University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 1980)
  • Water Harvesting: An Alternative Irrigation Method for Desert Gardners

    Pratt, Richard C.; Department of Horticulture, Purdue University (University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 1980)
  • New Ground Cover Releases

    Jones, Warren D.; Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona; School of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Arizona (University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 1980)
  • Wheat Establishment for Mulch on Coal Mine Soil in a Semiarid Environment

    Day, A. D.; Tucker, T. C.; Thames, J. L.; Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona; Department of Soils, Water, and Engineering, University of Arizona; School of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Arizona (University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 1980)
    Experiments were conducted on the Black Mesa Coal Mine near Kayenta, Arizona over a 2-year period (1977 and 1978) to study the germination (emergence), seedling establishment, and ground cover from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in undisturbed soil and coal mine soil (spoils). Growth of wheat was evaluated for two fertilizer treatments applied at the rates of 0 kg/ha and 560 kg/ha of ammonium phosphate and two soil moisture treatments (optimum and insufficient). The coal mine soil was leveled to conform to the surrounding rolling topography. In April of each year wheat was broadcast planted due to the rough terrain, fertilized at planting time, and irrigated as needed (using wheat plants as indicators of moisture stress). Seeds germinated per unit area, seedlings established per unit area, and percent ground cover were recorded. These three parameters were higher in undisturbed soil than in coal mine soil, when fertilized than when not fertilized, and when optimum soil moisture was provided than when seeds were stressed for moisture. At the end of the growing season, the wheat straw was incorporated into the soil surface and was used as a mulching material. In coal mine wastes in a semiarid environment, the area must be fertilized and provided with optimum soil moisture to produce the maximum growth of wheat for immediate ground cover and soil mulch.
  • Hydrophytic Plants in Arizona's Palustrine Landscapes

    Rodiek, Jon; School of Renewable Resources, University of Arizona (University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 1980)
  • Vegetation and Flora of the Gran Desierto, Sonora, Mexico

    Felger, Richard S.; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; Environmental Research Laboratory, University of Arizona (University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 1980)
    The Gran Desierto of northwestern Sonora is one of the most arid regions of North America. The flora and vegetation of the Sierra del Rosario and the surrounding extensive dune system are analyzed and compared with each other. The dunes, covering on the order of 4,500 sq. km., support a flora of 75 species, while the Sierra, comprising approximately 78 sq. km., supports 105 species. The total flora consists of 145 species, with 36 species common to both the dunes and Sierra. The life -form spectra are indicative of extremely arid conditions: ephemeral species make up 55% of the total flora. A number of range extensions are reported. Mentzelia longiloba is reduced to a subspecies of M. multiflora. There are only three non-native, naturalized species among the dune flora, and none in the Sierra flora. There is no indication of endemism among the Sierra flora. In contrast, the dunes, when considered together with similar habitat in adjacent southeastern California and southwestern Arizona, show some level of evolutionary differentiation for approximately 15% of the flora.
  • Environmental Effects of Harvesting the Wild Desert Shrub Jojoba

    Foster, Kennith E.; Office of Arid Lands Studies, University of Arizona (University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 1980)
  • Editorial - Rational Utilization of Desert Resources

    University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 1980
  • Desert Plants, Volume 2, Number 2 (Summer 1980)

    University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 1980