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

  • Human Disturbance and Vegetation in Arizona's Chiricahua Mountains in 1902

    Bahre, Conrad J.; Department of Geography, University of California (University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 1995-12)
  • A Superior Accession of Western Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana) for Riparian Restoration Projects

    Rorabaugh, James C.; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 1995-12)
    An accession of western honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana) was identified at a riparian restoration project on the Gila River near Tacna in southwestern Arizona which grew faster than other honey mesquites at the same site. This "Tacna" accession appeared to be resistant to or grew despite infestations of psyllids (aphid-like insects) which damaged or killed other honey mesquite planted at this and other restoration sites. Seedlings of the Tacna accession, lower Colorado River P glandulosa var. torreyana from near Blythe, California, and P. alba, a hardy South American species popular as an ornamental in the Southwest, were planted at Fortuna Pond on the Gila River near Yuma, Arizona to compare survival, growth, and the effects of psyllids among mesquite types. Two years after planting, survival was similarly high (92 %) for all types, but growth indices (maximum height + maximum width) of the Tacna accession andR alba were significantly greater than the lower Colorado River accession (p <.001). Median growth index of the Tacna mesquite was 146% of the lower Colorado River mesquite growth index two years after planting. Infestations of psyllids occurred on all three mesquite types, but despite their association with severe damage and mortality in previous restoration efforts, relatively few seedlings were damaged. Psyllid presence and damage were not negatively correlated with growth indices (p >.05). The success of riparian restoration projects could be enhanced by planting Tacna mesquites. This accession could be used for fuelwood, ornamental plantings, and other purposes, as well.
  • Impact of Herbicides on Cacti

    Crosswhite, Franks S.; Feldman, William R.; Minch, Edwin W.; University of Arizona, Boyce Thompson Southwest Arboretum; Arizona Department of Agriculture (University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 1995-12)
    The effects of nine herbicides were evaluated on five species of cacti selected to be congeneric with species classified as rare, threatened or endangered. Experimental plants were monitored at monthly intervals for survival and vigor for either six or sixteen months after herbicide treatment, depending on the overall condition of the untreated controls of each species. The severity of herbicide impact varied among active ingredients from lethality to virtually no effect. Some herbicides resulted in slow decline of treated plants, while for other herbicides most damage occurred within a short time after treatment. Some treated plants were observed to recover from herbicide damage, especially with paraquat. A wide variety of factors, both environmental as well as anatomical and physiological characteristics of the test plants are important in determining how a given plant will respond to herbicide exposure.
  • Desperaloe: Aloes of the West

    Starr, Greg (University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 1995-12)
  • Desert Plants, Volume 11, Number 4 (December 1995)

    University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 1995-12