Vascular Plants and a Brief 

History of the Kiowa and Rita 

Blanca National Grasslands

Donald L. Hazlett, Michael H. Schiebout, and Paulette L. Ford

United States

Department

of Agriculture

Forest Service

Rocky Mountain

Research Station

General Technical Report

RMRS-GTR-233

December 2009
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Hazlett, Donald L.; Schiebout, Michael H.; and Ford, Paulette L. 2009. Vascular plants and a 

brief history of the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRSGTR-233. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain 

Research Station. 44 p. 

Abstract

Administered by the USDA Forest Service, the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands 

occupy 230,000 acres of public land extending from northeastern New Mexico into the panhandles 

of Oklahoma and Texas. A mosaic of topographic features including canyons, plateaus, rolling 

grasslands and outcrops supports a diverse flora. Eight hundred twenty six (826) species of 

vascular plant species representing 81 plant families are known to occur on or near these public 

lands. This report includes a history of the area; ethnobotanical information; an introductory 

overview of the area including its climate, geology, vegetation, habitats, fauna, and ecological 

history; and a plant survey and information about the rare, poisonous, and exotic species from 

the area. A vascular plant checklist of 816 vascular plant taxa in the appendix includes scientific 

and common names, habitat types, and general distribution data for each species. This list is 

based on extensive plant collections and available herbarium collections. 

Authors

Donald L. Hazlett is an ethnobotanist, Director of New World Plants and People consulting, and a 

research associate at the Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, CO. 

Michael H. Schiebout is currently a Ph.D, student at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, 

CO. His floristic master’s work, with this same university, was in northeastern NM.

Paulette L. Ford is a research ecologist with the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research 

Station in Albuquerque, NM.

Cover: The Canadian River in Mills Canyon (photo by Don Hazlett).
Contents

Introduction.......................................................................................................1

Human History..................................................................................................1

A Brief History of the Kiowa Nation....................................................1

Spanish and Other Early Settlers..........................................................2

Dust Bowl to National Grassland.........................................................4

Kiowa and Plains Apache Ethnobotany................................................5

Natural History..................................................................................................5

Vegetation.............................................................................................5

Fauna ..................................................................................................6

Site Description.................................................................................................6

Geology and Soils.................................................................................6

Climate..................................................................................................7

Three Study Regions.............................................................................9

The Study Area Habitats.....................................................................10

Methods..........................................................................................................14

Field Survey Methods.........................................................................14

Plant Species Nomenclature...............................................................15

Habitat Designations...........................................................................15

Geographic Distributions....................................................................15

Results and Discussion...................................................................................15

New Mexico Rare Plants....................................................................16

Oklahoma Rare Plants.........................................................................17

Texas Rare Plants................................................................................17

Exotic Plants.......................................................................................17

Toxic Plants.........................................................................................18

Conservation and Management.......................................................................18

Acknowledgments...........................................................................................18

References.......................................................................................................19

Appendix.........................................................................................................21

USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 1

Introduction_____________________

TheKiowa andRitaBlancaNationalGrasslands(KNG

andRBNG) are located in northeastern New Mexico and

adjacent Oklahoma and Texas. This report represents

the first comprehensive checklist of vascular plants

that occur on or near these grasslands. The checklist

serves as a baseline inventory for the area, and it is

hoped that additional species will be added to it over

time by others. These national grasslands, administered

by the USDA Forest Service Cibola National Forest,

encompass approximately 230,000 acresin four counties

of New Mexico and one county each in Texas, and

Oklahoma. The grasslands are managed for many uses.

While livestockproductionisthemostvisibleuseofthese

lands, the grasslands are also managed for their natural

and cultural resources and for recreation. Visitors come

to the grasslands to hunt, fish, camp, hike, picnic, and

view the scenery and associated wildlife.

This report has been prepared for the diverse audience

of users of and visitors to the Kiowa and Rita Blanca

National Grasslands. It will be of use to local educators,

residents,ranchers,farmers,scientists, as well asto firsttime grassland visitors.

Human History___________________

A Brief History of the Kiowa Nation

Several Native American groups once lived in

northeasternNewMexico.Among thesewere theKiowa,

theKiowaApache,Comanche,PlainsApache,Mescalero

Apache, and Jicarilla Apache. Although each of these

groups has historical and cultural ties to this region, this

brief history will focus on the Kiowa because the Kiowa

National Grassland is named in honor of the Kiowa

people, a unique and still thriving group of Native

Americans. This Kiowa information is selected and

condensed from Crum (1996), Lassiter (1998), Marriott

(1971),Mayhall(1971),Newcomb(1961),Pritzer(2000),

Vascular Plants and a Brief

History of the Kiowa and Rita

Blanca National Grasslands

Donald L. Hazlett, Michael H. Schiebout, and Paulette L. Ford

and White (2000). The etymology of the Kiowa name

has several interpretations. It is pronounced Kai-o-wa 

in Latin, caygua in Spanish, and Kaiwa in Comanche.

Newcomb (1961) considered Kiowa as a variation of

the actual Kiowa tribe name. He speculated that a literal

translation to English of their self-assigned name would

be “a people who paint the two halves of the body or face

in different colors.” This style of body painting is still

a Kiowa tradition. Pritzer (2000) agreed that the word

Kiowa was self-designated, but suggested that it meant

“Principle People.” Pritzer’sinterpretation of the Kiowa

nameoriginseemstobemoreacceptedbyanthropologists,

but the half-body painting idea is more memorable.

The language of the Kiowa is one of the best clues as

to the origin of this tribe. The Kiowa speak a Tanoan or

Kiowa Tanoan language, a linguistic isolate that is not

closely related to the language of any other nomadic

Plains Indian group (Pritzker 2000). Instead, Tanoan is

more closely related to the language of the sedentary

Pueblo Indians that mainly live along the Rio Grande.

Despite a linguistic similarity with the Pueblo in the

Southwest, the first known reports of the Kiowa tribe

are from the Missouri headwaters. From the Missouri

headwaters, the Kiowa moved to southwestern Montana

and then to the Black Hills region (Schnell 2000). In

1781, while in the Black Hills, the Kiowa were severely

affected by a smallpox epidemic. As a consequence,

the neighboring Lakota, Arapaho, and Cheyenne tribes

forced the Kiowa to move south. Although the Kiowa

have been absent from the Black Hills for more than

200 years, they maintain long-standing traditions in

northern lands (Schnell 2000). One of these traditions is

to consider “Bear Butte” (Devil’s Tower) as a sacred place

(Schnell 2000; U.S. Department of the Interior 2005).

When the Kiowa fled the Black Hillsregion in the late

1700s they ventured far enough south to encounter the

Comanche homeland in southeastern Colorado. They

initially fought with the Comanche, but eventually the

two tribes lived in peace.
2 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

In this southern Great Plains homeland, the Kiowa

lived near the headwaters of the Arkansas, Cimarron,

Canadian, and Red rivers. It is of interest that the Kiowa

developed a tradition of wandering great distances on

hunting or exploratory expeditions. For example, during

one such expedition, the Kiowa encountered parrots and

monkeys.Newcomb(1961)suggestedthatthis particular

excursion went asfarsouth asBelize inCentralAmerica.

The peak Kiowa resistance to the “White” intruders

from the East began around 1860 (Pritzker 2000). Kiowa

leaders at thistime includedWhiteBear(Satana, Satanta

or Set’tainti), Sitting Bear (Satank or Set angia), Lone

Wolf (Gui pägo), Kicking Bird or Striking Eagle (Tene 

augope), and Stumbling or PushingBear(Setimkia).The

MedicineLodgeTreatyof1867stipulatedtheconfinement

of the Kiowa to reservations in Oklahoma (near Fort

Sill). Given their nomadic tradition, however, the Kiowa

could not live well when they were confined to a small

area for long periods of time. It was natural for them to

continue their tradition of excursions to distant places.

These excursions inevitably led to armed conflicts with

the U.S. military and with other policing authorities.The

last major battles between military authorities and the

Kiowa were led by LoneWolfin 1874 and 1875 (Pritzker

2000).

The Kiowa Tribe is a federally recognized entity

that occurs on about 7,000 acres in seven southwestern

Oklahoma counties.The originalKiowa,Comanche, and

Kiowa-Apache reservation (now collectively called the

KCA) covered about three million acresin southwestern

Oklahoma. The Kiowa have maintained their artistic

and social organization skills (Crum 1996). Since 1968

the Kiowa tribal council has published the Kiowa Indian

News. The Kiowa ability to retain traditions despite

oppression is also evident in the survival ofthe children’s

Rabbit Society with traditional songs and dances. A

successful Kiowa writer is Scott Momoady, a member

of the Kiowa gourd clan, who won a Pulitzer Prize for

fiction in 1969 for his book “House Made at Dawn”

(Crum 1996). Five well-known Kiowa artistsin the early

1900s were the “Kiowa Five.” Another award-winning

Kiowa artist, Barthell Little Chief, was featured in an

Indian Country News article in 2000. Barthell Little

Chief considers himself an artistwho “makesIndian art,”

not an artist who makes art about Indians—an important

distinction.

The Kiowa Nation still exists, but no longer lives in

the immediate vicinity of the Kiowa National Grassland.

As the Kiowa language became less used, song and

dance have emerged as more important and dominant

culturalsymbolsfortheKiowa aswell asfor otherNative

American groups (Lassiter 1998).

Although Kiowa do not currently live on the Kiowa

National Grassland, they maintain strong cultural ties to

this homeland (Schnell 2000). These ties, reminiscent

of their long-standing ties to the sacred “Bear Butte” in

Wyoming, help bond themto a landscape and to its plants

and animals. Parts of the historical Kiowa homeland in

New Mexico are now protected as the Kiowa National

Grassland.

Spanish and Other Early Settlers

The western Kiowa National Grassland section occurs

in parts of Colfax, Harding, and Mora Counties. The

major feature in this section is the Canadian River in

MillsCanyon.WhythewordCanadianfor aNewMexico

river?Canadiantrappersmayhavecoinedthisname,since

early trappers would follow this river north to return to

Canada. Alternatively, the Spanish word cañada could

be the origin of this name, since in Spanish a cañada

is a steep-walled canyon. Finally, Caddo means “red

river” (Julyan 2001). Indeed, this 900-mile long river

was previously known as both Red River (English) and

RìoColorado (Spanish). Since these names were already

in use for other rivers, perhaps only the Canadian name

was left for use by cartographers for this river. On the

other hand, cartographers could have retrieved even

earlierrivernamessinceFranciscoVásquezdeCoronado

(ca. 1510-1554) called this river Rìo Cicuye (near

Cicuyé Pueblo), Juan de Oñate (ca. 1598) called it

Rìo de la Magdalena, and Juan de Zaldívar called it

Rìo de San Francisco (Julyan 2001). The older names

were used at a time when aerial satellites could not tell

cartographers or explorersthat variousriver names were

actually differentsections ofthe same, meandering river.

Mills Canyon has Spanish names for ravine and creek

tributaries of the Canadian River. Among these are

Arroyo Piedra Lumbre (Splendid Rock Creek), Cañon

Mesteño (untamed canyon and a livestock guild), and

Cañon Mesteñito (diminutive of mesteño). East of

Roy is Tesquesquite Creek, an apparent misspelling of

tequesquiete.Tequesquite isNáhuatl(anAztec language)

for a white mineral that forms on some alkali creeks

(Cobos 2003). This mineral has long been used in the

Southwest in cooking (still available), as a medicine,

and as a substitute for sodium bicarbonate. In southern

Union County both Perico and Carrizo creeks have

Spanish names. Perico means either parrot or a largeleaf monocot plant in the tropical genus Canna. If this

creek were named after a parrot, it may have been a
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 3

word the Kiowa learned during one of their excursions

into southern Mexico. Parrot as the origin for the Perico

Creek name is not listed by Julyan (2001). The Carrizo 

name in Carrizo Creek is a Spanish word for rush.

The Spanish place names attest to the long Spanish

occupation of this region, but the canyon itself and the

nearby town of Mills were named in honor of Melvin

Whiston Mills, a lawyer. Melvin Mills, born in Ontario,

Canada, in 1845, was a prosecuting district attorney for

Colfax, Taos, Rio Arriba, and Mora Counties in the late

1800s (Cates 2001). As a lawyer, Mills was involved

in several famous trials, some of which were against

powerful Land Grant interests. These legal tangles led

Millsto a number of close encounterswithmob violence.

For example, Mills helped prosecute the Maxwell Land

Grant Company while the defending lawyer was Frank

Springer (town of Springer bears his name).At that time,

Lucien Maxwell was the largest land-owner in United

Stateshistory(Pearson1961).TheMaxwellCompanywas

accusedoffraudulentclaimsregardingits1.7million-acre

land grant, a grant area that included what is now most

of the Kiowa National Grassland. This litigation passed

out of Mills’jurisdiction and went to the Supreme Court.

In 1887, this highest court upheld the Maxwell right to

these land claims. Nonetheless, litigation continued until

the 1890s when this huge land grant area was finally

broken up into smaller areas (Faulk 1968).

Whenhewasnotinvolvedwithlitigation,MelvinMills

and his family filed homestead claims (1880-1881) on

land that is now Mills Canyon, a key

part of the Kiowa National Grassland.

In an effort at irrigation, Mills diverted

upstreamriverwaterintoditches.Some

oftheseditches are stillvisible (Hazlett,

personalobservation,Sept.2006).Cates

(2001) reported that the crops irrigated

byMillsincluded2,500peach,500pear,

1,000quinceandanunknownnumberof

prune, mulberry, plum, almond, grape,

and other crops. Apricots may also

have been in the planting mix, since

there are still a few large apricot trees

growing in Mills Canyon. Volunteer

apples (Malus) and hedge apple trees

can also be found in this canyon. Prior

to the widespread use of barbed wire,

the thorny hedge apple orOsage orange

(Maclura pomifera) were planted in

rows asfencesto contain livestock. In Mills Canyon, the

hedge apples that were planted along irrigation ditches

to help control erosion are still there (Hazlett, personal

observation, Sept. 2006). The hedge apple fruits are not

eaten, but these curiously wrinkled fruits are sometimes

used for decoration and/or to keep cockroaches out of

basements. The thriving Mills Canyon agricultural

operation came to an abrupt end in 1904 when it was

totally wiped out by a flood (Clay 1999). The story is

told that after this flood Melvin Mills was in financial

ruin and became a beggar. He died in 1925 on a cot in

his old home, a mansion he had built in Springer (Clay

1999).

The Rita Blanca part of the Rita Blanca Grassland

name refers to “Little White River,” a name that comes

from the Spanish sheep herders that inhabited the High

Plains oftheTexas Panhandle during the late 1800s.Also

called Rita Blanca are Lake Rita Blanca State Park and

the underlying Rita Blanca Aquifer in this same region.

The Rita Blanca National Grassland (fig. 1) occurs

as a mosaic of public land in northwestern Oklahoma

(Cimarron County) and northwestern Texas (Dallam

County). In the late 1800s, the Panhandle areas of

both these states were known as “no man’s land,” an

unofficial part of Indian Country that was not officially a

part of any state. This land became a refuge for outlaws,

desperados, and horse thieves, since it was within the

jurisdictionofnostate.Its “noman’s” statuswasenhanced

in 1850 when Texas relinquished all claims to this area.

UNION COLFAX

HARDING

MORA

SAN MIGUEL

QUAY

CIMARRON

DALLAM

HARTLEY

OLDHAM

25

40

56

64

287

56

87

56

64 87

54

56 64

385

287

NEW

MEXICO

TEXAS

Raton OKLAHOMA Des Moines

Clayton

Roy

Nara Visa

Logan

Mosquero

Tucumcari

Vega

Boise City

Dalhart

Stratford

Wagon Mound

Springer

Abbott

0 10 20 30 40 50 MILES

I

Figure 1—Map of Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands (green areas).
4 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

Localresidentstriedtoorganizeandpolicethemselves,but

there were no legal authoritiesto settle disputes.In 1887,

there was an effort to call this area Cimarron Territory

(Young 2009).The OrganicAct of 1890 made “no-man’s

land” an official part of Indian Territory (Young 2009).

This 1890 Act opened this Panhandle area to homestead

settlement, 1 year afterthe famous Oklahoma LandRush

of 1889 when themore desirable Oklahoma landsfurther

south were opened to White settlement.

Dust Bowl to National Grassland

Robert Geiger, a reporter from Denver, wrote the

following in April of 1935. “Three little words achingly

familiartothewesternfarmer’stongue rule life inthedust

bowl of the continent — if it rains” (Wooster 1982). This

was the first use of the phrase “Dust Bowl.” The part of

the continent he referred to was a five-state area with the

Oklahomapanhandleasthecenter.TherainlessOklahoma

panhandle was surrounded by drought-stricken areas

in southeastern Colorado, in southwestern Kansas, in

northwestern Texas, and in northeastern New Mexico.

Although Geiger’s intent was to emphasize “if it rains,”

his reference to this area as a Dust Bowl is the phrase that

has endured. Parts of Kiowa and Rita Blanca National

Grasslands are locatedinthisDustBowl area.These areas

areDallamCounty,Texas;CimarronCounty,Oklahoma;

and Union County, New Mexico (fig. 1). The Dust Bowl

was a significant event in United States history.

Prior to the Dust Bowl “wake-up-call,” the American

approach to land use, from Virginia westward, was to

convert allforest or prairie into an agricultural cash crop.

The attitudewasthat unlimited growth in agriculturewas

a good thing (Wooster 1982). There were seemingly no

limits. Also, the prevailing culture did not place near

as much value on intact native grassland as it did on

plowed fields. The goal was to conquer and to control

the environmentwith no understanding of environmental

consequences. The fallacy of this attitude was not

apparent until the rains stopped.

Prior to the Dust Bowl, the Wilson administration

encouraged farmers to plant more wheat as a means

to win World War I (Wooster 1982). The zeal to plant

more crops continued west, well past the 100th meridian.

Plowing native sod was further facilitated by new

machinery,suchastheone-waydiscplow.Nature seemed

to cooperate by providing a series of wet years in the

late 1920s. The sod-busting incentives led to plowing

of more than 33 million acres, much of it marginal land

(Wooster 1982). Then came the drought and the wind.

During 1938, the year of most severe wind erosion, an

estimated 10 million acres of plowed farmland had

lost at least 5 inches of top soil. Another 13.5 million

acres had lost at least 2.5 inches ofsoil. Soil lossto wind

erosion was about 408 tons of soil per acre (Wooster

1982). Furthermore, the wind-blown soil carried organic

matter and nitrogen, which left very poor soil behind.

As an example, in Cimarron County, Oklahoma, a

county that now has more than 15,000 acres of Forest

Service land, the average annual rainfall at Boise City

is about 17 inches (Wooster 1982). The annual rain

from 1926 to 1930 in Boise City averaged more than

19 inches — a boon for wheat farmers (Wooster 1982).

In 1931, the 305,000 acres of wheat in Cimarron County

averagedmore than 21 bushels per acre; however, during

the decade ofthe 1920s,wheat averaged about 13 bushels

per acre in this county.Then the rain stopped.The annual

precipitation in Boise City fell to only 9 inches in 1933

and 1934, and during the decade ofthe 1930s,the average

yield of wheat per acre in Cimarron County was only

0.9 bushels per acre. This yield was not even enough

seed to plant the next year’s wheat crop.

After this ecological miscue, a series of government

programs were put into place to try to mediate the

ecological damage caused by drought and wind erosion.

Among these (June 1933) was the establishment of the

Farm Credit Union (FCU) to refinance farm mortgages.

Wind erosion wasso severe around Felt, Oklahoma, that

after August of 1934, the FCU would no longer provide

grants orrefinance loansto residentsin this area.In 1933,

funds from the Federal Emergency Relief Act (FERA),

later called the Works Progress Administration (WPA),

provided some jobs to residents, jobs en lieu of a cash

handout.WhentheNationalIndustrialActandEmergency

Relief Appropriations Act passed Congress in 1933 and

1935, it gave the federal government the authority to

purchase failedcropland(Wooster1982).TheBankheadJones Farm Tenant Act of 1937 eventually granted

administrative authority tomove about3.85million acres

ofDustBowllandsto theGreatPlainsSoilConservation

Service (SCS) (USDA Forest Service n.d.). The original

intent was for the SCS to restore the eroded soil and to

protect the grassland resources. The last administrative

transfer of these lands was in 1954 when they were

transferredtotheUSDAForestService.In1960,Congress

designated 136,562 acres of New Mexico land in Mora,

Harding, and Union Counties as the Kiowa National

Grassland (USDA Forest Service n.d.). The Rita Blanca

National Grassland name was given to 77,183 acres of

land in Dallam County Texas and 15,639 acres of land

in Cimarron County Oklahoma.
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 5

Kiowa and Plains Apache Ethnobotany

Native Americans (Kindscher 1987, 1992; Moerman

1998) and Spanish Americans (Curtin 1997) have

sustained close relationships with the plants in their

homelands and continue to do so today. Presented here

are a few insights into the cultural connections between

plants and the Kiowa and Plains Apache of northeastern

New Mexico.

Moerman’s book on Native American ethnobotany

(1998) lists 86 plants that were utilized by the Kiowa

people. About two-thirds of these occur on the Kiowa

or Rita Blanca National Grasslands. It is not unusual

for a Native American tribe to also use plants that are

imported from other regions. For example, the Plains

Apache used “fatmedicine” (Ligusticum porteri or oshá)

that was imported from the Rocky Mountains (Jordan

2008). About half of the Kiowa-utilized plants listed

by Moerman are grasses that were used for fiber and as

livestock forage. Among the non-grasses utilized were

roots from buffalo gourds (Cucurbita foetidissima) and

bush morning glories (Ipomoea leptophylla). Although

buffalogourdshave foul-smellingleaves andfruits,these

roots can be peeled and used as an emetic. The Plains

Apache called bush morning glories “ghost throw it at

you” or “grass bonemedicine” (Jordon 2008).The Plains

Apache had a fear of ghosts. If a ghost were to throw

this root at someone it was believed to cause a paralysis

in this person. The large roots of this shrub may have

been a reason for its association with ghosts, since these

twistedrootswere reminiscentofwhirlwinds(dustdevils)

and whirlwinds were also believed to be ghosts. Due to

this danger, the PlainsApache very judiciously used this

root as a medicine. Even then it was called “whirlwind

medicine” and the Plains Apache were and are reluctant

to store this ghostly plant in their houses.

The edible fruits used by the Kiowa were most often

woody trees, shrubs, or vines. These woody plants grow

mostlyinriparianareas,ravines, andcanyons.Thegenera

of edible or medicinal fruits include Celtis (hackberry),

Juniperus (cedar),Pinus(piñones), Prunus(chokecherry),

Rhus (skunkbush sumac), Ribes (currants), Sambucus

(elderberry), Opuntia (prickly pear), and Vitus (wild

grape).

An interesting Kiowa plant use is that of the milky

sap from both Apocynum cannabinum (Indian hemp)

and Euphorbia marginata (snow-on-the-mountain) as

chewing gums. These uses are of interest since both

contain toxic chemicals. Perhaps these chewing gum

plantsareusedforapurposesimilartothatofthechemicalrich Rhus glabra (smooth sumac) chewing sticks of the

Chippewa, Okanogon, and Omaha tribes. These smooth

sumac twigs are used as an antiseptic chewing stick to

treat sore mouths and to clean teeth. It was no surprise

that the Kiowa use the sap of Argemone species (prickly

poppy)asanantiseptic totreat cutsandwounds(Moerman

1998). Modern research has confirmed that Argemone

sap does contain antiseptic alkaloids (Stermitz 1966).

An unexpected Kiowa plant use is for Paronychia 

jamesii (nailwort),amat-formingplantthathasnostriking

featureandnowell-establishedcommonname.TheKiowa

reportedly used this plant to make a therapeutic tea. An

ethnobotanical use of this plant could be an erroneous

report of a plant use. If correct, such an unexpected use

would warrant further investigation.

The recent book by Jordan (2008) on the PlainsApache

discusses an interesting means by which plants in this

region were perceived.Each plant wasseen to be one of a

pair.Oneplantwas “real” andtheotherwasits “imitation”

or “mate.” For example, Pediomelum exculentum was

real and P. cuspidatum wasits mate.Jordan also reported

that Plantago patagonia is the basis for a boy’s game

called horse race. Boys would place bets and run as fast

as they could for a certain amount of time in search of

the longest flowering stem for this Plantago. After the

set amount of time had passed, the boy with the longest

stem won and collected the bets.

Natural History___________________

Vegetation

Ecologists have classified the semiarid vegetation in

thisstudy area in several ways. The ecoregion categories

used byBailey (1998) classify northeastern New Mexico

as: Domain: Dry; Division: Temperate Steppe; and

Province: Dry Steppe. This shortgrass steppe area is

semiarid, generally treeless grassland, dominated by

grasses and forbs, and characterized by large grazing

mammals and burrowing animals (Lincoln and others

1998). It is estimated that less than 23 percent of true

shortgrasssteppe still existsin native vegetation (NGMR

1995). The Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands

contain such steppe areas. General descriptions of the

vegetation ofthese New Mexico grasslands can be found

in Brown (1994) and Dick-Peddie (1993). Dick-Peddie

classifies most of the Kiowa and Rita Blanca Grasslands

as Plains-Mesa Grassland.

The study region includes tall-, mid-, and short-grass

prairie components, all within the southern Great Plains

(Wright and Bailey 1982). There are remnants of tallgrass prairie in southern Colfax County. If grazing has

not been too severe in such areas,the deepersoilmoisture

allows for tall-grass plant species such as little bluestem
6 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

(Schizcahyrium scoparium),side-oats grama (Bouteloua 

curtipendula), andotherbluestemgrasses(Andropogon).

Sandy areas have sand sage (Artemisia filifolia) and

soapweed (Yucca glauca). Mid-grass prairie species

occur at higher elevations near the Colorado border. In

such areas, western wheatgrass(Elymus smithii), needleand-thread (Hesperostipa comata), and sand dropseed

(Sporobolus cryptandrus) are locally common. Most of

Kiowa and Rita Blanca Grassland is rolling plains with

shortgrasssteppe speciessuch as blue grama (Bouteloua 

gracilis), buffalo grass (Bouteloua dactyloides), and

galleta (Hilaria jamesii). Areas that were once plowed

or heavily grazed have a more frequent occurrence of

purple three-awn (Aristida longiseta).

Fauna

Arthropods, birds, and mammals all play important

roles in ecosystem functioning of shortgrass prairie,

servingasdecomposers,pollinators,herbivores,predators

or prey. They cycle nutrients and form valuable links

among trophic levels (Ford and McPherson 1996).

The Kiowa and Rita Blanca are home to a variety of

mammal, bird, amphibian, and reptile wildlife species

that characterize the southern Great Plains ecosystem

(table 1). Hundreds of bird speciesreside, overwinter, or

migratethroughthegrasslandseveryyear.Recently(since

2002), the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO)

has conducted breeding season surveys on the Kiowa

National Grassland, with special attention to migratory

birds(AlisonCariveau,personalcommunication).Species

ofspecialinteresttomanagementplansforthegrasslands

are Ferruginous hawk, long-billed curlew, swift fox,

burrowing owl, mountain plover, and the black-tailed

prairie dog (USDAFS 1999).Among the vast number of

arthropod species that inhabit the shortgrass prairie are

insect pollinators, many of which are essential foods

for small mammals and birds. Other insects are known

to cause extensive damage to grasslands (Thomas and

Werner 1981; Ford and McPherson1996).Whiledensity

and diversity of small mammals generally are lower in

shortgrasssteppe thaninotherNorthAmericangrasslands

(Grant and Birney 1979; Stapp 1997), biodiversity of

arthropods can be fairly high. For example, there are at

least 25 species of grasshoppers alone recorded from the

Kiowa National Grassland, not to mention the numerous

species of crickets, spiders, beetles, and ants (Ford and

McPherson 1996).

Site Description__________________

Geology and Soils

MostoftheKiowa andRitaBlancaNationalGrasslands

are located in the Raton section of the Great Plains

physiographic province (Trimble 1993). This province

is characterized by volcanism and rolling hills. These

relatively level landscapes are comprised of upland

Miocene gravel and sand, a landform that has existed

with little change since the Pliocene. The movement and

depositionofsedimentsoftheMiocene-PlioceneOgallala

FormationinwesternTexasandeasternNewMexicowere

controlled by the topography of the underlying surfaces.

Theunderlyingstrataincluderedtobrowncalichesandsof

theOgallalaFormation ofmid-Miocene to earlyPliocene

(4-12 million years ago) age. The topography of lower

Table 1—Common wildlife of the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands.

Birds Mammals Reptiles and amphibians

Ferruginous hawk Black bear Prairie rattlesnake

Scaled quail Mountain lion Texas horned lizard

Mourning dove Swift fox Box turtle

Great blue heron Black-tailed prairie dog Tiger salamander

Long-billed curlew American pronghorn

Mountain plover Thirteen-lined ground squirrel

Burrowing owl Grasshopper mouse

Sandhill crane Plains harvest mouse

Roadrunner

Western meadowlark

Bald eagle

Prairie falcon

Common nighthawk
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 7

strata was further modified by intrusions of igneous,

volcanicmaterial.These intrusionsformedlonemountain

peaks, mesas, and cones of various heights above the

plains.Intrusive basaltflowsfromvolcanoes covered and

often protected the underlying sedimentary rocks from

erosion. This basalt sometimes formed the tops of both

mesas and flat plains.Other underlying strata,sometimes

exposedinnortheasternNewMexico,include redTriassic

sandstones and siltstones of the Chinle formation. Also

presentinthe studyarea areGreenhornlimestone,Dakota

sandstones, and Mancos shale formations.

The southernendoftheRatongeologic sectionincludes

the Canadian escarpment. This escarpment is located

north oftheCanadianRiver(Chronic1987).TheCanadian

River cuts a 300- to 400-m deep canyon into the Tertiary

and Mesozoic strata of the Las Vegas Plateau section of

the Great Plains and the Canadian Escarpment. In this

area some of these sedimentary surfaces are Permian

limestone, part of the more erosion-resistant SanAndres

limestone.

Sand dunes occur in many places in the Raton Section

of the High Plain province, especially on leeward sides

of rivers where sand is derived from the ebb and flow of

the channels. Sand dunes also are found where favorable

winds have reworked sandy surfaces. Hills ofsand, both

residual and imported, occupy patches that vary in size

from a few acres to a few hundred square miles. One of

the largestsanddunesinthe studyarea isontheSantaRita

Grassland inTexas and on the adjacent Kiowa Grassland

in New Mexico.

The soils in the study area reflect not only the parent

materials, but also a high degree of mixing due to water

and wind erosion. The four main soil orders in the study

area areAlfisols,Aridisols,Entisols, andMollisols(Ritter

1978). Since Mollisols are the common soil type found

in grassland ecosystems, it is the most abundant soil

type in the study area. These soils are characterized by

a thick dark brown organic surface layer called a “mollic

epipedon,”whichis derivedfromtheorganicmatterfrom

decomposed plant roots and from remnants of aboveground plant tissues. These soils are rich in calcium and

other plant nutrients. Since Mollisols retain water fairly

well, they are good soils for crop production. Alfisols,

the second most common soils in the study area, are

soils often associated with broadleaf deciduous forest,

but which also occur under grassland vegetation. These

are well-developed soils that have a subsurface layer

high in clay. A less common soil order in the study area

isAridisols.These arid and semiarid soilstypically show

calcification and salinization, which often makes them

alkaline.There are pockets ofthese soilsin the study area,

often associated with ephemeral streams. The last soil

order, the Entisols, are soils that have evolved relatively

recently, and occur throughout the study area. Entisols

have indistinct horizons due to inadequate weathering

coupled with low precipitation. Many of the sandy soils

in the study area are Entisols.

Climate

Annual precipitation amounts are fairly uniform (15 to

18 inches) acrossthe study area.There are about 2 inches

more annual precipitation on the Rita Blanca than on

the Kiowa Grassland (table 2). For northeastern New

Mexico, a bimodal distribution in precipitation often

occurs with an increase in rainfall in April and a second

pulse in precipitation during July and August (fig. 2).

The July and August increase in moisture is associated

with the monsoon effect (Rogash 2003). This bimodal

precipitation distribution is less noticeable on the Rita

Blanca Grassland where more uniform precipitation

amounts occur throughout the summer.

The average temperatures across the study area

identifies June, July, August, and September as the

warmest months with an average summer temperature

of around 70 °F (fig. 3). The elevation of weather

station locations ranged from a high at Roy of 1,795 m

(5,890 ft), an intermediate value of 1,515 m (4,970 ft)

at Clayton, and the lowest value of 1,270 m (4,165 ft) at

Boise City. This decrease in elevation is correlated with

warmersummer temperatures. The coldest months were

December to February at all three locations (table 3).

Table 2—Average monthly rainfall amounts (inches) for northeastern New Mexico and northwestern Oklahoma. Data from 

Roy, NM (Harding County) and WSO airport in Clayton, NM (Union County) are averages from 1914 to 2005. Data 

from Boise City, OK (Cimarron County) are averages from 1948 to 2007 (WRCC 2007).

Location Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Annual

Roy 0.38 0.39 0.65 0.85 2.02 1.91 2.70 2.63 1.71 1.28 0.45 0.50 15.47

Clayton 0.29 0.34 0.68 1.27 2.35 1.96 2.61 2.32 1.68 1.12 0.51 0.37 15.50

OK 0.44 0.46 1.07 1.33 2.45 2.65 2.59 2.86 1.66 1.03 0.66 0.50 17.70
8 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

Table 3—Average monthly temperatures (degrees Fahrenheit) recorded for northeastern New Mexico and northwestern 

Oklahoma. Data from Roy, NM (Harding County) and WSO airport in Clayton, NM (Union County) are averages from 

1914 to 2005. Data from Boise City, OK (Cimarron County) are averages from 1948 to 2007 (WRCC 2007).

Location Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total

Roy, NM 33.0 36.6 41.5 49.8 58.9 67.8 71.6 70.2 63.7 53.3 41.7 34.1 51.8

Clayton, NM 33.9 36.8 42.3 51.6 60.2 69.7 74.1 72.6 65.3 54.9 42.6 35.1 53.3

Boise City, OK 34.4 38.3 45.0 54.5 63.5 73.0 77.8 75.6 68.1 57.1 44.4 36.4 55.6

Figure 3—Average monthly temperatures recorded for northeastern New Mexico and northwestern 

Oklahoma. Data from Roy, NM (Harding County) and WSO airport in Clayton, NM (Union County) are 

averages from 1914 to 2005. Data from Boise City, OK (Cimarron County) are averages from 1948 to 

2007 (WRCC 2007). 

Figure 2—Average monthly temperatures recorded for northeastern New Mexico and northwestern 

Oklahoma. Data from Roy, NM (Harding County) and WSO airport in Clayton, NM (Union County) are 

averages from 1914 to 2005. Data from Boise City, OK (Cimarron County) are averages from 1948 

to 2007 (WRCC 2007). 
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 9

Three Study Regions

The study area for thisreport includes all of the Kiowa

National Grassland, located on 136,562 acres of land in

Mora, Harding, and UnionCountiesin New Mexico; and

the Rita Blanca National Grassland, located on 77,183

acres ofland inDallamCountyTexas and 15,639 acres of

land in Cimarron County Oklahoma. The administration

of these National Forest System (NFS) lands is by the

United States Department ofAgriculture (USDA) Forest

Service (FS). The study area is conveniently separated

into three geographic units (fig. 1). Two of these units,

the eastern and western parts of the Kiowa National

Grassland, are in New Mexico. The third unit is the Rita

Blanca National Grassland in Oklahoma and Texas. A

brief description of each of these three areas follows.

1. Eastern Kiowa National Grassland—The eastern

section of the Kiowa Grassland in New Mexico is

entirely in Union County. These public lands range in

elevation from a low of about 1,387 m (4,550 ft) in the

southeastern part of the county near Carrizo Creek to a

high of about 1,600 m (5,258 ft) to the north of Lookout

HillinnorthwesternUnionCounty.All excepttheShaded

or Canyon/Ravine habitat occur in this section of the

Kiowa Grassland.

Plants that occur in southern, sandy soils of Union

County include sand sage (Artemisia filifolia), camphor

weed (Heterotheca subaxillaris), annual buckwheat

(Eriogonum annuum), waterleaf (Phacelia heterophylla),

devil’s claw (Proboscidea louisianica), and Dust Bowl

primrose(Oenothera engelmannii).Inpocketsofsandysoil

in northern Union County (i.e. near Seneca) sand-loving,

hairy gaura (Oenothera cinerea) and bush penstemon

(Penstemon ambiguus) are found. Throughout this area

are also patches of loamy-soils dominated by buffalo

grass(Bouteloua dactyloides),side-oats grama (Bouteloua 

curtipendula), and dropseed grasses (Sporobolus).

On rocky outcrops in northern Union County there

are bluets (Hedyotis nigricans), white milkwort

(Polygala alba), matted buckwheat (Eriogonum 

tenellum), Linheimer’slongleaf eriogonum (Eriogonum 

longifolium), nailwort (Paronychia sessiliflora), and

scapose bitterweed (Tetraneuris scaposa). Rocky

ridges also have skunkbush sumac (Rhus aromatica),

several stickleaf species (Mentzelia), and an occasional

marbleseed (Onosmodium molle). The northernmost

reach of the Kiowa National Grassland does not extend

far enough to include the high elevation mesas near

Colorado, a region with different plant species.

2. The Western Kiowa National Grassland—This

western section of the Kiowa National Grassland occurs

in Colfax, Mora, and Harding Counties. There are two

majorlandscape typesin thissection.The first isthe noncanyon upland portion dominated by rolling grassland

steppe, but with scattered occurrences ofrocky outcrops,

riparian, alkaline, and disturbed habitats. In contrast

to Union County, sandy soils are less common in this

section. The second major landform in this section is the

Canadian River valley and associated ravines in Mills

Canyon. This canyon is the main visitor attraction of the

Kiowa National Grassland.

In Mills Canyon, the Canadian River valley flows for

about 12miles asit windsin and out ofland administered

by the Kiowa National Grassland. The river enters the

northwest part of this western section at an elevation of

about 1,800 m (5,800 ft) and flows south until it leaves

public lands at about 1,600 m (ca 5,250 ft) elevation.

Above the level Canadian River valley are moderate

to steep cliffs. Occasionally, on both sides of this river

are steep, desert-varnish canyon walls that rise 200 or

300 m about the valley floor. These cliffs end as upland

plateaus, and peaks reach as high as 1,800 m (5,800 ft).

The many ravines and meanders of the Canadian

River in Mills Canyon provide a diversity of microsites.

Along the rocky slopes and canyon microsites are

many woody plants, taxa that either occur here only

or that occur infrequently elsewhere in the study area.

These include piñon pine (Pinus edulis), ponderosa

pine (Pinus ponderosa), Rocky Mountain juniper

(Juniperus scopulorum), one-seeded juniper (Juniperus 

monosperma),NewMexicoolive(Forestiera pubescens),

apacheplume (Fallugia paradoxa),blackcherry(Prunus 

serotina), a few mesquite trees (Prosopis glandulosa),

and dense,ravine-filled patches ofscrub oak specieswith

hybrids (Quercus). Also in the many ravine crevices are

a number of ferns and spikemosses, some of which are

infrequent.

Valley or riparian trees in Mills Canyon include

cottonwood (Populus deltoides), cottonwood hybrids,

variouswillowspecies(Salix),boxelder(Acer negundo),

andthe exotic salt cedar(Tamarix ramosissima).Riparian

forbs include typical wetland genera such as cattails

(Typha), rushes (Juncus), sedges (Carex), bulrushes

(Schoenoplectus andScirpus),spikerush(Eleocharis),and

leafypondweed(Potomogeton foliosus).Inthesandysoils

of the Canadian River floodplain are plains sunflowers

(Helianthus petiolaris), bush morning glories (Ipomoea 

leptophylla), contra hierba (Kallstroemia parviflora),

marigold paperflowers (Psilostrophe tagetina), the

wand-likeprairie clovers(Dalea enneandra), andseveral

varieties of New Mexico prickly pear cacti (Opuntia 

phaeacantha).Furtheroutfromthe sandyfloodplainsoils
10 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

are occasional soapberry trees (Sapindus drummondii)

and hoptrees (Ptelea trifoliata). The range of the

soapberry tree extends into Central America.

Severalrare and infrequent plantspeciesin the western

section of the Kiowa National Grassland occur in or near

MillsCanyon.The best known ofthese are the infrequent

spiny aster (Herrickia horrida) and one-flowered

milkvetch (Astragalus wittmannii). An infrequent rush

(Eleocharis rostellata) is known only from Sauz Creek

in Colfax County.

3. Rita Blanca National Grassland—TheRitaBlanca

National Grassland ranges in elevation from a high of

1,433 m (4,700 ft) in the northwestern Cimarron County

to a low of 1,128 m (3,700 ft) in southeastern Dallam

County Texas. This area, like the adjacent eastern

Kiowa Grassland section, is dominated by shortgrass

steppe. All of the other habitats, except for Rocky

Ravine/Canyon, occur on this grassland. Sandy soils are

common. A clump-forming variety of sideoats grama

grass(Bouteloua curtipendula var. caespitosa) islocally

common in this area. A few plants that occur only on the

RitaBlancaGrassland are a dwarf dalea (Dalea nana var.

nana), a sandy-soil, round-leaf snakeweed (Gutierrezia 

sphaerocephala),andNuttall’svarietyofcat-clawmimosa

(Mimosa aculeaticarpa).

The Study Area Habitats

Ecoregion and ecosystem descriptions for this study

area are useful tools for range management. However, at

smaller geographic scales, the ecoregion and plant

communitycategories areoftenconfoundedbyvariations

in topography, soils, and parent materials. In addition,

anthropogenic activities such as drought, plowing, or a

shiftingrazingregimes canalsoaltertheplantspeciesmix

within an ecoregion. In recognition of these variations,

each plant taxon was assigned to a habitat. A habitat

assignation provides a better indication of a taxon’s

ecological niche and is an aid to plant identifications.

We identified eight habitatsin the study area. Seven of

these are based on soil,water, and topographic conditions

that are difficulttomodify.The last category, not a habitat

per se, is a species that has been planted. The letter or

letters of the habitats were assigned to each plant taxon

on the checklist (Appendix). General descriptions of

these habitats follow.

Alkaline Soils (A)—These are lowland, sometimes

floodplain areas with heavy, alkali soils. Salt grass

(Distichlis stricta), bitterweed (Hymenoxys odorata),

and alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) are locally

common in these areas.

Canyon/Ravine (C)—These are the steep, rugged

relief areas that include rocky cliffs, scrub oak, and

shaded ledges. This habitat occurs in several areas, but

ismost abundant in association with plateaus and ravines

of the Canadian River. Plants in this habitat include oak

thickets (Quercus) and a set of woody taxa that rely on

water that penetrates into soil at the downhill edges of

exposed gravel or bedrock; among these are spiny aster

(Herrickia horrida), coyote olive (Forestiera pubescens,

fig. 4), banana yucca (Yucca baccata, fig. 5), and Nolina 

sacahuista, (fig. 6). In rock crevices near the top of the

canyon are beard-lip penstemon (Penstemon barbatus, 

fig. 7). Other common plants include several species of

cedar (Juniperus), apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa),

skunkbush sumac (Rhus aromatica), currants (Ribes),

poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii), netleaf hackberry

(Celtis reticulata), andmountain ninebark (Physocarpus 

monogynus).

Figure 4—Coyote olive (Forestiera pubescens) with glaucous, 

blue-black drupes growing on a rocky hillside in Mills Canyon 

(photo by Don Hazlett).
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 11

Figure 7—Beard-lip Penstemon barbatus with its bright 

red “sharkshead” corolla growing in a rocky crevice of Mills 

Canyon (photo by Don Hazlett).

Figure 5—Banana yucca (Yucca baccata) growing on a red soil, rocky slope in Mills 

Canyon (photo by Don Hazlett).

Figure 6—A narrow-leafed sacahuista (Nolina texana) 

emerging from a rocky hillside near the Canadian River, 

Mills Canyon (photo by Don Hazlett). 
12 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

Disturbed Soils (D)—These are disturbed areas by

roads, pens, buildings, loading chutes, corrals, etc. The

crownedcountyroads allowrun-offwaterstoaccumulate

in ditches, which creates a disturbed, mesic roadside

habitat. Among the roadside exotic plants are smooth

brome (Bromus inermis), cheatgrass(Bromus tectorum),

tackbur (Tribulus terrestris), yellow sweet clover

(Melilotus officinale), Virginia ground cherry (Physalis 

virginiana), and the infrequent crested wheatgrass

(Agropyron cristatum).Nativeplantsthatoccurinroadside

habitatsinclude purple ground cherry (Quincula lobata),

Gray’sragweed(Ambrosia grayi),bahia(Picradeniopsis),

and silver bluestem (Bothriochloa laguroides).

Prairie/Steppe (P)—The prairie or steppe habitat is

the most extensive habitat type. It represents the many

areas of relatively level plains with undulating hills that

are covered by mid-grass prairie and shortgrass steppe

vegetation.Soilsinthishabitatrangefromloamtosiltyand

sandy loam.These are erosion mixed soilsthat occur as a

surfaceveneersoillayerofvaryingdepthsoverunderlying

bedrock.Buffalograss(Bouteloua dactyloides)andgalleta

grass(Hilaria jamesii) are commononfine-texturedsoils,

while blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) is more common

on loam soils. Western wheatgrass (Elymus smithii) is

more abundant in mesic swale areas. In some areas,

snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) and/or cane cactus

(Opuntia imbricata) are common.

Planted (PL)—Thereareafewplantedspeciesscattered

across these public grassland areas. These include an

occasionalhoneylocust(Gleditsia triacanthos),mulberry

(Morus alba), Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila), and hedge

apple (Maclura pomifera). Of these trees, the Siberian

elm is best able to reseed itself,such asin sandy pastures

near Boise City, OK. In Mills Canyon, there are a few

apricot (Prunus armenia) and apple (Malus) trees that

serve as a reminder of fruit orchardsthat once grew here.

Riparian/Wetland (R)—Thisisthe most exclusive of

thehabitattypes,since taxa identified asriparian/wetland

taxaseldomoccurinanyotherhabitat.Thiswetlandhabitat

occurs as perennial and ephemeralrivers, creeks, andwet

spots.These include theCanadianRiver(andtributaries),

NorthCanadianRiver,CarrizoCreek,CienequillaCreek,

SauzCreek, PericoCreek,many ephemeral creeks,stock

ponds, and wet spots. Common plant genera in these

areas are notorious wetland plants such as spikerush

(Eleocharis), horsetails (Equisetum), sedges (Carex),

rushes(Juncus),bulrushes(Schoenoplectus),smartweeds

(Persicaria),willows(Salix),cottonwoods(Populus),and

cattails (Typha). An infrequent riparian plant species on

the Kiowa National Grassland is the traveling spikerush

(Eleocharis rostellata) from Sauz Creek (fig. 8).

Rocky/Gravel Outcrops (G)—These areopensteppe,

usually elevated areas that occur where erosion has

exposed a rocky, gravel surface or barren. A barren can

Figure 8—A new shoot at the tip of an Eleocharis rostellata leaf (Sauz Creek, 

Colfax County). This asexual reproductive ability has earned this plant the 

common name of traveling spikerush (photo by Don Hazlett).
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 13

be defined as a sparsely vegetated area, such as a knoll

or hill, with exposed bedrock of shale, shale-derived

soils, chalk, or limestone soils with microorganisms

in a calcite matrix (Kelso and others 2003). In general,

these outcrop habitats are distinguished fromcanyon and

ravines by their isolation, small size, and lack of steep

relief features. Due to unique soils and substrates, these

outcrops are the primary habitat for several infrequent

and endemic plant species. For example, in this habitat

there isthe endemic one-floweredmilkvetch (Astragalus 

wittmannii) and the endemic Spellenberg’s groundsel

(Packera spellenbergii).Infrequent plantspecieshere are

alpine feverfew (Parthenium alpinum = P. tetraneuris),

silky orophaca (Astragalus sericoleucus), nailwort

(Paronychia sessiliflora),andbluets(Hedyotis nigricans).

Sandy Soils (S)—Ancient sand dune inclusions as

well as more recent Aeolian deposits occur throughout

the study area. Since water penetrates deeper and

more quickly into sandy soil, less rain water is lost to

evaporation in thissoil type.This wateris more available

to deep-rooted perennials. Dominant plants on sandy

soils include (Yucca glauca, fig. 9) and soapweed sand

sage (Artemisia filifolia, fig. 10). Also in these areas

are annual buckwheat (Eriogonum annuum), waterleaf

Figure 9—Sandy soil habitat (note 

flowering Yucca glauca) located north 

of Seneca in Union County (photo by 

Don Hazlett).

Figure 10—Sandy soil habitat in southern Union County with an abundance 

of white-corymb, annual buckwheat 

(Eriogonum annuum), and sand sage 

(Artemisia filifolia) (photo by Don Hazlett).
14 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

(Phacelia heterophylla), camphor weed (Heterotheca 

subaxillaris), andhorseweed(Conyza canadensis).Inthe

sandy floodplain of the Canadian River in Mills Canyon

are Opuntia phaeacantha (fig. 11) and contra hierba

(Kallstroemia parviflora). A sandy soil plant of special

interest in terms of its geographic distribution is Dust

Bowl primrose (Oenothera engelmannii). The natural

distribution of this primrose overlaps very well with the

areas of Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico

that were hardest hit by the 1930s Dust Bowl. To see this

plant is to realize that you are in the area where the Dust

Bowl was severe.

Methods________________________

Field Survey Methods

A preliminary plant checklist was based on available

species lists from each of the six counties and on the

checklist of the Comanche National Grassland (Hazlett

2004). Added to this working checklist were plant

occurrence records from several online databases: Flora

of Texas, Oklahoma vascular plants, and the Museum of

SouthwesternBiologyinNewMexico.Allplantspecieson

theworkingchecklistwere thensearchedforinthe fieldto

confirm their presence or absence in the study area. Plant

collections were made to augment this initial checklist.

Hazlett made collectionsin Union, Colfax, Harding, and

Mora Counties during July and August of 2001, during

June andAugust 2003, inAugust 2005, and in September

2006.Schiebout collectedinUnion,Colfax,Harding, and

Mora Counties during the spring and summer of 2004

and 2005 (May to August). Schiebout collections were

also made on nearby private lands (Schiebout 2006).

Voucher specimens were collected during all field

surveys to document plant occurrences. The timing of

field trips was arranged to sample as many different

substrates and habitats at as many different times of the

year as possible. More survey time was spent on rocky

outcrops,sandy soils, in riparian areas, and in the diverse

habitats of Mills Canyon. Schiebout collected all plant

species that were in flower or fruit. Hazlett collected all

plantspeciesthat were not already known from a county

orthat were notreadily identified in the field. Plants were

collected throughout the growing season, but the least

collected months during these 5 years were March and

April. The least collected region was the easternmost

part of the Rita Blanca National Grassland.

All collections were pressed, dried, and identified.

Hazlett collected nearly 400 voucher specimens.

Schiebout collected over 9,000 specimens with about

26 percent of these taken from public land (Schiebout

2006). Hazlett and Schiebout specimens are archived

in herbaria at the University of New Mexico (UNM)

and University of Colorado (CU), but most specimens

are at the University of Northern Colorado (GREE).

Approximately 25 percent of the plant species on the

checklist do not have a voucher specimen cited. These

Figure 11—Opuntia phaeacantha in a sandy floodplain of the Canadian River, 

Mills Canyon (photo by Don Hazlett).
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 15

non-vouchered plant taxa were determined as present one

of two ways: (1) definitively identified during field work

or (2) very clearly identified as present in regional floras.

Toverifythe identificationofout-of-rangeplantspecies

names that sometimes occurred on county lists, a trip

was made to the Museum of Southwestern Herbarium

in Albuquerque. We were not able to visit the Texas or

Oklahoma herbaria to verify the accuracy of online plant

names for Cimarron or Dallam Counties. Therefore, we

listed as present here only the common, widespread taxa

that were listed. The online Texas and Oklahoma county

lists were also used to determine the presence of a plant

as near the Rita Blanca Grassland (Appendix).

Plant Species Nomenclature

The taxonomic nomenclature for the checklist

follows the online Checklist of Vascular Plants for the

Southern Rocky Mountain Region by Snow (2009).

Since many plant species have recently had taxonomic

name changes, we selected Snow’s checklist in an effort

to publish the scientific names that best align with

peer-reviewed taxonomic publications and with our

current understanding of phylogenetic (evolutionary)

relationships. It is recognized that many species names

on the checklist are unfamiliar to non-botanists. For

this reason, we also included well-known synonyms

(Appendix). Nomenclature in the PLANTS database

(United States Department of Agriculture, Natural

Resources Conservation Service 2007) was followed

for plant species not covered by Snow’s southern Rocky

Mountain checklist.

In addition to the volumes of the Flora of North

America (1993+), various regional floristic treatments

were consulted for plant identifications. These included:

A Field Guide to the Grasses of New Mexico (Allred

2005), Manual of Vascular Plants of Texas (Correll and

Johnston1970), Shinners & Mahler’s Illustrated Flora of 

North Central Texas(DiggsJr. and others 1999),Flora of 

the Great Plains (Great Plains Flora Association 1986),

Manual of the Grasses of the United States (Hitchcock

1950),Native and Naturalized Leguminosae (Fabaceae) 

of the United States (Isely 1998), Field Guide to Sedge 

Species of the Rocky Mountain Region (Johnston2001),A

Flora of New Mexico(Martin&Hutchins1980),Colorado 

Flora Eastern Slope (Weber and Wittmann 2001), and

A Utah Flora (Welsh and others 2003). Common names

were taken from these sources as well as from Hazlett

(in preparation), PLANTS (United States Department

of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service

2007), Sivinski (2007), Welsh and others (2003). Other

publications consulted include Rare Plants of the 

Cimarron National Grassland (Freeman 1989),Vascular 

Plant Species of the Comanche National Grassland in 

Southeastern Colorado (Hazlett 2004), and A Handbook 

of Rare and Endemic Plants of New Mexico(NewMexico

Native Plants Protection Advisory Committee 1984).

Habitat Designations

Seven habitat types and a category for planted

species were designated. The habitats were established

by considering edaphic, land-use, topographic and

hydrologic features (see Site Description on page 6).

Every plant taxa on the checklist was assigned to one,

sometimes two of these habitats. Habitat assignations

were based on field notes and the taxonomic literature

(see Appendix).

Geographic Distributions

To provide information on plant distributions, the

presence or absence of each plant taxon within each

of three National Grassland areas was recorded on the

checklist (Appendix). These three regions are (1) Kiowa

National Grassland in Mora, Colfax, and Harding

Counties; (2) Kiowa National Grassland in Union

County around Clayton; and (3) Rita Blanca Grassland

in Cimarron County OK and Dallam County TX. Three

columnswere establishedonthe checklisttoreportwhere

a taxon is known to occur (Appendix). If a taxon is not

yet known from these public lands, a directional letter

occurs in a column to indicate the direction away from

this region where it has been reported.

Results and Discussion_ __________

The results of these surveys are a checklist of

826 plant species that occur on or near the Kiowa or

the Rita Blanca National Grasslands (Appendix). Of

this total, 706 (85 percent) occur on public lands. The

remaining 120 taxa (15 percent) occur in northeastern

New Mexico, but have not yet been reported to occur on

public grasslands. There are 91 exotic plant taxa on the

list, which is 11 percent of the total. A total of 81 plant

families are representedinthisflora.Thebestrepresented

familiesareAsteraceae(20percentofallspecies),Poaceae

(17 percent of all species) and Fabaceae (8 percent of

all species). Cyperaceae (sedges) and Brassicaceae

(mustards) are the nextmost common plantfamilies with

taxa numbers that totaled about 3 percent of the total.

The remaining 76 plant families each contain less than

3 percent of the taxa.
16 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

When the primary habitats of all plant species were

tallied, the most species-rich habitats were the open

steppe and riparian areas with 27 percent and 26 percent,

respectively, of all plant taxa. The high species-richness

of the riparian areasis accentuated when it isrecognized

that riparian areas or wetlands comprise less than

2 percent of the study area. The third most speciesrich habitat, with 17 percent of the taxa, is the Canyon/

Ravine habitat that is most common in Mills Canyon.

The species-rich Rocky/Gravel Outcrop habitat occurs

throughout the study area, but is usually present only as

small areaswithinamatrixofsteppevegetation.Although

this Rocky/Gravel Outcrop habitat comprises less than

1 percent of the study area, approximately 8 percent of

all plant taxa occur here. Disturbed soils include all soil

types and are the primary habitat for 13 percent of all

plant species, most of which are exotics. Sandy soils are

the primary habitat for 9 percent of the taxa, while less

than 1 percent of the taxa are associated with alkaline

soils.

New Mexico Rare Plants

Thenotionofarareplanthasseveralinterpretations.The

most commonly used isthat of an endemic plant that only

occursin a relatively small geographic area.In thissense,

themostrareplantontheKiowaNationalGrassland(Rare

Plant of New Mexico website) is Astragalus wittmannii

(one-flowered milkvetch). The one-flowered milkvetch

is known only from knolls of Greenhorn limestone in

Colfax, Harding, and Mora Counties, and occurs on the

Kiowa National Grassland (Harding County), on BLM

land, on State of New Mexico, and on private land.

Also rare by this definition is Packera spellenbergii

(Spellenberg’s groundsel). This species is known

to occur within 3 miles of the Kiowa Grassland,

but it has not yet been discovered on public lands.

Packera spellenbergii occurs in northern Harding

and southwestern Union Counties on gravelly hills

and mesa rims of chalky, sandy limestone. Its habitat

is gravel on knolls in short grass steppe and juniper

savanna vegetation from 1,650 to 1,750 m (5,400 to

5,800 ft) elevation (New Mexico Rare Plant Council

1999). Sections of Kiowa National Grassland northeast

of Roy are within the area and elevation range of this

rare plant. These areas were unsuccessfully searched

for this Packera in 2003. Although neither of these two

species is federally listed as threatened or endangered,

both taxa are listed by the State ofNewMexico asspecies

of special concern and by the Forest Service as sensitive

plant species.

The Natural Heritage Programs ranks each infrequent

plant into categories: globally rare (G1 to G5) and

state rare (S1 to S5). A lower number in either of these

categories (G1 or S1) indicates a more rare plant. Using

this system, Astragalus wittmannii is G3 and S3 while

Packera spellenbergii is G2 and S2. The New Mexico

Natural Heritage Program considersseveral other plants

in this region as infrequent enough to be tracked. These

include:Asclepias uncialis(dwarfmilkweed) as aG3/G4

andS3/S4;Herrickia horrida(spinyaster) as aG3andS2;

Parthenium alpinum (alpine feverfew) as a G3 and S2;

and Penstemon auriberbis (Colorado beardtongue) as

a G4 and S2. Our field work determined that Penstemon 

auieberbisisfairlycommoninnortheasternNewMexico

andmightbe consideredforreassignmenttoa lowerrank.

We also determined that Herrickia horrida (spiny aster)

is locally common on the east-facing rocky slopes that

occur west of the Mills Canyon Campground in Mora

County.

If the geographic area where rare plants are known

to occur is expanded 10 to 20 miles outward from the

Kiowa or Rita Blanca Grassland boundary,several other

infrequent plants occur. West of the Kiowa Grassland in

MoraCountyareCalochortus gunnisoniivar. perpulcher

(Pecos mariposa lily), Delphinium sapellionis (Sapello

Canyon larkspur), and Hackelia hirsuta (New Mexico

stickseed), but these are not tracked by the New Mexico

Heritage Program. Two species in this same area that

are tracked are Eriogonum aliquantum (Cimarron wild

buckwheat) at G3 and S2 ranks and Grindelia acutifolia

(Raton gumweed) at G2 and G3 ranks. Botanists should

be aware of the possible presence of these plants on the

Kiowa Grassland.

The infrequentSelaginella weatherbiana(Weatherby’s

spikemoss) occursin westColfax, San Miguel, Santa Fe,

and Taos Counties in New Mexico. In Colorado, this

species is sometimes abundant on north-facing slopes

along the Front Range and has been found near the Great

Sand Dunes (Weber and Wittmann 2001). It is possible

that Weatherby’s spikemoss occurs on the slopes and

ravines of Mills Canyon.

A regionally common plant that is infrequent on the

Kiowa National Grassland is Yucca baccata (banana

yucca) in Mills Canyon. This is one of the furthest

north locations for this yucca, one of the most important

ethnobotanically useful plants in the desert Southwest

(Moerman 1998).Anotherinteresting plant isEleocharis 

rostellata (traveling spikerush), a wetland plant that

was seen only along Sauz Creek in Colfax County. This

spikerushhasstoloniferousstemsthatproducenewplants

near the tip of stems. In this fashion, the plant “travels.”
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 17

Oklahoma Rare Plants

The only rare plant reported from Cimarron County

Oklahoma is Asclepias uncialis (wheel milkweed). This

plantoccursineightstates,butveryseldom(ifever)occurs

in large populations. Its lone report from Oklahoma is

from Black Mesa, Cimarron County, which is near, but

not on the Rita Blanca National Grassland.

Texas Rare Plants

Six endemic plantspecies, none of which are federally

listed, occur in Dallam County Texas. These species

are either endemic to Texas or are endemic to two or

three states. The most infrequent of these is Astragalus 

mollissimus var. marcidus (withered woolly locoweed)

that isranked as a G5 and S2.Thisspeciesis known from

Dallam, Jeff Davis, and Presidio Counties in Texas.

This taxon might occur on the Rita Blanca National

Grassland, but its presence there has yet to be confirmed.

Phlox roemeriana (goldeneye phlox) and Astragalus

pleianthus (Edward’s Plateau milkvetch) occur farther

south into Texas. Two endemics that also occur in this

area of Texas and in adjacent New Mexico are fairly

widespread in western Texas: Yucca campestris (plains

yucca) and Muhlenbergia villosa Swallen (hairy muhly).

Atwo-state endemic (innorthTexas andOklahoma)from

this region is Juncus texanus (Texas rush). Future field

surveys may discover these plants on the Rita Blanca

National Grassland.

Exotic Plants

Williamson and Fitter(1996)introduced an interesting

rule-of-thumb regarding exotic plant species. This rule

states that one-in-ten imported plant species establishes

well enough to become a self-sustaining, naturalized

population.Fromthe10percentthatdoestablish, another

one-in-ten becomes a serious noxious weed (negative

economic effects). If we employ thisrule to the 91 exotic

plants on the checklist, we would expect 8 to 10 exotic

species to be well established. This is close to the actual

count in this study, since 8 of 91 exotics (close to 10

percent) are on noxious weed lists. The next 10 percent

proportion of these 8 would be the number of “serious”

weeds. This is 10 percent of 8 or one (rounded up) most

noxious weed species. Candidates for the indistinction

of most noxious weed species in the study area would

include Tamarix ramosissima (salt cedar) and Cirsium 

arvense (Canada thistle).

According to the New Mexico State Noxious Weeds

List (2003 version) (USDA/NRCS 2007), eight plants

on the checklist are either class A (the worst), class B, or

class C noxious weeds. The Class A weeds are Canada

thistle (Cirsium arvense) anddalmationtoadflax(Linaria 

dalmatica).TheonlyClassBweedisbullthistle (Cirsium 

vulgare). Class C weeds are jointed goatgrass (Aegilops 

cylindrica), bindweed (Convolvulus arvense), Russian

olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), salt cedar (Tamarix 

ramosissima), andSiberianelm(Ulmus pumila).Perhaps

not for the state, but in this region, salt cedar (Mills

Canyon), Canada thistle (in most riparian areas), and

bindweed(manydisturbedsites)seemtodeserve ahigher

rank. The aggressive colonization of salt cedar along

the Canadian River is of concern to the administrators

of these public lands. Management options, including

mechanical removal, have been implemented to reduce

existing stands of salt cedar in Mills Canyon. The other

exotic plants are usually present in smaller patches, often

in disturbed areas. Nonetheless, monitoring of small

populations is suggested, since small populations can

unexpectedly become much more aggressive invaders.

Exotic plants not on the New Mexico noxious weed

lists include cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), alkali weed

(Kochia scoparia),tumbleweeds(Salsola tragus), andthe

nearby (west and north) musk thistle (Carduus nutans).

These first three exotics are so common that control is

generally deemed to be futile — they have unofficially

been given a “green card” of permanent residency.

Perhaps due to their use aslivestock forage, introduced

grasses are not always included on noxious weed

lists. For example,smooth brome (Bromus inermis) and

Turkestanoryellowbluestem(Bothriochloa ischaemum)

have long been planted in this region as part of soil

stabilization efforts — at least since Dust Bowl years.

Smooth brome can be quite aggressive, especially in

cooler climates. In North Dakota, smooth brome can

invadeandcompletelyreplaceunplowed,nativegrassland

(D.Hazlett, author,personalobservationofunplowed,yet

all smooth brome vegetation along the Pembina River,

near Walhalla, ND). The arid climate in this study area

has so far kept the aggressive nature of smooth brome

in check.

Another category of “weeds” are native plant taxa that

colonize disturbed sites. These native pioneer plants of

disturbed sites, like many exotics, are able to establish

along roadsides or in fallow fields. These include

Gray’s ragweed (Ambrosia grayi), sandbur (Cenchrus 

longispinus),hogpotato(Hoffmanseggia glauca),poverty
18 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

weed (Iva axillaris), bahia (Picradeniopsis), silver-leaf

nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium), silky locoweed

(Sophora nuttalliana), Virginia ground cherry (Physalis 

virginiana), purple ground cherry (Quincula lobata),

tackbur (Tribulis terrestris), and American vetch (Vicia 

americana). The native sandbur, hog potato, silver-leaf

nightshade, and poverty weed are sometimes on

noxious weed lists.

Toxic Plants

Toxic plants on the checklist were identified from

the above-cited taxonomic literature and from New

Mexico Cooperative Extension Service information

(Allison n.d.). It is important to recognize that the type

and toxin concentrations, and the degree of toxicity on

different animalsvariesgreatly.Plants are flaggedastoxic

only to indicate some sort oftoxicity.Indeed,some ofthe

toxic plants also have medicinal or pesticide uses (dose

isimportant). Native plantslisted that can be severe skin

irritantsincludepoisonivy(Toxicodendron rydbergii) and

noseburn (Tragia ramosa). Plants that are poisonous to

livestock due (in part) to high selenium concentrations

include two-grooved milkvetch (Astragalus bisulcatus),

woolly locoweed (Astragalus mollissimus), purple

locoweed, (Oxytropis lambertii), and white locoweed

(Oxytropis sericea). Other toxic native species include

Palmer’s pigweed (Amaranthus palmeri), antelope horns

(Asclepias asperula),plainsmilkweed(Asclepias pumila),

poison milkweed (Asclepias subverticillata), oak-leaf

thorn apple (Datura quercifolia), jimson weed (Datura 

stramonium), white larkspur (Delphinium virescens),

snow-on-the-mountain (Euphorbia marginata),

bitterweed (Hymenoxys odorata), sacahuista (Nolina 

texana), marigold paperflower (Psilostrophe tagetina),

poison suckleya (Suckleya suckleyana), thread-leaf

groundsel (Senecio flaccidus), silver-leaf nightshade

(Solanum elaeagnifolim), and buffalo bur (Solanum 

rostratum). Among the toxic exotic plants are whitetop

(Cardaria), Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon),

hound’stongue (Cynoglossum officinale), Russian olive

(Elaeagnus angustifolia), tumble mustard (Sysymbrium 

altissimum), tackbur (Tribulis terrestris), and cocklebur

(Xanthium strumarium).

Conservation and Management_____

The Forest Service is committed to managing these

public grasslands in a fashion that ensures the long-term

survival of the natural resources. In addition to natural

history components, these grasslands also contain

paleontological, historic, and prehistoric cultural sites,

such as dinosaur tracks and a 2-mile section of the

SantaFeTrail(Raish2004)that alsoreceivemanagement

attention.Other areas are interestingbecauseofhighplant

diversities. High plant diversity is important because it

is currently our best indicator of high biodiversity (all

organisms included). By this measure, Mills Canyon is

thebiodiversityhotspotoftheKiowaNationalGrassland.

These public lands are also an important source of

plant genetic materials. A number of infrequent and

several common plant species on the Kiowa National

Grasslandhavepotentiallyimportantplantbiochemicals.

Among the plant genera on our checklist with such a

potentialare:Argemone,Datura,Delphinium,Echinacea,

Kallstroemia,Lesquerella,Mentha,Oenothera,Plantago,

Salvia, Solanum, Sphaeralcea, and others. As a good

example,considerEchinacea angustifolia. Thepopulation

of Echinacea in Union County is one of the furthest

southwest populations of this species. Echinacea has a

long history as an effective herbal therapy for infective

disorders, anditsuse israpidlyincreasing(Brit2007).The

Echinacea population on the Kiowa National Grassland

has morphological variations that make it of interest to

ongoing research at the Iowa Center for Research on

Botanical Supplements.

Also of note are rocky barrens and riparian areas. Since

rocky outcrops have relatively few grasses or palatable

forbs, they are typically not heavily grazed and include

elevatedsites.Riparianareas are significant areasinterms

of both biodiversity and management. The impact of

livestock can be very apparent in riparian areas because

of the need of water for livestock in a semiarid region.

Riparian areas are also prime areasfor the establishment

of additional populations of noxious plant species,

especially salt cedar and Canada thistle. Given the high

speciesdiversityandwaterresourceimportanceofriparian

areas, their judicious management will continue to be a

high priority.

Acknowledgments________________

Thisreportwasinitiated by personal interest ofthe first

author,withsomefinancialsupportforfieldworkprovided

by the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands,

Clayton, NM, and all publication costs provided by the

USDAForestServiceRockyMountainResearchStation,

Grassland, Shrubland, and Desert Ecosystems Program.

We appreciate the encouragement and support provided

by District Ranger Nancy Walls, Dan Garcia, and Jim

O’Bryant, from the Clayton office. We also thank Neil

Snow, botanist at Bishop Museum, Hawaii, for his help
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 19

and encouragement. We thank Dina Clark, Kenneth D.

Heil, and Robert Sivinski who critically read and edited

early drafts ofthismanuscript.We also thankLoaCollins

and Helen Huntley of the USDA Forest Service Rocky

Mountain Research Station for their editing of the final

draft.I(Don) acknowledgemysonEric,whoassistedwith

fieldwork, andmywifeMarta forher continuoussupport.

I (Michael) also acknowledge the unwavering support

from my wife Jodi, especially during the many hours

spent in the field. I (Michael) gratefully acknowledge,

appreciate, and thank the many landowners who allowed

me accessto their land. We also acknowledge the USDA

ForestServiceSouthwesternRegion,GeospatialUnitfor

providing the map.

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Service (USDA/NRCS). 2007. The PLANTS Database. National

Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA. Available: http://plants.

usda.gov.

U.S. Department of the Interior. National Park Service. 2005. Devils

Tower—American Indians and the tower.

WaterResourcesConservation Service (WRCC). 2007. New Mexico

andOklahoma climate summaries.Available: http://www.wrcc.dri.

edu/CLIMATEDATA.html (12/17/07).

Weber, W.A.; Wittmann, R.C. 2001. Colorado flora: Eastern Slope

3

rd ed. Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado,

Welsh, S.L.;Atwood,N.D.;Goodrich, S.;Higgens,L.C. 2003.AUtah

flora 3rd ed. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Print Services.

White, P.M. 2000. Peyotism and the Native American Church.

Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group.

Williamson, M.; Fitter, A. 1996. The varying success of invaders.

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Wooster, D. 1982. Dust Bowl: the southern plains in the 1930s. New

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Wright, H.A.; Bailey, A.W. 1982. Fire ecology—United States and

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USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 21

Appendix: Checklist of Vascular Plants on Kiowa and Rita Blanca National

Grasslands________________________________________________________

This appendix is the list of the scientific names, common names, habitats, and geographical location

information for 816 vascular plants that occur on or near the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands.

Of this total, 695 (86%) are known to occur on these grasslands. The remaining 121 taxa occur nearby

but have not yet been reported from these public lands. The inclusion of nearby plant species allows for a

better representation of the regional flora. The exotic plant species (11% of the total) are indicated on this

checklist by an asterisk. Also indicated are noxious, toxic, planted species, stinging hair plants, rare in NM

(New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council), rare in TX (Texas Conservation Data Center of The Nature

Conservancy of Texas Forest Service) and New Mexico USFS sensitive plant species.

Scientific Names, Voucher Specimens and Collectors

The first-listed binomial on thislistfollowsSnow(2009).Well-known and othersynonymsthat help identify

a taxon are included in brackets. Native American and Spanish common names are in italics. The checklist

also has plant collector names and voucher specimen numbers. Plants collected by Hazlett (H) or Schiebout

(S) have the appropriate letter and a specimen number. For other collectors (i.e. Snow) the collector’s name

is cited with the voucher specimen number. The herbaria codes are used to indicate where specimens are

archived: University of Northern Colorado (GREE) and/or University of New Mexico (UNM).

Geographical Information

The geographical information on the checklist refers to three regions of the study area: (1) western Kiowa

National Grassland, (2) eastern Kiowa National Grassland, and (3) Rita Blanca National Grassland (see Site

Description, page 6, for more information). The three columns of numbers to the left of each taxon refer

to these three areas. The first or leftmost number indicates if a taxon is present or absent from the western

KNG area. The middle number indicates if a taxon is present or absent from the eastern KNG area. The

rightmost number indicates if a taxon is present or absent from the Rita Blanca National Grassland. Plant

presence in an area is indicated by a “1” and plant absence is indicated by a “0” or by a letter. The“1 1 0 ”

number sequence refers to a plant that has been seen or reported from both the western (the left-column 1)

and eastern (the middle-column 1) sections of the Kiowa National Grassland, but not from the Rita Blanca

National Grassland (the right-column 0).

Plantspecies not yet known fromthese public lands, but known to occur nearby have zeros plus a directional

letter (n, s, e, or w) in one or more of the three columns. The presence of a letter indicates the direction away

from the region, as indicated by the column, where this plant is known to occur. For example, the “ 0 0 s”

sequence indicates a taxon that is not yet known from any public grasslands. However, this taxon is known

to occur south of the Rita Blanca National Grassland (ca. within 20 miles), as indicated by the letter s in this

column. The columns and letters provide general location information for these nearby plant species.

Habitat Information

Each plant species on the checklist was assigned to one or two habitats (see Site Description, page 6, for

more information). A capital letter to the left of a species name indicates the designated primary habitat.

When a plant is assigned to a primary habitat, this does not mean that this plant cannot sometimes occur

elsewhere. A few species were assigned two letters since they are common in two habitats (i.e. tumbleweeds

and blue grama). Since each of the 816 taxa was assigned to a habitat, the proportional allocation of all plant
22 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

species among habitats was possible. The most species-rich habitats were the prairie/steppe habitat

(primary for about 27% of the taxa) and the riparian/wetland habitat (primary for about 26% of the taxa).

These and the remaining proportions of all plants among habitats are on the following list.

A (< 1%) = Alkaline Soils

C (17%) = Canyon/Ravine

D (13%) = Disturbed Soils

P (27%) = Prairie/Steppe

R (26%) = Riparian/Wetland

G ( 8%) = Rocky/Gravel Outcrops

S ( 9%) = Sandy Soils

PL (< 1%) = Planted

FERNS AND FERN ALLIES 

Region Habitat Scientific Name Common Name 

Aspleniaceae / Spleenwort Fern family

1 1 0 C Asplenium platyneuron (L.) Britton, Sterns, & 

Poggenb. H-12180 

spleenwort 

1 0 1 C/R Asplenium septentrionale (L.) Hoffm. H-11716 GREE forked spleenwort 

1 0 1 C Asplenium trichomanes L. subsp. trichomanes maidenhair spleenwort 

Dryopteridaceae / Shield-fern family 

0 n 0 C Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh. S-6655 GREE brittle bladder-fern 

0 1 0 C Cystopteris reevesiana Lellinger Reeves’ bladder-fern 

w 0 0 C Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott male-fern 

1 1 0 C Woodsia neomexicana Windham S-1333 A GREE New Mexico cliff-fern 

1 1 0 C Woodsia oregana D.C. Eaton subsp. cathcartiana 

 (B. L. Robins) Windham H-12184 GREE Oregon cliff-fern 

Equisetaceae / Horsetail family 

1 1 1 R Equisetum laevigatum A. Braun H-11673 UNM scouring rush, canutillo, 

cola de caballo

Marsileaceae / Pepperwort family 

1 0 0 R Marsilea vestita Hook. & Grev. hairy waterclover 

Pteridaceae / Feather-fern family 

n 0 0 C/R Adianthum capillus-veneris L. Southern maidenhair 

0 n 0 C Argyrochosma fendleri (Kuntze) Windham Fendler's cloakfern 

1 1 0 C Cheilanthes eatonii Baker H-12183 GREE Eaton's lipfern 

1 1 0 C Cheilanthes feei T. Moore H-12181 GREE Santa Fe lipfern 

1 1 0 C Cheilanthes fendleri Hook. S-5448 Fendler's lipfern 

1 0 0 C Cheilanthes wootonii Maxon beaded lipfern 

1 0 0 C Notholaena standleyi Maxon S-2483 GREE star cloakfern 

0 1 0 C Pellaea atropurpurea (L.) Link H-12180 GREE purple cliffbrake 

Selaginellaceae / Spikemoss family 

1 1 0 C Selaginella densa Rydb. H-11714 GREE dense spikemoss 

0 n 0 C Selaginella mutica D.C. Eaton ex Underw. var. mutica 

H-12118 GREE bluntleaf spikemoss 

0 s 0 C Selaginella peruviana (Milde) Hieron. Peruvian spikemoss 

Dittmer & Castetter-2853 UNM 

1 1 0 C Selaginella underwoodii Hieron. S-5449 & 8694 Underwood’s spikemoss 

n 0 0 C Selaginella weatherbiana R. Tyron rare NM, Weatherby’s spikemoss

Forest Service sensitive
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 23

GYMNOSPERMS

Region Habitat Scientific Name Common Name 

Cupressaceae / Juniper or Cedar family

1 0 0 C Juniperus communis L. 

var. depressa Pursh S-4697 GREE 

dwarf juniper 

1 0 0 C Juniperus monosperma (Engel.) Sargent S-511 GREE one-seed juniper 

1 1 1 C Juniperus scopulorum Sarg. [Sabina scopulorum] S-4190 

GREE 

cedar, sabino, 

Rocky Mountain juniper 

Pinaceae / Pine family 

1 0 0 C Pinus edulis Engelm. S-468 GREE piñon pine 

n 0 0 C Pinus flexilis E. James limber pine 

1 1 0 C Pinus ponderosa Lawson ex C. Lawson var. scopulorum

Engelm. S-485 GREE toxic

ponderosa pine 

0 1 0 C Pseudotsuga menziezii (Mirb.) Franco 

var. glauca (Beissner) Franco S-5175 GREE 

Douglas fir 

ANGIOSPERMS: Monocotoledons and Dicotoledons 

Region Habitat Scientific Name Common Name 

Aceraceae / Maple family (see Sapindaceae) 

Agavaceae / Agave family 

1 0 0 C Yucca baccata Torr. var. baccata S-6376 GREE banana yucca, datil 

0 s 0 C/G Yucca campestris McKelvey Endemic to NM & TX plains yucca 

1 1 1 S/G Yucca glauca Nutt. var. glauca S-1320 GREE soapweed yucca, amole

1 0 0 C/G Yucca neomexicana Wooton. & Standl. 

Knight 1653 UNM, S-7093 GREE 

New Mexico Spanish bayonet 

Alismataceae / Water Plantain family 

0 1 1 R Sagittaria cuneata E. Sheld. S-7386 GREE arum-leaf arrowhead 

0 1 1 R Sagittaria latifolia Willd. H-12107 GREE wappato, duck potato 

Alliaceae / Onion family 

w 0 0 P Allium cernuum Roth 

 (Rydb.) J. F. Macbr. S-8812 GREE 

New Mexico nodding wild 

onion 

0 1 0 P Allium drummondii Regel S-3581 GREE Drummond’s onion 

0 n 0 P Allium geyeri S. Wats. S-5147 GREE Geyer's onion 

1 1 0 P Allium perdulce S. V. Fraser var. perdulce S-3172 GREE plains onion 

0 1 0 P Allium textile A. Nelson & J. F. Macbr. textile onion 

Amaranthaceae / Pigweed family (includes Chenopodiaceae) 

0 0 1 D Amaranthus albus L. S-1531 GREE tumble pigweed

0 1 0 S/D Amaranthus arenicola I. M. Johnst. S-863 GREE sand pigweed 

1 1 1 D *Amaranthus blitoides S. Watson S-7762 GREE prostrate pigweed, 

quelite colorado

1 1 1 D *Amaranthus hybridus L. S-8585 GREE smooth pigweed 

0 1 1 S Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson H-11840 UNM toxic Palmer's pigweed, 

quelite yus

1 1 1 D *Amaranthus retroflexus L. S-2604 GREE red-root pigweed 

1 1 1 P/A Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt. 

var. canescens H-12093b GREE 

four-wing saltbush 

1 1 1 D *Chenopodium album var. album L. S-218 GREE lamb’s quarters 

quelite salado

0 1 0 P Chenopodium atrovirens Rydb. Rocky Mountain or 

piñon goosefoot 

1 1 1 D Chenopodium berlandieri Moq. 

var. zschackei (Murray) Murr ex Asch. S-2798 GREE 

pitseed goosefoot, 

quelite cenizo

0 s 0 S Chenopodium cycloides A. Nelson rare NM, 

Forest Service sensitive 

sandhill goosefoot 

1 1 0 P Chenopodium desiccatum A. Nelson S-433 GREE thick-leaf goosefoot 

1 1 0 P Chenopodium fremontii S. Watson S-1335 GREE Fremont’s goosefoot 

1 1 1 P Chenopodium incanum (S. Watson) A. Heller 

 H-11631 UNM 

mealy goosefoot 
24 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

1 1 1 P Chenopodium leptophyllum (Moq.) Nutt. 

ex. S. Watson S-6593 GREE narrow-leaf goosefoot 

1 1 0 P Chenopodium pratericola Rydb. H-11674 UNM desert goosefoot 

1 0 0 C/R Chenopodium simplex (Torr.) Raf. S-8493 GREE maple-leaf goosefoot 

0 1 0 P Chenopodium watsonii A. Nelson Watson's goosefoot 

0 0 1 S Corispermum americanum (Nutt.) Nutt. var. americanum American tickseed 

1 1 0 S Cycloloma atriplicifolium (Spreng.) J. M. Coult. 

 H-11825 GREE 

winged pigweed 

1 1 1 S Froelichia gracilis (Hook) Moq. H-12020 GREE slender snake-cotton 

0 0 s D Guilleminea densa (Humb. & Bonpl. Ex Willd.) Moq. 

var. densa small mat-weed 

1 1 1 D *Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. 

S-7829 GREE [Bassia sieversiana] toxic

kochia, alkali weed 

1 1 1 P Krascheninnikovia lanata (Pursh) Meeuse & Smit 

H-11866 UNM 

winter-fat 

1 0 1 D/A Monolepis nuttalliana (Schult.) Greene S-4625 GREE Nuttall’s poverty weed 

1 1 1 D/P *Salsola australis R. Br. [S. tragus, S. iberica, S. kali] 

S-761 GREE 

Russian thistle, cizaña, 

tumbleweed 

1 0 0 D/S *Salsola collina Pall. H-11878 UNM soft-spine tumbleweed 

1 0 1 R/D Suckleya suckleyana (Torr.) Rydb. S-8501 GREE toxic poison suckleya 

0 0 s D/P Tidestromia lanuginosa (Nutt.) Standl. woolly tidestromia 

Anacardiaceae / Poison Ivy or Mango family 

1 1 1 C Rhus aromatica Aiton var. trilobata (Nutt.) A. Gray ex 

S. Watson [R. a. var. pilosissima] 

H-12080 GREE, S-467 GREE 

lemonbush, tai-piah, 

three-leaf sumac, lemita, 

skunkbush sumac 

1 1 1 C Toxicodendron rydbergii (Small ex Rydb.) Greene S-461 

GREE toxic

poison ivy, hiedra venenosa, 

yiedra maligna 

Anthericaceae / (includes part of former Liliaceae) 

1 0 0 S Leucocrinum montanum Nutt. ex A. Gray Sivinski 1839 

UNM 

sand lily 

Apiaceae / Carrot or Parsley family 

1 1 1 R Berula erecta (Huds.) Cov. 

var. incisa (Torr.) Cronquist S-8293A GREE 

cutleaf water parsnip 

1 1 1 P Cymopterus glomeratus (Nutt.) DC. 

[C. acaulis var. acaulis] S-3594 GREE

plains spring parsley

1 1 1 P Cymopterus montanus Torr. & A. Gray S-3171 GREE prairie bisquit 

1 0 0 C Harbouria trachypleura (A. Gray) J. M. Coult. & Rose 

H-11623 GREE 

wisk-broom parsley 

1 1 0 P Lomatium orientale J. M. Coult. & Rose northern Idaho biscuit root 

Apocynaceae / Dogbane family (and Asclepiadaceae/Milkweed family) 

1 1 1 R Apocynum androsaemifolium L. H-11729 GREE spreading dogbane 

1 1 1 R Apocynum cannabinum L. S-5404 GREE dogbane, Indian-hemp 

1 1 1 C/P Asclepias asperula (Decne.) Woodson 

var. asperula [= A. a. subsp. capricornu] H-11728 GREE 

antelope-horns, 

inmortal

1 1 1 C/P Asclepias engelmanniana Woodson S-532 GREE Engelmann's milkweed 

w 0 0 R Asclepias incarnata L.var. incarnata swamp milkweed 

0 1 1 P Asclepias involucrata Engelm. ex Torr. S-5213 GREE dwarf milkweed 

1 1 1 P/S Asclepias latifolia (Torr.) Raf. S-440 GREE broadleaf milkweed 

1 0 1 C Asclepias macrotis Torr. S-6597 GREE longhood milkweed 

1 1 1 P/S Asclepias pumila (A. Gray) Vail H-12031 UNM toxic plains milkweed 

1 1 1 R/D Asclepias speciosa Torr. S-7987 GREE showy milkweed 

1 1 1 R/D Asclepias subverticillata L. (A. Gray) Vail 

H-12065 GREE toxic

whorled or horsetail milkweed 

0 1 1 C Asclepias uncialis Greene rare NM Forest Service 

sensitive 

wheel milkweed

1 1 1 P Asclepias viridiflora Raf. H-11793 UNM green comet 
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 25

0 0 1 P/R Funastrum crispum (Benth.) Schltdl. S-1531 GREE 

[Sarcostemma crispa] 

climbing milkweed 

Araceae / Aroid family (includes Lemnaceae) 

1 0 0 R Lemna minor L. S-5704 GREE duckweed 

Asclepiadaceae (see Apocynaceae) 

Asteraceae / Sunflower family 

1 1 1 R/D Achillea millefolium L. var. lanulosa (Nutt.) Piper 

S-5101 GREE 

yarrow, milenrama 

1 1 0 C Ageratina herbacea (A. Gray) R. M. King & H. Rob. fragrant snakeroot 

w 0 0 R/C Agoseris aurantiaca (Hook.) Greene 

var. purpurea (A. Gray) Cronquist 

orange-flowered goat chicory

0 n 0 R/C Agoseris parviflora (Nutt.) D. Dietrich [A. glauca var. 

laciniata] 

false agoseris 

1 0 0 C Amauriopsis dissecta (A. Gray) Rydg. 

[Bahia dissecta] H-12195 

ragged-leaf bahia 

1 1 1 P/S Ambrosia acanthicarpa Hook. bur ragweed, estafiate

1 1 1 S/P Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. S-2298 GREE annual ragweed 

1 1 1 P Ambrosia confertifolia DC. H-12088 GREE Mexican ragweed 

0 0 1 D Ambrosia grayi (A. Nelson) Shinners H-11963 bur ragweed 

1 1 1 P Ambrosia psilostachya DC. 

[A. p. coronopifolia] H-11807 UNM 

western ragweed, 

perennial ragweed 

1 0 0 D/A Ambrosia tomentosa Nutt. S-7153 GREE poverty weed, 

skeleton-leaf bursage 

1 1 1 D Ambrosia trifida L. H-12099 GREE giant ragweed, bloodweed 

1 0 0 C Antennaria marginata Greene S-8531 GREE white-margin pussytoes 

1 0 0 C Antennaria parvifolia Nutt. S-6387 GREE common pussytoes 

1 1 0 R *Arctium minus Bernh. H-12095 GREE burdock 

1 1 0 P/G Artemisia bigelovii A. Gray H-11638 UNM Bigelow's or flat sage 

0 1 1 P/G Artemisia campestris L. 

var. caudata (Michx.) Palmer & Steyerm 

field wormwood 

1 1 1 P Artemisia carruthii A. W. Wood ex. Carruth 

H-11812 UNM 

Carruth's sage 

1 1 1 R Artemisia dracunculus L. H-11803 UNM wild tarragon 

1 1 1 S Artemisia filifolia Torr. S-770 GREE sand sage 

1 1 1 P/D Artemisia frigida Willd. S-428 GREE fringed sage 

1 1 1 G/C Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt. 

subsp. ludoviciana H-12103 GREE 

white sage, altamisa, 

Louisiana sage 

Artemisia tridentata Nutt. big sagebrush, 

1 0 0 P var. tridentata S-1282 GREE chamiso

1 0 0 P var. wyomingensis (Bettle & Young) S. L. Welsh 

S-8579 GREE 

A disjunct occurrence 

Wyoming big sagebrush 

1 1 0 S/R Baccharis salicina Torrey & Gray S-8401 GREE Rio Grande seepwillow 

1 1 0 P/C Baccharis wrightii (T. & G.) A. Gray H-12086b UNM Wright's baccharis 

1 1 1 P Berlandiera lyrata Benth. H-11832 UNM green eyes, chocolate flower, 

coronilla

1 0 0 R Bidens cernua L. bur-marigold 

w 0 0 R Bidens frondosa L. Devil's pitchfork 

1 0 0 R Bidens tenuisecta A. Gray slimlobe begger-ticks 

1 0 0 R Bidens tripartita L. [B. comosa] S-8529 GREE straw-stem beggar-ticks 

1 1 0 C Brickellia brachyphylla (A. Gray) A. Gray 

H-12059 UNM 

lance-leaf brickellbush 

1 1 0 C Brickellia californica (Torr. & A. Gray) A. Gray 

S-8685 GREE 

California brickellbush 

0 1 0 P Brickellia eupatorioides (L.) Shinners var. chlorolepis 

(Wooton & Standl.) B. L. Turner S-2854 GREE 

false boneset 

1 0 0 C Brickellia grandiflora (Hook.) Nutt. H-12188b GREE tassel-flower, brickellbush 

1 0 0 R *Carduus nutans L. S-7841 GREE noxious musk thistle, cardo silvestre

1 1 1 P Chaetopappa ericoides (Torr.) G. L. Nesom 

[Leucelene ericoides] S-548 GREE 

white aster, rose heat, 

baby aster 
26 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

1 0 0 R *Cichorium intybus L. S-7046 GREE chicory 

1 0 0 R *Cirsium arvensis (L.) Scop. S-7155 noxious Canadian thistle, 

cardo cundidor

1 1 1 P Cirsium ochrocentrum A. Gray S-431 GREE yellow-spine thistle 

1 1 1 P Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng. S-432 GREE wavy-leaf thistle 

1 0 0 R *Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. H-11885 UNM bull thistle 

1 1 1 R/S Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist S-7725 GREE horseweed, pazotillo

1 0 0 R Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. H-11733 GREE golden tickseed 

1 0 0 R Crepis runcinata (E. James) Torr. & A. Gray 

var. runcinata S-9062 GREE 

fiddleleaf hawksbeard 

1 0 0 R Cyclachaena xanthifolia (Nutt.) Fresen 

[Iva xanthifolia] 

marsh elder, 

careless weed 

0 1 0 D Diaperia prolifera (Nutt. ex DC.) Nutt. var. prolifera 

[Evax prolifera] S-5207 GREE

rabbit tobacco 

1 1 0 P Dyssodia papposa (Vent.) Hitchc. S-3051 GREE prairie dog weed 

0 1 0 D Echinacea angustifolia DC. H-11792 UNM 

rare on KNG

echinacea, 

black sampson 

1 1 1 P Engelmannia peristenia (Raf.) Goodm. & Lawson 

[Engelmannia pinnatifida] H-11658 UNM

Engelmann's daisy, 

margarita del campo

1 1 0 P/C Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G. L. Nesom 

& G. I. Baird var. nauseosus 

[Chrysothamnus nauseosus var. nauseosus] 

rabbitbrush, chamiso

1 1 0 S Erigeron bellidiastrum Nutt. var. bellidiastrum 

S-282 GREE

sand fleabane 

1 1 0 G Erigeron canus A. Gray H-11642 GREE hoary fleabane daisy 

1 0 0 P/R Erigeron divergens Torr. & A. Gray S-5429 GREE spreading fleabane daisy 

0 1 0 P Erigeron flagellaris A. Gray H-11759 GREE trailing fleabane daisy 

1 1 1 P Erigeron tracyi Greene [E. colo-mexicanus] 

H-11628 UNM 

running fleabane daisy 

1 1 1 P Gaillardia pinnatifida Torr. H-11646 UNM Hopi blanketflower 

0 n 0 P Gaillardia pulchella Foug. var. pulchella S-5015 GREE firewheel 

0 0 0 R/D Grindelia acutifolia Steyerm. S-1841 GREE Raton gumweed 

0 1 0 P/D Grindelia inornata Greene var. inornata H-11837 GREE rayless gumweed 

Grindelia nuda A. W. Wood curlytop gumweed

1 0 0 P/R var. aphanactis (Rydb.) G. L. Nesom S-396 GREE yerba del buey 

1 1 0 P/D var. nuda S-2795 GREE pega pega

1 1 1 P Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britton & Rusby 

S-719 GREE toxic

broom snakeweed, 

escoba de la vibora

1 0 1 P/D Gutierrezia sphaerocephala A. Gray S-7191 GREE round-leaf snakeweed 

1 0 0 R Helenium autumnale L. H-12105 GREE fall sneezeweed 

1 1 1 D Helianthus annuus L. S-8635 GREE common sunflower 

1 1 0 P/R Helianthus ciliaris DC. S-5202 GREE Texas blueweed 

0 1 0 D Helianthus pauciflorus Nutt. ssp. subrhomboideus 

(Rydb.) O. Spring & E. Schilling [H. rigidus] 

S-8717 GREE 

stiff sunflower 

1 1 0 P Helianthus petiolaris Nutt. 

var. fallax (Heiser) B. L. Turner S-8261GREE 

plains sunflower 

1 1 1 P/S Helianthus petiolaris Nutt. var. petiolaris S-766 GREE plains sunflower 

0 1 0 R Heliomeris multiflora Nutt. var. multiflora 

[Viguiera multiflora] S-8798 GREE 

showy goldeneye, 

little sunflower 

1 0 0 R/C Herrickia horrida Wooton & Standl. [Eurybia horrida] 

H-11678 UNM rare NM, Forest Service sensitive

spiny aster 

1 0 0 C Heterosperma pinnatum Cav. H-12210 GREE wingpetal 

1 1 1 P/G Heterotheca canescens (DC.) Shinners S-2248 GREE golden aster, 

gray camphor weed 

0 1 1 S/D Heterotheca subaxillaris (Lam.) Britton & Rusby 

S-8363 GREE 

camphor weed, 

telegraph plant 

Heterotheca villosa (Pursh) Shinners false golden aster 

1 1 0 P var. foliosa (Nutt.) Harms S-7756 GREE hairy golden aster 

1 1 0 P var. minor (Hook.) Semple S-1338 GREE hairy golden aster 

0 1 0 P var. nana (A. Grayl) Semple S-2190 GREE hairy golden aster 

1 1 1 P var. villosa [H. viscida] H-12216 hairy golden aster 
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 27

1 0 0 G/C Hymenopappus filifolius Hook. 

var. cinereus (Rydb.) I. M. Johnst. few-headed or fine-leaf 

H-11635 UNM woolly-white 

1 1 0 G var. polycephalus (Osterh.) B. L. Turner H-12039 UNM many-headed woolly-white 

1 1 1 P/S Hymenopappus flavescens A. Gray var. flavescens 

S-253 GREE 

yellow woolly-white 

0 0 1 P Hymenopappus scabiosaeus L'Her. 

var. corymbosus (T. & G.) B. L. Turner 

long-flower 

woolly-white 

0 1 0 P Hymenopappus tenuifolius Pursh S-2028 GREE white woolly-white 

0 1 1 A/D Hymenoxys odorata DC. S-4136 GREE toxic bitterweed 

0 1 0 C/G Isocoma rusbyi Greene 

[I. pluriflora, Haplopappus heterophyllus] 

southern jimmyweed, 

Rusby's golden-bush 

1 1 1 D Iva axillaris Pursh ssp. robustior Hooker. S-8442 GREE poverty weed 

1 1 1 R *Lactuca serriola L. S-7338 GREE prickly lettuce 

0 0 s D *Leontodon taraxcoides (Vill.) Mérat 

ssp. taraxacoides Hutchins 13092 UNM 

lesser hawkbit 

n 0 0 R Liatris ligulistylis (A. Nelson) K. Schum blazing star 

0 1 0 G Liatris mucronata DC. S-2213 GREE cusp blazing star 

1 1 1 P Liatris punctata Hook. var. punctata S-8271 GREE blazing star, cachana

0 0 e S Liatris squarrosa (L.) Michx. var. glabrata (Rydb.) 

Gaiser 

scaly blazing star 

0 1 0 C Lorandersonia baileyi (Woot. & Standl.) Urbatsch, 

Roberts & Neubig [Chrysothamnus pulchellus 

var. baileyi] S-2221 GREE 

pretty rabbitbrush 

1 1 1 P Lygodesmia juncea (Pursh) D. Don ex Hook. 

S-290 GREE 

skeletonweed, 

chiquete de embarañada

1 1 1 P/S Machaeranthera tanacetifolia (Kunth.) Nees 

H-11924 UNM 

tansyleaf aster, 

Tahoka daisy 

1 1 1 G Melampodium leucanthum Torr. & A. Gray S-566 plains blackfoot daisy 

0 0 1 P Nothocalais cuspidata (Pursh) Greene sharp-point prairie-dandelion 

0 1 0 R Packera cana (Hook.) W.A. Weber & A. Löve woolly goldenrod 

0 1 0 P/G Packera fendleri (A. Gray) W. A. Weber & A. Löve 

S-7868 GREE 

Fendler’s groundsel 

0 1 0 P Packera neomexicana (A. Gray) W. A. Weber & A. Löve 

var. mutabilis (Greene) W. A. Weber & A. Löve S-5394 

New Mexico groundsel 

0 n 0 P Packera plattensis (Nutt.) W.A. Weber & A. Löve prairie groundsel 

0 1 0 P Packera pserdaurea (Rydb.) W. A. Weber & A. Löve 

var. flavula (Greene) D. K. Trock & . M. Barkley 

falsegold groundsel 

0 1 0 P Packera spellenbergii (T. M. Barkley) C. Jeffrey 

rare NM, Forest Service sensitive

Carrizo Creek groundsel 

0 1 0 P Packera streptanthifolia (Greene) W. A. Weber & A. 

Löve 

Rocky Mtn. groundsel 

0 1 1 P Packera tridenticulata (Rydb.) W. A. Weber & A. Löve 

S-5868 GREE 

three-tooth ragwort 

0 0 n S Palafoxia rosea (Bush) Cory rosy palafox 

0 1 1 S Palafoxia sphacelata (Nutt.) Cory S-232 GREE rayless Spanish needles 

0 1 0 G Parthenium alpinum (Nutt.) Torr. & A. Gray 

[Parthenium tetraneuris] 

alpine feverfew 

1 0 0 C Parthenium incanum Kunth H-12200 GREE mariola

0 1 1 P Pectis angustifolia Torr. var. angustifolia S-2187 GREE lemonweed, cominilla

1 0 0 C Pericome caudata A. Gray 

var. glandulosa (Goodman) Harrington H-12121 GREE 

taper-leaf or 

tail-leaf pericome 

1 1 1 D/P Picradeniopsis oppositifolia (Nutt.) Rydb. 

H-11633 UNMS 

hierba de chivato, bahia 

1 1 1 D/P Picradeniopsis woodhousei (A. Gray) Rydb. 

H-11828 UNM 

bahia 

1 1 1 C Pseudognaphalium canescens (DC.) W. A. Weber 

subsp. canescens H-12217 GREE 

Wright’s cudweed 

1 1 1 C Pseudognaphalium stramineum (Kunth) W. A. Weber 

S- 8419 GREE 

cotton-batting plant 

1 0 0 S/C Psilostrophe tagetina (Nutt.) Greene 

H-11691 UNM GREE toxic

marigold paperflower 
28 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

1 1 1 R Ratibida columnifera (Nutt.) Wooton & Standl. 

S-118 GREE 

prairie coneflower, 

Mexican hat 

1 1 1 P/D Ratibida tagetes (E. James) Barnhart S-720 GREE red coneflower, 

green Mexican hat, dormilón

1 1 0 D *Scorzonera laciniata L. S-3337 GREE false salsify 

w 0 0 C/P Senecio atratus Greene tall black-tip ragwort 

1 1 1 P/C Senecio flaccidus Less. var. douglasii (DC.) Turner &. 

T. M. Barkley [S. longilobus] S-5397 GREE toxic

thread-leaf groundsel 

w 0 0 P Senecio fremontii Torr. & A. Gray 

var. blitoides (Greene) Cronquist 

Fremont’s ragwort 

1 1 1 P Senecio riddellii Torr. & A. Gray S-7823 GREE 

[S. spartinoides var. fremontii] 

broom groundsel, 

Riddell’s ragwort 

0 1 0 R S. canadensis L. var. gilvocanescens Rydb 

[S. altissima] S-6940 GREE

Canada goldenrod

1 1 0 R Solidago gigantea Aiton S-7685 GREE late goldenrod 

1 0 0 R Solidago missouriensis var. missouriensis Nutt. 

S-7895 GREE 

Missouri goldenrod 

1 1 0 G/C Solidago mollis Bartl. H-1043 GREE soft or velvet goldenrod 

1 0 0 R Solidago nana Nutt. dwarf goldenrod 

n 0 0 P Solidago rigida L. 

subsp. humilis (Porter) S. B. Heard & Semple 

stiff or hard-leaf goldenrod 

1 0 0 R Solidago speciosa Nutt. var. pallida Porter H-12120 showy-wand goldenrod 

1 1 0 R Solidago velutina DC. 

subsp. sparsiflora (A. Gray) Semple H-1220 GREE 

three-nerve goldenrod 

s 0 0 R Solidago wrightii A. Gray Wright's goldenrod 

1 1 1 R *Sonchus asper (L.) Hill S-3569 GREE prickly sow thistle 

1 1 1 R Stephanomeria pauciflora (Torr.) A. Nelson S-771 GREE few-flowered wire lettuce 

1 0 1 R Symphyotrichum ericoides (L.) G. L. Nesom 

var. ericoides [Aster ericoides L. var. ericoides] 

white heath aster, 

frost flower 

1 1 1 R Symphyotrichum falcatum (Lindl.) G. L. Nesom 

var. crassulum (Rydb.) G. L. Nesom 

[Aster falcatus subsp. commutatus var. commutatus] 

white prairie aster, 

frost flower 

1 0 0 R Symphyotrichum fendleri (A. Gray) G. L. Nesom 

[Aster fendleri] 

Fendler's aster 

1 0 0 R Symphyotrichum frondosum (Nutt.) G. L. Nesom 

[Aster frondosus ] S-8517 GREE 

leafy aster 

1 1 0 R Symphyotrichum laeve (L.) A. Löve & D. Löve 

var. geyeri (A. Gray) G. L. Nesom [Aster laevis] 

smooth blue aster 

1 0 0 R Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (Willd.) G. L. Nesom 

var. hesperium (A. Gray) G. L. Nesom [Aster hesperius] 

Siskiyou aster 

0 1 0 R Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Nutt.) G. L. Nesom 

[Aster oblongifolius] 

aromatic aster 

1 0 0 C Symphyotrichum porteri (A. Gray) G. L. Nesom 

[Aster porteri] H-12074 GREE 

Porter's white aster 

1 0 0 R Symphyotrichum spathulatum (Lindl.) G. L. Nesom 

var. spathulatum [Aster occidentalis] H-11732 GREE 

western aster 

1 0 0 C Tagetes micrantha Cavanilles H-12211 GREE small-flower marigold 

1 1 1 R *Taraxacum officinale Weber ex F. H. Wigg 

S-3321 GREE 

dandelion, achichoria 

1 1 1 G Tetraneuris acaulis (Pursh) Greene 

var. acaulis S-722 GREE 

stemless bitterweed 

perky Sue 

1 1 1 C/G Tetraneuris scaposa (DC.) Greene 

var. scaposa H-11695 

scapose bitterweed 

0 1 0 P Thelesperma filifolium (Hook.) A. Gray. S-8197 GREE stiff greenthread 

1 1 1 G/C Thelesperma megapotamicum (Spreng.) Kuntze 

H-12070 GREE 

Hopi greenthread, 

Navajo tea, cota

1 0 0 G Thelesperma subnudum A. Gray H-11644 GREE scapose greenthread 

1 0 0 G Thymophylla aurea [A. Gray] Greene ex Britton 

[Dyssodia aurea] H-11641 GREE 

fetid marigold, pagué

prairie dog weed 

1 0 0 G Townsendia grandiflora Nutt. H-11871 UNM Easter daisy 

0 1 1 G Townsendia exscapa (Richards.) T. C. Porter Easter daisy 

1 1 1 D *Tragopogon dubius Scop. S-496 GREE goat's beard, yellow salsify 
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 29

n 0 0 D *Tragopogon lamottei Rouy Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon 

1 1 1 D Verbesina encelioides (Cav.) Benth. & Hook. golden crownbeard, 

añil del muerto

0 1 1 D/R Vernonia marginata (Torr.) Raf. S-7679 GREE plains ironweed 

Xanthisma spinulosum (Pursh) D. R. Morgan & R. L. Hartm

1 1 0 G var. glaberrimum (Rydb.) D. R. Morgan & R. L. Hartm 

[Machaeranthera pinnatifida] 

shiny goldenweed, 

hierba de la Quintana

1 1 0 P var. gooddingii (A. Nelson) D. R. Morgan & R. L. Hartm. 

H-11743 UNM 

single-head goldenweed 

1 1 0 P var. spinulosum H-11808 GREE lacy spine-aster 

1 1 1 R Xanthium strumarium L. 

[X. c. var. canadense] H-12136 GREE toxic

porcupine eggs, cadillo, 

rough cocklebur 

1 1 1 G Zinnia grandiflora Nutt. H-11702 GREE plains zinnia 

Boraginaceae / Borage or Forget-me-not family (includes Hydrophyllaceae)

1 1 1 P/S Cryptantha cinera (Greene) Cronq. 

var. jamesii Cronq. H-11634 UNM James’s cryptantha or bow nut 

1 1 1 P/D Cryptantha crassisepala (Torr. & A Gray) Greene 

var. elachantha I. M Johnst. S-3324 GREE 

thick-sepal cryptantha 

1 1 1 P/D Cryptantha minima Rydb. S-769 GREE least cryptantha 

1 1 1 G Cryptantha thyrsiflora (Greene) Payson S-7730 GREE calcareous cryptantha 

1 1 0 R *Cynoglossum officinale L. S-7922 GREE 

noxious and toxic

hound’s tongue 

1 0 0 D *Ellisia nyctelea (L.) L. S-4206 GREE waterpod 

w 0 0 C Hackelia hirsuta (Wooton & Standl.) I. M. Johnston 

rare NM NM stickseed 

1 1 1 S Heliotropium convolvulaceum (Nutt.) A. Gray 

var. convolvulaceum [Euploca convolvulacea] H-11818 

showy trumpet 

heliotrope 

0 0 1 D Heliotropium curassavicum L. var. obovatum DC. 

Lappula occidentalis (S. Watson) Greene 

salt heliotrope 

stickseed 

1 1 1 P/D var. cupulata (A. Gray) L. C. Higgins S-3336 GREE spiny sheepbur 

1 1 1 P/D var. occidentalis S-3340 GREE spiny sheepbur 

1 1 1 P Lithospermum incisum Lehm. S-3496 GREE hoary puccoon 

n 0 0 C Mertensia lanceolata (Pursh) A. DC. S-4662 GREE prairie bluebells 

0 1 1 G Onosmodium molle Michaux. 

var. occidentale (Mack) I. M. Johnst. 

H-11850 UNM 

marble-seed 

0 1 0 S Phacelia heterophylla Pursh var. heterophylla water-leaf 

0 1 1 S Phacelia integrifolia Torr. var. integrifolia S-3522 GREE Torrey’s phacelia 

Brassicaceae or Cruciferae / Mustard family

w 0 0 C Arabis glabra (L.) Bernh. var. glabra tower rockcress 

1 1 1 D/R *Camelina microcarpa Andrz. ex DC. S-4655 GREE little false-flax 

1 1 1 D/R *Cardaria chalepensis (L.) Hand.-Mazz. noxious white-top 

w 0 0 D/R *Cardaria draba (L.) Desv. noxious S-3723 GREE white-top 

1 1 1 D *Descurainia pinnata (Walter) Britton 

var. osmiarum (Cockerell) Shinners S-4619 GREE western tansy mustard 

1 1 1 D *Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl S-4618 GREE flixweed 

0 0 s S Dimorphocarpa candicans (Raf.) Rollins spectacle-pod 

0 0 s P Draba reptans (Lam.) Fernald S-3213 GREE smooth Whitlow grass 

n 0 0 R Draba sterptocarpa A. Gray pretty draba 

1 1 0 P Erysimum asperum (Nutt.) DC. S-1321 western wallflower, 

yerba del Apache 

Erysimum capitatum (Douglas ex Hook.) Greene 

0 0 1 P var. argillosum (Greene) R. J. Davis S-2303 GREE Pursh’s wallflower 

0 1 1 P/S var. capitatum S-726 GREE sanddune wallflower 

0 1 0 R/P Erysimum inconspicuum (S. Watson) MacMill. shy wallflower 

1 1 1 P/D Lepidium densiflorum Schrad. var. densiflorum

S-5381 GREE 

pepperweed, lentejilla 

1 1 0 P/D Lepidium ramosissimum A. Nelson var. bourgeauanum

(Thell.) Rollins S-6586 GREE 

Bourgeau's pepperweed 
30 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

1 0 0 G Lesquerella intermedia (S. Watson) A. Heller H-11730b 

[Physaria intermedia] 

bladderpod 

1 0 0 G Lesquerella montana (A. Gray) S. Wats. H-11659 GREE 

[Physaria montana] 

mountain bladderpod 

1 1 0 G Lesquerella ovalifolia Rydb. ex Britton 

var. ovalifolia H-12007 GREE 

[Physaria ovalifolia subsp. ovalifolia] 

oval-leaf bladderpod 

0 1 0 R Nasturtium officinale R. Br. S-4234 GREE watercress 

1 0 0 C Pennellia micrantha (Gray) Nieuwl. mountain thelypody 

1 1 0 R Rorippa sinuata (Nutt.) Hitchc. S-1507 GREE yellowcress 

1 1 1 D *Sisymbrium altissimum L. toxic S-4182B GREE Jim Hill mustard, 

tumble-mustard 

1 0 0 C Sisymbrium linifolium Nutt. [Schoenocrambe] 

S-1342 GREE 

flax-leaf plains mustard 

1 0 0 R Thelypodium integrifolium (Nutt.) Endl. Ex Walp. 

H-12072 GREE 

thelypody 

0 0 s R Thelypodium wrightii A. Gray subsp. wrightii

S-8463 GREE 

Wright's thelypody 

1 1 0 R *Thlaspi arvense L. S-5427 GREE pennycress, lentijilla 

Cactaceae / Cactus family 

Coryphantha vivipara (Nutt.) Britton & Rose

1 1 1 P var. arizonica (Engelm.) W. T. Marshell 

S-422 GREE 

Arizona spinystar 

 0 1 1 P var. vivipara spinystar 

1 0 0 C Echinocereus fendleri (Engelm.) F. Seitz ssp. fendleri

S-3900 GREE 

pink hedgehog cactus 

0 n 0 G/C Echinocereus reichenbachii (Terscheck ex Walp.) Haage 

f. ssp. perbellus (Britt. & Rose) N. P. Taylor 

lace hedgehog cactus 

1 1 1 P Echinocereus viridiflorus Engelm. 

var. viridiflorus S-3558 GREE 

green-flowered pitaya 

hedgehog cactus 

1 0 0 C Mammillaria heyderi Muehlenpf. 

var. meiacantha (Engelm.) L. Benson 

little nipple cactus 

0 1 1 P Opuntia cymochila Engelm. & Bigelow

[O. macrorhiza var. macrorhiza]

tuber-root prickly pear

1 1 1 P Opuntia imbricata (Haw.) DC. var. imbricata

[Cylindropuntia imbricata] S-6588 GREE 

candelabra cactus, 

entraña, cane cholla 

1 0 1 S Opuntia phaeacantha Engelm. 

var. phaeacantha S-5004 GREE 

[O. phaeacantha var. camanchina & var. major] 

New Mexico prickly pear 

tulip prickly pear 

1 1 1 P Opuntia polyacantha Haw. 

var. polyacantha S-6516 GREE 

[O. polyacantha var. trichophora] 

plains prickly pear 

hair-spined prickly pear 

n 0 0 P Pediocactus simpsonii (Engelm.) Britton & Rose 

var. simpsonii [P. simpsonii var. minor] 

nipple or plains cactus 

Cannabaceae / Hops family (includes Ulmaceae) 

1 1 1 C Celtis reticulata Torr. 

[C. laevigata var. reticulata] S-3574 GREE 

 netleaf hackberry 

1 1 0 C/R Humulus lupulus L. var. neomexicanus A. Nelson & 

Cockerell S-7897 GREE 

New Mexico hops, lupulo

Caryophyllaceae / Pink family 

0 1 0 G/C Eremogone hookeri Nutt. ex Torrey & Gray 

var. hookeri [Arenaria hookeri Nutt. subsp. hookeri] tufted sandwort 

0 1 0 C Eremogone fendleri (A. Gray) Ikonnikov 

[Arenaria fendleri] S-7414 GREE Fendler’s sandwort 

1 0 0 C Minuartia michauxii (Fenzl.) Farw. var. texana

 (B. L. Robins.) Mattf. [Arenaria stricta] S-723 GREE Texas stichwort 

1 1 0 G/C Paronychia jamesii Torr. & A. Gray H-11640 GREE James’s nailwort 

0 1 0 G Paronychia sessiliflora Nutt. H-12009 GREE low nailwort 

1 1 0 C Silene antirrhina L. S-6162 GREE sleepy catchfly 
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 31

Chenopodiaceae (see Amaranthaceae) 

Cleomaceae / Beeplant family (includes Capparaceae ) 

0 1 1 D Cleome serrulata Pursh S-8681 GREE Rocky Mountain beeplant, 

guaco

1 1 1 S Polanisia dodecandra (L.) DC. var. trachysperma 

 (Torr. & A. Gray) H. H. Iltis S-7637 GREE 

red-whisker 

clammy weed 

0 1 0 S Polanisia jamesii (Torr. & Gray) Iltis H-11821 UNM James’ clammyweed 

Commeliniaceae / Spiderwort family 

1 1 1 S Commelina erecta L. H-12029 UNM erect dayflower, 

hierba del pollo

1 1 0 P Tradescantia occidentalis (Britton) Smyth 

var. occidentalis S-5863 GREE 

soft and tender, 

spiderwort 

Convolvulaceae / Morning Glory family (includes Cuscutaceae) 

0 n 0 D Calystegia sepium (L.) R. Br. 

var. angulata (Brummit) N. H. Holmgren 

S-3903 GREE 

hedge false bindweed 

1 1 1 D/R *Convolvulus arvensis L. S-363 GREE noxious field bindweed 

1 1 1 P/D Convolvulus equitans Benth. [C. incanus] Texas bindweed 

S-678 GREE 

w 0 0 P/D Cuscuta cuspidata Engelm. [Grammica cuspidata] cusp dodder 

0 0 e P/D Cuscuta glomerata Choisy dodder, yerba sin raiz

0 0 1 D Cuscuta indecora Choisy var. indecora

[Grammica indecora] 

bigseed alfalfa dodder 

s 0 0 D Cuscuta pentagona Engelm. var. pentagona five-angled dodder 

0 1 1 D Cuscuta umbellata Kunth H-11811 GREE dodder, abrazos

0 1 0 D/C Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) L. S-2180 GREE slender dwarf morning glory 

1 1 1 S/G Evolvulus nuttallianus J. A. Schult. H-11694 UNM shaggy dwarf morning glory 

1 0 0 C/R Ipomoea barbatisepala A. Gray H-12189 GREE & CU canyon morning glory, 

trompio rojo 

1 0 0 C/R Ipomoea coccinea L. H-12218 GREE red star morning glory 

1 1 1 S Ipomoea leptophylla Torr. S-209 GREE bush morning glory 

Cucurbitaceae / Gourd Family

1 0 1 D/R Cucurbita foetidissima Kunth S-171 GREE coyote or buffalo gourd, 

calabazilla

1 0 1 C/R Cyclanthera dissecta (Torr. & A. Gray) Arn. 

H-12201 GREE 

cut-leaf cyclanthera 

Cyperaceae / Sedge family

1 0 0 A/R Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla subsp. paludosus 

(A. Nelson) A. Löve & D. Löve H-12062 GREE 

alkali or cosmopolitan bulrush 

0 1 0 R Carex bolanderi Olney S-5473 GREE Bolander’s sedge 

1 1 0 R Carex brevior (Dewey) Mack. ex Lunell H-11665 UNM short-beaked sedge 

0 n 0 R Carex emoryi (Dewey) S-4264 GREE Emory’s sedge 

0 n 0 R Carex gravida var. lunelliana (Mack.) F. J. Herm. 

[C. gravida] S-6811 GREE 

heavy sedge 

1 0 0 R Carex hystericina Muhl. ex Willd. H-11680 UNM bottlebrush sedge 

1 1 0 R Carex lanuginosa Michx. S-5476 GREE 

[C. pellita Muhl. ex Willd.] 

woolly sedge 

0 n 0 R Carex occidentalis L. H. Bailey S-4265 GREE western sedge 

1 0 0 C Carex pityophila Mack. [C. geophila] ground-loving sedge

1 0 1 R Carex praegracilis W. Boott H-11664 GREE blackcreeper sedge 

1 0 0 R Carex vulpinoidea Michx. H-11681 UNM Fox sedge 

1 0 0 R Cyperus aristatus Rottb. var. aristatus H-12213 

[C. squarrosus] 

bearded flatsedge 

1 0 0 R Cyperus esculentus L. var. leptostachys Boeck. S-8569 yellow flatsedge, coquillo

1 0 0 R *Cyperus odoratus L. H-12214 fragrant nutsedge, galingale 
32 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

1 1 0 S Cyperus schweinitzii Torr. H-11799 UNM sand flatsedge 

s 0 0 R Eleocharis macrostachya Britt. in J. K. Small stoloniferous spikerush 

1 1 0 R Eleocharis palustris (L.) Roem. & Schult. 

H-11873 UNM 

common spikerush, tulillo

1 0 0 R Eleocharis rostellata (Torr.) Torr. H-11869 UNM traveling spikerush 

1 0 0 R Schoenoplectus acutus (Muhl. ex Bigelow) 

A. Löve & D. Löve var. acutus

[Sciprus acutus] H-12125 GREE 

hardstem bulrush, 

tule

1 1 1 R Schoenoplectus pungens (Vahl) Palla var. pungens

 H-11663/unm [Scirpus americanus] 

common threesquare, 

tule

1 1 0 R Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (K.C. Gmel.) Palla 

[Scirpus validus] H-11683 UNM 

softstem bulrush, tule

1 0 0 R Scirpus pallidus (Britton) Fernald H-11690 UNM pale bulrush, tule

Elaeagnaceae / Olive family 

0 1 0 R *Elaeagnus angustifolia L. noxious S-6018 Russian olive 

Euphorbiaceae / Spurge family 

0 0 n P Argythamnia humilis (Engelm. & A. Gray) Müll. - Arg. 

var. humilis

low silverbush 

1 0 0 C Argythamnia mercurialina (Nutt.) Müll.-Arg. 

var. mercurialina S-7693 GREE 

wild mercury 

0 s 0 S Chamaesyce albomarginata (Torr. & Gray) Small whitemargin sandmat 

1 1 0 G Chamaesyce fendleri (Torr & A. Gray) Small 

H-11703 GREE 

Fendler’s spurge 

n 0 0 D Chamaesyce geyeri (Engelm.) Small S-2485 GREE Geyer’s spurge 

1 1 1 D Chamaesyce glyptosperma (Engelm.) Small S-8385 

GREE 

ridge-seeded spurge 

1 1 1 G Chamaesyce lata (Engelm.) Small S-7189 GREE broad-leaved spurge 

s 0 0 S Chamaesyce maculata (L.) Small [E. supina] spotted sandmat 

1 1 1 S Chamaesyce missurica (Raf.) Shinners H-11805 UNM Missouri sand spurge 

0 s 0 S Chamaesyce serpens (Kunth) Small matted sandmat 

1 1 0 D Chamaesyce serpyllifolia (Pers.) Small H-11657 GREE thyme-leaved spurge 

1 0 0 D Chamaesyce stictospora (Engelm.) Small 

H-11656 GREE 

mat spurge, 

hierba de la golindrina 

0 1 1 S Croton texensis (Klotzsch) Müll. - Arg. S-234 GREE doveweed, Texas croton 

1 0 0 G Euphorbia brachycera Engelm. H-11784 GREE

[E. robusta]

robust or horned spurge

1 1 1 D Euphorbia dentata Michx. 

[E. davidii Subils] S-6602 GREE 

toothed spurge 

1 0 0 G/C Euphorbia exstipulata Engelm. H-11648 GREE square-seed spurge 

1 1 1 R/P Euphorbia marginata Pursh [Agaloma marginata] 

S-7388 

snow-on-the-mountain 

0 s 0 D Euphorbia strictior Holz. S-5037 GREE panhandle spurge 

s 0 0 S Stillingia sylvatica Garden ex L. subsp. sylvatica

S-5038 GREE 

queen’s delight 

1 1 1 G/C Tragia ramosa Torr. [T. stylaris] stinging hairs

S-6551 GREE 

ortigilla, noseburn 

Fabaceae / Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae & Papilionoideae / Bean or Legume family

1 1 0 R Amorpha canescens Pursh H-11677 UNM leadplant 

n 0 0 P Astragalus adsurgens Pall. var. robustior

 (Hook.) Barneby & Welsh [A. laxmannii] 

S-6198 GREE 

prairie milkvetch 

0 1 1 R/P Astragalus bisulcatus (Hook.) A. Gray var. bisulcatus

S-4614 GREE toxic 

two-groved milkvetch 

0 1 1 S/P Astragalus ceramicus E. Sheld. 

var. filifolius (A. Gray) F. J. Herm 

painted milkvetch 

0 1 1 P Astragalus crassicarpus Nutt. var. crassicarpus

S-3511 GREE 

 gound plum 

1 1 0 P Astragalus drummondii Douglas ex Hook. 

Castetter 5957 UNM 

Drummond's milkvetch 

1 1 1 P Astragalus gracilis Nutt. H-12023 UNM slender milkvetch 
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 33

0 1 0 P Astragalus lonchocarpus Torr. rushy milkvetch 

1 1 1 P Astragalus lotiflorus Hook. H-11796 UNM lotus milkvetch 

1 1 1 P Astragalus missouriensis Nutt. H-11764 GREE 

var. missouriensis H-11833 UNM 

Missouri milkvetch 

Astragalus mollisimus Torr. toxic

1 1 1 P var. mollisimus S-270 GREE woolly locoweed 

0 0 s P var. marcidus (Rydb.) B. L. Turner rare TX woolly locoweed 

n 0 0 P Astragalus nuttallianus DC. var. micranthiformis

Barneby 

 turkeypeas 

1 1 1 P/A Astragalus racemosus Pursh var. racemosus

S- 3545 GREE 

alkali milkvetch 

0 1 0 G Astragalus sericoleucus A. Gray var. sericoleucus

[Orophaca sericea] H-12037 GREE 

silky orophaca 

0 n 0 P Astragalus shortianus Nutt. in Torr. & A. Gray Short's milkvetch 

1 0 0 P Astragalus tenellus Pursh H-11707 pulse milkvetch 

1 0 0 G Astragalus wittmannii Barneby H-11709 GREE 

rare NM, Forest Service sensitive

one-flower milkvetch 

1 1 1 S Dalea aurea Nutt. ex Pursh H-11693 UNM golden prairie clover 

1 1 1 P Dalea candida Michx. 

var. oligophylla (Torr.) Shinners H-11697 UNM white prairie clover 

0 1 1 S Dalea cylindrideps Barneby massive spike prairie clover 

1 1 1 S/G Dalea enneandra Nutt. H-11794 UNM wand-like prairie clover 

1 0 1 G/C Dalea formosa Torr. H-11723 GREE feather plume, pea-bush 

1 1 1 G Dalea jamesii (Torr.) Torrey & A. Gray H-11761 GREE James’ prairie clover 

0 0 s S Dalea lanata Spreng. var. lanata S-1329 GREE woolly prairie clover 

0 0 1 S Dalea nana Torr. & A. Gray var. nana S-615 GREE dwarf prairie clover 

1 1 1 G Dalea purpurea Vent. var. purpurea H-11900 UNM purple prairie clover 

1 1 0 G Dalea tenuifolia (A. Gray) Shinners H-11655 UNM slimleaf prairie clover 

0 1 1 S Dalea villosa (Nutt.) Spreng. var. villosa S-1017 GREE silky prairie clover 

1 1 1 P/G Desmanthus cooleyi (Eat.) Trel. H-11815 UNM Cooley bundleflower 

0 0 n R/D Desmanthus illinoensis (Michx.) MacMill. 

ex B. L. Rob & Fernald S-2441 GREE 

Illinois bundleflower 

1 0 0 PL Gleditsia triacanthos L. S-529 GREE planted honey locust 

1 1 1 R Glycyrrhiza lepidota Pursh. H-11848 UNM wild licorice 

1 0 0 G Hedysarum boreale Nutt. var. boreale H-11751 GREE sweet broom 

0 1 1 P Hoffmanseggia drepanocarpa A. Gray H-11918 sicklepod hog potato 

0 1 1 P Hoffmanseggia glauca (Ortega) Eifert [H. densiflora] 

S-4398 GREE 

hog potato, pignut, 

camote de ratón

1 1 0 R Lathyrus eucosmus Butters & H. St. John S-8591 GREE bush sweet-pea 

1 1 0 P Lupinus plattensis S. Watson H-11745 GREE toxic platte lupine 

1 1 0 P/S Lupinus pusillus Pursh var. pusillus S-5387 GREE toxic dwarf lupine, ant pennies 

1 0 0 R *Medicago lupulina L. S-450 GREE black medic, hop clover 

1 0 0 D *Medicago sativa L. S-5460 GREE alfalfa, hay 

1 1 1 D/R *Melilotus albus Medik. S-6604 GREE white sweet-clover, alfalfón

1 0 0 D *Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall. S-5467 GREE toxic yellow sweet-clover 

0 1 1 C Mimosa aculeaticarpa Ortega var. angustata 

 (Torr. & A. Gray) Barnaby S-861 GREE

cat-claw mimosa 

0 0 1 C Mimosa borealis A. Gray S-5032 GREE fragrant sensitive briar 

0 0 s C Mimosa microphylla Dry. littleleaf sensitive briar 

0 0 e P Mimosa quadrivalvis L. 

var. nuttallii (DC.) Beard ex Barneby 

sensitive briar 

0 1 0 P Mimosa rupertiana B. L. Turner 

[M. quadrivalvis var. occidentalis] 

sensitive brier 

Oxytropis lambertii Pursh toxic frijolillo, crazyweed, 

0 1 1 G var. articulata (Greene) Barneby thin-leaf locoweed, 

1 1 0 G var. bigelovii A. Gray S-5875 GREE Bigelow’s locoweed 

0 1 1 G var. lambertii H-12030 H-1230 GREE Lambert’s locoweed 

0 1 0 G Oxytropis sericea Nutt. var. sericea toxic S-3291 GREE white locoweed 

0 1 1 G Pediomelum argophyllum (Pursh) J. W.Grimes 

S-7975 GREE 

silver scurf-pea 

0 n 0 P/G Pediomelum esculentum (Pursh) Rydb. prairie turnip, timpsila 

0 1 0 S Pediomelum hypogaeum (Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray) 

Rydb. var. hypogaeum

subterranean Indian breadroot 
34 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

0 1 0 P/S Pediomelum linearifolium (Torr. & A. Gray) J. W Grimes 

H-11826 

narrow-leaf scurf pea 

1 1 1 G/C Pomaria jamesii (Torr. & A. Gray) Walp. 

[Caesalpinia jamesii] H-12028 

James’ hog potato 

Prosopis glandulosa Torr. mesquite 

1 0 0 C var. glandulosa H-11774 GREE honey mesquite 

s 0 0 C var. torreyana (L. Benson) M. C. Johnston western honey mesquite 

1 1 1 S/G Psoralidium lanceolatum (Pursh) Rydb. S-5392 GREE lemon scurf pea 

1 1 1 P Psoralidum tenuiflorum (Pursh) Rydb. H-11629 UBM scurfy pea, wild alfalfa 

1 0 0 R Robinia neomexicana A. Gray 

var. neomexicana H-11696 UNM 

New Mexico locust 

1 1 1 P Sophora nuttalliana B. L. Turner [Vexibia nuttalliana] 

H-11622 UNM 

silky locoweed, 

silky sophora 

0 1 0 C/R Thermopsis rhombifolia (Nutt. ex Pursh) Nutt. ex 

Richardson var. rhombifolia

golden banner 

0 1 0 D *Trifolium fragiferum L. strawberry clover 

0 1 0 R *Trifolium hybridum L. alsike clover 

0 1 0 R *Trifolium pratense L. var. pratense S-6386 GREE red clover, trebol

0 1 0 R *Trifolium repens L. S-8814 GREE white clover 

Vicia americana Muhl. ex Willd. 

1 1 0 D var. americana S-5280 GREE American vetch 

1 1 1 D var. minor Hook. H-11762 GREE American vetch 

1 1 0 D Vicia ludoviciana Nutt. 

var. ludoviciana Knight H-1585 UNM 

Louisiana vetch 

Fagaceae / Oak family 

Quercus spp. toxic 

1 0 0 C Quercus gambelii Nutt. H-11669 UNM Gambel’s oak 

1 0 0 C Quercus grisea Liebm. H-11781 GREE gray oak 

0 1 0 C Quercus mohriana Buckl. ex Rydb. hybrid Mohr oak 

1 0 0 C Quercus pungens Liebm sandpaper oak 

1 0 0 C Quercus X undulata Torr. H-12151 UNM wavy-leaf oak 

1 0 0 C Quercus turbinella Greene H-11700 UNM hybrid scrub live-oak 

Fumariaceae (see Papaveraceae) 

Gentianaceae / Gentian family 

1 0 0 R Centaurium calycosum (Buckley) Fernald 

H-11731 GREE 

Buckley's centaury, rosita 

Geraniaceae / Geranium family 

1 1 1 D/P *Erodium cicutarium (L.) L' Hér. ex Aiton 

S-3310 GREE toxic

red-stemmed fillare 

0 1 0 C Geranium caespitosum E. James var. caespitosum 

 S-7993 GREE

tufted wild geranium 

Grossulariaceae / Currant family 

0 1 0 C Ribes aureum Pursh var. aureum S-6846 GREE golden currant, anise bush 

0 1 0 C Ribes cereum Douglas [R. cereum var. inebrians] 

S-3255 GREE 

red currant 

1 1 0 C Ribes leptanthum A. Gray S-6122 trumpet gooseberry, 

garambuyo

Hydrangeaceae / Hydrangea family 

0 n 0 C Philadelphus microphyllus A. Gray S-7912 GREE little-leaf mock orange 

Hydrocharitaceae / Frogbit family 

0 n 0 R Elodea canadensis Michx. waterweed 

Iridaceae / Iris family 

1 0 0 R Iris missouriensis Nutt. S-4624 GREE wild iris 

1 0 0 R Sisyrinchium demissum Greene H- 4625 stiff blue-eyed grass

1 0 0 R Sisyrinchium montanum Greene var. montanum

H-11878 UNM 

strict blue-eyed grass 
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 35

Juncaceae / Rush family 

1 1 1 R Juncus arcticus Willd. 

var. balticus (Willd.) Trautv. [J. balticus] 

S-8355 GREE 

Baltic rush 

1 0 0 R Juncus bufonius L. S-8596 GREE toad rush 

1 1 0 R Juncus dudleyi Wiegand S-476 GREE Dudley’s rush 

s 0 0 R Juncus ensifolius Wikstr. var. montanus (Engelm.) 

C. L. Hitchc. [J. saximontanus] 

Rocky Mountain rush 

1 0 0 R Juncus interior Wiegand H-12135 GREE interior rush 

1 0 0 R Juncus longistylis Torr. H-11872 GREE longstyle rush 

1 0 0 R Juncus nodosus L. H-11718 GREE knotted rush 

0 0 e R Juncus texanus (Engel.) Coville Endemic to TX & OK Texas rush 

1 1 0 R Juncus torreyi Coville S-8366 GREE Torrey’s rush 

Krameriaceae / Ratany family 

1 1 0 P Krameria lanceolata Torr. H-12149 trailing krameria 

Lamiaceae / Labiatae / Mint family 

1 1 0 C/G Hedeoma drummondii Benth. S-8610 GREE Drummond's false pennyroyal 

1 1 0 R Lycopus americanus Muhl. ex W. P. C. Barton 

H-11867 UNM 

American bugleweed 

1 1 0 D *Marrubium vulgare L. S-439 GREE horehound, marrubio

1 1 0 R Mentha arvensis L. S-11868 UNM field mint, poleo

0 1 0 R Monarda fistulosa L. 

var. menthifolia (Graham) Fernald S-7424 GREE 

horsemint, beebalm, 

oregano de la sierra 

1 1 0 P Monarda pectinata Nutt. S-5600 GREE oregano del campo, pagoda 

plant 

1 1 0 D/P Salvia reflexa Hornem. S-5830 H-11624 UNM chia, lance-leaf sage 

1 1 1 R/D Teucrium laciniatum Torr. H-11813 UNM cutleaf germander

Lemnaceae / Duckweed family (see Araceae) 

Liliaceae / Lily family (see also Alliaceae, Anthericaceae, Ruscaceae) 

Calochortus gunnisonii S. Wats. 

n 0 0 P var. gunnisonii S-7529 GREE Gunnison's mariposa lily 

w 0 0 P var. perpulcher Cockerell rare NM Pecos mariposa lily 

Linaceae / Flax family

0 1 0 P Linum berlandieri Hook. var. berlandieri S-5206 GREE Berlandier’s flax 

1 1 0 P Linum lewisii Pursh var. lewisii S-721 GREE 

 [L. perenne var. lewisii, Adenolinum lewisii] 

wild blue flax, 

prairie flax 

0 0 1 D *Linum perenne L. blue flax 

0 1 1 P Linum pratense (Norton) Small [Adenolinum pratense] pale blue flax 

1 1 1 P Linum puberulum (Engelm.) A. Heller S-4594 GREE yellow plains flax 

1 1 1 P Linum rigidum Pursh var. compactum 

(A. Nelson) C. M. Rogers S-5366 GREE plains yellow flax 

0 1 0 P Linum rigidum Pursh var. rigidum

(A. Nelson) C. M. Rogers H-12024 UNM plains yellow flax 

Loasaceae / Loasa family 

1 0 0 C/G Mentzelia albicaulis (Douglas ex Hook.) 

Douglas ex Torr. & A. Gray 

white-stem blazing star 

1 1 0 G/S Mentzelia decapetala (Pursh) Urb. & Gilg ex Gilg 

S-2161 GREE 

ten-petal blazing star, 

cowboy lily 

0 1 0 C Mentzelia multiflora (Nutt.) A. Gray 

var. multiflora S-1046 GREE 

blazing star, 

pega pega

1 1 0 G Mentzelia nuda (Pursh) Torr. & A. Gray 

[M. nuda var stricta] S-2182 GREE 

straight blazing star, 

pega pega

1 1 0 G Mentzelia pumila Torr. & A. Gray var. pumila golden blazing star 

0 1 0 G Mentzelia reverchonii (Urb. & Gilg) 

H. J. Thomps. & Zavort S-7222 GREE 

Reverchon’s blazing star 
36 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

Malvaceae / Mallow family 

0 1 0 R Callirhoë involucrata (Torr. & A. Gray) A. Gray purple poppymallow 

var. involucrata S-6843 GREE 

1 1 1 D *Malva neglecta Wallr. S-8511 GREE cheeseweed, mallow, 

malva del campo

1 0 0 D/C Sphaeralcea angustifolia (Cav.) G. Don 

H-12060 GREE 

copper globemallow, 

narrowleaf globemallow 

1 1 1 P Sphaeralcea coccinea (Nutt.) Rydb. 

S-6557 GREE 

scarlet globemallow, 

cowboy’s delight, 

yerba de la negrita 

1 0 0 C/R Sphaeralcea fendleri A. Gray var. fendleri S-5398 GREE Fendler’s globemallow 

Martyniaceae / Sesame family (includes Pedaliaceae)

0 1 0 D/P Proboscidea louisianica (Mill.) Thell. 

subsp. louisianica

devil's claw, torito, 

curenitos, aguaro

Moraceae / Mulberry family 

1 1 0 PL *Maclura pomifera (Raf.) C. K. Schneid. 

H-12056 GREE planted

Osage orange, 

horse or hedge apple 

1 0 0 PL *Morus alba L. planted white mulberry 

w 0 0 C Morus microphylla Buckl. Texas mulberry 

Nyctaginaceae / Four o’clock family 

0 1 0 S Abronia fragrans Nutt. ex Hook. var. fragrans

S-239 GREE 

fragrant sand verbena 

0 0 1 P Mirabilis glabra (S. Watson) Standl. 

[M. carletonii, Oxybaphus carletonii] smooth four o'clock 

1 1 0 P Mirabilis hirsuta (Pursh) MacMill. H-12002 UNM 

[some place as a syn. of Mirabilis albida] 

hairy four o’clock 

1 1 1 P Mirabilis linearis (Pursh) Heimerl 

[M. decumbens] H-11650 UNM 

ribbon or narrow-leaf 

four o'clock 

1 0 0 C Mirabilis multiflora (Torr.) A. Gray H-11704 GREE showy four o'clock 

1 1 0 D Mirabilis nyctaginea (Michx.) MacMill. S-5688 GREE heart-leaf four o'clock, 

maravilla 

Oleaceae / Olive family 

1 0 0 C Forestiera pubescens Nutt. var. pubescens

H-11737 GREE 

New Mexico olive 

Onagraceae / Evening primrose family 

1 1 1 R Epilobium ciliatum Raf. var. ciliatum S-7553 GREE fringed willowherb 

1 0 0 G Oenothera albicaulis Pursh S-3328 GREE whitestem evening-primrose 

1 1 0 R Oenothera canescens Torr. & Frém. H-11766 GREE spotted evening-primrose 

n 0 0 G Oenothera cespitosa Nutt. subsp. cespitosa gumbo-lily, morning-lily 

0 1 0 S Oenothera cinerea (Woot. & Standl.) W. L. Wagner 

& Hoch subsp. cinerea [Gaura villosa] 

H-11806 UNM 

hairy gaura 

1 1 0 D/S Oenothera coronopifolia Torr. & A. Gray 

H-11864 UNM 

combleaf or hairy-throat 

evening-primrose 

1 1 1 D Oenothera curtiflora W. L. Wagner & Hoch 

[Gaura parviflora, G. mollis] S-7824 GREE 

velvetleaf, 

elk antlers 

1 1 0 C Oenothera elata Kunth var. hirsutissima

(A. Gray ex S. Watson) Cronquist S- 8423 GREE 

Hooker’s evening-primrose 

1 1 0 S Oenothera engelmannii (Small) Munz H-12026 UNM Dust Bowl evening-primrose 

1 0 0 C Oenothera flava (A. Nelson) Garrett 

S-5431 GREE 

yellow evening-primrose 

Oenothera hartwegii (Benth.) P. H. Raven 

0 0 n G subsp. fendleri (A. Gray) Towner & P H. Raven 

[Calylophus hartwegii subsp. fendleri] 

Fendler’s sundrops 

0 1 1 G subsp. pubescens (A. Gray) Towner & P. H. Raven 

[Calylophus hartwegii subsp. pubescens] 

Hartweg’s sundrops 
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 37

0 n 0 S Oenothera latifolia (Rydb.) Munz. pale evening-primrose 

1 1 1 G Oenothera lavandulifolia (Torr. & A. Gray) P. H. Raven 

[Calylophus lavandulifolius] H-11876 UNM 

lavender evening- primrose 

0 0 e R Oenothera macrocarpa Nutt. 

var. incana (A. Gray) W. L. Wagner 

Missouri evening-primrose 

1 1 1 S Oenothera pallida Lindl. var. runcinata

 (Engelm.) Cronquist H-11735 GREE 

pale evening-primrose 

1 1 1 G/R Oenothera serrulata Nutt. var. serrulata

[Calylophus serrulatus] H-11625 UNM 

plains yellow primrose 

1 1 1 P Oenothera suffretescens (Ser.) W. L. Wagner & Hoch

[Gaura coccinea] S-130 GREE

scarlet gaura, linda tarde 

0 0 s P Oenothera triloba Nutt. stemless evening-primrose 

1 0 0 R Oenothera villosa Thunb. 

var. strigosa (Rydb.) Dorn H-11736 GREE 

hairy evening-primrose 

Orchidaceae / Orchid famly 

0 n 0 C Corallorhiza maculata (Raf.) Raf. summer coralroot 

1 0 0 R Epipactis gigantea Dougl. ex Hook. stream orchid 

Orobanchaceae / Broomrape family 

1 1 0 C Castilleja integra A. Gray var. integra S-1339 GREE red paintbrush 

1 1 1 G Castilleja sessiliflora Pursh S-4590 GREE downy paintbrush 

0 n 0 P Orobanche fasciculata Nutt. [Aphyllon fasiculatum] clustered broomrape 

Orobanche ludoviciana Nutt. Louisiana broomrape 

1 0 0 P var. ludoviciana H-11801 flor de tierra 

n 0 0 P var. multiflora (Nutt.) Beck H-11801 UNM many-flower broomrape 

0 0 1 R Orthocarpus luteus Nutt. S-8002 GREE owl clover 

Papaveraceae / Poppy family (includes Fumariaceae) 

1 1 0 P Argemone hispida A. Gray [A. platyceras] H-12041 hispid prickly poppy 

0 1 0 P Argemone polyanthemos (Fedde) G. B. Ownbey 

H-11819 UNM 

prickly poppy, cowboy’s fried 

eggs, chicolate

0 1 0 P Argemone squarrosa Greene var. squarrosa

H-12041 UNM 

hedgehog prickly poppy, 

cardo santo

Corydalis aurea Willd. golden smoke 

1 1 1 S var. aurea S-8510 GREE scrambled eggs 

0 n 0 S var. occidentalis Engelm ex A. Gray S-3204 GREE curve-pod fumewort 

Pedaliaceae (see Martyniaceae) 

Phrymaceae (formerly in Scrophulariaceae) 

0 n 0 R Mimulus glabratus Kunth var. glabratus monkey flower 

Plantaginaceae / Plantain family (includes part of Scrophuluriaceae) 

0 n 0 D *Linaria dalmatica L. subsp. dalmatica noxious

[L. genistifolia subsp. dalmatica] S-9057 GREE

butter and eggs, 

Dalmatian toadflax 

1 1 0 P Penstemon albidus Nutt. S-3493 GREE white beard-tongue 

1 1 0 S Penstemon ambiguus Torr. (Leiostemon ambiguus) 

H-11804 UNM bush or moth penstemon 

1 1 0 P Penstemon angustifolius Nutt. ex Pursh 

var. angustifolius narrrow beard-tongue 

0 1 1 P Penstemon auriberbis Pennell S-3563 GREE Colorado beard-tongue 

1 0 0 C Penstemon barbatus (Cav.) Roth 

var. torreyi (Benth.) A. Gray H-12071 

scarlet or 

beard-lip penstemon 

0 0 s P Penstemon buckleyi Pennell S-3193 GREE Buckley’s beard-tongue 

1 1 0 P Penstemon fendleri A. Gray S-8606 GREE Fendler’s penstemon 

0 n 0 R Penstemon glaber Pursh var. glaber sawsepal penstemon 

1 1 0 P Penstemon jamesii Benth. S- 413 GREE James’ beard-tongue 

1 1 0 P Penstemon secundiflorus Benth. 

subsp. secundiflorus S-765 GREE 

side-bells penstemon 

0 1 0 R Plantago eriopoda Torr. S-5619 GREE red-wool plantain 

1 0 0 R *Plantago lanceolata L. S-5450 GREE narrow-leaf plantain 

1 1 1 P/D Plantago patagonica Jacq. H-12092 GREE Indian woolly wheat 
38 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

1 0 0 D *Plantago major L. H-11880 UNM plantain, llantén, 

“white man’s foot” 

1 1 0 R Vernonica catenata Pennell S-8494 GREE water speedwell 

1 1 0 R Vernonica peregrina L. var. xalapensis (Kunth) 

H. St. John & F. W. Warren S-5426 GREE 

hairy leaf speedwell 

Poaceae / Grass family 

1 1 1 P/S Achnatherum hymenoides (Roem. & Schult.) Barkworth 

[Oryzopsis hymenoides] S-504 GREE 

Indian ricegrass 

0 1 0 S/D Achnatherum robustum (Vasey) Barkworth 

[Stipa robusta] S-3963 GREE 

sleepygrass 

1 1 0 C Achnatherum scribneri (Vasey) Barkworth 

[Stipa scribneri] H-12090 GREE 

Scribner needle-grass 

0 1 1 D *Aegilops cylindrica Host S-5534 GREE noxious jointed goat-grass 

0 1 0 P Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. var. cristatum crested wheatgrass 

1 1 0 R Agrostis exarata Trin. S-7314 GREE spike bentgrass 

1 0 0 R *Agrostis gigantea Roth. [A. alba] redtop 

0 1 0 R Agrostis scabra Willd. S-7946 GREE rough bentgrass 

1 1 1 R *Agrostis stolonifera L. S-3325 GREE creeping bentgrass 

1 1 1 P Andropogon gerardii Vitman S-7789 GREE big bluestem 

1 1 1 P/S Andropogon hallii (Hack.) Wipff. S-465 GREE Hall's bluestem 

w 0 0 P Aristida arizonica Vasey Arizona threeawn 

0 1 0 P Aristida adscensionis L. S-2036 GREE six-weeks threeawn 

0 1 0 P Aristida divaricata Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd. 

H-12203 UNM 

poverty threeawn 

0 1 0 P Aristida havardii Vasey S-639 GREE Havard's threeawn 

Aristida purpurea Nutt. noeatum, tres barbas

0 1 0 P var. fendleriana (Steud.) Vasey Fendler’s threeawn 

1 1 1 P var. longiseta (Steud.) Vassey S-133 & 780 purple threeawn, 

0 s 0 P var. nealleyi (Vasey) Allred [A. glauca] Nealley’s threeawn 

1 0 0 P var. wrightii (Nash) Allred S-751 Wright’s threeawn 

w 0 0 P *Bothriochloa bladhii (Retz.) S. T. Blake bluestem 

*Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng. 

var. songarica (Rupr. ex Fisch. & C. A. Mey.) 

yellow bluestem 

King Ranch bluestem, 

1 1 1 P Celarier & Harlan H-12032 UNM yellow bluestem 

1 1 1 D Bothriochloa laguroides (DC.) Herter 

subsp. torreyana (Steud.) Allred & Gould 

[Bothriochloa saccharoides] S-438 GREE 

silver bluestem 

1 1 0 P Bothriochloa springfieldii (Gould) Parodi 

H-12075 GREE 

Springfield’s bluestem 

Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr. 

0 1 1 P var. caespitosa Gould & Kapadia S-1035 GREE spreading sideoats grama 

1 1 1 P var. curtipendula H-11844 UNM sideoats grama 

1 1 1 P Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) J. T. Columbus 

[Buchlöe dactyloides] S-523 GREE 

buffalo grass 

0 1 1 C Bouteloua eriopoda (Torr.) Torr. H-12185 GREE black grama 

1 1 1 P Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. [Chondrosum gracilis] 

H-12193 

blue grama 

1 1 0 G/C Bouteloua hirsuta Lag. var. hirsuta H-12057 GREE hairy grama 

0 1 0 D Bouteloua simplex Lag. annual or mat grama 

1 0 0 P Bromus anomalus Rupr. ex Fourn. S-462 GREE nodding brome 

s 0 0 R *Bromus catharticus Vahl. S-7776 GREE rescue grass 

1 1 1 R *Bromus inermis Leyss. [Bromopsis inemis] 

S-1349 GREE noxious

smooth brome 

1 1 1 D *Bromus japonicus Thumb. ex Murry noxious Japanese brome, 

bald brome 

1 1 1 G/C Bromus lanatipes (Shear) Rydb. H-12117 UNM woolly brome 

1 1 1 D *Bromus tectorum L. [Anisantha tectorum] noxious

 S-5413 GREE 

downy brome, 

cheatgrass 

1 0 0 R Calamagrostis stricta (Timm) Koeler 

subsp. inexpansa (A. Gray) C. W. Greene 

slender reedgrass 

0 0 n S Calamovilfa gigantea (Nutt.) Scribn. & Merr. big sandreed 

0 1 0 S Calamovilfa longifolia (Hook.) Schribn. var. longifolia prairie sandreed 
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 39

1 1 1 S/R Cenchrus longispinus (Hack.) Fernald H-12034 cactus-grass, sandbur, 

zacate Toboso, roseta 

0 s 0 S Cenchrus spinifex Cav. [C. pauciflorus] S-2714 GREE coastal sandbur 

1 1 1 D Chloris verticillata Nutt. H-11742 GREE tumble-windmill grass 

1 1 1 D Chloris virgata Swartz feather-windmill grass, 

zacate lagunero

1 1 0 *Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. var. dactylon 

 S-6097 noxious, toxic

Bermuda grass, zacate Ingles

0 n 0 R *Dactylis glomerata L. S-3965 GREE orchard grass 

1 0 0 D Dichanthelium acuminatum (Sw.) Gould & C. A. Clark 

var. acuminatum

tapered rosettegrass 

1 0 0 C Dichanthelium oligosanthes (Schult.) Gould H-12133 

var. scribnerianum (Nash) Gould 

[Panicum helleri] H-12133 GREE 

Scribner's rosettegrass 

0 1 0 D/R *Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. hairy crabgrass 

1 1 0 A Distichlis stricta (Torr.) Rydb. [D. spicata] S-7854 saltgrass, zacate salado

1 1 1 R *Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. 

var. crus-galli H-12093 

large barnyard grass 

0 0 0 D Echinochloa crus-pavonis (Kunth) Schult 

var. marca (Wiegand) Gould S-2120 GREE 

Gulf Coast barnyard grass 

1 1 0 D Echinochloa muricata (P. Beauv.) Fernald 

var. microstachya Wiegand S-8379 GREE 

cockspur 

zacate del agua

1 1 0 R Elymus canadensis L S-475 & 700 GREE Canada wild-rye 

1 1 1 P Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey 

var. brevifolius (J. G. Sm.) Dorn S-405 GREE squirreltail 

n 0 0 R *Elymus repens (L.) Gould [Agropyron repens] quackgrass 

1 1 1 P Elymus smithii (Rydb.) Gould S-403 GREE western wheatgrass 

[Agropyron smithii, Pascopyron smithii] 

0 1 0 P Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners slender wheatgrass 

var. trachycaulus S-1505 GREE 

0 0 s R Elymus virginicus L. var. submuticus Hook. [E. curvatus] Virginia wild-rye 

1 1 1 D *Eragrostis cilianensis (Allioni) Lutati ex Janchen stinkgrass, lovegrass, 

S- 7664 GREE zacate apestoso 

0 1 0 P Eragrostis curtipedicellata Buckley S-7662 gummy lovegrass 

0 1 0 D *Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees weeping lovegrass 

var. conferta Staph. S-5595 GREE 

0 0 1 A Eragrostis intermedia Hitchc. plains lovegrass 

s 0 0 C Eragrostis mexicana (Hornem.) Link subsp. mexicana Mexican lovegrass 

1 0 0 D Eragrostis pectinacea (Michx.) Nees ex Steud tufted lovegrass 

var. pectinacea 

1 0 0 D Eragrostis pilosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. pilosa S-8554 GREE India lovegrass 

0 1 0 S Eragrostis secundiflora J. Presl red lovegrass 

subsp. oxylepis (Torr.) S. D. Kock S-2229 GREE 

0 1 0 P Eragrostis sessilispica Buckley H-12018 GREE tumble lovegrass 

0 1 0 S Eragrostis trichoides (Nutt.) A. W. Wood S-473 GREE sand lovegrass 

1 1 0 C Erioneuron pilosum (Buckley) Nash S-5390 GREE hairy tridens, 

zacate borreguero 

0 1 0 P Festuca arizonica Vasey Arizona fescue 

1 1 1 P Hesperostipa comata (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth needle-and-thread 

ssp. comata [Stipa comata] S-2938 GREE 

w 0 0 P Hesperostipa comata (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth intermediate 

ssp. intermedia (Scribn. & Tweedy) Barkworth needle-and-thread 

1 0 0 C/G Hesperostipa neomexicana (Thurb. ex Coult.) Barkworth NM feathergrass 

1 1 1 P Hilaria jamesii (Torr.) Benth. [Pleuraphis jamesii] galleta 

S-749 GREE 

0 s 0 P Hilaria mutica (Buckley) Benth. [Pleuraphis mutica] Tobosa grass 

S-6054 GREE 

1 1 1 R Hordeum jubatum L. subsp. jubatum S-5421 GREE foxtail barley 

1 1 1 P/D Hordeum pusillum Nutt. S-5390 GREE little barley, 

cebadilla silvestre 

0 s 0 R/D *Hordeum vulgare L. S-4708 GREE barley, cebada

0 1 0 P Koeleria macrantha (Ledeb.) Schult. S-8737 GREE junegrass 

0 0 1 R Leersia oryzoides (L.) Sw. rye cutgrass 
40 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

1 0 0 R Leptochloa dubia (Kunth) Nees [Diplachne dubia] green sprangletop 

1 1 0 R Leptochloa fusca (L.) Kunth subsp. fasicularis Mexican sprangletop, 

 (Lam.) N. Snow S-7655 GREE zacate salado Mexicano

1 1 0 C Lycurus phleoides Kunth. S-469 GREE common wolf-tail 

1 1 0 C Lycurus setosus (Nutt.) C. Reeder S-474 GREE bristly wolf-tail 

w 0 0 R Melica porteri Scribn. S-7600 GREE Porter’s melicgrass 

1 1 0 S Muhlenbergia arenicola Buckley S-8476 GREE sand muhly 

1 1 1 R Muhlenbergia asperifolia (Nees & Meyer ex Trin.) 

Parodi S-2470 GREE 

scratch-grass muhly 

1 0 0 C Muhlenbergia cuspidata (Torr. ex Hook.) Rydb. plains muhly 

1 0 0 C Muhlenbergia depauperata Scribn. six-weeks muhly 

Sivinski and Lowrey 2886 UNM 

n 0 0 R Muhlenbergia filiculmis Vasey slim-stem muhly 

w 0 0 R/C Muhlenbergia filiformis (Thurb. ex S. Watson) Rydb. pull-up muhly 

1 0 1 R Muhlenbergia mexicana (L.) Trin. Mexican muhly 

1 0 0 P/C Muhlenbergia minutissima (Steud.) Swallen least muhly 

Sivinski and Lowrey 2888 UNM 

1 0 0 P/C Muhlenbergia montana (Nutt.) Hitchc. S-1351 GREE mountain muhly 

0 1 0 S Muhlenbergia pungens Thurb. H-12000 UNM sandhill muhly 

1 1 0 D/C Muhlenbergia racemosa (Michx.) green muhly 

Britton, Sterns, & Poggenb. 

1 0 0 P Muhlenbergia repens (J. Presl.) Hitchc. creeping muhly 

1 0 0 C Muhlenbergia rigens (Benth.) Hitchc. deergrass 

1 1 1 P Muhlenbergia torreyi (Kunth.) Hitchc. ex Bush ring muhly 

S-750 GREE 

1 1 0 P Muhlenbergia wrightii Vasey ex J. M. Coult. spike muhly 

S-1502 GREE 

1 1 1 P/S Munroa squarrosa (Nutt.) Torr. H-11765 GREE false buffalo grass 

1 1 0 P/R Nassella viridula (Trin.) Barkworth [Stipa viridula] green needle-grass 

(R. & S.) Ricker ex Piper 

1 1 1 D Panicum capillare L. H-12134 GREE witch-grass, tickle-grass 

1 1 0 P Panicum hallii Vasey var. hallii S-6619 GREE Hall's panicum 

1 1 1 R Panicum obtusum Kunth. S-493 GREE vine-mesquite 

1 1 0 R Panicum virgatum L. H-12113 GREE switch-grass 

0 1 0 S Paspalum setaceum Michx. thin paspalum 

[P. ciliatifolium] H-11958 GREE 

1 1 0 R *Phleum pratense L. timothy 

var. pretense S-7588 GREE 

s 0 0 R Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. common reed, carrizo

1 1 0 C Piptatherum micranthum (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth little ricegrass 

[Oryzopsis micrantha] S-7951 GREE 

1 1 1 P Pleuraphis jamesii [Hilaria jamesii] S-749 GREE galleta 

n 0 0 P Poa arida Vasey plains bluegrass 

1 0 0 P Poa bigelovii Vasey & Scribn. S-5395 GREE Bigelov’s bluegrass 

0 1 0 P Poa fendleriana (Steud.) Vasey mutton grass 

subsp. fendleriana S-3620 GREE 

1 1 1 R Poa palustris L. S-5443 GREE fowl bluegrass 

1 1 1 R *Poa pratensis L. Kentucky bluegrass 

subsp. pratensis S-464 GREE 

1 1 0 R *Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf. S-5385 GREE rabbitfoot grass, 

zacate cola de zorra 

0 0 s R *Polypogon viridis (Gouan) Breistr. green rabbitfoot grass 

1 1 1 D Schedonnardus paniculatus (Nutt.) Trel. tumblegrass 

H-11768 GREE 

w 0 0 C *Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort tall fescue 

[Festuca elatior var. arundinacea]

w 0 0 C *Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P. Beauv. meadow fescue 

[Festuca pratensis] 

1 1 1 P/G Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash little bluestem 

var. scoparium S-6620 

s 0 0 P Scleropogon brevifolius Phil. burro grass 

n 0 0 D *Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv. foxtail millet 
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 41

1 1 0 R Setaria leucopila (Scrib. & Merr.) K. Schum. plains bristlegrass 

S-6599 GREE 

1 1 1 R/D *Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. & Schult. yellow foxtail 

subsp. pumila 

1 1 1 R/D Setaria viridus (L.) P. Beauv. green foxtail 

1 1 0 R Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash H-12083 UNM Indian grass 

1 1 1 R *Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. S-8475 GREE toxic Johnson grass, 

zacate Johnson 

1 1 0 R Spartina pectinata Link H-12114 GREE prairie cordgrass 

Sphenopholis obtusata (Michx.) Scribn. 

0 1 0 R var. major (Torr.) K. S. Erdm. S-5624 GREE prairie wedgescale 

1 0 0 R var. obstuata S-6622 GREE prairie wedgescale 

1 1 1 R/A Sporobolus airoides (Torr.) Torr. S-498 GREE alkali sacaton, 

zacate alcalino 

0 s 0 S/D Sporobolus compositus (Poir.) Merr. composite dropseed, 

var. compositus [Sporobolus asper] tall dropseed 

n 0 0 P Sporobolus contractus A. S. Hitchc. spike dropseed 

1 1 1 S Sporobolus cryptandrus (Torr.) A. Gray S-8480 GREE sand dropseed 

0 1 0 S Sporobolus giganteus Nash H-11823 UNM giant dropseed 

0 1 0 P/C Tridens muticus (Torr.) Nash slim tridens 

var. elongatus (Buckley) Shinners 

1 1 1 P Vulpia octoflora (Walter) Rydb. six-weeks fescue 

var. octoflora [Festuca octoflora] S-409 GREE 

Polemoniaceae / Phlox family 

0 n 0 C Aliciella pinnatifida (A. Gray) J. M. Porter sticky gilia 

w 0 0 C Collomia linearis Nutt. S-7565 GREE mountain trumpet 

1 1 0 C Giliastrum acerosum (A. Gray) Rydb. spiny blue bowls 

1 0 0 G Ipomopsis aggregata (Pursh) V. E. Grant scarlet gilia 

subsp. formosissima (Greene) Wherry skyrocket 

S-7458 GREE 

1 1 1 P Ipomopsis laxiflora (J. M. Coult.) V. E. Grant blue trumpet gilia 

H-12069 GREE 

w 0 0 S Ipomopsis longiflora (Torr.) V. E. Grant var. longifolia trumpet gilia 

S-2313 GREE 

1 1 1 G Ipomopsis spicata (Nutt.) V. E. Grant spike gilia 

subsp. spicata H-11749 GREE 

s 0 0 C Phlox nana Nutt. S-6125 GREE Santa Fe phlox 

Polygalaceae / Milkwort family 

1 1 1 G Polygala alba Nutt. H-11853 white milkwort 

Polygonaceae / Knotweed or Buckwheat family 

1 1 1 G/C Eriogonum alatum Torr. var. alatum winged buckwheat 

 [Pterogonum alatum] H-11857 UNM 

n 0 0 P/G Eriogonum aliquantum Reveal rare NM Cimarron buckwheat 

1 1 1 S/P Eriogonum annuum Nutt. H-11800 UNM annual buckwheat 

1 1 1 G Eriogonum jamesi Benth. var. jamesii H-11756 GREE James’ buckwheat 

1 1 1 G Eriogonum lachnogynum Torr. ex Benth woolly-cup buckwheat 

var. lachnogynum H-12010 UNM 

0 0 1 S Eriogonum longifolium Nutt. var. lindheimeri Gand. long-leaf buckwheat 

[E. longifolium var. longifolium] 

1 1 1 G Eriogonum tenellum Torr. matted buckwheat 

var. tenellum H-11717 GREE 

1 1 0 R * Fallopia convolvulus L. [Polygonum convolvulus] climbing buckwheat 

S-1736 GREE 

1 1 0 R Persicaria amphibia (L.) A. Gray 

[Polygonum amphibium] S-7728 GREE 

long-root smartweed 

1 0 0 R Persicaria bicornis Raf. [Polygonum bicorne] H-12208 pink smartweed 

0 0 n R *Persicaria hydropiper (L.) Opiz. 

[Polygonum hydropiper] 

mash-pepper knotweed 
42 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

0 1 0 R *Persicaria lapathifolia (L.) A. Gray dock-leaf smartweed 

 [Polygonum lapathifolium] S-7728 GREE 

0 1 0 R *Persicaria maculosa A. Gray Lady’s thumb 

[Polygonum persicaria] H-12108 GREE 

0 1 0 R Persicaria pensylvanica (L.) M. Gomez Pennsylvania smartweed 

[Polygonum pensylvanicum] 

1 1 1 D *Polygonum arenastrum Jord. ex Boreau. knotweed, centinodio

[P. aviculare] S-4976 GREE 

0 1 0 R Polygonum ramosissimum Michx. erect knotweed 

subsp. ramosissimum

1 1 0 R Rumex altissimus A. W. Wood H-12122 GREE pale dock 

1 1 1 R *Rumex crispus L. H-8700 curly dock, acedera bendita

0 1 1 R Rumex hymenosepalus Torr. S-4965 GREE cañaigre, tanner’s dock 

0 n 0 R Rumex salicifolius Weinm. Mexican dock 

var. denticulatus Torr. H-11682 UNM 

[R. salicifolius var. mexicanus] 

1 0 0 R *Rumex stenophylus Ledeb. H-12103 slender-leaf dock 

0 1 0 R Rumex venosus Pursh wild begonia 

Pontederiaceae / Pickerel weed family 

1 0 0 R Heteranthera limosa (Sw.) Willd. H-12205 mud plantain 

Portulaccaceae / Purslane family 

0 0 1 D/S Portulaca halimoides L. silk-cotton purslane 

1 1 1 D *Portulaca oleracea L. S-2189 GREE purslane, verdolaga

1 0 0 D Portulaca pilosa L. H-12202 GREE kiss-me-quick 

1 0 0 D/P Talinum parviflorum Nutt. H-12209 fameflower 

Potamogetonaceae / Pondweed family 

1 0 0 R Potamogeton diversifolius Raf. water-thread pondweed 

1 0 0 R Potamogeton foliosus Raf. var. foliosus H-12054 GREE leafy pondweed 

Primulaceae / Primrose family 

1 0 0 C Androsace septentrionalis L. S-6130 GREE rock jasmine 

Ranunculaceae / Buttercup family 

s 0 0 R Anemone cylindrica A. Gray S-6737 GREE wind flower 

0 1 0 P/C Anemone patens L. var. multifida Pritz pasque flower 

[Pulsatilla patens] S-4742 GREE 

1 0 0 R Clematis ligusticifolia Nutt. S-7916 GREE Western virgin’s bower, 

barba de chivato 

1 1 0 P Delphinium virescens Nutt. S-5412 GREE toxic white or plains larkspur 

0 n 0 C Delphinium ramosum Rydb. [D. robustum] toxic robust larkspur 

rare NM, Forest Service sensitive 

w 0 0 C Delphinium sapellonis Tidestrom rare NM, toxic Sapello Canyon larkspur 

1 1 0 R Ranunculus cymbalaria Pursh marsh or alkali buttercup 

[Halerpestes cymbalaria] S-8492 GREE 

0 1 0 R Ranunculus inamoenus Greene var. inamoenus graceful buttercup 

S-3571 GREE 

0 1 0 R Ranunculus sceleratus L. 

var. multifidus Nutt. S- 3616 GREE blister buttercup 

[Hecatonia sclerata] 

Rhamnaceae / Buckthorn family 

0 0 1 D/R Ceanothus fendleri A. Gray H-11995 UNM Fendler's buckthorn 

Rosaceae / Rose family 

1 0 0 G/C Cercocarpus montanus Raf. 

var. argenteus (Rydb.) F. L. Martin S-494 GREE mountain mahogany 

1 1 0 G Cercocarpus montanus Raf. var. montanus mountain mahogany 

1 1 0 C Fallugia paradoxa (D. Don) Endl. ex Torr. S-7862 GREE apache plume, poñíl 

1 0 0 PL *Mallus pumila Mill. H-11670 UNM planted apple, manzana
USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009 43

n 0 0 C Physocarpus monogynus (Torr.) J. M. Coult. mountain ninebark 

1 0 0 R Potentilla norvegica L. subsp. monspeliensis Norwegian cinquefoil 

(L.) Asch. & Graebn. S-8562 GREE 

0 1 0 R Potentilla pensylvanica L. var. pensylvanica Pennsylvania cinquefoil 

S-6353 GREE 

0 1 0 R Potentilla rivalis Nutt. var. millegrana brook cinquefoil 

 (Engelm. ex Lehm.) S. Watson S-8563 GREE 

1 0 0 PL *Prunus armeniaca L. planted apricot, chavacana 

1 0 0 C Prunus serotina Ehrhart H-11675 UNM wild black cherry 

1 0 0 R Prunus virginiana L. var. melanocarpa (A. Nelson) Sarg. chokecherry, 

[Padus virginiana] S-443 GREE toxic chapulin

1 0 0 PL *Pyrus communis L. planted common pear, pera

1 1 0 R Rosa woodsii Lindl. var. ultramontana (S. Watson) Jeps. wild prairie rose, 

S-5455 GREE rosa silvestre 

1 0 0 C Rubus neomexicanus Gray H-12132 GREE New Mexico thimbleberry 

1 0 0 C Rubus parviflorus Nutt. var. parviflorus H-11715 GREE thimble raspberry, 

mora silvestre 

Rubiaceae / Madder or Coffee family 

n 0 0 C Galium boreale L. S-6741 GREE northern bedstraw 

1 0 0 R Galium mexicanum Kunth var. asperrimim Mexican bedstraw 

(A. Gray) Higgins & S. L. Welsh S-5430 GREE 

1 1 0 G Hedyotis nigricans (Lam.) Fosberg bluets, diamond flowers 

var. nigricans H-11851 UNM 

Ruscaceae / Butcher’s broom family

1 0 0 C Nolina texana S. Watson H-11724 GREE toxic beargrass, sacahuista

[considered as conspecific with N. greenei] 

Rutaceae / Citrus or Rue family 

1 0 0 C Ptelea trifoliata L. S-509 GREE hoptree 

Salicaceae / Willow family 

1 0 0 R Populus X acuminata Rydb. cottonwood 

(P. angustifolia x P. deltoides hybrid) 

1 0 0 R Populus angustifolia E. James. narrow-leaf cottonwood 

1 1 1 R Populus deltoides W. Bartram ex Marshall plains cottonwood, 

var. occidentalis Rydb. S-3253 GREE álamo 

1 0 0 R Populus tremuloides Michx. H-11671 UNM aspen, álamo tremblón

1 1 1 R Salix amygdaloides Andersson S-3591 GREE peach-leaf willow, 

álamo sauco 

n 0 0 R Salix arizonica Dorn Arizona willow 

rare NM, Forest Service sensitive

1 1 1 R Salix exigua Nutt. var. exigua H-11848 UNM sand-bar willow, sauco

1 0 0 R Salix lasiandra E. Murr. var. lasiandra [S. lucida] Pacific willow 

Santalaceae / Sandalwood family 

1 1 1 G Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt. Lost blue of the Arapaho, 

var. pallida (A. DC.) M. E. Jones S-3561 GREE bastard toadflax 

Sapindaceae / Soapberry family (includes Aceraceae) 

1 1 0 R Acer negundo L. box elder 

var. violaceum (Kirchn.) Jaeger H-12115 GREE 

1 0 0 R Sapindus saponaria (L.) soapberry, jaboncillo, 

var. drummondii (Hook. & Arn.) L. D. Benson amolio 

H-11725 

Scrophulariaceae / Figwort family (see Orobanchaceae, Phrymaceae and Plantaginaceae) 

1 1 1 D/R *Verbascum thapsus L. S-7750 GREE common mullein, 

gordolobo, puchón

Solanaceae / Nightshade family 

1 1 1 P/D Chamaesaracha conioides (Moric.) Britton H-12033 gray five-eyes 
44 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-233. 2009

1 1 0 P/D Chamaesaracha coronopus (Dunal) A. Gray greenleaf five-eyes 

H-12033 UNM 

0 1 0 P/D Chamaesaracha sordida (Dunal) Gray hairy five-eyes 

0 1 0 D *Datura stramonium L. S-590 GREE toxic jimsonweed, toloache

1 0 0 D Datura quercifolia H.B.K. H-12102 GREE toxic oak-leaf thorn-apple 

1 1 0 C/P Lycium pallidum Miers. S-7833 GREE wolfberry 

Physalis hederifolia A. Gray ivy-leafed ground-cherry 

1 0 0 P var. comata (Rydb.) Waterf. H-11627 GREE sticky-leaf ground-cherry 

w 0 0 P var. fendleri (A. Gray) Cronquist S-7734 GREE Fendler’s ground-cherry 

0 1 0 S/P Physalis hispida (Waterf.) Cronquist [P. pumila] prairie ground-cherry 

0 1 0 P/D Physalis longifolia Nutt. common ground-cherry 

1 1 1 D/S Physalis virginiana Miller H-11692 UNM Virginia ground-cherry 

1 1 0 D/P Quincula lobata (Torr.) Raf. H-11841 UNM purple ground-cherry 

0 0 1 D Solanum americanum Mill. S-8051 GREE black nightshade 

1 1 1 D/P Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav. S-406 GREE toxic silver-leaf nightshade, 

tomatillo del campo 

1 1 1 D Solanum rostratum Dunal S-430 GREE toxic buffalo bur 

1 0 0 D Solanum triflorum Nutt. cut-leaf nightshade 

Tamaricaceae / Tamarisk family 

1 1 0 R *Tamarix ramosissima Lebeb. H-12063 GREE noxious salt cedar, tamarisk, 

[T. chinensis is morphlogically similar] pino salado

Typhaceae / Cattail family 

1 1 0 R Typha angustifolia L. S-480 GREE narrowleaf cattail 

Ulmaceae / Elm family (see Cannabaceae) 

1 1 1 PL/S *Ulmus pumila L. S-7834 GREE planted Siberian elm, olmo

Verbenaceae / Verbena family 

Glandularia bipinnatifida (Nutt.) Nutt. Dakota vervain, 

0 1 0 P var. bipinnatifida H-11768 GREE moradilla

1 1 1 P var. ciliata (Benth.) B. L. Turner S-4089 GREE Dakota vervain 

1 1 1 D/R Phyla cuneifolia (Torr.) Greene [Lippia cuneifolia] wedgeleaf frog fruit 

H-11771 GREE 

1 1 1 D/R Verbena bracteata Lag. & Rodr. S-7748 GREE big-bract /hoary vervain 

1 0 0 P Verbena macdougalii A. Heller S-1781 GREE Macdougal vevain 

Violaceae / Violet family 

1 1 0 C/G Hybanthus verticillatus (Ortega) Baill. S-6563 GREE nodding green violet, 

baby slippers 

0 1 1 P Viola nuttallii Pursh. S-4216 GREE Nuttall’s violet 

Vitaceae / Grape family 

1 0 0 R Parthenocissus vitacea (Knerr) Hitchc. five-leaved ivy 

[P. inserta] H-11695 UNM 

1 0 0 R Vitis acerifolia Raf. [V. riparia subsp. longii, V. longii] maple-leaf grape 

H-11672 UNM 

0 n 0 R Vitis riparia Michx. [V. vulpina] riverbank grape 

Zygophyllaceae / Caltrop or Lignum Vitae family

1 0 0 P Kallstroemia parviflora Norton S-6880 GREE toxic warty caltrop, contra hierba

1 1 1 D *Tribulus terrestris L. S-8330 noxious goathead, puncture vine, 

tackbur, abrojos, toboso 
Notes
Notes

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