Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-05-25
MUCH TO LEARN OF
ARIZONA PLANT LIFE
Though Most Of Il Seems to Be of
Little Value the Chief Reason Is
Human Ignorance. A Few Facts
About a Few Native plants.

/ ''N iNtPubiNah trees, HOW
ers and shrubbery on the canitol
grounds and IL is likely that n prea,
deal more will vet be written I'm the
future. for this little match of ground
is a constant delight TO q botanjst n
scientist or even n pIain ienoramus
who has enough love of nature and
natures God To lust omen his eyes and
see things. The longer he looks the
more ne can see and if he cares TO look
hard enough TO call his observations
study, he can never see il all. A good
big book could be written in descrip-
ton of the thousands of plants grow
ing there. If written bv the right per-
son II would be an entertaining vol
ume too and then the half Womb not
be told.
AT This tim, II is nrnnosed IN m.n-
ton lust three OF the plants growing
there because they are interesting.
are new features and have never bcen
given COMPLIMENTARY mention. The
wondroua beauty of th,. grounds to the
casual observer is made mn in large
part by the many plants brought from
other parts of the world and not found
growing naturally in Arizona thus
making n great contrast with the nat
uraI flora TO Arizona Rut perhans
the hest feature of the work NJ George
H. Smith. who has the grounds in
charge. Is his constant experimenta-
lion with Arizona nlants some NJ
them common but more of them rare
some Of then, as they GROW, in a via
state but more Of them as they NAV
be made TO grow nv Intelligent dIrec-
ton and skilled hands when pronerlv
cared for. These experiments result
first in satisfying curiosity. next in
adding variety and CONSEQUENT beauty
and lastly some of them will no doubt
be made use of eventually by the util-
itarian after experimentaI days have
passed.
The first of these plants TO be re-
ferred to in this article is a shrub
indigenous to Arizona. but quite rare.
II IS called by the Mexicans "Torate"
and as far as known il has no botan-
ical name. A specimen was forward
ed to Washington scientists by Lafe
Brunson Of this city and word came
hack that it was a new face in their
picture gallery and they could fine
no name for it. 1t was learned
short time ago that specimens could
be secured in the mountains south ~
Phoenix. and Messrs. Geo. ID. Christy.
LATE Brunson. G.. II. Smith and his
assistant. Pastor Flores. about two
weeks ago drove over in successful
quest of the plant. Three were Sc
cured for the Capitol grounds. two by
Captain Christy and one each was
given TO Dwight II. Heard and E. J.
Mr.. Smith was laughed AT for irving
10 transplant tree at this season Of
the wear. but his three plants are do
ing nicely nevertheless. The fact is
this is ,ust the time of wear TO trans |
plant this tree or shrub. Tor IL is al
most an evergreen and lust now IL is |
between seasons the limbs being al !
most bare INST before the new crop |
II leaves comes forth the Old ones dry |
m and are pushed out Of the wav.
The nlants i'm the Capitol grounds |
now look like b.g heavy currant BUSH |
IS without leaves. but they are doing |
,iceIv in their ney home and Ave new |
caves are budding.
In a general wav the foliage is like |
! miniature pepper tree. Mr.. smith I
las not seen the flowers. but thinks
hey are white. The berries that sue
,ecds the flowers are first OF a red
fish brown color which peeIs off. re-
ealing an orange colored cuticle. the
,errjes rineninq in April or Nav. 4
title tvio broken off will exude a
-erv oily pungent and fragrant Juice.
rhe Mexican steep the twigs making
tea that is used quite often for a
tomach and blood medicine. and il is
ne i'm which they have great faith.
The Nexicans saw there are two other
of this shrub in these parts
nd Mr.. Smith will make an effort
o get snecimens of them.
Another of these interesting plants
5 the Long Leafed Palo Verde. a tree
hat is perhaps quite well known by
he desert innabitant. but is seldom
cen by the average observer. for it is
lso considered quite rare. 1t has many
f the characteristics of the common
alo verde. the green colored trunk
nd the thorns. but the leaves are en-
jrely different The leaves are from
4 to IS inches long and each leaf is
narginated with pinules like a fern.
he leaf itself or pinule stem being
My a quarter of an inch wide. The
lowers are larger than those of the
ommon palo verde and are perhaps
nore brilliant. Whether the tree will
yer serve any other purpose than
/