Clematis ligusticifolia Nutt.
Common name: Western virgin’s-bower, clematide, yerba de chivato, pepper vine
Family name: Ranunculaceae
Synonymy:
Etymology: Clematis is the Greek name for climbing vine. The epithet ligusticifolia
means “Ligusticum like leaves” (7).
Identification
Growth form: Clematis ligusticifolia is a vine, which is herbaceous above and woody
near its base, it grows between 20 and 40’ long and climbs over shrubs, rocks, trees or
whatever is at hand. It climbs by aid of the petioles and its opposite and compound
leaves (5).
Stems: The new stems are green to tan or brown, they turn brown to gray with age (7).
Leaves: The smooth green leaves are variable in both size and shape (7), they are
pinnately compound with 3-7, usually 5, (7), lance or egg-shaped leaflets, may be toothed
along the edges (3).
Inflorescence/flowers: The flowers are small, white and inconspicuous (3), lack petals,
with 4 white petal like sepals and numerous white stamens (2).
Fruit: “Achenes borne in large heads, ovoid, densely pubescent; mature styles elongate,
1-2 in. long, plumose with long straight hairs, 1-seeded “ (7).
Similar species: Clematis ligusticifolia is closely related to Clematis drummondii, with
which it is thought to hybridize with when they are in areas of contact (7).
Ecology
Life history: Perennial vine
Native/introduced: Native
Phenology: Clematis ligusticifolia flowers between May and September, with the fruit
maturing between August and November ( 7). The male and female flowers occur on
separate plants (1). “The seeds have styles which lengthen after pollination into long
feathery structures adapted for wind distribution “ (4). While its fragrance attracts bees
(2), the genera produces only pollen, not nectar (4).
Distribution: Found between 3000-8500’, in thickets and moist canyons in western
Texas, through New Mexico, Arizona, to California, North Dakota, Montana and British
Colombia (7).
Uses
While the entire genera has been found to contain strong chemical constituents which
may irate skin, mucous membranes, and may cause internal bleeding (6) Clematis
ligusticifolia was used in a variety of ways . The Spanish Americans, who called it
yerba de chivato, herb of the goat, used it to wash wounds (5). The Native Americans
used an infusion of leaves on horses for sores and cuts, used fibers for snares and
carrying nets, the white portion of the bark for fever and the leaves and bark for shampoo
and carrying nets (5). The leaves and stems have a peppery flavor and were used by
early travelers in salads hence the name pepper vine (5). It was also said to be useful in
the treatment of skin diseases, ulcers and colds (5).
References
1. Elmore, F.H., 1976. Shrubs and Trees of the Southwest Uplands , Southwest Parks and
Monuments Association, Tucson, Arizona.
2. Epple, A.O. and L.E. Epple, 1995. A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona, Falcon
Publishing Co., Helena, Montana.
3. Fagan, D., 1998. Canyon Country Wildflowers, A Field Guide to Common
Wildflowers, Shrubs, and Trees, Falcon Publishing Co., Helena, Montana.
4. Heywood,V.H., 1993, Flowering Plants of the World, Oxford University Press, New
York.
5. Sweet, M.,1998. Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West, Naturegraph
Publishers, Inc., Happy Camp, Ca.
6. Tilford, G. L., 1997. Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, Mountain Press
Publishing Company, Missoula, Montana.
7. Vines,R.A., 1960. Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Southwest, University of
Texas Press, Austin.
Petrophytum caespitosum (nutt.) Rydb.
Common name: Rockmat, Rocky Mountain rockmat, tufted rockmat
Family: Rosaceae
Synonymy: Spiraea caespitosa, Eriogynia ceaspitosa
Etymology: Petrophytum caespitosum is aptly named as petros is the Greek word for
rock and phyton is the Greek word for plant (5), and the epithet, caespitosum , refers to
its mat like form (2).
Identification
Growth form: Petrophytum caespitosum is a mat-forming sub shrub which may grow 3’
wide (2).
Roots: The root is stout and attaches to/in rock crevices (2).
Stem: The stems grow horizontally forming mats over limestone rocks (3).
Leaves: It has grayish green spatula or inversely lance-shaped leaves with silky hairs; in
basal rosettes (1,2).
Inflorescences/flowers: The flowers are small, white to light pink with five petals, long
stamens which are arranged in dense clusters on spike like raceme (1,2 )
Fruit: “Follicles about 1/12 in. long, 3-5, leathery, dehiscent on both sutures: seeds 2-4,
linear” (5)
Similar species: The variety Petrophytum caespitosum var. elatoir has longer peduncles
frequently branched and longer inflorescential bracts (5).
Ecology
Life history: Rockmat is a woody-tufted perennial (5).
Native/introduced: Native
Phenology: Flowers June to August (4).
Distribution: Petrophytum caespitosum is found “almost exclusively in hospitable
habitat of barren rock” (4), in limestone rock crevices (5) and hanging gardens (2)
between 3000-9500 ft, in Arizona, western Texas and New Mexico (5), northwestern
Oregon, southern California, east to Montana, Colorado (4), and Mount Charleston,
Nevada (personal observation).
References
1. Epple, A.O. and L.E. Epple, 1995. A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona, Falcon
Publishing Co., Helena, Montana.
2. Fagan, D., 1998. Canyon Country Wildflowers, A Field Guide to Common
Wildflowers, Shrubs, and Trees, Falcon Publishing Co., Helena, Montana.
3. Hogan, P. and K. Huisinga, 1999. An Annotated Catalog of the Native and Naturalized
Flora of Arizona, Arizona Ethnobotanical Research Association, Flagstaff, Arizona.
4. Spellenberg, R.,1986. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildfloers,
Western Region, Alfred A Knopf, New York.
5. Vines,R.A., 1960. Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Southwest, University of
Texas Press, Austin.
Cupressus arizonica spp. arizonica Greene
Common name: Arizona Cypress, Arizona Smooth Cypress
Family: Cupressaceae
Synonymy: Cupressus glabra
Etymology: The genus Cupressus is the Latin and Greek word representing the Italian
Cypress, Cupressus sempervirens (2), and the epithet, arizonica, refers to the state in
which it is found (6).
Identification
Growth form: Cuppressus arizonica spp. arizonica is an evergreen conical or rounded
shaped tree which may reach the height of 90 ft but is usually 40 ft tall, with a diameter
that may reach 5 ½’ but which is usually two feet (3).
Bark: The outer bark shreds to leave the smooth, dark reddish inner bark exposed (3)
Leaves: The leaves of Cupressus arizonica spp.arizonica are similar to juniper leaves
(2), they are pale bluish green, thick, resinous, pointed leaves (3).
Cones: The cones are hard, woody (5), reddish brown, with wedged-shaped scales and
about an inch in diameter (3). The cones open and persist on the tree for a few years (3).
Wood: The wood is lightweight, light brown in color and moderately soft (5).
Similar species: The Cupressus arizonica spp. arizonica is said to be a subspecies of
Cupressus arizonica (4), and is treated as such here. The C. arizonica var. arizonica is
distinguished from C. arizonica by the smoother outer bark, which sheds, peels and
exposes the inner bark on saplings, smaller trees and older trees (1,5). The bark of C.
arizonica differs on mature trees (1,5). See Distribution.
Ecology
Life history: The trees are rarely older than 700 years (6).
Native/introduced: Native
Phenology: The cones are on stout pedicels, which mature at the end of the second year
and are filled with numerous dark reddish brown, oblong to triangular, narrowly winged
seeds (6).
Distribution: Cupressus arizonica spp. arizonica is found in Arizona between 3000 to
5000” below the Mogollon Rim in Yavapai, southern Coconino and Gila counties, with
stands in Sedona and at the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon (1). Cupressus arizonica is
thought to be more widely distributed though out southeastern Arizona, the canyons of
the Continental Divide in southwestern New Mexico, southwestern Texas and Mexico
(1,5). The Cupressus are believed to be narrow endemics, relics around the rim of the
Colorado Basin (1).
Uses
The leaves of the Cupressus arizonica spp. arizonica are antifungal (4). The wood has
been used for fence post (1). The tree is cultivated in warm and dry areas of the world
(5).
References
1. Benson, L. and R. A. Darrow, 1981. Trees and Shrubs of the Southwestern Deserts,
University of Arizona Press, Tucson.
2. Elmore, F.H., 1976. Shrubs and Trees of the Southwest Uplands, Southwest Parks and
Monuments Association, Tucson, Arizona.
3. Epple, A.O. and L.E. Eppel, 1995. A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona, Falcon
Publishing Co., Helena, Montana.
4. Hogan, P., K. Huisinga, 1999. An Annotated Catalog of the Native and Naturalized
Flora of Arizona, Arizona Ethnobotanical Research Association, Flagstaff, Arizona.
5. Little, E.,L., Jr., 1968, Southwestern Trees, A Guide to the Native Species of New
Mexico and Arizona, Agriculture Handbook No.9, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Washington, D.C..
6. Vines, R.A., 1960. Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Southwest, University of
Texas Press, Austin.