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Bottled water no longer for sale in Saguaro National Park
Water bottle filling stations have been installed at both visitor centers and the Rincon Mountain District bike ramada for visitors to refill their reusable water bottles. A variety of BPA-free waterbottles are available inside the visitor centers. More »
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High Desert Temperatures
Desert temps are over 100 degrees with extremely low humidity. Drink water before you hit the trails, and during your hike drink a quart of water per hour and some form of electrolytes to replace minerals your body needs. Wear a hat and sunscreen. More »
Onionweed
USDA APHIS Archives Onionweed is a pretty plant, once grown as an ornamental in Arizona Invasive Plant Species: Onionweed Onionweed (Asphodelus fistulosus), a member of the Lily family, is a species that prefers wet washes or riparian areas in the Park. It is a pretty plant and was grown as an ornamental prior to it being listed on the Federal Noxious Weed list. Areas in How did it get here? Onionweed was new to the Park in 2006. It was most likely planted as an ornamental by homesteaders in the Rincon Creek area. Seeds were spread into the Park during the 2006 flood event. What is the threat? Onionweed takes moisture, minerals, and nutrients from the soil, denying them to native plant species. The thick mats of leaves provide dense shade, blocking sunlight, and discouraging germination of native plant seeds. Management goals and strategies Onionweed is easily removed by hand. During the fall, we visit the infested sites and remove any new plants we find. We are constantly on the look out for new infestations. We would like to work with our upstream neighbors and private land owners along Rincon Creek to remove it from their property. We believe that, with the help of our park neighbors, onionweed can be eliminated from the Park.
J. Randall The Nature Conservancy Onionweed flowers in late winter. The flowers have six petals with a dark stripe on each Progress to date Each fall, we survey the Park for this invasive weed. When seed sources from outside the park boundary are eliminated, the Park will be rid of onionweed. How to Identify Onionweed Onionweed has many hollow, three-sided cylindrical leaves, up to 14 inches long, coming from the base. Many flowering stems emerge from the base and can be branching, reaching up to 28 inches. Flowers are white to light pink, a half-inch to an inch across, with a dark vein down the length of each petal. The roots are fibrous and form dense mats and no bulb. Onionweed is similar to the native wild onion except onionweed does not smell like an onion and does not form a bulb. In the Rincon Creek area, onionweed is found in sandy soil where the canopy is open. How you can help Onionweed can easily be removed from your yard by hand pulling. Don't plant the seeds or relocate any plants you find. If you think you may have onionweed on your property and would like someone from the Park to confirm it, please send a picture to sagu_invasive@nps.gov More Information Download an onionweed identification sheet. |
Did You Know?
Javelinas are able to eat spiny prickly pear pads with no obvious harm to their mouths, stomachs or intestinal tracts. Javelinas are not true pigs, they are peccaries, which are native to the Americas.