Wildflowers and Grasses

Flowers


Desert annuals, like wildflowers, are adapted to the arid environment in many different ways. You may see plants with thick, waxy coverings on leaves and stems that reduce evaporation loss while the plant breathes, small leaves that receive less solar radiation, and either deep taproots that reach further into the soil or shallow widespread roots that absorb surface water quickly.

Many desert wildflowers avoid drought and heat by surviving as seeds or bulbs in the soil, sometimes for decades. These seeds will only germinate after significant seasonal rainfall, so wildflower growth in the Tuzigoot area is highly variable from year to year. April and May are generally the best months to see wildflowers, and if the summer monsoon season is good then there may be a second wildflower season in September and October. Some desert plants take advantage of the cooler temperatures at night to flower. These evening-blooming plants include evening primrose, datura, sand verbena, and yucca.

 

Grasses


Grasses and grasslands are an extremely important component of southwestern ecosystems. Individual grasses sprout almost anywhere there is soil. Grasslands form in areas where wind-blown sediment, erosion, and plant growth create a layer of soil that is several feet thick.

Most desert grasses can be fit into two groups: bunch and sod-forming. Bunch grasses are classic desert plants that occur in scattered clumps, which is a growth pattern that reduces competition for soil nutrients and water. Indian ricegrass and needlegrasses are bunch grasses. The relatively large ricegrass seeds are rich in protein and are a historically important source of food for Indigenous people in the region. Needlegrass has a sharp seed attached to a "thread" that drives the seed into the ground as it unwinds. Both of these grasses are perennial, becoming dormant during droughts.

Sod-forming grasses are what most people have in their lawns. Galleta and blue grama are sod-forming perennials native to the area, and usually grow together. Unlike most desert grasses, galleta can withstand heavy grazing and is important forage for bighorn sheep and mule deer.

Last updated: March 1, 2021

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