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INTRODUCTION
The Phoenix flora database is an on-going project to prepare an annotated
checklist of plants which grow within a forty-mile radius of the State Capitol
Building in downtown Phoenix. The Metropolitan Phoenix area, including the
surrounding mountains, is often referred to as "The Valley of the Sun"
or "The Salt River Valley." The boundaries roughly include the
following perimeter sites in parts of Gila, Maricopa, Pinal and Yavapai
counties: the Hassayampa River Preserve, Lake Pleasant, the Seven Springs
recreational area, Tortilla Flat, the western part of the Superstition Mountains,
Sacaton, Casa Grande, and Gila Bend. The vegetation in this zone is predominantly
Upper Sonoran Desert Grasslands, but also includes mountain "islands"
that contain Pinyon-Juniper zones. This project is significant since very
few metropolitan urban floras are known.The checklist has been organized
into two separate databases. The first is devoted to native and established
alien plants. This includes plants that are native to the region, such as
Carnegiea gigantea (Engelm.) Britt. & Rose (the Saguaro Cactus)
as well as introduced plants that have become naturalized to the region
such as Tamarisk chinensis Lour. (Salt-Cedar). The second database
is devoted to cultivated plants, such as crops, i.e. Gossypium hirsutum
L. (Cotton) and landscape plants, i.e. Leucophyllum frutescens (Berland.)
I. M. Johnston (Texas Ranger). For purposes of comparison, the region covered
by each database is subdivided into different sections. The geographical
locations of the entries are indicated within the database.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
Each entry in the data base requires documenting specimens from local collections.
These collections are located at the Herbarium at Arizona State University,
Tempe, and the Herbarium of the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.
The data base entry for each taxon is categorized according to particular
fields. These labeled fields may include:
TAXONOMY
(family, genus name, species and infraspecific epithets, authors, common
names);
LOCATION
(presence/absence in certain county parks and other specific sites);
HABIT
(tree, small tree, shrub, subshrub, vine, perennial herb, annual herb, bulb).
APPLICATIONS AND RESULTS
The structure of the database allows a researcher to ask specific questions
about plants growing in the region. The strength of the database is in its
ability to allow a researcher to compare and contrast the flora of particular
subdivisions within the region. This is useful for a wide range of potential
research projects. For example, researchers using the database would be
able to explore such issues as the impact of introduced plants on native
plants, or to compare and contrast plant diversity within the subdivisions
of the region.
DATABASE QUERIES ONE and TWO below illustrate potential research applications.
DATABASE SAMPLE QUERY #1:
What plants are known to grow in the South Mountains but not in the McDowell
Mountains?
Record #
173 ACANTHACEAE - Carlowrightia arizonica
180 AIZOACEAE - Trianthema portulacastrum
181 AMARANTHACEAE - Amaranthus albus
185 AMARANTHACEAE - Amaranthus fimbriatus
186 AMARANTHACEAE - Amaranthus obcordatus
187 AMARANTHACEAE - Amaranthus palmeri
189 AMARANTHACEAE - Tidestromia lanuginosa
875 APIACEAE - Daucus carota
201 APIACEAE - Spermolepis echinata
213 ASCLEPIADACEAE - Matelea parvifolia
236 ASTERACEAE - Bebbia juncea
265 ASTERACEAE - Erigeron lobatus
279 ASTERACEAE - Gymnosperma glutinosum
297 ASTERACEAE - Machaeranthera arida
298 ASTERACEAE - Machaeranthera asteroides
947 ASTERACEAE - Machaeranthera riparia
320 ASTERACEAE - Senecio mohavensis
337 ASTERACEAE - Trichoptilium incisum
339 ASTERACEAE - Verbesina encelioides
346 BORAGINACEAE - Cryptantha angustifolia
353 BORAGINACEAE - Cryptantha muricata
968 BORAGINACEAE - Lappula occidentalis
374 BRASSICACEAE - Brassica tournefortii
375 BRASSICACEAE - Capsella bursa-pastoris
383 BRASSICACEAE - Dimorphocarpa wislizeni
976 BRASSICACEAE - Draba reptans
395 BRASSICACEAE - Sisymbrium altissimum
400 BURSERACEAE - Bursera microphylla
411 CACTACEAE - Opuntia acanthocarpa var. coloradensis
414 CACTACEAE - Opuntia chlorotica
417 CACTACEAE - Opuntia phaeacantha
422 CAMPANULACEAE - Nemacladus glanduliferus var. orientalis
989 CARYOPHYLLACEAE - Spergularia salina
442 CHENOPODIACEAE - Atriplex polycarpa
994 CHENOPODIACEAE - Chenopodium desiccatum
455 CHENOPODIACEAE - Monolepis nuttalliana
456 CHENOPODIACEAE - Suaeda moquinii
1015 CRASSULACEAE - Dudleya arizonica
471 CUCURBITACEAE - Cucurbita palmata
475 CUSCUTACEAE - Cuscuta tuberculata
482 EUPHORBIACEAE - Bernardia incana
489 EUPHORBIACEAE - Chamaesyce hyssopifolia
492 EUPHORBIACEAE - Chamaesyce micromera
497 EUPHORBIACEAE - Chamaesyce revoluta
501 EUPHORBIACEAE - Euphorbia eriantha
525 FABACEAE - Dalea mollis
536 FABACEAE - Lupinus arizonicus
550 FABACEAE - Parkinsonia aculeata
571 GENTIANACEAE - Centaurium calycosum
580 HYDROPHYLLACEAE - Nama demissum
47 JUNCACEAE - Juncus bufonius
598 LAMIACEAE - Salazaria mexicana
611 LOASACEAE - Mentzelia involucrata
888 MALVACEAE - Abutilon abutiloides
629 MALVACEAE - Hibiscus denudatus
630 MALVACEAE - Horsfordia newberryi
637 MALVACEAE - Sphaeralcea laxa
645 NYCTAGINACEAE - Acleisanthes longiflora
648 NYCTAGINACEAE - Boerhavia coulteri
649 NYCTAGINACEAE - Boerhavia diffusa
650 NYCTAGINACEAE - Boerhavia erecta
651 NYCTAGINACEAE - Boerhavia intermedia
657 OLEACEAE - Forestiera shrevei
664 ONAGRACEAE - Camissonia claviformis ssp. aurantiaca
1052 ONAGRACEAE - Camissonia claviformis ssp. peeblesii
694 PLANTAGINACEAE - Plantago rhodosperma
67 POACEAE - Avena fatua
70 POACEAE - Bouteloua aristidoides
71 POACEAE - Bouteloua barbata
75 POACEAE - Bouteloua trifida
76 POACEAE - Brachiaria arizonica
896 POACEAE - Chloris crinita
90 POACEAE - Chloris virgata
92 POACEAE - Digitaria californica
104 POACEAE - Eragrostis lehmanniana
118 POACEAE - Leptochloa mucronata
126 POACEAE - Muhlenbergia porteri
131 POACEAE - Panicum alatum var. minus
872 POACEAE - Pennisetum ciliare
897 POACEAE - Pennisetum setaceum
137 POACEAE - Phalaris minor
112 POACEAE - Pleuraphis rigida
867 POACEAE - Setaria viridis
154 POACEAE - Sorghum halepense
156 POACEAE - Sporobolus airoides
158 POACEAE - Sporobolus cryptandrus
161 POACEAE - Tridens muticus
889 POLEMONACEAE - Gilia scopulorum
710 POLEMONACEAE - Linanthus demissus
711 POLEMONACEAE - Linanthus dichotomus
725 POLYGONACEAE - Eriogonum thomasii
1070 POLYGONACEAE - Eriogonum wrightii var. pringlei
10 PTERIDACEAE - Cheilanthes wootonii
1194 PTERIDACEAE - Cheilanthes yavapensis
758 RESEDACEAE - Oligomeris linifolia
894 SCROPHULARIACEAE - Neogaerrhinum filipes
804 SCROPHULARIACEAE - Stemodia durantifolia
873 SELAGINELLACEAE - Selaginella eremophila
813 SOLANACEAE - Calibrachoa parviflora
817 SOLANACEAE - Lycium andersonii
1104 SOLANACEAE - Lycium andersonii var. wrightii
905 SOLANACEAE - Lycium californicum
825 SOLANACEAE - Nicotiana glauca
1107 STERCULIACEAE - Ayenia insulicola
895 TAMARICACEAE - Tamarix ramosissima
860 ZYGOPHYLLACEAE - Fagonia laevis
865 ZYGOPHYLLACEAE - Tribulus terrestris
DATABASE SAMPLE QUERY #2:
Which of the naturalized introduced plants in the entire Phoenix Flora
area are annual herbs?
Record #
34 APIACEAE - Ammi majus
116 APIACEAE - Anthriscus caulalis
117 APIACEAE - Bupleurum lancifolium
36 APIACEAE - Torilis nodosa
152 ASTERACEAE - Acroptilon repens
107 ASTERACEAE - Anthemis cotula
38 ASTERACEAE - Calyptocarpus vialis
112 ASTERACEAE - Carthamus lanatus
39 ASTERACEAE - Carthamus tinctorius
40 ASTERACEAE - Centaurea melitensis
113 ASTERACEAE - Chrysanthemum coronarium
41 ASTERACEAE - Cotula australis
42 ASTERACEAE - Dimorphotheca sinuata
43 ASTERACEAE - Hedypnois cretica
153 ASTERACEAE - Parthenice mollis
114 ASTERACEAE - Pectis cylindrica
44 ASTERACEAE - Senecio vulgaris
45 ASTERACEAE - Silybum marianum
46 ASTERACEAE - Sonchus asper
47 ASTERACEAE - Sonchus oleraceus
48 ASTERACEAE - Taraxacum officionale
137 ASTERACEAE - Taraxacum officionale ssp. vulgare Schinze & R.
Keller
111 BRASSICACEAE - Brassica juncea
49 BRASSICACEAE - Brassica nigra
118 BRASSICACEAE - Brassica rapa
50 BRASSICACEAE - Brassica tournefortii
51 BRASSICACEAE - Capsella bursa-pastoris
52 BRASSICACEAE - Cardamine hirsuta
53 BRASSICACEAE - Raphanus sativus
119 BRASSICACEAE - Sinapis arvensis
139 BRASSICACEAE - Sinapsis arvensis
55 BRASSICACEAE - Sisymbrium altissimum
56 BRASSICACEAE - Sisymbrium irio
121 BRASSICACEAE - Sisymbrium oriental
163 BRASSICAEAE Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa
164 BRASSICAEAE Lepidium oblongum
123 CANNABACEAE - Cannabis sativa
57 CARYOPHYLLACEAE - Herniaria hirsuta ssp. cinerea
58 CARYOPHYLLACEAE - Stellaria media
60 CHENOPODIACEAE - Chenopodium album
61 CHENOPODIACEAE - Chenopodium botrys
62 CHENOPODIACEAE - Chenopodium murale
63 CHENOPODIACEAE - Chenopodium pumilio
133 CHENOPODIACEAE - Salsola collima
126 CHENOPODIACEAE - Salsola paulsenii
131 CHENOPODIACEAE - Salsola tragus
65 CONVOLVULACEAE - Ipomoea tricolor
127 CUCURBITACEAE - Citrullus lanatus
1 CYPERACEAE - Cyperus difformis
128 EUPHORBIACEAE - Euphorbia peplus
68 FABACEAE - Medicago lupulina
69 FABACEAE - Medicago minima
70 FABACEAE - Medicago polymorpha
72 FABACEAE - Melilotus indicus
73 FABACEAE - Melilotus officinalis
74 GERANIACEAE - Erodium cicutarium
173 GERANIACEAE - Erodium moschatum
75 HYDROPHYLLACEAE - Phacelia campanularia
76 LAMIACEAE - Lamium amplexicaule
78 LINACEAE - Linum usitatissimum
135 LOASACEAE - Mentzelia lindleyi
79 MALVACEAE - Abutilon theophrasti
136 MALVACEAE - Malva sylvestris ssp. mauritiana
80 MOLLUGINACEAE - Mollugo cerviana
82 PLANTAGINACEAE - Plantago lanceolata
83 PLANTAGINACEAE - Plantago major
5 POACEAE - Avena fatua
6 POACEAE - Avena sativa
7 POACEAE - Bromus berterianus
8 POACEAE - Bromus catharticus
9 POACEAE - Bromus hordeaceus
10 POACEAE - Bromus japonicus
11 POACEAE - Bromus rubens
12 POACEAE - Bromus tectorum
159 POACEAE - Crypsis schoenoides
14 POACEAE - Echinochloa colona
16 POACEAE - Eragrostis cilianensis
15 POACEAE - Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima
160 POACEAE - Eragrostis pectinacea
18 POACEAE - Hordeum murinum ssp.leporinum
115 POACEAE - Hordeum murinum ssp. glaucum
165 POACEAE - Hordeum vulgare
21 POACEAE - Panicum miliaceum
169 POACEAE - Pennisetum americanum
170 POACEAE - Phalaris canariensis
22 POACEAE - Phalaris minor
24 POACEAE - Polypogon monospeliensis
25 POACEAE - Schismus arabicus
26 POACEAE - Schismus barbatus
27 POACEAE - Setaria glauca
28 POACEAE - Setaria verticillata
29 POACEAE - Sorghum bicolor
31 POACEAE - Triticum aestivum
84 POLYGONACEAE - Polygonum aviculare
85 POLYGONACEAE - Polygonum lapathifolium var. salicifolium
86 POLYGONACEAE - Polygonum persicaria
89 POLYGONACEAE - Rumex dentatus
91 PRIMULACEAE - Anagallis arvensis
92 RUBIACEAE - Galium aparine
93 RUBIACEAE - Sherardia arvensis
142 SCROPHULARIACEAE - Linaria maroccana
94 SCROPHULARIACEAE - Verbascum thapsus
95 SCROPHULARIACEAE - Verbascum virgatum
144 SCROPHULARIACEAE - Veronica arvensis
96 SCROPHULARIACEAE - Veronica persica
97 SOLANACEAE - Lycopersicon esculentum
145 URTICACEAE - Urtica urens
102 ZYGOPHYLLACEAE - Tribulus terrestris
GOALS AND GENERAL USES
The goals of this project are:
1) To provide a searchable baseline database of what native and cultivated
vascular plants grow in the specified study area and to mark their locations
within the various geographic subdivisions.
2) To provide information useful for future studies of changes in vegetation
in this region.
The project envisions that the database will assist future researchers
in assessing the long-term trends of various plants in the Upper Sonoran
Desert Grasslands and mountain "islands" contained within this
region.
CONCLUSIONS AND THE FUTURE
The database checklist is meant to be a beginning. We continue to find additional
species in the Phoenix area. To date, more than 1,000 native taxa and over
770 cultivated taxa have been documented and entered into the checklist
database. The present on-line preliminary checklist (at the Arizona State
University Vascular Plant Herbarium web site http://lsvl.la.asu.edu/herbarium)
has over one hundred species of plants illustrated with photos on the net.
These (and more) will be linked to the Phoenix Flora list as soon as it
has been updated. |