A site dedicated to the natural history and philosophy of the southwestern United States. This site contains images of southwestern flora categorized by family, genus and species.

Below is a table of Plant Families with a typical member of each family illustrated with appropiate photographs. Links from the family lead to genera and then to species. Happy botanizing.

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Agavaceae

Agaves grow in the southwestern deserts. They prefer warmer climates though yuccas, a genus of the agavaceae, are found in cooler areas, i.e., Colorado.

Agave Lechuguilla

Apiaceae

The Carrot Family

Ligusticum porterii

Osha

Arialaceae

The Ivy Family

Aralia nudicaulis

Asteraceae.

The Asters are a large family of flowering plants. Many species occur in the southwest. In the Asters (Compositeae) Each flower head is composed of numerous smaller flowers. Peripheral flowers (the yellow rays here) are called ray flowers. The darker center flowers are disk flowers.

Helainthus Annus

Annual Sunflower.

Brassicaceae

The Mustard Family

Erysimum

capitatum

Western Wallflower

Boriganaceae

Borages include many desert and some alpine species including the bluebells (Mertensia), the hidden flowers (Cryptantha), and the stickseeds (Lapulla and Hackelia).

 

Mertensia

Ciliata

Green Bluebells

Cactaceae

Cacti are common in the Southwestern USA. In the cacti the leaves are reduced to spines. Photosynthesis takes place in the stems. The flowers have numerous tepals as the similiar sepals and petals are called. Cacti also have many stamens and an inferior ovary.

Click on cactaceae above for a tour of the family.

efloras

Opuntia Polycantha

Many Spined Prickly Pear

Chenopodaceae

The Goosefoot Family

Chenopodaceade are the goosefoot family. Chenopods are often rather weedy species of arid areas and often colonize disturbed ground.

Atriplex canescens

Four Wing Saltbush

Cupressaceae

The Cypress Family

Juniperus

utahensis

Utah Juniper

Euphorbaceae

The Euphorb Family

 

Euphorbia crenulata

Chinese Caps

Fagaceae

The oak family

Southwestern oaks are often small scrubby trees.

Quercus

gambelii

Lamiaceae

The Mint Familuy

Scutellaria

resinosa

Resinous Skullcap

Onagraceae

The Evening Primrose Family

Oenothera

Tufted Evening Primrose

Pedaliaceae

The Unicorn Plant Family

Proboscidia

parviflora

Pinaceae

The Pines

Pinus Ponderosa

Ponderosa Pine

Ranunclaceae

The Buttercup Family

 

Ranunculus

adoneous

Rosaceae

The Rose Family

Rosa

woodsi

 

Solonaceae

The Potato Family

Solanum

elaeagnifolium

Silverleaf Nightshade

Unicorn Plant family

Valerianaceae

The Valerian Family

Valerian arizonica

Verbenaceae

The Verbena Family

Glandularia bipinnatifida

Pink Vervain

Violaceae

The Violet Family

Viola

canadensis

Canada Violet

Salicaceae

The Willow Familly

Populus

angustifolia

Narrow Leaf Cottonwood