More Botanical Notes

As described in a previous post, I've been exploring areas here in the nearby Sonoran Desert looking for bryophytes (liverworts & mosses), and pteridophytes (ferns and spike mosses).  These types of plants are usually associated with more temperate climates but can also thrive in shady, moist micro-climates here in the desert. Such micro-climates can be found in the shade of boulders on north facing slopes and on cliff faces in north facing canyons.  I've found several such spots during walks this winter.

North facing boulders in dry stream bed

Bryophytes were some of the first plants to emerge from ancient seas hundreds of millions of years ago and colonize dry land. Much like algae, bryophytes lack a vascular system for moving water and nutrients inside the plant. Ferns and spike mosses have vascular systems but also developed very early in the history of plants.

Here are some photos from recent walks.

Liverwort with reproductive structures

Moss with reproductive structures 

Parry''s Lip Fern

And finally, a spike moss.

Spike Moss (center)

The weather is starting to warm up and rattlesnakes also enjoy boulders and canyon cliffs so I'll soon be moving on to spring wildflowers as long as I can see what's laying underneath them.

 Adios

Some Botanical Notes

This winter I've developed an interest in Sonoran Desert plants that thrive in cool wet weather. These plants include ferns, spike-mosses, mosses and liverworts. We've had some cool wet weather this month and these plants seem to be doing well. They are generally found in small niche communities on north facing slopes or cliffs. Many of the plants prefer sheltered clefts in rocks and I've come across them on the bluffs east of Butcher Jones Beach near Saguaro Lake and in canyons on the north side of Usery Mountain.  Mosses are bright green and abundant on boulders on the north side of Coon Bluff.

Parry's Lip Fern - Canyon on north side of Usery Mountain

Star Cloak Fern - Bluff east of Butcher Jones Beach

Wright's Lip Fern - Bluff east of Butcher Jones Beach

The spike-mosses are creeping plants that can form dense patches in wet areas. The leaves are only green during wet periods but curl inward and become dormant during dry periods.

Spike-Moss - Bluff east of Butcher Jones Beach

Another cool weather, shade loving plant is the liverwort. Liverworts are unusual due their lack of leaves and vascular system. The plant consists of a flattened multi-celled structure containing green photosynthetic material (chloroplasts) and a single-celled rhizome for an anchor. The plants can form large mats in wet, shady areas but completely dry out in arid periods.

Liverwort - Canyon north of Usery Mountain

Liverwort - Bluff east of Butcher Jones Beach

The cool, wet weather has also refreshed the moss communities. The following photos were taken along some boulders on the north face of Coon Bluff near Phon D. Sutton Recreation Area.

I'll be out looking for more over the next couple of months.

Adios

Jones Wash

I finally got around to hiking up the ridge on the north side of Saguaro Lake. I parked at the Butcher Jones Beach overflow parking lot and walked through a mesquite bosque into the wash bordering the ridge. The wash runs east to west along north facing bluffs of the ridge.

Jones Wash

The north facing bluffs provided shelter from the intense Sonoran Desert sun for communities of liverworts, mosses and ferns.

Thallus Liverwort

The ridge is composed of conglomerate and tuff (welded ash) laid down during and after volcanic activity in the middle tertiary period (10-20 Mya).

From ridge looking down into wash

There are several wet weather stream beds draining the ridge. The small stream below contained water from recent rains.

Wet Weather Stream

The north facing slope also included shaded areas that supported ferns, mosses and spiked club moss.

Wright's Lipfern

Star Cloak Fern and Spiked Club Moss

I've always been attracted to north facing slopes because they support such a large diversity of plant types and isolated communities of plant life dependent on shade and moisture.  There are other places in this vicinity that I want to explore on future walks.

Revised 11/28/2019

I returned to the wash a few days later and continued upstream for a mile or so. The wash was wide and unobstructed with nice views of surrounding mountains. There were also numerous deer tracks and game trails cutting the wash.

About a half mile from the parking area there was a point where the wash had long ago cut through a sandstone and conglomerate ridge leaving tall bluffs on each side of the wash.  The bluffs were riddled with caves. The cave are good shelter for animals and have probably also been shelter for people.

I want to return again soon but park along a side canyon, hike across the large wash and explore some game trails.

Adios