Besseya arizonica Penn.
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Description: Scapes solitary, to 40 cm tall, white-hirsute;
leaves 5-15 cm long, ovate to oval, crenate or undulate-crenate,
pilose to glabrate, basal leaves rounded to cordate at the base;
floral bracts white-ciliate; calyx 3-4 mm long, the lobes oblong-lanceolate
or oblong-elliptic, conspicuously ciliate; corolla white, 4-5
mm long, tube very short; staminal filaments exserted; capsule
4-5 mm long nearly circular, glabrous. Flowering from May to August.
Distribution: This species occurs in Coconino and Apache Counties in Arizona
and Cibola, McKinley, Socorro, and Sandoval counties in New Mexico.
Specimens Seen or Cited: USDA Forest Service Regional Office herbarium: NM,
Cibola County, Cibola NF, Zuni Mtns., E. Side Oso Ridge, 1/4Sec28,T11N, R13W. R.Fletcher,
6/16/1982, Rare in Ponderosa Pine. US National Herbarium: (Type collection) AZ, from the western
slopes of San Francisco Peaks @ 8,000 feet. J.B. Leiberg, 6/17/1901.
Habitat: Moist meadows and woods, Douglas fir, ponderosa pine,
and gambel oak habitats; 7,000-8,500 feet.
Discussion: NM natural heritage ranks are S4 and G4; indicating that this species is
not globally or state rare. I would not recommend that this species be included
on a list of rare plants.
Inportant Literature:
Kearney, T.H. and R.H. Peebles. 1951. Arizona Flora.
Martin, W.C. and C.R. Hutchens. 1981. A Flora of New Mexico.
Pennell, F.W. 1933. A revision of Synthyris and Besseya. Proceedings
of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, p77-106.
Information Compiled By: Heather Hollis, 1998
