Cynanchum arizonicum (Gray) Shinners
Synonyms: Metastelma arizonicum Gray; Metastelma
watsonianum Standley
Family: Asclepiadaceae
Distribution: Arizona, Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal
counties; Mexico, Sonora (Sundell 1993). Southern Arizona
in Pinal, Maricopa, and Pima counties (Shreve & Wiggins 1964).
Plants Seen or Cited: One specimen in NM Natural Heritage Program Database:
Hidalgo Co., extreme southeast (sic, should
be southwest) corner of county near Guadalupe Canyon on steep,
southwest-facing slope, 15 August 1979.
Habitat: Among shrubs on rocky hillsides, Lower Sonoran
Zone (Shreve & Wiggins 1964); rocky slopes and canyons of
desert mountain ranges; 1,500-4,500 ft. (Sundell 1993).
Discussion: This plant is not listed in Wooton & Standley
(1915), Kearney & Peebles (1960), Shreve & Wiggins (1964),
Martin & Hutchins (1980), or Sundell (1981, 1993) as being
present in New Mexico if it is treated at all. It seems to be primarily
a Sonoran Desert species. Sundell (1993) says nothing about its
rarity. Since it does not seem to be rare in its range in Arizona
and Sonora, I suggest that it not be given special consideration
in New Mexico.
Important Literature:
Kearney, T.H. and R.H. Peebles. 1960. Arizona Flora, second edition
with supplement. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.
(page 663)
Martin, W.C. and C.R. Hutchins. 1980. A flora of New Mexico. J.
Cramer, Germany.
Shreve, F. and I.L. Wiggins. 1964. Vegetation and flora of the
Sonoran Desert. Two volumes. Stanford University Press. (page
1121-1122)
Sundell, E. 1981. The New World species of Cynanchum L.
subgenus Mellichampia (A. Gray ex S. Wats.) Woods.
(Asclepiadaceae). Evolutionary Monographs 5:1-63.
Sundell, E. 1993. Asclepiadaceae. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada
Academy of Science 27(2):182.
Wooton, E.O. and P.S. Standley. 1915. Flora of New Mexico. Contributions
from the United States National Herbarium, Smithsonian Institution,
Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
Information Compiled By: David L. Bleakly, 1998
