The Tucson chapter holds meetings between September and May each year, with a summer break. We meet on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. We hold “hybrid” meetings, where we meet both in person and also on Zoom. The live meetings will be in the ENR2 (Environment and Natural Resources 2) building at the University of Arizona, located on 6th street near Park. We meet in Room S215. Parking is available in the 6th St parking garage adjacent to ENR2. A credit card is required to pay for garage parking. If you are not on our mailing list and wish to attend one of our meetings on Zoom, email us at NativePlantsTucson@gmail.com to request the Zoom link. Videos of past meetings can be found on our YouTube channel.
Tucson Chapter Meeting – Thursday, April 11, 2024
Flora of the Sierra Murrieta, Sonora, Mexico
Presented by Tom Van Devender
Thursday, April 11, 2024
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7:00 pm at the University of Arizona ENR2, Room S215. Also on zoom.
For the zoom link, email nativeplantstucson@gmail.com
Calochortus barbatus in Tierras de Jimenez
The flora of the Sierra Murrieta was inventoried on a Madrean Archipelago Biotic Assessment Expedition from July 31 to August 2, 2014, and a Madrean Discovery Expedition (MDE) on September 13-17, 2022. The vegetation is foothills thornscrub at lower elevations and oak woodland above. A unique feature is an open limestone habitat on the top of the Sierra Murrieta. This area supports an unusual and diverse succulent flora. Notable species include Nolina matapensis and Randia mollifolia.
The collection represents 254 genera in 75 families. Only 11 of 418 taxa (2.6%) are non-native. The flora has strong floristic affinities with tropical southern Sonora and the temperate Sierra Madre Occidental and Sky Island mountain ranges in the Madrean Archipelago.
Agave habitat, Tierras de Jimenez, Mexico
Agave parviflora in Tierras de Jimenez
Nolina matapensis in the Tierras de Jimenez
ABOUT OUR SPEAKER:
Ana-Lilia Reina and Tom VanDevender at a pitaya
Tom has a long-term interest in the biodiversity of Sonora. He was co-editor with Francisco Molina-Freaner of the 2010 book Diversidad Biológica del Estado de Sonora. He has collected over 20,000 plant specimens from many areas in Sonora and the southwestern United States, which are deposited into herbaria at the University of Arizona (Tucson), Universidad de Sonora (Hermosillo), UNAM (Cd. México), and others. Working with other regional botanists, he has published preliminary floras for five Sonoran Sky Island mountain ranges, Cerro Johnson (Hermosillo), the Lower Río Bavispe Valley, and Rancho Las Playitas in Plant Press Arizona. The flora of the Sierra Murrieta is in the current issue of Desert Plants. All Sonoran plant and animal records are publicly available in the Madrean Discovery Expeditions database (madreandiscovery.org).
JOIN OUR CHAPTER E-LIST
Join Our Chapter E-list: If you would like to receive announcements about field trips and meetings via e-mail, send a note to the Tucson Chapter email to be added to the list. Stay informed by joining us on Facebook.
Usually the most up-to-date information about upcoming chapter events can be found on our Facebook page.
Caring for agave and baby cacti? Consider volunteer opportunities at the Pima County Native Plant Nursery! Located at 5845 N. Camino de la Tierra, the Pima County Native Plant Nursery grows native plants for public projects and is looking for volunteers to help with weeding, watering and propagation. The nursery is open Monday to Friday 7:00am to 3:30 pm. Email Amy for available times/days and details. Plant salvage at Cortaro Farms from Camino Del Oeste to Thornydate prior to road improvement project.
Chapter News
Chiricahua Weekend Workshop 2023
Posted on Jun 01, 2023
Late Summer in the Chiricahua Mountains September 16, 17, and 18, 2023
Southwestern Research Station, Portal, Cochise County
The Cochise and Tucson Chapters of the Arizona Native Plant Society are again sponsoring a long weekend in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Cochise County. These richly diverse mountains are one the northern-most islands in the Madrean Archipelago that encompasses parts of Arizona, New Mexico , Sonora, and Chihuahua. Come enjoy this weekend with us. Whatever the weather, there will be botanical treats and great company.
Tentative Schedule: Day 1: Arrive mid to late afternoon, check in, eat supper and head for the education center for some plant talks and discussion.
Day 2: An all-day field trip to a location to be determined. Or alternatively, stay nearer SWRS and attend one or both of two shorter field trips. Happy Hour at the pool before dinner. Evening program in the station’s education center consisting of a plant ID workshop for plants encountered during the field trips.
Day 3: A morning field trip, lunch, and then depart.
Registration: Accommodations, including meals, will be provided by the Southwestern Research Station.
PLEASE CONTACT DOUG RIPLEY (jdougripley@gmail.com) FOR THE REGISTRATION FORM.
Grass Identification Class
Posted on Jun 01, 2023
This is a two-day combination lecture and hands-on workshop for students serious about doing grass i.d. work. The goals are to impart sufficient knowledge for students to make wise decisions regarding collection of grasses, to provide complete information on grass morphology, and to teach the use of keys for identification of most Arizona species. Handout materials, dissecting scopes, tools, and pressed grass specimens for study will be provided. The first day will be lecture mixed with hands-on work. The second day can be for review if needed or desired and questions, plus working with keys from various references. Instructor: Mike Bauer Sponsors: University of Arizona Herbarium and Arizona Native Plant Society When: August 11 and 25, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Where: University of Arizona Herbarium, Herring Hall Cost: $25 Registration contact: Doug Ripley (jdougripley@gmail.com
Estelle Stern-Eilers is a Ben’s Bells Bellee
Posted on Apr 13, 2022
Howard Weiss nominated Estelle for her work in the Rillito Bend neighborhood in Tucson and in April 2022 Estelle was awarded a Ben’s Bell.
Congratulations, Estelle!
Estelle Stern-Eilers has been the catalyst for improving and beautifying the Rillito Bend neighborhood in Tucson. Through her leadership and example she has identified streetscape projects along Cactus Boulevard that have resulted in the planting of hundreds of plants and trees. Her efforts have turned a once-barren street into a flowering desert landscape. She has organized neighborhood residents who have contributed hundreds of hours of their time to make a neighborhood beautiful while providing habitat for native species of plants, animals, birds and insects.
Our neighborhood and Tucson are better because of Estelle.
