BLM Guide T N s k E c M o

o c i x e M w e N U R

This land, the , the hills and t Researched and written by N Carolyn Dodson mountains mean a lot to us. a Wildflower Specialist n Illustrations by M’Lee Beazley O

It is home — full of peace and harmony. e

T M

At times it is dry, other times

A

there is rain and snow. e

e u q r e u q u b l

I belong to this place. L w A u t N

Donald Suina a

t s i D O K I -

For further information: t c i r T Albuquerque District a Rio Puerco Field Office

435 Montaño Rd. NE h Albuquerque, NM 87107 A

505/761-8700 s

or N NATIONAL MONUMENT

visit www.nm.blm.gov a Kasha-KatuweK Tent Rocks

c o l o r f u l ornaments of BLM/NM/GI-06-04-1232 the landscape...

The Plants of until their predators go to roost before feeding, but by then Manzanita (Arctostaphylos Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks the light is dim, so flowers attract moths by a sweet smell. pungens) Heather Family This handsome three-foot-tall with National Monument Hummingbirds also provide a pollination service leathery evergreen leaves and smooth for flowers. You see hummingbirds around bright reddish-brown bark forms thickets on the The exquisite, multi-hued geological treasure known as red flowers the size and shape of their bills. mesa and in lower areas of the Monu- Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks beckons visitors with its unique ment. In early spring, clusters of small volcanic hoodoos, narrow canyons and high mesas. pink bell-shaped flowers bloom, and by summer shiny brown berries have Equally intriguing on a smaller scale are wildflowers, be replaced them. The fine hairs covering they nestled in niches, crooks and crannies of the area’s the leaves protect the surface from losing water to the dry white cliffs (‘Kasha Katuwe’ in the native Keresan language) air. Depending on the amount of rain during the previ- or sprinkled throughout the almost unworldly assemblage ous year, the crop of manzanita berries may be lush or of volcanic ash and tuff deposits, cliffs and canyons. Three-leaf Sumac sparse. Prehistoric Indians ate the berries raw, cooked (Rhus trilobata) Sumac Family or dried. A jelly made from manzanita is delicious. Wildflowers in the dry, hot Tent Rocks environment Inconspicuous clusters of small yellow can be sparse, but they can also ornament the land- flowers bloom in April before leaves ap- scape in the spring or after a good rain. Finding these pear on this four-foot-shrub. By summer, Apache Plume (Fallugia small treasures can be as much of an adventure as the red berries have matured among the paradoxa) Rose Family scaling the fantastic heights of this special place. bright shiny leaves. Because these sticky, The abundant white flowers on the pea-sized berries taste of tart lemon and openly branched shrub are saucer- Perhaps one of the first things you will notice is that many are used, with a generous heap of sugar, shaped and as large as apple blossoms. of the area’s shrubs are gray, because of white hairs on in a refreshing drink, the plant is some- While new flowers are appearing, leaves and stems. These hairs insulate the plant from loss times called lemonade bush. In fall, the leaves turn a flam- older flowers develop seed clusters of moisture. Below ground, their roots are many feet long, ing red. Another common name, Skunkbush, reflects the with pink feathery tails like miniature reaching down to the deep underground water table. On unpleasant odor of the plant. Trilobata, meaning three-lobed, war bonnets. The small leaves are di- the other hand, wildflowers bloom and make seeds dur- refers to the three-part leaves. Native Americans used the vided into several narrow lobes. When ing the wet season. When the rains end, the plants dry up supple branches and bark for wicker baskets. covered with seed plumes, in late summer, this shrub and disappear from sight. They are not seen again until the is like a six-foot high powder-puff. The straight stems underground seeds spring up in the next rainy season. were used for arrow shafts. Apache plume is a favorite Shrub Live Oak (Quercus ornamental for xeric gardens, and you frequently see it Where you see flowers, you see insects. Flowers depend turbinella) Beech Family planted along roadsides for erosion control. The plant on insects to fertilize their seeds, and insects depend A large, spreading shrub with thick is named for Fallugi, a 17th century Italian botanist. on flowers for food. If you look closely, you will see that stems, this oak has holly-like leaves each kind of flower attracts a certain kind of insect. with spine-tipped teeth. Live oaks keep their leaves throughout the Chamisa (Ericameria nauseosa) Bees commonly approach yellow or blue flowers, ones that winter, only dropping them when Aster Family provide a flat place to alight. After landing, dark lines on the new leaves appear in the spring. The A bushy plant with slender stems and nar- petals lead the bee to the nectar. On the way to the tasty inconspicuous early spring flowers row leaves, chamisa appears nearly white drink, pollen will rub off the body onto the flower and as develop into typical acorns. Presence of acorns certainly because of the silvery hairs covering the the bee leaves, hairs on the body will pick up more pollen. identifies these shrubs, but you may not see very many foliage. It blooms late in the season, and acorns because birds and other wildlife find them delec- when it does, it is covered with dense Butterflies and moths, with their long narrow tongues, can table. Native Americans also ate the nutritious nuts, but first clusters of small flowers. These are rich reach the nectar deep inside long narrow flowers. Butterflies, they had to boil them to remove the poisonous tanins. yellow, turning the shrubs into golden like bees, find these tubular flowers with their acute eyesight. spheres that are stunning in contrast to If you are enjoying the shadowy landscape at dusk, you the surrounding red-orange tent formations. This large

will see hawkmoths flit from flower to flower. Moths wait shrub is common in sandy areas. Also referred to as rub- Cover: Prickly courtesy Pear, Fish of U.S. & Wildlife Service ber rabbitbrush because the plant tissue does contain rub- the clammy feel and disagreeable odor of the stems and plant. Each ‘flower’ is like a yellow aster, and like an aster, ber, although not in a quantity to extract economically. the three-part leaves. The two-inch-long erect seedpods are what appears to be one flower is a composite of many attached beneath the flower clusters. Clammyweed is com- small flowers. The center disk is composed of dozens of Cholla (Cylindropuntia mon on the sandy flats, blooming throughout the season. tiny flowers, each with sepals, petals, stamens, and pistil. imbricata) Cactus Family This is a five-foot-tall shrubby cactus, with James’ Beardtongue (Penstemon long cylindrical stems divided into joints. Perky Sue (Tetraneuris jamesii) Snapdragon Family Like all cacti, its stems are leafless but bear argentea) Sunflower Family The plump lavender flowers along one long sharp spines. In May, when it blossoms The cheerful daisy-like floral head has side of the foot-long stems resemble out with large magenta flowers, the cholla a velvety yellow center surrounded by snapdragons. And like snapdragons, rivals a rose bush. After flowering, seeds a dozen long, golden ray petals with each flower has an upper lip and lower ripen in fleshy yellow fruits at the stem tips. notched tips. Several eight-inch-long lip. Inside the upper lip you can see TheThe pplantlant ggrowsrows byby aaddingdding newnew jointsjoints oror branchesbranches annually.annually. leafless stems, each with one perky sue four stamens, the pollen producers. The These joints are easily broken off the plant and hooked onto at the top, rise from a rosette of long lower lip spreads out to form a landing the fur of a passing animal or clothing of a human. Wherever narrow leaves. Stems and leaves glisten platform for visiting insects. After land- they happen to fall to the ground, they start a new plant. with a covering of silky hairs. Perky ing, the insects follow the purple lines, sue blooms profusely in early spring called guidelines, that lead them to the and has another burst of flowering after the summer rains. nectar supply. A fifth stamen, covered with long hairs, Tetraneuris refers to the four prominent veins on each leaf. lies along the lower lip like a bearded tongue. James’ Banana Yucca Argentea means “silvery,” referring to the color of the leaves. beardtongue is an early spring bloomer in sandy areas. (Yucca baccata) Agave Family Broad lance-shaped Western Wallflower PalePale TTrumpetsrumpets ((IpomopsisIpomopsis leaves, stemming from (Erysimum capitatum) longiflora) Phlox Family the ground, enclose clusters of large white flowers. The tips Mustard Family The most delicate of the Tent Rock of the three-foot-long, stiff leaves are often twisted, with Yellow flowers form a large round clus- wildflowers,wildflowers, thesethese exceptionallyexceptionally backward curving fibers on the margins. After the spring ter at the top of the two-foot-long stem. long, narrow flowers seem out blooming, the flower stalk bears a cluster of large plump Below the group of flowers, long slender of place in the stark landscape. fruit, like a bunch of bananas. Native Americans of the seedpods branch out, appearing not very The thin, lavender floral tube Southwest enjoyed the juicy, succulent fruit raw, baked, or different from narrow leaves. The char- flares out into a star pattern of dried. In addition, they made textiles, baskets and cord- acteristic four petals tapering down to a five pointed lobes, the reason this age from yucca leaf fibers, and shampoo from the roots. thin strip at the base are typical of flow- is also named “starflower.” The spindly plant is erect, Baccata means “pulpy or fleshy,” descriptive of the fruit. ers in the mustard family. Linear, toothed with two-foot-long branching stems and thread-like leaves form a basal rosette and extend leaves. Pale trumpets grow in profusion in the lower, up along the erect stems. Western wallflowers emit a strong sandy areas of the Monument, blooming throughout sweet aroma. The English name comes from the habit of the summer. Hummingbird moths locate the flowers at Wildflowers these plants of growing on old stone walls in Britain. night by the sweet fragrance and with their long slender tongues they reach the nectar deep inside the flowers.

White Prairie Clover Golden Pea (Thermopsis (Dalea cadida) Legume Family montanus) Legume Family DesertDesert FourFour O’clockO’clock Several foot-long stems rise from a common Bright yellow flowers are clustered at the (Mirabilis multiflora) base. They terminate in an elongated green tops of leafy foot-tall stems. The sweetpea- Four O’clock Family spike with a ring of crowded small white flow- like flowers bloom in spring and are fol- AnAn abundanceabundance ofof largelarge purplepurple ers. The long stamens are tipped with golden lowed by seeds in erect, hairy ‘pea pods.’ flowers with long curved sta- anthers. Below the ring of strongly scented A mass of golden peas at a cliff base con- mens adorns this 18-inch-high flowers are the maturing seeds, and above it trasts brilliantly with the pink-ocher wall. spreading, bushy plant. The are the developing buds. The scanty leaves Thermopsis means lupine-like and indeed dark green, leathery leaves are along the stems are divided into long narrow it does resemble lupine, except for flower heartshaped. But to appreci- leaflets. White prairie clover is most common color and number of leaflets. Lupine flowers ate the colorful effect, you have to see it in early morn- in sandy soil at cliff bases, blooming in sum- can be blue, pink or white, but never yel- ing or late afternoon, probably after about four o’clock. mer. The Latin name commemorates Samuel low. Furthermore, lupine leaves are divided into five or more During the middle of the day, the flowers are closed. Dale, an 18th century English botanist, who leaflets while golden pea leaves have only three leaflets. The lush plant is common in piñon-juniper woodlands studied plants that explorers collected in Colonial America. throughout the season. Mirabilis is Latin for “marvelous;” multiflora means “many-flowered.” Desert four o’clock Threadleaf Groundsel was extensively used in Native American medicine. Evening Primrose ( flaccidus) (Oenothera coronopifolia) Aster Family Evening Primrose Family This two-foot tall, open, bushy Scarlet Gilia (Ipomopsis The bright white flowers on these low spread- plant is covered with a dense aggregata) Phlox Family ing plants have four heart-shaped petals mat of woolly white hairs. The Brilliant red flowers hang down along joined at the base into a long tube. Stems are grayish leaves along the stem the length of the two-foot-long erect crowded with lacy leaves, and all plant parts are dissected into thread-like stem. The trumpet-shaped flowers are somewhat hairy. Flowers open in late segments. Floral heads, with yel- flare out into five sharply pointed afternoon and by the following morning are low, twisted ray petals are in lobes. Leaves along the lower part of wilted. Therefore, on every plant, you will see flat-topped clusters. This ground- the stem are gray and finely divided faded pink flowers from the previous day, and green buds sel is common where the sandy soil catches moisture into narrow sections. A skunky odor for the next day, as well as open flowers. Evening primrose at cliff bases and blooms in late summer and early fall. emitted by sticky glands on the stems has a long tradition of medicinal use among Native Ameri- The Latin name Senecio is related to the word for “old and leaves repels plant-eating in- cans and is even now found in modern health food stores. man,” because in fall the flower head, with its covering sects. A biennial, scarlet gilia is a low of white cottony seeds, resembles an old man’s head. mound of gray leaves in the first year; the next year the tall flowering stalk rises. The nectar of these red flow- Yarrow (Achillea ers provides Rufous Hummingbirds with the high energy millefolium) Aster Family Prickly Pear (Opuntia nourishment they need for their long migration travels. The flat-topped clusters of white spp.) Cactus Family flower heads on upright, foot-tall Clusters of round, flat pads stems are scattered throughout the are common in sunny areas. Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja sp.) sandy areas, blooming throughout You can see several species of Snapdragon Family the season. If you lightly crush a prickly pear cacti in the Monu- Stunning flame-colored leaves on the gray-green leaf you will detect a ment. They differ by size of upper part of the foot-tall plant enclose medicinal odor, and, in fact, yarrow does have healing pads, density of spines on the inconspicuous green flowers. You see qualities. Achilles used yarrow on the wounds of his soldiers pads, and, in the spring flower season, by color of flower, only the flower tip projecting beyond during the Trojan war. The Latin name for this plant bears which can be red, orange or yellow. Native Americans ate the red. The bright red leaves on the his name. Millefolium, the other part of the Latin name, the sweet, juicy fruits that ripen in the summer. The pads top half of the plant attract humming- means “thousand leaves” describing the dissected, fern-like are also edible, especially diced and fried with scrambled bird pollinators. Only the lower green leaves. The local Spanish name, plumajillo, means “little eggs, but, of course, only after the spines are removed. Dur- leaves manufacture food through feather” for the feather-like appearance of the leaves. ing the summer rainy season, water is stored in the plump photosynthesis, but they do not make pads. As water is used up, the pads become thinner. enough sugar to sustain the plant, which augments its resources by taking Clammyweed (Polanisia nutrients from nearby plants through dodecandra) Caper Family Hairy Goldenaster root connections. Botanists term Indian The bushy 18-inch-high plants have large (Heterotheca villosa) Aster Family paintbrush a ‘hemi-parasite.’ Domingo clusters of white flowers with long red sta- This foot-high leafy, bushy plant is often Castillejo was an 18th century botanist. mens. Some field guides refer to this plant overlooked most of the year, but in late sum- as the redwhisker clammyweed because of mer, it becomes a golden flower-covered the prominent stamens. The botanical name, sphere. Leaves are narrow and somewhat dodecandra, means twelve stamens. Sticky, twisted, with pointed tips. The name villosa, strong-smelling glands are responsible for meaning hairy, is well chosen for this hairy Enjoy your day at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks!

Leave No Trace: Plan ahead and prepare - Travel and camp on durable surfaces - Dispose of waste properly - Leave what you fi nd - Minimize campfi re impacts - Respect wildlife - Be considerate of other visitors.