Learn the plants while A note about terminology: All plant species are Hoary-tansyaster Smooth spreading four o’clock Rubber rabbitbrush White sagebrush Pass beneath the tunnel blasted through the Muttongrass native to Grand Canyon unless they are listed as Machaeranthera canescens – Asteraceae Mirabilis oxybaphoides – Nyctaginaceae Ericameria nauseosa – Asteraceae Artemisia ludoviciana – Asteraceae Kaibab Limestone cliff. Poa fendleriana – Poaceae walking the trail. exotic. Annual indicates the plant lives for only Forb with many branches. Perennial forb. Leaves Perennial shrub with Perennial forb with foliage Perennial bunchgrass. Leaves mainly one year, while perennial means it lives for more Leaves alternate and very opposite, heart-shaped, with felt-like, greyish-green that becomes gray-green as it Deer goldenbush come from the base of plant with than a year. A forb is a plant, other than a grass, narrow, often with bristly wavy margins. Stems many- upright branches. Leaves matures. Leaves deeply divided Ericameria arizonica – Asteraceae sheaths closed along the lower third that does not have a woody stem. tips. Flowers brilliantly blue branched and hairy. Purple alternate and narrow. into 3–5 lobes. Many yellow Perennial shrub to 1.5 ft / 50 cm of the leaf. Branched seed heads or purple with many petals funnel-shaped fowers with 3 Yellow fowers cover the fowers arranged in a branched tall. Reddish-tan stems with long, taper towards the top; April – August.

A number of plants grow near the trailhead. om Chester Cliffrose surrounding a yellow center; lobes; August to September. plant July to October. stalk; August to October. narrow leaves. Yellow fowers © T © Lisa Kearsley

See how many you can identify while © Lisa Kearsley July to November. with a big, fufy center and 5 A widespread grass often found in enjoying the magnifcent canyon view. © Al Schneider You will see this plant trailing Rabbitbrush becomes one of the most noticeable White sagebrush, found throughout Grand Canyon, is narrow petals appear in the fall. open woodlands and grasslands, this

These eye-catching fowers add color along the trail along the ground. The genus shrubs in late summer and fall when it is covered with one of the most widely distributed species in western is an important food source for elk, © Lisa Kearsley Pinyon pine well into the fall. They grow in areas that have been name, Mirabilis, translates as dense masses of tiny yellow fowers. Rabbits browse North America. Native Americans boil it into a tea, Like Grand Canyon rockdaisy, deer, and bighorn sheep. The Havasupai grind and eat

Pinus edulis – Pinaceae © Al Schneider disturbed or have poor soils. The Navajo use this plant “wonderful,” for its large, and hide in the plant. The Hopi use the branches in burn it as an incense, and crush it to use as a poultice. these plants occur mainly along the seeds or boil them to make dumplings. Short tree to 45 ft / 15 m tall, to help with nasal congestion and stomach aches. beautiful fowers. Native Americans used the root to basket making. the rock wall above the trail. They

often with a crooked trunk treat colic, rheumatism, and infections. also are endemic to (i.e. found Chester © Tom Continue to the sign warning of the danger and furrowed dark bark. Walk down to the Bright Angel Trail only at) Grand Canyon. Botanists recently designated of hiking to the river and back in one day. Cheatgrass information sign at the frst switchback. Two short, curved needles 50 feet / 15 meters down the trail is a geology this plant as a new species. per bundle. Small cones Bromus tectorum – Poaceae California brickellbush Fernbush sign introducing the Kaibab Formation. The Brickellia californica – Asteraceae produce large seeds each Exotic annual grass with Chamaebatiaria millefolium – Rosaceae next two shrubs surround it. Squirreltail Big sagebrush fall. drooping seed heads. Many-branched, aromatic Elymus elymoides – Poaceae Artemisia tridentata – Asteraceae Shrub to 5 ft / 1.5 m tall. Leaves Starting at the trailhead, this guide Plants solitary or in clumps. shrub to 3 ft / 1 m tall. Leaves Mountain snowberry Perennial shrub with thick, alternate and fernlike. White fowers points out some of the plants you pass. Pinyon pines are one of Flowers and dries in May. illand triangular, toothed, and Perennial bunchgrass with with 5 petals; July to November. the most common trees Symphoricarpos oreophilus – Caprifoliaceae covered with fne hairs. Flowers leaves that are often folded crooked trunk and silvery Trail descriptions (written in red) help s College gray-green foliage. Leaves Fernbush is easily identifed by its you fnd where diferent plants frst start along the South Rim. Their Cheatgrass invaded the Deciduous shrub to 5 ft / 1.5 m cylindrical, white to yellowish, or rolled down. Flowers sticky leaves, which

© Jason W wedge-shaped and hairy cones produce large, tasty United States in the late tall with smooth stems. Leaves and clustered; July to October. March to September with loose with 3 rounded lobes at the look like miniature to appear along the trail. You will not © Lee Dittmann pinyon nuts. The nuts were © Lisa Kearsley (both) 1800s. It spread quickly, outcompeting native grasses opposite and oval. Tubular and open seed heads. ferns. The fowers, only identify common plants, but also an important food for Brickellbush, while quite common, is often overlooked tip. Flower stalks emerge and crops, “cheating” farmers and wildlife alike from pink fowers with 5 lobes ousseau, St. Mary’ from ends of branches; © Lisa Kearsley showy and sweet- discover interesting facts about each. Native Americans. Jays cache the seeds in the ground more edible and nutritious native grasses. Cheatgrass bloom May to August; followed since its features are not distinctive. Can you fnd it The seed heads look like a © Lee Dittmann (both) ed Br. Alfr© Br Alfr© ed Br. August to September. smelling, attract bees. Record how many plants you can fnd by to retrieve when food is scarce. Seeds not eaten may often moves into areas damaged by overgrazing or by white berries. along the trail? This drought-tolerant bush grows best bushy squirrel’s tail or bottle Deer and sheep browse the foliage. germinate in the spring, helping propagate the tree. other disturbances. Seed heads stick in hikers’ socks, © Lee Dittmann in rocky areas with full sun. brush. It survives when exposed checking of the box next to each name. One of the most widely distributed which helps disperse the seeds. Snowberry reproduces both by seed and by vegetative to fre and competes well against clones. Birds and small mammals eat the brilliantly invasive cheatgrass. Deer and elk graze the grass. Its shrubs in the southwestern United

Gooseberry / Currant © Lee Dittmann Plants are ordered according to the States, sagebrush is known for its Green ephedra Ribes sp. – Saxifragaceae Gambel oak white berries. The Havasupai fashion cradleboards Penstemon seeds are eaten by rodents and rabbits. Ephedra viridis – Ephedraceae frst time they appear along the trail. from the stems. pungent odor. Native Americans and pioneers Quercus gambelii – Fagaceae Penstemon sp. – Scrophulariaceae depended upon it for medicine, fuel, and food. Since they are close enough to see from Perennial shrub to 6 ft / 2 m Perennial shrub with many tall. Leaves alternate with Tree to 15 ft / 5 m tall Perennial forb of tall stalks with fowers along upper upright, green, jointed stems. the trail, please do not walk of the 3 to 5 lobes and prominent with gray, furrowed Utah serviceberry portion; March to September. Leaves opposite, Grand Canyon rockdaisy Look closely at the stems for Amelanchier utahensis – Rosaceae Perityle congesta – Asteraceae Gray aster trail while examining them. Can you veins. White tubular bark. Deeply lobed triangular shaped, sometimes clasping the stem. the small, scale-like leaves Eurybia glauca – Asteraceae recognize the same plants in diferent fowers appear May to July, leaves are smooth above Shrub to 15 ft / 5 m tall. Leaves Perennial shrub to 1 ft / 30 cm tall and in the spring, for small locations along the trail? followed by red berries. and hairy below. Large alternate, oval, hairy, and Many penstemon species with many slender stems. Leaves Perennial forb with alternate, yellow-green cones. acorns mature in fall. toothed. White fowers with inhabit Grand Canyon. alternate, mostly along stem, oval, pale green leaves. Violet- Two species grow along the 5 petals appear April to May. Eaton’s frecracker (left) with and sometimes toothed. Tiny tinged white fowers with Ephedra looks like a branched, upside-

Start at the trailhead for the Bright Angel trail. Gooseberry has spines, Oak provides shelter © Lee Dittmann Orange fruits ripen in summer. beautiful narrow, red fowers yellow fowers June to October. narrow petals and a yellow down broom, its leaves hardly noticeable.

Trail on the canyon rim near the rock while currant does not. The and food for many animals. Early cultures ground the © Lisa Kearsley is most abundant at higher This small, rounded plant has a center; July to September. Related to pines and juniper, it bears cones corral for the mules, 300 feet / 100 meters berries are edible, but please leave acorn into meal. Its hard wood is important for tool- The foliage and berries are an important food for a elevations. Palmer’s penstemon delicate appearance. Watch for it © Kristin Huisinga The showy fowers highlight instead of fowers. Ephedra produce © Lori Makarick west of Kolb Studio. them for other animals. Birds love © Lee Dittmann (both) making, and its bark produces a tan dye for Navajo variety of wildlife. People have long eaten the berries. (right) exhibits showy pink growing out of cracks in the rock wall above the trail. the large, dense patches of cafeine and ephedrine and have been used the berries. Mule deer and other rugs. While the leaves turn brown in fall, many do not The name originates from the early settlers who placed fowers. Look for it farther Restricted almost exclusively to Grand Canyon, it gray aster. A powdery coating makes the frm, wide as decongestants to relieve colds and © Lisa Kearsley ( left ) © Lee Dittmann ( right ) wildlife browse the foliage. drop of until spring when new leaves replace them. serviceberry fowers on grave sites. down the trail. thrives from river to rim. leaves appear grayish-green. asthma. The stems are steeped to make tea. © Lisa Kearsley (both) National Park Service Smallfower globemallow Threadleaf snakeweed Banana yucca Watch for a small spring (damp area) on your Pallid hoptree Continue down the switchbacks through the Munz’s bedstraw U.S. Department of the Interior Sphaeralcea parvifolia – Malvaceae Gutierrezia microcephala – Asteraceae Yucca baccata – Agavaceae right, Kolb Seep, with a switchback to the left. Ptelea trifoliata – Rutaceae Coconino Sandstone cliffs. Galium munzii – Rubiaceae Grand Canyon National Park Perennial forb, whitish Small perennial shrub with Succulent perennial with a Tree to 20 ft / 6 m tall with white Skunkbush Perennial shrub with Arizona green and hairy. Leaves many slender, erect, yellow- rosette of long, wide, spine- Cliff fendlerbush stems. Alternate leaves in groups Rhus trilobata – Anacardiaceae slender, wiry branches, to 2 fan-shaped, lobed, green branches and small, tipped leaves with fbers Fendlera rupicola – Hydrangeaceae of 3 leafets. Bunches of greenish ft / 60 cm tall. Leaves attach Deciduous shrub with coarsely toothed. Orange narrow leaves. Produces coming of the leaf edges. white fowers with 4 petals; to branches in groups of Shrub to 7 ft / 2 m tall with straight, opposite leaves divided into 5-petaled fowers many small, yellow fowers Flower stalks with large May to June. Seeds, surrounded four. Small, red fowers What’s That Plant? © Al Schneider vertical stems and shaggy bark. three lobed leafets. Dense, with yellow centers; June to October. Like the cream-colored fowers in by a papery wing, hang down. emerge June to October. Leaves paired, narrow, thick, and spike-like, yellowish fowers June to August. larger rabbitbrush, this common plant is prominent spring, followed by feshy, Look for the groups of four leaves

© Al Schneider slightly rolled under. Flowers April to June, followed by A guide for identifying plants along in the late summer and fall when it is covered by banana-shaped capsules. If you hold the leaves up to the © Lisa Kearsley radiating from the stem. This species cover the plant May to July with 4 red fruit. Flowers appear Globemallow, widespread throughout yellow fowers. Sheepherders applied a poultice of light, you will see hundreds of of bedstraw, found only in Arizona, the Bright Angel Trail from the rim © Robert Sivinski

separated white petals, followed by before the leaves emerge in Chester (both) © Tom the West, thrives in dry, sunny areas. Its snakeweed to treat snakebit sheep. Yucca fowers can be pollinated only by yucca moths, tiny spots, glands flled with oily compounds that emit prefers rocky habitats. to Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse small, acorn-like fruits.

© Al Schneider (both) spring. Glandular hairs cover the sticky berries, giving leaves and fowers can be made into a which lay their eggs in the fowers. Moth larvae eat a citrus odor when crushed. Ancient hunters made a them a sweet-sour taste. Pioneers made the berries tea to promote calmness. The hairs on the foliage can Reach a switchback turning to the right and only yucca seeds. Thus, each species is dependent poison for arrows from the leaves. These shrubs grow in rocky areas; into a tart, tasty lemonade bestowing another name: Fragrant ash irritate the skin and eyes of livestock, giving rise to start down “Heartbreak Hill.” upon the other. Yucca provided Native Americans © Al Schneider the Latin name rupicola means lemonade-berry. Fraxinus cuspidata – Oleaceae another common name, sore-eye poppy. with food, fber, and shampoo. While walking down the switchbacks below the rock-dweller. A profusion of sweet- second tunnel, watch for a century plant perched Small tree to 23 ft / 7 m tall with Utah juniper smelling fowers attracts attention on the cliff. Please observe it from the trail. Creeping barberry gray, fssured trunk. Opposite leaves Cliffrose Juniperus osteosperma – Cupressaceae Arizona thistle in spring. Native peoples used the Mahonia repens – Berberidaceae in groups of 3 to 7 narrow leafets. Purshia stansburiana – Rosaceae Cirsium arizonicum – Asteraceae straight, smooth branches to make Loose, white fowers with long petals Short tree to 20 ft / 6 m tall. Century plant Low, creeping evergreen shrub.

© Lisa Kearsley arrows, planting sticks, and awls. droop from stems April to June and Evergreen shrub to 8 ft / 2.5 Crooked, twisted trunks with Perennial forb with one to several Agave utahensis – Agavaceae Dark green, leathery, holly-like mature into winged seeds. m tall with shaggy bark. shaggy bark. Needles are scale- erect stems. Sharp spines cover A succulent perennial; a rosette of leaves with spiny teeth along the Leaves wedge-shaped, lobed, like. A blue-gray wax coats the the leaves and base of fower. thick, spine-tipped leaves with sharp edge. Yellow fowers with This ash difers from others in that © Robert Sivinski and curled under at the end. berry-like female cones. Purple fower heads emerge from teeth along leaf edges. Flower stalk 6 petals April to June, followed Halfway between Kolb Seep and the second it has fragrant fowers with petals. Used by Native Flowers cream-colored with spiny bracts May to October. tunnel, you may spy a prickly pear growing grows in a few weeks to 20 ft / 6 m by blue berries.

© Lisa Kearsley Americans to make bows and arrow shafts. 5 petals. Fruits sport 4 to 10 Pinyon-juniper forests cover from a crack in the rock wall above you. Can tall; covered with yellow fowers feathery plumes. millions of acres in the More than a dozen species of you fnd it? May to July. Barberry’s stems trail along the ground. Many © Lisa Kearsley Navajo feabane Southwest. Birds and coyotes eat the thistle occur in Arizona. This mammals and birds feed on the berries, although Erigeron concinnus – Asteraceae Clifrose leaves are bitter tasting, leading to the name berries and deposit the encased seed in species is native, but others are © James Andie The century plant grows for 20 to 40 people may fnd them dry and tasteless. The Navajo quinine-bush; yet, many animals browse on it. The their droppings, helping disperse the © Lisa Kearsley (both) exotic and highly invasive. Hummingbirds and many Prickly pear years. One spring it will rapidly sprout use the plant to treat scorpion bites. Steep the roots Perennial forb. Leaves branches were fashioned into arrow shafts and the plant. Junipers provide fuel, building material, insects feed on the fower’s nectar. Opuntia sp. – Cactaceae a huge fowering stalk, after which the for a laxative tea. alternate, hairy, long, and shaggy bark lined Navajo and Hopi cradleboards. medicine, food, and ceremonial items for Native entire plant dies. The agave has narrow. Seed heads also Cactus with fat pads covered At the bottom of the Coconino switchbacks, Americans. provided Native Americans food, © Lisa Kearsley covered with hairs. Flowers Douglas fr with spines. Large yellow, fber, and medicine for centuries. traverse along the Hermit shale slope. April to October; many white Indian ricegrass Pseudotsuga menziesii – Pinaceae pink, or red fowers emerge Achnatherum hymenoides – Poaceae Fremont barberry petals with a large yellow Evergreen tree to 130 ft / 40 m May to June. Oval, red, feshy center. Mahonia fremontii – Berberidaceae tall, tapering to a point, with fruits, called tunas, ripen below Beechleaf frangula Miner’s lettuce

Perennial bunchgrass with © Al Schneider Frangula betulifolia – Rutaceae Claytonia perfoliata – Portulacaceae The fne hairs give this narrow leaves as long as the Evergreen shrub to 10 ft / 3 m drooping branches. Short, fat the fowers. Many species of feabane a fuzzy appearance. The word feabane stem. Large seeds on the ends of tall. Alternate leaves with thick, needles. Small cones hang down prickly pear thrive from rim to Deciduous shrub to 8 ft / 2.5 Annual forb with many derives from using this plant to keep away feas and slender, openly branched stalks; gray-green leafets have spiny tips. from branches with bracts river—some with long spines, m tall. Large, prominently spreading stems. Two types © Lisa Kearsley other insects. May to August. Yellow 6-petaled fowers appear protruding between cone scales. others with no spines; pad size veined leaves with tiny teeth of leaves—long, narrow

© Lee Dittmann Congratulations on reaching Mile-and-a-Half April to July, followed by bluish- and color varies. At the base of each group of spines along the edge. Small greenish leaves near the ground, and The large seeds at the ends of the black berries. In spite of its name, Douglas fr is not a true fr—cones are tiny tan spines termed glochids. No matter the size fowers May to June. Round feshy, circular leaves Resthouse. After resting, while hiking back clumped grasses give them a lacy © Al Schneider on frs are upright and disintegrate before falling. of the spines, they hurt, so keep your distance. People berries turn purple in the fall. surrounding small, white to the rim, revisit the plants you learned. Can © Kristin Huisinga © Tom Chester © Tom appearance. The seeds, easy to The sharp-tipped leaves deliver a painful poke. Birds Look for the cones with bracts or “mouse tails” eat the tunas raw or cooked into jellies, and the © Lee Dittmann fowers. The circular, fower- you fnd any plants not listed in this guide? between the cone’s scales. Douglas frs usually grow at The most noticeable feature harvest, are very nutritious. Native Americans roasted and small mammals consume the berries. The stems calcium-rich young pads are eaten raw, boiled, or bearing leaves make it easy to identify miner’s lettuce. Images by Lee Dittmann used with permission from nazfora.org. them to make into mush, cereal, or bread. Mammals and roots produce a brilliant, yellow dye used to color higher elevations. Because of the cooler, north-facing fried. Many animals from grounds squirrels to coyotes about this plant is the large, veined leaves, shiny on Both Native Americans and pioneers used these Images by Al Schneider used with permission from and birds also eat, and sometimes cache, the seeds. cloth, buckskins, and baskets. slope, they thrive here. also enjoy the fruits. top, pale and fuzzy beneath. Wildlife relish the berries. leaves to make salads. swcoloradowildfowers.com 0617