Botanizing at Ironwood Forest National Monument

My friend Beth and I went botanizing in the Ironwood Forest National Monument northwest of Tucson today. We aimed first for the peak known as Ragged Top and ended up in the nearby Waterman Mountains. Wildflower diversity was high – I identified about 20 species, but the peak bloom was a bit past already, and it wasn't a grand display. But it was great fun. Here is a sampling of the plants we found (ID on some is a bit shaky, as I was keying them out using the 48-year-old Kearny & Peebles with no pictures; new names are from http://plants.usda.gov):














Mirabilis laevis, Wishbone-bush

















Chorizanthe rigida, Devil's Spineflower












Chorizanthe brevicornu, Brittle Spineflower






























Eriastrum diffusum, Miniature Woolystar
















Cryptantha maritima, Guadalupe Cryptantha

















Amsinckia menziesii, Common Fiddleneck

















Phacelia crenulata, Cleftleaf Wildheliotrope












Calliandra eriophylla, Fairyduster













Eschscholzia californica, California Poppy














Sphaeralcea laxa, Caliche Globemallow

















Castilleja exserta, Exserted Indian Paintbrush

















Lepidium lasiocarpum, Shaggyfruit Pepperweed

















Lesquerella gordoni, Gordon's Bladderpod

















Thelypodium lasiophyllum, California Mustard

















Rafinesquia neomexicana, New Mexico Plumeseed

















Antheropeas lanosum, White Easterbonnets













Monoptilon bellioides, Mojave Desertstar












Chaenactis stevioides, Esteve's Pincushion

















Chaenactis carphoclinia, Pebble Pincushion

















Finally, I digi-binned this Elegant Earless Lizard (I held my digital camera up to my binoculars).