Activity 2

Activity #2

Learning the Names of 15 Common Desert Plants

OBJECTIVE: Given 15 named specimens of common desert plants to study, students will develop their own system for identifying them (Student Activity Sheet #2a). Once students have learned the names of the plants, they will use their identification system for a plant quiz Student Activity Sheet #2b.

INSTRUCTIONS: Fresh specimens of plants found on the desert study site are to be placed at convenient places around the classroom. Each specimen should be numbered and have both the common and scientific names attached. Each group of students will work out an identification system that will help them identify the plants when they see them.

The most common plants found in Tucson's desert areas are:

Mesquite	Blue Palo Verde	Whitethorn Acacia
Desert Broom	Mexican Palo Verde	Gregg Acacia
Burroweed	Foothill Palo Verde	Salt-Bush
Creosotebush	Saguaro	Prickly Pear
Cholla Cactus	Rhus lancea	Globe Mallow
Ocotillo	Hackberry	Lycium
Jojoba	White Brittlebush	Barrel Cactus

Among many good books on plants of the southwestern deserts are:

Benson, L. and R. A. Darrow 1981. Trees and shrubs of the southwestern deserts. Univ. of Az. Press. Tucson, Arizona.

Dodge, N. N. 1985. Flowers of the southwestern deserts. Southwest Parks and Monuments Association. Tucson, Arizona.

Elmore, F. H. 1976. Shrubs and tress of the southwest uplands. Southwest Parks and Monuments Association. Tucson, Arizona.

Gould, F. W. 1993. Grass of the southwestern united states. Univ. of Ariz. Press. Tucson, Arizona.

Kearney, T. H. and R. H. Peebles 1960. Arizona flora. Univ. of Calif. Press. Berkeley, California.

Parker, K. F. 1955. Arizona ranch, farm and garden weeds. Ariz. Extension Serv. Univ. of Ariz. Tucson, Arizona. Evaluation