Habitat Requirements
Two types of habitat are identified. The first is on dry, open slopes (20-30 degrees) at 1,220-1830 m elevation in Madrean evergreen woodlands/interior chaparral transition zone. The second is on stable, partially shaded coarse alluvium along dry washes at 1,095-1,160 m elevation under deciduous riparian trees and shubs in Sonoran desertscrub or desertscrub-grassland ecotone.
Food Habits
Movement / Home Range
Reproductive Strategy
Flowers in late April to May, fruiting in July and August. Seeds are cylindrical, corky and 8-11 mm long, 3-4 mm broad. Seeds may often be or seem to be sterile, likely due to insect predation on seeds. May be pollinated by hawk moths. Seed dispersal and germination may be associated with summer monsoon rains.
Other
Two natural population and one established population known to be extant. There may be other populations; however, surveys to date have not located any. Rainfall coming off of degraded watersheds may increase flood flows in washes, and cause erosion of the habitat with loss of plants. Fire is also a threat, particularly if the expansion of non-native invasive plants into the surrounding habitats results in an increase in fire intensity or periodicity.
