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PLANTS OF THE WHITE SANDS
A Discussion of
Dunes Ecology With
Revised Checklist
White Sands National Monument
New Mexico
INTRODUCTION
White Sands National Monument preserves a sea of graceful white
gypsum sand dunes--a landscape of stark natural beauty. Life is
difficult in the dune field, even for plants adapted to desert
conditions. The dune field environment is unusually harsh:
plants must endure burial by moving dunes, nutrient-poor gypsum
soil, and extreme fluctuations of temperature. Only about 60
species of plants, one quarter of those growing in the adjacent
Tularosa Basin, have found a way to survive in the dunes.
This guide combines previously compiled, revised checklists of
plants of the White Sands. The following discussion of the
ecological aspects of the dunes should help the observer to
locate and identify individual species of plants. By placing the
checklists in ecological context, it is hoped that the observer
will come to think of each plant as a member of a life community
interrelating with the dune movement.
ECOLOGICAL ASPECTS
Ecology is the study of the interrelationships between plants and
animals and their physical surroundings. It is literally a study
of the home or household of living things. In understanding the
ecology of the White Sands, several rather distinct homes, or
habitats, must be considered. Most of these habitats are named in
terms of the physical surroundings because, as in most arid
lands, the inorganic part of the environment is the most
prominent and has the greatest influence on the organic parts.
Interdune flats. As the gypsum sand dunes move northwestward
across the Tularosa Basin, pieces of the underlying desert floor
are exposed between the individual dunes. Most of the plant
species inside the dune field grow only in these interdune flats,
where conditions are less hostile. Better soil and protection
from wind and blowing sand allows plants to survive for a while--
until the next dune buries them.
The most showy wildflowers in the interdune flats include
Centaury, a gentian with bright pink flowers; Sand Verbena, with
its fragrant lilac-like smell; Stick-leaf, with yellow, star-like
flowers; Woolly Paperflower, which stands out against the white
dunes in bright yellow clumps in the fall; and Yellow Evening
Primrose.
Marginal Dunes. These extend into the dune field two or three
miles from its southern and eastern boundary. Most of the dunes
in this habitat are slow-moving, scattered and separated by large
grassy, interdune areas. Although the dunes are still the
prominent feature here, the effects of vegetation in slowing the
rate of dune movement is very evident.
The marginal dunes themselves have become relatively heavily
populated with flora able to withstand such physical conditions.
There are eight species of plants that routinely grow on the
marginal dunes. The Soaptree Yucca is found scattered throughout
this part of the dune field. Yuccas that can be seen on the tops
of dunes actually germinate in interdune areas. As a dune begins
to bury them, the yuccas elongate their stems, growing upward as
much as a foot per year, to keep their leaves above the sand.
Two large shrubs, Skunkbush Sumac and Hoary Rosemarymint, can
also extend their stems and outgrow slow-moving marginal dunes.
Their stems and roots can then anchor the dunes, further slowing
dune movement and allowing other plants to take root on the
relatively stable soil.
This developing plant community attracted animal life from the
adjacent desert, which became fit to live on the dunes through
evolutionary adaptation. Thus, the marginal dunes are now an
ecological complex of unexpected variety and diversity.
Transverse and Barchan Dunes. In the center of the dune field,
the physical forces of nature reign supreme. The paucity of
plant life in the interior of the dune field is indicative of the
harsh environmental conditions that prevail. Large transverse
and barchan dunes creep forward many feet per year, overwhelming
all plant life in their paths. Even the fast-growing yucca and
rosemarymint cannot outgrow these dunes. No plants grow on the
tops of the dunes, and only a few hardy species are able to live
in the interdune flats until they are covered by sand. This
interdune environment, known as the Abronia (Sand Verbena)
association, is characterized by openings invaded first by
Evening Primrose. These pioneers occupy the lee slope of the
migrating dunes, the most recently created portion of the
interdune flat. Moving out toward the center (older portion) of
the flat, the Primrose is replaced by Indian Ricegrass and,
later, Groundsel. The last plants to invade are Sand Verbena,
Ephedra, Greenthread, and, finally, Alkali Sacaton.
Alkali Flat and Lake Lucero. The transverse-barchan dunes grade
to the west into a narrow zone of embryonic dunes. The latter
mark the eastern boundary of an ancient lake bed called the
Alkali Flat. Here alkaline conditions prevent the growth of
plant life except for a few scattered grasses and a scaly pseudo-
evergreen known as Pickleweed. Lake Lucero, at the southern end
of the Alkali Flat, occasionally contains standing water. There
is little plant growth in the bed of Lake Lucero due to extreme
alkaline conditions and infrequent flooding. However, alkaline-
tolerant grasses sparsely fringe the shore of the lake.
Alluvial Fans. The alluvial fans at the base of the San Andres
Mountains have coalesced to form a broad slope known as a bajada.
The lowermost slopes of this extend into the monument and border
the Alkali Flat on the west. The bajada is cut at frequent
intervals by deep washes or arroyos that empty onto the Alkali
Flat and Lake Lucero. Large Honey Mesquite hummocks are the
dominant vegetative feature. The mesquite community soon gives
way to Creosote Bush higher up on the slopes, near the monument
boundary.
Saltbush Flats. The center of this high desert basin, the
Tularosa, is vegetated mainly by Four Wing Saltbush and salt-
tolerant bunch grasses. As grazing land, it is now very poor
but, in the 1800's before the introduction of range cattle, it
supposedly was predominately grassland having more of the
appearance of plains than desert. A combination of drought and
overgrazing may have allowed the hardy saltbush to take over.
The eastern and southern edges of the marginal dunes are bordered
by these saltbush flats. This grey-green monotony is broken by
an occasional splash of bright red blossoms of the Claret Cup
Hedgehog Cactus in the spring and stands of Golden Crownbeard in
the fall.
Exotic plants. Tamarisk, or salt cedar, is a Mediterranean shrub
introduced into North America. The aggressive tamarisk has
spread throughout the southwest, growing thickly along streams,
ponds and other seasonally-wet areas. At White Sands, tamarisk
has invaded many interdune areas, where water is close to the
surface. To protect native plants, the National Park Service is
actively trying to control the spread of tamarisk within the
monument. Other exotic plants now found in the park include
Russian Thistle, or tumbleweed, and African Rue.
CLIMATIC FACTORS
This high desert basin, averaging 4,000 feet in elevation, is
subject to harsh and sometimes rapidly changing climatic
conditions. Summers are hot, averaging 95ø highs in July and
August, with occasional readings over 100øF. Winter days are
relatively mild, but nighttime temperatures routinely drop below
freezing. Cold spells can send the mercury to below zero. The
lowest temperature on record is a -25øF. Snowfall is infrequent,
but heavy snows have occurred on occasion. Precipitation
averages about eight inches per year, with most of this occurring
during summer thunderstorms, often accompanied by hail.
Wind is the dominant climatic factor here, especially from
February through May. The prevailing southwesterly winds blow
unimpeded across the desert and at times reach gale proportions.
Storms sometimes last for several days in the spring. This is
the time of greatest dune movement, when living conditions for
dune plant and animal communities become extremely harsh.
PLANT CHECKLIST
The following checklist has been compiled by various qualified
individuals over the years since White Sands was established as a
National Monument in 1933. Much of the work has been done by
National Park Service personnel and volunteers. The latest
revision was prepared by park volunteers Paul Shaw and Jeanine
Derby. A Flora of New Mexico by W.C. Martin and C.R. Hutchins is
the source for scientific names used in this checklist.
Separate checklists of birds and other animals of the white sands
are available at the monument bookstore.
CHECKLIST FOR PLANTS
DIVISION - CYANOCHLORONTA (Cyanobacteria)
Oscillatoria sp.
DIVISION - CHLOROPHYTA (Green Algae)
Chlamydomonas sp.
Microcoleus paludosus
Microcoleus vaginatus
Nostoc spp.
Palmogloea protuberans
Pleconema nostocorum
Schizothrix californica
Schizothrix lamyi
Scytonema hofmannii
DIVISION - CHAROPHYTA (Stone Worts)
Nitella sp.
DIVISION - EUGLENOPHYCOPHYTA (Euglendids)
Euglena sp.
DIVISION - THALLOPHYTA (Lichens)
Dermatocarpon lachneum
Fulgensia sp.
Physia aipolia
Psora sp.
Psora decipiens
DIVISION - SPERMATOPHYTA
GYMNOSPERMAE (Non-flowering Plants)
EPHEDRACEAE (Ephedra Family)
Ephedra torreyana Mormon Tea or Jointfir
Ephedra trifurca Canatilla
ANGIOSPERMAE (Flowering Plants) MONOCOTYLEDONAE
CYPERACEAE (Sedge Family)
Scirpus paludosus Salt-Marsh Bulrush
Scirpus microcarpus Bulrush
JUNCACEAE (Rush Family)
Juncus balticus var. montanus Rush
Juncus mexicanus Rush
LILIACEAE (Lily Family)
Yucca elata Soaptree Yucca
Yucca torreyi Torrey Yucca
POACEAE (Grass Family)
TRIBE (4) ABUNDINEAE
Arundo donax Giant Reed
TRIBE (8) STIPEAE
Oryzopsis hymenoides Indian Ricegrass
TRIBE (13) ERAGROSTEAE
Muhlenbergia arenacea Ear Muhly
Muhlenbergia porteri Bush Muhly
Muhlenbergia pungens Sandhill Muhly
Scleropogon brevifolius Burrgrass
Sporobolus airoides Alkali Sacaton
Sporobolus contractus Spike Dropseed
Sporobolus cryptandrus Sand Dropseed
Sporobolus flexuosis Mesa Dropseed
Sporobolus giganteus Giant Dropseed
Sporobolus nealleyi Gypgrass or
Nealley Dropseed
Tridens pulchellus Fluff Grass
TRIBE (14) CHLORIDEAE
Bouteloua barbata Six-weeks Grama
Bouteloua breviseta Gyp Grama or Short-
bristled Grama
Bouteloua gracilis Blue Grama
Chloris virgata Feather Fingergrass
Hilaria mutica Tobosa Grass
TRIBE (16) AELUROPODEAE
Distichlis stricta Desert Saltgrass
TRIBE (19) ARISTIDEAE
Aristida adscensionis Six-weeks Three-awn
TRIBE (20) PANICEAE
Setaria macrcostachya Plains Bristlegrass
TRIBE (21) ANDROPOGONEAE
Andropogon scoparius Little Bluestem
RUPPIACEAE (Ditch-grass Family)
Ruppia maritima Widgeongrass
TYPHACEAE (Cattail Family)
Typha angustifolia Narrow-leaved Cattail
Typha latifolia Common Cattail
ANGIOSPERMAE (Flowering Plants) DICOTYLEDONAE
AIZOACEAE (Carpet-weed Family)
Trianthema portulacastrum Horse Purslane
AMARANTHACEAE (Amaranth Family)
Amaranthus retroflexus Pigweed
Tidestromia lanuginosa Woolly Tidestromia
ANACARDIACEAE (Cashew Family)
Rhus trilobata Skunkbush Sumac
Rhus microphylla Little-leaf Sumac
APOCYNACEAE (Dogbane Family)
Amsonia arenaria Blue-Star
Amsonia hirtella Blue-Star
ASCLEPIADACEAE (Milkweed Family)
Asclepias arenaria Sand Milkweed
Asclepias subverticillata Poison Milkweed
ASTERACEAE (Composite Family)
TRIBE (2) AMBROSINEAE
Hymenoclea monogyra Singlewhirl Burro-bush
TRIBE (3) ASTEREAE
Baccharis bigelovii Bigelow Baccharis
Baccharis glutinosa Seepwillow Baccharis
Baccharis salicina Willow Baccharis
Chrysothamnus nauseosus Rubber Rabbitbrush
Chrysothamnus pulchellus ssp. baileyi Southwest Rabbitbrush
Erigeron bellidastrum Fleabane
Gutierrezia microcephala Three Leaf Snakeweed
Gutierrezia sarothrae Broom Snakeweed
Haplopappus heterophyllus Jimmy-weed
Haplopappus spinulosus ssp. australis Goldenweed
Machaeranthera linearis Sand Goldenweed
Machaeranthera parviflora Wild Aster
Machaeranthera scabrella
Machaeranthera tanacetifolia Tohoka Daisy
TRIBE (5) HELIANTHEAE
Dicranocarpus parvilflorus Pitchfork
Engelmannia pinnatifida Engelmann Daisy
Flourensia cernua American Tarbush
Helianthus annuus Common Sunflower
Helianthus petiolaris Prairie Sunflower
Thelesperma megapotamicum Greenthread
Verbesina encelioides Golden Crownbeard
Zinnia grandiflora Rocky Mountain Zinnia
TRIBE (6) HELENIEAE
Bahia absinthifolia Bahia
Gaillardia pinnatifida Firewheel
Gaillardia pulchella Firewheel
Hymenopappus filifolius var. cinereus Yellow Cutleaf
Pectis angustifolia Lemonweed
Pseudoclappia arenaria False Clappia
Psilostrophe sparsiflora Paperdaisy
Psilostrophe tagetina Woolly Paperflower
Sartwellia flaveriae Threadleaf Sartwell
TRIBE (8) SENECIONEAE
Senecio douglasii var.longilobus Threadleaf Groundsel
Senecio riddellii Riddell Groundsel
Senecio spartiodes Broom Groundsel
TRIBE (9) CYNAREAE
Centaurea melitensis Napa Star Thistle
Centaurea repens Russian Knapweed
Cirsium wheeleri Wheeler Thistle
TRIBE (10) MUTISIEAE
Perezia nana Desert Holly
BIGNONIACEA (Bignonia Family)
Chilopsis linearis Desert Willow
BORAGINACEAE (Borage Family)
Coldenia hispidissima Purple Borage
Cryptantha fulvocanescens Yellow Cryptantha
Heliotropium greggii Heliotrope
Lappula texana Stickseed
BRASSICACEAE (Mustard Family)
Descurainia pinnata Tansy-mustard
Dithyrea wislizenii Spectacle-Pod
Diplotaxus tenuifolia Slimleaf Wallrocket
Greggia camporum Velvety Greggia
Greggia camporam var. linearifolium White Sands Mustard
Lepidium densiflorum Peppergrass
Lepidium montanum var. alyssoides Pepperweed
Lesquerella fendleri Bladderpod
Sisymbrium irio London Rocket
Streptanthus validus Jewel Flower
CACTACEAE (Cactus Family)
Cereus greggii Night-blooming Cereus
Coryphantha macromeris Nipple Beehive Cactus
Coryphantha sheeri Needle Beehive Cactus
Coryphantha vivipara var. vivipara Biscuit Cactus
Echinocactus horizonthalonius Blue Barrel Cactus
var. horizonthalonius
Echinocereus fendleri var. fendleri Fendler's Hedgehog
Echinocereus fendleri Fendler Needle-Spine
var. rectispinus
Hedgehog
Echinocereus ennaecanthus Straw-colored Hedgehog
var. stramineus
Echinocereus triglochidiatus Claret Cup Hedgehog
var. gonacanthus
Opuntia clavata Club Cholla
Opuntia imbricata Cane Cholla or Tree Cholla
Opuntia kleiniae var. kleiniae Klein Pencil Cholla
Opuntia leptocaulis Desert Christmas Cactus
Opuntia macrorhiza var. Tuberous-Rooted Prickly
macrorhiza Pear
Opuntia macrorhiza var. pottsii Plains Prickly Pear
Opuntia phaeacantha var. discata Desert Prickly Pear
Opuntia polyacantha var. rufispina Red-Spined Prickly Pear
Opuntia violacea var. macrocentra Long-Spine Prickly Pear
Pediocactus papyracanthus Paper-Spine Plains Cactus
CHENOPODIACEAE (Goosefoot Family)
Allenrolfea occidentalis Pickle-weed
Atriplex canescens Four-wing Saltbush
Salsola kali var. tenuifolia Russian Thistle
Suaeda depressa Seepweed
Suaeda suffrutescens Desert Seepweed
Suaeda torreyana Torrey Seepweed
CONVOLVULACEAE (Morning Glory Family)
Cressa truxillensis Silky Cressa
CUCURBITACEAE (Gourd Family)
Cucurbita foetidissima Buffalo Gourd
EUPHORBIACEAE (Spurge Family)
Croton dioicus Croton
Euphorbia albomarginata Whitemargin Spurge
Euphorbia lata Hoary Euphorbia
Euphorbia serrula Sawtooth Spurge
FABACEAE (Pea Family)
Astragalus allorchrous Halfmoon Loco
Cassia bauhinioides Senna
Cassia lindheimeriana Senna
Dalea scoparia Broom Pea
Hoffmanseggia densiflora Hog-Potato
Melilotus officinalis Yellow Sweet Clover
Prosopis glandulosa Honey Mesquite
FOUQUIERIACEAE (Ocotillo Family)
Fouquieria splendens Ocotillo
FRANKENIACEAE (Frankenia Family)
Frankenia jamesii Frankenia
GENTIANACEAE (Gentian Family)
Centaurium calycosum Centaury or Rosita
Centaurium texense Lady Bird's Centaury
Eustoma exaltatum Catch-Fly Gentian
Eustoma grandiflorum Bluebell
HYDROPHYLLACEAE (Waterleaf Family)
Nama carnosum Gyp Nama
Nama hispidum Hispid Nama
Phacelia corrugata Blue-Curls
Phacelia integrifolia Scalloped Phacelia
KOEBERLINIACEAE (Junco Family)
Koeberlinia spinosa Spiny All-thorn
LAMIACEAE (Mint Family)
Poliomintha incana Hoary Rosemarymint
LOASACEAE (Stick-leaf Family)
Cevallia sinuata Cevellia
Mentzelia pumila var. integra Blazingstar
Mentzelia pumila var. multiflora Desert Mentzelia
Mentzelia pumila var. pumila Stick-leaf
MALVACEAE (Mallow Family)
Sida leprosa var. depauperata Scrufy Sida
Sphaeralcea angustifolia Narrow-leaf Globemallow
Sphaeralcea incana Soft Globemallow
Sphaeralcea subhastata Globemallow
NYCTAGINACEAE (Four O'clock Family)
Abronia angustifolia Sand Verbena
Allionia choisyi Smooth Trailing Four
O'clock
Allionia incarnata Trailing Four O'clock
Ammocodon chenopodioides Goosefoot Moonpod
Mirabilis multiflora Colorado Four O'clock
Selinocarpus diffusus Spreading Moonpod
Selinocarpus lanceolatus Gyp Moonpod
ONAGRACEAE (Evening Primrose Family)
Calylophus hartwegii Yellow Evening Primrose
Gaura coccinea Scarlet Gaura
Gaura parviflora Lizard Tail
Oenothera albicaulis Prairie Evening Primrose
Oenothera pallida runcinata White Evening Primrose
Oenothera pallida latifolia White Evening Primrose
PAPAVERACEAE (Poppy Family)
Argemone polyanthemos Prickly Poppy
PLUMBAGINACEAE (Leadwort Family)
Limonium limbatum Sea-lavender
POLEMONIACEAE (Phlox Family)
Eriastrum diffusum Wooly Star
Ipomopsis pumila Low Gilia
Ipomopsis longiflora Pale Trumpets
POLYGONACEAE (Buckwheat Family)
Eriogonum rotundifolium Round Leaf Wild Buckwheat
RHAMNACEAE (Buck-thorn Family)
Condalia spathulata Knifeleaf Condalia
SALICACEAE (Willow Family)
Populus fremontii var. wizlizenii Rio Grande Cottonwood
Salix gooddingii Goodding Willow
SANTALACEAE (Sandlewood Family)
Comandra pallida Bastard-toadflax
SOLANACEAE (Potato Family)
Datura meteloides Jimson Weed
Datura querifolia Oak-Leaved Thornapple
Lycium berlandieri var. parviflorum Terrac Wolfberry
Lycium pallidum Pale Wolfberry
Lycium torreyi Torrey Wolfberry
Solanum elaeagnifolium Silverleaf Nightshade
Solanum rostratum Buffalo Bur
TAMARICACEAE (Tamarix Family)
Tamarix gallica Salt Cedar or Tamarisk
VERBENACEAE (Verbena Family)
Phyla incisa Texas Frog-fruit
Verbena bracteata Prostrate Vervain
VITACEAE (Grape Family)
Parthenocissus inserta Woodbine
ZYGOPHYLLACEAE (Caltrop Family)
Kallstroemia hirsutissima Carpetweed
Larrea tridentata Creosote Bush
Peganum harmala African rue
SYNONOMY
FOR SEE
Andropus carnosus Nama carnosum
Aplopappus spinulosus Haplopapus spinulosus
Aster cichoriaceus Machaeranthera chichoriaceus
Aster linearis Machaeranthera linearis
Aster parvulus Machaeranthera parviflora
Aster tenacetifolius Machaeranthera tenacetifolia
Centaurea picris Centaurea repens
Chrysothamnus latisquameus Chrysothamnus nauseosus
Cladothrix lanigulosa Tidestroma lanuginosa
Comandra umbellata Commandra pallida
Crassina grandiflora Zinnia grandiflora
Cressa depressa Cressa truxillensis
Datura wrightii Datura meteloides
Dicranocarpus dicranocarpus Dicranocarpus parviflora
Distichlis spicata Distichlis stricta
Dimorphocarpa wislizenii Dithyrea wislizenii
Dondia moquini Suaeda torreyana
Dondia suffrutescens Suaeda suffrutescens
Erythrea texense Centaurium texense
Gilia pumila Ipomopsis pumila
Heterospermum dicranocarpum Dicranocarpus parviflora
Hoffmanseggia glauca Hoffmanseggia densiflora
Isocoma wrightii Haplopappus heterophyllus
Lepidium alyssoides Lepidium montanum
Lippia incisa Phyla incisa
Machaeranthera pinnatifida Haplopappus spinulosus
Nerisyrenia camporum Greggia camporum
Nerisyrenia linearifolia Greggia camporum var.
linearifolia
Nuttallia procera Mentzelia pumila var. pumila
Oenothera hartwegii Calylophus hartwegii
Oenothera lavandulifolia Calylophus hartwegii
Oenothera runcinata Oenothera pallida runcinata
Opuntia engelmannii Opuntia phaeacantha discata
Phacelia corrugata Phacelia crenulata
Populus wizlizenii Populus fremontii var.wizlezenii
Rhus aromatica Rhus trilobata
Schizachyrium scoparium Andropogon scoparius
Scirpus maritimus Scirpus paludosus
Selinocarpus chenopodioides Ammocodon chenopodioides
Sida lepidota Sida leprosa
Sphaeralcea lobata Sphaeralcea angustifolia
Sporobolus asperifolia Muhlenbergia asperifolia
Sporobolus strictus Sporobolus contractus
Thelesperma gracile Thelesperma megapotamicum
Wootonia parviflora Dicranocarpus parviflorus
Xanthocephalum sarothrae Gutierrezia sarothrae
Yucca baccata var. torreyi Yucca torreyi
Last Updated: Wednesday, 22-Dec-2004
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