Arizona Swallowwort

Metastelma arizonicum
(Cynanchum arizonicum)

Pen & Ink Illustration © by Michael Plagens

Drawn from live specimen observed in the Goldfield Mountains, Maricopa County, Arizona.

a Chaulionatus lecontei beetle takes nectar of Cynanchum arizonicum photo © by Michael Plagens

This red and black Leconte's Soldier Beetle is eagerly taking nectar from the flowers. Saguaro National Park East, Tucson, Arizona, USA. 28 Aug. 2016.

VINE: Twining green stems use other plants as a scaffold to reach sunlight. The specimen from which the illustration was made grew upon a small saguaro cactus and was nearly engulfing it in growth. Broken stems exude copious white sap.

LEAVES: Leaves are narrow and a bit thickened and fleshy. The leaf margins may be revolute.

RANGE: Eastern portions of Sonoran Desert ranging into the Chihuahuan Desert. Normally this plant not very common and might be hard to find.

FRUIT: Fleshy, elongate pod eventually dries and splits to reveal seeds with silky hairs.

FLOWERS: Small, inconspicuous, white flowers with yellow-white petals. Often flowers occur singly in the leaf axils.

UNARMED

seeds of Cynanchum arizonicum photo © by Michael Plagens

Often an opened seed pod releasing bright silky hairs is what draws attention to this hard-to-find vine. This one is growing upon a cholla cactus. Bumblebee, Yavapai Co., Arizona, USA. 10 June 2012.

Asclepiadaceae -- Milkweed Family

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a Leda Hairstreak takes nectar of Cynanchum arizonicum photo © by Michael Plagens

This small butterfly, a Leda Hairstreak, is nectaring from the flowers. Saguaro National Park East, Tucson, Arizona, USA. 28 Aug. 2016.

More Information:


Sonoran Desert Field Guide
Sonoran Desert Places
Sonoran Desert Naturalist Home Page


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Copyright Michael J. Plagens, page created 12 Feb 2008,
updated 2 Oct. 2016