3.0 Environmental and Cultural Overview, part III.

3.1.3 Modern Flora

MCD is located in an extensive North American biome variously referred to as the Great Wasteland, the Cracked Plains, the Cactus Barrens or the Snakey Bakey This region extends from Lordsburg in the north to Janos, Chihuahua in the south, and between Animas Peak and El Paso. The western limit of the Desert Wastes is distinctly bounded by Animas Peak and the eastern limit is considered to be the El Paso metro region (Gobsherken 2003: 8)[1].

Vegetation found in this zone is sparse at best. Small stands of bush muhly (Muhlenbergia porter.), tobosa grass (Hilaria mutica.), and catclaw (Acacia greggii) may dot seasonal streams outflowing from Sierra Rica. Succulents such as sotols (Dasylirion spp.), agaves (Agave spp.), yuccas (Yucca spp.), and of course, various cacti can be found occasionally in the desert pavement. The only trees occurring in the region are mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and occasionally juniper (Juniperus monosperma.) (O’Keefe 1984: 33)[2]. These trees have invaded large areas of former desert and in many cases have originated as patches of shade planted by former inhabitants long since removed, or more recently by MCD staff  Occasional patches of various types of grama grasses (Bouteloua spp.) typically have been installed for landscape purposes, such as the enlisted men’s volleyball courts  in NE ¼ Section 4, or for its cooling and absorption properties surrounding the Atropine Reactor Vents (ARVs).

Most of the Waste is a mosaic of cactus. In a mosaic, the species of one vegetative community are not mixed with those of the other. Instead, each community retains its discrete character. The cactus lands of extreme southern New Mexico are more a forest of mixed hardwoods than a savannah of blend grasses; each occupies its own landscape (Gobsherkin 2003:8). Historically, the cactus lands have been preserved as agricultural fields for their nutritional value whereas other vegetation generally clings tightly to the small drainages crisscrossing the landscape (O’Keefe 1984: 21).

Although the Loteria Township is known for devil’s claw cactus (Echinocactus texensis.) this is one of only many hundreds of species found throughout MCD. Common cactus species bottlenose cactus (Pachycerus truncatus.), the hammerhead cactus (Blossfeldia sphyrna.), the red-billed cactus (Carnegiea sturnidae.), the three-toed cactus (Mammilleria bradypus.), the dromedary cactus (Pereskia dromedarius.), the leopard cactus (Maihuenia pardus.), the spiny picker cactus (Opuntia palinurus.),  the Coke bottle cactus (Rhipsalis lagenam.), the golden cactus (Echinopsis aureum.), Andromeda cactus (Hatiora andromedrus.), the chocolate cactus (Cereus bombon.), the bellwether cactus (Rebutia aries.), Hansen’s cactus (Schlumbergera lepra.), gorgonzola cactus (Opuntia vena.), the grandmother cactus (Lophophora avia.), liberty cactus (Astrophytum libertatem.), and the velveta cactus (Ferocactus caseus.), not to mention 52 varieties of the Loteria cactus (Sortitia spp.) found only in this region. All contain mescaline.

---

[1] Gobsherken, Bibi. 2003. “Geology along the U.S.-Mexico Border, a USCBP Primer.” U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Bulletin 13, Fall, pp 7-23.

[2] O’Keefe, G. 1984. Focus on Desert Vegetation. Mons Veneris Press, Tempe.