Research in the Sierra Madre Occidental of Eastern Sonora, Mexico:

Legumes of Yécora

Photos by T.R. Van Devender unless otherwise credited

Left and above: Coralbean or chilicote (Erythrina flabelliformis) has scarlet flowers in June followed by pods with large red seeds. At higher elevations in oak woodland the same species is a frost-pruned shrub clinging to rocks on sunny slopes. Its range extends to north of Tucson, Arizona. Trees form a distinctive bark with large woody thorns.
Legumes are more numerous in the tropical lowlands than in the Sierra.

Photo of flowers: S.A. Meyer.


There are nine species of Mimosa in the Yécora area. They are variously called wait-a-minute bush, uña de gato (catclaw), gatuñ, or chopo (M. palmeri). Mimosa dysocarpa pictured here is common in open oak woodland. Photo: R. W. Van Devender.
Kidney wood or palo dulce (Eysenhardtia polystachya) is a white-flowered legume that also changes from a tree in the tropical lowlands to a shrub in the Madrean woodlands.

Many legumes are herbs. This deer vetch (Lotus alamosanus) is common in moist soil near streams in pine-oak forest in the Yécora area. The only population in the United States is in Sycamore Canyon west of Nogales, Arizona.
A new, undescribed species of deer vetch in the Yécora area (Lotus sp. nov.)

 

 
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Research in the Sierra Madre Occidental of Eastern Sonora, Mexico (Yecora region): Introduction Transect Through the Sierra Madre Along Mex 16 The Flora of Yecora New and Endemic Plants from the Yecora Area Noteworthy Animals in the Yecora Area The Cienega De Camilo: a Threatened Habitat Forest History Through Pollen Analysis El Aguajito: Bird Habitat Supreme Hummingbird Food Plants in Sonora Notes on Extraction of Forest Products
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