Arizona Swallowwort
Metastelma arizonicum
(Cynanchum arizonicum)
Drawn from live specimen observed in the Goldfield Mountains, Maricopa County, Arizona.
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
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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This small butterfly, a Leda Hairstreak, is nectaring from the flowers. Saguaro National Park East, Tucson, Arizona, USA. 28 Aug. 2016.