Family
Genus
Asteraceae
Encelia farinosa
Asteraceae
Monoptilon bellioides
&Asteraceae
Rafinesquia
Boraginaceae
Pectocarya
Boraginaceae
Cryptantha spp.
Hydrophylaceae
Eucrypta
Papaveraceae
Eschscholtzia
Solanaceae
Lycium spp.
Arizonensis --> Sonoran Desert Naturalist --> Sonoran Desert Places --> Ajo
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This defunct mining town come retirement community is a gateway for exploring Organ Pipe National Monument and the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. Look past the huge mounds of spent tailings from bygone copper operations and you will find a lovely, quaint and quiet desert town. The central plaza is very pleasant: there are shops and eateries, a lovely mission style church, and the comforting flavor of Old Mexico. Besides several motels and B&B's there is the Ajo Mountain Loop Drive where you can spot some of the northern-most Organ Pipe Cactus. In spring time there are lots of wildflowers. |
Map of Southwest Arizona incl. Ajo and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument |
Ajo Mountain Scenic Loop Drive can be reached by driving west from downtown on Rocalla Ave. This will intersect the loop drive that goes south of town, around the mining operations, south of Ajo Mountain, then connecting to Bates Well Road. Follow Bates Well Road east back to Hwy 85.
Bates Well Road is also the principal road into Cabeza Prieta and the famed "Devil's Highway". Highway 85 north of Ajo passes through the Barry Goldwater Bombing Range which is a beautiful desert area as well. The areas near the highway are a moonscape of volcanic lava fields and cinder cones. This route will take the traveler to Gila Bend and in the direction of Phoenix. Head south of Ajo on 85 about 8 miles to Why (great name for a town at a three-way junction!). There, Hwy. 86 runs east to Tucson and 85 continues south to Organ Pipe National Monument, and Puerto Peņasco (Rocky Point), Mexico. And of course the great Pinacate/Gran Desierto Reserve lies just across the Mexican Border. Thus, Ajo provides the desert tourist an ideal portal to adventure and a comfortable retreat at day's end. Check Guest House Inn, a Bed & Breakfast or the Copper Sands Motel in Ajo.
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Common Name Family Genus |
Color | Flower Size & Shape | Special Notes and Info | Where to Look |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brittle
Bush Asteraceae Encelia farinosa |
|
5 cm dia. daisies | shrub mostly 1 m tall; leaves usu. silvery soft | Road and hillsides |
| Mohave Desert Star Asteraceae Monoptilon bellioides |
& |
Dime-sized daisy | grows close to ground | Abundant; flats, gentle slopes |
| Desert Chicory Asteraceae Rafinesquia |
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4 cm, daisy shape | taller herb. flowers solitary on slender stems | Common; esp. among low bushes |
| Comb Bur Boraginaceae Pectocarya |
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Minute w/4 or 5 petals | Most plants are less than 3 cm tall at maturity! | Common; Common nearly everywhere especially on flats |
| Cryptantha Boraginaceae Cryptantha spp. |
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v. small w/5 petals; numerous on a scorpioid inflorescence | low herb w/bristley hairs | Common; Common on open flats and especially in shade of desert trees |
| Eucrypta Hydrophylaceae Eucrypta |
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5 petals, 4 mm across | Herb. 50 cm tall. Loose scorpioid inflorescence. Minute stiff hairs. | Common; esp. in shade of bushes and trees |
| Mexican Gold Poppy Papaveraceae Eschscholtzia |
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6 cm across, 5 petals | Low herb with finely dissected leaves | Abundant; On gentle slopes. |
| Wolf Berry Solanaceae Lycium spp. |
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4 mm long tubes w/4 or 5 pts. | Woody shrubs, 2 m, with some thorns. Hummingbird plant. Gets red berries. | Common; hillsides, washbanks |
Contributed by Jared S.
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