jamesadney's Favorites

This observation, made 31 years ago, was the only fairly recent record of this species in the U.S. It is mostly found in the pine-oak zone in the Sierra Madre Occidental and adjacent parts of Mexico. The previous last record in the U.S. was in 1907, with a collection obtained by the noted AZ botanist, J.W. Blumer. This location and Blumer's collection is also the type locality of the synonymous name, C. cruneta Standl. As far as I know, this species has not been recorded in the US since my 1992 observation. I have not revisited this location since that time. The precise location is obscured because the site is on private land, and I don't wish to bring harm to either the species or to folks who might be inclined to look for it, if you take my meaning. The precise location was transmitted to rare plant agencies and herbaria at both the state and federal level in 1992. The status of this population is presently unknown. But it is definitely worth searching similar areas in the western foothills of the Chiricahua Mountains, especially on public lands, for additional populations. This sighting is further documented in a Note in Madroño 40(3): 176-177, 1993.

Note the two color morphs visible in the final photo.

I'm uploading my original sketch of this record (no photos available) in order to reference it in an eBird checklist. The observation was made in Boot Canyon, Big Bend National Park, Brewster Co., TX. The sketch was redrawn later (2nd image) for submittal with further details to the Texas Bird Records Committee. It was later accepted as the 3rd record for Texas (TBRC 1989-22, Amer. Birds 36:994).

eBird checklist:
http://ebird.org/ebird/tx/view/checklist?subID=S22075145