There are three species of Acourtia found in Arizona. If you are a desert rat of sorts, say you walk around, poke around in the deserts of southeastern Arizona, well then I’m thinking you probably know the plant Acourtia nana or desert holly. The plant jabbered about in this episode is desert peony or Acourtia thurberi. It’s really a borderlands species found where I love to hang out in Madrean woodlands, so think mid elevations. The plants are quite attractive, so I gathered seed and I think I’ll grow some to plant around our place. Cool, right? Very.
I should mention that Acourtia thurberi used to be Perezia thurberi. I believe this is a case of molecular taxonomy changing things up. No worries, because there are still plenty Perezia in South America and there are lots of Acourtia in the southwestern US. Now you know.
The photos are mine.
