Desert Willow
Author: Ray Bowers

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Species: Chilopsis linearis

Description:
Desert willow is a large shrub to small tree that grows to 7.6 m (25 ft) tall. It is not a true willow, but belongs to the bignonia family of plants. The bark is brown with ridges, and the roots can extend over 15,2 m (50 ft) into the ground. The linear smooth edged 7.5 to 15 cm (3 to 6 in) long leaves may be opposite or alternate on the branches. The leaves are deciduous in that they will drop in the winter as well as during hot dry weather.

Geographic range:
Desert willow is found from southeastern California to south central New Mexico, and then south into northern Mexico.

Habitat:
Desert willow grows in arroyos and floodplains in deserts and foothills to 1,740 m (5,500 ft) in elevation.

Reproduction and Development: Desert willow is a monoecious plant that blooms from April to September, depending on the availability of water. Insects and hummingbirds pollinate the flowers. The large 3cm ( 1.25 in ) long bell-shaped flowers have five unequal lobes. The white to pale pink flowers has purple and yellow inside of the bell, and is found in clusters at the end of the branches. The fruit is a 10 to 20 cm ( 4 to 8 in ) long by 6 mm ( 0.25 in ) wide bean shaped capsule. The capsule splits into two parts releasing papery flat brown seeds with hairy tipped wings.

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• Desert willow is important for erosion control, and also has ornamental value.
  
• The flowers, leaves, and bark are used to make a medicinal tea in northern Mexico.
  
• The powered leaves and bark have also been used as first aid for scratches.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Scrophulariales
Family: Bignoniaceae
Genus: Chilopsis
Species: Chilopsis linearis

References:
Allred, Kelly W. 2000. A Field Guide to the Flora of the Jornada Plain. Las Cruces: NMSU Department of Animal and Range Science.

Bowers, Janice E. 1993. Shrubs and Trees of the Southwest Desert. Tucson, AZ: Southwest Parks and Monuments Association.

Carter, Jack L. 1997. Trees and Shrubs of New Mexico. Silver City, NM: Mimbres Publishing.

Kearney, Thomas H. and Robert H. Peebles. 1951. Arizona Flora. Berkeley, California: University of California Press.

MacMahon, James A. 1987. Deserts. New York: Alfred A. Knoph, Inc.

Moore, Michael. 1989. Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West. Santa Fe, New Mexico: Museum of New Mexico Press.

Wooton, E.O. and Paul C. Standley. 1915. Flora of New Mexico. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium, Vol 19. Washington: Government Printing Office.

Related Terms: Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida