FWS Focus

Overview

Characteristics
Overview

The Arizona eryngo (Eryngium sparganophyllum) is an herbaceous flowering plant in the Apiaceae, or carrot, family. This perennial occurs only in spring-fed aridland cienegas, or wetlands, of the International Four Corners Region that includes Arizona, New Mexico and Sonora, Chihuahua. On March 4, 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a proposed rule to list this species as endangered and designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (86 FR 12563). 

The species is known historically from six sites: 

  • Within the United States - Three sites in Arizona and one site in New Mexico 
  • Within Mexico – One in Sonora and the other in Chihuahua 

It likely historically occurred at additional cienegas. The plant has been extirpated from two sites: 

  • Agua Caliente, Arizona 
  • Las Playas, New Mexico 

The species remains extant at four sites: 

  • La Cebadilla, Pima County, Arizona 
  • Lewis Springs, Cochise County, Arizona 
  • Rancho Agua Caliente, Sonora, Mexico 
  • Ojo Vareleño, Chihuahua, Mexico 

Population sizes at these sites are highly variable, ranging from approximately 50 to more than 30,000 plants. Efforts are underway to reintroduce the species to the historical site in Arizona from which it was extirpated, known as Agua Caliente, as well as to introduce the species to a new site within its general historical range.

The primary historical threat to Arizona eryngo was physical loss and alteration of cienega habitat. Historically, cienegas were more common and larger than they are today, however, greater than 95% of the historical area of cienegas in the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico is now dry. The primary current threats to Arizona eryngo, a cienega obligate, are water loss due to groundwater withdrawal and water diversion. Additionally, this plant faces threats from an invasion of non-native and woody plant species. Both of these threats are exacerbated by drought and warming caused by climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.

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. These threats reduce the availability of moist soils, and invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

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compete for sunlight and space. These actions taken collectively reduce the quantity and quality of habitat for the species.    

Designated critical habitat includes two occupied units in Arizona, which total about 13 acres. The two units include: 

  • Lewis Springs, in Cochise County: 9.6 acres (Roughly 3.9 hectares) 
  • La Cebadilla, in Pima County: 3.1 acres (1.3 hectares)

To learn more about this species, please see our Species Status Assessment Report for Eryngium sparganophyllum (Arizona Eryngo) and the proposed listing and critical habitat rule (86 FR 12563) in the information and media section of this page.

Scientific Name

Eryngium sparganophyllum
Common Name
Arizona eryngo
FWS Category
Flowering Plants
Kingdom

Location in Taxonomic Tree

Identification Numbers

TSN:

Characteristics

Characteristic category

Habitat

Characteristics
Habitat

Arizona eryngo is a habitat specialist and occurs in perennially moist, organic alkali soils found in spring-fed cienegas which are supported by adequate groundwater. Plants grow best in full sun in areas with few non-native plant species, limited woody vegetation or other vegetation, that may shade or otherwise outcompete them.

Desert

Arid land with usually sparse vegetation.

Springs or Seeps

Areas where ground water meets the surface.

Characteristic category

Physical Characteristics

Characteristics
Size & Shape

Arizona eryngo is an herbaceous perennial dicot that grows to a height of about 5 feet (1.5 meters) with long, linear, parallel-veined leaves that emerge from a basal rosette. 

Color & Pattern

The plant is conspicuous when flowering in June through September and has cream-colored flowers that are clustered in dense heads at the end of the branching, scapose, meaning leafless flowering stem, inflorescences. 

Characteristic category

Life Cycle

Characteristics
Life Cycle

Plants flower from June to September and dry fruits ripen in September and October. Arizona eryngo grown in nurseries can flower in their first year. Plants die back partially or completely in the winter months such that almost no green or very little green aboveground structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.

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can be seen.

Reproduction

The species reproduces sexually through pollen transfer, as well as asexually, referred to as vegetatively. While little is known about the reproductive strategy or ecology of Arizona eryngo, it is likely that pollinators are required for cross-pollination in this species, which is necessary to maintain genetic diversity. Pollinators do not seem to be lacking, and abundant animal activity on the flowers is readily observed.

Life Span

The life span of Arizona eryngo is unknown, but it is thought to be a long-lived perennial that can live well over 10 years. Drying soils caused by various factors such as drought, water withdrawal, and woody plant invasion, can lead to reduced flowering and mortality of the Arizona eryngo, particularly during the hot/dry season in late spring and early summer. 

Characteristic category

Similar Species

Characteristics
Similar Species

There are no other species of Eryngium occurring within the cienegas of International Four Corners Region that could be mistaken for E. sparganophyllum.

Geography

Characteristics
Range

The historical range of Arizona eryngo includes cienegas in the International Four Corners Region of Arizona, New Mexico, Sonora and Chihuahua. The species currently occurs only in four isolated populations in Arizona, Sonora and Chihuahua.

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Timeline

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