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 There
is a broad spectrum of elevations within the Grand Canyon.
Because of this, many different plants from all kinds
of climates call the canyon home. Going down the canyon
is much like travelling from Canada to Mexico. The elevations
divide plant life in the canyon into groups called 'life
zones.' The highest life zone is called the Transition
Zone. It covers plant life living 7,000 to 8,250 feet
above sea level. There is the Upper Sonoran Zone, which
covers from 3,500 to 7,000 feet. The rim lies within both
of these zones. The next life zone is the Lower Sonoran
Zone, which covers all life below 3,500 feet. Within each
of these life zones, there is a completely unique series
of plant life, just waiting for you to observe and enjoy
their magnificent beauty.
The
rim (Transition Zone - Upper Sonoran Zone). The
plant life in and around the rim consist of those that
would normally be present within the mountains. A sampling
of the plant life here includes:
- Piņon
pine - Also known as the the pinyon pine, these trees
are small, bushy, and shabby looking. They can reach
heights of up to 20m. They produce tasty pine nuts that
have been a favorite of Southwest indians for years.
- Utah
juniper - This tree is characterized by its waxy leaves
and shaggy bark. Its berries are used for animal food
and have been used for years by Native Americans for
food.
- Shrubby
cliff rose - This flower has small, thick, evergreen
leaves. It is white with a shreddy reddish-brown bark.
- Sagebrush
- No matter how short your stay in the desert, you are
bound to run into a sagebrush, or have one blow by you.
It grows from .3 to 6 meters tall, has silvery, toothed
leaves, and bunches of little yellow flowers.
- Ponderosa
Pine - Widely distributed throught western North America,
this serves as wildlife habitat, and recreational uses.
- Gambel
oak - A common shrub in Arizona, this tree is one of
two oaks in Arizona that loses its leaves in the autumn.
It often forms small thickets or a tree that can reach
a height of 50 feet.
- Baby
white asters
- Yellow
sunflowers
- Golden
western wallflowers
- Orange
globemallow
- Rabbitbrush
- Indian
paintbrush
- Purple
hill lupine
The
inner canyon (Upper Sonoran Zone). The
plant life of the inner canyon is like that you would
find in the western deserts of the United States. While
visiting the inner canyon, you can expect to find:
- Cliff
rose
- Fernbush
- Mountain
Mahogany
- Utah
penstemon
- Carmine
thistles
- Engelmann's
prickly pear
- Beavertail
cactus
- Grizzly
bear cactus
- Whipple
cholla
The
inner gorge (Lower Sonoran Zone). The
inner gorge makes you feel you are in northern Mexico.
Some of the flora you are going to find here include:
- Yucca
- Tamarisk
- Fremont
cottonwood
- Columbines
- Monkey
flower
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