Please note that the Museum will be closing at noon on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 for a staff appreciation event. (Art Institute classes are not affected by the closure.)

Biological Survey of Ironwood Forest National Monument

Samaniego Hills gallery

Photographer: Mark Dimmitt

The Samaniego Hills are just a few small round bumps on the landscape. On their lower eastern bajada at the edge of the Avra Valley the deep soil supports some very large ironwood trees. Saguaros are rare here but they too tend to be huge.

 

 
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Biological Survey of Ironwood Forest National Monument General Vegetation Vascular Flora Cacti Distribution and Status of Saguaros and Trees Natural History of the Desert Ironwood Tree (Olneya tesota) Rare Plant Inventory Exotic Plants Assessment Human Impacts Lesser Long-Nosed Bat Geologic Aspects of Ironwood Forest National Monument Avra Valley Gallery Aguirre Valley Images Pan Quemado Gallery Ragged Top Gallery Roskruge Mountains Gallery Samaniego Hills Gallery Sawtooth Mountains Gallery Silver Bell Mountains Gallery Waterman Mountains Gallery West Silver Bell Mountains Gallery Arizona Upland Gallery Lower Colorado River Valley Gallery Xeroriparian Habitats (Desert Washes) The Desert Ironweed Tree - Olneya tesota Cacti of IFNM Crucifixion Thorns of IFNM Gallery of Selected Noncactaceous Flora
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