Ibervillea sonorae  Native to northwestern Mexico, Ibervillea sonorae is beautifully adapted to survival in its arid habitat. This rare plant is a caudiciform, possessing a swollen stem called a caudex that stores reserves of water and food that can be drawn upon during dry seasons. Extremely old specimens of Ibervillea sonorae may have caudices up to three feet in diameter. Ibervillea sonorae remains dormant throughout much of the year, but with seasonal rains, leaves emerge from the caudex on climbing stems. For centuries, the roots of Ibervillea sonorae have been used in the preparation of medicines used to treat diabetes. |
