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Quiz about Plants of the Desert Southwest
Quiz about Plants of the Desert Southwest

Plants of the Desert Southwest Quiz


The United States Southwest may be a desert region, but there still exists a wonderful variety of plants.

A multiple-choice quiz by Leah457. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Leah457
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
260,874
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
629
Last 3 plays: Guest 4 (10/10), Guest 174 (6/10), Guest 199 (6/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. The southwest is perhaps most known for its cacti. One of the more famous of these is protected by law in Arizona, can grow to 50 feet tall and live for up to 200 years! It is known as the _______ cactus. Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. This spiky plant in the Agaveceae family is the state flower of New Mexico. Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. One pesky plant of the genus Salsola is almost iconic of the region, but it actually invaded from as far away as Asia. This is one nuisance that really seems to get around. Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. This plant is to New Mexico what wine is to France, but only after over 400 years of isolated cultivation can the area make that claim. This plant technically was introduced to the southwest by way of Mexico all those years ago, and varieties are found all over the world, but no quiz about the plants of the southwest would be complete without mentioning this favorite. Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. One very common, fleshy and well named cactus that is seen all over drier areas is the _______
____.
Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. This plant, that when burned is said to purify an area, is also seen outside the southwest region, but is so prevalent here that I had to include it. Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. This plant may have been named due to the ephedra it contains; it was used to make a potent drink by some of the people who first encountered it. It has long knobby branches, fewer leaves, and little yellow blossoms. Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. The nuts from this tree, of the Pinaceae family, were a staple of the Native Americans and are still enjoyed today. Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. This medium sized wild evergreen bush of the Zygophyllaceae family has little yellow flowers that turn into white fuzzy fruit; it frequently dominates the landscape. Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. The Rio Grande __________ tree is responsible for much allergic suffering, especially in the fall when it virtually snows its downy seeds. Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Feb 28 2024 : Guest 4: 10/10
Feb 27 2024 : Guest 174: 6/10
Feb 27 2024 : Guest 199: 6/10
Feb 08 2024 : Guest 67: 7/10
Feb 04 2024 : RioRiver: 8/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The southwest is perhaps most known for its cacti. One of the more famous of these is protected by law in Arizona, can grow to 50 feet tall and live for up to 200 years! It is known as the _______ cactus.

Answer: saguaro

The saguaro cactus is the state flower of Arizona and can weigh up to a ton.
2. This spiky plant in the Agaveceae family is the state flower of New Mexico.

Answer: yucca

There are many different varieties of yucca including the soaptree, Joshua tree and Spanish bayonet.
3. One pesky plant of the genus Salsola is almost iconic of the region, but it actually invaded from as far away as Asia. This is one nuisance that really seems to get around.

Answer: tumbleweed

During the frequent windstorms in the southwest, the wind blows the tumbleweeds into the streets where they can collect and create driving hazards.
4. This plant is to New Mexico what wine is to France, but only after over 400 years of isolated cultivation can the area make that claim. This plant technically was introduced to the southwest by way of Mexico all those years ago, and varieties are found all over the world, but no quiz about the plants of the southwest would be complete without mentioning this favorite.

Answer: chile pepper

This plant has been used in cooking for thousands of years and is surprisingly a member of the nightshade family, but when I think of chile, the first thing that comes to mind is the question: "red or green?" This question is as iconic to New Mexico as its chilies are.
5. One very common, fleshy and well named cactus that is seen all over drier areas is the _______ ____.

Answer: prickly pear

The prickly pear is often used in xeriscaping because it requires virtually no care and still thrives. None of the rest are cacti, though they are each named aptly.
6. This plant, that when burned is said to purify an area, is also seen outside the southwest region, but is so prevalent here that I had to include it.

Answer: sage

The burning of sage is used in several cultures.
7. This plant may have been named due to the ephedra it contains; it was used to make a potent drink by some of the people who first encountered it. It has long knobby branches, fewer leaves, and little yellow blossoms.

Answer: Mormon tea

This plant can get very large, and the little yellow flowers can be quite fragrant.
8. The nuts from this tree, of the Pinaceae family, were a staple of the Native Americans and are still enjoyed today.

Answer: pinon

The pods of the mesquite tree were also an important food source to the Native Americans, but it hails from the fabaceae family.
9. This medium sized wild evergreen bush of the Zygophyllaceae family has little yellow flowers that turn into white fuzzy fruit; it frequently dominates the landscape.

Answer: creosote bush

Whenever I think of the mountains in my area I think of the little "spots" that seem to climb up the foothills. Those spots are the creosote bushes.
10. The Rio Grande __________ tree is responsible for much allergic suffering, especially in the fall when it virtually snows its downy seeds.

Answer: cottonwood

Cottonwoods self prune. When it's time to lose a limb, the limb just dies and falls off. Hope you enjoyed my quiz, and maybe even learned something!
Source: Author Leah457

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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