Vegetation and Flora of Certain Kipukas, El Malpais National Monument, NM

Bleakly, David

In this study of sedimentary outcrops and other areas isolated by lava flows within the Zuni-Bandera fields of El Malpais National Monument, the author found 20 plant taxa and two families new to the monument. No state or fedrally listed threatened or endangered plant species were found during the study. The kipukas are "islands" formed by flowing lava, and can consist of older lava, sedimentary rock or other substrate. The sedimentary areas and sand dunes on the kipukas appear to have existed before being surrounded by lava, and the lava flows did not start devastating fires on these areas. The report discusses island biogeography in relation to this area, but the "kipukas do not seem to be good models for testing the theory." Tables list the plants in different catagories, and Appendix A (pages 24-30) lists all, identifying new discoveries and exotic plants, as well as locations. Appendix B describes the study areas, and Appendix C lists new plants that are new for the monument since 1994. Bibliography pages 22-23.