Hopi Protection of Helianthus anomalus, a Rare Sunflower

Helianthus anomalus is a rare endemic to sand dune and swale habitats in southern Utah and northern Arizona. It is known from less than 25 localities, often with fewer than 250 plants in each locale. Several populations persist in fields around Third Mesa on the Hopi Indian Reservation, near one of the oldest continuously inhabited villages in North America. In at least one field-orchard complex, it is consciously protected or tolerated by Hopi farmers, for this sun- flower's ceremonial significance. Helianthus anomalus Blake is a xerically adapted species known from less than 25 localities in Utah and Arizona over a geographic range of 46,000 km2 (Heiser, 1961; Blauer, 1965; Seller, pers. comm.; Arizona Natural Herit- age, unpubl.). Of the seven populations visited in 1980 by Gerald Seller, five were of 250 individual plants or less, and one was destined for destruction by road construction. The species appears to be endemic to sand dune and swale habitats between 1200-2000 m elevation, and is therefore limited in