Data from: Muilla lordsburgana (Asparagaceae: Brodiaeoideae), a new species found north of Lordsburg, southwestern New Mexico

<p><i>Muilla</i> <i>lordsburgana</i> P.J.Alexander sp. nov. is described from eastern Lordsburg Mesa in the northwestern fringe of the Chihuahuan Desert, southwestern New Mexico. It is very similar to <i>Muilla</i> <i>coronata</i>, a species known in the Mojave Desert of California and a small area of adjacent Nevada. Compared to <i>Muilla</i> <i>coronata</i>, the style and stigma combined are longer, the anthers are longer, the fruits are larger, and the seeds are larger. It has a short flowering period in March, and is difficult or impossible to find at other times of the year. It is narrowly distributed, limited to a band of deep, coarse, sandy soils derived primarily from granite. Several species that are otherwise uncommon in the area also occur in this habitat, ­­­­­including <i>Log</i><i>fi</i><i>a</i> <i>depressa</i>, <i>Pectocarya</i> <i>platycarpa</i>, and <i>Plagiobothrys</i> <i>arizonicus</i>. Invasive species, especially <i>Erodium</i> <i>cicutarium</i> in the winter annual flora, are generally dominant. <i>Muillla</i> <i>lordsburgana</i> has probably been overlooked until now because it is not easy to observe and occurs in habitats that are not attractive to botanists.</p>