Abstract
Geobotanical studies reveal that native Parthenium argentatum (guayule) occurs almost exclusively on Cretaceous limestone rock formations in the Chihuahuan Desert of the Big Bend, Texas, U.S.A. This specific area was chosen for study, because a complete set of 7·5 minute topographic base maps covered the region. With the aid of geologic maps, new stands of pure guayule shrub have been pinpointed and sampled. The most recent published survey of P. argentatum underestimates stand size within the United States of America. Peculiar edaphic endemism exhibited by pure guayule shrub indicates that factors relative to geologic substrate must be important for the growth of vegetatively produced clones and the production of natural rubber. Concomitantly, potential exists for the re-establishment of P. argentatum within the prime, Cretaceous limestone habitat. Areas of prime habitat are defined and identified.
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