Species: Proboscidea louisianica

Proboscidea louisianica is found in Mexico, and (native or exotic) within a large majority of continental U.S. states (the few exceptions being Wisconsin, North Dakota, Montana, Oregon, and Utah) (USDA-NRCS 1999). In Canada, Proboscidea louisianica is considered exotic and has been documented in Ontario, and possibly in Saskatchewan. <br><br>Subspecies fragrans is found in Texas and Massachusetts (Kartesz 1999), is found frequently in the Mexican states of Hidalgo, Jalisco, M?xico, Michoacßn, Quer?taro, San Luis Potos?, and Zacatecas, and is scarce in Veracruz (Taylor 1983). Populations intermediate between subsp. fragrans and subsp. louisianica can be found in Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo and north to Kansas (Taylor 1983). <br><br>In spite of the relatively large contemporary range of subspecies louisianica, many suggest that the plant is introduced in their area. Most authors are not highly specific regarding the natural range of this subspecies. Gleason and Cronquist (1963) state that it is native to the southwestern U.S. and may be native as far north as Indiana, but that further north and in the southern states it is probably escaped. Small (1933), on the other hand, states that the plant is native to the Mississippi River valley. <br><br>Other reports include: native to the southern U.S. and Mexico (Great Plains Flora Association 1986); perhaps native to the south-central U.S. (Hickman 1993); introduced in Colorado (Weber and Wittmann 1996a); and alien near Chicago (Swink and Wilhelm 1994). It is present but considered to be naturalized in New Hampshire (New Hampshire Natural Heritage Inventory).