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Ocotillo
Author: Ray Bowers
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Species: Fouquieria splendens |
| Description: Ocotillo has unbranched 3m ( 30 ft ) very spiny woody stems in a funnel shape. The 5cm ( 2 in ) flat oval leaves are lost when the plant is under stress, but will regrow after a substantial rain. The thin bark over the green photosynthetic layer allows the plant to continue to produce energy even without leaves. |
Ocotillo Flower With Leaves Click On Picture for Larger Image |
Geographic range:
Ocotillo is found from southeastern California east to western Texas, and south to northern Mexico.
Habitat:
Ocotillo grows on dry well-drained rocky slopes in the southern third of New Mexico . It is found from 1,200 to 1,980 m (4,000 to 6,500 ft) in elevation.
Reproduction and Development:
Ocotillo is a monoecious plant that mainly blooms in April and May. The dense flower cluster at the end of the stems has a bright red tubular corolla, petals and sepals, with five lobes. Ten yellow stamens extend beyond r the end of the corolla. Pollination is by insects and humming birds. The fruit is a three-chambered capsule with flat winged seeds.
Other info:
Cuttings of the spiny stems readily take root when placed in the ground. When they are planted close together they make a living spiny fence. The Apache made tea from the roots to relieve fatigue and for tired limbs.
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fouquieriales
Family: Fouquieriaceae
Genus: Fouquieria
Species: Fouquieria splendens
References:
Allred, Kelly W. 2000. A Field Guide to the Flora of the Jornada Plain. Las Cruces :NMSU Department of Animal and Range Science.
Bowers, Janice E. 1993. Shrubs and Trees of the Southwest Desert . Tucson , AZ : Southwest Parks and Monuments Association.
Carter, Jack L. 1997. Trees and Shrubs of New Mexico . Silver City , NM : Mimbres Publishing.
Kearney, Thomas H. and Robert H. Peebles. 1951. Arizona Flora. Berkeley, California: University of California Press.
MacMahon, James A. 1987. Deserts. New York : Alfred A. Knoph, Inc.
Moore, Michael. 1989. Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West. Santa Fe, New Mexico : Museum of New Mexico Press.
Wooton, E.O. and Paul C. Standley. 1915. Flora of New Mexico . Contributions from the United States National Herbarium, Vol 19. Washington: Government Printing Office.
Related Terms: Magnoliophyta, Magnoliopsida