Ocotillo cactus by danapommet
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Description
Still in the Mojave Desert and the Joshua Tree National Park. Fouquieria splendens Engelm, is a curious and unique desert plant of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Common names include Ocotillo, Desert Coral, Coachwhip, Jacob's Staff, and Vine Cactus, although it is not a true cactus. For much of the year, the plant appears to be an arrangement of large spiny dead sticks, although closer examination reveals that the stems are partly green. With rainfall the plant quickly becomes lush with small (2-4 cm) ovate leaves, which may remain for weeks or even months. Individual stems may reach a diameter of 5 cm at the base, and the plant may grow to a height of 10 meters. The plant branches very heavily at its base, but above that the branches are pole-like and only infrequently divide further, and specimens in cultivation may not exhibit any secondary branches. The leaf stalks harden into blunt spines, and new leaves sprout from the base of the spine. The bright crimson flowers appear especially after rainfall in spring, summer, and occasionally fall. Flowers are clustered indeterminately at the tips of each mature stem. Individual flowers are mildly zygomorphic and are pollinated by hummingbirds and native carpenter bees. Info from Wikipedia. Photo taken in 1996 and scanned. I believe those are the Little San Bernardino Mountains in the background. Zoom for details.
Thanks for stopping by, taking a look and for all your previous favs and comments.
They are very much appreciated.
Dana
Comments (25)
Very Interesting and informative Excellent Capture!!
very beautiful!!
Great photo, Its always good to see the native habitat of a plant I have grown although it never got anywhere near as big as that.
Beautiful picture and intersting info !
Absolutely fascinating! I see that Alan has grown it; I've nener heard of it, I'm sure my mother would have wanted one for her collection if she had!
Excellent Capture
Fine capture and great info! ;o)
Interesting capture for sure and thanks for the info on this.
Another fantastic shot Dana, amazing lighting, very well done! **********
These are so cool, when they are dead and dried they have a series of openings all down the stems and look very otherworldly. Great capture!
wonderful place to explore.....
Very fascinating photo and information
great shot and info!
Cool Capture!
It does look just like twigs, I see there is a road behind it? Great view!!
Sweet shot, Hope you bring water with you that day ;-) See this Dana: NASA to Host Live Events for November 4 Comet Encounter
splendid place, wonderful picture- are you in hollidays? nice for you!!!
beau paysage!
BERY FINE SHOT, SUPERB LANDSCAPE
This is a very unusual tree and you have captured it beautifully. It must look lovely when it is in flower too.
Magnificent clarity, detail and sense of depth in this terrific photo, Dana, apparently taken while on your knees for this POV. And I gotta go get me a long drink of water.
Great capture and info! :)
Very good capture!
I used to see lots of these wandering the desert near our house in Phoenix--great shot!!
an excellent shot!