PhotographsMy photos:These photos were taken in the Palm Canyon wash at Anza Borrego in February. They are just beginning to bud. The photo at the right shows an extremely tall plant - you can see the reddish buds. Below is a plant that was more accessible - showing the top branches plus a closeup of a branch with its flowers.
More photos:Ocotillo in full bloom, from Calflora. |
click photo to enlarge |
Ocotillo is a resinous, spiny shrub, with stout, erect stems, which are from 6 to 25 feet long. Stems are several to many and arise from a common base; also, each stem is gray with darker furrows and is armed with stout spines. Leaves are fleshy and soon deciduous with dry weather, but will reappear with both spring and late summer rains. Tubular flowers appear between March and July with scarlet blooms in attractive, foot-long clusters. Use as a screening, impenetrable hedge or for a silhouette against a bare wall. Requires plenty of drainage and full sun. Do not overwater. Cuttings placed in the ground will grow.
Dry, mostly rocky places, below 2500 feet. According to our esteemed instructor, Fouquieria is allelopathic to its kind once it starts to grow; when a seedling takes hold, it secretes a poison so that any other seeds are unable to survive. For this reason plants in the wild are scattered at a fair distance from one another. But "seedlings... are found under the canopy of mature plants [39,77]" according to the FEIS database. So I'm confused, but intrigued.
The fresh blossoms and seeds were food for the local native people. The wood was used for fuel and for construction material.
Field Trips
Anza Borrego Caspers
Holy Jim Canyon Idyllwild
Joshua Tree Mt Palomar Rancho
Santa Ana Torrey Pines
Last update 04/05/07
Copyright © Jeanne Lepowsky 2004
