ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens Engelm.
Fouquieria splendens, known as ocotillo, is a desert plant native to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is found in the Mojave, Sonoran, Chihuahuan, and Colorado deserts, spanning Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and parts of Mexico. Belonging to the family Fouquieriaceae, it is the sole species in the genus Fouquieria. The species was first described in 1848 by Engelm.
Description
Fouquieria splendens is a woody shrub adapted to arid environments. Its distribution includes Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and regions of northern Mexico such as the Northeast, Northwest, and Southwest. The plant is characterized by its slender, spiny stems and bright red tubular flowers that bloom after rainfall. It is an important component of desert ecosystems and is often associated with rocky, well-drained soils. The species is part of the Fouquieriaceae family, a small plant family native to the Americas.
Other common names
vine-cactusocotillo
Distribution
Arizona · California · Mexico Northeast · Mexico Northwest · Mexico Southwest · Nevada · New Mexico · Texas
