Fouquieria splendens
(Ocotillo)
Fouquieria splendens,Rio Grande Village Trail, Big Bend National Park 1099
Fouquieria splendens, Lajitas Airport Trails, Brewster Co. 2078
Fouquieria splendens, Hot Springs Canyon, Big Bend National Park 3881
Fouquieria splendens, Hot Springs Canyon, Big Bend National Park 3872
Fouquieria splendens, Lajitas Airport Trails, Brewster Co. 2090
Fouquieria splendens, Hot Springs Canyon, Big Bend National Park 0211
Fouquieria splendens, River Road, Big Bend National Park 1120
Fouquieria splendens, Sierra de Chino, River Road West, Big Bend National Park 3872
| Scientific Name | Fouquieria splendens | USDA PLANTS Symbol | FOSP2 |
| Common Name | Ocotillo | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 502645 |
| Family | Fouquieriaceae (Ocotillo) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Dry, rocky or gravelly hillsides and sandy plains from up to 5,000 ft, especially common in Big Bend region. Plant: Tall, many-stemmed shrub, 6 to over 20 feet tall with multiple unbranched erect stems covered with thorns up to 3/4-inch long; bark gray with dark grooves. Leaves: Deciduous leaves obovate to spatulate 3/8 to 2 inches long and up to 1-1/4 inches wide; leaves appear periodically depending on rainfall and turn yellow and drop in drought. Inflorescence: Dense, terminal panicles, 4 to 10 inches long, with leafy bracts that fall off at maturity; each flower with a tubular corolla about 3/4-inch long, bright red-orange, with 5 reflexed rounded lobes; red protruding stamens and yellow anthers; style divided into 3 or 4 threadlike branches. Bloom Period: March to June or sometimnes following significant rainfall. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston and SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2024