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Fouquieria splendens Engelm.

Ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderEricalesTea, persimmon, blueberry, Brazil nut, azalea, many others
FamilyFouquieriaceaeNamed for Pierre Éloi Fouquier (1776-1850), a French physician, professor of medicine and naturalist
GenusFouquieriaNamed for Pierre Éloi Fouquier (1776-1850), a French physician, professor of medicine and naturalist
Speciessplendens“Splendid”

About plant names...

Ocotillos spend much of their time looking like giant dead rosebushes, but they're just biding their time. Given some moisture, they sprout large numbers of tiny leaves and beautiful stark red flowers. They are native to the Mojave and Colorado deserts, the southwestern US, Baja California, and Sonora Mexico, at elevations below 5000′ (1.5 km).

Ocotillos have near doppelgängers called Madagascar ocotillo. These closely similar plants are an example of convergent evolution, where unrelated plants sometimes evolve to fill identical ecological niches in different locations. But you won't confuse them, since, as you have probably guessed, Madagascar ocotillo grows only in Madagascar.

Identification: Ocotillo (pronounced awk-oh-TEE-oh) is a collection of tall, thin, unbranched stalks up to 20′ (6.1 m) high, facing mostly upward but sometimes looking bowed as if bowing to the wind. The branches have thorns about ½-1″ (1.3-2.5 cm) long, and sometimes have tiny leaves. Flowers, in clusters about 10″ (25 cm) long, and fruits appear near the top. Ocotillo's size and shape is unmistakable. It is found in association with mesquite, creosotebush, paloverde, and ceniza.

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

Photo by David Corby

Online References:

Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Desert-tropicals.com

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Wikipedia

Cals.arizona.edu

Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers and the Plants of the Sonoran Desert

The Jepson Manual

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm)

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm)

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

5/2/2018 · Ocotillo Patch, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

Black-throated Sparrow · 5/24/2009 · Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Ari­zona ID is uncertain

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

5/2/2018 · Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

5/24/2009 · Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Ari­zona · ≈ 3 × 4½′ (94 × 141 cm)

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

5/2/2018 · Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

5/10/2014 · American Southwest (AZ or TX) · By Jacquelyn Boyt

Fouquieria splendens Engelm. ssp. splendens

 

Fouquieria splendens description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

5/1/2018 · Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center, Twentynine Palms, Cali­fornia · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm)

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

5/1/2018 · Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center, Twentynine Palms, Cali­fornia

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

5/2/2018 · Ocotillo Patch, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

2/17/2007 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

5/24/2009 · Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Ari­zona

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

5/2/2018 · Bajada Trail, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

5/24/2009 · Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Ari­zona

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

2/17/2007 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

5/2/2018 · Cottonwood Visitor Center, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus)

5/2/2018 · Ocotillo Patch, Joshua Tree National Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 6 × 10″ (16 × 24 cm)

Range:

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