Fouquieria splendens
Fouquieria splendens in California's Coachella Valley.
Fouquieria splendens is a species of the genus Fouquieria. A Spanish common name is " Ocotillo " [ ˌ okotiʎo ].
Description
Fouquieria splendens is a deciduous, xerophytic shrub that reaches the plant height 2-9 m. Most of the year the plant appears as an accumulation of dead branches, Fouquieria gets splendens quickly when it rains small leaves, which are maintained for several weeks to months. The individual strains of Fouquieria splendens reach a diameter of about 5 centimeters. Already on the floor to Fouquieria branched splendens very strongly about it, there are only few other ramifications. The thorns are up to 4 cm long. There are two different types of sheets. The larger leaves have a length of about 5 cm, have an egg-shaped, thick and leathery leaf blade and 1 to 2.5 cm long petiole. The smaller, for two to six standing together, leaves are 1-2 cm long and 4-9 mm wide with 2-8 mm long petioles.
The flowers appear in spring and summer in small groups at the top of the individual tribes. The hermaphrodite flowers are fünfzählig. There are five free, unequal sepals present. The top five scarlet petals are fused Roehrig. There are ten to 15 free stamens present. Three carpels are fused to a syncarp, superior ovaries. The flowers produce nectar and are pollinated by hummingbirds and bees.
The dreifächerigen capsule fruits contain many winged seeds.
Systematics and distribution
Fouquieria splendens is widespread in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States.
The first description was in 1848 by George Engelmann. Some botanists divide Fouquieria splendens in three ways:
- Fouquieria splendens subsp. splendens
- Fouquieria splendens subsp. breviflora Henrickson
- Fouquieria splendens subsp. campanulata ( Nash ) Henrickson
Use
In their homeland Fouquieria splendens is often used as a hedge plant. Due to their low weight, the stems are often used as walking sticks.
Swell
- Robin F. Matthews: Fouquieria splendens in the Fire Effects Information System of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 1994.
- Fouquieria splendens at the Jepson Flora Project.