Fouquieria splendens
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Fouquieria splendens in the Coachella Valley, California |
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| Engelm. |
Fouquieria splendens is a species of the genus Fouquieria . A Spanish common name is " Ocotillo " [ ˌokoˈtiʎo ].
description
Fouquieria splendens is a deciduous, xerophytic shrub that reaches heights of 2 to 9 m. Most of the year the plant appears like a collection of dead twigs, when it rains Fouquieria splendens quickly develops small leaves that remain for a few weeks to months. The individual trunks of Fouquieria splendens reach a diameter of about 5 centimeters. Fouquieria splendens branches out very strongly on the ground , and there are only a few other branches above it. The thorns are up to 4 cm long. There are two different types of sheets. The larger leaves are about 5 cm long, have an egg-shaped, thick and leathery leaf blade and 1 to 2.5 cm long petiole. The smaller, two to sixth together, leaves are 1 to 2 cm long and 4 to 9 mm wide with 2 to 8 mm long petioles.
The flowers appear in small clusters at the top of each stem in spring and summer. The hermaphrodite flowers are fivefold. There are five free, unequal sepals . The five mostly scarlet petals are fused with tubes. There are ten to 15 free stamens . Three fruit leaves are a syncarp, Upper permanent ovary grown. The flowers produce nectar and are pollinated by hummingbirds and bees .
The triple capsule fruits contain many winged seeds.
The number of chromosomes is 2n = 24.
Systematics and distribution
Fouquieria splendens is common in northern Mexico and the southwest of the USA .
The first description of Fouquieria splendens was made in 1848 by George Engelmann in FA Wislizenus: Memoir of a tour to northern Mexico: connected with Col. Doniphan's expedition, in 1846 and 1847 ; published 1848, p. 96.
Some botanists divide the species into three subspecies:
- Fouquieria splendens subsp. splendens : It occurs from southern California to southwest Texas and northern Mexico.
- Fouquieria splendens subsp. breviflora Henrickson : It occurs in west-central Mexico.
- Fouquieria splendens subsp. campanulata (Nash) Henrickson : It occurs in the Mexican state of Durango.
use
In their homeland, Fouquieria splendens is often used as a hedge plant. Due to their low weight, the trunks are often used as walking sticks.
swell
- Robin F. Matthews: Fouquieria splendens in the Fire Effects Information System of the US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 1994.
- Fouquieria splendens at the Jepson Flora Project.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Fouquieria splendens at Tropicos.org. In: IPCN Chromosome Reports . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
- ↑ a b Rafaël Govaerts (ed.): Fouquieria. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved April 21, 2020.
