Interesting facts Brittlebush Family: Asteraceae A member of the Sunflower family, Brittlebush is one of the defining shrubs of our Arizona Uplands (Sonoran Desert), but reaches its upper elevational limits in our area. It is said (By Epple, main Wildflower page, p. 270) to be found mainly 3,000 feet elevation, but in April of 2005 we saw it while driving down the Redington Road from Tucson, descending toward the San Pedro River Valley, blooming profusely, a ways before we encountered Palo Verde trees and then Saguaro cacti even further below. As Janice Bowers (cited on Wildflowers page) puts it, brittlebush at its best forms a neat hemisphere of blue-green leaves, while at its worst it becomes "a collection of white stems to which a few withered, gray leaves cling...." (p. 96) The plants reach a height of about 3 feet in some areas, but they are smaller in our area. The old withered leaves are quickly replaced by an entire new canopy, as shown at left.
Texas Cactus Climate Ocotillo - Fouquieria splendens The Ocotillo is a bajada resident that can be relied on to bloom annually, even without leafing in particularly dry springs. It is an inverted, funnel-shaped desert plant with several woody, spiny, whip-like, straight branches angling outward from the base and rising as high as 20 feet. Ocotillo are leafless most of the year, except immediately after rain; the leaves then quickly wither after the soil dries out. These narrow, oval leaves are about 2 inches long, appearing in bunches above spines. Range Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts of southeast California to west Texas and south into Mexico. Habitat Open, stony, well-drained desert slopes below 5,000 feet. Flowers Red flowers are 1/2 to 1 inch in length, with five short lobes curled back into 10-inch clusters. Mature plants have as many as 75 slender branches (canes). Members of the Ocotillo Family (Fouquieriaceae), there are 11 species of the Fouquieria genus, most of which occur in Mexico. Other names for the Ocotillo include:
Desert plants include Animals Desert Cactus Plants Soaptree Yucca, Yucca elata. Arizona Wild Flowers. Pictures, Photos, Images, Descriptions, Information, Reviews. Soaptree Yucca.Yucca elata Lily Family ( Liliaceae ) Soaptree Yucca. Also called Palmilla, Soapweed, Whipple Yucca, and Spanish Bayonet. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. Yucca elata is an evergreen erect, trunk-forming succulent, which also forms branches. Soaptree yucca produces from seed and by sprouting. The leaves were used for basket making by Native Arizonans, the flowers are edible, and the roots can be used for soap. Soaptree Yucca (as well as other yuccas) rely on the female Pronuba Moth for pollination. Without this moth, the Soaptree Yucca could not reproduce, nor could the moth, whose larvae need the seeds to eat. Yucca elata was in the Aguave or Agave Family but now is in the Lilly Family. Quick Notes: Height: 6 feet To About 20 feet tall. Flowering Time: March - April. Trunk: Up To About 1 1/2 Foot Thick. Sun Exposure: Full Sun Elevation: 0 - 6,000 Feet.
Chain Fruit Cholla - Opuntia fulgida Chain Fruit Cholla Common Names: Hanging Chain Cholla, Jumping Cholla, Cholla Brincadora, Vilas de Coyote Genus: Opuntia Species: fulgida irregular, drooping branches. These are covered with a dense layer of sharp spines. These spines have a straw-colored sheath when young which turns a dark gray as they mature. The sheath acts to reflect sunlight and prevent over heating. As the cholla gets older the spines fall off and leave a rough and scaly bark on the trunk and old branches. giving you the impression that the cactus jumped at you. During droughts animals like the Bighorn Sheep rely on the juicy fruit for food and water. bibliography: "Chain Fruit Cholla (DesertUSA)", (9/7/02).