Ocotillo
ocotillo
The ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens - also called the coachwhip, Jacob's staff, and the vine cactus) is a curious, and unique desert plant of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. For much of the year, the plant appears to be an arrangement of large spiny dead sticks, although closer examination reveals that the stems are partly green. With rainfall the plant quickly becomes lush with small (2-4 cm) ovate leaves, which may remain for weeks or even months.
The stems may reach a diameter of 5 cm at the base, and the plant may grow to a
height of 10 m. The plant branches very heavily at its base, but above that the
branches are pole-like and only infrequently divide further, and specimens in
cultivation may not exhibit any secondary branches. The leaf stalks harden into
blunt spines, and new leaves sprout from the base of the spine. The bright red
flowers appear in spring and summer, occurring as a group of small tube shapes
at the tip of the stem. They are pollinated by hummingbirds or carpenter bees.
Ocotillo poles are a common fencing material in their native region, and often
take root to form a living fence. Owing to light weight and an interesting
pattern, these have been used for canes or walking sticks.
Text from Wikipedia
blooming
