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| Scientific Name | Fouquieria splendens | USDA PLANTS Symbol | FOSP2 |
| Common Name | Ocotillo | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 502645 |
| Family | Fouquieriaceae (Ocotillo) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Habitat: Dry, rocky or gravelly hillsides and sandy plains from up to 5,000 ft, especially common in Big Bend region. Plant: Tall, many-stemmed shrub, 6 to over 20 feet tall with multiple unbranched erect stems covered with thorns up to 3/4-inch long; bark gray with dark grooves. Leaves: Deciduous leaves obovate to spatulate 3/8 to 2 inches long and up to 1-1/4 inches wide; leaves appear periodically depending on rainfall and turn yellow and drop in drought. Inflorescence: Dense, terminal panicles, 4 to 10 inches long, at with leafy bracts that fall off at maturity; each flower with a tubular corolla about 3/4-inch long, bright red-orange, with 5 reflexed rounded lobes; red protruding stamens; style divided into 3 or 4 threadlike branches. Bloom Period: March to June or sometimnes following significant rainfall. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston and SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map |
Texas Status: Native |
