Desert plants

[nachoman]

Up next is the bizarre Ocotillo plant. They aren't really a cactus, tree, bush, vine, or shrub, and that is what makes them so interesting. Common in southern Arizona, California, and New Mexico, they grow as a collection of thorny sticks from a Central base. During dry periods in the early summer and winter, the branches appear dead and gray. After a few rains, the branches turn a fuzzy green as numerous small green leaves sprout from the thorny sticks. Near the top of each branch, tubular red flowers bloom every spring, attracting hummingbirds. Here is a photo I took of a few Ocotillo plants last weekend:

   

And the wikipedia page for this species:

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This is perhaps my favorite plant because of its uniqueness. Ranchers also used to cut the branches, and plant them in rows to form fences. The branches would root themselves, and become a "living fence".