Ocotillo Flowers
by Robert Bales
Title
Ocotillo Flowers
Artist
Robert Bales
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
Fouquieria splendens Engelm. is a desert plant of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Common names include ocotillo, desert coral, coachwhip, Jacob's staff, and vine cactus, although it is not a true cactus. 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.
Individual 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 crimson flowers appear especially after rainfall in spring, summer, and occasionally fall. Flowers are clustered indeterminately at the tips of each mature stem. Individual flowers are mildly zygomorphic and are pollinated by hummingbirds and native carpenter bees.
Uploaded
March 30th, 2013
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Comments (10)
Marvin Blaine
This really got my attention Robert! I've never seen flowers like this before and these sure are amazing looking! Great Capture! F!
Robert Bales replied:
Yes, they are strange and the brush is worst than a cactus!! Thanks for the Fav!!
Christopher James
Congratulation.....your wonderful work has been featured in the 1000 Views on 1 Image Group ..... Feel free to place your featured image in the Features Archive and any Genre specific Archive l/f/p
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks, Christopher for the nice feature, congrats, comments, invite, and the promotion!!!
Belinda Low
Hello Robert! Thank you so much for sharing all your beautiful work! Coming from this side of the globe - they serve as a feast to the Asian eyes! f/v
Nick Boren
That is a very beautiful flower Robert and so well photographed. voted
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks Nick and it sure is a beautiful red and the hummers sure like it and thanks for the vote!
Pamela Patch
This is a very unusual plant Bob, great find, makes your image unique! Great colors. f/v
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks Pamela and yes it is a very strange plant! We have one in your back yard. I would also like to thanks you for the v/f!