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	©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California Print edition is available from the University of California Press

	The second edition of The Jepson Manual (2012) is available from the University of California Press
	See also the Jepson eFlora, which parallels the Second Edition

FOUQUIERIACEAE

OCOTILLO FAMILY

William J. Stone

Shrubs, trees, spiny
Stem branched near base, or trunk single, thick, fleshy
Leaves simple, alternate, small, somewhat fleshy, glabrous, of 2 types: primary soon deciduous after rains, petiole long, it and midrib develop into persistent spine after blade drops; secondary leaves clustered in axil of developing spine
Inflorescence: spike, raceme, or panicle, terminal; flowers many
Flower showy; sepals 5, unequal, overlapping, persistent; corolla tube cylindric, lobes 5, spreading, bright red or yellow; stamens 10–20, in 1–2 whorls, filaments free, epipetalous; pistil 1, ovary superior, incompletely 3-chambered, placenta axile at base, parietal above, ovules 3–6 per chamber
Fruit: capsule
Seeds elliptic, angled
Genera in family: 1 genus (includes Idria), 11 species: sw US, Mex
Reference: [Henrickson 1972 Aliso 7:439–537]