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]

FOUQUIERIA

OCOTILLO, CANDLEWOOD, BOOJUM

Etymology: (P.E. Fouquier, French professor of medicine)

Native

F. splendens Engelm. subsp. splendens

OCOTILLO

Stems branched near base, erect to outwardly arching or ascending, 6–100, 2–10 m, generally < 6 cm diam, cane-like, leafless most of year; bark gray with darker furrows; spines 1–4 cm
Leaves: primary 1–5 cm, petioles 1–2.5 cm; secondary 2–6 per cluster, 1–2 cm, 4–9 mm wide, petioles 2–8 mm, blade spoon-shaped to obovate, tip rounded to notched
Inflorescence: panicle, generally 10–20 cm, widely to narrowly conic
Flower: corolla 1.8–2.5 cm, bright red
Fruit ± 2 cm
Chromosomes: 2n=24
Ecology: Dry, generally rocky soils
Elevation: 0–700 m.
Bioregional distribution: Sonoran Desert
Distribution outside California: to Texas, c Mexico, Baja California
Flowering time: Mar–Jul
Sts used for fences, huts; bark for waxes, gums
Horticultural information: DRN, DRY: 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21.