Sonoran Native Virtual Tour- OCOTILLO

Fouquieria splendens      |      Fouquieriaceae      |      ocotillo

Desert Ecology:

Hummingbirds are important pollinators, though nectar-stealing carpenter bees and verdins have been found to effectively pollinate. Antelope ground squirrels feed on flowers and seeds that fall to the ground.

Ethnobotany:

Native people, including the Seri, Cahuilla, Yavapai, Pima, Tohono and Hiá ced O’ohdam also consumed the flowers and nectar or used the flowers to flavor water. The Cahuilla used protein-rich seeds to make flour for mush or cakes In both past and modern times, ocotillo stems are used for fencing (sometimes as a living fence), house walls, and ramada roofs.

Next Stop ⇒ Night-Blooming Cereus

Return to Sonoran Native Navigation Page

Additional Resources to Explore:

• Link to the Campus Arboretum Species Description page
• Link to the Campus Arboretum Sonoran Native Plants page (for booklet, self-guided campus tours, or docent led tour information)