What On Earth is a Boojum Tree?

thanks to Marco Meraz for his wonderful photos of Fouquieria purpusii!

Fouquieria columnaris - otherwise known as the Boojum Tree or Cirio - are bizarre plants that are related to Ocotillo and more distantly related to blueberries (Order Ericales). In the deserts of Baja California these strange trees look like dancing totem poles. In this episode we examine this species (pronounced Foo - Keer - Eeya column-nahr-iss) and how they (and all Ocotillo species) produce their spines, how first-year growth differs from second-year growth and whAt their strategy is for avoiding the summer heAt and dry season. A long the way we also see some massive individuals of Dudleya pulverulenta.

cliff notes : first year leaves on a segment of new stem produce petioles which later turn into spines. every subsequent year's leaves on that same shoot will only produce fascicled, sessile leaves, without a petiole.

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