(# 1) One of the first trees a person may see when in the Sonoran Desert, is a mesquite (muh-skeet). Mesquite trees are part of the legume family, and are very long-lived. Their roots are some of the longest ever recorded. One live root was found in a copper mine, and reached 160 feet (50 m) below the surface. Mesquites are a valuable source of food for both animals and people. The seeds on some kinds can be ground into a flour. The flour can be made into a type of bread, without any baking. Animals feed on both the seeds and the little leaves. These large shrub-like trees are deciduous, which means they loose their leaves in the fall. The 2nd photo below shows the little leaves up-close and long ripening seed pods.
More Than Meets
the Eye
Notice just how large the upper roots of this old mesquite tree are. Some are as thick as the tree's limbs. Over the years... the sand and soil around the plant washed away--exposing the roots below. They are so wide, I was able to crawl through them and under them. When it comes to these hardy desert plants, there is much more than meets the eye.
the Eye
Notice just how large the upper roots of this old mesquite tree are. Some are as thick as the tree's limbs. Over the years... the sand and soil around the plant washed away--exposing the roots below. They are so wide, I was able to crawl through them and under them. When it comes to these hardy desert plants, there is much more than meets the eye.
(# 2) Imagine standing near a large rounded shrub that looks very similar to a young mesquite tree. But this shrub is coated with bright yellow puffy flowers (right photo). The pom-pom-like flowers look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. You then realize that you are standing next to an acacia (uh-KAY-shuh). Acacias are large deciduous plants that can grow around 6-12 feet (2-4 m) tall. Like mesquites, acacias are deciduous, which means they loose their leaves in the autumn. And like mesquites, acacias also grow seed-filled pods.
Did you know that acacias can live for 70 years. The beautiful golden clusters of rounded puffy flowers on some kinds appear in both the spring and summer. These photos
were taken in August.
Be careful around these shrubs! Although they look pretty,
younger acacia plants can be
very thorny. Notice the thorns in the left photo below.
Careful! the thorns from young acacia plants can be pretty long! The thorns help protect the growing plant from hungry plant-eating animals.
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A Very Old Spicy-Smelling Shrub
(# 3) You don't have to go far into the Sonoran Desert to find a creosote (Cre-uh-sote). These evergreen 3-6 feet
(1 to 2 m) tall shrubs are found just about everywhere. The amazing thing about creosotes, is that they are among the longest-lived of all plants. Some plants are said to be over 10,000 years old! The plants can go without water for a very long time. They do this by loosing their lower leaves and smaller limbs. This helps reserve water and nutrients for where they are needed most. Better for some of the plant to die, than all of it. The tiny green leaves mostly grow towards the tops of the limbs. The rest of the branches are often bare. The leaves produce a spicy-smelling oily resin, which helps protect the leaves from the desert's dry and sunny weather, and from hungry animals. Their strong spicy aroma is easy to identify, especially after a summer rain. The fragrance is called by some--"the smell of rain." It is one of my favorite desert smells!
After seasonal rains, the creosotes will grow small yellow flowers. The flowers are followed by little white fuzzy fruit capsules that contain seeds. Notice the tiny leaves, flowers, and seeds below, and the fuzzy fruit capsule above.
Do you see the dried flower petals at the base of the fuzzy fruit towards the bottom of the photo below?
The creosote bush in the right photo is coated with little fuzzy seed-filled fruit capsules.
This is just the tip of the shrub.
My only problem was deciding which I liked better--the flowers or the seeds. Aren't they pretty.
(# 4) The green colors of the desert blend so well with bright yellow flowers. And one of the prettiest yellow-flowering desert plants, is the paloverde
(PA-loh-VUR-dee) tree. This large green-colored tree turns lemon-yellow in early spring from showy displays of tiny dainty flowers (below photo). When the paloverde is not in bloom, every part of the tree is green--the trunk, limbs, thorns, and tiny leaves. In fact, "paloverde" (or palo verde)means "green stick" in Spanish.
Did you know that a paloverde tree's leaves are so small that one can barely see them. The tiny leaves allow filtered sunlight to pass through the branches. This provides just the right amount of light for the growing cacti below. Cacti, such as saguaros, need the protection of paloverdes, and other desert trees, in order to grow. The trees' lower limbs shelter the growing cacti from harsh weather and hungry plant-eating animals.
(PA-loh-VUR-dee) tree. This large green-colored tree turns lemon-yellow in early spring from showy displays of tiny dainty flowers (below photo). When the paloverde is not in bloom, every part of the tree is green--the trunk, limbs, thorns, and tiny leaves. In fact, "paloverde" (or palo verde)means "green stick" in Spanish.
Did you know that a paloverde tree's leaves are so small that one can barely see them. The tiny leaves allow filtered sunlight to pass through the branches. This provides just the right amount of light for the growing cacti below. Cacti, such as saguaros, need the protection of paloverdes, and other desert trees, in order to grow. The trees' lower limbs shelter the growing cacti from harsh weather and hungry plant-eating animals.
"Have you seen their yellow flowers
against the bluest skies?
Are they paloverde blossoms?
or
hundreds of butterflies."
--Carolyn French
(# 5) We couldn't talk about colorful desert trees and shrubs, without speaking of the desert willow. These graceful trees are frequently seen along sandy desert washes and river banks. They can grow to around 30 feet (9 m) tall and wide. Their long narrow leaves and slightly drooping branches is how the plants received the name "willow." During spring and summer, desert willows grow one of the most beautiful of all desert flowers. The trumpet-shaped flowers are lavender colored with purple lines. The yellowish insides help guide insects, such as bees, to the nectar inside the flowers. Like other desert trees, desert willows also grow long narrow seed pods. Desert willows are deciduous trees, which means they loose their leaves in the fall.
Notice the beautiful colors and shapes of the desert willow flowers in the photo below. The edges of the petals are ruffled, like a crinkled lavender-colored skirt. Each flower is just over one inch (2.5 cm) long, and produces a pleasant fragrance. This helps attract pollinating insects, such as bees. I like to press the fallen flowers between the thick pages of a book. The dried flowers do not loose their pretty colors with age.
Notice the beautiful colors and shapes of the desert willow flowers in the photo below. The edges of the petals are ruffled, like a crinkled lavender-colored skirt. Each flower is just over one inch (2.5 cm) long, and produces a pleasant fragrance. This helps attract pollinating insects, such as bees. I like to press the fallen flowers between the thick pages of a book. The dried flowers do not loose their pretty colors with age.
An Odd-Looking Shrub
(# 6) This strange and unusual plant, in the left photo, is called an ocotillo (ah-ko-TEE-oh). These large shrubs are easy to identify in the desert, and are among my favorite of desert plants. Their long and spiny cane-like stems grow from a very short trunk, and can grow up to 20 feet (6 m) tall. They are commonly seen growing along rocky slopes, mesas, washes, and desert grasslands. Small leaves grow from the stems, from early spring to early summer, especially after seasonal rains.
A Living Fence
Throughout history, people have used the long spiny stems of ocotillos as fences. The cut buried stems often grow roots and leaves--creating a living fence. The spiny stems help prevent smaller unwanted trespassers from getting through. The last photo below shows a picture of such a fence. The fence is old and no longer maintained, yet some of the cut stems were even blooming.
(# 6) This strange and unusual plant, in the left photo, is called an ocotillo (ah-ko-TEE-oh). These large shrubs are easy to identify in the desert, and are among my favorite of desert plants. Their long and spiny cane-like stems grow from a very short trunk, and can grow up to 20 feet (6 m) tall. They are commonly seen growing along rocky slopes, mesas, washes, and desert grasslands. Small leaves grow from the stems, from early spring to early summer, especially after seasonal rains.
A Living Fence
Throughout history, people have used the long spiny stems of ocotillos as fences. The cut buried stems often grow roots and leaves--creating a living fence. The spiny stems help prevent smaller unwanted trespassers from getting through. The last photo below shows a picture of such a fence. The fence is old and no longer maintained, yet some of the cut stems were even blooming.
Thick clusters of fiery red bell-shaped flowers grow from the tips of the ocotillo's stems from early spring to early summer. The flowers are especially enjoyed by hummingbirds. When the desert is very dry, and only a few plants are flowering, ocotillos can often be found blooming. The hummingbirds feed on the energizing nectar inside the flowers. The nectar will help nourish the birds as they fly through the dry desert.
Did you know that little antelope squirrels will climb up high onto ocotillo stems to feed on the flowers and seeds. What clever (and brave!) little creatures. If you would like to learn more about antelope squirrels, just click on mammals here, or on "Desert Mammals" above.
Did you know that little antelope squirrels will climb up high onto ocotillo stems to feed on the flowers and seeds. What clever (and brave!) little creatures. If you would like to learn more about antelope squirrels, just click on mammals here, or on "Desert Mammals" above.