Fouquieria is a genus of 11 species of desert plants, the sole genus in the family Fouquieriaceae. The genus includes the Ocotillo (F. splendens) and the Boojum tree or Cirio (F. columnaris). They have succulent stems with thinner spikes projecting from them, with leaves on the spikes. They are unrelated to cacti and do not look much like them; their stems are proportionately thinner than cactus stems and their leaves are larger.

These plants are native to northern Mexico and the bordering US states of Arizona, southern California, New Mexico, and parts of southwestern Texas, favoring low, arid hillsides.

Pests

Species

• Fouquieria burragei Rose 1911
• Fouquieria columnaris (Kellog) Kellog ex Curran 1885
• Fouquieria diguetii (Tiegh.) I.M.Johnst. 1925
• Fouquieria fasciculata Nash 1903
• Fouquieria formosa Kunth 1823
• Fouquieria leonilae Miranda 1961
• Fouquieria macdougalii Nash 1903
• Fouquieria ochoterenae Miranda 1942
• Fouquieria purpusii Brandegee 1909
• Fouquieria shrevei I.M.Johnst. 1939
• Fouquieria splendens Engelm. 1848
  • Fouquieria splendens ssp. breviflora Henrickson 1972
  • Fouquieria splendens ssp. campanulata (Nash) Henrickson 1972
  • Fouquieria splendens ssp. splendens

They do not have a particularly close resemblance to any other sort of plants; genetic evidence has shown that they belong in the Ericales. Prior to this, they had been variously placed in the Violales or their own order Fouquieriales.

External links

• Germplasm Resources Information Network: Fouquieria
• Fouquieriaceae in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants.

Ericales | Fouquieria | Fouquieria