Fouquieria

/fuːkˈwɛəriə/ noun

Definition

A genus of desert plants with long spiky branches and bright red flowers, native to Mexico and the southwestern United States.

Etymology

Named after French naturalist François Fouquier in the 19th century; the scientific naming follows the Latinized convention where a person's name becomes a plant genus name.

Kelly Says

The ocotillo plant can actually shed and regrow its leaves multiple times per year depending on rainfall—it's like having leaves that are only there when it rains, making it an extreme water-saver in the desert!

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