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Monocotyledons

Agaves Dasylirion Nolinaceae Yuccas About Yuca & Yucca

Dicotyledons

Asclepiadaceae Cactaceae Crassulaceae Euphorbiaceae Fouquieria splendens
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Glossary: botanical terms
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North America conjures up images of cacti, but there are many other succulent plants to be found there. The most obvious are the succulent monocotyledons (Agavaceae, Nolinaceae). Some of these can grow to be too large to fit into a small collection. Agaves have a habit of flowering through the greenhouse roof, which may explain why many growers ignore such attractive plants. However, some Yuccas are sufficiently hardy to tolerate cold-wet winters, while others suit Mediterranean and dry tropical climates.
 
However, a sharp eye will find a range of attractive smaller succulent plants in several families including Asclepiadaceae, Crassulaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Portulacaceae
 
Many succulent plants found in the North American mountains are frost hardy under the very dry conditions in which they flourish, but may not survive the cold in wetter climates.
 
You can download higher quality images by clicking on the pictures below. Photographs © copyright R.J. Hodgkiss.

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Agavaceae   - Agaves (Century Plants), Yuccas

Agave deserti
 
Yucca whipplei

Left: Agave deserti - This Desert Agave was part of a fine stand of flowering plants in April 1995. Sometimes called the "century plant", in practice flowering occurs after 8 - 20 years. Although all the flowering rosettes will die, each group of plants at this site had plenty of offset non-flowering rosettes for other years. The leaves of the rosettes are armed with lethal stiff terminal spines, for which one rapidly aquires respect, and sharp marginal teeth. Desert Agave is one of the most drought-tolerant of the 136 species of agave found in North America, and grows on stony terrain from south-eastern California and south-western Arizona to Baja California and northern Sonora. Many species of agave are bat pollinated.

The starchy core of the Desert Agave was baked in rock-lined pits by desert-dwelling Indians to form a nutritious energy-rich staple food, and baked agave can still be purchased in Mexican markets. Fermentation of the starchy core of some species and distillation of the ferment is the basis for production of tequilla.
 
More information and images of Agaves
  
Many species of Yuccaare spread over the south-western USA. Inter-specific hybridization makes positive identification difficult. Native American Indians used many parts of the plant for food, clothing, baskets, fibre and soap.

Left: Yucca whipplei   (Our Lord's Candle)
Unlike Agaves, Yuccas can flower many times. Self pollination of Yucca flowers of many species is impossible and they are pollinated exclusively by small Yucca moths with the plant and moth totally dependent on each other.
 
More information and images of Yuccas

Cactaceae

Cacti are one of the most distinctive groups of succulent plant growing throughout the American continent, with around 2500 species ranging in size from less than half an inch to tens of feet in height.
Upper Right: Opuntia or Prickly Pears form a large group within the Cactaceae. The jointed spiny stems can be flat (Prickly Pears) or cylindrical (Chollas).
Lower Right: The Living Rock Cactus is not typical of most cacti, in having no spines.
 
More information and images of cacti

Opuntia engelmannii
Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii
A. fissuratus
Ariocarpus fissuratus

Crassulaceae:   Dudleya & Echeveria



Dudleya is a genus of more than 50 small rosetted succulent plants native to Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Baja California, Mexico and coastal islands and possibly extending into S. America. Many Dudleya species grow along the Californian coast.
 
Left: A large rosetted Dudleya found on very dry hillsides in California along highway S2. Plants growing in shade have green leaves but develop an attractive bronze colour when exposed to direct sunlight. Rosettes grow up to 8 in across.
 
More information and images of Dudleya
 
 
Echeveria have a similar appearance to Dudleya. Over a hundred species can be found in Mexico, central and S. America. Echeveria leaves will root and form new plants whereas Dudleya leaves will not.
 
Left: Just one species of Echeveria ( E. strictiflora, ) is native to Texas. It grows on rocks within the baisin area in the Chisos Mountains.
 
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Crassulaceae:   Sedum - stonecrops

Sedum wrightii

It is often worth walking up rocky hillsides, paying careful attention to cracks in rocks, providing microclimates where Sedums and Dudleyas may flourish.
 
Left: Sedum wrightii growing on wet rocks near Boot Spring, Chisos Mountains, Texas.
 
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Euphorbiaceae - spurge family

Euphorbia antisyphillitica

Jatropha dioica

Pedilanthus macrocarpus

Top left:The candelilla plant (Euphorbia antisyphyllitica) growing at the Langtry visitor center, Texas. The epiphet antisyphyllitica refers to the plant's supposed medicinal properties. The flowers are relatively decorative by the standard of many Euphorbias. This plant is relatively common in the Big Bend country and the Rio Grande valley but in its natural habitat, where water may be scarce and the heat intense, the stems often have a bronzed appearance.
 
The candelilla plant was an important source of candelilla wax, which is still produced in small quantities by boiling large quantities of stems with sulphuric acid, and skimming the wax from the surface of the vat. The wax was used in the manufacture of phonograph records, in cosmetics and as an industrial lubricant.
 
 
 
Middle left: Dragon's blood, Leatherstem, Jatropha dioica, growing on limestone in a very dry valley, South of Shafter, Texas.
 
 
 
Bottom left:
Pedilanthus macrocarpus, (Slipper Plant) from Sonora and Baja California, growing in the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden. The flowers attract humming birds. This species is an excellent plant for a container in a warm climate but will not stand any frost.
 
 
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F. splendens

Fouquieriaceae

Left: Fouquieria splendens
Probably my favourite North American xerophytic plant, the Ocotillo or Devil's Walking Stick is widespread from Texas to California and northern Mexico.
 
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Portulacaceae

portulacaceae Portulaca
Shaggy Portulaca Portulaca pilosa,
Above Left: in the Big Bend National Park. Above Right: South of Shafter, Texas.
 

Nolinaceae   - beargrasses & sotol

Nolina parryi ssp. wolfii

Beargrass Many Nolinas (beargrasses) flourish on dry hillsides where little else will grow. Some species produce a spectacular infloresence.
 
Left: Nolina parryi ssp. wolfii in N. Arizona.
 
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Dasylirion leiophyllum

The leaves of Dasylirions (Sotol) are furnished with sharp teeth. The starchy core of the developing inflorescence was traditionally roasted and eaten, the leaves used for weaving baskets and thatching and the dead inflorescence was a source of wood.
 
Left: Dasylirion leiophyllum (Sotol) growing in front of the Chisos Mountains, Texas. This hardy species is widely cultivated as an ornamental for xerophyic landscapes.
 
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Asclepiadaceae

 

Asclepias erosa
The semi-succulent desert milkweed (Asclepias erosa) with striking green balls of florets, photographed in April 1995, in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California. Asclepias species produce nectar which attracts pollinator flies such as hoverflies and wasps such as the tarantula wasp. Desert milkweed is widespread from southern Utah to southeastern California, western Arizona and northwestern Mexico.

Asclepias species are often known as "butterfly weeds" and cultivated as the food plant of the caterpillars of several species of butterflies including the North American Monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus.
 
More information and images of Milkweeds

A. erosa A. erosa