Chihuahuan Desert Plant Seminar (Big Bend Addendum 2)

Big Bend is the least visited national park (due to its out-of-the-way locale); has the most species of birds, bats, and cacti in a national park; is the exclusive home to 7 different types of butterflies; and is digs to mountain lions, javelinas, peregrine falcons, black bears, and hundreds of types of birds and insects. It's even better known for its varied and fascinating geology. By the time we left the area, I was really wishing I had a little geologist in my pocket (maybe in the future we can breed these) to explain to me the huge variety of rock formations. This would be a good place for me to explain those wondrous creations of the past gazillion years that formed the region, but I'll just refer you to the nps site (here)--not quite as good as Mr. Pocket-Geologist, but it does the job.

Derek and I decided to become amateur cactologists (yes, that's a word, because it's on the internet. I just put it there.). We became expert at identifying our favorite plants and cacti:

• The prickly pear cactus, the pitaya cactus with its strawberry-flavored fruit (cactus fruit is called tuna), and the claret cup cactus were all spotted on our hikes. But not photographed.

[The following plants are succulents, but not cacti. While most cacti are succulents, not all succulents are cacti. All Big Bend cacti are succulents. Succulent means that the plant has a thick skin with water stored underneath. And did you know that cactuses ONLY grow in the Americas? And that it is correct to use either the term cacti or cactuses?].

• This is a [?] cactus. Shoot. Can't remember. Can't google a picture.
  

• The century plant (my personal favorite) is an agave that leads a tragic life. After growing for 20 years or more, it sends up a giant 10-15 foot flowering stalk, which blooms, and then the plant dies in the same month as the stalk's appearance. We wept a few silent tears each time we saw one. Of course, little bats and hummingbirds eat up the flower nectar, so it achieves immortality in the end.

A century plant before sprouting the stem of death:

• The lechugilla is an indicator plant of the Chihuahuan Desert, which means that it only grows there. It is similar to the century plant in that it toils away for a long time before sending up a tall flowering shoot that heralds its immediate, certain death. It looks different, though: spiky and narrow leaves. Plus it's used by the Mexicans to make a liquor of the same name. No need to be thirsty just because you're in the desert!

• Sotol is another liquor-plant. It also send up a tall stalk, but the stalk is grassy and grows every year. The drink made from this plant is called sotol and is purportedly fiery. Wikipedia reports that each plant provides enough stuff to make only one bottle of sotol.

• This beauty of a tree is called the Texas Madrone. Every year its bark sheds off and leaves a white layer that is as smooth and cool as marble. The bark turns pink or red as the season wears on. Bright red berries adorn the branches. So pretty.

That's it for now, folks. If you'd like to access the PowerPoint of my plant lecture, you just let me know.