1. ARIZONA PLANTS

2. Mesquite Trees  There are three main types in AZ  Screwbean  Honey  Velvet  Mesquites have taproots that go deep into the ground to find water.

3. Mesquite Trees  They are important to Native Americans for the following reasons:  seed pods used to make flour  leaves used to make tea  resin used for dyes, paint and medicine  roots used to make rope  wood used to make shelters, bowls, war clubs and was burned

4. Mesquite Tree

5. Agave  Also known as the century plant.  It does not take 100 years to bloom, but 15-30 instead.  The plant sends up a large, tall stalk that has many flowering blooms.  Once the stalk flowers, the plant dies.  The hearts of some agaves are used to make tequila.

6. Agave

7. Parry’s Century Plant  The leaves grow in a tight, circular cluster in which the younger, inner leaves are protected by the outer leaves.  Century plants have long, shallow roots that collect water, which is stored in the fleshy leaves.  Fibers from the leaves can be used to make ropes, nets, and baskets.

8. Parry’s Century Plant

9. Joshua Tree  It is the indicator plant for the Mojave Desert.  The name ‘Joshua Tree’ came from Mormons who thought the branches were being lifted to the heavens like the arms of the Biblical figure Joshua.  The older the plant, the more branches it has. After a stem blooms, the end of it dies. A new branch then grows out of the old one.

10. Joshua Tree  Moths pollinate the plant as they lay eggs. This is a mutualistic relationship.  The plant gets to reproduce while the eggs of the moth receive shelter and protection.

11. Joshua Tree

12. Yucca  The leaves are fibrous and are used to make rope, baskets, and shoes.  The seeds of the fruit are dispersed by rodents today, but used to be eaten by giant sloths.  After a yucca blooms, it does NOT die.  It is one of the indicator plants of the Chihuahuan Desert.

13. Yucca

14. Ocotillo  Also called living fences because cuttings can be placed in the ground to form a fence for livestock.  They are drought deciduous plants, which means they drop their leaves when there is not enough water.  They can drop and re-grow their leaves up to eight times a year.  When they drop their leaves, they look like they are dead, but they are just fine.

15. Ocotillo

16. Desert Marigold/Desert Baileya  The clumps of bright yellow flowers are common along roads and cover hillsides during the spring.

17. Penstemon  The pinkish/red blooms attract hummingbirds.

18. Arizona Poppy  One of the most common wildflowers in the Sonoran Desert.  These poppies have yellow petals with an orange center. Easily seen in the Superstition Mountains.

19. Lupine  Lupines belong to the pea family.  They have a beneficial relationship with bacteria that improves the soil.  The flowers are a beautiful bluish purple color.

20. Lupine

21. Organ Pipe Cactus  This cactus grows as a clump of column like stems.  It flowers at night.  Native Americans eat the fruits.

22. Organ Pipe Cactus

23. Senita  Also called the ‘old man cactus’.  They look similar to the organ pipe cactus, but they have a thick growth of fine thorns at the tops of the stems.  The thorns provide shade for the sensitive ends of the plants.

24. Senita

25. Barrel Cactus  The flowers grow on the top of this cactus in a circle.  Taller barrel cactus will lean towards their shaded side because the side in the sun grows faster.  Some of the thorns were used by Native Americans as fish hooks.  Do not drink liquid from the barrel cactus, it contains poison that will make you vomit.

26. Barrel Cactus

27. Palo Verde  Means green stick.  Can do photosynthesis using their branches and their trunks because they contain the green chlorophyll.  During extreme drought, palo verde trees can drop all of their leaves.

28. Palo Verde

29. Prickly Pear Cactus  The pads of the prickly pear are flattened ovals.  The fruit are bright red and edible. Another name for the fruit is ‘tuna’. The young pads are also edible and when cooked, they taste like green beans.  The pads store water for the plant, and do photosynthesis.  The flowers last for only one day.

30. Prickly Pear Cactus

31. Globemallow  Also called the sore eye poppy.  The leaves have fine hairs that can irritate the eyes.

32. Desert Christmas Cactus  Called the Christmas cactus because the fruits are still on the plant during the holidays.

33. Cholla Cactus  Even though they are commonly called ‘jumping cactus’, they cannot jump.  The joints of the plant do break off easily. The thorns are barbed and difficult to remove once embedded in the skin.  Pack rats take parts of the cholla, and use them to protect their dens.  Chain fruit cholla are named after the chains of fruit that hang down.

34. Cholla Cactus

36. Hedgehog Cactus  This is the first cactus to bloom during the spring.  The fruits are edible.

37. Saguaro  The largest of the U.S. cacti.  It can take up to 75 years before a saguaro will grow an arm.  They can live over 200 years.  The flower is the AZ state flower. The fruits are edible.

38. Saguaro  The saguaro expands like an accordion when it absorbs water. This is how it stores water. During drought, the saguaro contracts as it loses water.  Bats pollinate it.  Holes in the cactus provide shelter for animals.

39. Saguaro

40. Brittlebush  This plant can drop most of its leaves during a drought.  The blue/grey color of the leaves is designed to prevent the plant from getting too much sun.  The leaves are also covered with hairs to block some of the sunlight and prevent water loss.

41. Brittlebush

42. Creosote bush  The leaves are covered with a varnish that reduces evaporation.  After it rains, the creosote bush gives off a musty, sweet odor.  The plant produces a resin that was used to fix pottery.

43. Creosote bush

44. Jojoba  The leaves are oriented vertically so they get sunlight in the morning and late afternoon when the sunlight is not as intense. This prevents too much water loss.

45. Jojoba

46.  The seeds contain oils that are used in perfumes and shampoos. This oil has been substituted for oil from sperm whales so the whales are not hunted anymore.