Archive for the ‘Sonoran desert plant’ Tag
Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata) Blossoms in Sabino Canyon, November 10, 2014 — Images by kenne
One of the most common plants in Sabino Canyon is the creosote bush. Our neighbors south of the border cal the plant “gobernadora,” Spanish for “governess,” because of its ability to secure more water by inhibiting the growth of nearby plants. The plant exhibits a characteristic odor of creosote, and is the small inhabitants of the desert small after rain — the “smell of rain”. The bush normally blooms in the spring and summer, so the these new blossoms are a pleasant addition to the fall flowers in the Sonoran desert. Unlike most desert plants, the creosote bush has no thorns for defense, instead it is provided by a suite of toxic/ anti-feeding chemicals including the phenolic compound nordihydroguaiaretic acid. For more information, go to the Desert Botanical Garden website.
kenne
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“The Ultimate Sacrifice” — Image by kenne
It is common when leading nature walks in Sabino Canyon to talk about the signature cactus of the Sonoran desert, the saguaro. One of the common bits of information is to point out how the young saguaros are near trees that help provide protection to this very slow-growing Sonoran desert plant. These trees can be mesquite, palo verde or ironwood trees, and are referred to as “nurse trees.” The faster-growing nurse tree provides shade and shelter from the harsh desert elements, and as the saguaro grows, becoming more acclimated to the desert sun, the nurse tree may die, leaving the saguaro alone. As the saguaro grows larger it may compete for resources with its nurse tree, especially where several saguaros are receiving protection from the same tree, which may hasten its death. Even so, the faster-growing tree will not outlive the typical life of a saguaro cactus.
kenne
“Sacrifice is a part of life. It’s supposed to be. It’s not something to regret. It’s something to aspire to.”
― Mitch Albom
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