The Baja California peninsula of Mexico lies in a subtropical zone where frosts seldom occur. In addition, the western slopes of the peninsula receive humid, moisture-laden air from the Pacific Ocean. So the desert is particularly lush and contains many types of plant that occur nowhere else in the world. This lushness is shown in the images below, where large candelabra cacti, cardon cacti, aloes and the peculiarly shaped "boojum trees" (which look like upturned carrots) are conspicuous features of the landscape.

Some characteristic plants of the Baja California desert:

Left: sour pitaya cactus (Machaerocereus gummosus). Right: candelabra cactus (Myrtillocactus cochal)

Boojum trees (Cirio columnaris), which are almost endemic to the Baja California peninsula. They are related to ocotillo, which is found also in Baja California but extends northwards into the Sonoran Desert of the USA.

Single boojum tree, about 3 metres tall

Cluster of boojums amongst shrub vegetation