OCOTILLO (Fouquieria splendens)
The flowers of ocotillo are formed in dense spikes in spring - even in drought years. The long, tubular flowers are frequently visited by hummingbirds during their northwards annual migration from Mexico into the middle and northern USA. The nectar from ocotillos is a major nutrient source during this migration. However, hummingbirds are not necessarily the main pollinators of ocotillo. Instead, verdins (birds) and carpenter bees may be the main pollinators in some conditions. These animals frequently visit the flowers and slit the flower tubes to obtain nectar, thereby ensuring the transfer of pollen between flowers. |
