Common name: Ocotillo

Scientific name: Fouquieria splendens

Description: Tall, woody cactus with small green leaves and red flowers.

Dye: None.

Other uses: Among the Papago and Pima, ocotillo has been used for fencing, house walls, and ramada roofs. The cut, buried stems often root, creating a living fence. The flowers may soaked in cold water to make a refreshing beverage. Portions of the plant were also formerly used for medicinal purposes.

Author

Kimberley A. Ryan, Northern Arizona University Anthropology Laboratories

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