Life, Death, Boojum & Bargains

Agave shawii

For me, no visit to the UCR Botanic Garden is complete without visiting the desert garden area. Last Sunday’s visit was no different, and in the morning’s drizzle the succulents and cacti there were especially beautiful. Two agaves shawii were demonstrating distinct phases in their life-cycle: the pre-blooming period, and the period after blooming. Local succulent expert Buck Hemenway recently commented, referring to my agave potatorum after it had bloomed: “These plants [agaves] are amazing. Imagine, all of that energy to produce the bloom stalk, flowers, seeds, etc., all from stored energy. It stop(s) taking nourishment from the ground when the bloom stalk started up. That also means that the roots are not very well anchored any more …” In this opening picture, the agave on the left has expended the energy required to produce its characteristic flower stalk, this one over 10-feet tall and very thick; on the right the blooming cycle has ended and it’s clear the expenditure of energy has taken its toll. The agave’s leaves are all but dried out completely, and the stalk and the flowers that top it are in process of decaying. Sad, really, but also a wondrous demonstation of the agave’s pattern of life.

Amazing stalk

The agave shawii’s flower stalk looks like energy itself. Its strong upward movement and great height are stunning. Walking up and having this enormous stalk tower over us was awe-inspiring.

Base desiccation

Even as the spent agave’s base leaves become more and more dried and brittle, they retain a sense of their earlier power and beauty. As Buck pointed out in his comment, the agave’s hold and support gives way eventually 0nce the stalk has grown and then bloomed, and I expect this one will topple over from its weight very soon.

Multifilifera splayed

Another nearby agave, this one an multifilifera, is past its blooming cycle. Its dessicated leaves are splayed and clearly spent. It’s stalk, while thinner than the shawii’s, is surprisingly taller — by far. The dead leaves have the look of fine tortoise shell and are really gorgeous.

Prodigious show

The multifilifera’s flower stalk, in relation to its leafy base, is almost alarmingly out of proportion. It’s hard to believe that the much smaller, shorter base could have produced this prodigious bloom stalk.

Bizarro boojum

One of my all-time favorite plants is commonly called the boojum tree. Part of the fouquieria family of plants, its specific name is fouquieria columnaris. This particular example is native to Baja California and Sonora, Mexico. A little bit Dr. Seuss, and partly prehistoric, the boojum is just a tad wacky.

Branching randomly

With a very tall conical trunk that looks like poured concrete to my eyes, boojum seems to have random branches from some other plant stuck into it willy-nilly. I would estimate this plant to be at least 15 feet in height. Standing next to the boojum, I feel like I’m in the presence of plant-life from a primeval time … one where early humans spent their spare time studding the boojum’s bare trunks with twigs that then sprouted tiny leaves. You know, a wackier time — long, long ago.

Twistii purpusii

Speaking of wacky, this fouquieria cousin called fouquieria purpusii has branches that are positively spazzing-out. Like the boojum, it features a central trunk with branches projecting out the sides. It’s also very tall, I’d say at least 20 feet. From Mexico, this variety can be found in the states of Puebla and Oaxaca.

Bottle brush branches

Like its cousin boojum, the purpusii’s trunk seems to be made out of stone or concrete, in this case a very textured and striated version. But, it’s the branches I really love. They stick out of the sides like the branches of those bottle-brush Xmas trees we had in the sixties, the ones that would get all bent and twisted between holidays due to being put away hastily, say, in March. Or, is that just me?

Fascinating fasciculata

This fouquieria family member is less columnar and features several thick trunks clustered close to the ground. With similarly tapered trunks like its cousins, but featuring longer, more leafy branches, this has the effect of being more shrub-like. But like its name, fouquieria fasciculata, it’s very interesting, with it’s green scarred multi-trunks and teardrop-shaped foliage. Again, this plant is a Mexican native and hails from Hidalgo, where it’s called arbol de barril or barrel tree. I’m crazy about the fouquierias at the UCRBG …

Cruciata mounded

From the more exotic South American countries of Brazil and Uruguay comes this fantastic plant called colletia cruciata. This was a very large low-growing shrubby mound and had some portions that were dried and brown. But getting up close to it I was astounded by its remarkable foliage and growth pattern.

Cross-effect

Looking very much like molded plastic, and with the same rigidity and strength of same, this plant was unlike anything I’d seen before. Obviously, its name cruciata, referred to the cruciform, or cross-like effect of its, er, leaves … though if they weren’t bright green, and maybe blue, or shocking pink, or yellow, I don’t know what I’d call them. Very space-age, this one.

Caution, hikers!

Rounding a corner on the path, we were confronted by this cylindropuntia pallida. Very branch-y and covered with really long, really white spines, I was glad there was plenty of room to navigate around it. The sun was hidden behind low cloud-cover Sunday morning, but its light was filtered quite nicely through the long, translucent prickles.

Clumpy communities

Situated in huge, clumpy communities, three different varieties of euphorbias seemed guarded and stand-offish. Very similar overall, they were still keeping their distances. We’ve not had much luck with these plants in the ground at the Rancho, so to see euphorbias in such healthy, massive clumps was inspiring. I think I’ll give ’em another try …

Now that the weather’s cooler and hiking’s less of a chore that requires carrying water and resuscitation supplies, it’s the perfect time to visit the UCRBG … Oh!, and don’t forget the Fall Plant Sale this weekend! I’m not sure if boojums will be available this time around but I do know there will be amazing plants at terrific prices. And, become a Friend of the Botanic Gardens. You’ll help support the Gardens and get in early for plant sales, get invited to fun garden functions and more!

28th Annual Friends of U.C. Riverside Botanic Gardens Fall Plant Sale

Saturday, October 23rd, 2010, 12 noon to 4 pm and Sunday, October 24th, 2010, 9 am to 3 pm

Click here for more information