Mesquite Trees There are three main types in AZ Screwbean Honey Velvet Mesquites have taproots that go deep into the ground to find water Mesquite Trees They are important to Native Americans for the following reasons ID: 335443
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Slide1
Arizona PlantsSlide2
Mesquite Trees
There are three main types in AZ
Screwbean
Honey
Velvet
Mesquites have taproots that go deep into the ground to find water. Slide3
Mesquite Trees
They are important to Native Americans for the following reasons:
seed pods used to make flour
leaves used to make tea
resin used for dyes, paint and medicine
roots used to make rope
wood used to make shelters, bowls, war clubs and was burnedSlide4
Mesquite TreeSlide5
Agave
Also known as the century plant.
It does not take 100 years to bloom, but 15-30 instead.
The plant sends up a large, tall stalk that has many flowering blooms.
Once the stalk flowers, the plant dies.
The hearts of some agaves are used to make tequila.Slide6
AgaveSlide7
Parry’s Century Plant
The leaves grow in a tight, circular cluster in which the younger, inner leaves are protected by the outer leaves.
Century plants have long, shallow roots that collect water, which is stored in the fleshy leaves.
Fibers from the leaves can be used to make ropes, nets, and baskets.Slide8
Parry’s Century PlantSlide9
Joshua Tree
It is the indicator plant for the Mojave Desert.
The name ‘Joshua Tree’ came from Mormons who thought the branches were being lifted to the heavens like the arms of the Biblical figure Joshua.
The older the plant, the more branches it has. After a stem blooms, the end of it dies. A new branch then grows out of the old one. Slide10
Joshua Tree
Moths pollinate the plant as they lay eggs. This is a
mutualistic
relationship.
The plant gets to reproduce while the eggs of the moth receive shelter and protection.Slide11
Joshua TreeSlide12
Yucca
The leaves are fibrous and are used to make rope, baskets, and shoes.
The seeds of the fruit are dispersed by rodents today, but used to be eaten by giant sloths.
After a yucca blooms, it does NOT die.
It is one of the indicator plants of the
Chihuahuan
Desert.Slide13
YuccaSlide14
Ocotillo
Also called living fences because cuttings can be placed in the ground to form a fence for livestock.
They are drought deciduous plants, which means they drop their leaves when there is not enough water.
They can drop and re-grow their leaves up to eight times a year.
When they drop their leaves, they look like they are dead, but they are just fine.Slide15
OcotilloSlide16
Desert Marigold/Desert
Baileya
The clumps of bright yellow flowers are common along roads and cover hillsides during the spring.Slide17
Penstemon
The pinkish/red blooms attract hummingbirds. Slide18
Arizona Poppy
One of the most common wildflowers in the
Sonoran
Desert.
These poppies have yellow petals with an orange center. Easily seen in the Superstition Mountains.Slide19
Lupine
Lupines belong to the pea family.
They have a beneficial relationship with bacteria that improves the soil.
The flowers are a beautiful bluish purple color.Slide20
LupineSlide21
Organ Pipe Cactus
This cactus grows as a clump of column like stems.
It flowers at night.
Native Americans eat the fruits.Slide22
Organ Pipe CactusSlide23
Senita
Also called the ‘old man cactus’.
They look similar to the organ pipe cactus, but they have a thick growth of fine thorns at the tops of the stems.
The thorns provide shade for the sensitive ends of the plants.Slide24
SenitaSlide25
Barrel Cactus
The flowers grow on the top of this cactus in a circle.
Taller barrel cactus will lean towards their shaded side because the side in the sun grows faster.
Some of the thorns were used by Native Americans as fish hooks.
Do not drink liquid from the barrel cactus, it contains poison that will make you vomit.Slide26
Barrel CactusSlide27
Palo Verde
Means green stick.
Can do photosynthesis using their branches and their trunks because they contain the green chlorophyll.
During extreme drought,
palo
verde
trees can drop all of their leaves.Slide28
Palo VerdeSlide29
Prickly Pear Cactus
The pads of the prickly pear are flattened ovals.
The fruit are bright red and edible. Another name for the fruit is ‘tuna’. The young pads are also edible and when cooked, they taste like green beans.
The pads store water for the plant, and do photosynthesis.
The flowers last for only one day.Slide30
Prickly Pear CactusSlide31
Globemallow
Also called the sore eye poppy.
The leaves have fine hairs that can irritate the eyes. Slide32
Desert Christmas Cactus
Called the Christmas cactus because the fruits are still on the plant during the holidays.Slide33
Cholla Cactus
Even though they are commonly called ‘jumping cactus’, they cannot jump.
The joints of the plant do break off easily. The thorns are barbed and difficult to remove once embedded in the skin.
Pack rats take parts of the
cholla
, and use them to protect their dens.
Chain fruit
cholla
are named after the chains of fruit that hang down.Slide34
Cholla CactusSlide35
Cholla
CactusSlide36
Hedgehog Cactus
This is the first cactus to bloom during the spring.
The fruits are edible.Slide37
Saguaro
The largest of the U.S. cacti.
It can take up to 75 years before a saguaro will grow an arm.
They can live over 200 years.
The flower is the AZ state flower. The fruits are edible. Slide38
Saguaro
The saguaro expands like an accordion when it absorbs water. This is how it stores water. During drought, the saguaro contracts as
it loses
water.
Bats pollinate it.
Holes in the cactus provide shelter for animals. Slide39
SaguaroSlide40
Brittlebush
This plant can drop most of its leaves during a drought.
The blue/grey color of the leaves is designed to prevent the plant from getting too much sun.
The leaves are also covered with hairs to block some of the sunlight and prevent water loss.Slide41
BrittlebushSlide42
Creosote bush
The leaves are covered with a varnish that reduces evaporation.
After it rains, the creosote bush gives off a musty, sweet odor.
The plant produces a resin that was used to fix pottery.Slide43
Creosote bushSlide44
Jojoba
The leaves are oriented vertically so they get sunlight in the morning and late afternoon when the sunlight is not as intense. This prevents too much water loss. Slide45
JojobaSlide46
Jojoba
The seeds contain oils that are used in perfumes and shampoos. This oil has been substituted for oil from sperm whales so the whales are not hunted anymore.