Fouquieria formosa
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Addisonia (PLATE 008) (8574240891).jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Fouquieria
| species = formosa
| authority = Kunth
}}
Fouquieria formosa is a species of perennial plant in the genus Fouquieria, known by the vernacular names palo santo, rabo de iguana, rosalillo, tlapacon, corona de Cristo and flor de jabon. It is native to central and southern Mexico (Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Puebla, Morelos, Michoacán, México State, Distrito Federal, Jalisco).Global Biodiversity Information Facility: [http://data.gbif.org/species/15492920 Fouquieria formosa]McVaugh, R. 2001. Ochnaceae to Loasaceae. 3: 9–751. In R. McVaugh (ed.) Flora Novo-Galiciana. The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Description
Fouquieria formosa is a small tree growing to 8 m in height with hummingbird-pollinated flowers.[https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7105#page/89/mode/1up Kunth, Karl (Carl) Sigismund 1823. Nova Genera et Species Plantarum (quarto ed.) 6: 83] description in Latin[https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7105#page/563/mode/1up Kunth, Karl (Carl) Sigismund 1823. Nova Genera et Species Plantarum (quarto ed.) 6: figure DXXVII (527)] line drawing of Fouquieria formosa Perching birds may also utilize the flowers. Carpenter bees and bumblebees are also likely visitors, as they may leave evidence of small, transverse cuts on the corolla tube that are characteristic of their robbing habit. Because the stamens and stigma protrude significantly from the flower tube, insects visitors likely do not affect pollination.{{Cite journal|last=Henrickson|first=James|date=1972|title=A Taxonomic Revision of the Fouquieriaceae|journal=Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany|volume=7:4|access-date=}}
= Morphology =
File:Fouquieria-formosa KapiolaniCC-Honolulu Cutler 20171223 100801 (38619641024).jpg
It is a small tree 3 to 8 meters high, with 1 to 2 basal trunks 25 to 40 cm in diameter. The larger stems are dichotomously branched, bearing numerous erect to widely spreading young stems. The periderm of the plant is smooth, colored dark bronze to yellow, and exfoliates in thin, papery sheets. The larger stems and trunks are often green.{{Cite journal|last=Henrickson|first=James|date=1972|title=A Taxonomic Revision of the Fouquieriaceae|journal=Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany|volume=7:4|access-date=}}
The branches are covered in spines, although they vary in length per population, with some spines being as short as 4 mm to as long as 20 mm. Some populations may almost lack spines entirely. It has short, spicate inflorescences with large deep orange-red to yellow-orange flowers, that have decurved corollas and a variable number of stamens. There is a high level of phenotypic variation in this species throughout its range, and the variations in spine length and stamen number are not constant on individuals, indicating environmental influences on their development.
= Taxonomy =
The location of the type collection is unknown, although the small spines and low stamen numbers may indicate a location in the state of Mexico or Morelos. While there are certain tendencies with the phenotypic variation in the species, subspecific names have not been established, because a strong geographic correlation of these varied traits does not occur.{{Cite journal|last=Henrickson|first=James|date=1972|title=A Taxonomic Revision of the Fouquieriaceae|journal=Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany|volume=7:4|access-date=}}
Distribution and habitat
This plant occurs on the rocky alluvial slopes and valleys on lateritic to calcareous soils from Jalisco to southeastern Oaxaca. It is found from tropical deciduous forests to arid tropical scrub vegetations at elevations from 2400 to 700 meters, down to 100 meters near Tehuantepec in Oaxaca. The average annual precipitation in its range occurs mainly from June through September. Flowering typically occurs from October through February, but it may also occur throughout the year.{{Cite journal|last=Henrickson|first=James|date=1972|title=A Taxonomic Revision of the Fouquieriaceae|journal=Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany|volume=7:4|access-date=}}
Environmental conditions may induce variation based on the location of plants. In the arid regions within Puebla and Oaxaca, the plants in this area tend to have glabrous stems, long spines and short flowers, with a relatively medium to high number of stamens. In Morelos and Mexico, the moist highlands contain plants with short spines and a relatively medium to low numbers of stamens.{{Cite journal|last=Henrickson|first=James|date=1972|title=A Taxonomic Revision of the Fouquieriaceae|journal=Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany|volume=7:4|access-date=}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120205134615/http://fm1.fieldmuseum.org/vrrc/?page=view&id=24629&PHPSESSID=1ad55c8ec7f981d0ae0a1a5f0ea00a7d Photo of herbarium specimen] at Field Museum in Chicago, collected in Morelos in 1969
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5474874}}