Mediterranews (English) JUNE 2016 | Page 10

Valle de los Cirios, Baja California. Photo: Foto: Alan AlanHarper. Harper. El cirio The Boojum tree, especie endémica an endemic of Baja California despecies Baja California José Delgadillo Rodríguez By Por JoséDr. Delgadillo Rodríguez PhD T The Boojum tree is surely the most representative plant found in the central arid desert of the peninsula of Baja California. It is specially, the most representative one in the area called Valle de los Cirios in the Vizcaino Desert which is also known as Cochimí Desert (Delgadillo, 1998). The Boojum tree (Fouquieria columnaris) belongs to the botanical family Fouquieriaceae. It has a single genus Fouquieria and 11 different species, including the ocotillo. Its columnar form has attracted the attention of many botanists. This fleshy stem plant is considered as a unique specimen among Mexican flora and, of course, among a select group of species in the world with such features. An identical biotype (biological form) can be found in Karoo, Africa, an oceanic desert similar to the Vizcaino Desert. We are talking about the Pachypodium namaquamum, a plant that also has a fleshy stem. Because of this fact, we can deduce that these biotypes reflect an ancient adaptation to a type of climate that did not suffered significant oscillations. In 1751, Father Fernando Consag published a text that proves the existence of the Boojum trees and their properties. For these were tall, straight and branchless trees, Father Consag and his entourage gave them the name of cirios which in Spanish means candle. On the other hand, Cochimí indians called them milapa (Leon-Portilla, 1988). In the United States, it is known as Boojum tree that refers to “a mythical thing that inhabits desolate and remote places” (Humphrey, 1974). 6 JUNE 2016 These plants are like giants, they can measure up to 65 feet, but the tallest one known was 86 feet tall. Moreover, some people compare them to carrots because of their shape. However, it is very common to find plants with branches and capricious formations. The Boojum tree blooms in August and September. Its flowers are small with creamy-yellow corollas. They have a strong fragrance that smell like honey, and they produce a sweet nectar. Some reports indicate that 15 different species of bees visit these flowers (Humphrey and Werner 1969, in Henrickson, 1972). The terminal growth of their stems apparently occurs only during the winter-spring period. This never happens during the summer or any other season. During years of unusual winter rains their growth is considerable in contrast with little or no growth during years of extreme drought (Humphrey, 1974). This slow-growing species is found on rocky hillsides and floodplains, mainly in deep soils of granitic-clay origin that facilitate good drainage processes. They are also found in other types of soil such as those of volcanic origin, and humidity produced by fog plays a very important role as their main source of water.