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Last Update:

06/19/2008

Desert Room Epiphyte Room Fern Room  General Display  Head house 

Outdoor Gardens Propagation Room Research Room Tropical Room

Desert room. Most of the plants in this room are members of cactus and succulent families native to dry areas. 

1. Fluctuating temperatures and relatively low humidities.

2. Plants in this room are angiosperms.

3. Representatives of deserts around the world.

4. Plant modifications:

   Spines - modified leaves or stems reduce transpiration and prevent predation.

   Thick, succulent leaves and/or stems - hold water.

    

Plants to point out:

Agave - Occurring in southern USA, Mexico and the West Indies, these succulents are grown for their sword-shaped  leaves and tall flowering stems. Small species flower after 5 to 10 years and the taller ones may take up to 40 years to flower. All agaves flower only once in their lifetime and then the flowering shoot dies.  Most species leave offsets which continue to grow.

Aloe - Occurring in Africa, Madagascar and the Arabian Peninsula, this genus has over 300 species, including trees, shrubs and perennials. The traditional medicinal 'aloe' is a bitter drug obtained from some shrubby African species. Most have distinct rosettes of sword-shaped leaves. The flowers are tubular to narrowly bell-shaped, in long-stemmed spikes.

Carrion flower - Occurring in southern Africa, the Carrion flower is like a small cactus but without thorns. The flowers are pollinated by flies attracted to the flowers by their odor and color which resembles rotting, fatty meat.  Flies sometimes lay eggs on them, but the larvae starve to death when they hatch.

Pencil plant - Euphorbia tirucalli is a shrubby succulent from eastern and southern Africa and the Arabian peninsula. Once used as a source of latex, can grow to a height and spread of about 10 ft with its twig-like stems covered in tiny, deciduous leaves.

Saguaro cactus -  Occurring in southwestern USA,  Carnegiea gigantea can grow to to be 50 feet tall and live to be more than 200 years old.  They are very slow growers.  A six inch plant is about 8-9 years old and it may take 75 years for them to develop arms.  After about 40 years the Saguaro puts out 5-inch long buds that open up into white, waxy, scented flowers with fuzzy yellow stamens.  Saguaro fruit is commonly used by Southwest Indians to make jam and wine.

Golden Barrel Cactus - Occurring in Mexico, Echinocactus grusonii is a round ball with many ribs covered by straight, sharp spines.  It can grow to be up to 4-feet tall and 3-feet wide.  Mature plants have yellow, wool-like tufts on top and produce small yellow flowers.

Organ pipe Cactus - Native to Arizona and regions as far south as Peru, Lemairocereus marginatus is frequently used in Mexico as a hedge plant because its branches and columns can reach 20 feet tall.