[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Olin Miller]

The reason your ocotillo does not look like a cactus may be because it isn't 
a cactus.  Ocotillos are not cacti.  Only cacti have areoles. These are the 
small  spots that bear the spines and from which flower and stem buds grow. 
Depending on the cactus type, they may grow on the surfaces and edges of 
prickly pear pads, along the ribs of barrels and saguaros, and hedgehogs on 
the tips of pincushions.  The cactus flowers are also unique and differ 
greatly from those of ocotillos but it may be some time before you see 
flowers on your plant.

There are two types of leaves on ocotillos.  Primary leaves grow from the 
shoots which form spines after these leaves are shed.  The ocotillo is a 
"drought evading" plant that grows secondary leaves on the stems after rains 
but are shed to reduce transpiration during drought periods.

It sounds as though your ocotillo seedling is typical.  And I admire your 
optimism.  It may take up to 100 years or more for one to grow to maturity.

Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer
U of A Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County AZ
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----- Original Message ----- From: <arndt6225 at wildblue.net>
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 8:48 AM
> Jim Arndt, , 85630
> This year I grew Ocotillo from seed, and was surprised that the young 
> plant does not reslemble the parent but a non-cactus plant with long 
> flexible leaves and stems which develope a thorn in the stem over time. It 
> seems to me that this plant evolved from a non-cactus plant. Do you think 
> that it's long lost relatives could be found in the non-cactus world???