Árbol de Barril
Fouquieria fasciculata
Also known as teocotillo, this is an attractive caudiciform bushy plant and is one of the most prized of the Fouquieria species for its usually smaller height and for the large fat swollen base that develops—plants will sometimes have solitary swollen bases, or multiple bases that are clustered together like barrels. The caudex can grow up to almost 2’ in diameter. The trunk is green, but with corky gray protrusions that tend to occur in horizontal strips. This combination of a bottle trunk with green and gray striping is also seen in the related Fouquieria purpusii, from farther south, but F. purpusii is taller and has longer and somewhat skinnier leaves. Plants can eventually reach about 15’ tall or more but are often much shorter. White flowers can appear December through February naturally, but in cultivation flowering has been observed in other seasons. Flowers are followed by capsules that contain flat seeds with wings composed of many long hairs matted together so that they may be carried away by the wind.
Plant in full sun to part shade. Plants are drought tolerant when established but watering plants in the ground 2-3 times a month in summer keeps them looking healthy. Plants in containers should be watered 2-3 times a week in summer. Water once a month in winter if there is no rain (in the ground), and maybe weekly in a container (depending on soil). Ensure good drainage. Plants are hardy to about the mid 20s°F. Protect young plants from frost—older plants can take colder temperatures. Some large specimens in cultivation have tolerated even lower temperatures.
The flowers of Fouquieria fasciculata are pollinated by hummingbirds, bumblebees, and other insects. The flowers have a delicate fragrance and sweet nectar that attracts the pollinators. The short flowers make the nectar accessible to more insects than other species of Fouquieria with long-tubed flowers.
Ethnobotanical uses are not well-documented but plants in this genus have been used as medicine almost wherever they occur. Flowers are edible.
The species name, fasciculata, means "banded" or "bundled" perhaps referring to the striations on the trunk.
Known only from southern Hidalgo in the Barrancas west of the Sierra Madre Oriental north of Actopan and Atotonilco el Grande on rocky slopes with shallow calcareous and apparently gypseous soils in pockets of arid tropical scrub vegetation dominated by numerous cacti.
Flowers are white and the corollas are shorter than most Fouquieria which probably accomodates more than long-beaked birds. Photo by María Eugenia Mendiola González, iNaturalist
A younger plant beginning to develop its chianti bottle-like trunk. Photo by Jordan Golubov, iNaturalist
As plants get older, the bases become more barrel-like. Photo by lupitaangeles91, iNaturalist
A containerized plant in cultivation, photo by Dra. Laura Elvia Uribe Lara, iNaturalist
A wild plant that is getting more arborescent. Photo by Cristian Olvera, iNaturalist