Flora of Northwest Mexico

Fouquieria columnaris, the Boojum tree or cirio (Latin American Spanish: [ˈsiɾjo]) is a tree in the ocotillo family, whose other members include the ocotillos. Some taxonomists place it in the separate genus Idria. It is nearly endemic to the Baja California Peninsula (both the northern and southern states), with only a small population in the Sierra Bacha of Sonora, Mexico. The plant's English name, Boojum, was given by Godfrey Sykes of the Desert Laboratory in Tucson, Arizona, and is taken from Lewis Carroll's poem "The Hunting of the Snark".

Brahea armata, commonly known as the blue fan palm, blue hesper palm or Mexican blue palm, is a flowering plant in the family Arecaceae, native to Baja California, Mexico. Outside its natural range, it is often planted as an ornamental, valued for its striking grey-blue fronds.

Quercus cedrosensis, the Cedros Island oak, is a species of plant in the family Fagaceae. It is placed in Quercus section Protobalanus. Quercus cedrosensis is native to Baja California state in northwestern Mexico, including Cedros Island. It has also been found in San Diego County, California. Quercus cedrosensis is vulnerable to habitat loss due to overgrazing by goats and overlogging.

Stenocereus eruca, commonly known as the creeping devil, is a member of the family Cactaceae. It is one of the most distinctive cacti, a member of the relatively small genus Stenocereus.

Yucca capensis L.W.Lenz is a plant in the family Asparagaceae. It is endemic to a small region of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur It is considered to be an endangered species by the IUCN due to its small range and threats of habitat destruction. The epithet refers to the type locale is near Cabo San Lucas in the southernmost part of the peninsula. Its common name is the Cape Region yucca. The species occurs at elevations of over 1000 m in the mountains of that region. It appears to be more closely related to the Yuccas of the Sierra Madre Occidental in Chihuahua and Sonora than it

Yucca grandiflora Gentry is a plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to the Sierra Madre Occidental in the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora. Common names include Sahualiqui and Large-flowered Yucca. The Pima Bajo peoples of the region sometimes eat the immature fruits. It has a wide range, although it has a very low population density where it occurs.

Pachycormus is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the cashew family commonly known as the Baja elephant tree, torote blanco, or copalquín. The single species Pachycormus discolor is endemic to the Baja California peninsula, with three varieties. This sarcocaulescent tree or shrub is characterized by its unique gnarled growth habit, skin-like exfoliating bark, and succulent nature, whose appearance has been colorfully described as "the proboscis of an elephant holding a nosegay," a "huge radish protruding from the ground," or "grotesque resemblances of the flexed limbs of a corpulent

Ferocactus schwarzii is a species of Ferocactus from Mexico.

Ferocactus fordii is a species of succulent plant in the family Cactaceae, commonly known as Ford's barrel cactus, endemic to the Baja California Peninsula of Mexico. It is spherical, growing to 50 cm (20 in) in diameter, with whitish-grey radial spines and solitary flowers of a deep rose pink, 4 cm (2 in) in diameter.

Yucca valida is a plant species in the family Asparagaceae, native to the Mexican states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, and Sinaloa. The common name is datilillo. Yucca valida is a large, branched species up to 7 m (23 feet) tall. Leaves are rigid and lance-like, up to 35 cm (14 inches) long. Dead leaves hang onto the plant below the living leaves, forming a skirt around the trunk. Flowers are white, forming juicy, edible black fruits up to 4.5 cm (1.8 inches) long.

Yucca declinata is a species of the genus Yucca, family Asparagaceae. It is known only from the vicinity of Bacanora, in the Mexican state of Sonora. Botanist Howard Scott Gentry first collected the species and mentioned it in print, noting the differences between this population and the closely related species Y. grandiflora H. S. Gentry and Y. arizonica McKelvey (sic, = Yucca baccata var. brevifolia L. D. Benson & R. A. Darrow). He did not, however, describe it as a new species. Later examination of his descriptions and his material led to the recognition of this as a new species. The

Stenocereus gummosus is a flowering plant in the family Cactaceae that is found in Baja California, Mexico at elevations of 9 to 134 meters

Salvia madrensis (Forsythia sage) is a yellow-flowered Salvia native to the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range in Mexico, growing at 4,000–5,000 elevation in warm, wet areas. The specific epithet "madrensis" refers to the high mountains where it grows. Salvia madrensis spends the first part of the growing season putting out 4–7 foot stems that are thick (2 inches) and square, with ridges on each corner emphasizing the squareness. The rough, heart-shaped spinach-green leaves are widely spaced on the stem, graduating in size from large at the bottom to smaller at the top, giving a lush

Quercus brandegeei is a rare Mexican species of plant in the family Fagaceae, in the oak genus Quercus, section Virentes. It has been found only in the southern part of the State of Baja California Sur in northwestern Mexico. Quercus brandegeei is an evergreen tree up to 20 metres (66 feet) tall. Leaves are elliptical, not lobed, the blades up to 65 millimetres (2+1⁄2 inches) long and tapering at both ends, sometimes with no teeth on the edge but sometimes with a few pointed teeth. Its habitat is restricted to stream-side locations. The species is listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List and

Nolina beldingii is a species of perennial flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae known commonly as the Cape nolina or Belding's beargrass. It is an arborescent monocot growing up to 7 metres (23 ft) high, with fissured bark on a trunk topped with leaf rosettes. The narrow leaves are up to 1.15 m (3.8 ft) long, and are used as thatching by local peoples. This species is endemic to Baja California Sur in Mexico, where it grows only in the highest reaches of the Sierra de la Laguna. It is found primarily in oak forests at elevations over 1,000 m (3,300 ft) along rocky granite outcrops.

Ferocactus gracilis, the fire barrel cactus, is a species of Ferocactus from Northwestern Mexico. This cactus gets its common name from the striking red coloration of its defensive spines and flowers.

Ferocactus diguetii, commonly known as the giant barrel cactus, is the largest species of barrel cactus in the genus Ferocactus. It is an insular species endemic to several of Baja California Sur's southern islands in the Gulf of California. As the superlative giant of the barrel cacti, it reaches heights of up to 4 metres (13 ft) and diameters of 1 metre (3.3 ft) in the wild, a result of island gigantism. The species has red flowers that bloom from March to May. Although restricted in range, this species grows in protected habitat and lacks major threats.

Ferocactus chrysacanthus, commonly known as the Cedros barrel cactus, is an endangered species of cactus endemic to the islands of Cedros and West San Benito off the Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico.

Cochemiea insularis is a rare species of cactus in the genus Cochemiea commonly known as the island nipple cactus. It is endemic to the vicinity of Bahía de los Ángeles and its neighboring islands in Baja California, Mexico.

Cochemiea capensis is a species of Cochemiea found in Mexico.

Cochemiea boolii is a species of cactus in the subfamily Cactoideae with pink-petaled flowers.

Calliandra californica, the Baja fairy duster, is an evergreen, woody shrub, native to Baja California, Mexico. In Spanish, the plant is also known vernacularly as tabardillo, zapotillo or chuparosa. The flowers, which appear in early summer, have clusters of red stamens. The shrub is usually 0.6–1.8 metres (2 ft 0 in – 5 ft 11 in) in height and has bipinnate leaves. The leaves have been described as "fern-like." Leaves close at night time. Calliandra californica is cold tolerant to temperatures of 22 °F (−6 °C), though its roots will tolerate temperatures as low as 5 °F (−15 °C). It grows

Boeberastrum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Species There are two accepted species, both endemic to the State of Baja California Sur in Mexico. Boeberastrum anthemidifolium (Benth.) Rydb. Boeberastrum litorale (Brandegee) Rydb. (often misspelled Boeberastrum littoralis) formerly included Boeberastrum concinnum (A.Gray) Rydb., Synonym of Thymophylla concinna (A.Gray) Strother

Bajacalia is a genus of three flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus was erected in 2003 to house two species moved from genus Porophyllum, now named Bajacalia tridentata and B. crassifolia. The third was newly described at the time and named Bajacalia moranii. These plants are near-endemic to the Baja California peninsula in Mexico (States of Baja California and Baja California Sur); one species (B. crassifolia) also has been found on Tiburón Island, part of Sonora. They have succulent leaves and yellow flowers.

Agave gigantensis is a large, flowering agave plant found in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Its name is derived from the area of origin, not its large size. The plant is distinguishable by its red and purple leaves during flowering season. It is able to survive in harsh, rocky conditions and prefers dry and warm environments. The flowers of A. gigantensis are arranged in small clusters which diverge from a main branch. Unlike many other agave plants, A. gigantensis has been traditionally used in food and medicine by communities of western Mexico.

Quercus peninsularis, common name peninsular oak, is a species of oak endemic to Baja California, Mexico. It is a shrub or small tree to 10 m, occurring in mountain valleys and canyons up to 3000 m. It is placed in section Lobatae. Leaves are 5–8 cm, flat, leathery and hairy, with pointed tips and 2–5 pairs of teeth. Flowers occur in 3 cm catkins. Fruits are 1.5 cm acorns, stemless, ovoid, with hairy cupules, maturing in a year. Mature bark is reddish; young twigs are thin and hairy.

Myrtillocactus cochal, the cochal or candelabra cactus (a name it shares with other plants), is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae, native to the Baja California peninsula. Individuals can reach 3 m (10 ft), and are hardy to USDA zone 9b.

Mammillaria brandegeei is a species of cactus in the subfamily Cactoideae.

Harfordia macroptera is a woody perennial in the family Polygonaceae commonly known as rabbit's purse. It is the sole species in the genus Harfordia, which is endemic to the Baja California Peninsula. This plant is characterized by a unique, conspicuous bladder embellished with red to purple veins that surround the fruit. The sac-like structure is actually a dramatically modified bract, and assists in dispersal of the seeds through the wind.

Ferocactus peninsulae is a barrel cactus in the genus Ferocactus of the family Cactaceae.