Baja Botany: What's
a Boojum?
 While
a Boojum may sound like a Dr. Seuss character. It is actually a very strange
looking plant found almost exclusively in the Baja California peninsula.
(click on picture left to expand)
Godfrey Sykes a professor from the University of
Arizona, who found the plant in 1922 gave it the common name of
Boojum.
Coining the name of the mythical creature, found in far away desolate areas,
from the children’s book “The Hunting of the Snark” written by
Lewis
Carroll.
The Latin name is Fouquieriaceae columnaris and
the common Spanish name is Cirio which refers to its tapered candle like
form.
No matter what you call it. The Boojum has to be one of
the weirdest looking plants on earth. With its trunk or “stem succulent” as
it is referred to, reaching a height up to 18 meters (see Boojum pan shot)
and a
base up to 75 cm wide, a forest of these old giants is really
something to see. They say this closely related plant to the octillio and
Adam’s tree can live to up to 300 years old.
The older trunks split up near the top branching off in
different directions reaching for the searing sun. The Boojum’s yellow white
flowers form on the tips of the trunks between July and August. They look
like tassles, atop an upside down hairy carrot, with the plants covering of
small green leaves that form all over the plant whenever there are rains.
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You will find the Boojums in rocky hillsides from along
Baja Transpennisular Highway from Catavina through the Vizcaino desert
south to the Los Tres Virgines (Three Virgins) volcanic area.
 You
may also encounter Boojums on Isla Angel Guardia and an area south of Puerto
Libertad on the mainland in the Sonoran desert. While the plant does not
really produce a useful lumber or food source it does provide a great perch
for the Zopilote.
“What’s a Zopilote?” You say
I thought you’d never ask… I guess that’s the next Baja
“palabra” (word) to explore.
Hasta pronto, Jaime
BTW- If you’d like a great book on plants in the Baja
California desert. Then you are looking to buy the Baja California
Plant Field Guide by Norman
Roberts. With over 400 plants and 285
photos for easy identification this is definitely a must have for any
wannabe well informed Baja traveler library.
These books are also available with many other Baja
related titles in our LosCabosInsider bookstore or just click here to buy now.
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No
this sign does not mean topless bar ahead! Topes are speed restricting
obstacles placed to slow traffic in populated areas. Along Highway 1 most of
the Topes give plenty of advanced warning, some more than 500m. The tricky
ones however, can be the second or third in a series, just when you think
it's safe to pick up the pace.
One
of the most devastating encounters I recall with a Tope was on my first drive
down Baja. Just past the long straightaway of the Santo Tomas vineyards my
co-pilot was frantically searching the Spanish/English dictionary. It was the
hope that TOPE meant some kind of specialty restaurant when our heads against
the roof of the car made the translation for us. As if that was not bad
enough, it was punctuated with the sounds of chassis and radiator against
pavement. It seemed no coincidence there was a radiator and transmission shop
within yards.
Just as a side note, I noticed that my infamous Tope had been mellowed and
rounded on my August drive. But beware! These guys can bite!
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