 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 BajaInsider
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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