Panther PathSelf-guiding Nature Trail

National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior

Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National ParkPO Box 129Big Bend National Park, TX 79834http://www.nps.gov/bibe/

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A ™

National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior

Big Bend Natural History AssociationPO Box 196Big Bend National Park, TX 79834http://www.bigbendbookstore.org/

Big Bend National Park 54 Panther Path

1 Creosotebush(Larrea tridentata)One of the most common plants of theChihuahuan Desert and the source of the“smell of the desert.” Crush a leaf betweenyour fingers and sample this characteristicdesert smell. The tiny yellow flowers ofspring and summer give rise to fuzzy fruits.

2 Whitethorn Acacia(Acacia constricta)A common shrub or small tree foundthroughout the Big Bend region. It producesvery fragrant yellow flower balls from Aprilto August. The woody stem turns purplish inthe winter and in spite of its name, it may ormay not have thorns.

3 Engelmann’s Prickly Pear(Opuntia engelmannii)An abundant cactus species, it blooms in thespring, and the large yellow flowers give riseto purplish - red fruits or “tunas.” Javelina eatthe pads, spines and all, and many birds andother animals eat the fruits. Syrup, jelly, andwine can be made from the tunas.

Welcome to the Chihuahuan Desert

As you drive through the desert country, the life forms tend to blend into onegreat greenish-brown blur. If you take a few minutes to stroll through thisdesert garden, you can bring into focus many of those individual plants andperhaps a few desert creatures that share the same piece of earth called theChihuahuan Desert.

This numbered path takes you into a typicalscene of the desert country which comprisesnearly 98% of the total park land. The plantsgrowing here all have one thing in common:they grow in an arid environment. Conse-quently, they protect their precious moisturewith spines, needles, thorns, claws, waxyleaves, wax-sealed stems, leaf- sheddingduring dry periods, or some other device noteasily discernible.

While the desert makes one think of cactus,not all plants with needles, bristles, or thornsare members of the cactus family. A few ofthe desert plants that are often incorrectlycalled “cactus” include the yuccas, centuryplant, and the ocotillo.

The origin of the cactus family still remains amystery, although it may possibly be relatedto the rose. Members of this family have anamazing ability to absorb water before it islost in the dry desert soil. They are equippedwith a formidable array of spines. Thesespines, actually modified leaves, conservemoisture and deter animals from feedingupon the plant. All cactuses (or cacti) have incommon a remarkable growth system ofbuds, called areoles, which produce theflowers, spines, and fruits.

This well-adapted group of plants originatedin the Western Hemisphere and includes1000-1500 species distributed from Canadato southern South America.

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Lechuguilla in Bloom.

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10 Nipple Cactus(Mammillaria meiacanthai)If you take a close look, you will find that thisplant is a single flattened hemisphere withspiraling rows of nipples. The clusteredflowers are vary from whitish or pale pink tobrown in color and often make a completecircle around the top of the plant. It usuallygrows near sheltered areas in the Chisosfoothills.

11 Brown-spined Prickly Pear(Opuntia spinosibacca)This prickly pear is easily distinguished fromthe others by its translucent brownish spines.The flowers are usually yellow, often withreddish centers, and appear from April toJuly. It is found abundantly in the BoquillasCanyon area.

12 Yellow Trumpetflower(Tecoma stans)The bright yellow trumpet–shaped flowersare produced from June to October, and arefavorite sweet treats for hummingbirds andbees.

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4 Lechuguilla(Agave lechuguilla)Pronounced le–chew–GEE–ya, this smallrelative of the century plant, which you willsee later, blooms only once in its lifetime.The spearlike flower stalks stand tall acrossthe desert like a spindly forest. The shortrigid leaves are tipped with sharp, brittlepoints that you will long remember if youblunder into one. Fibers from this plant arestill used to make rope in Mexico.

5 Eagle Claw Cactus(Enchinocactus horizonthalonius)Also known as Turk’s Head Cactus, this cy-lindrical or pyramid–shaped cactus is usuallyfound alone rather than in clumps. It pro-duces a brilliant rose–red flower anytimethroughout the summer when rainfall is suf-ficient.

6 Brown-flowered Cactus(Echinocereus rusanthus)The cylindrical stem sometimes branches toform clusters or colonies. The small, rusty-red, funnel-shaped flowers do not open verywide. Very abundant below 5,000 feet, fa-voring igneous-derived soils.

7 Rainbow Cactus(Echinocereus dasyacanthus)This cactus usually has a single stem, butsometimes branches or clusters with old age.The yellow to rose flowers are produced inthe spring. The stem may have ridges of tan,yellow, and white spines with reddish tips,giving it a rainbow appearance.

8 Cane Cholla(Opuntia imbricata)Pronounced CHOY–ya, this cactus flowersfrom April to June. The knobby yellow fruitsremain through the winter months. Newplants sprout from stem joints that fall to theground.

9 Giant Fishhook Cactus(Ferocactus hamatacanthus)A large heavy cactus with broad ribs, its longspines are hooked on the ends, giving it itsname. The yellow flowers appear from Mayto July. Farther along the path, there is amuch larger specimen.

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Giant fishhook cactus.

13 Thompson Yucca(Yucca thompsoniana)When older, this yucca—a member of theagave family—may fork, producing a flowerstalk from each of its heads. The ivory col-ored flowers are eaten by both humans andwildlife.

Take a break and look aroundStop for a moment and look up toward themountains in front of you. These peaks formpart of the Chisos Mountains. These moun-tains are a biological island in a desert sea.The pine–oak–juniper vegetation in thehigher, cooler, wetter elevations contrastswith the many desert plants around you. Thismountain/desert difference is one of thespecial aspects of Big Bend National Park.

Panther Peak, on the right, is named for themountain lion whose habitat encompassesnot only the mountains but also the desert.On the left is Pummel Peak, so named be-cause of its likeness to a saddle pommel.Wright Mountain, between the two, is namedfor the founder of the Wildlife Division of theNational Park Service.

14 Soaptree Yucca(Yucca elata)Ever shampoo your hair with a plant? TheIndians did, with an extract from the roots ofthe soaptree yucca. You can recognize thesoaptree by the whitish fibers on the leafmargins. Soaptree yucca is the tallest yuccain the Big Bend; some individuals may growas tall as 30 feet.

15 Cob Cactus(Coryphantha tuberculosa)Appearing somewhat like an old corn cob,this cactus usually grows as a clump ofbranched stems. Commonly found in desertlimestone habitats; it produces small palepink flowers from April to August.

Yellow trumpetflower.

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2I Guayacan(Guaiacum angustifolium)Related to creosotebush, this gnarled shrubcan grow to six feet tall. It has very hardstems and dark green compound leaves. Thesmall purplish to white flowers appear any-time from May to October when conditionsare right. They produce one of the mostbeautiful fruits of all desert plants—a scarletred covering over a single black seed, usuallytwo seeds per winged pod. The fruits are afavorite food for wildlife, especially quail.

22 Nolina(Nolina erumpens)Because the Indians used the leaves of thenolina to make baskets, sandals, and otherarticles, it is sometimes called basket grass.The large flower stalks, rubbery in texture,usually do not extend far above the longgrasslike leaves.

23 Sotol(Dasylirion leiophyllum)The flowering stalk of the sotol can reach 20feet in height. Unlike the agaves, the sotolblooms repeatedly during its lifetime. Indiansused the sotol for many purposes. The fibers

in the leaves were braided into mats, ropes,and other articles, and the cabbage–like basethat remained after the removal of the leaveswas roasted and eaten. A very potent drink,also called sotol, is distilled from the spongytrunks.

24 BIind Prickly Pear(Opuntia rufida)Most numerous in drier portions of the park,this cactus does not have long spines. Insteadof visible spines, the blind prickly pear usesglochids—thousands of tiny bristles— whichare present on most prickly pears. The nameof the species is derived from the fact thatthe glochids do not appear to present asharp threat. Look for blossoms in April.

25 Honey Mesquite(Prosopis glandulosa)The oldtimers of Big Bend used to say thatyou had to “dig for wood” (mesquite roots)and “climb for water” (windmills). The rootsof the mesquite are able to grow down to 60feet to reach the water table. In earlier years,the seed pods were used extensively forfood, being ground into a coarse flour andbaked as a cake.

16 Torrey Yucca(Yucca torreyi)This is the hairy-looking yucca. The torreyyucca is the most common yucca in the BigBend, and can be found throughout thepark. It may flower at any time of year (espe-cially March and April), producing a largestalk of white flowers that appear to illumi-nate the desert by night. The Torrey has ed-ible fruit and flowers.

17 Giant Dagger Yucca(Yucca faxoniana)This is the largest of the Big Bend yuccas,sometimes growing over 20 feet high. Com-monly found only in the Deadhorse Moun-tains in the eastern portion of the park. Itblooms in the spring, and a single flowerstalk may weigh as much as seventy poundsand contain over 1,000 individual flowers.The rigid dagger–like blades offer excellentsupport for bird nests.

18 Tasajillo(Opuntia leptocaulis)Pronounced tah–sah–HEE–yo, this smallhighly branched cactus is in the same groupas the chollas and prickly pears. Its main

trunk develops a scaly bark with age andusually grows entangled with other plants.The red fruits remain on the plant throughthe winter, giving it a second name—desertChristmas cactus. It is also known as pencilcholla.

19 Purple-tinged Prickly Pear(Opuntia macrocentra)No, it’s not sick; although many species ofprickly pear turn purple when stressed byheat, cold, or drought, this species is often-times purple all year round. Yellow flowers,often with red centers, appear from April toJuly. Commonly found in sandy soils below4,000 feet.

20 Tarbush(Flourensia cernua)One of the most abundant shrubs of theChihuahuan Desert, this plant producessticky yellow flowers from September to No-vember. Press a few of the leaves togetherand notice how they stick to each other. Thiswater-conserving feature gives the plant itsname.

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Purple-tinged Prickly Pear. Nolina, also known as beargrass.

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The colorful blooms of the strawberry pitaya provide a contrast to the creosotebush and lechuguilla that oftendominate the desert.

26 Ocotillo(Fouquieria splendens)This branching plant is often mistaken for acactus, but it is really in a family all its own.Brilliant clusters of crimson flowers crowneach branch in early spring. Tiny greenleaves will appear only after adequate rain-fall. Early settlers constructed “living fences”for corrals and other enclosures—the oco-tillo has the ability to grow when only thestem is placed in the ground.

27 Lotebush(Ziziphus obtusifolia)This shrub often forms thickets that provideexcellent cover and food for wildlife, espe-cially quail. The bluish gray to green leaveshelp identify this spiny shrub. The fruits,green when they first appear, are purplishwhen ripe.

28 Candelilla(Euphorbia antisyphilitica)The candelilla, or wax plant, is protectedfrom heat and water loss by a waxy sub-stance that covers the slender stems. Pro-cessing this wax was a major industry beforethe park was established in 1944. The waxindustry is still operating in Mexico. Thehard wax is used in polishes, chewing gum,soap, and similar products.

Perhaps it is time to explore another environment. The cooler pinyon-juniper forest of the Chisos Mountains is accessible via the Lost Mine Trail,which begins along the Basin Road. Or compare these desert plants withthose along the river by walking the Rio Grande Village Nature Trail. Self-guiding brochures are available for both trails.

If you would like to learn more about the desert, walk the ChihuahuanDesert Nature Trail at Dugout Wells. A cottonwood grove there provides acool retreat and an excellent place to watch birds.

29 Leatherstem(Jatropha dioica)The name comes from the flexible, leatherymaroon–colored stems. Similiar to the oco-tillo in that it will produce leaves in responseto precipitation. The Indians had a numberof uses for the plant, one of which was thered dye that they extracted from the roots.

30 Big Bend Silverleaf(Leucophyllum candidum)Also called purple ceniza, this is the smallestof three cenizas that are found in the park.Look for dark purple flowers after summerrains. At any time of the year its silvery leavesset the plant apart from its green and brownsurroundings.

31 Century Plant(Agave havardiana)This particular agave is common in themountains of West Texas above 3,800 feet.Agaves live for 15 to 55 years (not a century),blossom once, then die. The water and foodneeded for the final burst of growth arestored in the heavy succulent leaves.Mescalero Apaches roasted and ate the baseof the plant, and fermented from it a cer-emonial drink called mescal. Birds, insects,and many other animals feed on the flowersof the agave.

Candelilla wax camp, 1950s. Wax processing continues as an important industry in parts of northern Mexico.

32 Strawberry Pitaya(Echinocereus stramineus)Similar in appearance to other pitayas, thestrawberry cactus grows in rounded com-pact clumps. The large pinkish–red flowersare produced following adequate rainfallduring the spring or late summer, and theripe fruits taste much like strawberries.

33 Skeleton-leaf Goldeneye(Viguiera stenoloba) A shrubby member of the sunflower family,this plant grows throughout West Texas. Itusually ranges in height from two to fourfeet, and the numerous yellow flowers areproduced from June to October.

34 Huisache(Acacia farnesiana)Located straight ahead, across the sidewalkfrom the end of the path. Pronounced WE–satch, this acacia with its feathery compoundleaves is found tin the eastern portion of theBig Bend and is especially common aroundRio Grande Village. In early spring, brightyellow balls of tiny flowers appear and thedesert air is filled with a sweet perfume.Seeds soon develop in one–inch long red-dish–purple pods.

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The Big Bend Natural History Association, establishedin 1956 as a private, non-profit organization, champi-ons the mission of the National Park Service in facili-tating popular interpretation of the scenic, scientific,and historic values of Big Bend and encourages researchrelated to those values. The Association conducts semi-nars and publishes, prints, or otherwise provides books,maps, and interpretive materials on the Big Bend re-gion. Proceeds fund exhibits, films, interpretive pro-grams, seminars, museum activities, and research.

The National Park Service was established on August25, 1916. . . “to conserve the scenery and the naturaland historic objects and the wildlife. . . and to providefor the enjoyment of the same in such manner and bysuch means as will leave them unimpaired for the en-joyment of future generations.”

Authorized by congress in 1935, and established in June1944, Big Bend National Park preserves the most repre-sentative example of the Chihuahuan Desert ecosystemin the United States.

As conservation educators, the park’s Division of Inter-pretation and Visitor Services provides guided walks,talks, evening slide programs, workshops, and othereducational activities as well as written materials suchas this trail guide.

Original text written in 1985; revised 2005Designed by Park Ranger Eric LeonardProduced by the Division of Interpretation and Visitor Services.Printed with funds provided by the Big Bend Natural History Association.May, 2005

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View of the Deadhorse Mountains from Roy’s Peak Vista.Sotol grasslands in Green Gulch.