Agave
8. Agave (Agave scabra). There are many different species of agaves (often called century plants) in the Southwest, several occurring in Big Bend. Plants of this group furnish many important products in Mexico, and were utilized by Indians in various ways. Among the products are fiber, food, drink (mescal), soap and medicine. Agaves are grown commercially in more than 40 countries. These plants store up food in the root and leaf systems for many years, finally send up one fast-growing flower stalk, mature their seeds, and then die. The bloom stalk grows almost 10 inches a day and represents the largest bloom of any North American plant.
9. Texas Madrone (Arbutus texana). This beautiful tree has thin, peeling bark. Its red berries, which mature in November, are highly favored by deer which often rise up on their hind legs to reach them. The name “Naked Indian” is sometimes applied because the twigs and branches are the copper color of the Indian torso. A close relative of this madrone is found along the west coast. Most of the madrones along this trail were killed by drouth. This one is sprouting from the old base. There are a number of fine living madrones along the road in upper Green Gulch.
A fine angle view of Casa Grande is obtainable here. This large single mass of volcanic rock (rhyolite) is 7,300 feet high.
10. Skunkbush Sumac, or Squawbush (Rhus trilobata). Although this sumac belongs to the same family as the obnoxious poison ivy, it has none of the latter’s irritating qualities. Leaves turn brilliant shades of red and orange in the autumn.
11. Basketgrass (Nolina erumpens). Although referred to as a grass, this plant belong to the lily family. The narrow, fibrous grasslike leaves often attain a length of 5 feet, making them excellent material for native basketry. The compact clusters of small pinkish-white flowers rarely rise above the rank mass of foliage.
12. Geological Explanation. This rock is called conglomerate, because it is formed from many kinds of rocks from many places. Note the rounded shapes of the individual stones, caused by wearing away of the sharp corners and edges when they were being transported by streams millions of years ago. Later these materials were deposited in beds and under the terrific pressure of overlying masses of sediments were compacted with mineral cementing materials to form the solid mass which you see here.
13. Drooping Juniper (Juniperus flaccida). Appearing to be slightly wilted, the drooping aspects of this graceful evergreen suggests grief. Botanists claim that Big Bend National Park is the only area in the United States in which it is found.
