Early this morning, several of us went ashore, to check a new landing on Isla Espiritu Santo. It was 7:30 AM and the sounds and smells were just greeting the sunrise. Winter in Baja can be an amazing experience to behold for the observant individual. The natural history staff was the first to see the changes that had occurred since last year, to this desert by the sea. Recently, hurricane Juliet had ravaged the southern coast of Baja California Sur, leaving in her wake much damage.....BUT, she also left, in some areas, as much as five inches of rain! Rain of this magnitude in the desert brings to life an array of desert flowers that are a feast to the eye, and in the early morning hours a delight to the olfactory sense! As our staff exclaimed and wiggled with glee we found flower after flower, some greatly scented, some just a fabulous display of color and shape. For the last eight years there has been a series of very dry fall and winter months. In the soil of Baja the seeds have waited, and waited and waited for just the right combination of factors to burst forth in an array of bloom!!! The arroyos are a cornucopia of diverse seeds waiting to send out flowers to attract pollinators.
During the morning hours we found many gorgeous flowers one of which was this lovely Unicorn plant or Devil’s claw known for it’s giant seed pod which eventually will explode with seed and develop into a claw shape that can be carried about the desert by animals. Thousands of years ago this plant found its way into the hands of the Pomo people of the Southwest and was made into baskets. It was also used as a medicine treating arthritis, and the tuber was dug and used as a food somewhat like a potato. Today this plant is still used in basketry and also collected by herbalists for the use in treating arthritis. This member of the Unicorn-plant family (Martyniaceae) is the only member growing in the Baja California region. To our delight the area near the beach had a wonderful and large population of these orchid like flowers. Bright yellow in color, lying close to the ground, waiting to attract just the right insect to create a giant seed pod, the Devil’s claw continue the unusual but spectacular display of flowers on the desert floor.
