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December 26, 2007 : Justicia californica
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Keywords: Acanthaceae | Justicia californica (Benth.) D. N. Gibson | Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California, USA
When descending from the upper reaches of Palm Canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (after seeing the Washingtonia filifera), I noticed a half-dozen hummingbirds swarming around this shrub, commonly named chuparosa. Chuparosa also happens to be the Spanish word for hummingbird.
Justicia californica is native to southern California, southwest Arizona and northwest Mexico. A floristic account of the species is available from the Jepson Manual.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at December 26, 2007 10:15 AM
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Posted by: Ron B at December 26, 2007 11:09 AM
a lot of information on the web
about this handsome plant and pictures
also comes in my favorite yellow
thank you once again
Posted by: elizabeth a airhart at December 26, 2007 12:06 PM
Being a frequent visitor to the Palm Canyon area, I love seeing this flower and it's attendant hummers - often the only visible wildlife around.
Daniel,
unless you hiked 3-4 miles into the canyon, you were not in it's "upper reaches" ;-). I assume this photo was taken during your trip a year (or so?) ago. Don't know if you were/are aware of it, but the first palm grove is less than half as exstensive as it once was due to a severe flash flood a few years back, while the second and third groves are virtually non-existant now.
Posted by: Eric Simpson at December 26, 2007 4:01 PM
Does anyone else see a funny face it the petal hanging down? It looks like an old man making a sour face.
Posted by: Renee at December 26, 2007 8:43 PM
Heh, alright Eric - the lower middle reaches, then, perhaps?
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin 
at December 27, 2007 1:32 PM
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Facciola, CORNUCOPIA II (Kampong Publications) reports that
"The red flowers, which resemble cucumber in flavor, may be eaten raw or cooked. Diegueno Indians are known to have sucked the flower for its nectar, as desert hikers do today"