Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) - All desert plants develop mechanisms to conserve water, but the ocotillo (pronounced o-ko-tee-yo) has found an unusual solution. Most of the year this unique plant appears to be nothing more than a cluster of thorny stalks that many people mistake for a cactus. With adequate rain, ocotillo produces numerous bright green leaves that allow for a "spurt" of growth. When the soil dries, the leaves drop off to conserve moisture. Although the plant appears dormant, it can still photosynthesize through the green stripes on its bark.