This is your guidebook for using the trail which starts at this registration desk. For about one mile of this walk the interesting plants, unusual geological features and other things of interest are explained. Each object of special interest is marked by a numbered stake. Refer to the corresponding number in this booklet, and you will find the name of the plant or feature and a description. The information recorded here is necessarily brief, but the rangers will be glad to answer your questions and give additional information.

1. Evergreen Sumac (Rhus virens). This sumac is commonly found in Green Gulch and through the Chisos Mountains. It bears attractive clusters of small white flowers followed by red berries which are seen in the late autumn and winter.

2. Alligator Juniper (Juniperus deppeana). Observe alligator skin-like bark of the tree which easily identifies this evergreen and gives it its name. Under favorable conditions the species attains an age in excess of 500 years.

3. Mexican Pinyon (Pinus cembroides), is the only species of pine found along this trail. Pinyon is the name given by the early Spanish explorers and was described by Cabeza de Vaca in 1536. The seeds are used by Indians for food and in recent years the nuts of a close relative, Pinus edulis, have become an article of commerce.

4. Gray Oak (Quercus grisea). There are several species of oak on this trail, but this particular one is easily recognized by the blue-gray color of its leaves.

5. Emory Oak (Quercus emoryi). Of the several oaks in the park, this represents one of the larger evergreen groups. The acorns are edible, sweet, and are important as food for birds and small mammals. Notice the glossy hollylike leaves.

6. Graves Oak (Quercus gravesi). Here is another of the oaks with typical notched or toothed leaf margins. The lovely fall colors of the Chisos Mountains (pronounced CHEE-sose) are principally due to the abundance of these trees whose leaves takes on the rusts and reds of autumn.

7. Picture! From this point on the trail there is an excellent view of Green Gulch. The high point on the left (north) of the gulch is Pulliam Peak, 6,921 feet high. The faraway hills are the Rosillos Mountains, so named because of their roan coloring.

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.