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The Chihuahuan Desert region has plenty of wide open spaces, cacti, grasses and shrubs. But trees, which usually require more rainfall, seem relatively rare. A few manage to take hold in the harshest desert landscapes though, and one of these can even be used to wash your hands. What is this tenacious tree? And how has it been used by desert dwellers?
Also in the Nature Notes series
Burrowing Owls
(00:04:30)
From: Marfa Public Radio
Not all owls hunt at night and nest in trees. Burrowing owls greet the sun from abandoned prairie dog dens. What else makes these tiny birds unique?
Big Bend Gambusia
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From: Marfa Public Radio
Big Bend National Park is home to many rare and endangered species, but the Big Bend gambusia lives particularly close to the edge of extinction. How has this fish hung on to ...
Nighthawks
(00:04:30)
From: Marfa Public Radio
Some birds sing. Others twitter, tweet or trill. But the common nighthawk goes boom in the night. This noise isn’t all that sets nighthawks apart in the avian world. What ...
Learning to Sing
(00:04:30)
From: Marfa Public Radio
Learning to vocalize is a surprisingly unusual ability in the animal world. How do young songbirds master their musical talents?
Our Might Oaks
(00:04:30)
From: Marfa Public Radio
The 21 oak species in our region assume many forms and are survivors of the last Ice Age. Who are these tenacious trees? And what animals depend on them today?
Harvester Ants
(00:04:30)
From: Marfa Public Radio
You’ve seen their sprawling, barren mounds, like little moonscapes in your field or lawn. But what lies beneath harvester ants’ conspicuous mounds?
Triops
(00:00:59)
From: Marfa Public Radio
These tiny crustaceans come to life for just a short while during our rainy season, but their eggs can wait decades to hatch and ride the wind for hundreds of miles.
Spadefoot Desert Chorale
(00:04:30)
From: Marfa Public Radio
Summer storms send many desert frogs and toads into a raucous reproductive frenzy. What role do their choruses play in their hasty courtship?
The Fifth Season
(00:04:30)
From: Marfa Public Radio
In the Chihuahuan Desert, we spend fall, winter, spring and summer talking about our fifth season—the rainy season. What does its arrival mean for our plant and animal neighbors?
Attracting Pollinators
(00:04:30)
From: Marfa Public Radio
Animals and insects aren’t being altruistic when they pollinate a plant. So how do plants attract and reward them for their services?
Piece Description
The Chihuahuan Desert region has plenty of wide open spaces, cacti, grasses and shrubs. But trees, which usually require more rainfall, seem relatively rare. A few manage to take hold in the harshest desert landscapes though, and one of these can even be used to wash your hands. What is this tenacious tree? And how has it been used by desert dwellers?
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sky (Reprise) | Dan Gibson, Bill Brennan, Rob Piltch | Country Retreat. | Solitudes | 2000 | 00:00 |
Additional Credits
Written by Kay Wilde. Host Dallas Baxter.




