Big Bend National Park

Trail Marker 18

A hiker walks in the shadow of two of the three different species of Juniper tree that can be found in the Chisos Basin. One-Seed Juniper is at the far right, Alligator Juniper is to its left. Mexican Drooping Juniper is the Basin's third Juniper species. One-Seed Juniper gets its name because each of its cones usually has only one seed. Mexicans use the fibrous Juniper bark for weaving mats and clothing and the soft inner bark for diapering babies.

Trail Marker 21

Nolina (Nolina erumpens), also known as beargrass or basketgrass, is a member of the Lily family. Indians wove the leaves of the nolina plants to make baskets, ropes, and matting. Nolina thrive throughout the park due to their resistance to the blazing heat.

Trail Marker 22

Shaggy Mahogany seeds take flight as winds scourge through the canyons. This plant has specially adapted to have seeds that are easily caught by the wind and in animals fur. The spiral shape of the seed coat also helps in planting the seed in dry rocky environments.

Trail Marker 23

Casa Grande. This mountain serves as a sentinel for the entrance to the basin. The top dark layer of rock capping this structure is part of a lava flow that resulted in what we now call the South Rim Formation.