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After a night disturbed somewhat by the altitude, we set out early for what promised to be another busy and pretty long day. It split into two parts; in the morning we visited three cactus locations in the vicinity of San Pedro. We returned to San Pedro for lunch and then set off across the Andes back into Argentina via the Paso Jama. That meant even higher altitudes and some more volcanoes, lakes and flamingoes. Fortunately this time it's good metalled road all the way. Anyway back to the morning. Our first stop was at the Quebrada Purita which is well above San Pedro in the surrounding hills. The view is spectacular.


[attachment 17158 Quebrada_Purita_scenery.jpg]

Oreocereus leuchotrichus was our target plant here and we found some nice clumps.Unfortunately the picture compression needed to get the file size under 100KB doesn't really do it justice.

[attachment 17159 Oreocereus_leucotrichus.jpg]

This was our first Oreocereus of the trip.Some plants were in bud and in flower. This is what the bud looks like.

[attachment 17160 Oreocereus_leucotrichus_bud.jpg]

And this is the flower as open as it ever gets.
[attachment 17161 Oreocereus_leucotrichus_flo.jpg]

Another view of a clump.
[attachment 17162 Oreocereus_leucotrichus2.jpg]

Opuntia camachoi was also represented here by some substantial plants.


[attachment 17163 Opuntia_camachoi.jpg]

Another general shot. Very stoney hillsides and little vegetation other than some dead looking scrub and the cacti.
[attachment 17173 a1.jpg]

[attachment 17174 aa1.jpg]
And again.

[attachment 17175 aaa1.jpg]
And lying on the stoney ground.....

[attachment 17176 aaaa1.jpg]
And a flower on an Opuntia camachoi. More Opuntia flowers at the next stop......