Arizona Habitat #2: Near Wickenburg

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CoronaCactus
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Arizona Habitat #2: Near Wickenburg

Post by CoronaCactus »

The next day we decided to head north to Wickenburg, AZ in search of Echinomastus johnsonii “lutescens” armed with a little info from PeterB. Drove all over but never did find them. I suspect we did not go far enough north or weren’t looking in the right places. But once again, the usual suspects were there to soothe us.

BTW, I'm using Benson's treatment for most of the names since the books i have are written by him ;)

Elevation = 2000-2400 feet

Stop #1 – 25miles north of Wickenburg on highway 93. Small hills with black/dark rock.
Joshua Tree - Yucca brevifolia
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Found these 2 plants interesting. With no more than 6inches between thier trunks, one has no spines, the other covered in all kinds of spines. Same specie! Very cool.
O. chloratica
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O. phaeacantha v. discata (O. engelmannii)
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O. phaeacantha v. major
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F. cylindraceus (v. lecontei?)
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I'm 6'1"...
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Stop #2 – 5-10 miles along highway 71 from hwy 93. Small rocky hills
E. englemannii (boyce-thompsonii?)
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Mammillaria tetrancistra
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O. phaeacantha v. discata (O. engelmannii)
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O. phaeacantha v. major
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A seedling!
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F. cylindraceus (v. lecontei?)
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C. acanthacarpa v. major
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More seedlings!
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Stop #3 – 10-12 miles south of Wickenburg along hwy 93, Garden City?
Here's a great example of variability within the species. These 2 plants, no more than 6 feet apart couldn't be more different as far as spine color goes! TFS
E. englemannii and E. e. var. acicularis?
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A HUGE cluster, atleast 6 feet wide.
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E. boyce-thompsonii?
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Opuntia basilaris
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Saguaro using C. acanthacarpa v. major as a nurse plant
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O. phaeacantha
Some crazy spined form. I really, really like this one!
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C. bigelovii
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C. fulgida v. mammillata
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Last edited by CoronaCactus on Thu May 20, 2010 6:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
Darryl
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Re: Arizona Habitat #2: Near Wickenburg

Post by Vic »

Like a trip down memory lane Darryl, great pics, thanks for sharing(tu)

Now if you'd asked me I could of told you exactly where to find lutescens, I'd previously found a couple of not very healthy looking plants back in Nov 2006 with the late Bob Clayton, so last spring went back to see if I could find more. After much searching, driving, stopping at likely looking spots, eventually came across several plants in an area the size of a tennis court. Just off highway 93 north of Wickenburg.

[attachment 22159 IMG_3746.JPG]
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Re: Arizona Habitat #2: Near Wickenburg

Post by Vic »

Closer view:

[attachment 22160 IMG_3744.JPG]
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Re: Arizona Habitat #2: Near Wickenburg

Post by Vic »

Also growing there some nice Mammillaria tetrancistra:

[attachment 22161 IMG_3747.JPG]
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Re: Arizona Habitat #2: Near Wickenburg

Post by Vic »

Some of the Echinomastus would be trickier to find when not in flower:

[attachment 22162 IMG_3775.JPG]
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Re: Arizona Habitat #2: Near Wickenburg

Post by Vic »

Beautifully spined juvenile plant:

[attachment 22163 IMG_3780.JPG]
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Re: Arizona Habitat #2: Near Wickenburg

Post by Vic »

Out of interest I've included this photo, Echinomastus johnsonii again in Searchlight, Nevada, although they weren't in flower, I think these are also lutescens from the literature I've read, apparently plants here have purple flowers as well as yellow. They were in full bud, I returned around 1 week later but still no flowers. A really great spot to explore, they are lots and lots of Echinomastus here as well as lots of other plants of interest, Echinocereus, Echinocactus polycephalus, UFOs, Yucca including Joshua Tree etc....

If you ever want habitat details Darryl just get in touch.

I've been here a few times now but never when they've been in flower, hopefully one day!

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Re: Arizona Habitat #2: Near Wickenburg

Post by Vic »

I know you like your Opuntias Darryl so have included a couple of pics, maybe kunzei again or something similar, this is at the same location in Searchlight:

[attachment 22170 IMG_1715.JPG]
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Re: Arizona Habitat #2: Near Wickenburg

Post by Vic »

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Re: Arizona Habitat #2: Near Wickenburg

Post by Vic »

Maybe yellow:

[attachment 22172 IMG_1650.JPG]
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