My Mexico adventures
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Re: My Mexico adventures
As the Guaymas-Baja ferry was still stranded we decided to enter Baja California by land which meant we had to travel north to Sonoyta first. Here we found: Mammillaria grahamii (microcarpa), Stenocereus thurberi, Carnegea gigantea and Echinocereus ewngelmannii, Ferocactus wislizenii and a Cylindropuntia sp.
Re: My Mexico adventures
On 19 September we arrived at the town of San Felipe, North Baja California. Sleeping outside the bus station till the sun rose and we could see the surroundings. Having taken care of our luggage we proceeded towards the promising mountains. It is all sandy here, and progress is slow and to make matters worse there are lots of animal tunnels in the sand that tend to collapse under one's feet.
The only cactus we found was Lophocereus schottii and very unusual. To begin with, they are diminutive and some had spiral shoots (var. spiralis). According to the book; The Great Cacti by David Yetman, Lophocereus do not reach this far North in Baja California. 5 ribbed sinitas (as they are locally called) are less common. There is a spiral form known also from South Baja and it is also reported to be short. After walking for about 6km we finally reached the mountains which turned out to be solid granite and not a speck of dust for plants to have a root-hold on them. The only other succulents on the mountain base were the Fouquieria (Ocotillo).
The only cactus we found was Lophocereus schottii and very unusual. To begin with, they are diminutive and some had spiral shoots (var. spiralis). According to the book; The Great Cacti by David Yetman, Lophocereus do not reach this far North in Baja California. 5 ribbed sinitas (as they are locally called) are less common. There is a spiral form known also from South Baja and it is also reported to be short. After walking for about 6km we finally reached the mountains which turned out to be solid granite and not a speck of dust for plants to have a root-hold on them. The only other succulents on the mountain base were the Fouquieria (Ocotillo).
Last edited by Amante on Fri Mar 23, 2012 6:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- Julie
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Re: My Mexico adventures
That spiral is something cool. It reminds me of tall chimeys on chemical plants, which I guess have the spiral struts to reinforce and funnel away the wind. At least I always assumed so.
I wonder whether spiral spines are there for strength, or to channel away the wind, or both? Does anyone know this?
I wonder whether spiral spines are there for strength, or to channel away the wind, or both? Does anyone know this?
Happy carrier of Forby Disorder - an obsession with Euphorbia obesa.
NB. Anyone failing to provide a sensible name for me to address them will be called, or referred to, as Fred.
NB. Anyone failing to provide a sensible name for me to address them will be called, or referred to, as Fred.
Re: My Mexico adventures
Not sure if spiral stems has any natural scope, Julie. I guess it is just an aberration like the crests and the monstrose forms. If it had any advantage there would be many of them who would survive by natural selection and thus create a new species.
Our next stop was San Matias which is about half way between San Felipe and Ensenada. If San Matias lacked any cacti and other succulent diversity, San Felipe more than made up for it. For here is a veritable natural garden with hundreds of Ferocactus cylindraceus, (red and yellow spines and 'tortulispinus forms') Several species of Cylindropuntia and Opuntia, Echinocereus engelmannii, Mammillaria dioica, two species of Dudleya and Agave. It is one of those places that is closest to heaven for a cactophile. It makes you want to linger and linger and wonder what the next hill would disclose.
Our next stop was San Matias which is about half way between San Felipe and Ensenada. If San Matias lacked any cacti and other succulent diversity, San Felipe more than made up for it. For here is a veritable natural garden with hundreds of Ferocactus cylindraceus, (red and yellow spines and 'tortulispinus forms') Several species of Cylindropuntia and Opuntia, Echinocereus engelmannii, Mammillaria dioica, two species of Dudleya and Agave. It is one of those places that is closest to heaven for a cactophile. It makes you want to linger and linger and wonder what the next hill would disclose.
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Re: My Mexico adventures
Hi Amante, Love the Cylindropuntia (but then I would!!!!).
Tony Roberts
Treasurer, Haworthia Society
Chairman, Tephrocactus Study Group
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Kent
(Gasteria, Mammillaria, small Opuntia, Cleistocactus and Sempervivum are my current special interests)
Treasurer, Haworthia Society
Chairman, Tephrocactus Study Group
Moderator, BCSS Forum
Kent
(Gasteria, Mammillaria, small Opuntia, Cleistocactus and Sempervivum are my current special interests)