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Re: My Mexico adventures
Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 1:33 pm
by Amante
- Lophocereus schottii, Empalme, Sonora
- Mammillaria swinglei in flower. Notice the yellow flower which is different from that described for M. sheldonii. Enpalme, Sonora
- Ferocactus emoryi (convillei), Producing fruit when quite young, unless it is another species, Enpalme, Guaymas
Re: My Mexico adventures
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:12 am
by Amante
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.
- Carnegea gigantea marching up a hill while the Cylindropuntia stand guard, Sonoyta, Sonora
- In front of an unusual Carnegea gigantea, Notice also Fouquieria splendens (Ocotillo) in the foreground, Sonoyta, Sonora
- Mammillaria grahamii (microcarpa), Sonoyta, Sonora
- Mammillaria grahamii (microcarpa) in flower, Sonoyta, Sonora
- Stenocereus thurberi known by the common name organ pipe, Sonoyta, Sonora
Re: My Mexico adventures
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:18 am
by Amante
- Echinocereus engelmannii ssp nicholii, Sonoyta, Sonora
Re: My Mexico adventures
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:03 am
by Amante
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).
- San Felipe, North Baja California
- Spiral Lophocereus schottii, San Felipe, North Baja Califonia
- Lophocereus schottii, San Felipe, Baja California North.
- The flower of L. schottii, Baja California, North.
Re: My Mexico adventures
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 5:21 pm
by Cactus Jack
I love the spiral Loph
Re: My Mexico adventures
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:14 pm
by Julie
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?
Re: My Mexico adventures
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 5:56 pm
by Amante
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.
- San Matias, Baja California North.
Re: My Mexico adventures
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 6:37 pm
by Tony R
Hi Amante, Love the Cylindropuntia (but then I would!!!!).
Re: My Mexico adventures
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 8:17 pm
by Amante
- Echinocereus engelmannii.
- Mammillaria dioica.