Argentina &Chile --- Nov 2008 -- Day14 -- Cafayate to Salta --- 185 km

[Mike P]

And a close up of one of the heads.
[attachment 22237 dddddd1.jpg]

[David_L]

According to the wit and wisdom of Willy Smith, this rather unprepossessing plant is Trichocereus angelesii. Willy greeted it with great enthusiasm as apparently it is not common and localised in distribution, but there seemed to be a fair amount of it here and at our next couple of stops. It seemed a pretty rampant plant with a sprawling habit and seemed to spread by underground suckering judging by the shape and size of some of the large clumps. There wasn't an awful lot of interest at this site other than said Trichocereus so I find I have rather a lot of shots of scenery! Anyway a couple more shots of the Trichocereus.


[attachment 22240 Trichocereus_angelesii.jpg]

[David_L]

Close up of the apex of the stem. Bud coming presumably.


[attachment 22241 Trichocereus_angelesii2.jpg]

[David_L]

Another look at the toad, alias 'El Sapo' himself. At the right angle you could sort of see the resemblance.

[attachment 22242 El_Sapo2.jpg]

[David_L]

Another view of an advancing throng of Trichocereus angelesii menacing an innocent looking Opuntia sulphurea.

[attachment 22244 Trichocereus_angelesii3.jpg]

[David_L]

It was unusual to get all the rest of our little band of cactus hunters in the same photo, as they normally spread out widely, with the mountain goats outpacing the donkeys like me rather quickly! Trichocereus angelesii and Opuntia sulphurea in shot.

[attachment 22245 cactus_hunting.jpg]

[David_L]

I was rather fascinated with the hillside on the other side of the road. Something of a hanging garden of Trichocerei, presumably Trichocereus pasacana.

[attachment 22246 Hillside.jpg]

[David_L]

Pushing the zoom to the max.


[attachment 22247 Hillside2.jpg]

[David_L]

View from the hillside back to our faithful van. Trichocereus angelesii and Opuntia sulphurea in the foreground.


[attachment 22248 scenery3.jpg]

[David_L]

There was a plant I couldn't identify here. There were three specimens of it I found, all a bit tatty. Maybe that's what's making it look odd. Suggestions gratefully received.


[attachment 22249 Mystery_plant.jpg]