One of the truly "charismatic megaflora" up around the Meadview area is a form of Echinocactus polycephalus var. xeranthemoides. These incredibly massive mounds might be intermediate forms between polycephalus and xeranthemoides, still not sure. They are an integral part of some habitats, however.
Happy to send them, Claudio, I still have your email somewhere. It'll take me a few days.
Daiv, the "flowers" were completely dry. It seems perhaps they all flowered either very late in the season last year or very early this year, perhaps due to all the rain. None of the flowers had been pollinated. This makes me think they all flowered when their pollination vectors were not around.
That is interesting. I hadn't really thought of the timing on that before. I wonder if this species has a very specific pollinator then. I would think that something would be around whenever they flower otherwise.
All Cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are Cacti
WOW, simply magnificent!
I've lost the words to such breathtaking pics. Peter, we should take an arrangement. Your pics on my website.
Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we cannot eat money.
(Wisdom of the Cree Indians)
Another thing that is remarkable about some of these places is they are 100%, absolutely deserted. Not another soul. It's a fairly spoiled feeling to have such a vista completely to oneself.
