Cactus Flowers, Pt 4

We've still got cacti flowering in our yard! As the flowering season wears down, we're getting some of our more-varied cactus flowers (ie, not just "prickly pear" types of cactus). Now the "pencil chollas", and some of the more-mesic associated cacti are flowering.

This is a diamond cholla. Isn't it cool? The larger flower is very unusual. Its called a "cristate" form, which is actually a fusion of a couple of normal flowers.

The smaller flower is what it should look like - round and like a rose.

This is a mamillaria cactus. It is one of the cacti associated with mesic habitats, and is often found growing in bedrock shelves along small desert washes (which are often dry most of the year, yet still more-wet than other desert habitats). They are tiny and cute-as-buttons. They are often difficult to see because they are so tiny and white; but these bright pink flowers really bring them out.

This is one of my favorites. Also associated with desert washes, but these grow on the secondary floodplain, just above the stream channel. They are called Devil's club cacti... which leads to the question, "why are so many things in the desert named after the Devil and why are there no Fairies-and-Puppies cacti around?"


Cane cactus

Barrel cactus










And finally... some pencil chollas for you. These seem to be very tastey cacti. They are constantly being eaten by our tortoises, the ground squirrels, and rabbits.