(Photograph = Hechtia sp, Amante Darmanin)
Introduction
Santiago de Querétaro is the capital city of Querétaro state, Mexico. The state has different ecological regions: mountains, plains, dry areas, wet areas, etc. This means that there are many different types of plants in Querétaro.
The Details
The cacti and other xeric plants of Querétaro are diverse, and some are easy to find in pastures or old rangelands. Some are nearly extinct in the wild (e.g., Echinocactus grusonii). Some are large (Myrtillocactus) and some are small (Lophophora). But they are all interesting in their own ways
For instance L. diffusa is false peyote; unlike the related L. williamsii to the north, it contains essentially no mescaline. There are several species of Hechtia and Agave (rosette plants). Myrtillocactus geometrizans can actually form beautiful cactus forests. And Peniocereus serpentinus has one of the most beautiful flowers in the genus.
Additional Reading: Querétaro Botanic Garden
