Tag Archives: the West

Apache Plume

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Apache plume
Apached plume (Fallugia paradoxa)

Apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa) grows throughout much of the desert Southwest. The shrubs have a delicate look about them due to the many fine branches and small divided leaves. Apache plume is cold tolerant, growing above 3000 ft to perhaps 7000 ft. It grows slowly in well drained soil, mature plants are tough and undramatic until they flower. The flowers are pretty, white and like almond blossoms; they are followed by the plumes. The plumes are composed of many seeds, each with a feathery tail. Although semi-evergreen, the plants will lose their leaves in northern areas or higher altitudes.

Apache plume is a frequent associate of many cacti, agaves, yuccas, and other desert plants. I have seen Apache plume near Placitas, NM in association with Opuntia polyachanta, O. phaecantha, O. torispina, Cylindropuntia imbricata, Echinocereus fendleri, and Escobaria viviparia. The plants were large and full of plumes, and tended to grow in areas that received a bit of extra rain runoff.

Opuntia imbricata
Opuntia imbricata

The shrub spreads by rhizhomes, and you can use the rhizomes to establish small shrubs in a few years. Apache plume grows in many soil types.

 

 

Posted by: Joe Shaw shawjoej@gmail.com

Verdin (and Hummingbird), Fouquieria Regulars

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The Verdin is a small bird, one of smallest nonhummingbird species in North America (not much larger than the hummingbird in the photo). It lives year round in the Chihuahua, Sonora, and Mojave Deserts from Texas to California and well into Mexico. If you are close, you can see the yellow throat and head and the red spot on the shoulder. A Verdin will be attracted to the flowers of Fouqueria splendins because insects are attracted to the flowers; hummingbirds are attracted to the nectar.

Verdin

Verdin, by SearchLightMedia

Verdins prefer habitats near water and nest in desert shrubs, trees, and chollas where they make a covered nest that outwardly resembles Cactus Wren nests. Both the male and female care for the young after hatching. Outside of the nesting season, Verdins make sleeping nests that may help them survive cold temperatures.

Posted by: Joe Shaw shawjoej@gmail.com

Images in the Header

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The Oblog header shows cactus, succulent, or related scenic photos; the images change with each newly loaded page. An email friend suggested that I provide identifying information for the photos.

That was a great suggestion and I’ve provided a bit of information about each photo. You can click on the “Header Images” choice from the top-of-page menu, or you can click here.

There are some photos of The West.

Posted by: Joe Shaw shawjoej@gmail.com

Opuntia polyacantha v erinaceae

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Opuntia polyacantha erinaceae

Opuntia polyacantha erinaceae flower, near Virgin River Campground off of Interstate 15, AZ

My colleague Dave Ferguson writes about Opuntia polyacantha var erinaceae.

Opuntia polyacantha var. erinaceae (incl. “ursina”) is usually tightly clumping; the joints tending towards elongate and very thick; the general aspect is most often vertical. Spines are often very slender and round in cross section (but this varies – spines can be very thick in the Hurricane-Zion-north end Houserock area). It is found mostly in Mojave Desert environments and associated lower mountains; however, it does follow the Colorado River upstream to the Page, AZ area and up the lower San Juan River (UT) to the Goosenecks or a bit beyond (but you’ll never see them there unless you have a boat). Very similar but smallish plants range widely north across the Great Basin on hot rocky outcroppings and slopes, perhaps even into southwest ID and southeast OR. Overall, O. polyacantha var. erinaceae can be found in southeast CA, NV, western UT, northwest AZ, and perhaps barely in ID and OR. 

 

Posted by: Joe Shaw shawjoej@gmail.com