Cactaceae

The flower and pads of Opuntia aurea

Opuntia aurea

Published by Daniel Mosquin on May 24, 2019

Golden prickly-pear is narrowly-restricted to a small area of southern Utah and northern Arizona. Perhaps the easiest place to observe this species is within Utah’s Zion National Park if the iNaturalist observations of Opuntia aurea are any indication.

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Thelocactus bicolor, growing wild in Texas

Thelocactus bicolor

Published by Daniel Mosquin on July 6, 2018

Widely distributed in the Mexican parts of the Chihuahuan Desert, Thelocactus bicolor‘s range elsewhere is restricted to two counties in adjacent Texas, Brewster and Starr.

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The endangered Parodia warasii

Parodia warasii

Published by Daniel Mosquin on June 5, 2018

This endangered species of cactus from Brazil lacks a common name. Parodia warasii is native only to Brazil’s southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul, where it grows in the cracks of rock walls at four different locations.

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Mammillaria dioica, in California's Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Mammillaria dioica

Published by Daniel Mosquin on October 9, 2017

A springtime photograph from this past year, during a visit to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

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Mammillaria plumosa, without flowers

Mammillaria plumosa

Published by Daniel Mosquin on July 31, 2017

It is probably no surprise that something with the epithet plumosa has the word “feather” in the common name. Feather cactus is native to the states of Coahuila and Nuevo Leon in northeastern Mexico.

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Carnegiea gigantea and Eschscholzia californica subsp. mexicana in Arizona

Carnegiea gigantea and Eschscholzia californica subsp. mexicana

Published by Daniel Mosquin on March 20, 2017

California isn’t the only US state with massive displays of annual wildflowers following rainy winters! Neighbouring Arizona is also well worth a visit–and perhaps less crowded.

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The mat-forming cactus, Austrocylindropuntia floccosa

Austrocylindropuntia floccosa

Published by Daniel Mosquin on February 21, 2017

Austrocylindropuntia floccosa or huaraco / waraqu has several English common names, including polar bear cactus, wool cactus, and living snow.

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