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cakewalk
Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 512
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Posted: 11/23/2006, 11:42 am Post subject: Rare crested Barrel becomes food |
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A couple of years ago, I discovered this rare Crested Barrel Cactus. I sent pix to the zoological society to confirm that it was indeed a crested barrel.
Yesterday I hiked up the to super-secret, non disclosed location to check on my little friend, and alas, he was on the ground and partially consumed by javalinas or some other rare cactus eater. Looks like he fell at least several months ago, because it has lost its shape and looked quite dead.
Sad that it was probably several decades old, it was over 4 feet tall. I am glad to have seen it before its demise. I didn't have my camera with me during this recent hike.
Moment of silence for the loss of a rare crested barrel. |
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Hikngrl Canyoneering is my 'Happy Place'
Joined: 27 May 2003 Posts: 5578 Location: Peoria, AZ
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Posted: 11/23/2006, 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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OOOHHHHH.... _________________ ~~~Diane~~~
I want to shine! |
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azbackpackr Hi Tech Wizardess
Joined: 31 Dec 2005 Posts: 3639 Location: Needles CA
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Posted: 11/24/2006, 5:51 am Post subject: |
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Too cool, but sorry for your loss! I have a friend in Tucson who over the past few years made it his mission to find and photograph every crestate saguaro he could find. He came up with around 400 of them, and gave a talk at the So. Az. Hiking Club about it.
What I'm wondering is this: Is the crested barrel cactus a separate species, or, like the crestate saguaro, is it a sort of mutation? (At least I think the crestate saguaro is a mutation--anyone know the answer to this?) |
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azhiker96
Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1419
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Posted: 11/24/2006, 1:15 pm Post subject: |
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Apparently as of 1998 there is no definitive cause. _________________ It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. -- Carl Sagan |
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cakewalk
Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 512
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Posted: 11/24/2006, 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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azbackpackr wrote: |
What I'm wondering is this: Is the crested barrel cactus a separate species, or, like the crestate saguaro, is it a sort of mutation? (At least I think the crestate saguaro is a mutation--anyone know the answer to this?) |
It's not a species. Like the saguaro, its some kind of mutation. Cresting in the barrel seems a little rarer than in the saguaro, according to the lady I spoke with at the phoenix botanical garden. |
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