Devil's River State Natural Area, Texas

[majcka]

We do have two places (of my knowlege) that is named Hell.
One is a karst cave named after its entrance, that supposedly look like devil (as someone knows how he looks).
Another is some kind of karst gorge (hope the name is right). The name is probably from old folk tradicion of giving name to strange, inaccessible, incomprehensible or quite menacing natural phenomena after devil's "home".
So we're no much different from Americans.

[tumamoc]

Nice cacti photos. I especially like the shot of the Mammillaria heyderi with the projectile fruits.

[Tony]

Great images!
Do you think that emskoetteriana is a single plant clump or a bunch of different plants growing together?

[RichR]

I was under the impression it was a clump, Tony, but I didn't investigate to find out for sure.

[RobR]

What a great place!! How far north of Amistad is the area? Did you not see ancistrocactus brevihamatus? It should be there.
May have to plan a trip there.

[Arizona Fero]

Great shots Rich, Thanks so much for posting them. Martin.

[RichR]

What a great place!! How far north of Amistad is the area? Did you not see ancistrocactus brevihamatus? It should be there.
May have to plan a trip there.

I didn't see any Rob. That's what I was specifically looking for, too.

[RobR]

Is this location pretty far north of the Comstock/Del Rio area? That may explain why you didn't see ancistros there. I believe they stay pretty close to the river. I have good information that puts them as very common around Amistad and Comstock/Del Rio.

[Avirosa]

Is the Echinocactus texensis what they call the horse-crippler? If so I remember seeing them flowering on a road trip a few years ago. Very cool pics!

[daiv]

On the subject of names. I think that was a 19th century phenomenon. It would be interesting to make a website with photos of all the "devil" such and such. Some names that come to mind:

Devils Tower
Devil's Picket Fence
Devil's Post Pile
Devil's Cauldron

Seems that it is often related to volcanic or basalt formations...

[majcka]

On the subject of names. I think that was a 19th century phenomenon. It would be interesting to make a website with photos of all the "devil" such and such. Some names that come to mind:

Devils Tower
Devil's Picket Fence
Devil's Post Pile
Devil's Cauldron

Seems that it is often related to volcanic or basalt formations...

Maybe. but here with us it's the karst formation.

[RichR]

Is the Echinocactus texensis what they call the horse-crippler? If so I remember seeing them flowering on a road trip a few years ago. Very cool pics!

Yes. it's often called horse crippler.

[Peterthecactusguy]

On the subject of names. I think that was a 19th century phenomenon. It would be interesting to make a website with photos of all the "devil" such and such. Some names that come to mind:

Devils Tower
Devil's Picket Fence
Devil's Post Pile
Devil's Cauldron

Seems that it is often related to volcanic or basalt formations...

you forgot Devil's Lake.

[RobR]

Rich
How was the access? I am planning a trip out that way in a couple of weeks.

[RichR]

RobR, You have to drive on a dirt/gravel road about 22 miles to get from the main highway to the Preserve. It is normally okay to do in 2-wheel drive, but if there is any heavy rain it could be a problem.