Mexican Hat, Hanksville Dixie Nat. Forest Utah

[peterb]

After leaving Farmington on Saturday, I drove across southern Utah, seeing a lot of Sclerocacti with all sorts of spine and flower colors. Also found Pediocactus simpsonii at 9000 feet in Dixie National Forest in Utah. I had never traveled through these areas and definitely want to return. Also want to visit Hell's Backbone up in Grand Staircase-Escalante, but didn't have time this trip.

Link to some pics on Facebook, no account needed to view:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... dc41928374" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A few highlights below.

peterb

[vlani]

Scleros are parviflorus. A nice bunch. They seem to get well down there

[peterb]

Yes, lots of parviflorus, some of the densest populations I've ever seen in southern Utah. Very variable also.

peterb

[A. Dean Stock]

Nice PeterB. I photographed a white Sclerocactus next to a pink one just east of Hite Crossing at the extreme north end of Lake Powell. They were both very large plants. I recently counted over 50 Sclerocactus plants in about 1 acre in a canyon near the Utah/Arizona border so they can get pretty dense.
Any time you are in Dixie Nat. Forest. keep and eye out for O.macrorhiza. We are trying to catalog the few remaining populations in Utah.
Dean

[Peterthecactusguy]

most of the Opuntia looked like O. polycantha to me, but the last one, was that a Grusonia? or an O. fragalis that was way fat?

[peterb]

PTCG, I think the last one is fragilis, not sure. Dean, I will be back to Dixie National Forest for sure, what a spot. Will keep an eye out for macrorhiza. And yes, the parviflorus around Hite and generally west of the Moki Dugway are doing very well indeed.

peterb

[Peterthecactusguy]

probably O. fragalis, but it sorta has a Grusonia vibe to it.

[A. Dean Stock]

PeterB, the first Opuntia is an O.macrorhiza x O. hystricina hybrid. What is the locality?? Hybrids of this type are abundant in Utah and many have great flowers.
Dean

[peterb]

That was in New Mexico, near Shiprock, growing with the large Scleros. I'm assuming you mean the photo posted below.

peterb

[A. Dean Stock]

Thanks for the locality PeterB. They look the same wherever you find them and have been given a variety of names. I think those in New Mexico are frequently regarded as O. juniperina by some. Hybrids in Opuntia are often more common than the "pure" species.
Dean

[jayismyson]

Link to some pics on Facebook, no account needed to view
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