Echinocactus polycephalus in the moutains

[keith]

Echinocactus polycephalus growing on the side of a mountain in Red rock Canyon CA. Doing well better than the Opuntia basilaris and much better than all the dead Sclerocactus polyancistrus. Creosote bush, joshua tree and other small shrubs were also there. I only saw it on East south slopes halfway down the mountain no where else. I used snipping tool on the pictures because the online Jpeg compressor either did nothing or made them bigger

[Steve-0]

Fabulous! Love the pics, especially seeing the spines going all directions on that small one.

You mentioned on my thread that they might grow in Utah. Well, maybe, but not confirmed.

Here's the BONAP map of their known locations. Utah has crossbars which means unconfirmed presence.

[Steve-0]

I see that most of my state is another thousand feet higher than where you were...plus farther north. Cold and altitude may be the deciding factors for their absence here. The best variety of species in Utah are on the two southern corners of the state. Besides one other location over near Flaming Gorge area. I don't frequent these locations much. It's 6 hours each way so an overnight trip is a must. The places closest to me can be reached inside an hour or up to three hours.

[MikeInOz]

beautiful pink spines! I bet they turn red when wet?