Sagebrush Cholla - Grusonia pulchella

I got very excited when I saw a flash of pink and went over to examine it and found this jointed cactus. I believe it's sagebrush cholla (Grusonia pulchella). It grows primarily in Nevada, with a few in Utah and California.

It goes by several other scientific and common names, including sand cholla. I could only find two in the place I walked around. Both were small and indistinct, and I probably would have missed them if it weren't for the flower.

For more info about sagebrush cholla, click on this interesting link.

Spinystar-Escobaria vivipara

This stunning, low-growing cactus is called Spinystar by the USDA Plants database (Escobaria vivipara), formerly Coryphantha vivipara. Other common names include foxtail cactus, viviparous foxtail cactus, common pincushion cactus and beehive cactus.

Flowers appear in May and June. The bright pink flowers have many yellow anthers and stamens that extend far out of the flower. Later purplish fruits will develop on the barrel-like cacti. This cactus is found throughout western North America.

For more information about spinystar, click here.

Plains Pricklypear-Opuntia polyacantha

Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) is especially striking when it's flowering. This jointed cactus typically has numerous flower buds that bloom in May-June.

The flowers are usually yellow and pink or red (see below), spreading about 3 inches across. The green part in the middle is a globular stigma, and it is surrounded by yellow stamens. The petals are nearly translucent.

Many of the cactus flowers we looked at had insects on them. This species grows up to about 10,000 feet in this area and is able to withstand freezing temperatures.

The spines are in clusters of 5 to 11, and the cactus is considered to be clump-forming.

For more information about plains pricklypear, click here.

Kingcup Cactus-Echinocereus triglochidiatus

The beautiful, bold red of the Kingcup Cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus) caught my eye from the road. It is also called red-flowered hedgehog cactus, claretcup cactus, strawberry cactus, Mojave mound cactus, and three spine hedgehog cactus. There are about one hundred species in the genus Echinocereus.

This cactus can withstand cold temperatures and is pollinated by hummingbirds. It is generally found up to 6,500 feet elevation.

For more information on the kingcup cactus, click here.

Mountain Ball Cactus-Pediocactus simpsonii

Today we get to add a new family to the blog, the Cactus Family, Cactaceae. The blooms on cacti always seem especially pretty to me because they are on such a tough plant. These are Mountain Ball Cacti (Pediocactus simpsonii). "Pedio" means plains, "cactus" means prickly plant, and "simsponii" is after early explorer J. H. Simpson who collected this cactus and gave it to Engelmann who identified it as a new species.

This cactus is the first to bloom in this area. It is a cold-hardy cactus, ranging in elevation from about 6,000 to nearly 11,000 feet. The flower colors can vary from white to yellow to pink.

For more information about Mountain Ball Cactus, click here.