Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
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Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
We found another large A. toumeyana field back in the Mazatzals, and also happened upon some A. murpheyi and A. chrysantha swimming amongst the cacti and wildflowers. This is an interesting spot in that, other than a handful of plants scattered across a single hillside, A. chrysantha was entirely absent here. We had never seen A. toumeyana growing solo before. Tough, tough road -- it's good to be back in civilization for a change.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
??? looks like Hibiscus coulteri. Great pictures, as always!
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
It surely does, thanks! Proper ID added. I didn't know there are wild Hibiscus in AZ.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
???? Is a four o'clock, likely Trailing Four o'Clock.
It is what it is!
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
Looks like a winner!
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
If the OP toured Toumeyanaville proper, this may qualify as the suburbs at roughly five miles distant. A smattering of A. chrysantha, some outstanding Ferocactus, and A. toumeyana were headlining the show. We were surprised to find A. toumeyana in bloom today, as we had become accustomed to the notion of associating each Agave species with a particular season, in this case late spring/early summer, but a quick check with Gentry reveals "...flowering is sparse, irregular, and not showy...". In the end, we were left with the impression of a secondary flowering season, as most do flower in unison shortly before A. chrysantha, and today's crop was sparse in comparison. Good stuff, and another interesting lesson learned.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
One more stop in Toumeyanaville to complete a couple of hikes in the area. Nothing new, a few A. chrysantha here and there along with tens of thousands (at least!) of A. toumeyana. One interesting facet of this region is that one can find A. toumeyana v. bella and A. toumeyana v. toumeyana literally growing side-by-side, at least according to HSG's denticle measure. There are many compact examples of A. toumeyana here with pronounced denticles toward leaf bases. Had the man visited here, he may have reassessed his A. toumeyana taxon assignments.
Howard Scott Gentry wrote:Small, compact, filiferous, light green, surculose rosettes, differing from A. toumeyana toumeyana in having 100 or more leaves at maturity vs. 40-70, in the smaller, more equal, linear leaves 9-20 cm long vs. 20-40 cm, and in having the brown leaf margin replaced by denticles on the lower half of the leaf.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
We returned to the same general area in search of domesticate Agaves rather than A. toumeyena, and to our delight we managed encounters with A. chrysantha, A. delamateri, and the rare and elusive A. murpheyi.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
GeeS wrote:One more stop in Toumeyanaville to complete a couple of hikes in the area. Nothing new, a few A. chrysantha here and there along with tens of thousands (at least!) of A. toumeyana. ...
????
This white flowering bush is probably Ceanothus greggii, Desert Ceanothus!
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
^ Just checked pics, and leaves are a good match. Thanks!
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
A hike through toumeyana-ville today eventually led to chrysantha-ville with a quick detour through Agave mite-ville. Almost made it to Utah, but came up about 400 miles short.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
beautiful and interesting! Boss caught me looking I was so distracted...
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
Thanks for sharing the photos of your desert walkabouts - so often illuminating, and always a joy to see.
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
And a visit to another small subdivision in Toumeyanaville.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
Popped up on top of a fairly large mesa plainly visibly from SR 87, only to find an absolute blizzard of Agaves up there, mostly chrysantha and toumeyana.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
As you say, a surprisingly large Toumeyana wearing your hat, only to have it stolen by that enormous Fero.
I had no idea Agave toumeyana could reach such proportions (leaf length and plant width).
Lovely to see such an ancient Ferocactus. I have an old b&w postcard showing one of similar proportions - and had wondered if any of its kind of such antiquity still lived. Nice to know they do.
I had no idea Agave toumeyana could reach such proportions (leaf length and plant width).
Lovely to see such an ancient Ferocactus. I have an old b&w postcard showing one of similar proportions - and had wondered if any of its kind of such antiquity still lived. Nice to know they do.
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
Yeah, toumeyana can get about 2' tall out in the wilds, tho I've never seen it that large in captivity.
And yeah, big Fero, and MEAN, too. One of those golden strangers that sometimes go by F. eastwoodiae.
And yeah, big Fero, and MEAN, too. One of those golden strangers that sometimes go by F. eastwoodiae.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
Thats a great native plant garden.
Its always a wonder that these plants that have to live on so little rains...then NEED a hillside to grow best. Meaning even less water time around the roots.
Its always a wonder that these plants that have to live on so little rains...then NEED a hillside to grow best. Meaning even less water time around the roots.
Hayward Ca. 75-80f summers,60f winters.
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Re: Habitat: Wasting Away Again in Toumeyanaville
One of the most interesting facets of Arizona Agavaceae is the nearly inexplicable fact that a fair percentage of A. toumeyana bloom in mid-November. So strange. Gentry suggests that toumeyana might bloom at any time, but that is not correct. It has a primary bloom season in June, and a secondary bloom season in November. We have never seen toumeyana bloom at any other time. This peculiar adaptation is almost certainly a response to seasonal moisture, and an apparent evolutionary advantage, but only because toumeyana, as a diminutive Littaea agave, is able to go from bloom trigger to seed in a very short time when compared to other regional agaves. Temps were well below average today, and there weren't any pollinators flitting about that we could ascertain. There are a few A. chrysantha in the area, but these are relatively scarce.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"