Habitat: Hohokam Highlands

Use this forum to discuss matters relating to Agave, Beschorneria, Furcraea, Hesperaloe, Hesperoyucca, Manfreda, Polianthes, Yucca and related species. This is where one posts unknown plant photos for ID help.
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Gee.S
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Habitat: Hohokam Highlands

#1

Post by Gee.S »

Some terrific petroglyphs found in the heart of Hohokam territory in south central Arizona, not too far from Casa Grande.
Cylindropuntia fulgida
Cylindropuntia fulgida
Picacho 138.JPG (132.72 KiB) Viewed 1155 times
C. fulgida
C. fulgida
Picacho 133.JPG (93.36 KiB) Viewed 1155 times
Hohokam glyphs
Hohokam glyphs
Picacho 148.JPG (104.9 KiB) Viewed 1155 times
Hohokam glyphs
Hohokam glyphs
Picacho 170.JPG (100.32 KiB) Viewed 1155 times
Hohokam glyphs (great rattlesnake)
Hohokam glyphs (great rattlesnake)
Picacho 181.JPG (160.3 KiB) Viewed 1155 times
Hohokam glyphs
Hohokam glyphs
Picacho 182.JPG (139.79 KiB) Viewed 1155 times
Hohokam glyphs (note the coyote to the left)
Hohokam glyphs (note the coyote to the left)
Picacho 185.JPG (104.08 KiB) Viewed 1155 times
Hohokam glyphs
Hohokam glyphs
Picacho 207.JPG (135.07 KiB) Viewed 1155 times
Hohokam glyphs
Hohokam glyphs
Picacho 210.JPG (127.99 KiB) Viewed 1155 times
Hohokam glyphs
Hohokam glyphs
Picacho 211.JPG (116.02 KiB) Viewed 1155 times
C. acanthocarpa × fulgida?
C. acanthocarpa × fulgida?
Picacho 222.JPG (164.67 KiB) Viewed 1155 times
Hohokam glyphs
Hohokam glyphs
Picacho 238.JPG (189.12 KiB) Viewed 1155 times
Echinocereus engelmannii
Echinocereus engelmannii
Picacho 242.JPG (156.42 KiB) Viewed 1155 times
Hohokam glyphs
Hohokam glyphs
Picacho 244.JPG (135.2 KiB) Viewed 1155 times
Hohokam glyphs
Hohokam glyphs
Picacho 252.JPG (156.12 KiB) Viewed 1155 times
Agave
"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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Gee.S
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Re: Habitat: Hohokam Highlands

#2

Post by Gee.S »

We returned to this small, isolated mountain range in south central Arizona to investigate rumors of a substantial undocumented high elevation Agave pop. We had previously explored much of the surrounding area and found it an Agave wasteland, with even higher elevations of 4000'+ free of our favorite horticultural charges. So we were particularly intrigued by the extreme isolation here, with a nearest Agave pop of simplex at 25 miles distant. The next closest Agaves are again simplex at 40 miles and chrysantha at 40 miles in the opposite direction.

What we found today is unique. Plants are chrysantha-like, but different from any Agave population we have seen. Whether different enough to merit new taxon consideration we cannot say, but it seems possible, especially considering that they're at least 40 miles out of range. Most Agaves here are found at 3000' - 4500', are 4' - 6' across, with long, narrow, rigid, deeply furrowed leaves. There is little diversity here, far less than with other A. chrysantha pops we've seen, and certainly less than our photo spread might suggest, in which these are tentatively labeled A. chrysantha. Some examples suggest introgression with parryi, others with simplex, so an interesting but surprisingly homogeneous bunch.
An unusual Cylindropuntia that appears intermediate between C. bigelovii and C. fulgida. No hanging fruit and no cholla ball litter.
An unusual Cylindropuntia that appears intermediate between C. bigelovii and C. fulgida. No hanging fruit and no cholla ball litter.
Picacho 003.JPG (176.84 KiB) Viewed 893 times
Ferocactus cylindraceus
Ferocactus cylindraceus
Picacho 005.JPG (143.7 KiB) Viewed 893 times
The day's first Agave, found at 3000'; most are found much higher.
The day's first Agave, found at 3000'; most are found much higher.
Picacho 010.JPG (139.7 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 011.JPG (142.02 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 015.JPG (165.85 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 021.JPG (186.43 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 023.JPG (127.83 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 032.JPG (158.77 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 040.JPG (181.62 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 042.JPG (114.97 KiB) Viewed 870 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 061.JPG (153.24 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 066.JPG (204.26 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 079.JPG (165.66 KiB) Viewed 893 times
No shortage on scenery...
No shortage on scenery...
Picacho 083.JPG (113.84 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 084.JPG (166.46 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 093.JPG (175.8 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 098.JPG (172.3 KiB) Viewed 893 times
Most of the Agaves here are a lot like this. As you can see, they're big.
Most of the Agaves here are a lot like this. As you can see, they're big.
Picacho 103.JPG (212.26 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 106.JPG (164.67 KiB) Viewed 893 times
Agave
"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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Gee.S
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Re: Habitat: Hohokam Highlands

#3

Post by Gee.S »

Continued from previous post...
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 107.JPG (170.46 KiB) Viewed 870 times
Mammillaria grahamii
Mammillaria grahamii
Picacho 109.JPG (161.46 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 111.JPG (170.12 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 112.JPG (94.45 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 118.JPG (93.36 KiB) Viewed 893 times
Absolutely gargantuan example
Absolutely gargantuan example
Picacho 126.JPG (149.68 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 127.JPG (219.8 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 132.JPG (147.97 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 134.JPG (182.59 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 137.JPG (194.1 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 138.JPG (155.91 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 141.JPG (198.16 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 142.JPG (195.02 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 143.JPG (195.74 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 151.JPG (161.74 KiB) Viewed 893 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Picacho 152.JPG (131.71 KiB) Viewed 893 times
Radioactive A. chrysantha
Radioactive A. chrysantha
Picacho 154.JPG (150.44 KiB) Viewed 893 times
Picacho 160.JPG
Picacho 160.JPG (90.61 KiB) Viewed 893 times
Agave
"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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Gee.S
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Re: Habitat: Hohokam Highlands

#4

Post by Gee.S »

I have been engaged in a dialog with a Cylindropuntia-botanist regarding this photo, and we are leaning toward an ID of C. fulgida × bigelovii, despite the fact that she knows of no prior cites for this hybrid. Plant structure favors fulgida, spine color favors bigelovii, but no fulgida fruits and no dropping bigelovii cholla balls. A more detailed examination is probably in the works.

Image
Agave
"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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toditd
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Re: Habitat: Hohokam Highlands

#5

Post by toditd »

Yes, I see what you mean. Very interesting! Whatever it is, it is a beautiful specimen. You'd think that with a bigelovii that large there should be at least one fallen cholla ball to be seen somewhere in the vicinity. Maybe pack rats took off with the cholla balls D)) .
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Viegener
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Re: Habitat: Hohokam Highlands

#6

Post by Viegener »

Very appealing plant & i'd be happy to have one. Has anyone propagated it or does it only exist as one example on site?
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Gee.S
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Re: Habitat: Hohokam Highlands

#7

Post by Gee.S »

There is a small field of these plants at the locale we visited Thursday. A cholla botanist will need to get really motivated to engage a difficult hike/ascent to that field to collect in order to do chromosome counts and sequencing, which should determine what we have here with some certainty. One of the perks of studying Cylindropuntia is that they're typically very easy to reach. Not so much with this bunch...
Agave
"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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Gee.S
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Re: Habitat: Hohokam Highlands

#8

Post by Gee.S »

And back to Picacho in search of answers. This little range is extremely isolated, and some plants look a little different than those we see elsewhere. And there are lots of snails about, really unusual for central AZ. But we have confirmed the Agaves are A. chrysantha and may have an answer soon regarding the unusual chollas. We're now leaning toward an unusual form of C. bigelovii rather than an hybrid origin, but are far from certain. The most interesting facet of these interesting Opuntiads is that unlike "normal" bigelovii, most of these guys aren't producing the kind and quantity of cholla balls we associate with Teddy Bear Chollas, deferring to longer, unsegmented branches. These are more attractive and far more manageable, in terms of a potential landscape addition.
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Newman_2 006.JPG (145.48 KiB) Viewed 746 times
Cylindropuntia bigelovii ?
Cylindropuntia bigelovii ?
Newman_2 010.JPG (129.96 KiB) Viewed 746 times
C. bigelovii ?
C. bigelovii ?
Newman_2 016.JPG (142.89 KiB) Viewed 746 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Newman_2 022.JPG (152.45 KiB) Viewed 746 times
C. bigelovii (?) w/bird's nest
C. bigelovii (?) w/bird's nest
Newman_2 031.JPG (154.69 KiB) Viewed 746 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Newman_2 032.JPG (160.81 KiB) Viewed 746 times
A. chrysantha
A. chrysantha
Newman_2 045.JPG (169.91 KiB) Viewed 746 times
Agave
"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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