Pink Riot is a photograph by Douglas Taylor which was uploaded on August 16th, 2023.
Pink Riot
Dozens of diminutive, bright pink flowers grace an Arizona pincushion cactus after a long awaited summer rain. These tiny flowers are only about a... more
Title
Pink Riot
Artist
Douglas Taylor
Medium
Photograph - Fine Art Digital Photography
Description
Dozens of diminutive, bright pink flowers grace an Arizona pincushion cactus after a long awaited summer rain. These tiny flowers are only about a half-inch wide, which gives you a clue as to how really small this cactus is. They are normally up to 4 inches tall and about 2 to 2-1/2 inches in diameter. They will only bloom for one day, and that following a late summer rain in the Sonoran Desert.
Making a positive identification of many cactus can be exceedingly difficult, and this specimen was no exception. All of my personal literature indicates that this would be a Mammillaria grahamii, otherwise known as Mammillaria microcarpa, and commonly called the Arizona Pincushion cactus. But not quite.
Further research revealed that this is quite possibly a cousin to the above named species and is actually a Cochemiea thornberi. If so, it is only found in the Avra Valley and Saguaro National Park west of Tucson, Arizona where this macro photograph was made.
Part of the identification confusion is an extensive reclassification of mammillaria cacti by botanists in 2021 that was adopted in December 2022 by "Plants of the World Online". The fact that many of the cacti in this region of the Sonoran Desert readily hybridize also doesn't help the identification process. But it certainly does not diminish the glory of these rare but not endangered beauties.
Uploaded
August 16th, 2023
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Comments (14)
Don Columbus
Congratulations, your work is Featured in "Photographic Camera Art" I invite you to place it in the group's "2020-2024 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!
Douglas Taylor replied:
Thank you, Don! I am always honored to be featured in this superb photography art group.
VIVA Anderson
Wonderful Cactus Flowers Gallery, Douglas........each a beauty !! All , so fascinating. Compliments for your lovely array of 1st Class Photography.........FAV............VIVA
Douglas Taylor replied:
Thank you, VIVA! I am delighted that you appreciated my Cactus Flowers collection.
Lesley Evered
These are so beautiful Douglas.....a rare find I should think.
Douglas Taylor replied:
Thank you very much, Lesley! Not quite rare, but you never notice them until they bloom.
Jane M Dahl
Reminds me of an assortment of Hawaiian haku leis when they bloom like that. Perhaps they bloomed for the victims of the deadly Lahaina fires. Beautiful image! L/F Featured in American Desert Southwest.
Douglas Taylor replied:
These flowers have provided a small bit of joy amongst the sadness that I feel for the victims of the Lahaina fire, along with Kelowna and Medical Lake now.
Nancy Carol Photography
CONGRATULATIONS! .... and thank you for sharing with us your wonderful work of art that has been proudly presented on the Home Page of the group, 'BEST OF BOTANICAL BEAUTY'. If you wish, you may archive it permanently or promote it further in the Discussions Tabs titled, "Aug/Sept 2023 Features."
Douglas Taylor replied:
Thank you, Nancy! I am honored to be featured in this superb floral art group.
Sabina Pamfili
it is heavenly to see. I always marvelled at a cactus and the fact that they produce lovely flowers and yet are such an unpleasant prickly plant. The blooms make up for it.
Douglas Taylor replied:
Yes, Sabina, they are such tiny and prickly little plants, which make their brilliant pink flowers so marvelous to see.
Steve Rich
Your work deserves to be FEATURED on the homepage of "The Meandering Photographer”. Please consider adding your photo to the "Feature History, The Meandering Photographer (Aug-Sept 2023)" active discussion thread. 8-17-2023
Douglas Taylor replied:
Thank you, Steve! I am honored to be featured in this superb photography art group, and I also greatly appreciate your support.
VIVA Anderson
Douglas!! how so divine, dainty, pretty, these so tiny pincushion cacti!!! ("not quite"),:))........Clever of you to 'be there' on the! day for blooming.........FAV..............Kudos.............VIVA
Douglas Taylor replied:
VIVA! Thank you so much for your kind compliments. They are much appreciated here.
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