A striking blossom of the Arizona Rainbow Cactus (Echinocereus pectinatus).
Tank Mountain, near Animas, New Mexico. -
June
We encountered a different
Rainbow Cactus in the extreme southern Organ Mountains,
also occurring at spots south to the Big Bend National Park.
These Rainbow Cactus consistently
exhibited large yellow or greenish yellow blooms. In these
latter areas, we never found Echinocereus pectinatus in the shades
pictured above.
*We have found the Rainbow Cactus (Echinocereus pectinatus)
with flowers of the above color pattern in south-western New Mexico and in
southern Arizona. Although appropriate, the name does not refer to the blossoms
nor the location, but
the colorful coloration of the spines. The color of the above
flower
is typical of those we found west of the Organ Mountains of New Mexico.