A striking blossom of the Arizona Rainbow Cactus (Echinocereus pectinatus).
 Tank Mountain, near Animas, New Mexico. - June
 

The Great Chihuahuan Desert, Part 2 - North American Deserts Photography Gallery VII Last Image Next Image More about the above image

 

The Great Chihuahuan Desert, Part 2

North American Desert Photography - Gallery VII

 

*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. 

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.

Back to Image