MSGID: 1:317/3 6392267e   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    EPOD - a service of USRA   
      
   The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes   
   and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and   
   archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory   
   captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The   
   community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and   
   relevant links.   
      
      
    Golden Torch Cactus Flower   
      
      December 08, 2022   
      
      
       DaleHugo_cactusflower   
      
      Photographer: Linda Marcy   
      Summary Author:  Dale Hugo   
      
      Shown above is a Golden Torch cactus flower ( Echinopsis spachiana).   
      It was found blooming in the photographer’s yard in Gilbert, Arizona.   
      Like most cacti, they bloom at night and only for a short time. Usually   
      after dusk the blossoms appear for fertilization by  nighttime   
      pollinators that are attracted by the wonderful fragrances of cacti   
      flowers. A number of desert pollinators apparently avoid the heat of   
      day, and thus the  night blooming tendency of many cacti.   
      
      These flowers last only through the morning, flowering for only 10   
      hours or so. But their beauty makes up for the short-lived blooms. This   
      one faded out before noon.  Sic Transit Gloria.   
      
      The  Golden Torch is sometimes planted in rock gardens in the U.S.   
      Southwest and elsewhere. They attain heights of about 6 ft (2 m) and   
      grow in clumps as you can see here. Sometimes the entire head of the   
      cactus will be covered with several flowers at once. The spines are   
      nearly an inch (2 cm) long and worthy of your respect. Don’t back up in   
      an Arizona garden! Be careful not to over-water your cactus plants, but   
      they do appreciate sporadic watering during long dry spells. Photo   
      taken in early July 2022.   
      
      Gilbert, Arizona Coordinates: 33.3528, -111.7890   
      
      
   Related EPODs   
      
       Golden Torch Cactus Flower  On the Wind: Plant Seed Dispersal   
       Carob Mushroom in Early Stage of Growth  Lamiaceae Family of   
      Aromatic Flowering Plants   Basket Stinkhorn  Use of Wild Plants   
      in Floriculture   
       More...   
      
   Plant Links   
      
        *  Discover Life   
        *  Tree Encyclopedia   
        *  What are Phytoplankton?   
        *  Encyclopedia of Life - What is a Plant?   
        *  USDA Plants Database   
        *  University of Texas Native Plant Database   
        *  Plants in Motion   
        *  What Tree is It?   
      
   -   
      Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the  Universities   
      Space Research Association.   
      
   https://epod.usra.edu   
       
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