Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Wednesday Vignette, sometimes you get no answers

I'll admit I am one who likes to get answers. I have a lot of "why" questions and I want to find something that explains it. I spotted this opuntia at St Francis Ranch. From afar the pattern on the lower pad looked like the interior structure of a cactus pad, what's revealed once all the meaty bits have dried up. Up close I see that's not the case.

Instead the outer layer looks like the earth, soil baked by the sun and cracking from dryness. There was fire here, the estate is in the hills above Santa Barbara. Could the pads have burned? If so why are others untouched?

In this case I do not believe the answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind...

Weather Diary, April 30: Hi 71, Low 45/ Precip 0

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9 comments:

  1. Now you have us all wondering. Hope someone can answer this question!

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  2. That is a mystery, indeed. Let us know if you find out why.

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  3. Hmm. That's very interesting. I can't say I've seen that effect before. I took a very short trip down the rabbit hole that is the internet and found references to "corky scab" and "cactus scab" on Opuntia (described as looking like cactus eczema) but I couldn't find any good photos to draw a direct comparison with yours.

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    Replies
    1. Ah, thanks for giving me a jumping off point.

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  4. How odd.... I can't even offer a decent guess. Very strange...

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  5. If it was from a fire, it looks like the new growth is unscathed, which makes sense (all the newest paddles appear unharmed).

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