On the Cactus Close up thread someone asked for Elephant trees. Someone else suggested a separate thread. So here it is.
A couple of close ups
Now, I hope to see all the pictures that make me say, dang, wish I had taken that one!
DianeNatalie Ann - 4-8-2008 at 05:21 PM
I love your elephant tree, Diane - that first shot. One of the nicest I've seen.
And aren't those blooms vibrant?
Hope some others take you up on the suggestion to post more.
NenaBajaSedoso - 4-8-2008 at 10:24 PM
I love Elephant trees and my favorite one is the one growing at Casa Patchen in Catavina.
I have never seen them in bloom, Diane, thank you so much for posting the wonderful flower picture.
BajaSedoso
BajaSedoso - 4-8-2008 at 10:26 PM
One more, also from the Catavina area.
BajaSedoso
Pappy Jon - 4-10-2008 at 07:57 PM
[Edited on 4-11-2008 by Pappy Jon]DianaT - 4-10-2008 at 10:31 PM
Pappy Jon,
Really like that peeling bark----the subtle colors and what looks more like parchment than bark,
Thanks
Diane
Elephant tree in Isla Angel de la Guarda
Graham - 4-11-2008 at 08:19 AM
Graham is in Bahia de los Angeles and I saw your thread. I understand there is more than one kind of tree referred to as elephant tree in Baja. I
can't verify that this one is the same variety as the others pictured, but this specimen looked pretty cool. I lifted the image from Graham's
powerpoint presentation about his two months on the island.
We know and love the Patchen's tree very well too!
Bonni M.
Martyman - 4-11-2008 at 08:22 AM
That first shot from Pappy looks like an elephants leg!! Cool shot.David K - 4-11-2008 at 08:42 AM
Lots and lots of 'young' elephant trees between El Marmol and El Volcan (the famous cold water geyser)...
Originally posted by Martyman
That first shot from Pappy looks like an elephants leg!! Cool shot.
It sure does. Baja Sedoso I think yours would also look that way---but it is so small. That is one reason I like using photobucket. I Would love to
see those shots bigger.
Bonni----love the way that one is growing---it really shows how adaptable and tough those babies are. Yes, there is more than one variety, but they
are all great.Pappy Jon - 4-11-2008 at 04:10 PM
Quote:
I understand there is more than one kind of tree referred to as elephant tree in Baja.
Yes. Most of the pics shown so far are copalquín or terote blanco, in the genus Pachycormus. It's related to almonds. There is only one of
those in Baja. The other common elephant trees are Bursera, and there are a half dozen or so of those down there, and more further south.
They are related to the Bibilical myrrh.David K - 4-11-2008 at 04:20 PM
Jon, can you tell us why some Elephant trees hug the ground (Graham Mackintosh's photo) and other grow upright (like the one in the photo on the El
Volcan road)?Pappy Jon - 4-11-2008 at 04:28 PM
In many cases it's the wind. In the mountains the condition is called krumbolz, where trees are blown flat, or more accurately the growing tips that
face into the wind are burned while those on the opposite side are not. I've seen copalquín do that on the Gulf side (see pic). With the Bursera I
think some of it is genetic. Further north they tend to be more spreading. You see them that way in Anza-Borrego. Southward they are very erect. David K - 4-11-2008 at 04:38 PM
Thanks Pappy Jon... awesome answer!!!Graham - 4-11-2008 at 05:48 PM
Pappy Jon--
Is it the Bursera then, related to myrrh, that smell so strongly of incense?
Thanks, BonniPappy Jon - 4-11-2008 at 06:52 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Graham
Pappy Jon--
Is it the Bursera then, related to myrrh, that smell so strongly of incense?
Thanks, Bonni
Yep.Gadget - 4-12-2008 at 12:21 PM
BoLA
[Edited on 4-12-2008 by Gadget]
BAJACAT - 4-13-2008 at 09:32 PM
This one is in fron t of the painted cave in CATAVINA.
Elephant tree?
tehag - 4-16-2008 at 09:44 PM
Not sure of the species. Maybe the Baja Sur endemic Bursera filicifolia. Picture is from the Loreto area today.
Graham - 4-17-2008 at 10:52 PM
Saw this little guy last week.
Elephant tree. Humble beginnings. Rooted on the side of a granite boulder on "Mike's Mountain," above town of Bahia de los Angeles. Elevation 2000 ft.Graham - 4-17-2008 at 11:00 PM
Here it is -- I hope.
HotSchott - 4-25-2008 at 07:07 AM
The sap or amber from the dead trees is wonderful incense when collected and burned. It oozes and hardens at the base of a dead tree which seem to be
as common as live trees. If the bugs are real bad, burn a chunk of sap and it seems to make the flying insects move on. Lots of stuff in that oil
and it has a heavy perfume odor.Skip_Mac - 4-25-2008 at 12:01 PM
Graham, Nice photo. I'd really love to hike Mike's Mountain sometime. Great books, by the way, my signed copy of your first book I left with
Sheri, so it stayed in Baja. Keep it up. Oh, I missed you a few years back, saw your name and comments in the guestbook at a snug little casa near
Catavina....missed you by a couple of weeks as you went through on your trek.
Many happy miles more..standingwave - 4-25-2008 at 06:03 PM
Skip - perhaps it was that copy of "Into a desert place" that I borrowed from Shari for a few weeks back in 2001. Such a good read. Thanks to you
both.Skip_Mac - 4-28-2008 at 01:48 PM
Standingwave, the timing was right...I trust you enjoyed the read and realize that some angel was following Graham on that trip.. Amazing!Cypress - 4-28-2008 at 02:08 PM
