Cleome brachycarpa

Cleome brachycarpa

The largest specimen I have come across of Cleome brachycarpa so far. It's clearly enjoying excellent growing conditions in the shadow of the Archer cliffs.…


Cleome brachycarpa UV

Cleome brachycarpa UV

The flower of cleome brachycarpa is bright yellow in visible light but is completely dark and non-reflective in UV light. Native range is Cape Verde to…


Cleome brachycarpa

Cleome brachycarpa

On the hills overlooking the Detwah lagoon on the west coast of Socotra I found many interesting flowers, and luckily some not destroyed by goats, like this…


Cleome brachycarpa

Cleome brachycarpa

On the hills overlooking the Detwah lagoon on the west coast of Socotra I found many interesting plants, and luckily some not destroyed by goats. Up close you…


Caetangil paraguariensis

Caetangil paraguariensis

Caetangil paraguariensis is a very slender plant. Native range is Bolivia, Brazil to Argentina.


Cleistocactus samaipatanus

Cleistocactus samaipatanus

Finding cacti on the sheer cliffs of Refugio Los Volcanes was a surprise to me! I saw their red flowers  from afar, but assumed totally different species.


Cardon cactus (Echinopsis tarijensis)

Cardon cactus (Echinopsis tarijensis)

When not in bloom the cardon cactus (Echinopsis tarijensis) looks just like the white-flowering Echinopsis atacamensis, but this one is much rarer, and I found…


Cardon cactus (Echinopsis tarijensis)

Cardon cactus (Echinopsis tarijensis)

When not in bloom the cardon cactus (Echinopsis tarijensis) looks like the white-flowering Echinopsis atacamensis, but this one is much rarer, and I found only…


Cactus nest on Isla del Pescado (Fish Island)

Cactus nest on Isla del Pescado (Fish Island)

For birds that have a need to build nests above ground, a desert has few options, so they learn to deal with the spines and use them to their advantage. It…


Cardon cactus (Trichocereus atacamensis ssp. pasacana)

Cardon cactus (Trichocereus atacamensis ssp. pasacana)

Cardon cactus (Trichocereus atacamensis ssp. pasacana) - the white-spined variety is my favourite of the cacti here, and with the backdrop of the white salt…