thebark's Journal

Finding an uncommon lizard (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/41468432) near the most abundant cluster of these cacti helps support the supposition that they are found only in area undisturbed by human activity and likely never plowed or graded. If I knew more about the age and growth rate of E. missouriensis that conclusion would be more firm.

But E. missouriensis is not a perfect index of never-disturbed land because it will not grow just anywhere; it needs the caliche graveled slopes of canyonsides and outcrops for their drainage and possibly soil pH. It only seems that E. missouriensis is such an index because virtually every part of the South Plains has been plowed or scraped and developed except in some instances the caliche canyonsides. The Yellowhouse Canyon in the City of Lubbock has mostly in its 130 year history of European occupation been subject to scraping, digging, and filling, except in the few places where E. missouriensis is found.

Starrgirl this day found a cluster of 8 E. missouriensis cacti on the East side of Amarillo on the old air base property. This is a first iNat report of the species in the Texas Panhandle. So far on the Llano Estacado the species has been found only there and in and around the Yellowhouse Canyon in Lubbock. See https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/41634134

Most if not all Missouri Foxtail Cacti in Lubbock are in bloom today. One outside the city was reported by kayakqueen eight days ago. Interestingly, of three Horse Crippler cacti I observed today, two had single flowers and the third small buds looking like flowering will not be immediate.

But here is one anyway. Join in the competition and fun. As I think of names I will add them here.

@jennpaxt @jordandcochran @jotol @nathantaylor @starrgirl @jjmiller @skylerdparks @rowdius @gaganeill @brooksy @lupe @shaunmichael @ibaline @mitbse @vickiwilmarth @dwhitec

If you look at the map on the project front page you will notice that the east boundary of this project does not stop at the Caprock Escarpment but includes part of the Rolling Plains and part of the Edwards Plateau as the eastern boundary of the Texas Panhandle is continued south to a point southeast of San Angelo before the boundary heads west to join the Pecos River as the southern boundary. The reason for this is frankly laziness on my part because this map was already drawn and designated as a "place" on iNaturalist and ready for import into this project.

Some of the most interesting places in our region, biologically speaking, are what Professor Tom Flores called "Caprock Canyonlands" in his book by the same title, and when one speaks of "the Llano Estacado" there is always a little uncertainty whether the canyons that cut through the Llano are to be included. This project includes not only the Canadian Breaks up to the Canadian River but all of the transverse canyons etched into the Caprock and the region to which their mouths open, along with some very interesting places such as Caprock Canyons State Park (still temporarily closed, alas), the Matador Wildlife Management Area (open, at least for day use), White River Lake, Twistflower Ranch (see https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/twistflower-ranch-environs-crockett-county-texas), and Monahans State Park, a huge and diverse region indeed.

But please keep in mind: this area is not synonymous with the Llano Estacado and you may need to know that when, example, you put plant observations into the project "Plants on the Llano Estacado," which is based on a different map that much more closely (but still imperfectly in my opinion) follows the true boundaries of the Llano Estacado.

If you want to see it show up on your observation page's project list. You are still in the project without joining, but having it show up on your observations may motivate you and others.

Amarillo has been a big surprise for me. Such an industrial city, but as much or more than Lubbock there are accessible places where a tract looks minimally disturbed by humans and the plants take you back to 1850 prairie.

Many more parts of Amarillo have fallen into a weedy neglect that is interesting in itself.

Even though midnight on April 27 is the cut-off for MAKING observations, you can still post your observations after that date, so treat yourself to a good night's rest and congratulate yourself on participating! For those who are Texas Master Naturalists, don't forget to log your volunteer hours, both in making observations and for identification and uploading!