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8/18/10

In The Heat of Dead Summer

The diurnal Bishop's Cap cactus flowers...

Bishop's Cap (Astrophytum myriostigma) are often overlooked cactus in the natural landscape since they have a unique color and texture quality because part of their survival disguise is as a rock. They're small and usually potted and mine flowers in winter and summer. Like most cacti, there slow going in development, it can take weeks for buds to bloom. The flowers are diurnal, opening at the peak of sunlight and heat during the day, then closing in late afternoon and reopening when the sun is full in the morning.

Flower in mid-August at 15:00 (03:00 PM) in peak afternoon sun and heat





Early evening bud closed before sunset



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