Hey ya'll I'm from Tucson, AZ and have looked at al my books and online and can't figure out what this is! Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!
Tipularia is quite right, it has got to be a Euphorbia. But I have never seen one quite like this. It would help if we could see more of the plant's structure and growth habit, underneath those remarkable inflorescences. Austin, you have told us nothing about where you took this photo. It looks to me like it could be one of those cactus and succulent houses you find in many botanical gardens, where the plants are planted out in a semi-naturalistic way. If so, it could a species that's rare in cultivation. There are many unusual Euphorbia species from Madagascar that have found their way into such collections in recent years.
That looks like it, and it seems to be an Arizona native! (though most of its range is in Mexico). It's a tuberous species.
Thank you EVERYONE!! I have lived here for 21 years and working towards a Major in Biology (Specializing in Herpetology) but I couldn't figure this one out for the life of me! The plants structure was mostly under fossilized mud (very fine rocks). I found it interesting how some of the lower petals look green at the ends, thinking maybe the leaves turn white? It was mainly just the stalks poking through. I'm just getting into botany more these past years. I found this flower in Santa Cruz County, Arizona in the Santa Rita Mountains just this last weekend and have never seen it before. About 20-30 miles from the Mexican border. Again, thanks everyone! Austin Steagall
