Send in the Clones

One of the joys of field work is the discovery of unique life forms. These "four sisters" live about a quarter mile from the main trail that encircles "A" Mountain. Usually barrel cacti grow as individuals, but twins are not an anomaly. Quadruplets of this fine quality are indeed a rare occurrence. Barrel cacti in the Chihuahuan Desert are not nearly as large as those found in the Sonoran Desert, probably because the Chihuahuan Desert receives its rainfall primarily during the summer monsoon season--unlike the Sonoran Desert, which has two distinct rainy seasons, summer and winter--and because the Chihuahuan Desert is a higher and cooler desert.