Aloe #09-2012M 20

Fan Aloe, Aloe plicatilis.  
Family: Asphodelaceae (Formerly Aloaceae).
Native to:  South Africa 
The tree-form aloe on the left.

Arid House of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens Conservatory,
Ann Arbor, Michigan,
Variegated African Candelabra, Euphorbia Ammak variegata.  Detail of the spines.

Whenever I'm photographing nature, I have a kind of dual personality.  The scientist in me is interested in seeing and learning about new things.  The artist in me is more concerned with visual impact.  I'm focused on things like color, shapes, patterns, light and shadows.  This detail of the ruffled spiny edge of a tall euphorbia is a crude attempt at finding a way to emphasize the graphical elements that most appealed to me, using the limited set of filters available to me.  It was easy to settle on monochrome rather than color, but harder to bring out details of the spiny ridge and leave the background muted.
For comparison, the color version can be seen here. _  http://smu.gs/WruV4C .
An earlier shot of the full plant is here. _ http://smu.gs/13SadQX

DP020-2013.  Posted January 20; processed January 19.
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The Conservatory at Hidden Lake Gardens,
Lenawee County, Michigan
January 18, 2013
Euphorbia #17 04
Variegated African Candelabra, Euphorbia Ammak variegata
Family Euphorbiaceae . . . Native to Saudi Arabia
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The Conservatory at Hidden Lake Gardens,
Lenawee County, Michigan
January 18, 2013
Aizoaceae #05-2012M 17
Blooms on lithops.
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Arid House, Conservatory at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 
Ann Arbor, Michigan
November 1, 2012
Cephalocereus Cactus #01-2012M 12
There are scattered dark, dark maroon blossoms high up on the stem.
If you view this in the largest sizes you can see the structure of the topmost blossoms, and see that they are a brownish, purplish, blackish color.

Cephalocereus maxonii.
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Arid House, Conservatory at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 
Ann Arbor, Michigan
November 1, 2012
Cephalocereus Cactus #01-2012M 11
There are scattered dark, dark maroon blossoms high up on the stem.
I wonder whether each repetition of a band of sparse and a band of thick 'fur' represents a year's growth?

Cephalocereus maxonii.
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Arid House, Conservatory at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 
Ann Arbor, Michigan
November 1, 2012
Aizoaceae #05-2012M 15
Blooms on lithops.
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Arid House, Conservatory at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 
Ann Arbor, Michigan
November 1, 2012
That's the first time I've seen an adult go down this slide.  The infant girl seems more bemused than amused.
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Gallup Park, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
July 29, 2012.
(nex5n)
It was another hot day in 'Tree Town'.
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Gallup Park, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
July 29, 2012.
(nex5n)
Aloe #09-2012M 20

Fan Aloe, Aloe plicatilis.
Family: Asphodelaceae (Formerly Aloaceae).
Native to: South Africa
The tree-form aloe on the left.

Arid House of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens Conservatory,
Ann Arbor, Michigan,
Aloe #09-2012M 20

Fan Aloe, Aloe plicatilis.  
Family: Asphodelaceae (Formerly Aloaceae).
Native to:  South Africa 
The tree-form aloe on the left.

Arid House of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens Conservatory,
Ann Arbor, Michigan,
Aloe #09-2012M 20

Fan Aloe, Aloe plicatilis.
Family: Asphodelaceae (Formerly Aloaceae).
Native to: South Africa
The tree-form aloe on the left.

Arid House of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens Conservatory,
Ann Arbor, Michigan,
See photo in original gallery.