Editing Eastern Prickly Pear (section)

===== May 5, 2012 =====

A second field exploration was conducted on May 5, 2012 and involved an investigation of approximately 1.09 miles on the far northern extent of West Rock Ridge in Hamden, Connecticut.  This exploration revealed several areas, some quite large, where bedrock was exposed at the surface and there was a bare minimum of tree growth.  However, most of these "obvious" areas yielded no findings.  Eventually, I ventured to the steep, terraced precipices on the eastern side of the ridge and succeeded in discovering a large clonal colony of ''O. humifusa''.  I quickly noticed that this uppermost cluster was only the tip of the iceberg, as further clonal clusters could be seen growing on several lower ledges descending the face of the ridge.

After thoroughly documenting this colony, I began moving northwards and checking similar habitat for the presence of another colony.  I succeeded in discovering another colony approximately 200 feet further north of the first.  This colony shared a similar character with the nearby find, where a several clonal clusters could be found on successively lower-elevation ledges.