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Tumamoc Globeberry ("Tuma")
(Tumamoca macdougalii Rose)

Here we present a gallery of images of Tumamoc globeberry ("Tuma," Tumamoca macdougalii) taken in eastern Pima County, Arizona, over a period of four decades (1985-2013) with commentary. All images captured by Frank W. Reichenbacher (© All Rights Reserved; contact me at frank@bio-con.com for permission to use them).

General Tumamoc globeberry
Seedlings & Juveniles
Adults
Flowers & Fruits
Drought Stress
Click images for full-size version 
General Tumamoc globeberry
           
     
  Tuma leaves, stems, and tendril.

Sabino Canyon, Aug. 2, 2008		   Tuma in buckhorn cholla (Opuntia acanthocarpa). Numerous red and green fruits dangle from the vine.

Anklam Road, Aug. 25, 2012
   Tuma in Blue paloverde (Cercidium floridum). One green (not yet mature) fruit is in the center.

Sabino Canyon, Aug. 31, 2009
 
  Seedlings & Juveniles    
     
  Seedling Tuma among fallen twigs and branches primarily Foothills paloverde (Cercidium microphyllum).

Tumamoc Hill, Aug. 11, 2007 		  Juvenile Tuma among rocks.

Tumamoc Hill, Aug. 11, 2007		   A cluster of 5 seedling Tumas. All five undoubtedly arose from seeds of the same fruit. Among stems of Christmas cactus (Opuntia leptocaulis). None survived to the 2009 survey.

Tumamoc Hill, Aug. 11, 2007
     
  Juvenile Tuma among rocks. The plant is rooted in the crevice in the far upper left.

Tumamoc Hill, Aug. 11, 2007		   Juvenile Tuma among rocks.

Tumamoc Hill, Aug. 11, 2007		   Seedling Tuma. One of the cotyledon leaves is just visible in the lower left of the plant.

Tumamoc Hill, Aug. 29, 2009 
         
  Tuma seedlings a few days old. Cotyledon leaves will wither and fall off in another few days. Metallic object in foreground is a numbered galvanized steel nail marker.

Picture Rocks Road, Aug. 1986		        
 
  Adults        
     
Large adult Tuma left & right of trunks of Foothills paloverde (Cercidium microphyllum), reaching to the top of the frame. Pin flags mark the locations of several juvenile progeny of the adults.

Picture Rocks Road, Sept. 1, 2007		 Large adult Tuma in Jumping cholla (Opuntia fulgida); creosotebush (L. divaricata) behind with numerous dangling green and red fruits. Pin flags mark the locations of several seedlings and juveniles.

Picture Rocks Road, Sept. 1, 2007		 Adult Tuma clambering on dead Foothills paloverde (Cercidium microphyllum). It is likely that the tree was alive when the Tuma germinated and established.

Saguaro National Park West, Sept. 1, 2007
         
  Large adult Tuma stem indicated by red arrows. The largest stems approach 1 cm diameter at the base and may survive the winter. Smaller stems completely wither away to the ground. 

Both images from Sabino Canyon. Left: Aug. 21, 2011. Right: Aug. 31, 2009		   Large adult Tuma with multiple stems arising from a cluster of tubers.

Sabino Canyon, Aug. 21, 2011
 
  Flowers & Fruits        
     
  Large adult Tuma with open flowers and immature fruits. The open flowers all appear to be male.

Sabino Canyon, Aug. 21, 2011		   Adult Tuma on buckhorn cholla (Opuntia acanthocarpa) with numerous mature (red) and maturing (orange) fruits.

Anklam Road, Aug. 25, 2012
     
  Female flower showing the slightly swollen inferior ovary. Female flowers are solitary, produced on short pedicels (stalks) in leaf axils as are the grasping tendrils.

Tumamoc Hill, Aug. 8, 2012		   Male flower raceme with one open flower near the apex. Note the apical stems of Range ratany (Krameria sp.) in front of and behind the Tuma flower raceme.

Tumamoc Hill, Aug. 25, 2012		   Male flower just opening early in the morning and a tendril.

Tumamoc Hill, Aug. 11, 2007
     
  Adult Tuma with mostly open male flowers and one green fruit.

Sabino Canyon, Aug. 29, 2008		   Male Tuma flowers.

Picture Rocks Road, Aug. 1986		   Female Tuma flower.

Picture Rocks Road, Aug. 1986
 
  Drought Stress        
       
  Drought stressed Tuma leaves and a male flower raceme. Adult plants begin developing flower racemes and buds in the weeks prior to monsoon onset. Most are aborted. This is shown near the end of a meager monsoon.

Sabino Canyon, Aug. 31, 2009.		   Drought stressed Tuma leaves and male flower racemes. Although the male flower racemes continue to produce buds, nearly all are aborted. Even plant tendrils shown here are dessicated. Heavy rains, well into September can produce episodes of flower and fruit development.

Sabino Canyon, Aug. 31, 2009.		   Drought-stressed adult Tuma. The finger is highlighting a tiny female flower bud. Male racemes frame the finger, each showing several aborted male flower buds.

Tumamoc Hill, Aug. 20, 2011.
     
  Plant A2, a very large adult Tuma. Pin flag marks emergence of multiple semi-woody stems. The plant was highly drought-stressed in 2009. Several stems were aborted, although a single yellow fruit is visible near top center. In 2011 the plant is vigorously producing flowers and fruits.

Both images from Sabino Canyon. Left: Aug. 31, 2009. Right: Aug. 21, 2011		   Aborted adult Tuma stem in Range ratany (Krameria sp.) with dried red fruits. Seeds in the fruits are probably viable. The stem is dessicated either because it aborted or the stem was clipped by a hopeful browsing animal.

Tumamoc Hill, Aug. 29, 2009