This is part of an old plant that won the trophy for best cactus in the junior section of the local NCSS show in 1979. I have struggled to maintain a decent clump as it seems to keep dying back from the middle and is particularly prone to wretched mealy bug. I suspect that I will break up the remains of this clump and start again with a number of small heads.
Anyone who reads this blog will know that spegazzainiis are my favourite gymnos. Here is a nice new one that has just arrived.
No idea what the field number refers to so feel free to let me know if you can.
A splendid variety of bruchii with denser spination and an excellent early crop of flowers on a tiny plant. Offsetting already so looking forward to growing a good clump.
A young G albiaerolatum - with a massive great tap root underneath.
I expect nothing less than big yellow flowers from this one.
And here it is - interesting how vibrant the yellow is when it first opens and then fades after a few days.
Here is G manznetteri. What could it be? No mention in Mr Charles or NCL. Could it be G hamatum with Mr Charles lists as marsoneri ssp megatae? I doubt it as the spines are thinner and flatter to the body. Or could it be misspelt andreae ssp matznetteri? The flower is going to be pink not yellow. So this leads me to think it is bruchii ssp matznetteri.
Anyway, it is happily clumping and flowering so that's good enough for me for now.
Any comments or clarification on the name appreciated.
Update: here are the flowers. I am going for the bruchii connection
MAY 2017
MAY 2015
New for 2015. I can't find out much about G mardelplatense. not included by Mr Charles or NCL. A suggestion that it may be a form of G hyptiacanthum but I don't see it myself. Let's see what he flowers come out like.
Any comments?
Update: Here are the flowers - none the wiser, but lovely big pink blooms!
