|
Escobaria vivipara buxbaum |
|
Written by bruno
|
|
Thursday, 04 June 2009 |
|
Escobaria vivipara keeps puzzling botanists because of its green fruits and its big flowers (right), so different from those of the other Escobaria.
It has long been considered a Coryphantha until Buxbaum, in 1951, placed it in Escobaria based on accurate studies of the morphology of the flower and the seed.
Its complex is composed by globose small stemmed plants often cespitose, ranging on a extremely wide area, from North Mexico to Canada.
Different forms of Escobaria vivipara have been collected in different habitats, from typical desert to high mounta in, where it can survive temperatures of 20 degrees below zero.
Several varieties or subspecies have been introduced over time, among which E. vivipara var. radiosa Hunt (picture left), E. vivipara v. neomexicana Buxbaum, E. vivipara var. arizonica Hunt, E. vivipara var. rosea Hunt ed E. vivipara var. bisbeana Hunt.
It is quite clear that inter-specific relationships need further clarification, in the meantime growers can enjoy the delicate beauty of the spines, better if together with its magnificent pink purple flower, spreading as much as 6 cm in diameter.
Alas they are not that easy to grow....
See all pictures in the new gallery Escobaria
|
|
Last Updated ( Saturday, 07 November 2009 )
|
|
|
Puna clavaroides in flower |
|
Written by bruno
|
|
Sunday, 29 March 2009 |
Puna clavaroides (Pfeiffer) Kiesling is a beautiful plant from San Juan and Mendoza, Argentina, which was included in Maihueniopsis by Anderson in 1999, based on recent DNA studies and because of similar fruits and seeds.
However, plants included into Puna are quite different in appearence, as they form small clusters of subterranean stems arising from large swollen roots, versus the much branched, large cushions that are typical in Maihueniopsis.
Puna clavaroides is renown for being a shy flowerer in cultivation, many growers relying on grafts to force flowering at the price of loosing its typical, geophytic habit.
That's why I was so excited when hearing from Roberto about a plant on its own roots flowering last summer in his collection.
The nice, natural aspect of the plant adds extra credit to his well known reputation of skillful grower, which goes together with his ability as a photographer.
These beautiful images add to those of Puna subterranea in flower, already hosted in the site, thanks to Roberto, we only miss the flowers of Puna bonniae now.
See more in the gallery Opuntiae&co
|
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 23 April 2009 )
|
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 Next > End >>
|
| Results 1 - 12 of 23 |
