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#1
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Identify cactus please
Ten years ago, I received a cactus as gift. At the time, it consisted of a single "stalk" about 2 inches tall and about 1 inch in diameter. It was green and totally covered with spines (in groups). The spines were about ..25-inch in length. When I received the cactus in early April, it had 2 white flowers that were slightly longer than the spines. The cactus continued to flower for a few weeks, and produced about 11 flowers in all. Over the summer, I left the cactus unattended near a sunny window in a very hot room. When I returned after 4 weeks, the cactus had doubled in height (although the diameter remained the same). During the next few months, the cactus continued to grow at an amazing rate and developed numerous arms. Over a ten-year period, it grew roughly 30 arms. Indeed, many of the arms grew multiple arms. However, the once-erect cactus is now bent over. The center stalk grew thinner towards the end and began to lean about 8 or 9 years ago. The total length of the cactus (from soil to tip of most extreme arm) is about 8 inches. Sadly, despite my best efforts, I have never been able to get it to flower again. Nonetheless, it remains a beautiful plant, and I've enjoyed having and caring for it over the years. My question is: what type of cactus is it? If my description doesn't help, I'll be happy to send someone an image. Sorry to ramble. Your help is appreciated. June |
#2
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Identify cactus please
Ten years ago, I received a cactus as gift.
First of all, how do you know it is a cactus? Do the spines come from an areole or are they just stuck in the stem? What did the flowers look like? the once-erect cactus is now bent over. The center stalk grew thinner towards the end and began to lean about 8 or 9 years ago Sadly, despite my best efforts, I have never been able to get it to flower again. From your description, it sounds as though your plant is not getting enough light. Do you put it outdoors for the summer? Some cacti and other succulents require a rest period, some in the summer, others in the winter. Do a Web search or go to the library and look in an encyclopedia of the cactus family, as well as an encyclopedia of succulents. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "The trouble with people is not that they don't know but that they know so much that ain't so." Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw), 1818-1885 |
#3
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Identify cactus please
You are leaving out a number of key details.
How many angles are there on the stems? What color are the spines? How are the spines arranged in groups and how many? What does the flower look like? How long are they? Do they open during the day or at night? Is the outside of the flower tube scaly, covered in hairs, covered with bristles or spines? Post your image of the plant in alt.binaries.pictures.gardens June wrote in message ... Ten years ago, I received a cactus as gift. At the time, it consisted of a single "stalk" about 2 inches tall and about 1 inch in diameter. It was green and totally covered with spines (in groups). The spines were about .25-inch in length. When I received the cactus in early April, it had 2 white flowers that were slightly longer than the spines. The cactus continued to flower for a few weeks, and produced about 11 flowers in all. Over the summer, I left the cactus unattended near a sunny window in a very hot room. When I returned after 4 weeks, the cactus had doubled in height (although the diameter remained the same). During the next few months, the cactus continued to grow at an amazing rate and developed numerous arms. Over a ten-year period, it grew roughly 30 arms. Indeed, many of the arms grew multiple arms. However, the once-erect cactus is now bent over. The center stalk grew thinner towards the end and began to lean about 8 or 9 years ago. The total length of the cactus (from soil to tip of most extreme arm) is about 8 inches. Sadly, despite my best efforts, I have never been able to get it to flower again. Nonetheless, it remains a beautiful plant, and I've enjoyed having and caring for it over the years. My question is: what type of cactus is it? If my description doesn't help, I'll be happy to send someone an image. Sorry to ramble. Your help is appreciated. June |
#4
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Identify cactus please
"June" wrote in message ... Ten years ago, I received a cactus as gift. At the time, it consisted of a single "stalk" about 2 inches tall and about 1 inch in diameter. It was green and totally covered with spines (in groups). The spines were about .25-inch in length. When I received the cactus in early April, it had 2 white flowers that were slightly longer than the spines. The cactus continued to flower for a few weeks, and produced about 11 flowers in all. Over the summer, I left the cactus unattended near a sunny window in a very hot room. When I returned after 4 weeks, the cactus had doubled in height (although the diameter remained the same). During the next few months, the cactus continued to grow at an amazing rate and developed numerous arms. Over a ten-year period, it grew roughly 30 arms. Indeed, many of the arms grew multiple arms. However, the once-erect cactus is now bent over. The center stalk grew thinner towards the end and began to lean about 8 or 9 years ago. The total length of the cactus (from soil to tip of most extreme arm) is about 8 inches. Sadly, despite my best efforts, I have never been able to get it to flower again. Nonetheless, it remains a beautiful plant, and I've enjoyed having and caring for it over the years. My question is: what type of cactus is it? If my description doesn't help, I'll be happy to send someone an image. Sorry to ramble. Your help is appreciated. Just a hunch, but I suspect you don't have a cactus. I suspect it is a Euphorbiaceae, Spurge Family, a succulent from Africa that is very cactus-like. Cactus spines are produced from circular to elliptical pad-like structures, often covered with a white to grayish felt, called areoles. The flowers are produced from within or at the very edge of this structure. Some Euhporbiaceae succulents have grouped or paired spines and flowers among them, but it is not an areolar structure. Frank June |
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