hi folks,

i was given 2 packets of mixed cactus seed. i wonder if anyone could
provide me with some pointers on how to ID them.

both packets are from different brands but they contain the same three
types. i take this as that either they are the 3 most common or
cheapest seeds or that they are the threee most easy to grow.

-one type looks like a small shrivelled pea.
-the other is small, black and shiny and bean shaped. reminds me of a
flea without legs
-the other is similar in shape and colour but much larger.about 5mm
long

Any idea what they are? Thanks

Sam

"Sam" wrote in message
om...
hi folks,

i was given 2 packets of mixed cactus seed. i wonder if anyone could
provide me with some pointers on how to ID them.

both packets are from different brands but they contain the same
three
types. i take this as that either they are the 3 most common or
cheapest seeds or that they are the threee most easy to grow.

-one type looks like a small shrivelled pea.
-the other is small, black and shiny and bean shaped. reminds me of
a
flea without legs
-the other is similar in shape and colour but much larger.about 5mm
long

Any idea what they are? Thanks

'Fraid you are on a loser here.
There are one or two people world wide who, with the aid of high
powered binocular microscopes, might be able to make a rough guess -
but, as has been suggested, 'plant 'em and see'.
Even named species throw up some surprises - which is hardly
surprising considering how the seed is collected. It is not exactly
laboratory controlled conditions, out there in the wild. :-)

--
ned

Sam, you are one cross-posting maniac.

You are asking the same freaking question on rec.gardens, sci.bio.botany,
uk.rec.gardening and who knows where else but it doesn't matter where you
post it because the answers will still be the same. You can't ID Cactaceae
from the seeds alone. Next time don't buy Cactaceae as mixed seed because
you are getting a pig in a poke and you shouldn't expect anything choice to
come from them. Expect to get plants of the junk species or unidentifiable
garden hybrids.

*************************

Cactaceae are extremely variable in seed form but it is very difficult to
identify species by the seeds because species in different genera can have
similar looking seeds.

Grow plants from the seeds. Wait until they bloom and then you can have them
identified.

"Sam" wrote in message
om...
hi folks,

i got 2 packets of mixed cactus seed, labelled as mixed seed. i wonder
if anyone could provide me with some pointers on how to ID them.

both packets were from different brands but they contain the same
three types. i take this as that either they are the 3 most common or
cheapest seeds or that they are the threee most easy to grow.

-one type looks like a small shrivelled pea.
-the other is small, black and shiny and bean shaped. reminds me of a
flea without legs
-the other is similar in shape and colour but much larger.about 5mm
long

Any idea what they are? Thanks

Sam

On 25 Apr 2004 10:22:07 -0700, (Sam) wrote:

i was given 2 packets of mixed cactus seed. i wonder if anyone could
provide me with some pointers on how to ID them.
snip
-one type looks like a small shrivelled pea.
-the other is small, black and shiny and bean shaped. reminds me of a
flea without legs
-the other is similar in shape and colour but much larger.about 5mm
long

Well,

I don't go a great bundle on cacti nowadays, but I've grown a lot from
seed in the past. I can't think of any that have seeds so large you
could describe them as being like a small shrivelled pea or bean
shaped and certainly none that are up to 5mm. long. Every cactus seed
I've seen has been little larger than a pin head and 1mm. across would
be on the large side. I can't help thinking you've been sold
something completely different, although goodness knows what. You
might have the dried fruits which contain the seeds - were you given
the seeds by a grower or are they 'shop-bought'? Are there any names
on the packet?

In article , Sam
writes
hi folks,

i was given 2 packets of mixed cactus seed. i wonder if anyone could
provide me with some pointers on how to ID them.

both packets are from different brands but they contain the same three
types. i take this as that either they are the 3 most common or
cheapest seeds or that they are the threee most easy to grow.

-one type looks like a small shrivelled pea.
-the other is small, black and shiny and bean shaped. reminds me of a
flea without legs
-the other is similar in shape and colour but much larger.about 5mm
long

There are several thousand species of cacti, including several hundred
with small black shiny seeds.

If they are cacti, you are likely to have several species of Cereus and
other columnar cacti, several Rebutia and several Mammillaria, and
probably others as well. You haven't a hope of ID until you've grown
them!

I'd be very surprised indeed if your three basic types of seed included
only 3 types of cacti.

Quite apart from that, the pea sized one doesn't sound like any cactus I
know, nor does 'bean shape', so I suspect the packet includes some
'other succulents'.
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

"Cereus-validus" wrote in
:

Sam, you are one cross-posting maniac.


most computer weenies call that multi-posting (posting seperately to
multiple newsgroups).

Crossposting = posting one message to multiple newgroups by specifing
multiple groups in the newsgroup line

"Sam" wrote in message
om...
hi folks,

i was given 2 packets of mixed cactus seed. i wonder if anyone could
provide me with some pointers on how to ID them.



Plant them and see what happens!

--
Tumbleweed

Remove my socks for email address

"Cereus-validus" wrote in message ...
Okay then,

Sam, you are one multi-posting maniac.

Plants which have a seed dispersal strategy have an evolutionary
advantage


But seriously thanks for bothering to answer. I will have to wait to
see what they will be. Some germanated already.Very whitish. They
resemble a dolphin with its head above the soil and opening its mouth.

Sam

"Cereus-validus" wrote in news:Vi_ic.7$JA1.5
@newssvr15.news.prodigy.com:

Okay then,

Sam, you are one multi-posting maniac.

We can forget about Sam's original question and now quibble over
computer
weenie lingo!!!

Are you happy now, Salty?


"Salty Thumb" wrote in message
...
"Cereus-validus" wrote in
:

Sam, you are one cross-posting maniac.


most computer weenies call that multi-posting (posting seperately to
multiple newsgroups).

Crossposting = posting one message to multiple newgroups by specifing
multiple groups in the newsgroup line

yay! but I rather quibble over whether Sam is actually a maniac or only
marginally perturbed.

Let's ask him what is the better substitute for water, hydrofluoric acid
or ammonia.

i think they are Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum . i found a photo which
matches the germinated seedlings
http://www.kaktus.dk/formering/frpachy2.jpg

i found that website very good if your growing cactus.

Sam

(Sam) wrote in message . com...
hi there,

i got 2 packets of mixed cactus seed. i wonder if anyone could provide
me with some pointers on how to ID them.

both packets were from different brands but they contain the same
three types. i take this as that either they are the 3 most common or
cheapest seeds or that they are the threee most easy to grow.

-one type looks like a small shrivelled pea.
-the other is small, black and shiny and bean shaped. reminds me of a
flea without legs
-the other is similar in shape and colour but much larger.about 5mm
long

Any idea what they are? Thanks

Sam

You're dreaming, babe.

There are many species in several different genera that have similar looking
seedlings.


"Sam" wrote in message
...
i think they are Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum . i found a photo which
matches the germinated seedlings
http://www.kaktus.dk/formering/frpachy2.jpg

i found that website very good if your growing cactus.

Sam

(Sam) wrote in message
. com...
hi there,

i got 2 packets of mixed cactus seed. i wonder if anyone could provide
me with some pointers on how to ID them.

both packets were from different brands but they contain the same
three types. i take this as that either they are the 3 most common or
cheapest seeds or that they are the threee most easy to grow.

-one type looks like a small shrivelled pea.
-the other is small, black and shiny and bean shaped. reminds me of a
flea without legs
-the other is similar in shape and colour but much larger.about 5mm
long

Any idea what they are? Thanks

Sam