An Interesting Cactus Tale

[Hellonasty]

In 2009 I bought some seeds from a company overseas the packet was labelled Pediocactus Knowltonii, at the time I didn't have great interest in the species so didn't sow them right away. A few years later, the packet was still unopened, I decided to sow the seeds and out of 100 seeds only 2 seedlings emerged, probably due to the age of the seed. I grafted both of them when 14 days old, one of them took and began growing...

Here is an internet picture of what a mature Pediocactus Knowltonii should look like;

So after a few months my plant began to take shape and to my delight appeared to be a crest !

Time progressed and great it looks like a Pediocactus Knowltonii Crest.

Time progressed to the point below and I started asking myself questions ?? Yeah It looks like a Knowltonii but it doesn't look quite right...After a fair bit of evaluation it hit me the ID is not right, to this day I'm not 100% sure but I believe it to be Echinocactus Grusonii Alba var Brevispinus Crest.

Time progressed and I cut it up and grafted a few sections. This is the best one grafted to a Myrtillocactus

[Philocacti]

I love the story......what are the odds

[hostilis]

This is great. Amazing odds man. 2/100 take. Both grafted and 1/2 germ. That one happens to be a crest. Wow, one in a million! Has it flowered at all yet?

Edited March 3, 2014 by hostilis

[nut]

I enjoyed reading y'all little chat with another acf member about said plant.was only last night.......

[Hellonasty]

Nah not flowers yet hostilis, that's all I need to confirm the ID I'm almost certain anyway.

[Evil Genius]

Hi Hellonasty, yes, it looks very much like the Echinocactus Crest that I recently saw. Some pediocacti are very similar to Echinocactus. Some pediocacti were placed in Echinocactus in the past so this isn´t so unlikely as it sounds. Looks great!

Btw, pediocactus seeds are known to be very difficult to germinate. I wouldn´t throw out the soil. There will be some more sprouts in the future.

[Hellonasty]

Ok thanks Eg

[Evil Genius]

If I remember correctly, the seed requires Cold Treatment to have an adequate germination rate. But I'm not sure where I read that. But it would be worth a try if you decide to re-start germination.

[Hellonasty]

I have heard this crest can get to an enormous size and if the regular Grusonii is anything to go off this could get interesting.

[MrDoRight]

This story sounds like a cactophiles dream come true