shortly Posted July 30, 2014 I found these pics in the book "Melocacti of Cuba" 2007, and just WoW. Has anyone ever seen this Cuban monster or seed for sale? Or just know anything about it? 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hostilis Posted July 30, 2014 Never heard of that one. It's pretty awesome looking. Although I definitely don't have room for one of those!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ace1928 Posted July 31, 2014 Would be a pretty unpleasant experience If you were standing underneath and limbs dropped off... Ive seen some of the prickly pear get up to similiar height but no where near the same kind of canopy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
woof woof woof Posted July 31, 2014 You make room for that!!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Evil Genius Posted July 31, 2014 Yes, they are awesome and hardly investigated. Pretty closely related to Acanthocereus. Maybe even synonymous with some forms. Haven´t seen them for sale though. But with a bit of luck, seeds should be available somewhere sometime. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shortly Posted July 31, 2014 I'm developing a serious urge to visit Cuba, the cacti are amazing Rhodonocactus zinniflora in stunning Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dionysus Posted July 31, 2014 Rhodonocactus zinniflora in stunning this doesn't appear on the internet or in my (limited) book selection, any chance of a link / correction? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shortly Posted July 31, 2014 I cant find a thing online either. Only the single pic in the book taken at the Botanical Gardens of Havana. It is a true tree, a bit like a Pereskia with FING HUGE pink flowers. I have no idea if it is/was used for anything traditionally other than being stunning & nice & shady. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dionysus Posted July 31, 2014 (edited) Rhodocactus is an old / synonymous name for some Pereskia species, perhaps that's what your book refers too? pereskia certainly are nice, though, would be cool to see some in habitat regardless.edit: cereus > cactus, just used to putting 'cereus' after everything loledit 2: yeah, seemingly Rhodocactus zinniflora > Pereskia cubensis > Pereskia zinniflora Edited July 31, 2014 by dionysus 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shortly Posted July 31, 2014 This author is definately wanting to use the older name, published in 2007. Without seeing any actually morphological data the plant does look superficially different any Pereskia i've seen in person. Regardless she is a wicked tree. But not as wicked as the Dendrocereus. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shortly Posted July 31, 2014 And yes it is the same plant, i think? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamwalker. Posted July 31, 2014 (edited) so it is Dendrocereus nudiflorus then? Synonym:Cereus nudiflorus Cuba, Matanzas, Punta Hicacos, près de Varadero http://www.cactuspro.com/photos/Cactaceae/Dendrocereus/nudiflorus/4039.html The stems..ends..look more cereus like I wonder how many 100's of years it would take to get that size...? the first 50 years or so...its probably a manageable single stem...pot plant for a warm sunny corner....looking like a cross between Myrtillocactus & cereus......Daves has some youthful pics http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/298745/ "The fruits are smooth, round or pear-shaped, and green without spines." http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendrocereus_nudiflorus http://cactiguide.com/cactus/?genus=Dendrocereus trouble when you discover these things ...its goes onto "I must have some list"...TODAY! http://www.cactus-aventures.com ...had seed 15 per E....but sold out... Edited February 25, 2015 by Dreamwalker. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dionysus Posted July 31, 2014 dreamwalker, the plant in the OP is Dendrocereus, the rest of the discussion was about the other plant shortly mentioned. there are at least some, perhaps young, Dendrocereus in cultivation and it probably won't be long until reliable seeds are available from somewhere. as far as i remember, the seedlings do resemble Cereus or Pilocereus seedlings, probably takes many years to form a tree. Cereus too will form a large tree if given the time and space... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shortly Posted July 31, 2014 Cuba started opening up to the west in the 90's so i half expect there to be some 20 year old or so trees about? Or the possibility of older trees hiding in the old eastern block, in Germany or the old soviet union perhaps? I did have a quick look for Cuban seed merchants but all i've found thus far are purveyors of tobacco seed, no surprises there i guess. Yeah i don't expect to live long enough to see many of my cacti grow to even half their full potential. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
woof woof woof Posted August 1, 2014 I always think about growing stuff in the bush that people will later think about long after I am gone. Did it with a few adansonia's. have a few cactus dreams,.. but if it doesnt work out I might have to plant the saguaro and the pachycerues somwhere in the bush.....100 years from now people will stare in amazement 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shortly Posted August 1, 2014 in 100 years time your saguaro and pachy might be the only fruit surviving the droughts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2XB Posted August 1, 2014 I always think about growing stuff in the bush that people will later think about long after I am gone. Did it with a few adansonia's. have a few cactus dreams,.. but if it doesnt work out I might have to plant the saguaro and the pachycerues somwhere in the bush.....100 years from now people will stare in amazement as they bulldoze it to build affordable housing ;-) 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamwalker. Posted August 1, 2014 the development theme also crossed my mind...............I can imagine though many of the seeds we plant, the cacti...being cut up and passed around for countless generations...& some of those pachy..stenocereus...& saguaro's becoming cherished & valuable giants....it would be awesome to imagine some Adansonia's surviving to become these alien world giants http://9wows.com/madagascars-giant-baobab-trees/ or adeniums still want some Dendrocereus seed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shortly Posted August 2, 2014 Seems that they are indeed available in Europe http://butor-lakberendezes.vatera.hu/lakasdekoracio/szobanoveny_virag_dekoracio/kaktusz_pozsgas_dendrocereus_nudiflorus_1944135842.html 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamwalker. Posted August 2, 2014 (edited) . Edited February 25, 2015 by Dreamwalker. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shortly Posted August 2, 2014 Oh i wasn't even entertaining the idea of purchasing them at this point. The important thing is that they are starting to circulate in the hobby in eastern Europe, so its only a matter of time until they filter through to here. Plus seeing such a large price tag will likely encourage more than a few vendors in Cuba to start collecting & offering seed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hostilis Posted August 3, 2014 I didn't know they put lifetime warranties on cacti! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites