Cactus ID Please

Moderator Joined : 06 Apr 2008 Posts : 354 Location : oz

Now that I have mastered Fliuckr, its easy to post pics.

Here's a small cacti about an inch and a half across. Was thinking Echinopsis, or Notocactus.
Any opinions?

Subject: Re: Cactus ID Please Sat May 03, 2008 1:31 pm

My first opinion is that this should be in the cactus identification sub forum tongue

I'd say Echinopsis sp. that's a really nice cactus.
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mmm spikey...

Subject: Re: Cactus ID Please Sat May 03, 2008 2:05 pm

Yeah bit had to see but looks like a commercial hybrid echinopsis. Crossed a thousand times.

Subject: Re: Cactus ID Please Sat May 03, 2008 2:28 pm

If it's an Echinopsis, it's a nice one. I would have thought it was a baby Echinocereus, based on the flower and spination, though. It doesn't look too much like an Echinopsis to me to be completely honest, however with all the hybrids running around it's getting hard to tell anymore.

Subject: Re: Cactus ID Please Sat May 03, 2008 2:49 pm

It's either Echinopsis or Echinocereus I reckon.
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mmm spikey...

Moderator Joined : 06 Apr 2008 Posts : 354 Location : oz

Yeah,
thanks - I bought it from a specialty cacti nursery, so I'm thinking it is not a hybrid. He wouldn't be seen dead with one in his nursery.

cheers,

Subject: Re: Cactus ID Please Sat May 03, 2008 6:22 pm

I didn't realise there was so much stigma associated with hybrids. With Ariocarpus sp. maybe but Echinopsis sp. hmmm
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mmm spikey...

Subject: Re: Cactus ID Please Sat May 03, 2008 7:45 pm

Yeah I agree. Whats so bad about hybrids ?

Subject: Re: Cactus ID Please Sun May 04, 2008 6:34 pm

The trouble with hybrids, in my opinion, is largely a product of our quarantine restrictions. Under the current AQIS setup, it's damn difficult to import any plants into the country and so therefore there is a limited pool of genetic material to work from. As a result of this, there has been a lot of uncontrolled hybridisation in order to maintain a reasonable level of seed production for propogation, and now it's somewhat difficult to guarantee the pedigree of a lot of plants that are on the market. From what I've seen, Parodia and Echinopsis seem to be the main victims of this problem.

I suppose the real dilemma comes down to the fact that we cacti geeks just like to know exactly what species we are cultivating.

Subject: Re: Cactus ID Please Sun May 04, 2008 7:41 pm

Well, i can garuntee none of my Arios are hybrids, I would never even consider buying one. Most other hybrids are fine though, in my eyes.

You have to remember a lot of hybrids and intergrades do actually occur in nature, so when we get down to it how sure can we really be about the authenticity of the cacti in our collections and in general?

You raise a good point though, I will admit.
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mmm spikey...

Joined : 07 May 2008 Posts : 349 Location : Melbourne

Old thread i know...
It is definitely an Echinocereus subinermis.

And whats wrong with hybrids? Lachy is correct.
Remember most cacti present in collections in Australia have no field collection numbers, so you cannot prove the genetic purity of the majority of the plants in your collection.
and needless to say most cacti available in Aus today are intra-species hybrids between countless many different populations of that species crossed indiscriminately over the years... plants that some European purists would not even consider including in their collections.

Moderator Joined : 06 Apr 2008 Posts : 354 Location : oz

Thanks Lewis - I'll use that name for want of another.
Thanks