I grew them side by side last year (2009) but lost my Monstrosum over the winter. They are different and I agree with Bluefox as to the difference, but they are variable. 'Oddity' is, in my opinion, more tubular. I'd love another start of Monstrosum as a trade next year, if anybody has a spare.

I can send you some in the spring twit.

Many thanks in advance, lovely lady!

From one lovely person to another. We have lots of that kind of people here. But sometimes special people come into our lives. How wonderful.

I so love this group of people.

Jacki, were you ever able to find the entries in the database?

Oh sorry - I haven't had time the past few days. I'll get on it soon as the weather is supposed to get really cold and I'll need inside jobs. In my spare time, I'm writing an e-book to sell on my website about Propagating Succulent Plants!

What a great idea Jacki. That should be a huge hit.

Like that idea Jacki! I bet it will sell well too!

Here is a pic of my S. calcareum "Grigg's"


.
Does anyone know if there is a difference between the "Griggs" and the "Griggs Surprise"?

I thought that Grigg's Surprise was the original name for Oddity, but I can see from the pics that they are different. Wonderful pics.

Here is what I found out about S. 'Griggs Surprise' Named from Ronald Byles / UK /1958 after Mr. Grigg
'Grigg's Surprise' = (syn. 'Monstrosum', syn. COTYLEDON PERSICUM,
syn. UMBILICUS PERSICUS,
syn. ROSULARIA PERSICA,
syn. UMBILICUS SYRIENSIS) ... ? (?), 1900s ... SEMPERVIVUM CALCAREUM

So now that posses the question, it Griggs Surprise and Monstrosum the same plant?
I find nothing for S. 'Griggs', so I am wondering if Griggs and Griggs Surprise are the same plant?

Here is what Horst Deim has for photos and explanation. http://translate.google.com/tr...

And here is what he shows for Oddity. Very interesting.

Now all I need to do is learn to differentiate between Oddity and Monstrosum.

It's like a detective story...

It sure it Jacki.
I was confuse a bit when I got a new semp called Astrid. I found out there are 3 different Astrids.
h. 'Astrid'
S. 'Astrid'
J. 'Astrid'

Thanks to Chris I now have two of the three.
They are all very different.

Lynn, I understand that S. 'Astrid' is Sempervivum 'Astrid' but unclear about the other two. One should be Jovibarba hirta 'Astrid' but what of the other? Can you clarify?

Thanks for the info, Lynn. I will check with the greenhouse where I purchased "Griggs". The owner specializes in semps and sedum. So, I'm sure he will have some info.

http://miklanek.tripod.com/MCS...
'Astrid' ... M. KAHL (DE), 1988 ... JOVIBARBA HEUFFELII

'Astrid' ... ANDRÉ SMITS (BE), 1993 ... JOVIBARBA HIRTA

'Astrid' ... ANDRÉ SMITS (BE), 1992 ... SEMPERVIVUM

Sorry about leaving the hirta off J. hirta 'Astrid'.


Sandi please share any info you get from him, I am sure it will benefit us all. Until you brought up the topic I knew nothing about S. 'Griggs Surprise'. It is so much fun learning new things about the semps. Thank you so much for getting us on this topic. : )