[ Dudleya (Dudleya chasmophyta) | Posted on October 12, 2024 ] Recently (2024) described Dudleya species from steep cliffs in Santiago Canyon, Orange County, southern California, somewhat inland. Similar to and earlier confused with D. cymosa ssp. ovatifolia, from Malibu Canyon, western Los Angeles County. Smallish rosettes and tubular yellow flowers. |
[ Dudleya (Dudleya cochimiana) | Posted on October 12, 2024 ] Recently (2023) described rare island endemic from Baja California. Dark green to white leaves and a congested inflorescence. From Isla Cedros on the Pacific side about halfway down the peninsula. Similar to the peninsular D. gatesii, which has light green leaves with a layer of white powder, and white flowers. |
[ Dudleya (Dudleya delgadilloi) | Posted on October 12, 2024 ] Recently (2023) described rare island endemic from Baja California. Its succulent rosettes are usually much-branched, usually not glaucous. From foggy cliffs in a narrow microclimate on Isla Cedros, on the Pacific side about halfway down the peninsula. Found near the much fatter leafed D. pachyphytum. Apparently quite similar to D. albiflora, a larger and less branchy plant found elsewhere. |
[ Powderpuff Cactus (Mammillaria bocasana 'Splendens') | Posted on October 6, 2024 ] Intensely woolly variant of the normally somewhat furry Powderpuff Cactus (Mammillaria bocasana), with a much whiter overall color. Stems are smaller, flowers very shy (in part due to congestion around the stem). This plant somewhat resembles M. plumosa but is brighter white and has sharp spines that you can just barely feel when you run your hand over the top. It forms decent sized clumps over time and is reasonably fast growing for the genus. |
[ Isla Tiburon Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus wislizenii subsp. tiburonensis) | Posted on August 28, 2024 ] The former Ferocactus tiburonensis (now a subspecies of F. wislizenii) is an island endemic from Isla Tiburón in the Gulf of California with stout radial spines, yellow flowers, and a somewhat smaller size than the type subspecies of wislizenii (Up to 3 feet tall, instead of up to 10 feet tall). |
[ Aloe (Aloe argentifolia) | Posted on August 17, 2024 ] Recently described (2017) aloe from the Lúrio waterfalls in Mozambique with scarlet, secund flowers closely resembling those of Aloe mawii (Tanzania, Malawi, northern Mozambique). Leaves are somewhat glaucous. Like mawii, its leaves take on bright reddish (or orange-pink-brownish) hues when stressed. |
[ Mexican Fruit Cactus (Bisnaga hamatacantha subsp. sinuata) | Posted on July 26, 2024 ] This shorter variant of a northerly barrel cactus is restricted to the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo plain in south Texas and northern Mexico. It makes all-yellow flowers, in contrast to the red-throated flowers of the type. |
[ Bisnaga hamatacantha | Posted on July 26, 2024 ] Northerly barrel cactus with curved to hooked central spines and yellow flowers (with or without red throats). May grow up to 12 inches wide and 24 inches tall. Usually solitary. 12-17 tuberculate ribs, 4-8 central spines (up to 3" long), 8-20 radial spines. From Texas, New Mexico and northern Mexico. Subsp. sinuatus (Rio Grande/Rio Bravo plain in SE Texas and northern Mexico) is shorter (to 12 inches), with sharper ribs, only 4 central spines, all-yellow flowers. The type only has red-throated flowers. |
[ Pearl Plant (Tulista pumila) | Posted on July 17, 2024 ] Green former Haworthia (now in a separate genus) growing up to 8 inches, with raised whitish tubercles on the leaves. Solitary or slowly clumping. Variable in color and surface texture. 3 varieties currently recognized by the CoL (ohkuwae has denser, more prominent tubercles; sparsa the opposite and more of a purple color). |
[ Haworthia pygmaea | Posted on July 17, 2024 ] Windowed Haworthia from the western cape. Few leaves, with rough surface texture (usually) and opaque windows. The amount and type of raised texture varies. Several named varieties have been described. Slowly offsetting. White flowers with greenish veins. Popular in hybridization because of the leaf shape and texture. Some plants (eg. var. acuminata) may lack tubercles on the leaf surface and have small white dots instead. |
[ Caballona (Ferocactus macrodiscus) | Posted on July 17, 2024 ] Solitary blue-green or yellow-green barrel cactus from the highlands of central Mexico. Usually flat and low, to 12-16 inches wide and 4 inches tall. 13-35 sharp, usually tuberculate ribs; red or yellow recurved (sometimes straight) spines with 4 flattened central spines forming a cross and 6-8 round radial spines. Flowers are purplish pink with white edges, fruit is the same color. Serious tap root. |
[ Uebelmannia (Uebelmannia pectinifera) | Posted on July 17, 2024 ] Solitary Brazilian cactus to 30 inches or more tall and 6 inches wide, with small yellow daytime flowers in summer followed by purple/red fruit. 15-40 sharp ribs, 1-4 dark spines per areole, little separation between areoles, fine fur along ribs. Dark reddish brown stem (color depends on exposure) with waxy white scales or scurf and a bumpy texture. |
[ Jimson Weed (Datura wrightii) | Posted on July 9, 2024 ] Poisonous low shrub from the SW United States and NW Mexico with dark green leaves and large white flowers, often with purplish overtones. Spiny dehiscent fruit, big seeds. |
[ Cleistocactus guentheri | Posted on July 6, 2024 ] Spiny Bolivian columnar cactus which grows a (pseudo)cephalium (extra-bristly reproductive stem area) and makes yellowish white flowers there. Stems (light green under the spines) branch at the base and may grow to 6-7 feet tall. ~27 ribs, ~15 spines per areole, lateral cephalia bearing many reddish bristles. Flowering occurs relatively late in life. |
[ Agaves (Agave) | Posted on June 27, 2024 ] These natives of North America (mostly) are well-armed, fibrous rosette succulents which thrive in dry environments. A variety of forms exist with narrow or wide leaves, usually bearing a sharp terminal spine and often bearing sharp marginal teeth. Most are green or blue, often with a powdery glaucous coating. They vary from dwarf (5 inch rosette at maturity) to giant (10-15 feet wide) but tend to be on the large side. |
[ Arizona Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus wislizeni) | Posted on June 22, 2024 ] Large, usually solitary barrel cactus to 30 inches wide and ~10 feet tall in old age. 20-30 ribs; 4 central spines, the lower ones flat, stout, often hooked; ~12 radial spines. Flowers yellow, orange or red. Relatively common in cultivation, at least in the SW US and NW continental Mexico. Widely distributed across Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Chihuahua, Sonora, Sinaloa, Durango. |
[ San Jose Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus townsendianus) | Posted on June 22, 2024 ] Solitary barrel cactus to 12 inches wide and 20 inches tall (in old age). ~16 deep ribs, 3-4 straight or slightly curved central spines, 14-16 radial spines. Flowers are yellow with red highlights, orange or red. |
[ Euphorbia (Euphorbia clavarioides) | Posted on June 20, 2024 ] Cushion or mound-forming medusoid Euphorbia to about 12-18 inches in diameter. Short, densely packed arms radiate from each central head, which is relatively narrow for the group. The tip of each arm is distinctly flat (thus the name). Each arm will grow increasingly fat near the base in old age. Some clones rebranch (an arm will eventually become a new head), others are strictly solitary. |
[ Slender Candelabra Euphorbia (Euphorbia avasmontana) | Posted on June 17, 2024 ] Spiny, shrubby cactiform Euphorbia from southern Africa, growing to about 6 feet tall and wide. Mostly branched at the base, sometimes with occasional rebranching. Stems have 4-8 ribs and paired stipular spines; spine shields are joined in a continuous horny margin. Cyathia have yellow nectar glands and appear on new growth. Fruit is lobed. |
[ Manos Largas (Agave mapisaga) | Posted on June 14, 2024 ] Extra large, offsetting agave with channeled leaves, small brown teeth, and fierce terminal spines. Rosettes may reach 7-8 feet tall and twice as wide. The jumbo var. lisa is said to be the biggest agave; its origins in nature are not known. |