Some Of My Favorite Cactus!

      I like cactus and different ones for different reasons!  Here are a few from my collection.

Gymnocalycium horstii 

     I like the smooth surface of this Gymnocalycium horstii and how it contrasts with the large spines!  This plant is about five inches in diameter.

Gymnocalycium Pflanzii v.marquezii

     This Gymnocalycium Pflanzii v.marquezii has a very rough texture, like fine sandpaper.  This plant is also about five inches in diameter.

Mammillaria elongata Copper King

     This Mammillaria elongata(AKA Copper King), in a six inch pot has been easy to grow.  I've had over five years and it has doubled the number of finger-like stems.  Below is a close-up photo showing the coppery spines.  They grow radial fashion and are less likely to poke you!

Mammillaria elongata AKA Copper King

Mammillaria plumosa AKA Feather Cactus 

     The spines on this mammillaria plumosa (AKA Feather Cactus) also has spines that grow in a radial pattern.  The spines are very soft and hence the name Feather Cactus.  Below is a close-up of the feather like spines ad blooms.

mammillaria plumosa AKA Feather Cactus 

Mammillaria gracilis fragilis AKA Thimble Cactus 

     I've had this Mammillaria gracilis fragilis AKA Thimble Cactus for over ten years.  It was a small scraggly plant on the freebie table at a plant show.  I thought it was interesting because of the cylindrical shape of the stems and combination of small radial spines and bigger outward pointing spines.  The cylindrical or thimble shaped stems easily breakoff and root into a new plant.  This is the type of plant I avoid bumping into as you can see in this close-up photo!

Mammillaria gracilis fragilis AKA Thimble Cactus

 

Matucan madisoniorum 

     Here is another cactus that I have had for a very long time, Matucan madisoniorum.  This stem is now ten inches tall with a rough surface and it produces a few long spines.  I think the orange-red flowers "shoot out" from the top like fanfare trumpets!