The Fantastic Clan: The Cactus FamilyThornber, J. J. (John James)
Science
The Fantastic Clan: The Cactus Family
Thornber, J. J. (John James)
Cactus -- Southwest, New
Set out plants preferably early in spring in gravelly or rocky clay loam
with good drainage and sunny exposures, giving just enough irrigation to
keep the soil moist during the growing season. Plants grow easily from
seed in sandy loam in flats or pots in part shade. Keep the soil lightly
moist, never wet. The plants grow indoors and out and are not injured by
a temperature of twenty-five degrees below freezing; in zero weather they
require protection.
Pink Flowered Visnagita (_Echinocactus Johnsonii_—_Ferocactus Johnsonii_)
(Named in honor of Joseph Ellis Johnson, an amateur botanist of
southern Utah)
How to identify and how it grows
The Pink Flowered Visnagita grows from single cylindrical stems one foot
tall or less and three to four inches in diameter, with its ribs of pale
green well hidden by the dense layer of interlaced spines which are so
prevalent in the _Ferocactus_ group. These dense spines are a gray
rose-purple, or a light yellow. The bell-shaped flowers are about three
inches long and are composed of quite small oblong petals, deep pink or
red. This blending of colors in blossoms and spines gives the plant a
very pleasing appearance. It grows best in sandy or gravelly soils and
sunny exposures.
How to grow
Plant this Visnagita in sandy or gravelly soil, preferably early in
spring in sunny exposures, water enough to keep the soil moist during the
growing period. Sow the seed in May or June in a sandy loam in flats or
pots with part shade, and water occasionally to keep the soil moist. The
plants grow indoors or out and tolerate a temperature of twenty-five
degrees below freezing; in zero weather they should be grown in dry sunny
greenhouses or conservatories.
Golden Spined Barrel Cactus (_Echinocactus Rostii_—_Ferocactus Rostii_)
(Named _Rostii_ in honor of E. P. Rost, who discovered the plant)
How to identify and how it grows
The Golden Spined Barrel Cactus grows singly or in small clumps, from
four to nine feet high with stems as much as ten inches in diameter.
Their fifteen to twenty-two ridges are about two inches apart. The spines
are grouped in clusters about an inch apart, with six to nine radial
bristles an inch and a half long which are cream-colored. There are five
to seven radial spines which are cross-ridged, nearly two inches long and
a light yellow. The four central spines are also cross-ridged, with the
upper ones incurved and erect while the lower ones are spreading. All of
these centrals are golden-yellow suffused with pink at their bases. The
flowers form in a circle at the top of the plant. The petals are yellow,
and the sepals are suffused with red. It will be noticed that this
arrangement makes the blossoms appear golden-yellow in a reddish cup.
How to grow
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