Gymnocalycium vatteri

The genus name gymnocalycium comes from the Greek for naked calyx

referring to the flower buds bearing no hair or spines.

This is a very slow growing species from the grassy hillsides of Serria Grande of Cordoba, Argentina at an altitude of about 2500 feet. Generally solitary, older plant specimens may cluster from the base. The body is flattened with a green-blue or dull grey-green color reaching a width of about 3 1/2" and about 1 1/2" in height. 1, 2, or 3 spines that are stiff and bent to the body. The most characteristic vatteri form is the one with a single spine. Flowers are white with light pink throat and about 1 1/2" long. Named after Ernst Vatter of Buenos Aires.

The plant above in the collection is in a 3" pot.

Oreocereus trollii

OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN

The name Oreocereus comes from the Greek for 'mountain Cereus'.

Oreocereus trollii, native to the mountains of South America in the of regions of Argentina and southern Bolivia, it is slow to form clumping clusters of chunky columns to 2' in height. Columnar stems are densely covered in white wool (actually white radial spines that have evolved to resemble "hairs"), that totally obscures the body of plant. Some bright red spines are visible above the wool . The flowers are violet red and semi-tubular in shape.

You will notice that the plant above is starting to clump at the base. It has been in the collection for about five years and planted in a 5" pot.

Scarlett Ball Cactus

Notocactus haselbergii

A nice surprise this weekend, went out to the greenhouse and there is it was bloomin' in all its little glory (just waiting for the bud to open). You can see the seeds from the last time it bloomed which I think was just this last Spring. I might try to propagate the seeds........... I have a feeling it might be more work than what its worth. This Noto has been a great little bloomer since I have had it, blooms at least twice a year for me. I have had it about 5 years and it is in a 5" pot.

A solitary, fast growing, little cactus from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil that is flattened, a bright green, almost completely concealed by dense spines, up to 4" tall, 6" in diameter. The crown of the plant is usually set at an angle to prevent water-sitting.The spines are silvery white, eventually with a yellowish tip, soft and bristly. Bright orange to brick-red flowers that are up to about 1" wide and each can last one to three weeks. It flowers at the end of the winter or in early spring for a long period of time (The bloom period can last up to two months!). Normally start flowering when the plant reaches about 2" in diameter. Named after the collector Dr. F. von Haselberg.

Euphorbia Obesa

The plant above is in a 4" pot and has been in the collection for 5 years.

Euphorbia obesa is a peculiar, almost ball shaped dwarf succulent plant that resembles a stone. It can grow to 7" in height with a diameter of 3-4". It is a single-stemmed, unbranched, firm-bodied plant. The stem is usually 8-angled and grooved, subglobose (almost spherical) in shape, elongating and becoming cylindrical as it gets older. Younger plants have a rounded sea urchin-like shape. The rotund stem is mottled grey-green in color with dull purple transverse bands. The root system is a tapering tap root. The obesa is a subtropical succulent species of Euphorbia genus. It comes from South Africa, especially in the Cape Province. This plant is dioecious which means that it has only male or female flowers. In the wild, it is endangered because over-collection and poaching, because of its slow growth, and the fact that the pod contains only 2 to 3 seeds. However, it is widely cultivated in botanical gardens. Other names given to this wonderful interesting succulent are Baseball Plant, Sea Urchin, Golf Ball, Basketball, Living Baseball, Gingham, and Vetmensie. Like all other Euphorbias, one must be careful of the poisonous sap that this plant has.

Ortegocactus macdougallii

Ortegocactus macdougallii is a species of cactus, the sole species of the genus Ortegocactus and closely related to Mammillaria. The plant has a greenish-gray epidermis and black spines. It is only known from Oaxaca, Mexico where it grows on limestone rock. It is often grafted since it is tricky to grow when on its own roots. A harmless but unsightly orange discoloration is common at the base of the stems. It named in honor of the family Ortega, from San Jose Lachuguiri that helped Tom MacDougall in the discovery of this plant.

The plant above is growing in a 3" pot and purchased a couple of years ago. I like the contrast of the spines against the body of the plant.

Euphorbia suzannae

Euphorbia suzannae
Suzanna's Spurge

Love this little plant, one of the most interesting Euphorbias in the Death Valley Shack collection. This one is very small, I think its planted in a 3 1/2" pot. Named after the wife of the discoverer Dr. Muir.

Euphorbias are a truly interesting plant. So many varieties and different growing conditions. There are over 2000 species of Euphorbias in the world. They range from annual weeds to trees. They all have latex and a unique flower structure. A significant percentage is succulent, but they are mostly originating from Africa and Madagascar, but there are also a few from the Americas. The Euphorbias are named after a Greek surgeon called Euphorbus. He was physician of Juba II who was the Romanised king of a North African kingdom, and is supposed to have used their milky latex as an ingredient for his potions.

Several Euphorbias are garden plants, the most popular being the Poinsettia and Diamond Frost an annual that is used in container planting.

Aloe haworthioides var. haworthioides

This attractive miniature Aloe is quite convincing as a Haworthia. I purchased this Aloe two years ago and is quite the good bloomer, as you can see it has two flower spikes at this time. The inside of the leaves are maroonish and the outside is rich green. Love the furry teeth it has like delicate filigree, not to worry about being hurt with this plant. Native to Madagascar, it forms a miniature rosette with slender 3" leaves. Rosette to 3" in diameter with numerous offsets. Small pinkish flowers on a tall spike. I have moved it inside the house to enjoy the flowers when they open. The pot size is 3".