Some Mesembs

cactuspic · Post by **cactuspic** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 6:02 am

Commmonly known as baby toes, Fritha pulcra is native to South Africa. Strong side lighting (flash) highlighted the translucent/transparent nature of the jelly located just under the tips of the leaves and retained the suface texture on the tips.

Another South African mesemb, Aloinopsis rosulata, traps dust in the texture of it leaves. When not flowering, it hides in plain view. Hope you enjoy

Neither of these images was stacked.

Irwin

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 7:44 am

Lovely photos Irwin.

F. pulchra is one of my favourite mesembs - it's a beautiful plant with an interesting native habitat and growth (almost completely submerged beneath the soil).

It was a very similar plant, Fenestraria rhopalophylla, that got me started collecting succulents in 1975 (I bought a plant at a roadside cafe on the way back from summer holiday in the Isle of Wight). Eventually I decided to restrict my collection to cactus species (it was purely a matter of space as there are many, many desirable other-succulents).

Thanks for the interesting info on A. rosulata.

Bruce

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 1:48 pm

Very odd looking plants Irwin. Looks like a double exposure. Are these related to the ones that look like smooth flat topped pebbles that split into two leaves, only about an inch high (not a very good Description)?

cactuspic · Post by **cactuspic** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:51 pm

Bruce,

As you can tell, I love a number of the mesembs. They are becoming more and more a part of my collections. I am starting to get some of the watering patterns down, but some are rather difficult, particularly if you give them water at the wrong time.

Are you growing any cacti now?

Irwin.

cactuspic · Post by **cactuspic** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 4:09 pm

beetleman wrote:Very odd looking plants Irwin. Loots like a double exposure. Are these related to the ones that look like smooth flat topped pebbles that split into two leaves, only about an inch high (not a very good Description)?

Doug,

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but given the clarity of your description, the old adage may have underestimated the value.

If the pictures of lithops, commonly know as livings stones, reflect the plants you were refering to, the answer is yes. Most people refer to the family asvmesembs because few people know how to pronounce, much less spell mesembryanthemmaceae.

Lithops pseudotruncatella

Lithops fulviceps lactinea

Irwin

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:52 am

Yep, thats them. I have seen them around quite often and always wanted to pick one up...next time I will

I have never seen one in flower...very beautiful. I`m off to look them up

. Thanks Irwin

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:46 pm

Hi Irwin,

I have a very small number of cacti in a lean-to greenhouse (I gave my main greenhouse away after losing 1,100+ cacti in winter 86/87). They are mostly echinocereus species that survived the disaster plus a small number of choicer species that I've picked up during moments of weakness over the last 5 years or so. I also have about 20 Ariocarpus (various sp.) seedlings that I put down 2 years ago. So, I'm fighting against it but my interest has been somewhat rekindled by recent postings in this forum.

Bruce

DaveW · Post by **DaveW** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 4:52 am

Give in Bruce, the BCSS needs the members!

Dave Whiteley

cactuspic · Post by **cactuspic** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:52 am

I agree with Dave.

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 7:19 pm

Those are some pretty neat looking plants. Babys Toes huh?

DaveW · Post by **DaveW** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:35 am

Bruce,

You could just specialise in the cold tolerant Echinocereus like a friend of mine does. He has not heated his greenhouse for years, just uses bubble wrap as insulation. To wet your appetite again see:-

http://www.echinocereus.de/

DaveW

Bruce Williams · Post by **Bruce Williams** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 4:41 am

Dave/Irwin,

It was mostly Echinocereus that survived the disaster. To my shame I neglected them for a decade - I just hated going back into the greenhouse - but somehow they clung on to life and today I have about a dozen large plants that produce their amazingly beautiful flowers for me every year.

Its a thought though....

Bruce

cactuspic · Post by **cactuspic** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 7:10 am

That captures one of the amazing features that I Like best about these spiny survivors. They tolerate, no demand, a certainly quality of neglect. Sometime I think they survive despite what I do.

I keep most of my my echinocereus outside in the winter.

Hope your guilt is now assuaged so that you can get to the serious business of looking at these wonders mor closely again.

Irwin

DaveW · Post by **DaveW** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 7:13 am

A link for Doug. If you click on "Gallery" at the top you will get pictures as well:-

http://www.lithops.info/

DaveW

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 7:16 am

Thanks Dave....that is a great link

(bookmarking now)