Leuchtenbergia principis

Leuchtenbergia principis
Date: 1997 August 30

The genus Leuchtenbergia, with its single species, is unmistakeable. With its long tubercles, tipped by even longer papery spines, it is unlike anything else, although thought to be close to Ferocactus. The flowers are carried on the tips of the tubercles.

Two months after flowering the fruit was well developed, with pollination most likely by a second plant which flowered at the same time. This plant was grown from seed sown in 1984.

Here is a Leuchtenbergia which I photographed in Mexico in 1996.