BajaNomad

My neighbor's frangrant cactus flower

BajaBlanca - 6-15-2011 at 10:34 AM



My neighbor called me over to her house yesterday to admire this wonderful flower....I think it is an organ pipe cactus - can anyone confirm ?




[Edited on 6-15-2011 by BajaBlanca]

motoged - 6-15-2011 at 10:53 AM

What a beauty !!!! It is such a treat when a cactus blossoms :yes:

Natalie Ann - 6-15-2011 at 11:02 AM

I received this same cactus as a gift last winter. I noticed yesterday that it has set buds and I wondered what the blooms would look like. Now I know - beautiful.

Thank you, Blanca, for giving me a view of what I have to look forward to.

nena

Mexitron - 6-15-2011 at 11:03 AM

What a cool flower!

Kind of looks like this puppy----Echinopsis schickendantzii, but I didn't do an exhaustive search....I had never seen this website before but it has a key for IDing cactii:

http://cactiguide.com/cactus/?start=90&habit=Cylindrical

BajaBlanca - 6-15-2011 at 11:43 AM

it DOES really look like that cactus .... how strange though ...my neighbor said she got it from a rancho in the mountains of Baja ....

you guys can not imagine how wonderful the frangrance is ..light ...sweet ...delicate. Who would ever guess that something so divine could be produced by a mega spined cactus.

elgatoloco - 6-15-2011 at 12:07 PM

Beautiful. Much easier to procreate when you smell good, no? :saint:;D

BajaBlanca - 6-15-2011 at 01:44 PM

:lol:


so true elgatoloco !!!

longlegsinlapaz - 6-15-2011 at 02:07 PM

It's a pitaya.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitaya#Varieties

Pic in Gallery....3/4's down the page

BajaBlanca - 6-17-2011 at 10:46 AM

if it's a pitaya, it is really different from any pitaya we see around here. there are lots of them as the locals love to eat the fruit...my neighbor, who is Mexican, says she has never seen this particular plant except in the mountains where she got it from her mother-in-law.

longlegsinlapaz - 6-17-2011 at 11:04 AM

I have one rescued from the "outback".....at under 100' above sea level. Did you look at the pic in the URL I provided? It's the same right down to the long stamen which isn't common in other pitaya blossoms.

woody with a view - 6-17-2011 at 03:58 PM

Blanca

here is the spring bloom from last weekend, where i like to roam!

no other humans were present.....

rsz_cardon.jpg - 34kB

ecomujeres - 6-20-2011 at 08:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz
... Did you look at the pic in the URL I provided? It's the same right down to the long stamen which isn't common in other pitaya blossoms.


Longlegsinlapaz…
The photo you pointed out as “Pitaya” is of one of the Hylocereus species noted up near the top of the same wikipedia page. If you follow those links, you’ll see photos of the rest of the plants, which are described as “vine-like” and are not at all like the plant in the photo BajaBlanca posted.

The flower alone is not enough to make an ID in this case. And the biggest problem with common names is that the same name is used for totally unrelated species and even across unrelated plant families.

Bajablanca/Mexitron:
It could be a species of Echinopsis, like Mexitron proposed. But one article I read about the species he named is that it has non-fragrant flowers. These ornamentals are really hard to ID from a photo. Very specific info on stems, spines, flower and fruit are usually needed to make an ID, that is, if you can find the reference material to key the plant out.

I’ve not come across a description of a cactus with this growth form and type of flower in the Baja plant literature, but then, it could be a species newly described since Wiggins’ 1980 work, and yet not published. ¿Quién sabe?

I’d bet that the rancheros brought the plant in from elsewhere (maybe even decades ago), since Echinopsis spp. are native to Argentina and popular as ornamentals of all sizes. There are many ornamentals in Baja that do really well in peoples' gardens and continue to become more prevalent because people plant them in their gardens and share them with friends. There also seems to be a strange desire to have gardens with “exotic” species (including cacti and other succulents), rather than native, desert-adapted plants.

Beautiful flowers.

Here in Oakland, we have a neighbor who has a huge cactus (along the size of Baja's Pitaya dulce - Stenocereus thurberi) that is probably a species of Echinopsis. Almost every summer (even here in the fog belt) it puts on the most incredible display with its mass flowering of huge (9-11 inch) white flowers. It goes on for about a week or so, with maybe up to 50 flowers total on the 8-10 stems, then just stops. Really cool...

Mexitron - 6-21-2011 at 12:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ecomujeres
Quote:
Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz
... Did you look at the pic in the URL I provided? It's the same right down to the long stamen which isn't common in other pitaya blossoms.


Longlegsinlapaz…
The photo you pointed out as “Pitaya” is of one of the Hylocereus species noted up near the top of the same wikipedia page. If you follow those links, you’ll see photos of the rest of the plants, which are described as “vine-like” and are not at all like the plant in the photo BajaBlanca posted.

The flower alone is not enough to make an ID in this case. And the biggest problem with common names is that the same name is used for totally unrelated species and even across unrelated plant families.

Bajablanca/Mexitron:
It could be a species of Echinopsis, like Mexitron proposed. But one article I read about the species he named is that it has non-fragrant flowers. These ornamentals are really hard to ID from a photo. Very specific info on stems, spines, flower and fruit are usually needed to make an ID, that is, if you can find the reference material to key the plant out.

I’ve not come across a description of a cactus with this growth form and type of flower in the Baja plant literature, but then, it could be a species newly described since Wiggins’ 1980 work, and yet not published. ¿Quién sabe?

I’d bet that the rancheros brought the plant in from elsewhere (maybe even decades ago), since Echinopsis spp. are native to Argentina and popular as ornamentals of all sizes. There are many ornamentals in Baja that do really well in peoples' gardens and continue to become more prevalent because people plant them in their gardens and share them with friends. There also seems to be a strange desire to have gardens with “exotic” species (including cacti and other succulents), rather than native, desert-adapted plants.

Beautiful flowers.

Here in Oakland, we have a neighbor who has a huge cactus (along the size of Baja's Pitaya dulce - Stenocereus thurberi) that is probably a species of Echinopsis. Almost every summer (even here in the fog belt) it puts on the most incredible display with its mass flowering of huge (9-11 inch) white flowers. It goes on for about a week or so, with maybe up to 50 flowers total on the 8-10 stems, then just stops. Really cool...


I'm almost certain that its not a Baja native. And ecomujeres is right---it can be quite difficult to ID the Cactus Family with photos only.

BajaBlanca - 6-21-2011 at 03:52 PM

ecomujeres...pics of those 50 flowers is requested PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ

wow, I think I should get a copy of the 1980 book as well.

thanks for trying longlegs...I tried to find the flower you were referring to, but couldn't find it, not sure why ....

woody - that photo is just spectacular. amazing ...just amazing what the desert produces.

ecomujeres - 6-23-2011 at 12:36 PM

Quote:
ecomujeres...pics of those 50 flowers is requested PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ posted by BajaBlanca


I went for a walk today and was thinking about the neighbor’s cactus and needing to check to see if it was blooming. I turned the corner and saw the large one with just a single flower and a few buds and let out a sigh. But then as I got closer, I gasped when I saw the smaller plant. It only had 27 blossoms!




I could only get a close up of the flower from the larger plant that was hanging over the fence. The neighbor’s yappy dog was very annoying.





I was surprised the photos came out so well. I was only using my ancient digital point and shoot with 1.2 megapixels.




A couple of houses up, there are a couple of large cacti. One is the same species as the previous photos while this one below seems different. Much smoother, wider ribs and the flower is much smaller and some of the flower “petals” are roseate.



It’s got a lot of buds though:


[Edited on 6-23-2011 by ecomujeres]

BajaBlanca - 6-23-2011 at 01:27 PM

check out those flowers !!!! cacti on steroids !!! call in the patrols !!!

thanks so much - those are lovely.

monoloco - 6-23-2011 at 03:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ecomujeres
Quote:
ecomujeres...pics of those 50 flowers is requested PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ posted by BajaBlanca


I went for a walk today and was thinking about the neighbor’s cactus and needing to check to see if it was blooming. I turned the corner and saw the large one with just a single flower and a few buds and let out a sigh. But then as I got closer, I gasped when I saw the smaller plant. It only had 27 blossoms!




I could only get a close up of the flower from the larger plant that was hanging over the fence. The neighbor’s yappy dog was very annoying.





I was surprised the photos came out so well. I was only using my ancient digital point and shoot with 1.2 megapixels.




A couple of houses up, there are a couple of large cacti. One is the same species as the previous photos while this one below seems different. Much smoother, wider ribs and the flower is much smaller and some of the flower “petals” are roseate.



It’s got a lot of buds though:


[Edited on 6-23-2011 by ecomujeres]
Is that a San Pedro cactus?

longlegsinlapaz - 6-23-2011 at 04:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBlanca

thanks for trying longlegs...I tried to find the flower you were referring to, but couldn't find it, not sure why ....


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitaya#Varieties

Keep Scrolling....it's just over 3/4 of the way down the looong page & is labeled Costa Rica Pitaya flower.

Looks the same to me, but I bow to ecomujeres & Mexitron's superior plant ID expertise.

Mexitron - 6-23-2011 at 06:18 PM

Monoloco---sure looks like a San Pedro Cactus (Cereus or Echinopsis pachanoi) in the upper photos. The lower two are some version of Cereus peruvianus (Night Blooming Cereus) I'd imagine. The are both bat-pollinated. No, really, I'm cereus!

BajaBlanca - 6-23-2011 at 06:25 PM

:lol::lol::lol:

excellent Mexitron !!

BajaBlanca - 6-23-2011 at 06:29 PM

longlegs: finally found the costa rica pitaya and the flower is exactly the same, sin't it ? However, after some investigating, I found that it is night blooming - my neighbor's cactus bloomed all day long.

monoloco - 6-23-2011 at 06:36 PM

We have a night blooming cereus that puts out VERY fragrant flowers about 6 or 8 inches in diameter. One night we had almost a hundred bloom at once permeating the air with the most fabulous scent. A lot of insects were attracted to the flowers.

ecomujeres - 6-23-2011 at 08:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mexitron
Monoloco---sure looks like a San Pedro Cactus (Cereus or Echinopsis pachanoi) in the upper photos. The lower two are some version of Cereus peruvianus (Night Blooming Cereus) I'd imagine. The are both bat-pollinated. No, really, I'm cereus!


Thanks Mexitron--I have had no idea what the cacti are in my neighbor's yard. I was thinking one was a Cereus of some kind, and they seem to be fairly common in people's gardens in California.

I don't know if they start blooming newly in the afternoon and continue over the night, or start opening in the morning. The ones in my photos were happily open and going strong at midday today. I should ask the neighbor when I see her next. Didn't notice any fragrance.

Mexitron - 6-24-2011 at 11:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ecomujeres
Quote:
Originally posted by Mexitron
Monoloco---sure looks like a San Pedro Cactus (Cereus or Echinopsis pachanoi) in the upper photos. The lower two are some version of Cereus peruvianus (Night Blooming Cereus) I'd imagine. The are both bat-pollinated. No, really, I'm cereus!


Thanks Mexitron--I have had no idea what the cacti are in my neighbor's yard. I was thinking one was a Cereus of some kind, and they seem to be fairly common in people's gardens in California.

I don't know if they start blooming newly in the afternoon and continue over the night, or start opening in the morning. The ones in my photos were happily open and going strong at midday today. I should ask the neighbor when I see her next. Didn't notice any fragrance.


My recollection (Which may be a little fuzzy as I've been in Texas for over 4 years and they don't grow here....) is that they open up around 10 or 11 at night and stay open until the next morning, then gradually fading. This schedule makes sense since they are bat-pollinated (in their native habitat), but growing out of their range there might be some variation by now(......?)

ecomujeres - 7-23-2011 at 01:01 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ecomujeres


Here in Oakland, we have a neighbor who has a huge cactus (along the size of Baja's Pitaya dulce - Stenocereus thurberi) that is probably a species of Echinopsis. Almost every summer (even here in the fog belt) it puts on the most incredible display with its mass flowering of huge (9-11 inch) white flowers. It goes on for about a week or so, with maybe up to 50 flowers total on the 8-10 stems, then just stops. Really cool...


BajaBlanca:
Well, I seriously underestimated the number of flowers that that cactus can put out! I've been following my neighbors plants photographically since June 23 when the first flower or two bloomed. Here's but one sample, with 50+, when it hadn't even got fully going:




One of the plants had many flowers, as the photo I previously posted shows, while the large plant had only 2 or 3. However, on July 7 I went back and then returned every few days after that.

I've posted a bunch of photos of the large plant's progression from July 11 to 21 to my Picasa album. I still have to rename the photos of the other cacti to group similar photos so a sequence of growth can be seen and will upload and post them when I have time.

Check out my Picasa album. The file names indicate the dates, and in some cases time of day that the photos were taken. View as a slideshow to see a group of photos of the same angle/plant part as it progresses over time.

On the 15th, I went by in the morning on my regular walk and there were 4 flowers. We returned at about 8 pm that evening and there were more than 20 flowers fully open. There wasn't much fragrance from the flowers (too cold) until the evening of the 16th when we had a balmy evening. Incredddddible! And the plants were all swarming with honey bees. Didn't see anything other than European ones, nothing native.

The number of open flowers kept increasing on a given afternoon/evening, when new flowers opened. From 20 to 30 to 45 then 60 and 80 and on. On the morning of the 19th, I counted over 100 blooms that had been open during the past day and two nights and were by then mostly closing up and wilting. I also counted around 30 more buds that still had not opened.

These plants are amazing and I really enjoyed the doucmentation process. I think that they are now mostly done, though the two cacti next door are still putting out new buds and blooms, though on a much smaller scale.

Enjoy!

ecomujeres - 7-23-2011 at 01:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mexitron

My recollection (Which may be a little fuzzy as I've been in Texas for over 4 years and they don't grow here....) is that they open up around 10 or 11 at night and stay open until the next morning, then gradually fading. This schedule makes sense since they are bat-pollinated (in their native habitat), but growing out of their range there might be some variation by now(......?)


Mexitron, I forgot to add that the cactus flowers, at least in my cool, foggy Oakland CA climate, started to open around 3pm, at least on the warmer or sunny days (though temps have only been in mid 70's if we were lucky) and on cooler days, the majority of them weren't yet open at 7-8 pm.

It did seem that there were many flowers that we saw that were beginning to unfurl around 7:30 or 8 pm, and that the next morning when I swung by, were then completely open, and stayed so through at least the next evening in most cases.

It is likely that the majority open after dark, as you indicated. They remind me of Cardons, which begin opening in late afternoon but peak in opening and nectar production throughout the dark of night. Hedging bets, no doubt, to reach diurnal as well as nocturnal pollinators, or early risers/late to bed-ers.

I'm sure climate has soman effect on timing.

Mexitron - 7-23-2011 at 01:56 PM

Good to know ecomujeres.

woody with a view - 7-23-2011 at 02:31 PM

good observations Eco....