Denmoza

[DaveW]

I was surprised when a Denmoza I have been given flowered in it's 5 inch pot. I thought they had to be much larger, though evidently the start of flowering is erratic in this genus since one web site says:-

"First flowers appear, however, on plants of very unequal age and size, some time on relatively young plants but also on 30-40 years old specimens!

Denmoza.jpg (58.3 KiB) Viewed 637 times

I don't think I could have waited 40 years for it to flower at my age! That's as wide as the flowers open being similar to Cleistocactus with the anthers and stigma lobes projecting out of the flower for pollination.

[esp_imaging]

Nice plant, I keep toying with the idea of growing this species, along the lines of Ferocacti - good looking plants anyway, any eventual flowers would be a bonus...

[DaveW]

I have just been told by Roger Ferryman who grew it from seed it is Denmoza rhodacantha from Cuesta Miranda, RMF 691. He says "The plants at Cuesta Miranda are gone now but populations can be found around Famatina."

[Kamos]

Seeing yours in bloom gives me hope Dave, I have a D. rhodacantha about the same size as yours, and it's stayed relatively unchanged for about 3 years.