Need some help with ID

flay · Post by **flay** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 4:48 am

So I got 2 cacti here that need some IDing.

For the first one I'm guessing it's a mamm...

The next one I've had more trouble, as there's a lot of species that look so similar.

Thanks for the help!

peterb · Post by **peterb** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 5:38 am

the second one looks like an Echinocereus to me. Possibly engelmannii.

peterb

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 6:15 am

Hi,

First looks like Mammillari canalensis.

second mabe Echinorcereus lindsayi?

iann · Post by **iann** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 11:29 am

I think the first one is Mammillaria marksiana.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 5:23 pm

I agree with Ian, I was comparing to one I have as lanisuma, referred to cnalensis, now all of those to standleyi, It is pretty close to marksiana, stouter spines. Mike

Post by **daiv** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 8:32 pm

My first impression of the second was that of a very small Carnegiea gigantea

christos · Post by **christos** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 12:37 am

daiv wrote:My first impression of the second was that of a very small Carnegiea gigantea

Yes, I think it is, Daiv.
First impression is usually the most reliable, isn't it?

peterb · Post by **peterb** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 1:26 am

oh hey, that does look right. Good eye, Daiv.

peterb

flay · Post by **flay** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 2:35 am

I'm glad we have some great eyes on cacti IDs! I'll agree with iann on the Mammillaria marksiana, the flowers and spines match up quite well.

I'm still not so certain for the second one. I'm personally tempted to say it's a Echinocereus fendleri. Any opinions on that?

peterb · Post by **peterb** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 2:48 am

In my opinion, not fendleri. The spines are too needle-like. The epidermis is the wrong color. I like the Carnegiea idea. But I'm open to being dead wrong as always.

peterb

diamondstate · Post by **diamondstate** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 2:57 am

It does look like it's closer to Echinocereus fendleri then Carnegiea gigantea to me. I have not been able to find a pic of a young E. fendleri so I can't be certain.
jim

Post by **daiv** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 4:40 am

Well I think the areoles are too large and the overall shape is rounded vs. pointed. That is why I think C. gigantea.

Like Peter - I'm open to being wrong about it!

Size can really play tricks on us. I'm guessing it is between 3 and 4 inches in diameter.

Peterthecactusguy · Post by **Peterthecactusguy** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 9:59 pm

the 2nd one looks like some of the smaller C. gigantea to me. I have several of the smaller ones that are around 4 inches by 2 inches wide and they look similar.

To me the dead giveaway is the areoles or whatever they are called. They look closely to what the ones on all the C. gigantea look like around my neck of the woods. Of course I am a novice so who knows, I might be way off on that.

One last thing, I have noticed that most of the C. gigantea's have a single spine(needle)that grows up to 2 inches tall on the crown of the cactus. does this serve any function other then protection of the plant?

iann · Post by **iann** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 10:07 pm

I agree the areoles don't look like any Echinocereus I know.

flay · Post by **flay** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 3:54 am

I'm only leaning towards the Echinocerus only because one of the photos for the fendleri right here on cactiguide looks remarkably similar. The dark coloring on the spines do look very similar. I'm sorry if the photo is not bright enough, but they do share resemblances. But then again I don't doubt it being a Carnegiea as well.