Pollinating epithelantha

[Cris]

Hello everybody,
I have some E bokei and E unguispina and they flowered very well this year. I tried to pollinate them like i I do with other cacti, but i didn't had any luck. Any tips available?
Thank you,
Cris

[Rod Smith]

I have two E. micromeris plants and between them they produced over 400 seeds this year with no help from me whatsoever. I would have thought that a small artist's paintbrush should do the trick when they are in full bloom. The only reason I could imagine for them not producing seeds is if these two species are unable to cross pollinate.

[Cris]

Hello Rod,
E micromeris and E greggii are self fertile. E bokei, E unguispina and may be E pachyrhiza are self sterile. I have more plants from each specie, but very difficult to produce seeds. May be a very thin brush could be helpful.

[Rod Smith]

Hello Rod,
E micromeris and E greggii are self fertile.

Ah, thanks for this info Cris. Good luck with your attempts. A thin supple brush ought to do the trick.

[Aiko]

A thin supple brush ought to do the trick.

Otherwise you might try something as thin as a hair of a horse, or whiskers from a cat or a dog.