Monstrous? cactus seen in an enthusiast’s garden

If you have a cactus plant and need help identifying it, this is the place to post it.
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d4d77
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Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2022 12:22 am
Location: Wide Bay, Qld, Aus

Monstrous? cactus seen in an enthusiast’s garden

Post by d4d77 »

I was visiting another cacti enthusiast the weekend before last, and in his yard is a huge cactus that he told me he doesn’t know the ID for.
Location is in the Wide Bay region of Queensland (think Hervey Bay), in Australia.
It was too big for me to get an above photo, and too large to fit the entire plant in the photo & still be able to see any detail.
Estimated height was 180cm/6’ or more, and a plant “width” of over 120cm/4’

I tried Google and I scrolled through many cacti id posts, but I just don’t know enough about cacti to even make a guess.
I wondered if it might possibly be a mammilaria, if any of the varieties can get that big? 🤷🏻‍♀️
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greenknight
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Re: Monstrous? cactus seen in an enthusiast’s garden

Post by greenknight »

Identifying a monstrose cactus can be very difficult. Often there's an offset that has reverted to the normal form, which makes it much easier - look it over carefully to see if that's the case.
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mikethecactusguy
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Re: Monstrous? cactus seen in an enthusiast’s garden

Post by mikethecactusguy »

Boxing Glove Cholla?
Cylindropuntia fulgida var. mamillata forma monstrosa
Mike The Cactus Guy
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samhain
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Re: Monstrous? cactus seen in an enthusiast’s garden

Post by samhain »

Looks like fulgida to me too. 6’ is an impressive height though.
15F-110F. 14” annual rainfall. 8b. 3000’
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Aeonium2003
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Re: Monstrous? cactus seen in an enthusiast’s garden

Post by Aeonium2003 »

I'm going to agree with mikethecactusguy and samhain. Looks like a monstrose Cylindropuntia.
Download
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Location: Adelaide, Australia

Re: Monstrous? cactus seen in an enthusiast’s garden

Post by Download »

It could also be a monstrose Consolea such as C rubescens.
d4d77
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2022 12:22 am
Location: Wide Bay, Qld, Aus

Re: Monstrous? cactus seen in an enthusiast’s garden

Post by d4d77 »

Thankyou to everyone that responded, and my apologies for not replying sooner (exams & then moving house got in the way).
I hope to catch up with the fellow that has grown this amazing specimen, and will let him know your thoughts.
If I can get another photo to show the immensity of its growth, I will share it in this thread.
cactusbutt.Bob
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Re: Monstrous? cactus seen in an enthusiast’s garden

Post by cactusbutt.Bob »

Boxing Glove Cholla would be my thought also
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