Huernia hystrix
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Please respect all forum members opinions and if you can't make a civil reply, don't reply!
- Pattock
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Huernia hystrix
Flowered tonight, this photo was taken a few minutes after it fully unfurled. I am going to take some later to see if the papillae rearrange a bit after settling down. Flowered seven months and 6 days from planting the seed. The seed was from worldwondersgardens on Ebay. £2.95 for 5 seeds. Only one sprouted but that was enough for me.
This is third time lucky for Huernia hystrix for me. Many years ago, I ordered one from Toobees. When they fulfilled the order, the only bit they had was virtually dead. They sent it to me for free, warning me that it might revive if I was very lucky but it would probably die. It took a little while to shrivel completely, but they were right. Last year (as I write this) I ordered one from a Hungarian supplier on Ebay. The plant arrived very healthy and I got it to flower very easily. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a beautiful, healthy Orbea variegata. The seller offered to replace it, but the spidermite that came with the first order had cost me £21 to eliminate immediately, so I passed on that.
The plant is supposed to be one of the easier stapeliads and I certainly had no problems with it.
There is a lot more detail in the full-size image, I would recommend opening [edited to add: the link in the bottom left of the image] in another window and zooming in. The flower is a shade over 5cm across and the flowerstalk is about 7½ cm.
The bud is quite a lovely little piece of architecture, too. Unfortunately, it hid itself among the stems for the last few days and I didn't want to disturb it. Here is a photo from Wednesday when it was significantly smaller.
Happy New Year, everybody!
This is third time lucky for Huernia hystrix for me. Many years ago, I ordered one from Toobees. When they fulfilled the order, the only bit they had was virtually dead. They sent it to me for free, warning me that it might revive if I was very lucky but it would probably die. It took a little while to shrivel completely, but they were right. Last year (as I write this) I ordered one from a Hungarian supplier on Ebay. The plant arrived very healthy and I got it to flower very easily. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a beautiful, healthy Orbea variegata. The seller offered to replace it, but the spidermite that came with the first order had cost me £21 to eliminate immediately, so I passed on that.
The plant is supposed to be one of the easier stapeliads and I certainly had no problems with it.
There is a lot more detail in the full-size image, I would recommend opening [edited to add: the link in the bottom left of the image] in another window and zooming in. The flower is a shade over 5cm across and the flowerstalk is about 7½ cm.
The bud is quite a lovely little piece of architecture, too. Unfortunately, it hid itself among the stems for the last few days and I didn't want to disturb it. Here is a photo from Wednesday when it was significantly smaller.
Happy New Year, everybody!
Last edited by Pattock on Sat Jan 01, 2022 2:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Asclepiomaniac. Armchair ethnobotanist.
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Occasional, eclectic blogger:
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Re: Huernia hystrix
I zoomed in and it was worth it, beautiful flower. Happy new year.
Northampton and MK member
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Re: Huernia hystrix
Very unusual to get a flower at this time of year.
Re: Huernia hystrix
Under lights in my bedroom with a minimum 20°C and 14 hour "days".
Asclepiomaniac. Armchair ethnobotanist.
Occasional, eclectic blogger:
http://pattheplants.blogspot.com/
Occasional, eclectic blogger:
http://pattheplants.blogspot.com/
- ralphrmartin
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Re: Huernia hystrix
You grow stapeliads in your bedroom? Pooh...
Ralph Martin
https://www.rrm.me.uk/Cacti/cacti.html
Members visiting the Llyn Peninsula are welcome to visit my collection.
Swaps and sales at https://www.rrm.me.uk/Cacti/forsale.php
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https://www.rrm.me.uk/Cacti/cacti.html
Members visiting the Llyn Peninsula are welcome to visit my collection.
Swaps and sales at https://www.rrm.me.uk/Cacti/forsale.php
My Field Number Database is at https://www.fieldnos.bcss.org.uk
Re: Huernia hystrix
I couldn't detect any smell from this one. The Orbea variegata had a slight smell of drains that didn't seem to get out of the cabinet. I do tend to cut the flowers off the Frerea as soon as they open. Five of those are a bit much even with the window open in summer.
I didn't get another photo last night but this is from a few minutes ago. The colour is a bit more realistic as I got the illumination improved. I wish I had time lapse on my camera as I would love to see if the papillae wriggle. They look as though they should wriggle.
I didn't get another photo last night but this is from a few minutes ago. The colour is a bit more realistic as I got the illumination improved. I wish I had time lapse on my camera as I would love to see if the papillae wriggle. They look as though they should wriggle.
Asclepiomaniac. Armchair ethnobotanist.
Occasional, eclectic blogger:
http://pattheplants.blogspot.com/
Occasional, eclectic blogger:
http://pattheplants.blogspot.com/
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Re: Huernia hystrix
Excellent picture!
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Re: Huernia hystrix
This looks almost cuddly! Very nice indeed! Do you keep all your stapeliads growing through the winter, Pattock, or just a select few? I wonder if it helps avoiding winter losses?
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Re: Huernia hystrix
I just don't have winter. I only have a select few plants, anyway. The two Edithcolea seedlings seem to be happy. At least they were before I elbowed them out of the pot while stretching in to get this last shot. They needed potting up and separating anyway, getting very top-heavy. I am pretty sure they should never know winter.
I lost three plants recently when a fan went kaput. I got a replacement quite quickly but the lead was not long enough. By the time I got that sorted, some had been without any wind for a month and caught the black death before I noticed. Hopefully, some nice seeds will soon be available for replacing them.
I am about to rebuild my oldest plant cabinet. It has survived over ten years of use despite being bodged together from recycled pvc piping, odd bits of woodwork, cardboard, plastic-coated wire and duct tape. Once I have done that I will be buying spare fans for everything.
Asclepiomaniac. Armchair ethnobotanist.
Occasional, eclectic blogger:
http://pattheplants.blogspot.com/
Occasional, eclectic blogger:
http://pattheplants.blogspot.com/
Re: Huernia hystrix
If anyone is interested, I have made a little article on my blog with some extra pictures. Including one where I tried to mimic a cutaway drawn by Walter Hood Fitch in his illustration of the first description of the species in 1869.
I do mean little, only 700-ish words. I have other things to do, so I restrained myself.
I do mean little, only 700-ish words. I have other things to do, so I restrained myself.
Asclepiomaniac. Armchair ethnobotanist.
Occasional, eclectic blogger:
http://pattheplants.blogspot.com/
Occasional, eclectic blogger:
http://pattheplants.blogspot.com/