Short flower stems

Trouble shoot problems you are having with your cactus.
Post Reply
User avatar
sluefoot
Posts: 80
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2010 4:36 am
Location: Northeast TX

Short flower stems

Post by sluefoot »

Have two questions about this plant. What causes the short bloom stalks? Flowers cannot open for the plants own spine's.

Am I correct in thinking this is a Mammillaria?

ImageDefective_flowers by billykain, on FlickrImageShort-flower-stem by billykain, on Flickr

TIA,
John
I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
User avatar
greenknight
Posts: 4813
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:18 am
Location: SW Washington State zone 8b

Re: Short flower stems

Post by greenknight »

What causes that? Just variability in spination, and some mammillarias having very short flowers. Yes, it's a Mammillaria, maybe bocensis.
Spence :mrgreen:
User avatar
sluefoot
Posts: 80
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2010 4:36 am
Location: Northeast TX

Re: Short flower stems

Post by sluefoot »

Thank you. I Suppose it must work for this plant, but doesn't seem like the best strategy for attracting pollinators. It makes lots of seed pods so I guess a fully opened flower is not necessary.

John
I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
User avatar
greenknight
Posts: 4813
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 4:18 am
Location: SW Washington State zone 8b

Re: Short flower stems

Post by greenknight »

Probably self-pollinates; many of them do.

You should post on the identification forum, try to get a more definite ID.
Spence :mrgreen:
User avatar
Saxicola
Posts: 1759
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:31 pm
Location: Los Angeles area, California

Re: Short flower stems

Post by Saxicola »

sluefoot wrote:Thank you. I Suppose it must work for this plant, but doesn't seem like the best strategy for attracting pollinators. It makes lots of seed pods so I guess a fully opened flower is not necessary.

John
The species wouldn't have survived if what it is doing is detrimental to producing seed. I think that opening is plenty big for smaller pollinators. Remember that honeybees are an introduction from Europe, so don't think of them when you are thinking about natural pollination. They didn't exist in the Americas prior to Europeans. Many of the natural pollinators of plants are half that size or less.
I'm now selling plants on Ebay. Check it out! Kyle's Plants
User avatar
CactusFanDan
Posts: 2862
Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2010 6:33 pm
Location: Manchester, England
Contact:

Re: Short flower stems

Post by CactusFanDan »

The flowers aren't defective. Even outside the natural range there are lots of pollinators which are small enough to pollinate flowers like these, usually small flying things. :P
-Dan
Happy growing!

There is always one more glochid. Somewhere.
My C&S blog
User avatar
sluefoot
Posts: 80
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2010 4:36 am
Location: Northeast TX

Re: Short flower stems

Post by sluefoot »

Thanks to all for your help. Things are busy for me right now so I am taking pictures of the different plant parts for later study. This is a little bit harder than I thought it would be. I do appreciate your time and help. Thank you.
John
I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
Post Reply