Thelocactus ID? Another Texas Native

If you have a cactus plant and need help identifying it, this is the place to post it.
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TexanEd
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Thelocactus ID? Another Texas Native

Post by TexanEd »

Another cactus given to me by a friend although he was not sure of the ID. He thought it might be Thelocactus bicolor? The new growth exhibited near the top is the growth since I have had the cactus. It is a Texas native. The bloom should be a big help in the ID. This might be a good one for peter to ID. Thanks in advance.

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Ed

"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Will Rodgers
peterb
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Post by peterb »

Hi Ed, definitely a form of bicolor. Interesting very pale flower and yellow stigma lobes. Not sure where it might fit in the many named and unnamed ecotypes from Texas. If you hadn't said it was from Texas I would have guessed bolaensis.

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TexanEd
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Post by TexanEd »

peterb wrote:Hi Ed, definitely a form of bicolor. Interesting very pale flower and yellow stigma lobes. Not sure where it might fit in the many named and unnamed ecotypes from Texas. If you hadn't said it was from Texas I would have guessed bolaensis.

peterb
What are the identifying characteristics for it to be a type of bicolor in your opinion? Is it the uppermost spine coloration?
Ed

"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Will Rodgers
peterb
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Post by peterb »

Hi Ed- well, the tuberculate ribs, general spine arrangement and appearance of the new growth all suggest Thelocactus bicolor, defined by a broad set of characters. The flower does appear to me to be unusual, perhaps a variant at the extreme pale end of bicolor flowers.

But really I'm mostly going on you saying it's a Texas native, as current understanding is there's only Thelocactus bicolor and bicolor ssp. flavidispinus in Texas. The plant doesn't look like flavidispinus to me, as it seems too columnar and with different spines than I'm used to seeing on flavidispinus.

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TexanEd
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Post by TexanEd »

peterb wrote:Hi Ed- well, the tuberculate ribs, general spine arrangement and appearance of the new growth all suggest Thelocactus bicolor, defined by a broad set of characters. The flower does appear to me to be unusual, perhaps a variant at the extreme pale end of bicolor flowers.

But really I'm mostly going on you saying it's a Texas native, as current understanding is there's only Thelocactus bicolor and bicolor ssp. flavidispinus in Texas. The plant doesn't look like flavidispinus to me, as it seems too columnar and with different spines than I'm used to seeing on flavidispinus.

peterb

peter, are you going to attend the CSSA Convention in Tucson this coming weekend?
Ed

"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Will Rodgers
peterb
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Post by peterb »

Hi Ed- yes, I'll be there Saturday and Sunday. Looking forward to the CactiGuide get together on Sunday.

You making the trip?

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Post by TexanEd »

peterb wrote:Hi Ed- yes, I'll be there Saturday and Sunday. Looking forward to the CactiGuide get together on Sunday.

You making the trip?

peterb
No I can't make it this year but a few members from our Austin Cactus Club are attending. It should be a good time. Maybe next year for me.
Ed

"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Will Rodgers
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