Can seedlings be identified?

[johnnyd]

I have managed to grow some seeds to broadly resemble cacti and would like to identify them if possible please.
Is the 'hairy' on just fungus??
JohnnyD

[Jangaudi]

The hairy one looks dead / molded, better take it out. Can't identify any seedlings though the last picture is a flock of sea lions

[One Windowsill]

Can't identify any seedlings though the last picture is a flock of sea lions

Looks more like a group of walrus to me.

[DaveW]

I suppose somebody who grew cactus seeds by the million, such as a large commercial nursery might be able to identify seedlings at such an early stage, possibly even to species. However most of us are probably not that familiar with them when so small as to be able to do anything but simply guess even as to genus. Even when small plants some cacti are dimorphic, meaning having two forms, an immature form which later develops adult characteristics.

Turbinicarpus krainziana ssp. minimus is an example where the young growth is slim and short spined, only developing a larger head and longer twisted spines later, the former immature growth forming a mini trunk.

http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/TURBIN ... teresa.htm

To a lesser extent Echinocactus grusonii is tuberculate when young like a Mammillaria, only developing ribs as it ages. Therefore identifying young plants, let alone seedlings, can be difficult. Try again when the plants are a couple of years old and probably have developed something resembling their adult characteristics.

[johnnyd]

Thanks all. I can wait!

[7george]

Keep seedlings on dryer side: I can spot some fungi growing on the stems of some. Most likely belong to common columnar cacti producing tot of seeds in nurseries or botanic gardens...