Agreed Phil, hybridity is always a problem with our plants, unless clonally propagated from offsets since I am not sure even the commercial seedsmen always take enough precautions to avoid open pollination in mixed collections. Also many collectors sow their own seeds without taking simple precautions to avoid open pollination of the plant from any other compatible species in the collection. Of course in habitat where the population is a single species then normal open pollination is desirable, but our collections are not like habitat and filled with just single species therefore hybridity cannot be ruled out unless precautions are taken to avoid insect and even wind pollination..
Our problem occurs when a plant gets open pollinated and so the seed is then hybrid but it or any plants raised from it are passed on under the name of the female parent that bore the fruit and seeds. Also though some species may be self fertile as a last resort, they will still outcross in preference given the opportunity. If they are self sterile "
you need two to tango" and few of us have two of the same species which were not vegetatively produced clones. The plants should be covered before the bud opens or stigma is exerted from it and remain covered until after flowers have withered.
"Cover both cacti with nylon stockings to prevent pollination from other cactus plants. This is only necessary if you are trying to control the type of seed the plants develop. If your main goal is simply to get the cacti to produce fruit or seeds, leave the plants uncovered to encourage insects or the wind to help with further pollination."
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/pollinate ... 22464.html
I read where one botanist was complaining that random hybridity was now ruining ex-situ cultivation as a reserve for endangered species if they ever needed to be re-introduced.
