First cactus flower of the year, part 2

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In yesterday's post I showed a photo of our first blooming cactus of the year, Parodia werneri subsp. werneri. Today the second flower (out three) opened, and I’m so excited that I want to show you some more photos.

Please bear in mind that this cactus is only 2½ inches wide and 1¾ inches tall. The flowers are almost as tall as the plant! They have such a metallic sheen, that they almost look fake.

They’re only open for about four hours in the middle of the day. They’re fully open by noon and fully closed by 4 pm. When they’re closed, they look relative plain and unassuming—they certainly don’t give away the beauty hidden within.

110416_Parodia_-werneri_werneri_09

110416_Parodia_-werneri_werneri_14

110416_Parodia_-werneri_werneri_10

Tomorrow, I promise, it’ll be back to regular programming. No cacti, just coverage of good old weekend yard work, and some sowing.

Comments

  1. AlanApril 16, 2011 at 6:40 PM

    What pollinates these? Bees?

    Beautiful for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  2. BeckyApril 17, 2011 at 9:37 AM

    Gorgeous! Reminds me of the color and sheen of some of the mesembryanthemum flowers!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)April 17, 2011 at 10:03 AM

    Alan, I did a quick search on parodia pollination and found this:

    "The flowers of most Parodia species are large and funnel- or occasionally bell- shaped, brightly colored, and pollinated by solitary bees."

    http://www.scribd.com/doc/36861485/Machado-et-al-2008a

    ReplyDelete
  4. Chandramouli SApril 18, 2011 at 11:17 PM

    Lovely! Who'd have thought that such scary-looking (at least to my eyes :D) cacti can produce such lovely blooms!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Candice Suter.....SweetstuffJune 13, 2011 at 1:18 AM

    Wow beautiful color!

    ReplyDelete

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