I've been waiting since the competition started for some of these buds to open...

Crassulas have had a watering, everything else has had a misting with provado this morning. Vents are still open and most plants seem to have dried. So far I do not seem to have any losses this Winter though there a few that I am not sure about - perhaps this misting will be the kill or cure

Too dark to go and check now but I think my E. davisii shares a tray with a couple of Turbinicarpus

Bit of ice on car windscreen this morning but only a few clouds so greenhouse has warmed up and vents have opened. Looking at the cacti a few are showing signs of new growth but I am not sure it is safe to water them as more cold nights are forecast.

I have just checked the plant using a Jewellers eye piece and I can see very tiny upright hairs- does that help. I dont have the facility to do very close up macro work with my camera. It doesn't seem to help much, Tolken says the leaves for both C. sericea v. velutina and C. namaquensis are densel...

:???: Not sure I want to be seen taking "sides" in this but.... The illustration for C. sericea in Tolken's flora does look like Ernie's plant but it is a simple drawing so not much help. I can't see anything in Vera Higgin's book so on to Rowley. Yes there are similarities in the two pict...

Ava

I think this farina is typical for this plant; the only problem, as you have found, is that it is easily rubbed off which spoils the natural appearance.

Jim

I think this is a Stenocactus (another plant with no label), buried amongst the spines/wool there are some flower buds, definitely an occasion where a long macro lens is useful.

Apicra wrote: C. socialis is considerably smaller.

The cultivar Major is much bigger - Rowley says double-size but mine seems even bigger. Looking at the shape of the leaves Liz's plant does look more like C. montana

I can't help with an ID but this might make it easier for others to see some of the pictures http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/6978782227_ace475f45f.jpg P1010024 by peecee57 , on Flickr http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7207/6832653452_b447218173.jpg P1010026 by peecee57 , on Flickr http://farm8.static...