Echinocereus salm-dyckianus

[Ali Baba]

This lovely plant came from Ralph Martin, and is flowering for the first time this year.
Curiously the flowers are open at dawn:

then they almost close around 10am, and then open again in the early evening:

I've never noticed this behavior from any other Echinocereus, and it seems odd for a plant which presumably isn't moth pollinated...

[el48tel]

That's just gone on the "wish list" (now running into several sheets of A4)

[rodsmith]

Nice photos, Ali Baba. I used to have one of these and the flowers are definitely stunning. Mine is unfortunately deceased but I don't remember its flowering habits being as you have described. Yours must have an added "early bird" gene. I've found a couple of photos of mine, which were both taken at 10.20 a.m.

[Mark07]

Lovely plant! One of my favourites. I don’t recall mine opening early either but what really amazed me was the length of time the flower was open. This one remained open for 10 days! Do they usually last that long?

[AnTTun]

Here is mine too...

[Ali Baba]

Thanks for sharing your photos, they look slightly different to my clone, I’m guessing there are a few different clones in cultivation. I guess mine is the odd one out in flowering time!

[RAYWOODBRIDGE]

Yes an old favorite

[Eric Williams]

Hi el48tel, re wish list, Ralph Martin has Ech. websterianus for sale, Google plant to see gorgeous flower. Cheers

[el48tel]

Hi el48tel, re wish list, Ralph Martin has Ech. websterianus for sale, Google plant to see gorgeous flower. Cheers

Ta muchly Eric
After buying plants last evening, I need to buy some more shelving. Then I can return to my quest .... a.k.a. the wish list.

[ralphrmartin]

Still one of my favourite Echinocerei.The bodies are a bit plain, but the flowers are wonderful. E. polyacanthus is another similar plant, but with red flower.