Question .... Echinocereus pensilis morangaya cultivation

[Mike P]

I recall Derek Bowdery had one bedded out that flowered well. Probably the same clone that JP passed to me (and others at Bromley to see who could get it to flower first) but as I didn’t really love it I suspect I didn’t treat it that well.

[habanerocat]

Ian Robinson has 2 clones on his nursery website.

Thanks for the info. I've been looking for one for a few years now to 'near' complete my Echinocereus collection.
Causes a few logistical problems though.

[el48tel]

I agree Terry... I think they're kind of nice (though I do like hanging plants as they provide a different dimension to the growing space).
I received mine as a cutting from Peter Cowdell and it flowers quite regularly throughout the year. It gets decent light, but I don't treat it any differently.
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Simon
Thanks. That makes two important points.
1. Cuttings are possible, and the decapitated stem might make a suitable start rather than leave it in a sorry state when the rest if the plant looks OK. Without a growing point, it may force "offsets".
2. If it begins to grow outwards rather than pushing out more stems as it is doing ...... it may have to be relocated from its current home.
Comments and information happily taken from all sources.

[TomInTucson]

I agree Terry... I think they're kind of nice (though I do like hanging plants as they provide a different dimension to the growing space).
I received mine as a cutting from Peter Cowdell and it flowers quite regularly throughout the year. It gets decent light, but I don't treat it any differently.
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M2.jpg

That is a nice looking cactus. Regardless of the many deriding comments, Morangaya not only is an attractive (although sometimes difficult, and hard to accommodate the needed space for), but being a monotype, it always makes me wonder how it managed to set up it's home in such a remote spot. To my limited knowledge of it's relationship to other genera, I've heard it's nearest relative is Aporocactus, of which A. martianus (found roughly 1000 mi. away in Oaxaca) has the closest resemblance (continental fault separation?). AFAIK, no hybrids have ever been produced with any cactus species.

[StevenT]

The pic here shows a fine plant https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Morangaya

It emphasises your comment Tom - it looks quite like an Aporocactus relative.

[Chris43]

I have one that has been shoved ot the back of the bench for years. I must elevate it in a hanging basket, and hope the extra light brings it into flower. Not the prettiest of Echinocerei, but as I grew this one from seed from Mesa Garden, MG 985.571, sown in 1996, I don't want to consign it to the bin.

[TomInTucson]

I have one that has been shoved ot the back of the bench for years. I must elevate it in a hanging basket, and hope the extra light brings it into flower. Not the prettiest of Echinocerei, but as I grew this one from seed from Mesa Garden, MG 985.571, sown in 1996, I don't want to consign it to the bin.

I certainly don't want to start any sort of nomenclature debate, but the empirical evidence (no hybridization with any cactus species are known), indicates that it's not an Echinocereus. Until other evidence comes to light, I believe Morangaya should remain as the appropriate genus. One fact alone should also be considered: Echinocereus species of widely divergent types easily form hybrids.

[el48tel]

I never thought my simple question would raise a debate to such dizzy heights as nomenclature.
Early comments made me think about its worthiness in the collection.
It stays!
It may become a subject for photography.
It may become a subject for propagation.
PERIOD.