A mis-shapen Copiapoa

[iann]

I think the deformed piece will eventually become larger than the main head.
[attachment 14708 humilis17.jpg]

[Liz M]

My first reaction was Ugh! Then would you call it monstrose? Can I see another peeping out on the right?

[Benjy]

Ive had this before on a krainziana, all that lot just dried up one day and i snapped it off, I have a fiedleriana right now doing the same thing, I,ll get a pic posted tomorrow, its too dark outside now.

Benjy

[Benjy]

Thought i will do it now afterall , the flash was needed.

Benjy

Copiapoa fiedleriana

[attachment 14714 fiedleriana.jpg]

[CoronaCactus]

Interesting. Has the same look as C. tenuissima monstrose, but not quite as furry. (well, not with my plants anyway)

What specie is that Ian? I can't quite figure it out...

[Peter]

Fiedleriana, I reckon...?

[Marlon Machado]

Looks like an abnormal growth caused by viral infection, I can't remember the name of the virus right now, but the important thing is that it can spread to other plants in the collection. I have seen this virus attacking plants in habitat here in Brazil, the deformed tumorous growth weakening and ultimately killing the afftected plants. Aphids, mealy bugs, scale insects and other suking insects can carry the virus from plant to plant and infect them.

I would not take any risks and destroy any infected plants before the virus has a chance to spread.

Cheers,

Marlon.

[Benjy]

Hi Marlon,
wow, and there was me thinking im going to take better care of it this time and see what develops

Benjy

[Marlon Machado]

Hi Benjy,

You can still do that, but I would isolate this specimen from the rest of the collection, maybe having it at home instead of the greenhouse. After all, I might be wrong and you may have a natural monstrose Copiapoa after all, although an ugly one. But this growth form is VERY similar to that caused by the virus I mentioned.

Cheers,

Marlon.

[Tina]

Hi
I have a Neoporteria that has been growing something similar for yrs.