A new species of Muria - Muria wartoncragianum - was discovered last year in Cumbria, UK of all places.
I have been lucky enough to get special permission to visit the habitat (which is a closely guarded secret) and was able to take the photograph below. It is a very small population of just a dozen or so plants, but it is hoped more populations will be found nearby. It appears to grow in shallow pockets of limestone in the area around Warton Crag (hence the name). It is not known what colour the flower will be but it is hoped that it will flower sometime in the spring.
A full write up of the discovery and the plant description can be found here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.10 ... d9-01619-w It is the first species of mesemb to be found growing natively in the UK, though of course other mesembs are found in the UK.
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Endeavouring to grow Aylostera, Echinocereus, Echinopsis, Gymnocalycium, Matucana, Rebutia, and Sulcorebutia. Fallen out of love with Lithops and aggravated by Aeoniums.
Currently being wooed by Haworthia, attempting hybridisation, and enticed by Mesembs.
Pleased that I missed this post until after 12 noon!
Tony Roberts
Treasurer, Haworthia Society
Chairman, Tephrocactus Study Group
Moderator, BCSS Forum
Kent
(Gasteria, Mammillaria, small Opuntia, Cleistocactus and Sempervivum are my current special interests)
I was not immediately aware of today's date.
But of course I am now very disappointed I might never know how a new Muiria species might look like! But if the day comes, I hope it would be hairy...
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