Mammillaria formosa the new Ariocarpus?

[iann]

This small Mammillaria formosa (ssp microthele?) is being bid through the roof on eBay. Is there something I don't know about this plant? Its nice and symmetrical (until it divides, I'm not keen on dichotomous plants) and has pretty little flowers, but what else? Not rare is it?

[Roger]

Er, my supertexta looks like that just a bit larger

[Vic]

I've got a 3 headed plant in the ghouse which I bought in Holland for 3 euros, so I'll put in on Ebay soon and should get at least ?60 at ?20 per head. Then I've got one with 15 heads so I'll put it on the house insuranace!!!

[iann]

There's got to be some reason for this, surely? Some internet rumour about psychoactive substances maybe

[Geoff Lovell]

I have seen the rivalry or bidding frenzy on this site which has nothing to do with the plant but happens at all auction houses where the bidders get carried away, I know I have done it myself.
Coincidentally I bought a formosa from Stuart Riley for a sensible price at the Edenbridge show last Sunday, I have pictures to post of the show when I have time.

[Phil_SK]

That plant appears to be one of Stuart's too! Inexplicable.

[Vic]

It's only 5cm too, they are nice looking plants though!

[NickT]

Talking of dichotomous splitting, I've got a seedling Zeilmaniana doing this. It seems to have split 3 ways - is this sort of thing normal? Zeilmaniana usually clumps ( wel my other two have) it was the runt of the batch so could it be that it had the growing point damaged do you think? I was going to sling it but decided to hang on to it fo interests sake.

[Vic]

I'd say apical damage Nick. Seedlings won't divide dichotomously naturally only when much larger, keep it and see how it develops might make an interesting/nice plant.

[NickT]

you mean the sort thats "rarely seen on e-bay" lol.

Yes I decided to hang on to it. What made me notice was it was no longer round but looked like a blackberry lol. It seem to be happy enough as it's out grown the others now.