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Myrtillocactus cv. 'Fukurokuryuzinboku'
What an awesome cactus!
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The "Breast cactus" is a unique and rare plant.
Its not hard to imagine where it gets its name. |
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A spiny cutting. The spines appear only in old plant grown in full sun. |
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Photo of conspecific taxa,
varieties, forms and cultivars of Myrtillocactus geometrizans.
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Family:
Cactaceae
(Cactus
Family)
Scientific Name:
Myrtillocactus geometrizans
(Mart. ex Pfeiff.) Console, 1897
cv. FUKUROKURYUZINBOKU
Origin: Japan.
Garden origin (Nursery
produced cultivar)
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix 2.
Common Names include: "Breast Cactus" or "Titty Cactus"
Synonyms:
- Myrtillocactus geometrizans forma
mostruosa
- Myrtillocactus geometrizans v. monstrose
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Description: The standard
Myrtillocactus geometrizans (a.k.a "Blue
Candle Cactus") is a very popular candelabra-like tree cactus often
sold in garden centres widely used for grafting stock. Instead the
Japanese cultivar
Fukurokuryuzinboku' is
a strange monstrous form
and a very rare and priced collector item.
Its vernacular English names "Breast Cactus" or "Titty Cactus"
comes from the particular shape of the tubercled ribs that resemble
women breasts. This plant - apart from the breasts - is similar in all
other features to the common "Blue Candle" and can grow up to 4.5 m tall, with the crown
reaching up to 5 m in width.
Stems: Glaucous (blue grey) Up to 3 -10 cm thick. They have 5-8
strange chinned ribs, shaped like a woman's breast that are
approximately 2.5 cm in depth with areoles about 3-5 cm apart.
Each monstrous ribs is bordered with irregularly pleaded longitudinal
groves .
Spines: Each areole has approx to 4 small black spines, that are
usually only a few mm long. But plants grown in full sun may have longer
on stouter spines up to 2 cm long thought not awful.
Flowers & fruit: Rather smaller (2.5-3.7 cm) in relation to stem,
greenish white in March, that turn in very sweet, edible, dark red,
oblong fruits 8-20 mm in diameter. Starts blooming when it is about 60
cm tall.
The more "sensual cactus"... ... tubercles resemble women's
breasts.
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Cultivation: They are semi hardy, make sure that
your Myrtillocactus are not exposed to temperatures below -4°C or
they may die, nevertheless it is a good advice never let the nighttimes
temperatures fall below 10°C. Water regularly in summer but allow to dry
fully before watering again. Need a well-drained soil mix with small
gravel added to ensure drainage.. During the winter months they should
be rather kept dry and water is restricted to only enough to keep the
stems and branches from shrivelling. Since they are big sized plants
need plenty of space for their roots, repotting should be done every
other year or when the plant has outgrown its pot. Exposure: Light shade
when young, full sun later.
Propagation: Cuttings in summer
(Cuttings will root only in hot weather. Cuttings must be kept very dry
to root)
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