new Aztekium found

What do you think?

Awesome, they almost look like hybrids with Ariocarpus.

That last pic looks like they are some kind of phosiles from the distant past.

Hooray! I love it!
The plant looks like a miniature very very select A. Myriostigma nuda c.v kikko but with much nicer flowers!
I can't wait to grow some even if, it takes decades.
I think this looks like the best of the Aztekiums so far. It is awesome to have a new addition to such a wonderful genus!!!

Cool looking plant. Would be interesting to know how many were found. And is it a hybrid, a new species or just a genetic variation ?

Someone is taking a risk if they removed that plant that's in the pot. Mexico does not take kindly to that sort of thing at all !!

Suppose now they'll be racing to get seed out, which in Aztekium's case wouldn't be very hard at all! Will end up like Digi, Geohintonia and Luethyi where technically there shouldn't be any plants in cultivation as it should never have left Mexican soil. A silly arrangement for sure, because the Mexican government should be taking official control of releasing it into cultivation and using it's plant treasures like these to further the country and areas where the plants are found.

Thanks for the post Numan, great stuff!

That is spectacular! Will be awesome to get some growing!

Hi,

Quote :

Someone is taking a risk if they removed that plant that's in the pot. Mexico does not take kindly to that sort of thing at all !!

The potted plant is part of a program designed to make seeds commercially available in short time and release pressure from habitat destruction. Similar so Digitostigma Project.

Cheers,
Eduart

Eduart,
I think that is a very wise and sensible idea. The main priority is to protect the species. At times the rules need to accommodate such actions. It is particularly important when there s a threat to the habitat or the plants are likely to be stolen to supply demand from collectors without morals.
I believe that conservation and collecting can go hand in hand rather that causing destruction as we have seen several times in the past. It is good to know that because of program's such as this, rare species are protected from extinction by being kept in collections. It is a kind of insurance policy for the species should the habitat be destroyed or discovered by poachers.

Flowers on this new Aztekium are almost Mammillaria luethyi like ! New pic -

http://www.cactusi.net/poza.php?id=5431

To me, they kind of look like a cross between Aztekium hintonii and a Astro myriostigma.
What a spectacular photo you found Navajoa!

Already on Ebay for only $450 ! ))) http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-AZTEKIUM-valdezii-spec-nova-own-roots-seedling-diameter-app-2cm-first-offer-/271258736798?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item3f2847d89e&nma=true&si=ZTBiCp%252F0wrR1%252FJNi6yzRxrL7UDw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Well, that conservation & preservation effort lasted a long time...

Looks like they got busted - Item is no longer available...but yeah, that's just wrong. If anything could be released, then it should really only be seed at the moment. Any plant is obviously habitat collected and selling it isn't part of any reproduction program.

Hi All,

We are pleased to announce the appearance of our second special issue containing the much expected first description of Aztekium valdezii by Carlos Gerardo Velazco Macías, Marco Antonio Alvarado Vázquez and Salvador Arias Montes.

This special issue can be downloaded from our website http://xerophilia.ro

Our next regular issue (Xerophilia No. 6) will be online latest the 30th of September 2013.

Kind Regards,
The Xerophilia Team