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| clones:c:colossus [2026/08/03 00:03] – [History & Origin] vaugith | clones:c:colossus [2026/08/03 00:07] (current) – [Description] vaugith |
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| ===== Description ===== | ===== Description ===== |
| The name "Colossus" refers to a group of large-growing Trichocereus plants. Due to the existence of multiple distinct lines circulating under this name, a single botanical description is difficult to define. Morphological characteristics vary significantly between the different selections, though they generally present as robust, thick-stemmed columnar cacti. Â | There are multiple distinct varieties that have been named "collosus" or "colossus". Therefore a single description of physical traits is not possible. |
| ===== History & Origin ===== | ===== History & Origin ===== |
| There are at least three distinct lineages associated with the name "Colossus" in the cultivation community: | There are at least three distinct lineages associated with the name "Colossus" in the cultivation community: |
| === From Trouts Notes: === | === From Trouts Notes: === |
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| "Trichocereus collosus Hort. AKA Trichocereus colossus appears to be growing in the Berkeley Botanical Gardens. However, a closer look shows that a plant at this location was grown from Ritter’s Cereus colloseus Bolivia 66.0159 seeds obtained from H. Winter (in Germany) in 1966. Their records also clearly state that the plant at that location is now deceased. (Cereus colloseus is available in horticulture and is most decidedly a Cereus species.) Whatever is now growing in this spot at present is apparently anyone’s guess but most of us have followed Bob Ressler’s lead and refer to it as Trichocereus collosus. The three columns intruding from the left are puquiensis. Its location between T. puquiensis and Peru 65.0729 (both of which have been seen blooming together), the proximity of a sprinkler and the existence of good nurse plants have lead to our speculation that it might be a spontaneous hybrid. It is unlikely anything will ever be known with certainty. This name apears in horticulture but the reality is those plants arose from collected seed. It should be stressed that it actually entered horticulture when a cactus grower pocketed their seed pods from the UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens one September and then distributed some of the resulting seedlings among a number of cactus collectors. As the Trichocereus species are largely self-sterile, these are most likely of an unclear hybrid parentage.This situation is the general case for most Trichocereus seeds nicked from botanical gardens." | "Trichocereus collosus Hort. AKA Trichocereus colossus appears to be growing in the Berkeley Botanical Gardens. However, a closer look shows that a plant at this location was grown from Ritter’s Cereus colloseus Bolivia 66.0159 seeds obtained from H. Winter (in Germany) in 1966. Their records also clearly state that the plant at that location is now deceased. (Cereus colloseus is available in horticulture and is most decidedly a Cereus species.) Whatever is now growing in this spot at present is apparently anyone’s guess but most of us have followed Bob Ressler’s lead and refer to it as Trichocereus collosus. The three columns intruding from the left are puquiensis. Its location between T. puquiensis and Peru 65.0729 (both of which have been seen blooming together), the proximity of a sprinkler and the existence of good nurse plants have lead to our speculation that it might be a spontaneous hybrid. It is unlikely anything will ever be known with certainty. This name appears in horticulture but the reality is those plants arose from collected seed. It should be stressed that it actually entered horticulture when a cactus grower pocketed their seed pods from the UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens one September and then distributed some of the resulting seedlings among a number of cactus collectors. As the Trichocereus species are largely self-sterile, these are most likely of an unclear hybrid parentage. This situation is the general case for most Trichocereus seeds nicked from botanical gardens." |
| ===== Community Discussion & Citations ===== | ===== Community Discussion & Citations ===== |
| //Analysis of the discussion reveals significant distinction between the various plants circulating under the "Colossus" moniker, warning growers not to conflate Misplant's offerings with the historical clone documented by Keeper Trout.// | //Analysis of the discussion reveals significant distinction between the various plants circulating under the "Colossus" moniker, warning growers not to conflate Misplant's offerings with the historical clone documented by Keeper Trout.// |
