+ Myrtillocalycium cv. POLYP    (Chimera)
(Myrtillocactus cochal + Gymnocalycium mihanovichii cv. RED HIBOTAN)

+ Myrtillocalycium "POLYP"  Two cacti in one !!!
 

M. cochal

Description: Myrtillocalycium 'Polyp' is a graft chimera (bigeneric cactus chimaera) between Myrtillocactus cochal and Gymnocalycium cv. Red Hibotan, it is a very colourful red and green columnar cactus This plant is quite unstable and have a tendency to revert to common red Gymnocalycium shoots.

Chimeras in the the Cactaceae family: Chimaeras of plants belonging to the Cactaceae family are very rare and quite unusual in cultivation. The first chimera + Hylocalycium (Hylocereus undatus  + Gymnocalycium mihanovichii forma rubra “cv. Red Hibotan”),  was described in cactus & succ .J. of America 1987 61- 4 2,
Recently some other chimerical cactus have been signalled in internet for example:

• + Myrtillocalycium (Myrtillocactus geometrizans + Gymonocalycium cv. Red Hibotan )  
• + Myrtillocalycium  (Myrtillocactus cochal + Gymonocalycium cv. Red Hibotan )  
• Gymnocalycium mihanovichii v. fleischerianum + Echinopsis tubiflora.
• Gymnocalycium mihanovichii v. fleischerianum + Hylocereus guatamalensis
• Ariocarpus retusus +  Echinopsis eyriesii

Chimeras-graft appear more frequently among Ariocarpus than among any other genus on stock of either Echinopsis sp. or Myrtillocactus geometrizans.)

In some ornamental plants chimaeras may be the result of lengthwise implanting and sophisticated techniques, a possible methods include cutting the stem at the midpoint and combining the lobes of stock and scion. It is supposed that the miscellaneous tissues in the joint point can accrete and give life to an adventitious new plant "chimera". But - as we know - nobody till now has succeeded to make cacti chimera on purpose. Circumstances which cause the chimera to appear include huge numbers of grafts.

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Scientific name:  + Myrtyllocalycium cv. "POLYP"

(Chimerical cultivar between Myrtillocactus cochal + Gymnocalycium mihanovichii cv. RED HIBOTAN)

Origin:  Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix ?

Etymology: It is thought to be a graft-chimaeras between Mytillocactus cochal and Gymnocalycium mihanovichii  cv. RED HIBOTAN. Its generic name + Myrtilloclycium comes from those of its parents ("Mytillocactus" and "Gymnocalycium") A graft-chimaeras can be given their own genus name (which is a combination of the two constituent generic names) preceded by a + sign.

Culture: They are semi hardy, make sure that your Myrtillocalycium  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. Repotting should be done every other year or when the plant has outgrown its pot. Exposure: Light shade.

Propagation: Cuttings in summer (Cuttings will root only in hot weather. Cuttings must be kept very dry to root) or grafting

Photo of cactus chimeras.

• + Ortegopuntia cv. PERCY
• + Myrtylloclycium cv POLYP