True Dyckia fosteriana

Dyckia fosteriana

Yours doesn´t look like this?
Maybe it is not a fosteriana at all.
Dyckias fosterianas are all superb plants.
But they all have a particularity an eccentricity that is fatal to its perpetuation when out of its wilderness place: This plant doesn´t clones! So the only way to multiply this baby is relying on its seeds and seeds are not trustable things.
That is why yours barely resembles this one here. If it does at all.
Take a look around the Net and you will promptly see what I mean.

Dyckia ibiramensis

Dyckia ibiramensis
This rarity was my first Dyckia ever along Dyckia brevifolia.
My grand mother had this plant in her garden more than a hundred years ago.
She used those plants in order to prevent her beloved peacocks from eating the rose buds.
Extremely rare in wilderness and everywhere on earth meanwhile cloning easily and promptly.

Dyckia Red Devil - a most interesting American hybrid

This is an American clone of an American Hybrid.
Red Devil is a funny and most appropriated name.
The plant is real red and very pugnacious.
It really doesn´t waste time when the order is to take blood out of you.
Clones itself easily.

Another Dyckia sp from the Northeastern Santa Catarina Dyckia complex

An absolutely beautiful Dyckia that blooms
in big conspicuous orange flowers.

A green Dyckia marnier-lapostolei?

No, of course not, baby.
This is Dyckia Mundo (World, Welt, Mondo)
Hybrid!!!!
Dyckia marnier flowers were pollinated by
Dyckia brevifolia Izabel pollen on May 05th, 2007.

Seeds were ready in October 05th, 2007.

The very first seeds germinated just a whole month later.
No , there is nothing of Dyckia platyphylla in here!I luv these plants. Then stand rain and the marnier get ugly if they get rain. Dyckia marnier when left here in the rain they look like
a peacock after a heavy rain. The difference is the bird just dries out the feathers and everything is fit again. the plant take ages to reorder itself.

Organic fertilizing ....

Half the seeds that produced this plant were given to a plant curious and most stubborn
man in Porto Alegre. This guy is always reinventing the wheel
and of course the germination was poor and the surviving of the seedlings a total and complete disaster.
Do not reinvent the wheel.
In order to germinate a Dyckia seed demands:
humidity - acidity - light - warm
The temperature should be above 16 degrees Centigrade
The ideal temperature may stays in between 21 and 26 degrees Centigrade.
...and the wheel? ...the wheel is round!

In Nature the substrate is constantly renewed piece by little piece.
Fallen leaves and old broken bush sticks, old grass killed by the winter cold, tiny animals corpses, lichens, fungi freed from the stone surface above the plant,
and what may the dew and rain water and the wind bring to the Dyckia´s feet.
This fertilizer feeds the fungi and this fungi feed the plant.
Dyckia are good forks! They are ever good at table.
Install a healthy Dyckia on a pot and forget the feeding is a nonsense.
Dyckias must be feed frequently.
This process or way to feed them is a practical and easy task but this is not the only way we have to feed a Dyckia. They must feed through the under leaves stomata.

Against all the odds this plant here is a young seedling and it is native to South.
One could swear it is a plant from the Cerrado but it is not. This plant gets sole red all over.
Comes from North Center Rio Grand do Sul. It is a small sized species
New, rare and nameless.

Look at the flower spike we´ve been following

From Northeastern Santa Catarina

Yes, this is a species. New, fresh and unnamed.
It get even more red that this and spends the summer in deep green.
It comes from a cold mountain region where all nights are cool.
This is not a rubra nor red form.
The plant changes color according to the season. Yes the leaves do not fall in winter.
The under leaves are always much scaled and beautiful.
In very hot summer days the plant uprights the leaves in order to reflect the scorching sun rays and protect the growing center of the rosette.

Cachoeira Dourada - MG - A Dyckia for those who like them silver.

That is for those who like them silver and a bit bigger.
Yes, this is species. It is said to be in process of description.
Never bloomed here but has cloned itself madly.

New Dyckia fosteriana. Dyckia fosteriana nivosa or Dyckia fosteriana lapeana

This are smaller than the type form of Dyckia fosteriana and also seem to be the
Southernmost variety of Dyckia fosteriana.
Rare in wilderness and in culture.

Easily looses its silver scales for the rain water.
The plants in wilderness have their tops white ´cause the new growth area
preserves the silvery scales.
So the proposed name Dyckia fosteriana nivosa ( Snowy)

In nature they are found growing on rocks in the middle of a fig plantation
Nude fig trees look like creatures from Mars.
These Dyckias share their habitat with a very numerous little yellow flowered Notocatus.
The plant is well protected on this farm. The land owners love and care about this plant.
They said there seem to exist just one more population a bit North their lands

Dyckia delicata - For your eyes and for your soul.

"You will never find another luv like mine.
No matter where you search..."
That old American tune, do you remember?

... and I say: u will never find another Dyckias like this...
no matter where you search...."
For the eyes, baby.
God was on a lousy day after dancing the samba in Rio de Janeiro.
Those mulatas left Him dizzy..he forgot those beloved plants he made
in a balmy fresh day... In His way down to Tango dancing in Buenos Aires some of His most estimated plants feall down along the way leaving a patch of Dyckias...
In Paraná the first to fell was Dyckia fosteriana lapeana (Lapa-PR). In Santa Catarina the ones that fell were Dyckia sp Perau da Cabrita and Dyckia brevifolia Izabel.
In Rio Grande do Sul He was so afflicted by the closeness He was listening the Tango music far way South he lost control he Dyckia hebdingii, Lagoão, Vila and some more fell.
Some say when He returned to heaven He had many explanations to be made.
Heavens´gardeners are all looking for those missed babies.
He is a very good Tango and Samba Dancer in spite of being a lousy Gardener sometimes, just sometimes.

Drool! No, forget the napking!
Bring the bath towel, baby.

Lagoão- RS . Yes, Species! Dyckia sp Lagoão-RS

The region this baby choose to live in wilderness is almost the same as the one
Dyckia delicata did. There it is cold in winter and every night is fresh even the summer ones.
Mountain, Serra Gaúcha.

"I can´t stop loving you..."Like that old Americam song..

Species, baby!
Dyckia hebdingii!!!
That is from Arroio dos Ratos a very ugly little town and one of the three
points of the Gaucho Dyckia Triangle.
Now tell the truth: isn´t it for the drooling?
Farmers there remove them from the rocks and dump them in a lagoon to
exterminate them. They said fire does no harm to them. Yes, I heard that.
That is a sin! That is not just ignorance. I trembled while listening. The farmer said, to my dismay: Ah, here in my lands you won´t find any. Look at the neighbour´s land. He is a lousy farmer so he may have it at plenty.
Some special species have even more special individuals.
This one here fell down from heavens above.
This was to be grown just in Paradise but ...God was
take a look at The Brazilian Mulatas in Rio and was still dizzy in His way to Buenos Aires.
Lord did not notice the plant falling down the divine basket...
Maybe, just maybe He did on purpose, maybe.
Enlarge this picture, it is worth the trouble.

Dyckia or Garavata? No picture to see and most to think.

Hummm do you find hard to spell this miserable name? Imagine us. Naming plants has being ,in Human History, a matter of who first arrives. In South America the first historically were Europeans. The Iberians after much quarrel decided to come and since years ago they tried to make us all believe they were the very first to set feet here. Now nobody convince us of that and they were the first to assault us, to destroy, kill in order to fulfil the Church and the State treasures with gold, silver and precious gems and woods and a long array of most needed thing. History proved the Europeans were the true barbarians and this in all senses. These guys Destroyed civilizations here and a bit upper in Central and North America. A few decade ago European settlers here in Santa Catarina used to send deeply sick people from contagious sicknesses to meet native tribes. Our Indians died like flies and this was not long ago. My grand mother saw this! Her younger daughter Izabel my mother was born in 1912. There was no electricity, telegraph was not here. Just a few could read and write. No road no nothing. European settlers here adored their traveling counterparts no matter who and in most the cases invaders with their minds full of preconceptions and kinkiness. Our plants went to other side of the Atlantic to get names nobody could spell it correctly. It was a very interesting thing to do to have a little piece of the new tropics at home. It meant wealthy, richness and everyone who could afford one had a Victorian (Queen Victory was never nude, not even did her doctor and not left aside her husband. I was all under covers.) Crystal Palace no matter it was just a small bottle. But the guy was a prince... Oh, my...Germany alone had so many princes and princesses they did not know what to do with them and most were exported to England and Russia, Austria and Hungary and ... some not a bit sound minded. The prince was a gardener and so and so... everybody were... imagine there were not many chances for one soul to get out of the stinking wintered rooms. Set aside stay close to that unbathed hairy pitted sour sorry souls spouses. No merit in being that. Yes, at that time... Yes, this is it! Precisely at that time people were fulfilled to the top with preconceptions. Indians had no soul even were not human beings even so if they were they were just like dogs and not a most estimated one. They were to be chase, killed, hunt.Those dogs lived for millenniums here. Some had cities and much better and bigger cities than any in Europe at that time. They knew these impressive plants and they named them as the plant with many spines: GARAVATA!
They were less than a hunting dog and even much less valuable. In many cases they were a pest to be won.... Garavata? Never! Dyckia!The name must had never crossed ones mind in Europe. Why?Why should anyone bother? Man eater feathered less than beasts beings....It would never be a surprise..an European would lend a name...normal. Things were this way.
...and now? Yes, now. Thing are that way too?For God sake! Dyckia is an outrageous horrendous name humiliating unacceptable name. Let us find a grass at the Mont Blanch to name, a violet somewhere else...
Time to remedy that! It is possible and more than just possible, necessary.
Green minded? Does a green intelligent and cult mind accept this? No, absolutely not.
...and now a question, a bizarre one: Dyckia, reminds you of what? Yes, that is it. Yes, pale faced, precisely that.
Ah, I am a pale face myself.
One must dare to change...do you how a castle begin? ....with one single stone....

Dyckia argentea

Dyckia argentea
Yes, species and...and rare, baby.
Do you remember that polka doted Zebra? Plain common place!

Science was so precise, so careful in order to hide its findings as they were the last ticket to Heavens the guys lost track of this creature.
Yes , this is a phantom!!!!
This a true species and yes this is Dyckia argentea!
How did I get it?
We are having a popular TV series and one character says constantly when put into a corner:
"I´d rather not to comment!"
So I do the same and make hers, my words:
I would rather not to comment....

These plants here are a true miracle.
Yes they came from the wilderness, yes.
They still have much to improve and
I also have the rubra form of it and just for pure
luck and in spite all odds.

Imagine, all reports and descriptions are so well guarded that
what was left is a kind of Dodo empty
egg shell in the British Museum of Natural History or
Something like that.
Moths´ leftovers into an abandoned drawer.
Publications? Yes, one is obliged to publish the description of a new plant.
Here publish means put into a bulletin directed to the scientists to read... no, I am positively sure even them will.
Nobel prize? What?What is this?
Not a single one, an only one!
Ask them why and they will blame everyone and everything but never themselves.
That is why our plants have stranger names like Dyckia a far grotesque name and a totally unreasonably one.
We, our native Indians had a name for these plants for more than a millennium. They had already named these plants long before Columbus arrived Central America to begin the great destruction in total ignorance and greed.
Gravatá or Garavatá is the Tupy/Guarani name for them. This word is understood in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and so on...the whole Dyckia territory.
Science was ever biased and full of prejudice.
That is why a ridiculous German prince got the honor.
Time to change that. Time to correct that error.
That outrageous one against our native indian name.
We must get back and redo, remake and make it better!
Maybe for the first time ever, thinking.

Gravata argentea!

Sounds better and definitely better. No doubt!

Dyckia minarun - Minas Gerais

Dyckia minarum
Yes! True species!

These were wild collected.
They revealed to be so stubborn in order to answer my cares and prayers
I do believe if I had taken two seeds the seedlings should be
bigger than these plants here.

It took exactly three eras, two ice ages, two whole years,
some months, a few more weeks, and half a day plus two hours and some minutes more to get where and how they are here.
This must be the most stubborn plant on the face of Earth.
I used to say to a botanist friend of mine this plant was a waste of time, a true shame for the entire Dyckia population. The plant produced mostly unwillingly just six ugly leaves and then went into vacation maybe up North. It was not a half sleep, no. It was a half death.
I was about to do the same as my eccentric artist friend uses to do when facing this sort of situation: take the suborn plant no matter how rare and precious it might be and just shot it on the roof without piety nor regret. Just leave it there, the way it falls and forget do not eve look back.
Then one day he climbs up the roof to make some repairs and what he finds: A luxuriant forest with the most expensive and rare plants.
By a rat´s bristle this plant failed to live on my roof...
I think the dam plant read my thoughts, the innermost ones.
...and took matters own its own hands and turned into these beautiful Dyckias.

Dyckia choristaminea - Morro do Carvão - RS

Dyckia choristaminea has a wide range within the center east part of Rio Grande do Sul including downtown the Beautiful and charming capital Porto Alegre. This was the plant shows some significant particularities regarding to the region it comes from.
This one comes from Morro do Carvão Northeast Porto Alegre.
It is the Northernmost variety of Dyckia Choristaminea.

Here it is making a blooming stem.
This variety is smaller then the type species
and the leaves are a bit narrower and much more colorful.

The American always creative minded say this is The Spaghetti Plant.
Yes, it really looks like specially when crowded in clumps.
This is an extraordinary plant. Showed to be very very
difficult to adapt to the cultivation rules.

Dyckia sp - São Tomé das Letras - Minas Gerais

This is a small gracious brand new Dyckia species from Minas Gerais.
I gets redder and the flowers are said to be red and conspicuous.

Dyckia da Santa - Serra Gaúcha - RS

Yes! Species of course my darling!
A very exiting novelty from the South.
Coffee colored spines, multi leaved, blue/green silver big Dyckia.
Flowers are tiny numerous and yellow.
Seeds are minuscule to tiny.
Never, never clones itself! Reproduces by seeds only.

Dyckia disthachia rubra form

Recently moved to a roomy shallow pottery basin.
Yes true species and absolutely super hipper rare.
The plant pups easily. Lives close to water, running white waters.
Soon even this wide mouthed pot will be not large enough.
In nature the plant forms clumps that seen from far away look like ant nests.

Two of the most strinking Dyckia species...

Dyckia beatea and Dyclia goehringii
Both beautiful plants and special within their own species. These were careful chosen amid many.
They clone themselves easily so I will take the opportunity to make a dream Dyckia.
Look, they are preparing flowers at the very same time and schedule.
Sure I will. Both these plants already gave me eight clones each. If I keep everything I will need the roof sooner than I thought.
I think we may have some very special hybrids from these cross and one thing is for sure: The first time ever all over the world.

Dyckia gradeae ( name still not official)

This wonderful Dyckia comes from North Goiás.
Blooms in conspicuous flowers what is quite rare for a plant from that area.
It seems not to produce fertile own seeds and also seems to be a plant that never shots
any sprout nor pups.
Born to be rare to extra super rare.

Dyckia excelsa

A big species from Mato Grosso. It thrives on almost pure naked bare rocks in some spots of its habitat. It endures one of the most terrific climates. The sun here can be a torment to any living creature. The region is the heart (geocenter) of South America.
The plant can get reddish all over.
The latin name means exalted.

This species is threatened by orchidophylists who use this Dyckia stem to cultivate an orchid species said to to good on this type of culturing.
People who should be well acquainted to preserving are just those who destroy to extinction this plant.