Texas

[AllenK RGV]

I think that's a dragon fruit cactus. I could easily be wrong though, but the shape and flowers look like it to my untrained eye.

Its an ech......... species is all I know. The tuna does resemble dragon fruit though, except, if you dig into one the pulp is highly liquid with seeds.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Ok previously I had posted pictures of Acanthocereus pentagonus all I can say is this is in the same Genera or Family. http://www.thedauphins.net/rgv_native_cacti_and_succulents.html
For the credit so if I am wrong credit goes to thedauphins.

https://cactiguide.com/cactus/?genus=Acanthocereus&species=tetragonus

Is my best guess as to what it is, description of the 4 lobes stems and spike morphology matches, however, flower is an almost identical match excepting the shape of my cactus to its petals being flattened on top. Night Blooming may explain why my flowers have a deflated appearance.

 

[dpenning]

Th

I have several cacti in flower right now. It seems the prickly pear are giving me a round 2 this year normally they only bloom in the spring. Here is another. I have no idea what its scientific name is anymore all I know is this one is a native, also that I need to sharpen up a machete and trim it down. Then I can remove its support tree to grow into its natural form. That flower is not wilted that is a fresh one and it seems this tickle bee is up to the pollinating challenge. It seems as though the local wildlife are going to have plenty of tuna this year, unfortunately, the green jays leave loads of wine colored poop stains everywhere on our porch when it is tuna season. View attachment 1916732 View attachment 1916733 :

That cactus is amazing! We had a problem with prickly pear all over our property when we bought it. Took two years of chemical warfare to eradicate it from open areas with Tordon. Evil stuff.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Interesting that you mentioned it. This morning I got started on digging prickly pear out but just the babies. Then used the chainsaw to cut the big Ba@$#%ds out that grew through the chain link fencing. I'm tired of just mowing the little ones over so dug about 20-30 of those out and am not even 1/2 way done but sweated up a storm and called it quits.
I have hope that they might compost well with frequent turning of the 55 gallon barrel. But think they will probably just go to root in there. No clue on that one.

That cactus is amazing! We had a problem with prickly pear all over our property when we bought it. Took two years of chemical warfare to eradicate it from open areas with Tordon. Evil stuff.

 

[dpenning]

Interesting that you mentioned it. This morning I got started on digging prickly pear out but just the babies. Then used the chainsaw to cut the big Ba@$#%ds out that grew through the chain link fencing. I'm tired of just mowing the little ones over so dug about 20-30 of those out and am not even 1/2 way done but sweated up a storm and called it quits.
I have hope that they might compost well with frequent turning of the 55 gallon barrel. But think they will probably just go to root in there. No clue on that one.

They will go to root. cut off a piece and toss it on the ground and you will have a new plant. We started trying to dig them out and put them in a burn pile but the prickly part is a bi7ch. Hubs finally went for his applicator license so he could get the good stuff to kill them.

 

[dpenning]

Prickly Pear is the cockroach of the cacti world. Nasty stuff.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Prickly Pear is the cockroach of the cacti world. Nasty stuff.

I did give all the pears a very liberal stabbing with my large garden fork to create wounds to all the pears for the roaches and other flora of my compost bin to invade. This morning saw me scalping the Johnson/Dallas grass to the ground and dumped a good 16 inches of clippings over them.

1/2' rain from yesterday, saw 6" of dallas grass growth in 24 hours as I had scalped out a section yesterday before the rain.

I have faith in my methods.

 

[dpenning]

I did give all the pears a very liberal stabbing with my large garden fork to create wounds to all the pears for the roaches and other flora of my compost bin to invade. This morning saw me scalping the Johnson/Dallas grass to the ground and dumped a good 16 inches of clippings over them.

1/2' rain from yesterday, saw 6" of dallas grass growth in 24 hours as I had scalped out a section yesterday before the rain.

I have faith in my methods.

We are still battling Dallas grass, my beloved hates that as much as I hate prickly pear! Does burying it deep keep it from coming back?

 

[AllenK RGV]

We are still battling Dallas grass, my beloved hates that as much as I hate prickly pear! Does burying it deep keep it from coming back?

The St Augustine section of my lawn, seems to kill it but the bermuda parts lose to it. Unfortunately, St Augustine/Full Sun+3 months of drought in clay soils= Not much of that stuff left.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I was curious is anyone growing artichokes this year? My seed starts have failed x3 this year and first time we are trying them in the new home. I had bo issues when I was living 20 miles further inland.