BCSS Macclesfield & East Cheshire Branch

Newsletter June 2008

Mammillaria polythele Photo: Mike Ashworth

Mike’s plant (see article, which he bought from John Pilbeam 5 years ago, has been known for quite a number of years and it has picked up a variety of names during its career in the nursery trade, where it is believed to have originated, rather than in the wild. Cultivar names associated with it and indicating its availability in several countries include ‘Inermis’, ‘Sin pico’ and ‘Stachellos’. It is regarded by some as a monstrose form because examples are seen that flower form the apex of the tubercles as well as from the axils (the normal site for a Mammillaria). Mike’s example looks like one of the nicer forms with hardly any spines at all. I raised one from seed a few years ago which had a few spines but not enough to make it a proper M. polythele. It was an intermediate form and just looked downright untidy.

"All in all, it looks like there will be never a dull moment in 2008." I said this in the March Newsletter and, personally, it has been true, maybe too true. For various reasons, over the last three months, but all in connection with the BCSS, I’ve found myself in Crosby, Hardwicke (near Gloucester), Lancaster, Leicester (twice), Milton Keynes and Inverness. Particularly memorable was my visit to Inverness where I was judging the Scottish Zone Show. There were some splendid plants on display and it was amazing the distance that some of the exhibitors had travelled - some more than 200 miles. Highlands & Islands, who hosted the event, is quite a small branch but the members did a wonderful job in organisation and catering.

So far, my words have not quite been equally true from the Branch point of view but hold on to your hats, folks, here we go - floating garden, Congleton Park Garden Festival, Branch/Wilmslow Show, Tatton, National Show, Poynton Show, Zone 19 Symposium, and the North West Mesemb Show. There is one aspect where things have been rather quiet and that is in dealing with the flow of helpers, exhibitors and ticket buyers. However, its not too late to offer your support, I’m sure you’ll enjoy yourself and the committee would very much appreciate it.

— Alasdair Glen

• Trev's Topics — Trevor Shannon (chairman)
• Obituary — Ian Haworth
• My First Cactus: Mammillaria polythele — Mike Ashworth
• More of Trev's Topics — Trevor Shannon
• The Cheshire Floating Garden Festival