5 July 2008
Tephrocactus und andere Feigenkakteen
Posted by Stuart under: Books; Cacti .
Until I came across this book by borrowing it from the library of my local branch of the BCSS, I had never before come across anything with such detailed cultivation advice for opuntioids.
I was sufficiently impressed with Michael Kießling’s work on this book that I was moved to order my own copy (from Uhlig Kakteen, who got it to me in impressive time).
What you get for your money is a really spectacular set of photographs illustrating a broad cross-section of (mostly) dwarf opuntioids, with cultivation advice given on a per-species basis, and particular attention paid to the treatment needed to induce flowering.
Kießling also provides some really helpful information on pests and diseases to which this group of plants is susceptible, including a bacterial disorder which has been puzzling me for years. If you are interested in opuntioids in general I can’t recommend this book highly enough, even though some of the classifications used may now raise a few eyebrows in the light of the taxonomy in the New Cactus Lexicon.
I’d also strongly recommend visiting Michael’s website, www.tephrowelt.de for another feast of visual delights and a great selection of plants and cuttings for sale.