Dear Jane:
How interesting to hear you mentioning lovely Bonnie. That
expedition was a memorable time, the fourth member was a man from a Texas
Botanic Garden. Lot of fun.
IF THIS PLANT IS BEING CULTIVATED IN NORTH AMERICA AS YOU
SAY, other than the couple of original specimens to make the herbarium
vouchers, etc., is a result of the plundering expeditions that have been
taken of late, mostly from people from Germany that come and wipe out the
populations of the rarer cacti TO SELL, like these that are true geophytes,
the aerial part being a fleshy" button with a big underground "tuber".
If you people see these extremely unusual cacti for sale, do
make your contribution to Nature by not buying them no matter how mouth
watering they look and spread the word. Wild populations are small and these
Germans collect them to the last plant. Extensive evidence of recent
activities of the kind leave only the spots plain bare. AND, these cacti are
extremely slow growing therefore it is impossible that they have adult "seed
grown" plants.
I appeal to your decency and conscience to spread the word,
people. I know most of you are here for your love of plants and would not
render a species extinct for childish greed.

All the best
Alberto
Ezeiza Botanical Garden
Argentina

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