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[DansMaTete]

Ola, ola

I picked up some fruits of Melocactus intortus (endemic  cactus from leeward island) in the wild and i'd like to know what the best way to get the seeds. My best bet is to separate them manually from the pulp and let them dry but, you never know, it may have a better way. If you know, tell me.

The beast :


The fruits :


I did start seedling from them few month ago to test and i have few babies and now i'd like to grow more of them to put them back in the wild in few years as it's an endangered  species but if someone wants some seeds just ask (slow to grow !).

Local names are funny : (translated) english head or mother-in-law's seat 

4 Likes happyconcacti, Greentoe, fairdinkumseeds and Chicsa like this.

[misplant]

really only two choices on seed extraction....scrape 'em from the pulp while fresh or let the pods dry completely & then rub them between your thumb & fingers (my preferred method)

1 Like New Wisdom likes this.

[New Wisdom]

With small fruits like that I just open the fruit and pull out the seeds carefully. (Eat the fruit.) Then set them on a plate to dry in a cool, dry spot for a day then I just rub them around in my fingers after they're dry and the pulp falls off.  Then bag em 'n tag em.

[DansMaTete]

After more than one year my little project to grow those to put them back in the wild is doing well.
In 2 years, i guess they will be ready to be free and run in the wild  .

Few pics:

-1- The olders (prolly keep them for myself  )

-2- A part of the crowd, about 1 year old

-3- Same age but grown in full sun. Different looking, more spine(ish)

1 Like danzick likes this.