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Growers Notes... New Species or Not??

Lophophora Diffusa var. fricii La Pa

Lophophora Diffusa var. fricii from the area of La Pa Mexico in the south-western part of Coahuila Mexico surrounding the Viesca Basin, and is most definitely my favourite of all the fricii group of plants. This plant is very similar in nature to the other fricii designated plants but tends to have a nicer body tone and softness unequalled by the others. This is also possibly the most prolific flowerer in the group, pushing many pups with age and flowers ranging from light pink to the bright and sometimes quite dark and deep shades of fuchsia through magenta. As a self sterile member of the Diffusa family, it requires cross pollination and in turn produces large bright red seed pods as shown further down the page containing upwards of twenty seeds each.

L. Diffusa var. fricii from the area of La Pa tend to have very good germination percentages and plant maturity can be reached in less than a year and a half, producing many wonderfully coloured flowers as shown in the plants here below. Unfortunately my camera skills are not what they should be so I am not able to offer you shots depicting the true beauty and colour of these fine plants except by accident.

Above: Year and a half old Lophophora Diffusa var. fricii from La Pa

Above: Three year old single headed specimen of Lophophora Diffusa var. fricii from La Pa

Above: Lophophora Diffusa var. fricii from La Pa seed pod

Above: Seventeen month old Lophophora Diffusa var. fricii uprooted seedlings from La Pa