Monadenium ellenbeckiiHome | E-mail | Photo gallery | Mail Sale Catalogue 
      | Grafting | Guestbook | Dictionary |  Winter test | Links | Search
                   Monadenium ellenbeckiiCACTUS ART
                  NURSERY
                  Cultivation and Mail Sale 
                  of Cacti and Succulents.



                  The "Octopus Arms" forms sleek stems covered with a velvety 
                  kelly-green epidermis and art-deco groves on round surfaces, 
                  that look like corduroy. This species is slightly rhizomatous, 
                  and (with time) forms a cluster of small branches. Supposedly 
                  tipped with green cymes that get a nice pink, if getting 
                  direct sunlight.
                   
                  Description: M. ellenbeckii is a low-growing shrubby succulent 
                  perennial herb with fleshy, serpent-like stems that emerge 
                  from a central base
                  Stems: Thin bright/light green, fleshy, columnar or creeping, 
                  and shortly rhizomatous. Several to 50 cm or up to 1,5 m long 
                  when supported, few branches, up to 15 mm , with 4 
                  longitudinal groves below.
                  Leaves: Scar-like, forming occasionally, weakly attached at 
                  the branch tips, sessile obovate, ovate to 10 x 8 mm, fleshy 
                  minutely puberulous.
                  Flowers: Yellow-green, 1 to 2 forked flower-like cymes which 
                  can become pink-toned in full sun, 1-1,5 cm across, peduncles 
                  to 5 mm.
                  Blooming season: Summer.
                   
                  Cultivation: On the whole it adapts to cultivation without 
                  much difficulty. It spreads by underground shoots and with 
                  time forms large clumps, therefore requiring a broader pot.  
                  It responds to half-sun or bright filtered light, and does 
                  well under a shade tree or under a patio. Generally, any 
                  quick-draining succulent soil mix will suit it, and the 
                  snake-like stem will do well with water about once a week in 
                  the warmer months. It needs to be kept drier in winter and 
                  whenever not growing actively (about every three-four weeks or 
                  so, depending on temperatures).  However, this species seems 
                  to hate being wet for any extended period, and can rot easily 
                  (especially in winter) if overwatered. Monadenium ellenbeckii, 
                  due to its African origin, cannot tolerate freezing 
                  temperatures, and should be protected from cold (but should be 
                  able to handle 7 degrees C very easily). 
                  Propagation: Cuttings, seeds 
                  Family: Euphorbiaceae
                  Scientific name:  Monadenium ellenbeckii N. E. Brown, Dyer, 
                  Fl. Trop. Afr. 6. I. 454., 1911

                  Origin:  Ethiopia, Somalia, and northern Kenya.
                  Habitat: Rocky slopes with open shrubs  1200-1750 m. Most of 
                  their habitat, though dry, is tropical in temperature, lacking 
                  the extremes of cold and utter aridity that mark the domains 
                  of some of the most specialized forms of succulent plants.
                  Common Names include: "Octopus Arms"
                  Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

                  Leaves are scar-like on branch tips;  they are ephemeral  and  
                  weakly attached.


             


             


            A Special Thanks to all Those Who help us to make this web site 
            with their photo, time, comments.

      The photos in  this site are subject to copyright. Images may not be 
      copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written 
      permission of CACTUS ART nursery and the original photographer.
      Home | E-mail | Photo gallery | Mail Sale Catalogue | Grafting | Guestbook 
      |  Dictionary |  Winter test | Links | Search
