I think the second one is Opuntia monacantha. Its a bit confusing since it seems to be showing both normal and monstrose growth.

Dawn,

I believe the first one is Trichodiadema densum.

Emy

Dawn, no.1 is Trichodiadema maybe densum or bulbosum, both of these species form caudexes, they have purple flowers.
Bulbosum flowers are only about a couple of centimetres across I think, and densum flowers (and leaves) are bigger... or is it the other way around??

CP

Thanks Emy and CP. The Densum have larger flowers. I think about 2". I have had this plant for 3 years and it never flowered. Whats the proper care for these. Do they flower at a certain age?

Dawn

The Tricho looks like bulbosum to me. I have 3 Trichos,, bulbosum, aff. mirabilis and intortum, and bulbosum is very distinct havoing small tight leaves.
And the Opuntia is another I have,(monacantha fma. monstruosa) tho yours looks to have some variegation!

Some idea of scale would be helpful. T. densum has much larger leaves. I would go with T. densum but that's just my impression and I don't know much about these plants.

Pic #2 is Opuntia monacantha 'Variegata', (Joseph's coat).. I may hit you for a cutting of plant #1 in the future!! :-)
Bill in SC

Bill, Ask me in spring and I will see what I can do to hook you up.

Dawn

Dawn I just checked in my Jacobsen Lexicon, he describes bulbosum as having leaves 5 to 8 mm long, and densum leaves 15-20mm long.
He describes a number of other species also which I believe are now reduced to synonymy within just a few species.
I have'nt seen either of these plants for like a gazillion years, but I used to grow them in my standard cactus mix. From memory they are summer growers, enjoy a dry winter rest, and flower spring/summer.

CP

The leaves on the Tricho are about 1" long.

Dawn

Larry mentioned Tricho mirabile, which has leaves that can vary between 12-26mm in length and has a white flower 4cm across, no caudex.
There ar several others with leaves to 25mm.

Two things that would help to narrow this little fellow down is...
1. Does it have, or is it producing a caudex?, as many do not form a caudex.
2. Flower colour? When yours flowers we'll get a better idea.
Flower colours range from white, pink, violet, red/crimson and yellow!
BTW, Backeberg lists about 36 different species with several varieties and forms.

CP

This plant has never bloomed for me. I have had it for about 2 and a half years now.It looks to be starting a caudex. I will un-pot it and see whats going on under the soil. I pretty sure it is a Dansum

Dont forget the colour oif the diademas at the end of the leaves.
They look like white stars with either a white or yellow centre depending on the species.
In fact they remmind me of the areoles on a leuchtenbergia,only much much smaller.

I unpotted it and it does have a caudex, a nice one too. I repotted it so that the caudex is above the soil.

Dawn

Here is a pic of the caudex

{{gwi:478208}}

Dawn