SIR – In 1848, 20 years prior to the founding of the T&A, a botanist by the name of Hooker first described the plant genus Lechtenbergia.
It is a monotypic genus – the only species being L.principis, and was named for the then Prince of Leuchtenberg.
This weekend in Baildon, my plant of Leuchtenbergia principis opened a single large bud of burnished golden yellow (pictured) and released its perfume into the air.
The plant stems guide raindrops or mist droplets down the plant to the soil level to catch as much moisture as possible.
Its true home is the Hidalgo Area of Mexico.
This plant of the Cereus tribe of cacti typically has no true leaves – evolution disposed of them in most cacti.
The plant may not be pretty, but it is fascinating to see the scaly bud open into a thing of beauty, lasting for about four days.
I hope the picture of this plant might be of interest to T&A readers.
I C Gibbs, Fernbank Drive, Baildon
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