ISI 2000-18.Echinopsis "Lorelei" (1213-28). Flower to nearly 6 inches (14+ cm)across. Perianth segments progressively longer from inner petals outward to sepals. Inner petals generally moderate in width, oblong and minutely mucronate, primary ruffles somewhat strongly developed even when flower fully unfurled, outer color zone occupying most of petal, moderate light yellow, inner color zone not developed, midrib very light yellow to orange, long, nearly reaching base of petal (type 3 color pattern). Intermediate petals beautifully mucronate. Outer petals sharply acute or acuminate, sand yellow, midrib pink or yellow. Hymenate filaments short, light yellow, inner filaments darker yellow. Hymen light yellow. Stigma delicate green. Stem globular, to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter; central spines to 3/4 inch (18 mm) long. The yellow of the 'Lorelei'flower is not intense, but for those who might prefer a darker shade, the blossom's large size, gorgeous starlike form and handsomely shaped petals may make up for that perceived shortcoming. The name is derived from a German legend. A blonde, long-haired maiden, despondent over a broken love affair, threw herself into the Rhine River from a massive rock on the river's bank known as the Lorelei (or Loreley) and drowned. She was then changed into a siren, called the Lorelei, who lured fishermen to their deaths with her echo-like song, their ships crashing into the Lorelei rock and sinking into the Rhine. And if you listen closely to the flower...but no, you'd better not! Rooted cuts of HBG 85191. $7.50.

ISI 2000-19.Echinopsis "Margaret Martin" (949A-47).Flower to 5 inches (13 cm) across. Petals numerous, perianth segments progressively longer from inner petals outward to sepals. Inner petals rather small, generally narrow, oblanceolate, their tips intermediate between acute and obtuse, always aristate, outer color zone pink or peach, extending over at least one-half distal portion of petal, inner color zone, developed in remaining basal portion of petal, deep yellow, midrib darker pink or darker peach than outer color zone (type 1b color pattern). Outer petals sharply acute to mucronate, similar in color to inner petals, but with prominent purplish or greyish midstripe. Sepals also similarly colored to inners, but midstripe broader and darker than in outer petals. Filaments yellow. Hymen greenish-yellow. Stigma light green. Stem columnar, to 2+ inches (7 cm) in diameter; central spines to 3/4 inch (18 mm) long. The 'Margaret Martin' flower is striking owing to its numerous narrow petals, outstanding starlike form and beautiful transversely bicolored flowers, distally pink or peach and basally deep yellow. The flower is not particularly long-lasting, but its beauty more than compensates for that shortcoming. It is an honor and pleasure to name this wonderful plant for Miss Margaret J. Martin, a pioneer in the hybridizing of Echinopsis. Rooted cuts of HBG 85192. $7.50.

ISI 2000-20.Echinopsis "Minuet" (1406-1).Flower to 5+ inches (14 cm) across. Perianth segments petals progressively longer from inner petals outward to sepals. Inner petals typically rather narrow and elongate, elliptical and minutely mucronate to acute and prominently aristate, outer color zone occupying most of petal, pastel purplish-pink, inner color zone narrow, light yellowish, similarly colored small streak sometimes developed to sides of stripe, midrib dark pink (type 2 color pattern). Outer petals sharply acute to acuminate, color similar to inners. All anthers sterile, hymenate filaments white, inner stamens in small cluster within flower tube, their filaments delicate pink. Hymen relatively broad, white. Stigma white, with barest green tint. Stem globular, to about 3\274 inches (8+ cm) in diameter; central spines to 3/4 inch (20 mm) long. The 'Minuet' flower is distinguished by its lovely pink and yellow coloration and rather extensive pale central area surrounding the flower tube, the pale area the result of both a prominent white hymen--the result of the inner stamens being restricted to the central portion of the tube--and to the white hymenate filaments being splayed horizontally against the petal surfaces for most of their lengths. The flower seems to reflect the simplicity and grace of the 17th to 18th century dance after which 'Minuet' is named. Rooted cuts of HBG 85193. $7.50.

ISI 2000-21.Echinopsis "Mnemosyne" (1320-12). Flower to 4+ inches (11 cm) across. Inner petals rather narrow to moderate in width, oblong, tips almost obtuse, prominently aristate, usually essentially flat, outer color zone occupying most of petal, rich magenta, inner color zone not developed, midrib dark red, long, nearly reaching base of petal (type 3 color pattern). Outer petals similar in form and color to inners. Filaments rich purplish-red. Hymen pink. Stigma white, with barest touch of green. Stem columnar, to nearly 3-1/4 inches (8 cm) in diameter; central spines to 5/8 inch (15 mm) long. The strikingly colored 'Mnemosyne' flower is characterized by its gorgeous rich magenta outer color zone and contrasting dark red midrib. Adding to its beauty, a deep reddish glow appears at the basal portion of the petals under low light conditions. I named this hybrid 'Mnemosyne' in an effort to finally learn the spelling of Mnemosyne and how to pronounce Mnemosyne. Mnemosyne is the Greek goddess of memory, as I recall. And I hope this repetition works! Open cool. Rooted cuts of HBG 85194. $7.50.

ISI 2000-22.Echinopsis "Mystique" (721-39).Flower to 4+ inches (11 cm) across. Inner petals short, usually moderately broad, oblanceolate-acute, essentially flat, outer color zone occupying most of petal, dark magenta, broad, apparently pale magenta achromatic margin present, inner color zone narrow and stripelike, bronzy-orange, midrib light orange to dark pink (type 2 color pattern). Outer petals similar in form and color to inners. Filaments dark purplish-red. Hymen delicate greenish-yellow. Stigma dark green. Stem columnar, to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter; central spines to 1/2 inch (12 mm) long. The 'Mystique' flower is a beautiful and interesting melange of different hues. The petals are bicolored dark magenta and bronzy-orange--wonderfully tricolored when an apparently light magenta achromatic margin is developed--the filaments dark purplish-red, the hymen greenish-yellow and the stigma green. A veritable rainbow! The name 'Mystique' is just a nice, fancy word. Sorry to be so banal. Rooted cuts of HBG 85195. $7.50.

ISI 2000-23.Echinopsis "O Paradiso" (1405-10). Echinopsis 'O Paradiso' (1405-10). Flower to 4+ inches (11 cm) across. Inner petals varying from somewhat broad to very broad, recurved even at cooler temperatures, oblong-obtuse to oblanceolate-obtuse and lacerate, outer color zone a light tawny area at petal's tip, inner color zone occupying most of petal, moderately light yellow, midrib orangish (type 1b color pattern). Outer petals even broader than inners, mucronate and lacerate, similar in color to inner petals. Sepals light yellow, with grey midrib. Filaments yellow. Hymen light yellow. Stigma delicate green. Stem globular, to 3+ inches (9 cm) in diameter; central spines 1/4 inch (5 mm) long. The flower of 'O Paradiso' is especially desirable because of the combination of its yellow coloration and broad petals. If 'O Paradiso' is not my favorite yellow, then it is close to being so, even if its yellow is not the darkest. There is an operatic aria, O Paradiso, from the opera L'Africaine by Giacomo Meyerbeer, in which the tenor-protagonist, who plays Vasco da Gama, hails the countryside in which he finds himself as paradise. And here, in a daring and bold reinterpretation of that aria--please don't gasp at my derring-do!--I'm applying da Gama's praise to this hybrid! Rooted cuts of HBG 85196. $7.50.

ISI 2000-24.Echinopsis "Reverie" (1370-6). Flower to about 5+ inches (13+ cm) across. Petals narrow and numerous. Inner petals generally oblong-acute, outer color zone occupying most of petal, pale orangish-beige to light mauve with narrow, apparently pale orangish to beige achromatic margin, inner color zone not developed, midrib russet-orange, long, nearly reaching base of petal (type 3 color pattern). Outer petals similar in form to inners, but generally paler and sometimes with dark grey or yellow midstripe. Filaments pink. Hymen and stigma white. Stem barrel-like, to 5+ inches (14 cm) across; central spines to 1 inch (26 mm) long. Even if you are not partial to delicately colored flowers, you still might take great pleasure in the beautiful, sort of orangish-beige 'Reverie'. Moreover, when the flower does not open too fully, the pink color of filaments reflect against the base of petals, forming a pink circular glow around the opening to the flower tube. The gentle ambiance of the flower is reflected in the hybrid's name. Rooted cuts of HBG 85197. $7.50.

ISI 2000-25.Echinopsis "Samurai" (1654-11). Flower to 4+ inches (11 cm) across. Inner petals small, relatively moderate in width to broad, strongly recurved, oblong-obtuse and aristate, outer color zone mainly dark, dusky purple to bright pure magenta, inner color zone deep bronzy-orange to red, variable in extent, rather narrow to broad, midrib red, short (type 1a color pattern). Outer petals longer and narrower than inners, acute-aristate, moderately dark red in large part, or with powdery red central stripe and variously developed magenta sides. Sepals moderately dark red, with dark grey midstripe. Hymenate stamens conspicuously exserted, grouped in fascicles and forming wide ring, anthers large, fluffy, their cream color strongly contrasting to dark colors of petals, filaments and hymen dark purplish-red to dark waxy red. Stigma dark green. Stem semicolumnar, to 4+ inches (11 cm) in diameter; central spines to 1 inch (24 mm) long. The color of the 'Samurai' flower, ranging from an overall dark red to a stunning bicolored clear pure purple and red, to put it simply, is gorgeous. Augmenting the flower's beauty are the contrast of the cream-colored anthers against the dark petals, the magnificent dark waxy red stamen filaments and green stigma. The blossom is ambidextrous, forming a beautiful and colorful narrow, flared funnel at cool temperatures--even at temperatures above 21C--but still striking at warmer temperatures when fully unfurled. The name 'Samurai' refers to the warrior class of feudal Japan and reflects this hybrid's often overall dark red coloration--blood and guts, that sort of thing, you know. The samurai were famous for their brutal, fearless fighting prowess and willingness to commit seppuku--ritual suicide--in which they painfully sliced open their stomach in a carefully considered transverse cut to ensure that the resulting disembowling would be agonizing. It was an act in which they took great pride. Boy, am I glad I was born in Brooklyn! Rooted cuts of HBG 85198. $7.50.

ISI 2000-26.Echinopsis "Seance"(1394-12). Flower to 4 inches (10 cm) across. Inner petals usually narrow and elongate, satiny textured, oblanceolate-acute to obtuse, prominently aristate, essentially flat, outer color zone occupying most of petal, very dark, dusky magenta, inner color zone not developed, midrib dark vermilion to dark red, long, almost reaching base of petal (type 3 color pattern). Outer petals similar in form to inners, light grey, suffused with light red. Circle of hymenate stamens wide, two to three stamens deep, inner stamens filling almost entire circumference of flower tube, all anthers strongly contrasting to dark colors of petals, filaments very dark, waxy magenta. Hymen similar in color to that of filaments, but satiny in appearance. Stigma light green. Stem globular, to 2+ inches (7 cm) in diameter; central spines to 5/8 inch (15 mm) long. The 'Seance' flower, though relatively small, has always been one of my favorites. Its beautiful symmetrical form, impressive very dark, dusky magenta and reddish bicolored inner petals, pale outer petals which contrast in color intensity to the inners when the flower is partly open, attractive ring of stamens and puffy pale anthers that contrast strongly to the dark hues of the inner petals all make 'Seance' extremely desirable. Because of those dark, somber and rather mysterious colors, the name 'Seance' seems appropriate. Voices from the dead are not necessary to enjoy this great hybrid! Rooted cuts of HBG 85199. $7.50.

ISI 2000-27.Echinopsis "Spellbound"(1652-62). Flower to 5+ inches (14 cm) across. Perianth segments progressively longer from inner petals outward to sepals. Inner petals moderate in width to rather broad, oblanceolate-obtuse and aristate, essentially flat, outer color zone occupying most of petal, veiny rust-orange, inner color zone not developed, midrib orange, long, nearly reaching base of petal (type 3 color pattern). Outer petals acute and aristate to acuminate, similar in color to inners. Filaments rich vermilion. Hymen ranging from pale orangish to pink. Stigma dark green. Stem semicolumnar, to nearly 3+ inches (8 cm) in diameter; central spines to 1-3/8 inches (34 mm) long. The outstanding features of the 'Spellbound' flower are the beautiful dark rust-orange petals and the contrast between the petals and the dark vermilion filaments and dark green stigma, the stigma seeming to be bathed in a sea of contrasting cream-colored anthers. Partly open, the flower takes on a still deeper orange color. But are the colors really entrancing? Most definitely! You will be spellbound by them! (If you like orange, that is.) Whenever I see or think of 'Spellbound', the fervent, romantic melody from the Gregory Peck and Ingrid Bergman movie, Spellbound, echoes in my mind. It's a pleasurable experience. Rooted cuts of HBG 85200. $7.50.

ISI 2000-28.Echinopsis "Statesman" (847-36). Flower to 6 inches (15 cm) across. Perianth segments progressively longer from inner petals outward to sepals. Inner petals somewhat to moderately broad, oblanceolate-obtuse to truncate, lacerate and minutely aristate, outer color zone absent, inner color zone occupying most of petal, pure white, midrib with apical portion light purplish-pink, remainder white (type 4 color pattern).Outer petals acute, minutely aristate, pink and white coloration similar to 'Elegant Lady'. Sepals twisted, greyish or pinkish to sides, with dark grey midstripe. Hymenate stamens long, all filaments white. Hymen and recessed stigma white. Stem semicolumnar, to 4+ inches (11 cm) in diameter; central spines to 5/8 inch (17 mm) long. I still remember my excitement when 'Statesman' first flowered. The massive blossom was so magnificent, I couldn't believe I had produced such a fine hybrid. The rather broad white petals are handsomely touched with a pinkish midrib and the more strongly marked outers contrast handsomely to the inners. As in 'Elegant Lady', a pale pink outer color zone and white inner color zone are developed in the intermediate andouter petals but are not usually visible in the unfurled flower. Statesman's petals are not always perfect, becoming somewhat revolute when opening at warm temperatures, but the blossoms are always impressive. Noble and dignified, this hybrid will forever remain high in my estimation. Open cool. Rooted cuts of HBG 85201. $7.50.

ISI 2000-29.Echinopsis "Tuffet"(807-21). Flower to nearly 5 inches (12-1/2 cm) across. Inner petals relatively few, from somewhat broad to very broad, oblanceolate to spatulate, tips obtuse to truncate, minutely aristate and lacerate, multiple weak secondary crinkles present at sides, outer color zone occupying most of petal, powdery purplish-pink with narrow, white achromatic margin developed distal-laterally, inner color zone narrow, delicate yellowish or ivory, midrib pink (type 2 color pattern). Outer petals acute, also minutely aristate, color similar to inners. Filaments mainly light pink. Hymen light pink. Stigma light to dark green. Stem semicolumnar, to 4+ inches (12 cm) in diameter; central spines to 1+ inches (38 mm) long. The outstanding features of the 'Tuffet' flower are its very broad, attractive powdery purplish-pink crinkled petals and the contrasting narrow delicate yellow or light ivory inner color zone. I originally called this hybrid 'Miss Muffet', but then found that 'Miss Muffet' had already been used for an Echinopsis hybrid. So I naturally changed the name to 'Tuffet'. Rooted cuts of HBG 85202. $7.50.

ISI 2000-30.Echinopsis "Windigo"(1227-62).Flower to more than 5 inches (13 cm) across. Perianth segments progressively longer from inner petals outward to sepals. Inner petals moderate in width, elongate, surface rippled, oblanceolate-acute and prominently aristate, primary ruffles generally strongly developed when flower fully unfurled, outer color zone magenta, inner color zone bronzy orange, sometimes appearing red, somewhat narrow to rather broad in extent and reaching into apical half of petal, midrib red to bronzy orange (type 1a color pattern). Outer petals mucronate to sharply acute, with light magenta sides, and light reddish center. Sepals either similarly colored to outer petals or darker reddish. Filaments pastel red to dark magenta. Hymen indistinct. Stigma light green. Stem columnar, to 3-1/2 inches (9 cm) in diameter; central spines to nearly 1-1/8 inches (27 mm) long. 'Windigo' flowers frequently throughout the season, more so than most other hybrids. But the flower, I must confess, is not always perfect. One or two of its petals may be slightly askance or somewhat abnormal in another way. This flaw isn't noticeable, however, when the flower opens only partially at cool temperatures. And what does this long-petalled, silky magenta and red-to-orange bicolored flower look like then? Great! Don't despair, though--it can also look great when its form is perfect! In either case, the partly opened blossom takes on a deep, arcane reddish color under subdued light and in bright light, a radiant, glowing magenta. There's also no need to lose heart if the flower unfurls fully. It is still beautiful! What about the abnormality in the petals, though--what could account for that? Could it be...the Windigo? The Windigo, according to one source, is an evil spirit of the northern forests of North America that seizes people and, with tremendous velocity, races with them over tree tops, causing their victims to cry out in anguished pain as their feet burn in the rush of air. But could the evil Windigo actually be responsible for the petal's abnormality? All I can say is that science has not yet disproved the possibility. Open cool. Rooted cuts of HBG 85203. $7.50.

ISI 2000-31.Echinopsis "Winterset" (1558-37). Flower to 5+ inches (14 cm) across. Perianth segments progressively longer and narrower from inner petals outward to sepals. Inner petals moderate in width, oblong-acute, lacerate and prominently aristate, outer color zone absent, inner color zone occupying virtually all of petal, dusky white, midrib pure white, reaching to nearly base of petal (type 4 color pattern). Outer petals rather sharply acute, some acuminate, all lacerate, some petals and all sepals with light grey midstripe. Filaments, hymen and stigma white. Stem semicolumnar, to about 3+ inches (8+ cm) in diameter; all spines minute. The color of the ?Winterset' flower is not pure white, but its beautiful starlike form and handsomely shaped petals might make you forget about any misgivings you have about the faintly dusky tint. Aiko, who was ecstatic over the hybrid when it first flowered, loved the blossom so much, she named it on the spot! In the search for the meaning of life, the appellation 'Winterset', like life itself, has none. It just sounded nice. 'Winterset' flowers frequently throughout the season, probably more so than any other of my hybrids. Rooted cuts of HBG 85204. $7.50.