It was during trips to the
annual international cactus festival (ELK) at Duinse Polders, Blankeberge, that
I first became aware of this name. Plants were clearly Copiapoa,
humilis-like in appearance and were usually 2-3 years of age and found on the
stands of Belgian and French nurseries.
Our journey to ELK usually takes
us past the nursery of DeCoster in Veurne, Belgium. Here I found the largest
specimens carrying the name. Big, fat stems hung over the edge of the pot,
obviously indicating the pendulant habit that contributed to its name. All that
Mr DeCoster could tell me was that the name came from a packet of seed probably
obtained in France, that he had sown in the 1990s.
Alain Laroze from France reports:
'I have 2 plants of pendicolor sown in 2001. Seeds
came from AIAPS list. This name was on the list in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
According to Meregalli and Doni, pendicolor is an horticultural name of
humilis. Probably, it comes from "Le Jardin Exotique" of Monaco.'
