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nicer flowers (the only cacti thought to naturally occur outside the Americas are epiphytes).

I'll start in North America with the huge and varied genus Echinocereus. These typically have sausage shaped stems rather than being strictly globular, and typically they have large magenta flowers with green stigmas. Many are tolerant of low temperatures so they're good plants for greenhouses and gardens that experience moderate frosts (the hardiest species are probably E. viridiflorus and E. triglochidatus). Some can grow into huge clumps. Some of the more interesting species are: E. reichenbachii with pectinate spines which have different coloured bands: E. knipellianus, 6 ribbed, globular, weakly spined stems; E. ochoterenae/subinermis (very similar) with globular grey stems and yellow flowers; E. pentalophus with sprawling stems. The subgenus Wilcoxia (sometimes classified as a different genus) has long thin stems and tuberous roots. E. scirus is probably the best bet for tropical conditions.

The other main, mostly north American genus is Mammillaria. Many people specialize in this genus. These typically have small (about 1cm across) flowers in rings round the top. The distinctive feature is the large tubercles (bump like projections from the stem). The flowers are produced from between the tubercles, rather than from the spine-baring areol at the tubercle tip. Otherwise they're very varied, from minute to over 1M high, with a number of cylindrical stemmed species. Unfortunately the larger flowered species (e.g. M. saboea and M. gluezowiana) tend to be hard to grow. Recommended species: M. boccasana and M. prolifera, long white hair and nearly indestructible; M. zeilmanniana, lots of magenta flowers; M. plumosa, fluffy white feathery spines; M. elongata, long stems with yellowish spines. Actually you're really spoilt for choice here. Exceptions to the large flowered species being difficult to grow rule are the subgenus Dolichothele (sometimes classified as a different genus) that have big yellow flowers. Probably the best bets for tropical conditions are M. nivosa (one of the few South American species) or the sub-genus Cochemia.

There are several genera related to Mammillaria, including Coryphantha and Escorbaria. These differ in having flowers from near the growing tip and groves (and sometimes nectar secreting glands) on the tubercals. This group includes what is probably the hardiest globular cactus, Escorbaria vivipara the only globular cactus found in Canada!

Pediocactus

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