Blue Monstrosity

Cereus 'Ming Thing'

All I know for sure about these Montrose cacti is that they are of the Cereus genus. The species may be foresii, but some sources claim ‘Ming Thing’ is C. peruvianus. There are two variations of Cereus 'Ming Thing'. One has a greenish hue with light colored spines, the other, as these two show, has a definite blue hue with many heads and sparse dark spines.

I understand the C. ‘Ming Thing’ is so called because its sculptural shape and many indentations supposedly resemble the jade carvings from the Ming period of Chinese art. I think the thing resembles little fists raised in protest, or perhaps baby fingers trying to grab hold of something small.

Abnormal growth points cause the deformed shapes of Montrose plants. In a normal Cereus, the cactus grows from one point at the end of the stem. In Montrose plants, growth occurs from various areas, causing a strange, contorted growth pattern. No one knows what causes this mutation. There are many theories, but none proved, and the effect can't be produced by human intervention. The condition is just a freak of nature.

Many collectors specialize in cacti with Cristation and Monstrosity. I have a few of each, but I am not partial to them. I just think every collection should have a specimen or two.