"Seed pod" on a Christmas cactus

[Jonathan Sachs]

After last year's blooms, one of my Christmas cactuses developed an odd growth. It appears to be a seed pod.

I have been growing Christmas cactuses since 1961, and I have never seen anything like this before. Has anyone else seen it? Any ideas what's the plant is doing?

Here's a picture of the mysterious growth. (The remains of the flower are still attached, although all of the others have fallen off.)

's a picture of the same plant, or another from the same original stock, taken last November.

picture is about 1.3 MB.)

[FragileWarrior]

Jonathan Sachs wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Fruiting?

[Kay Lancaster]

Yup, it's in fruit. Don't know whether it will develop more, or whether this is just fruit development without viable seeds. Watch and wait!

Kay

[Usenet2007]

I am curious as to how old the plant is?

[jangchub]

Yes, it is a seed pod and rare. Let it shrivel on the plant till the seeds are dry and plant them. This usually happens under controlled conditions in a greenhouse, so consider this plant very happy.

[Jonathan Sachs]

About 45 years old. I brought it with me as a cutting when my family returned to Chicago from a year spent in California. I was 11.