(1408-11). Flower to nearly 5 inches (12.5 cm) across. Petals rather broad, spatulate, beautifully ruffled, rich dark scarlet. Filaments mostly bright scarlet; throat-circle white. Throat green. Stem semicolumnar, to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter; spines to about 1 inch (26 mm) long.
I have been waiting impatiently for years to offer this wonderful hybrid, for its outstanding scarlet coloration is unequaled among my other hybrids. The name, ‘Firelight’, which describes the intense hue of the flower, actually replaces a former appellation, ‘Moulin Rouge’, ‘Firelight’, in my estimation, being too good to be associated with the more recent version of that movie. (Incidentally, I gave the film only two stars owing to its tragic love story. I like happy endings. Good dance scenes, though.) HBG 87019. Rooted offsets $9.50.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 74 (2), March - April, 2002