Similar in general appearance to a green-leaved A. cryptopoda, A. lutescens differs in forming colonies and in producing inflorescences with three, rather than one or two, racemes. These slender racemes may be more than twice as long and bear larger papery bracts that obscure the small buds in the upper portion of the raceme. Its bicolored racemes resemble the similarly-colored form of A. cryptopoda known as A. wickensii. The epithet lutescens—“becoming yellow”—aptly describes the transition of red buds to open yellow flowers. A. lutescens also has a more restricted distribution in the Northern Province of S. Africa. Rooted cuts of HBG 24597, a plant collected Sept. 1969, by John Lavranos at Mariepskop in the northern foothills of the Drakensberg, N. Prov, S. Africa. $8.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 80 (2), March - April, 2008