A. isthmensis is closely related to A. potatorum and circulated in cultivation as a dwarf form of that species until described in 1993 by García-Mendoza & Palma Cruz. That nomenclatural history is part of the inspiration for the catchy name for this cultivar coined by Kelly Griffin. You see, some British collectors are fond of pronouncing the name “potato rum” which is an amusing mnemonic for that species. The stress is more properly put on the penultimate syllable potaTORum. When Petra Arroyo, who works for Altman Plants, spied a variegated sport, she was struck by the broad, luminous, golden-yellow (rum-colored) midstripe running the length of the leaf, bordered by gray-green. As for the species, the rosettes reach about 25 cm. (10") in diameter and offset from the base to form clumps. Rooted offsets of HBG 120330 ex Altman’s, $15.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 86 (2), March - April, 2014