I came across this little shrub whilst in Mexico, I’d only ever seen it in books. Germanicus Dentarius- The German Dentist. My one I refer to as Snappy, he’s a male, you can tell from the colouring and the size. He’s pink and about fifteen cm in height. I currently keep him in a Flora margarine tub. I don’t know if you’ve ever come across a female but I’ve never had the pleasure. It’s my un- derstanding that the female’s can grow up to two metres in height and change colour from yellow to deep crimson when they’re looking to mate, how marvelous nature can be.
It was late spring and my friend Jemima had recently relocated to Mexico. I was visiting to help her settle in to her new surround- ings. We were taking a break from de-weeding her garden and de- cided to walk to a local bar for a drink, taking the off road route as she wanted to show me about the place. The flora was divine, unlike anything I knew. Greens, Blues, Reds, Yellows, a rainbow of colours everywhere you look. Amongst all of this beauty some- thing special caught my eye, nestled next to a huge barril agave was this tiny, pink, sharp thing. Unassuming yet fierce, it would have your finger off if you put it in its trap. The vampire of the plant world, I read somewhere these things live off blood.
It didn’t look so healthy, it’s one remainig leaf seemed crispy and the main head looked un-nourished. I convinced myself that it needed my help, so help I did. Jemima, not convinced but always up for an adventure took the quick walk back to her potting shed to fetch some gloves and a trowel.