Publication: CITES Cactaceae checklist. 1992
Description
Ariocarpus scapharostris is a slow-growing grey-green, geophytic cactus rising barely above ground level.
Stem: Smaller solitary, subglobose or globose, more or less rounded on top, 3-6 cm in diameter and 2-6 cm tall (occasionally up to 9-15 cm Ø in cultivated plants).
Tubercles: Few divergent, erect spineless , not crowded or basally compressed, bluntly pointed at the apices, flattened and smooth adaxially, fissured, slightly incurved, 1,5-4 cm long, 5-8 mm broad, at least twice as long as wide, grey wool between the tubercles.
Roots: Thick underground carrot-like root.
Flowers: Diurnal, self-fertile, bright dark purple , up to 4 cm.
Blooming season: Flowers in the Autumn, it flowers and fruits profusely.
Fruit: Greenish, 9-15 mm long 4-8 mm in diameter.
Remarks: All of the Ariocarpus seedlings are spiny and quite different from adult specimens, though the spines are feather-like.
Origin and Habitat
Rayones valley (sw Galeana, n Cuaxma, Casillas, nr Monterrey)
Habitat: Mexico (Nuevo Leon) in a very limited area within a single valley of a few hillsides. Grows in clayey soils on extremely arid low limestone hills at 950-1400 m of elevation.
Cultivation and Propagation
Plants are slow growing and the flowers are quite rare, it may start to bloom at about 2.5 cm diameter. It is one of the more difficult Ariocarpus in cultivation, often rots, especially the old plant. The seedlings are often grafted to increase growth speed, and flowers can then be expected within 2-3 years from sowing. It requires a hot sunny position. Eventually, as they become mature, they reach a maximum size of 6 to 10 cm. However, old plants become senile and have a tendency to succumb to disease and a weak root system. At this stage, as is well known, they die suddenly. So, after they reach 5 cm in diameter grow them slowly, and adopt a new repotting period, using intervals of every 2 - 3 years. Additionally grow them under drier conditions or with stronger sunlight. Plants are often grafted to accelerate growth, as they would generally take at least a decade to reach maturity on their own. But the grafted plants are typically rather tall- growing, compared with plants on their own roots, that are usually flatter to the ground. A. scapharostrus starts blooming at the age of 8-12 years (2,2,5 cm in diameter).
Propagation: By seeds, remembering that seedlings dislike strong light and dry conditions, and need to be repotted frequently.
Notes
This specie has been described in 1930 with the name Ariocarpus scapharostrus, but Hunt proposed to change the name in Ariocarpus scaphirostris which is the correct spelling.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
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Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
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James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
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David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. “The New Cactus Lexicon” dh books, 2006
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Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton: “Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names” Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg 2010
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N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose: “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family.” Volume III, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1922
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D. Hunt. “CITES Cactaceae checklist. (CITES Cactus L)” 1992
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E. F. Anderson and W. A. Fitz Maurice “Ariocarpus revisited.” Haseltonia 5: 1-20. 1997).
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Anderson, E. F. “Ariocarpus: Some reminiscences.” Cart. Succ. J. (US) 71:180-190, 1999)
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Stuart Max Walters “The European garden flora. 3.[Angiospermae], Dicotyledons. [Casuarinaceae to Aristolochiaceae]” Cambridge University Press, 1989
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E. F. Anderson. Amer. J. Bot. 51:149 1964.
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L. Benson. The cacti of the United States and Canada 1982.
Cultivars and forms (2)
Varieties (1)
Cultivars (1)
Gallery
