Publication: Cactaceae (Britton & Rose) 3: 218. 1922 [12 Oct 1922]
Description
Discocactus zehntneri is a squat tiny little solitary plant. Two subspecies are recognized, the typical form and subsp. boomianus (Buining & Brederoo) N.P.Taylor & Zappi. Both subspecies - in culture - produce many offsets.
Stem: Dull-green 10-20 in diameter and 7-10 cm tall.
Cephalium: Up to 1 cm tall and -4 cm wide, at the apex of the plant, creamy-withe to light-brown with yellow to brownish bristles up to 2 cm..
Ribs: About 20, somewhat spiraled, forming nipple-like tubercles to 1 cm high.
Areoles: Oval, sunken, ca. 8 per ribs.
Radial spines: Interlacing, densely covering the plant, 10 to15 up to 1-2 cm long, pectinate, flexible spines creamy white or whitish-yellow with dark tips, becoming pale-brown to whitish, recurved backwards, sitting on the plant like spiders.
Central spines: None.
Flowers: White, scented, slender funnelform, 2 to 9 cm long. The position of the stigma is at the top of the stamens. Each flowering lasts only one night, but that night it produces many flowers.
Fruits: Club-shaped red 2,5 cm long. The plant produces seed-pods twice a year, when it flowers.
Chromosome number: 2n = 22
Remarks: This plant is part of the D. zehentneri complex which comprises several variable subordinates taxa, but not all are universally recognized.
The ssp. zehntneri Looks very much like Discocactus albispinus. They grow in the same area - Serra de Cabaluda- but D. zehntneri is smaller and has straighter spines than D. albispinus, also its shape is more globose.
Origin and Habitat
Discocactus zehntneri is endemic to Southern Brazil, where it is found from central to northern Bahia into southeastern Piauí (extent of occurrence less than 20,000 km2). The subpopulations of Discocactus zehntneri in the lowland are found in small patches but those at high-altitude localities are locally abundant and common.
Altitude range: It grows at elevations ranging from 400 to 1200 metres above sea level.
Habitat: It is found between rocks growing together with grasses and shrubs. The main habitat for the lowland subpopulations consists of crystalline rock outcrops, while the high altitude subpopulations also grow between sandstone rocks on sand and gravel. This species rarely grows on iron and manganese ore (pedra canga). It is surrounded by caatinga or campo rupestre. The subpopulations in the lowland and in some high-altitude localities are declining, while other high-altitude subpopulations occur in a protected area and are stable. The main threat is quarrying of the rock, sand and iron ore on which this cactus thrives, and which is expected to lead to further population declines. Part of the species range was flooded as a consequence of the construction of the Sobradinho dam in the 1970s.
Cultivation and Propagation
It is one of the easiest species of the genus to grow, but even so it isn’t a plants for beginners, in fact collectors consider the Discocactus to be rarities with requires skilful cultivation. It is rather difficult to grow and frost tender, it can’t stand cold, or even fairly cool temperatures and should be kept at above 15° C if grown on its own roots (8°C if grafted). Need full sun or afternoon shade. They are slow growing and very rot prone when kept on their own roots and though they can’t endure long stretches of total dryness, too much water will rot them, as their weak root systems tend to be inefficient at sucking up water from wet soil. They generally resent being repotted and can take a long time to establish. When grown to maturity, however, it possess an exotic look shared by no other cacti, and it generally attract a lot of attention.
Propagation: Seed or cuttings. Young seedlings are generally grafted on a low stock to keep the plant in a good shape.
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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N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family.” Volume 4, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923
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Machado, M., Braun, P., Taylor, N.P. & Zappi, D. 2013. Discocactus zehntneri. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 June 2015.
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Juliana P. Castro, Luiz G.R. Souza, Lânia F. Alves, Ana E.B. Silva, Marcelo Guerra & Leonardo P. Felix. 1073 Marhold (ed.) “IAPT/IOPB chromosome data 15” TAXON 62 (5) • October 2013: 1073–1083
From llifle page Discocactus albispinus
Description
Discocactus zehntneri subs. albispinus, more often known with its old name Discocactus albispinus, is a very singular cactus with a disk like, flattened to globose body, and one of the most attractive and easy to grow species of Discocactus. It looks very much like standard Discocactus zehntneri. They grow in the same area, but Discocactus albispinus is larger and has fewers spines than D. zehntneri, moreover the spines are longer, whiter and more recurved, also its shape is more flattend.
Habitat: It is a squat solitary plant that often in culture produces offsets.
Stem: Green to pale green, approx 12 cm in diameter and 7-8 cm tall.
Cephalium: Up to 8 cm tall and -4 cm wide, at the apex of the plant, creamy-white.
Ribs: 12 to 13, somewhat spiraled, forming nipple-like tubercles to 1 cm high.
Areoles: Oval, sunken. Number of areoles per rib is 5 to 6 on plants with cephalium.
Spines: White to creamy-white (or light brown), tending to become grey towards the tips with age, subulate and stronger than in other subspecies.
Radial spines: 9 to 11 interlacing, densely covering the plant, to 3 to 5 cm cm long, slightly recurved backwards and sitting on the plant like spiders.
Central spines: 1 to 2, thicker, 4 to 6 cm long, arising perpendicularly and a little recurved.
Flowers: White, scented, slender, funnel-shaped , 2 to 9 cm long that open at night. The position of the stigma is at the top of the stamens. Each flowering lasts only one night, but that night it produces many flowers.
Fruits: Club-shaped red 2,5 cm long. The plant produces seed-pods twice a year, when it flowers.
Origin and Habitat
South-east of Sento Sé in the Serra do San Francisco, Bahia
Altitude: It grows at an altitude of 500 meters.
Habitat: It dwells on flat rocks.
Cultivation and Propagation
Discocactus zehntneri subs. albispinus is one of the easiest species of the genus to grow, but even so it isn’t a plants for beginners, in fact collectors consider the Discocactus to be rarities with requires skilful cultivation. It is rather difficult to grow and frost tender, it can’t stand cold, or even fairly cool temperatures and should be kept at above 15° C if grown on its own roots (8°C if grafted). Need full sun or afternoon shade. They are slow growing and very rot prone when kept on their own roots and though they can’t endure long stretches of total dryness, too much water will rot them, as their weak root systems tend to be inefficient at sucking up water from wet soil. They generally resent being repotted and can take a long time to establish. When grown to maturity, however, it possess an exotic look shared by no other cacti, and it generally attract a lot of attention.
Propagation: Seed or cuttings. Young seedlings are generally grafted on a low stock to keep the plant in a good shape.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
-
Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
-
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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Edgar Lamb, Brian Lamb “The Illustrated Reference on Cacti & Other Succulents” Volume 5 Blandford Press, 1978
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Discocactus Venlo 1980 blz.52.
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Cac.& Succ. Journal USA 1974 page 252.
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Miles Anderson “Cacti and Succulents” Lorenz Books, 1999
Source: Discocactus albispinus, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
From llifle page Discocactus araneispinus
Description
Discocactus zehntneri subs. araneispinus, also considered just a form of Discocactus zehntneri, is a squat tiny little solitary plant that - in culture - produces just like Discocactus boomianus many offsets.
Stem: Dull-green 10-20 in diameter and 7-10 cm tall. Cephalium: Up to 1 cm tall and -4 cm wide, at the apex of the plant, creamy-withe to light-brown with yellow to brownish bristles up to 2 cm..
Ribs: About 20, somewhat spiraled, forming nipple-like tubercles to 1 cm high.
Areoles: Oval, sunken, ca. 8 per ribs.
Radial spines: Interlacing, densely covering the plant, 10 to15 up to 1-2 cm long, pectinate, flexible spines creamy white or whitish-yellow with dark tips, becoming pale-brown to whitish, recurved backwards, sitting on the plant like spiders.
Central spines: None.
Flowers: White, scented, slender funnelform, up to 9 cm long. The position of the stigma is at the top of the stamens. Each flowering lasts only one night, but that night it produces many flowers.
Fruits: Club-shaped red 2,5 cm long. The plant produces seed-pods twice a year, when it flowers.
Remarks: This plant is part of the Discocactus zehentneri complex which comprises several variable subordinates taxa, but not all are universally recognized.
Origin and Habitat
Southern Brazil (altitude around 1000-1200 mt )
Cultivation and Propagation
Discocactus araneispinus is the easiest species of the genus to grow, but even so it isn’t a plants for beginners, in fact collectors consider the Discocactus to be rarities with requires skilful cultivation. It is rather difficult to grow and frost tender, it can’t stand cold, or even fairly cool temperatures and should be kept at above 15° C if grown on its own roots (8°C if grafted). Need full sun or afternoon shade. They are slow growing and very rot prone when kept on their own roots and though they can’t endure long stretches of total dryness, too much water will rot them, as their weak root systems tend to be inefficient at sucking up water from wet soil. They generally resent being repotted and can take a long time to establish. When grown to maturity, however, it possess an exotic look shared by no other cacti, and it generally attract a lot of attention.
Propagation: Seed or cuttings. Young seedlings are generally grafted on a low stock to keep the plant in a good shape.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
-
Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
-
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
-
David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. “The New Cactus Lexicon” dh books, 2006
Source: Discocactus araneispinus, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
From llifle page Discocactus buenekeri
Description
Discocactus buenekeri (also considered just a form of Discocactus zehntneri) is a globose-flattened tiny little plant that (in culture) grows in small groups just like Discocactus zehntneri subs. boomianus. Its small clustered, stiff, spination and plump ovoid white fruit are quite different from the long, tangled, flexible spination and elongated narrow red fruit of the Discocactus zehntneri group. This species can be propagated vegetatively quite easily, consequently it is quite well represented in living collections and in trade.
Flowers: Cream-white, with heavenly scent, slender funnelform, up to 9 cm long.
Blooming season: This species usually blooms in April, May, or June or as late as August.
Remarks: This plant is part of the D. zehentnari complex which comprises several variable subordinates taxa, but not all are universally recognized.
Origin and Habitat
Bahia Southern Brazil (South America). The exact locality information was not provided in the original descriptions nor in the herbarium sheets of the type specimens.
Habitat: It is native to Brazil’s tropical forests and grows in pure quartz sand at around 1000 metres above sea level.
Cultivation and Propagation
D.buenekeri is one of the easiest species of the genus to grow, but even so it isn’t a plants for beginners, in fact collectors consider the Discocactus to be rarities with requires skilful cultivation. it is rather difficult to grow and frost tender, it can’t stand cold, or even fairly cool temperatures and should be kept at above 15° C if grown on its own roots (8°C if grafted). Need full sun or afternoon shade. They are slow growing and very rot prone when kept on their own roots and though they can’t endure long stretches of total dryness, too much water will rot them, as their weak root systems tend to be inefficient at sucking up water from wet soil. They generally resent being repotted and can take a long time to establish. When grown to maturity, however, it possess an exotic look shared by no other cacti, and it generally attract a lot of attention.
Propagation: Seed or cuttings. Young seedlings are generally grafted on a low stock to keep the plant in a good shape.
Source: Discocactus buenekeri, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
Cultivars and forms (10)
Subspecies (5)
Varieties (4)
Forms (1)
Gallery
