Publication: [Basionym: Micropuntia gracilicylindrica Wiegand & Backeb. 1957]
Description
Grusonia pulchella is an attractive mini Opuntia, forming low sub-erected shrubs more or less dense and large, spread cushions hiding a large tuber below ground.
Stem: Segmented. The segments are cylindrical to ellipsoid, clavate, 1-4(-10) × 0.5-1.2(-2.5) cm; tubercles purple tinged rather prominent, 5-9 mm;
Spines: 8-15 per areole, mostly in distal areoles at the tip of the stem, divergent to deflexed, red-brown or white, aging grey, somewhat flattened, with woolly areoles white to grey.
Flowers: rose to purple; 15-35 mm; filaments green to yellow; style purplish; stigma lobes white to yellowish. Flowering late spring (May-June).
Roots: The root system of young specimens is fibrous, but will slowly enlarge to form a corky caudex with short tuberose roots.
Fruits: Reddish obconic to ellipsoids, 15-30 × 8-12 mm smooth and juicy in a first time, becoming quickly dry.
Origin and Habitat
Range of Grusonia pulchella: Northern Mojave Desert from eastern California (Deep Springs Valley) to southern Utah and Nevada (Churchill, Douglas, Esmeralda, Lander, Lincoln, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, and Washoe counties) and Arizona. Elevation : 1100-1900 meters.
Habitat: “Sand Mountain, Sand of dunes, dry-lake borders, river bottoms, washes, valleys, sandy to rocky flats or slopes, and plains in the desert. Mainly on sandy soils but also found in a variable range of soil types “
Cultivation and Propagation
his plant is not easy to grow. Good resistance to the cold (-10°C) but it can’t stand humidity. Plants are susceptible to overwatering and are extremely rot-prone. They have sensitive roots . Keep the plants away from places with elevated humidity in the air. They need to grow in a very ventilated and dry environment, in full sun. They need to be kept in a cool (and dry) place during winter rest (at -5 / 10°C). This is important for the flowers as well as for their health. Without this cool winter period they normally won’t get many buds.
Propagation:* Cutting or (rarely) seeds. Rooting of cuttings is generally difficult.