Publication: Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) 38: 53. 1966
Description
Sclerocactus glaucus is a ball cactus with a squat, ovoid or globular shape. Single or clumping, in groups of up to 9 green or powdery blue coloured stems, like the scientific name, They have 8-15 ribs and the rib is sometime tuberculous 4 to 30 cm tall, 4 to 9 cm in diameter.
Spines: (0 or) 1 to 3 generally characteristic unhooked central spines, the lower ones brown, the upper ones white 1-3 cm long,; 6 to 8 radials, 5 mm long. Some specimens lack central spines or have central spines which are hooked. Red nectar glands are found above each areole.
Roots: Taproots much branched.
Flowers: Beautiful purplish-red flowers Purple or pink flowers, 4-5 cm in diameter, 3-4 cm long.
NOTE: The “Debeque form” has tall larger blue body with stiff spines. It grows in northern edge of distribution for this species.
Origin and Habitat
De Beque, Garfield County, Colorado, USA.
Altitude: Elevation ranges from 1300 to 1600 meters above sea level.
Habitat: It is found scattered on gravely or rocky soils on hills, riverside and mesas of varying exposures on Salt-Desert/Grassland sites, occasionally on clayey plains. It is more abundant on south-facing exposures, and on slopes to about 5-30 percent grade.
Cultivation and Propagation
This plant is very rare in cultivation, it is difficult to grow on its own roots and to propagate. Mature individuals easily rot and die especially after planting. The seeds germinate with extreme difficulty and a low rate of success, seedlings do not do well either, and more die each year. Sclerocactus glaucus ” Debeque form ” is extremely xerophytic and adapted to very dry soils, but plants grafted on hardy stock (Opuntia humifusa, Echinocereus triglochidiatus etc…) are relatively easy to grow and no special skill is required, they can stay in a non heated green house. (min tem -20°C) … This interesting cactus, continues to be a particular prize among specialist collectors.
Propagation: Seeds are extremely difficult to germinate (only 2-3 percent of seeds germinate). The germination is really difficult and if some seedling finally sprout, as they start to grows they disappear one by one. Grafting is often used to speed growth rate and to create a back-up for plants in collection.
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.” Birkhäuser 2004
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Lyman David Benson “The Cacti of the United States and Canada” Stanford University Press, 1982
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Butterworth, C. & Porter, J.M. 2013. Sclerocactus glaucus. In: IUCN 2013. “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.” Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 04 December 2013.
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