Description
This is the rare beautiful crested form of Strombocactus disciformis. The standard species is usually a singled stemmed small geophytes cactus.
Stem: Fan-shaped forming brain-like mounds with time crown is slightly depressed and felted. The colour is blue-green with greyish tinge, the base covered with brown corky spots in age. It is composed of hard, imbricate tubercles, 1 to 1,8 cm high. These tubercules are flattened and almost truncated above and somewhat horny or keeled below.
Spines: 4 to 5, erect and dark grey at the tips and pale grey at the base, 1.2 to 2 cm long, they become calcified, they are caducous and in age fall at the stem base.
Roots: Strong napiform (turnip-like).
Flower: Arise on the crown, measure about 3.5 cm in length and breadth, are shiny cream coloured with occasional spots at the tip and in the throat, The filaments are white or reddish, the anthers yellow. The 8 to 10 lobed stigma are white or yellowish.
Fruit: 7 mm across, splits down its length.
Seeds:Very small.
Blossoming time: flowers emerge early in spring and are freely produced throughout the summer, remaining open for several days.
Origin and Habitat
Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar) Crrested plants are also foun in habitat even though with a very low frequence.
Cultivation and Propagation
It likes a sunny position. It does best in a mineral soil; good drainage is essential. Water sparingly during the summer months and keep dry in winter. It can tolerate moderate shade, and a plant that has been growing in shade should be slowly hardened off before placing it in full sun, as the plant will be severely scorched if moved too suddenly from shade into sun.
Propagation: Grafting, since it is difficult for cuttings to root.
Notes
The cause of cresting is not fully explained. Biologists disagree as to why some plants grow in this unusual form. Some speculate that it is a genetic mutation. Others say it is the result of a strike of lightning or freeze damage, but whatever the stimulus, the growth point of the stem has switched from a geometric point, to a line, which folds and undulates as the crest expands. Though these crested Strombocactus are very rare, cresting occurs naturally, and can be encountered in many other cactus species.
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