Publication: Cactaceae Consensus Init. 5: 14. 1998 [see also: Panar.
Description
Turbinicarpus macrochele is a form of Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus which is one of the most widespread and morphologically variable taxon. It has more flattened tubercles and fewer spines (1-4) thick and spongy, but showing the same, very distinctive, long, pink stigma lobes as the type
Habit: It is a (usually) solitary geophyte succulent plant with a large tap root below the surface of the compost.
Stem: Up to 35 mm tall, 4,5 cm in diameter, the stem is partly underground, with a woolly spiny apex.
Tubercles: This subspecies has poorly developed tubercles.
Spines: 0-4 thick and spongy or somewhat papery (sometime as many as 6) up to 4 cm long (or more).
Flowers: White or (rarely) pinkish white at the apex, 18 mm long, 3,5 cm in diameter. Stigma lobes pink.
Blooming season: Blooms come in multiple periods from late winter to early fall.
Fruits: Small smooth, hidden in the apical wool, splitting when ripe.
Origin and Habitat
It occur in the vicinity of Matehuala, San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Cultivation and Propagation
Robust species to cultivate. It requires full sun and careful watering to keep the plant compact and low. It has a tap root, and watering it properly is often difficult, because it tends to crack open or rot, if over-watered..
From llifle page Turbinicarpus macrochele subs. frailensis
Description
Turbinicarpus macrochele subs. frailensis is a small geophytic solitary cactus with a large tap-root, and only the apical part of the stem exposed at soil level.
Distinguishing characteristics: Subspecies frailensis differs from subspecies macrochele by the lower number of stigma lobes, 3 - 6, these are white to yellowish-white, only 2-3.5 mm long and straight, as well as only weakly papillose; further with only a flowering period at the beginning of the year.
Habit: It is a (usually) solitary geophyte succulent plant with a large tap root below the surface of the compost.
Stem: Up to 35 mm tall, 4,5 cm in diameter, the stem is partly underground, with a woolly spiny apex.
Tubercles: This subspecies has poorly developed tubercles.
Spines: 0-4 thick and spongy or somewhat papery (sometime as many as 6) up to 4 cm long (or more).
Flowers: White or pinkish white, 18 mm long, 3,5 cm in diameter. Stigma lobes 3-6 white, white to yellowish-white, only 2-3.5 mm long and straight, as well as only weakly papillose.
Blooming season: Blooms come at the beginning of the year.
Fruits: Small smooth, hidden in the apical wool, splitting when ripe.
Origin and Habitat
West to south-west of Matehuala, San Luis Potosi, México.
Cultivation and Propagation
It’s a fairly easy and robust species to cultivate, but very slow growing. It needs a very well-drained soil, and requires strong sun to part sun to keep the plant compact and low and to develop a good spinal growth. Waterings should be rather infrequent to keep the plant compact, and avoid its becoming excessively elongated and unnatural in appearance. Furthermore it has a tap root, and watering it properly is often difficult, because it tends to crack open or rot if over-watered. Careful watering away from the body of the plant will allow the areoles to keep their wool. Keep dry in winter, or when night temperatures remain below 10° C. It is hardy to -4°C for a short period. Assure a good ventilation.
Reproduction: From seed, since the plant rarely produces plantlets, or grafted.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
- P. Lechner and Jantschgi, Turbi-Now Issue 5, 1998
Source: Turbinicarpus macrochele subs. frailensis, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
From llifle page Turbinicarpus macrochele subs. valteri
Description
It is a small geophytic solitary cactus with a large tap-root, and only the apical part of the stem exposed at soil level.
Stem: Flattened, spherical, mostly underground, 6-7 (-9) cm in diameter, up to 11 cm long.
Ribs: Arranged in tubercles, these are 15 mm long and 13 mm wide at the base, slightly angular, upper side keeled, however concave at the base, clearly keeled on the underside, arranged in spirals, opposite contact parastichy with a number relationship of 5:8 or 8:13, from grey-green to glaucous in colour.
Areoles: At first with reddish brown wool, later becoming grey.
Spines: 3-5, up to 20 mm long, flattened, cardboard-like, grey with dark tip, irregularly bent inwards, frequently weathered, not piercing.
Flowers: Cherry red to pink-magenta, with more intensely coloured mid-stripe 20-30 mm in diameter, 25-35 mm long, standing above the tubercles by about 10 mm, with approximately 22 inner (teptals), scale like perianth segments, more intensely red with pale edge. Pistil 15 mm long, white, standing above the stamens by around 2-4 mm, with 6 white, 1.5-2 (-2.5) mm-long stigma lobes.
Blooming season: From March to October, mainly between April and June
Fruit: 10 mm long, 5 mm in diameter, smooth, reddish-dark purple, brighter at the base, opening with 1-2 longitudinal tears.
Seeds: 1 mm long, 0.75 mm high.
Origin and Habitat
Collibus petrosis prope Xichu, Guanajuato (Mexico, Northern America)
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
-
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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Davide Donati, Carlo Zanovello “Conoscere, capire, coltivare i Turbinicarpus-Rapicactus” Cactus Trentino Sudtirol, 2004
Source: Turbinicarpus macrochele subs. valteri, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
From llifle page Turbinicarpus macrochele f. cristata
Description
Turbinicarpus macrochele is a form of Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus which is one of the most widespread and morphologically variable taxon. It has more flattened tubercles and fewer spines (1-4) thick and spongy, but showing the same, very distinctive, long, pink stigma lobes as the type. The crested form Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus f. cristatus is very rare and sought after by collectors, for its unique features.
Root: Has a large tap root below the surface of the compost.
Stem: Fan shaped, flattened on top, depressed centrally along the line meristem, up to 4,5 cm thick, with a woolly spiny apex.
Tubercles: This subspecies has poorly developed tubercles.
Spines: 0-4 paper-like, thick and spongy (sometime as many as 6) up to 4 cm long
Flowers: White or (rarely) pinkish white at the apex, 18 mm long, 3,5 cm in diameter. Stigma lobes pink.
Blooming season: Blooms come in multiple periods from late winter to early fall.
Fruits: Small smooth, hidden in the apical wool, splitting when ripe.
Origin and Habitat
Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)
Cultivation and Propagation
Although regarded as a choice and difficult plant is not too difficult in a greenhouse, although grows quite slowly. It is sometime seen as a grafted plant but grows very well on its own roots too.
Soil: Use mineral well permeable mineral soil with little organic matter (peat, humus).
Exposure: They need a good amount of light shade to full sun this help to keep the plants healthy, although slow growth.
Watering: Water sparingly from March till October (weekly during summertime, if the weather is sunny enough) , with a little fertilizer added. Less or no water during cold winter months to prevent root loss. It is sensitive to overwatering (rot prone).
Hardiness: Keep perfectly dry in winter at temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees centigrade. (but it is relatively cold resistant and hardy to -5° C for short periods) In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! (Temperature Zone: USDA 9-11)
Propagation: Grafting or cuttings. Plants are usually grafted onto column-shaped cacti but proved to be able to produce their own roots if degrafted.
Source: Turbinicarpus macrochele f. cristata, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
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