Publication: Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) 51: 123. 1979
Description
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. 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.
Origin and Habitat
Mexico (San Luis Potosí: Santa Rita del Rucio)
Cultivation and Propagation
Solitary or slowly clumping. It has a very distinctive form, described by some as almost pagoda-like.
Stem: Cylindrical, grey-greenish, and coated in a whitish bloom, 2.5 cm in diameter, 5 cm tall; conical tubercles with a rhomboidal base.
Areoles: Small with white caduceus wool.
Root: Napiform.
Spines: 4 to 6, up 30 mm long, the juvenile ones are dark-brown, the older ones are greysh. They are spongy, flexible and curve upwards.
Flowers: Infundibuliform, light yellow-green, up 2 cm in diameter. Stylus pink with white stigmas, anthers yellow.
Blooming season: The flowers appear at the plant’s apex, in succession from spring to summer.
Fruit: Longly ovoidal, 10 mm long, base dark green, apex dark brown.
Seed: Dark brown, 1 mm long.
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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Davide Donati, Carlo Zanovello “Conoscere, capire, coltivare i Turbinicarpus-Rapicactus” Cactus Trentino Sudtirol, 2004
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