Publication: Succulenta (Netherlands) 74(5): 226 (1995)
Description
Uebelmannia meninensis is a short columnar usually solitary cactus.
Stem: Globular when young, later becoming elongated and cylindrical with creamy-white wool in the centre, 10 cm wide, becoming 45-50 cm high with age, but usually much smaller in cultivation, greyish-green, dull green or reddish-green (f. rubra), in cultivation the colour of the plants depends on sun exposure, the plants grown in shadow are greener, wile the ones in full sun take a bright purple colour.
Ribs: When fully mature it has up to 40 prominent markedly tuberculate, but initially it has considerably fewer.
Tubercles: The tubercles protrude about 8 mm, are separated by transverse grooves and have apical areoles.
Areoles: Close set
Central spines: 2 (seldom more ) brown-black or grey with darker tips, up to 2 cm long, pointing downward except for the upper one, which is shorter.
Radial spines: Absent
Flowers: Diurnal yellow. They are up to 2-3,5 cm long , 2-3(-4) cm in diameter.
Blooming season: Flowers come sporadically from early summer to late summer
Fruit: Inconspicuous, 8 x 6 mm yellowish-green to dark red and globular with numerous seeds.
Seeds: 1,3 mm x 0,8 mm
Origin and Habitat
Minas Gerais (Brazil, Southern America)
Cultivation and Propagation
This tropical genus, which is hardly ever cultivated except in very specialized collections, loves warm moist, humid conditions and mist spraying is a must in summer. Water regularly during the growing season (rain water is highly recommended) and use a very draining low pH mineral potting substrate (if possible not limestone) otherwise growth will stop altogether. At the onset of winter, do not water. Uebelmannias need heat all year round and extra winter heat, minimum 10° C is best. Avoid any frost. Keep cool in summer. This plant prove to be root prone if kept too cold in winter. To help stop this a good deep collar of pumice or lava grit is an excellent idea. It prefers a full sun position and possibly afternoon shade in summer. If you can place it so that this occurs the plant will be much happier.
Propagation: Seeds, but plants are often grafted making them easier to grow, particularly through the winter. If possible using a rootstock that is more hardy than the Uebelmannia is the ideal.
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, 2006Jackie M. Poole, William R. Carr, Dana M. Price, Jason R. Singhurst “Rare plants of Texas: a field guide” Texas A&M University Press, 30/Dec/2007
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