Publication: Succulenta (Netherlands) 74(3): 135 (1995)
Description
Solitary beautiful globular cactus, having green stems with several ribs and closely-spaced areoles.
Stem: Up to 12 cm wide, 35 cm tall, very woolly in the apex. Plants in this genus always show woodiness in the lower stem as they age.
Ribs: 20 to 29 prominent
Areoles: Close set.
Central spines: 1 to 4 up to long 1.5 cm, amber yellow.
Flowers: Yellow and diurnal in late autumn, or spring.
Remarks: The Uebelmannia flavispina and all the other plants belonging to the Uebelmannia pectinifera complex are very variable in habitat, it has three recognized subspecies, but a multitude of different forms exist, where each form is linked to others by populations of plants with intermediate characteristics.
Origin and Habitat
Brazil (Minas Gerais: Diamantina)
Cultivation and Propagation
Not easy; it has a large root and lives among rocks. This tropical cactus prefers loves warm, moist, humid conditions, and mist spraying is a must in summer. Water regularly during the growing season and use a very draining mineral potting substrate. 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 proves 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: By seeds. Germinating seeds can also be tricky. But plants are often grafted making them easier to grow, particularly through the winter. If possible, using a rootstock that is hardier 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, 2006
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Machado, M., Taylor, N.P. & Braun, P. 2013. Uebelmannia pectinifera. In: IUCN 2013. “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.” Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 08 January 2014.
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