Turbinicarpus rioverdensis ssp. paoli
(Syn: Turbinicarpus longispinus)

T. rioverdensis ssp. paoli (T. longispinus)
A long spined and rarely cultivated form.
 

Description: This taxon looks like to subsp. rioverdensis, but smaller, with larger but narrow whitish flowers. The seeds are smaller. Spines are whitish, longer, nidiform and curved up to 50mm long.
Stem: Dark green, unbranced, sub-globose, flattened above ground, up to 25mm wide and 15mm high.
Ribs: Not evident, forming flattened rhomboidal tubercles.
Areoles: Rounded, with white wool when young, later glabrous.
Spines: 2, whitish/yellowish,  25-50mm long, papyraceus. The spines are nidiform (bunched at plant apex) and persistent only on the upper body, below they fall off and the body and tubercles are corky and bare.
Root: Larger than the stem, napiform about 40mm long and 20mm thick.
Flowers: Apical, narrow funnelform, whitish, 20-30mm long, 25-40mm wide. Fruit: Tiny, ovate, 5x3mm.
Seed: Obtuse pyriform, ca. 0.9x0.6mm, testa black, glossy

Turbinicarpus rioverdensis ssp. paoli is considered to be a  transitional form between T. schmiedickeanus ssp. klinkerianus fa. schwarzii and T. schmiedickeanus ssp. rioverdensis.

Scientific Name: T. rioverdensis ssp. paoli J.J. Halda and P. Kupcák,
Published in: Acta Mus. Richnov. Sect. natur., 2002.

Note:  This plant  was previously known with its provisional name Turbinicarpus longispinus

Holotype: PR no 11712. leg. H. Swobodae 15.4.1992.

Etymology: Discovered in 1982 by Heinz Swobodae and  named after the Turbinicarpus grower Paolino Panarotto.
 

Habitat: Grows in slopes near Cerritos, in calcareous soil, at 1600m above sea level.

Cultivation: It’s a fairly easy species to cultivate. Need a very well drained soil. Requires strong sun to part sun to develop good spinal growth and waterings should be rather infrequent to keep the plant compact and not to become excessively elongated and unnatural in appearance.  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.

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Turbinicarpus schmiedicheanus aggregate:  (This taxon has lots of synonyms  whit several controversial varieties and subspecies):

• T. schmiedicheanus ssp. schmiedicheanus
• T. schmiedickeanus ssp. andersonii
  T. schmiedickeanus ssp. dickisoniae
• T. schmiedickeanus ssp. gracilis
• T. schmiedicheanus ssp. gracilis forma cristata
• T. schmiedickeanus ssp. klinkerianus
• T. schmiedickeanus ssp. klinkerianus "lilinkeuiduus"
• T. schmiedickeanus ssp. polaskii
• T. schmiedickeanus ssp. schwarzii
  and possibly:
• T. schmiedickeanus ssp. bonatzii
• T. schmiedickeanus ssp. flaviflorus
• T. schmiedickeanus ssp. flaviflorus form brevispina
• T. schmiedickeanus ssp. macrochele
• T. schmiedickeanus ssp. rioverdensis
• T. schmiedickeanus forma variegata
• T. rioverdensis ssp. paoli (= T. longispinus)
• T. sp. negrita (=klinkerianus?)