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Description: This species typically will grow solitary but may on
occasion cluster, it is very similar to
T. schmiedickeanus ssp. gracilis the closest variety from
which differ in type and number of spines.
Stem: Solitary globular depressed, 30mm high 30-40mm wide dark
greyish-green.
Tubercles: in 8 to 13 spirals, pyramidal, elongated only about
3-5 mm long compared to the 7 mm long tubercles of
ssp. gracilis .
Root: Taproot.
Areoles: With long, white, wool in youth becoming bare later.
Centrals Spines: 1-3 semi-rigid but not noticeably flattened or
papery curved slightly inward or twisted grey-black, 13-22 mm long.
Radials spines: 18-24 finely acicular, rigid white 2mm long on
young areoles (areole in old specimens have only central spines).
Note: No other variety of schmiedickeanus has as many radial
spines nor as slender central spines.
Flowers: Apical funnel shaped white-yellow occasionally with
brown midstripe , up to 2 cm long,1.5 cm wide
Fruits: Brown. |