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This is one of the most striking and recognisable Uebemannia with
a green to deep purple or reddish-brown, firm, almost lizard-skin textured 'skin'
and spines on vertical ribs.
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Description: Solitary cactus 50(-80)cm tall.
Stem: Although usually globular or slightly elongated in
cultivation, it is reported to grow to as much as 800mm tall and 10-15
cm wide. It is dark reddish-green to reddish-brown, with off-white
scales. (In cultivation the colour of the plants depends on sun
exposure, the plants grown in shadow are green with white stripes, while
the ones in full sun take on a dark frost brown or purple colour)
Ribs: 15 to 18, vertical and prominent.
Areoles: Set closely to form an almost continuous felt-like line
down the ribs' sides.
Central spines: Dark brown/grey, 1 to 4, up to 1.5(-2) cm long;
the spines are close set, neatly arranged, straight, and give a comb-like
effect.
Radial spines: Absent.
Flowers: Diurnal, funnel-shaped greenish yellow. They are 15 mm
long, 12 mm in diameter.
Blooming season: Flowers come sporadically from Early spring to
Late Summer
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Cultivation: This tropical cactus 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 10C 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 position in
full sun, 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 ideal. |
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Photo of
conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars
of plants belonging to the
Uebelmannia pectinifera
complex
(This
Taxon has lots of
synonyms ( like many other
cacti) with
several controversial varieties and subspecies,
and comprises a multitude of different forms, but where each form
is linked to others by populations of plants with intermediate
characteristics):
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Family:
Cactaceae (Cactus
Family) |
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Scientific name:
Uebelmannia pectinifera
Buining 1967
Origin: It is only known from one location,
north east of Diamantina, mountain of Minas Gerais, in Brazil.
Habitat: The plants are found growing in dry savanna and
rocky areas in rock cracks or in pockets or small flat areas of organic
leaf mould and sand found among rocks at about 1000m altitude. It is
threatened by habitat loss. U. pectinifera is more common in
collections than it is in habitat
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix 1.
Etymology: The species name "pectinifera" comes
from the Latin for "bearing combs".
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The flowers come sporadically from Early spring to
Late Summer
Uebelmannnia pectinifera
HU106 5km Mendanha, Minas Gerais, Brazil Altitude 770m.
Ubelmannia pectinifera (a juvenile specimen).
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Cultivation
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