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  Strombocactus pulcherrimus
(Syn: Strombocactus disciformis ssp. esperanzae)
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Strombocactus pulcherrimus is a superb slow growing miniature plant from Mexico.

The magenta blooms are freely produced throughout the summer.
 

Description: This plant is very similar if not identical to S. disciformis the only noticeable difference is the colour of the flowers.
Habit:
It is a rare geophytes, usually solitary.
Stems: The body is flattened or spherical up to 3 cm tall, 8 cm in diameter. The crown is slightly depressed and felted. The colour is blue-green with greyish tinge. It is composed of hard, spirally arranged rhomboid  and imbricate  tubercles, 1 to 1.8 cm high. These tubercules are flattened and almost truncated above and somewhat horny or keeled below.
Roots: Strong napiform (turnip-like).
Spines: 4 to 5, erect and dark grey at the tips and pale grey at the base, 1.2 to 2 cm long.

Flowers: Arise on the crown, measure about 3.5 cm in length and breadth bright magenta.
Blossoming time: flowers emerge early in spring and are freely produced throughout the summer, remaining open for several days.
Note: Some botanists believe that a specific rank for this taxon is not necessary.
 


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Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family)
 
Scientific Name: Strombocactus disciformis ssp. esperanzae Glass & S.Arias
Publication : British Cactus & Succulent Journal, Volume 14, No. 4, Decembre 1996

Distribution:  Mexico Xicho (Guanajuato)

Habitat:This plant grows in rock crevices in nearly vertical limestone cliffs along with Turbinicarpus alonsoi
 
Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix I

Etymology:  S. disciformis esperanzae has been named in honour of Missis Esperanza Benavides de Valásquez a local functionary who helped in localize the plant in flower.


Synonyms:
  • Strombocactus pulcherrimus J. J. Halda (Basionym)
    Publication : Cactaceae etc. 3:88 1996
  • Ariocarpus pulcherrimus (J. J. Halda) J. J. Halda stat. nov.
    Publication : Acta Mus. Richnov. Sect. Nat.,5(1): 37 (1998)
  • Strombocactus disciformis fa. minimus Don Pedro & Riha 1997
  • Strombocactus disciformis var. esperanzae (Glass & S. Arias) don Pedro & Riha 1997
 


 

Cultivation: This plant has the same needs of the standard S. disciformis.
Propagation: Seed, At first seedlings are very very small, they take one or two years to reach the diameter of 1 mm!!!  Once they have reached 4 years old or more they are relatively easy to grow - the problem is getting them to 4 years old!

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of strombocactus disciformis.

Photo gallery: Alphabetical listing of Cactus and Succulent pictures published in this site.

Photo gallery STROMBOCACTUS

Home | E-mail | Plant files | Mail Sale Catalogue | Links | Information | Search

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.