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Description: Turbinicarpus
macrochele is a (usually) solitary plant up to 35 mm tall, 4.5 cm in
diameter, the stem is partly underground, with a woolly spiny apex. This
subspecies has poorly developed tubercles, 0-4 paper-like spines (sometime
as many as 6) up to 4 cm long (or more)
Flowers: White or (rarely) pinkish white at the apex, 18 mm long, 3.5 cm
in diameter. They come in multiple periods from late winter to early
fall. They are followed by small smooth fruit, hidden in the apical wool,
splitting when ripe.
This taxon is more widely known as Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus v.
macrochele
Cultivation: Robust species to
cultivate. It requires
full sun and careful watering to keep the plant
compact and low. It has a tap root, and watering it properly is often
difficult, because it tends to crack open or rot,
if over-watered..
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