Description of Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus ssp. bonatzii

T. bonatzii [Click the image for more pictures]

Gerhardt Frank, Succulenta 71(6): 279-281, 1992

Translated from the German
Body semi circular, 15 - 20 mm in diameter, directly merging in to the conical tuberous root, which is 30 - 50 mm long and from it develop longer fibrous roots. Epidermis dark green and body surface divided into tubercles. Areoles round, in the new growth with white wool, then becoming dark and later bare. One central spine, arising from the lower part of the areole, curved upwards into a semi-circle, 15 - 12 mm long, thin, flattened, rough, slightly split transversely, horn coloured to brownish. Below it is found a single radial spine, 3 - 5 mm long, decurved.

Flower funnel-shaped, 10 mm long, 12 - 15 mm wide, pericarpel reddish brown, merging into the exterior perianth segments, these pale brownish, with broad dark brown mid-stripe. Interior perianth segments lanceolate, dirty white, with brown mid-stripe on the underside. Flower throat dark pink, with a pink midstripe continuing to the tip of the petal. Filaments dark pink, anthers orangish yellow. Style 10 mm long, pink, stigma remaining closed, white. Flowering period January, to the beginning of February.

Seeds cap- to blunt pear-shaped, 0,8 - 1 mm, dark reddish brown to blackish, testa covered with minute tubercles, hilum micropylar region with a shiny smooth bulge. Testa with narrower, undulatory cuticular folding pattern.

Locality: Cerritos, San Luis Potosi, México.

Related taxa

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus ssp. bonatzii is possibly part of the klinkerianus aggregate of taxa together with the following:

Notes

Most of the plants I have seen have 2-3 "side spines" which are about half the size of the "radial" spine. They are curved sideways towards the body and result in a cross shaped arrangement of the spines.

This is one of the taxa which prefer a bit of shade as they tend to turn reddish and shrivel if kept in full sun.

References

Succulenta 71(6): 279-281, 1992.
Rod Turbinicarpus, by M. Zachar, R. Staník, A. Lux, and I. Dráb.

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