Description of Turbinicarpus dickisoniae

Photo © Mark Faint

Latin: Differt a varietatum proximam, i.e. schmiedickeanus ssp. gracilis, typo et spinarum, spinas radiales aciculares, albas, 18-20 et spinas centrales flexibiles sed haud complanatas vel papyraceas. Tuberculi varietatis nostrae solum 3-5 mm longi sunt.

Differs from schmiedickeanus ssp. gracilis, the closest variety, in type and number of spines, with 18-20 finely acicular, white radial spines in our new and central spines which are flexible but are not noticeably flattened or papery. The tubercles of the new variety are only about 3-5 mm long compared to the 7 mm long tubercles of ssp. gracilis. No other variety of schmiedickeanus has as many radial spines, particularly in the mature form, nor as slender central spines. Stems 2.5 to 3 cm in diameter, globose; tubercles dark, shiny greyish green, 3-5 mm long, thick, obtuse, arranged in 8 and 13 spirals; radial spines ca 23, ca 2.5 mm long, finely acicular, somewhat roughened near the tips, white, slightly recurved, radiating; areoles with long, white, cobwebby wool in youth becoming sparse; central spines 1-3, the lowest longest, 13-22 mm long, erect to slightly incurved to tortuous, hardly papery or flattened but rather almost terete in cross-section and only somewhat flexible, brownish grey, tip brownish; upper 0-2 central spines ca 7 mm long. Flowers ca 20 mm long, 17 mm wide, with 12-18 perianth segments, white, with or without pale reddish brown to maroon mid-line; outer perianth-segments with reddish brown mid-stripe on outside; inner perianth-segments ca 2.5 mm wide; pericarp 4 mm long, 2 mm in diameter, tube pale greenish, ca 1.5-2 mm in diameter at neck; filaments 8-10 mm long, anthers orange; style (incl. stigma) 13 mm long, Stigma lobes 4-5, white, 1,5 mm long.

Locality: Near Aramberi, Nuevo León, México.

Notes

Originally described as a variety of schmiedickeanus and recently reduced to a rank below schmiedickeanus ssp. gracilis.

References

• Glass and Foster, CASJ(US), Vol 54(2):74, 1982

---

Site Created By: Mark Faint
Maintained With: HTML-Kit
HTML Checked By: Weblint, HTMLCheck, NSGMLS & SP Wizard
  Last Modified: 9th November 2000
Comment (Email): Webmaster@mfaint.demon.co.uk
 Comment (Form): Fill out a form