Description of Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus ssp. gracilis

Photo © Mark Faint

Latin: Caulis simplex, 15-20mm diam. (30 mm tuberculis inclusis); tuberculi Ca. 7 mm longi, apice 1.8 mm diam., basi 3-5 mm lati, graciles, fere teretes, leviter angulati, lucide cinereo-virides; spinae angustae et papyraceae; spinae centrales maximae Ca. 18-23 mm longae, 1 mm latae, griseolae, erectae set flexuosae et curvatae; 1 a 3 spinae 2 mm longae, albae, deflexae e parte inferiore areolae, perpendiculares ad axim tuberculis. Flores angusti, infundibuliformes, 2 cm longi, 1.5 cm diam., segmenta exteriora perianthii alba, linea media angusta, pallide viridi-brunnea a viridi-cerasina ornata; segmenta interiora alba; fructus parvus, brunescens, globosus, longitudinaliter dehiscens; semina parva, nigra, minute tuberculati, Ca. 1 mm longa, 0.5 mm lata.

Stem simple, 15-20 mm in diameter (30 mm including tubercles); tubercles ca. 7 mm long, ca. 1.8 mm in diameter at tip, 3-5 mm broad at base, slender, nearly terete, somewhat angled, bright greyish green; spines thin and papery; longest central spine ca. 18-23 mm long, 1 mm wide, grey, erect but flexible and curved; 1-3 short, 2 mm long, white deflexed spines in lower portion of areole, perpendicular to axis of tubercle; Flower slender funnelform, 2 cm long, 1,5 cm in diameter; outer perianth segments white with pale greenish brown to narrow greenish cerise mid-line; inner segments pure white; fruit small, tan, globose, dehiscent along longitudinal slit; seeds small, black, finely tuberculate, ca. 1 mm long, 0.5 mm in diameter.

Locality: Aramberi, Southern Nuevo León, México.

Related taxa

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus ssp gracilis is part of the schmiedickeanus aggregate of taxa, together with the following:

• T. schmiedickeanus
• T. schmiedickeanus ssp. flaviflorus
• T. schmiedickeanus ssp. rubriflorus

References

• CASJ(US), Vol 48(4):176-177, 1976

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