Description of T. nieblae

García-Morales, L., J.G. Martinez-Ávalos et K. Bergmann. Turbi-Now 17(2), 2004 & 18(1), 2005.

Translated from the Spanish
Stem simple, sub-globose, in young plants completely flat, with abundant wool at the apex, from 15 to 35 mm high and 20 to 70 mm in diameter, green to bluish green when exposed to the sun occasionally completely brown; with tuberous subterranean root.

Tubercles arranged in 6 to 14 spirals, conical- pyramidal, at the base quadrangular and rounded edges, formed into 4 to 7 angles, 3 to 9 mm high and 4.5 a 9 mm thick at the base.

Areoles oval, 2.5 to 3 mm long by 1 to 2.5 mm wide, always with abundant white wool which covers the areole, the areoles of older tubercles becoming bare.

Spines dimorphic, differentiated into radials and centrals in juvenile and adult specimens, the radials pectinate and acicular, 6 to 10 (-17 in juvenile specimens), 2 to 7 mm long, cylindrical, white somewhat yellowish with the point dark chestnut coloured or black; 1 central spine, only on adult plants, 4 to 15 mm long with the base more thickened, the section cylindrical flattened in the center.

Flower during maximum anthesis, infundibuliform, white with a very fine pink to dark violet mid-stripe. 24 to 25 perianth segments; 12 exterior perianth segments, up to 24 mm long by 4 to 5 mm wide, lanceolate, with an acute tip, whitish pink with an external reddish coffee to violet purple mid-stripe, internal perianth segments 12 to 13, similar in size, form and colour to the internals; stamens 100 to 120, 6 to 9 mm long, filaments whitish-pink, anthers deep yellow; style 11 to 13 mm long, pink, 6 to 7 stigma lobes, 2.5 mm long and 1.5 mm wide, white to yellowish.

Fruit small, globose to oblong, naked or with spares small scales, 5 mm diameter and 7 mm long, green-reddish to begin with, later dull green, with lateral dehiscence.

Seeds pyriform 0.9 to 1.2 mm long and 0.8 to 1.1 mm diameter, dull black, the periphery with a keel; edge expanded around the hilum; cells of the testa rough smaller towards the hilum, isodiametric; anticlinal walls grooved, straight, relief convex, formed of low humps; periclinal walls with micro-relief, eventually flattening out; hilum long, basal, sunken, micropyle attached yet separated by a hardened, hilum-micropylar region oval.

Type locality: Mexico, Tamaulipas, Municipio San Carlos.

Notes

Related taxa

The article in Turbi-Now compares this taxon with those in the lophophoroides aggregate of taxa:

However, as stated above a study is being made comparing it with the saueri aggregate.

References

Turbi-Now 17(2), 2004.
L. García-Morales - Personal communication.

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