Description of Turbinicarpus saueri

T. saueri [Click the image for more pictures]

Bödecker, Zeitschrift Für Sukkulentenkunde, 16: 362, 1928

Body simple, depressed spherical, approximately to 4 cm high and 6 cm in diameter, dull blue green. Apex somewhat sunken and with a heavy covering of white wool to 1.5 cm long, through which the longer black spines protrude. Ribs arranged in completely separate tubercles, organized in 8 and 13 series, flat conical and at the base rhombic, 8 mm broad, 5 mm high and blunt elliptical at the tip. Areole round, at the apex with very much white wool, here to 4 mm in diameter, below becoming bare and only 2 mm broad, however here still with some rudiment of wool in a very short furrow above the spine bundle. Radial spines about 12-14, horizontally spread out, needle-like, but somewhat curved down and to the body, lower about 0.75 cm and upper to 1.5 cm long, smooth, glassy white and only the longer, upper spine with dark brown tips. Central spines one, very rarely a weaker, second standing over it, strongly curved back and/or tortuous, only somewhat thicker than the radial spines, to 2 cm long, dark brown, brighter at the base.

Flowers to several at the apex (where the bud causes the growth, from the short areole furrow, of much long cotton wool like hairs), funnel-shaped, about 15 mm long and 20 mm in diameter. Ovaries cylindrical, 2 mm thick and whiteish green. Outer petals linear-lanceolate with short, sharp brownish spine like tip, sharp edged, 10 mm long and 2 mm broad, light green with whitish edge and pink mid-stripe. Inner petals somewhat broader and longer, above beside the spiny tip somewhat slit, white and often with very delicate, light pink mid-stripe. Filaments in great number, below white and above faint pink coloured. Anther golden brown. Style whitish yellow, with 5 short, pale yellow radiating stigma lobes, standing above the anthers. Fruit small and hidden in the apical wool. Seeds about 1 mm wide, pear shaped, above dark reddish brown, dull and with granular tubercles, under side with bald, notched gaping umbilicus.

Locality: San Vicente at Salamanca, Tamaulipas.

Related taxa

Turbinicarpus saueri is part of the saueri aggregate of taxa, together with the following:

References

Zwei Neue Echinocacteen, Zeitschrift Für Sukkulentenkunde, 16: 362, 1928

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