Description of Turbinicarpus mandragora ssp. subterraneus

T. mandragora ssp. subterraneus [Click the image for more pictures]

Backeberg, Kakteenfreund, 1:110-111, 1932

Growth form: From an underground potato-like tuberous root, grows a 2-4 mm thick and to ca. 10 cm long neck, at the top of which sits the club-shaped body. When damaged several bodies may appear. Body 2½ to 5 cm high, up to 3 cm in diameter. Body color: leaf green. Areoles: ovoid (to 3 mm long), initially with much white wool, tubercles, oblong, symmetrical, 4-angled, mostly slightly spiraling, up to 5 mm high.

Radial spines: ca. 16, glassy white, 2-6 mm long, radiating. Central spines: 2, one pointing upwards, one sideways porrect, blackish gray, to 2 cm long. Also arising from the areole are 1 or more 3 cm long white bristles, which are usually held close to the body.

Flower and fruit: still unknown. [MF: Flowers 3 cm in diameter; outer perianth-segments from 1 to 2 cm long, greenish with whitish margins; inner perianth-segments dark rose violet; filaments yellowish; Stigma lobes 7, greenish. Fruit small, smooth, bare, dehiscent by longitudinal slit; seed ca. l mm long, 0.7 mm thick, black, with wrinkled- tuberculate testa.]

Locality: Northern Mexico.

Related taxa

Turbinicarpus mandragora ssp. subterraneus was originally a member of the genus Rapicactus and is now part of the mandragora aggregate of taxa, together with the following:

References

Kakteenfreund, 1:110-111, 1932.
Two new varieties of Gymnocactus from North-eastern Mexico, CSJ(US), 50(6): 281-285, 1978.

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