Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)

• Aztekium ritterii f. cristatum hort.

• Aztekium ritteri Boed.
• Echinocactus ritteri Boed.
• Aztekium ritterii f. cristatum hort.
• Aztekium ritterii f. montruosa hort.
• Aztekium ritterii f. senilis hort.

Description: This is the crested form of Aztekium ritteriSN|4248]]SN|4248]]i a very rare and extremely slow growing cactus from Mexico seldom exceeding 5 cm in width with rounded ribs. This is one of the more famous crested cacti sought after by cactus impassioned, but very slow growing and seldom available.
Stem: The stem is crossed by numerous horizontal furrows. Between these true ribs are small secondary ribs, reaching about halfway up the plant body. The colour of the younger growth is a rather pale yellowish green or purplish, merging to grey-green on the lower, older growth. The crested apex of the cactus contains a some white wool.
Spines: 1 to 3 small, weak, often missing from the youngest areoles. The older areoles form a more or less continuous line along the centre of the true ribs.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug./2011
2) David Hunt, Nigel Taylor “The New Cactus Lexicon” DH Books, 2006
3) Edward F. Anderson “The Cactus Family” Timber Press, 2001
4) Fitz Maurice, B & Fitz Maurice, W.A. 2013. Aztekium ritteri. In: IUCN 2013. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species." Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 February 2014.

Cultivation and Propagation: It is of extreme slow growth - probably the slowest of the entire cactus family. It usually takes several years for growth to be noticeable. Prefer some shading.
Reproduction: They are usually grafted, It is also possible to root pieces of crest from grafted plants but with little success.