Accepted Scientific Name: Strombocactus disciformis subs. esperanzae Glass & S.Arias
Brit. Cact. Succ. J. 14(4): 202 (1996)
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Pediocactus pulcherrimus (Strombocactus disciformis subs. esperanzae) Photo by: Prof. Ilham Alakbarov
Origin and Habitat: Mun. Xichu: Sierra Gorda, Guanajuato (Mexico, Northern America)
Habitat: This plant grows in rock crevices in nearly vertical limestone cliffs along with Turbinicarpus alonsoiSN|11705]]SN|11705]]
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Strombocactus disciformis
Description: This plant is very similar if not identical to Strombocactus disciformisSN|2103]]SN|2103]] the only noticeable difference is the colour of the flowers.
Habit: It is a rare geophyte, usually solitary.
Stems: The body is flattened or spherical up to 3 cm tall, 8 cm in diameter. The crown is slightly depressed and felted. The colour is blue-green with greyish tinge. It is composed of hard, spirally arranged rhomboid and imbricate tubercles, 1 to 1.8 cm high. These tubercules are flattened and almost truncated above and somewhat horny or keeled below.
Roots: Strong napiform (turnip-like).
Spines: 4 to 5, erect and dark grey at the tips and pale grey at the base, 1.2 to 2 cm long.
Flowers: Arise on the crown, measure about 3.5 cm in length and breadth bright magenta.
Blossoming time: flowers emerge early in spring and are freely produced throughout the summer, remaining open for several days.
Note: Some botanists believe that a specific rank for this taxon is not necessary.
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Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Strombocactus disciformis group
Strombocactus disciformis (DC.) Britton & Rose: the stem is flattened or spherical, blue-green with greyish tinge 3 to 8 cm high and 3 to 9 cm across. It is composed of hard, spirally arranged rhomboid tubercles that are flattened and almost truncated above.
Strombocactus disciformis f. cristatus hort.: Crested form.
Strombocactus disciformis subs. esperanzae Glass & S.Arias: (= S. pulcherrimus) is very similar to S. disciformis the only noticeable difference is the colour of the flowers that are bright magenta.
Strombocactus disciformis subs. jarmilae (Halda) Halda: like S. disciformis but with a smaller body, small flowers, long thin spines and some other minor differences. Distribution: Northern Mexico (Querétaro and Nuevo León)
Strombocactus disciformis f. polytomicous hort.: Polytomy is a form of cristation, an apex divided in a lot of smaller apexes. It is very unusual to see such a Strombocactus.
Strombocactus disciformis cv. Cactus Art: odd monstrous plant forming crowded clumps or mounds, and most plants will crest readily. Areoles felt-like in relief 2-4 mm broad, greenish at the stems apex when young. Spines mumerous very short bristle-like.
Strombocactus disciformis cv. Cespitosa: This is a strange plant that forms lots of axillary shoots in a continuous series on almost each node starting from the base of the stem, while the typical Strombocactus disciformis is usually solitary.
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Pediocactus pulcherrimus (Strombocactus disciformis subs. esperanzae) Photo by: Prof. Ilham Alakbarov
Pediocactus pulcherrimus (Strombocactus disciformis subs. esperanzae) Photo by: Cactus Art
Pediocactus pulcherrimus (Strombocactus disciformis subs. esperanzae) Photo by: Cactus Art
Pediocactus pulcherrimus (Strombocactus disciformis subs. esperanzae) Photo by: Cactus Art
Pediocactus pulcherrimus (Strombocactus disciformis subs. esperanzae) Photo by: Cactus Art
Pediocactus pulcherrimus (Strombocactus disciformis subs. esperanzae) Photo by: Valentino VallicelliCultivation and Propagation: This plant has the same needs of the standard S. disciformis.
Propagation: Seed, At first seedlings are very very small, they take one or two years to reach the diameter of 1 mm!!! Once they have reached 4 years old or more they are relatively easy to grow - the problem is getting them to 4 years old!
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by Valentino Vallicelli