Ariocarpus agavoides Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
(SB 370 Tula, Tamahulipas mexico) It looks very little like a cactus and more like a Haworthia (or a small Agave, hence the name)
Origin and Habitat: Mexico, The type locality is sited around the town of Tula, Tamaulipas. Two new colonies have been found recently in San Luis Potosi, disjunct from the original site (Ariocarpus agavoidesSN|847]]SN|847]] var. sanluisensis).
Habitat: It grows on rocky limestone hills, and alluvial plains at about 1200 m, rainy season is summer. The wild populations have been threatened and nearly extinct by many factors including over-collecting, agriculture, building work, livestock, and erosion.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Ariocarpus agavoides
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Accepted name in llifle Database:Ariocarpus agavoides (Castañeda) E.F.AndersonAmer. J. Bot. xlix. 615 (1962).Synonymy: 8
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Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Tamaulipas Living Rock Cactus
CHINESE (中文): 龍舌蘭牡丹
LITHUANIAN (Lietuvių): Agavinis ariokarpas
RUSSIAN (Русский): Ариокарпус агавовидный, Неогомезия агавовидная
SPANISH (Español): Magueyitos
SWEDISH (Svenska): Skär myrkottskaktus
UKRAINIAN (Українська): Аріокарпус агавоподібний
Description: Habit: Small rosette shaped succulent with stiff, rough, dark green tubercles.
Stem: Greenish-brown sub-globose, flattened on top, 2-6cm high, rising barely above ground level, 4-8cm in diameter.The rest of the plant (swollen rootstock) stay underground.
Tubercles: Divergent, often flaccid and not erect, not crowded or basally compressed, acute at the apices, flattened adaxially, not fissured, not incurved, 3-7cm long, 5-10mm broad, more than 4 times as long as wide;
Areoles: 5-12mm from the tips of the tubercles, rounded, 2-5 mm in diam.
Spines: None or rarely 2, 2-4mm long, whitish.
Flowers: 3.5-4.2cm in diam., 2-5cm long; outer perianth segments magenta with greenish-white margins, inner perianth parts deep magenta, pistil 2-3mm above the stamens; style white. 1-2 cm long; stigmas 5-8, 1-2,5 mm long.
Fruits: Pinkish-red to reddish purple, globose to elongate, 10-20 mm long, 5-12mm in diameter.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Ariocarpus agavoides group
Ariocarpus agavoides Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli A young seedling: the rootstock. Photo by: Cactus Art Ariocarpus agavoides Photo by: Prof. Ilham Alakbarov Ariocarpus agavoides Photo by: Cactus Art Ariocarpus agavoides Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Ariocarpus agavoides Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Ariocarpus agavoides Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Ariocarpus agavoides Photo by: Cactus Art Cultivation and Propagation: Grows in alluvial plain that becomes muddy in summer, so likes quite a lot of water then. but very prone to rot other times of the year, give moderate water in spring and autumn, no water in winter. Cultivate it in a well drained, non-organic, free-draining soil compost. The use of a weak low-nitrogen fertilizer during the growing season can encourage growth. The main threat to its development is root rot.
The Ariocarpus should be kept dry whenever there is a threat of cold. The appearance of Ariocarpus can benefit greatly by watering the plants from the bottom. This practice will help to keep the “wool” on the top of the plant from becoming matted or discoloured. Need half shadel to Full sun.
Frost Tolerance: Hardy to -10°.
Propagation: It is easy to raise from seed, but will generally take about 5-8 years to reach flowering size, occasionally grafted.
Your Photos
by Valentino Vallicelli
by Cactus Art
by Valentino Vallicelli
by Cactus Art
by Cactus Art