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         Ariocarpus fissuratus cv. GODZILLA
 This famous and 
        unmistakable Japanese cultivar has dark purple-green "leaves"
        with a characteristic rough or wrinkled epidermis. Flowers are rich-pink to magenta and last for 3 to 4 days.
 
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        Description: The  "GODZILLA"  has been probably developed by Japanese growers from Ariocarpus 
        fissuratus, and there are several slightly different types (the Thais 
        speaks of cloning) in circulation. The strongly structured surface and 
        the deep colour of the plants are typical, but greener or woollier 
        plants are in the variation range of this cultivar.There are also some variegate and even crested forms of Godzillas.
 
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        | Photo of conspecific taxa, 
        varieties, forms and cultivars of plants 
        belonging to the Ariocarpus fissuratus/bravoanus
         complex
        (This 
        
        
        Taxon has lots of synonyms whit 
        several controversial varieties and subspecies): Advertising
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        | Family: 
        
        
        Cactaceae (Cactus 
        Family) 
        
        Scientific name: 
        Ariocarpus fissuratus (Engelm.) K. Schum.CV. GODZILLA
 
        
        
        
        Origin:   
        
         Japan (Nursery produced 
        cultivar) 
        
        Conservation status: Listed in
        
        CITES appendix I.
 
         Sought by collectors seedling can up to 50 years to reach full growth of 
        15cm in diameter. For this reason the plants are frequently grafted to 
        speed up the growth.
 
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  Cultivation: It is not too difficult in a
        
        greenhouse, although  grows extremely slowly. The plants need 
        deep
        
        pots to accommodate the
        
        napiform unit formed by the
        
        stem base and the 
        rootstock (or they will often simply crack your pots), , and a loose
        
        mineral soil with a well-drained
        
        substrate. They need a good amount of
        
        light. Watering can be done weekly during
        
        summertime, if the weather is sunny enough, with a little
        
        fertilizer added. Kept this way, plants will show a
        
        healthy, although slow
        
        growth.
 
 Propagation: By 
        
        seeds, remembering that 
        
        seedlings dislike strong
        
        light and
        
        dry conditions  and need to be
        
        repotted frequently. Eventually, as they become mature, they attain 
        a maximum size of 20 to 25 cm. But plants are often
        
        grafted to accelerate growth as they would generally take at least a 
        decade to reach
        
        maturity on their own, but the grafted plants are typical rather 
        tall growing, compared with plants on their own roots that are usually 
        more flat to the
        
        ground. It  starts blooming at the age of 8-12 years.
 
        
 
  
    
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