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  Ariocarpus retusus var. furfuraceus
(Syn: Ariocarpus furfuraceus)
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The variety "furfuraceus" is distingushable for the dark green-brown-grey equilaterally triangular
shaped tubercles with  abundant white wool at the apex.
 

Description: Solitary, slow-growing geophyte cactus, with tubercles slightly projecting above ground level.  The large tuberous body is below the soil.
Stem: Grey-green, flattened, globose, rounded on top, 3-12 cm high, 10-25cm in diameter.
Tubercles: The distinctive characteristic of A. furfuaraceus are the tubercles, which are equilaterally triangular shaped, divergent, convex or nearly flattened adaxially and often with shallow adaxial undulations or wrinkling, not fissured, 1.5-4 cm long, 1-3.5 cm wide, nearly as wide as long;
Areoles:
At the tips of the tubercles, rounded, 1-5 mm in diameter.
Flowers: Diurnal, 4-5 cm in diameter, 2-4 2cm long; white to clear pink.
Root: Tap root
Flowering time: October
Fruit: white, green, or rarely pinkish, 10-25 mm long, 3-10 mm in diameter.

Ariocarpus retusus is an extremely variable species,. Tubercle size and shape vary widely, and a terminal areole is sometimes present at the tip.  The vast amount of phenotypic variation in the species has led to the erection of several variants:

  • A. retusus ssp. retusus: widespread, flowers are cream or white, occasionally with reddish midveins.
  • A. retusus ssp. trigonus: somewhat less widespread, and the flowers are white to pinkish white.
  • A. retusus v. furfuraceus: applied to plants with equilaterally triangular shaped tubercles
  • A. retusus ‘furfuraceus’ var. rostratus refers to plants with a more tapered apex to the tubercle.
  • A. retusus v. scapharostroides plants from the Villa Juarez region of SLP..   They are characterized by erect angular tubercles, superficially reminiscent of A. scaphirostris.
  • A. retusus confusus nomina nuda
  • A. retusus subsp. jarmilae nomina nuda
  • A. retusus subsp. horaceki nomina nuda
  • A. retusus var. pectinatus nomina nuda
  • A. retusus subsp. panarottoi nomina nuda
  • A retusus var mnimus is a nomina nuda which has recently been applied to plants from Echido Nuncio,in San Luis Potosi.

The tubercles of  "furfuraceus" are also usually more obese, pointed and  smooth, with areoles on the tip.
 

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Ariocarpus retusus.

 


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Family: Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Scientific name: Ariocarpus furfuraceus (S. Watson) C. H. Thomps.
Place of publication: Rep. (Annual) Missouri Bot. Gard. 9:130. 1898

Conservation status: Listed in CITES Appendix I

Synonyms:

  • Ariocarpus retusus Scheidweiler, (1838)
    Pubblished in: Bull. Acad. Sci. Brux. 5: 492
  • Ariocarpus retusus var. furfuraceus (Watson) Frank, 1975
  • Ariocarpus retusus f. furfuraceus
  • Ariocarpus retusus subsp. furfuraceus
  • Anhalonium furfuraceum (Watson) Coulter, 1894
  • Ariocarpus furfuraceus var. rostratus Berger, 1925
  • Mammillaria furfuraca Watson, 1890

Common name: Living Rock, Seven Stars

Origin: Widely distributed in Coahuila, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas , Zacatecas and Nuevo Leon.
 

 

 

Cultivation: This species is slow-growing, but certainly not as slow as some other types of cacti. It is of easy cultivation in a well-drained, non-organic, free-draining soil compost, with ample water during the growing season. Use of a weak low-nitrogen fertilizer during the growing season can encourage growth. The main threat to their development is root rot. 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.  It needs light shade to full sun.  
Frost Tolerance: Hardy to -10° C

Propagation: It is probably the easiest species of the genus to raise from seed, but will generally take about 6-10 years to reach flowering size, occasionally grafted.


Photo gallery: Alphabetical listing of Cactus and Succulent pictures published in this site.

Photo gallery Ariocarpus

Home | E-mail | Plant files | Mail Sale Catalogue | Links | Information | Search

All the information and photos in cactus art file are now available also in the new the Enciclopedia of Cacti. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.