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Turbinicarpus pseudopectinatus
(Cerritos)
This is one of the jewels of the genus, dwarfed by its
beautiful flower.
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Description:
Usually solitary small geophytic cactus with many small
spirally-arranged tubercles tipped with numerous tiny white spines in a
comb like formation. The whitish colouring of the the pant is due to
spines rather than wool.
Stem: Globular dull green, 3 cm tall, 4 cm in diameter, barely
showing above the ground; apex with short white hair; spirally-arranged
tubercles
Spines: Numerous white in a comb like formation (pectinated), 1.2
mm long.
Root: Tuberose and usually bigger than the stem itself.
Flowers: One to 5 pinkish white to bright pink with darker magenta
or reddish-brown mid-veins.
Blooming season: Blossoms are expected early in spring. Flowers can
be expected on T. pseudopectinatus seedlings after perhaps two or
three years if they are grown well in plant that are only 1.5 cm in
diameter, while the flower is 4cm long.
Fruit: Small tannish-green.
Often mistaken for a
Pelecyphora! With its small size, beautiful spination
and easy growing habit, Turbinicarpus pseudopectinatus is a welcome
addition to any greenhouse.
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This beautiful plant is dwarfed by its huge
flower.
Flowers can be expected on seedlings of only 1.5 cm in diameter, while the flower is
4 cm long. |
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The tuberose root system
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Buds on the plant apex |
Each tubercle is tipped by tight rows of white pectinate
spines nearly hiding the body.
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Family:
Cactaceae (Cactus
Family)
Scientific Name:
Turbinicarpus pseudopectinatus (Backbg.)
C. Glass & R. Foster1977
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix I
Origin: Mexico (Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon)
Habitat: It grows in grasslands and pinyon-juniper woodlands.
Synonym:
- Pelecyphora pseudopectinata
Backeb. 1935
- Mammillaria pseudopectinata
- Neolloydia pseudopectinata
- Pediocactus pseudopectinatus
- Thelocactus pseudopectinatus
- Normanbokea pseudopectinata,
- Pelecyphora pulcherrima Sabatini (Nom inval.) 1991
Over the years, T. pseudopectinatus has been
placed in six different genera, a process that will probably continue in
the future.
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Photo &
©
copyright
by
Irwin Lightstone
Turbinicarpus pseudopectinatus taken in my front yard in late afternoon,
Rodenstock 75mm dx2 lens mounted on a bellows unit f5.6. Multiple images
with different focal point composited with Helicon software. Artifacts
Photoshopped.
Cultivation: It’s
a fairly easy species to cultivate, but very slow growing. It needs a
very well-drained soil, and requires strong sun to part sun where it
obtains a flat natural look. Waterings should be rather infrequent to
keep the plant compact, and avoid its becoming excessively elongated and
unnatural in appearance. Furthermore it has a tap root,
and watering it properly is often difficult, because it tends to crack
open or rot if over-watered. Keep dry in winter, or when night
temperatures remain below 10° C. It is hardy to -4°C for a short period.
Assure a good ventilation.
Reproduction:
From seed, since the plant rarely produces plantlets,
or grafted. |
Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of
Turbinicarpus pseudopectinatus.
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