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Turbinicarpus valdezianus var. albiflorus Matehuala, San
Luis Potosí, Mexico.
A six-year-old plant showing the typical white flowers,
the plant is only
2 cm Ø, and the
flowers are larger than
the plant itself !!! A really dwarf gem!
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Description: The T. valdezianus
is one the smallest and slowest growing
Turbinicarpus with tiny feathery spines that obscure the body of the
plant, it is usually solitary but sometime form clusters of few branches.
Stem: Young plants are spherical, then
cylindrical with a narrower base and short spirally arranged
tubercles, the apex is
completely covered by the plumose spination. Typically half of it is
underground with a big tap root. The plants are about 3-5 cm high and
1-2 cm in diameter.
Spines: Turbinicarpus valdezianus is a
pectinate species species, but the the pectinate spines are not in the
two neat rows as in T. pseudopectinatus, the ca. 25-30 spines, are
dense,
feathery and white,
about 0.5 mm long, spreading flat around the areoles.
Flowers: One to 5 diurnal, at plant apex, this species is found
scattered in small populations in several
locations and the colour of the flowers is variable ranging from
pinkish white to bright pink with darker
magenta or reddish-brown midveins. The population
from Matehuala
(a.k.a. T. valdezianus var. albiflorus)
is characterized by pure
white flowers, yellow stamen and white stigma.
Blooming season: Early bloomer (February - March).
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Scientific Name:
Turbinicarpus valdezianus var.
albiflorus
 Origin: Matehuala,
San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix I
Synonyms:
-
Pelecyphora valdeziana
Møller, Deutsche
Gärtner-Zeitung, 45: 179, 1930.(
Basionym)
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Echinocactus valdezianus
Boed., M.d. DKG,
2:147, 1930.
-
Thelocactus valdezianus
Bravo, Las
Cactaceas de Mexico, s. 473, 1937.
-
Mammillaria valdeziana
Kelsey&Dayton, Stand. Pl.
Names, ed. 2, s. 75, 1942
-
Gymnocactus valdezianus
Backbg., Das Kakteenlexikon,
s. 162, 1966.
-
Normanbokea valdeziana
(Moeller)
Kladiwa & Buxbaum,in Krainz, Die Kakteen, 1.3.,
С VIII b, 1969.
-
Pediocactus valdezianus
(Moeller) Halda
-
Pelecyphora plumosa
Boed.&Ritter, M.d. DKG,
2:116, 1930.
- Neolloydia
valdeziana.
The smooth flower buds just a
few days before blooming.
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 valdezianus:
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Cultivation and Mail Sale 
