Strombocactus
| Strombocactus | |
|---|---|
| File:White cactus bloomig.jpg | |
| Strombocactus disciformis subsp. disciformis | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Tribe: | Cacteae |
| Genus: | Strombocactus Britton & Rose |
| Species: | S. disciformis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Strombocactus disciformis | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Ariocarpus disciformis (DC.) Marshall | |
Strombocactus disciformis is a rare species of cacti and the only species of the genus Strombocactus. The plant originates from Central and Northeast Mexico.
Description
[edit | edit source]Strombocactus is a monotypic genus with a strong turnip-like root, a small, depressed, roughly spherical stem covered with spirally arranged overlapping tubercles, each with a spine-bearing areole at its tip.
Strombocactus disciformis are low-growing, gray-green succulents with a broadly round, unbranched stem and root. In their natural habitats, they grow in a disk shape, half hidden in the ground, reaching around 8 cm in diameter and 2-3 cm in height. In cultivation, they become nearly spherical. Adult tubers can reach 15 cm in diameter, larger than the above-ground parts. The plant's spiral ribs are deeply notched, creating a wart-like appearance with a ratio close to the golden ratio (13:8). Areoles are located on the blunt ends of these warts, which are curved (straighter in cultivation) and have a square base. They rarely have more than four or five short, bristly thorns, which fall off after a few years.[2]
Flowers come from new growth at the crown, emerging from the youngest areoles. The flowers are white to cream or magenta and 2.5- to 3.5-cm long and open to about 4 cm in diameter. The 7-mm-long, thin-walled brown fruits contain 0.3-mm reddish-brown seeds.[3]
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Growth habit
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Flowers
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Spines
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Seedling
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View of plant from the top
Subspecies
[edit | edit source]The species has two recognized subspecies:[4]
| Image | Subspecies | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| File:Nice cactus.jpg | Strombocactus disciformis subsp. disciformis | Querétaro to Hidalgo |
| File:Strombocactus esperanzae.jpg | Strombocactus disciformis subsp. esperanzae Glass & S.Arias | Guanajuato |
Distribution
[edit | edit source]Strombocactus disciformis is found in the Mexican states of Querétaro, Hidalgo, and Guanajuato, growing on almost vertical, weathered limestone rocks at altitudes of 1000 to 1600 meters.[5]
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Plant growing vertically in habitat in Pena Blanca, Queretaro
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Plants growing on rocks in Pena Blanca, Queretaro
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Plant growing with Mammillaria parkinsonii
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Taxonomy
[edit | edit source]
First described as Mammillaria disciformis by Augustin-Pyrame de Candolle in 1828, the specific epithet disciformis is derived from the Latin "discus" (disc) and "-formis" (shaped), referring to the plant's shape.[6] Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose reclassified it as Strombocactus in 1922.[7]
Conservation status
[edit | edit source]Both subspecies are classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, which states that it has a limited range and "is experiencing a decline in mature individuals due to illegal overcollection". The species is listed in Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species meaning commercial international trade is prohibited and non-commercial international trade is regulated.[1]
References
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Error creating thumbnail: File missing Media related to Lua error in Module:Commons_link at line 62: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). at Wikimedia Commons
- File:Wikispecies-logo.svg Data related to Strombocactus at Wikispecies
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