Xerophyte

Description

Leuchtenbergia principisSN|12924]]SN|12924]] is the sole species of the genus Leuchtenbergia, it is a unique looking cactus with very long tubercles, making the plant resemble an agave. It is slow-growing but can eventually grow up to 70 cm high.

Axils

Woolly.

Roots

It has a large, tuberous taproot.

Tubercles

Long, slender, grayish-green to bluish-green, triangular in cross-section, resembling triangular agave-like leaves with the tips cut off, 6-15 cm long, with purplish-red blotches at their tips. Old, basal tubercles dry up and fall off.

Flowers

From the areole at the tip of the new tubercles on mature plant (at least 4-5 years old)large, funnel-shaped, fragrant, yellow, 5-10 cm wide.

Blooming Season

Leuchtenbergia (like the Astrophytums) flowers intermittently throughout the warm months from spring to autumn.

Spines

The tubercles are topped with papery, flexible spines; central spines 1-2, up to 20 (or more)cm long; radials 8 to 14, up to 5(-10) cm long.

Stem

Solitary or slowly offsetting, cylindrical which becomes bare and corky at the base with age, forming a 7.5 cm thick trunk.

Fruits

Green to violet, 3 cm long and 2 cm broad, more or less glaucous, smooth. When ripe the bottom of the fruit open and release several hundred large seeds.

Areoles

At the tip of the tubercle with grey wool.