Xerophyte

Description

x Thelobergia is a strikingly weird but pretty hybrid cactus obtained by crossing ♀ Thelocactus sp. x ♂ Leuchtenbergia principisSN|12924]]SN|12924]] (or vice versa?). Its stem is covered by more or less elongate tubercles (depending on clone). The superb features of this rare plant is due to the intersection between the traits of the ancestors. It has inherited by Thelocactus the needle-like spines, but the spines are often longer, and by Leuchtenbergia principisSN|12924]]SN|12924]] the ribs divided in conspicuous conical tubercles, but tubercles are much shorter. The stem is solitary and often fails to produce offsets even if it has had its top cut off to encourage the formation of a crown of branches.These hybrids are very variable, due to the intersection of characters deriving from the parents which may comprise different Thelocactus species. The length of the tubercles and spines are the more variable of the trait and a great variety of forms can be found in cultivation. Sometime a seedling loses some chlorophyll on the way, and the plants became variegated.

Tubercles

Generally they have more or less long, three-sided tubercles, often with a basal “chin”, usually arranged in spirals. The areoles are at the tips of tubercles. Some Thelobergia produce drops of nectar from areolar glands like Thelocactus.

Flowers

Usually yellow. The flower reminds those of the Leuchtenbergia principisSN|12924]]SN|12924]].

Blooming Season

Blossoms intermittently from spring to fall.

Spines

Very variable, some plants have long, harmless, and papery spines (similar to those of Leuchtenbergia), while other others have short and stout, spines (more similar to those of telocacti).