Mammillaria areolosa
Biol. Cent. Amer. Bot. 1:503. 1880
Family
Cactaceae
Genus
Species
Mammillaria areolosa
Author
Hemsl.
Chinese genus
乳突球属
Chinese name
-
Primary
Accepted
DescriptionEdit description
Habit
Solitary, slow growing geophyte cactus with tubercles slightly projecting above ground level. The flat tuberous body is below the soil.
Description
Ariocarpus retususSN|2079]]SN|2079]]us commonly known as the "Star Rock" is one of the largest species that distinguishes for the fat triangular tubercles forming a starry rosette. It is a widespread and extremely variable plant. Tubercle size and shape vary widely, a terminal areole is sometimes present at the tip. The vast amount of phenotypic variation in the species has led to the erection of several variants and has received numerous unnecessary names of no botanical value.
Roots
Tap root.
Note
All of the Ariocarpus seedlings are spiny and quite different from adult specimens, though the spines are feather-like.
Tubercles
Leaf-like, divergent, erect, basally compressed, usually becoming attenuate at the apices, convex or nearly flattened adaxially and often with shallow adaxial undulations or wrinkling, not fissured, 1,5-4 cm long, 1-3,5 cm wide, nearly as wide as long.
Flowers
Diurnal 4-5cm in diameter, 2-4,2 cm long, white to pink (or magenta), occasionally with reddish midribs.
Blooming Season
Autumn.
Stem
Grey, or blue-green, flattened, globose, rounded on top, 3-12 cm high, 10-25 cm in diameter.
Fruits
White, green, or rarely pinkish, 10-25 mm long, 3-10 mm in diameter.
Areoles
At the tips of the tubercles, rounded, 1-5 mm in diameter often only on younger specimens.