Frailea uhligiana
Descr. Cact. Nov. iii. 6 (1963)
Family
Cactaceae
Genus
Species
Frailea uhligiana
Author
Backeb. in Backeb.
Chinese genus
士童属
Chinese name
-
Accepted
DescriptionEdit description
Habit
It is a s small depressed perennial stem succulent with age begins to clump around the base and grow oddly. It grows deep seated flat to the ground surface. Only in cultivation plants may have a spherical till columnar shape.
Central Spines
Absent (occasionally 1 or 2).
Seeds
Comparatively large, blackish and shining, up to 2 mm wide, circular, hat shaped with a prominent edge.
Description
Frailea uhligianaSN|3597]]SN|3600]] is a dwarf cactus with unique and remarkably beautiful shape. It is one of the geographical forms of the morphologically variable Frailea cataphractaSN|3600]]SN|3597]] subsp. duchii and it is distinguished for the green to bronze bodies with up to 25 ribs and less adpressed spines up to 4 mm long. The genus is cleistogamous, the colour of the flower is yellow.
Roots
The rootstock is fleshy, turnip-like, with fine diffuse roots.
Flowers
Apical, diurnal, radial, sulphur yellow from the top of the plant, about 3 cm in diameter. Buds with light brown wool. But don't be disappointed when the easily produced buds fail to open. Fraileas are cleistogamous meaning that their flowers produce seed without even opening. Without the need for pollination, hence the buds rarely reach full bloom and remain closed. They will open only in great heat in the hottest, brightest, afternoon sun, if at all.
Ribs
Up to 25, with noticeable tubercles only in the new growth, later flatted above and with a purple-brown lunate, blots situated below the areoles.
Stem
Spherical-depressed, outdoors red brown to to dirty bronze red, with glass protection green, up to 3,5 cm in diameter, 2,5 cm tall more or less imbilicate at apex
Radial Spines
8-10 straight or slightly curved inward, very small, only about 2-4 mm long, adpressed to spreading, whitish, yellowish grey, amber coloured or reddish brown to almost black
Fruits
Dry indehiscent with scales and bristles that detach easily, pericarp membranous, fragile that break easily releasing the seed.
Areoles
Rounded almost bare or with whitish or brownish wool.