Xerophyte

Habit

They are very flat geophyte cactus that produce small star-shaped rosettes. They in most cases don't reach more than only a few centimetres above the ground. Although they can form clumps, often only a small disc of tubercles can be seen flat at the soil surface, however these plants grow a large tap root below the surface of the compost.

Description

Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanusSN|2127]]SN|2127]] subs. albiflorus is a dwarf cactus with unique and remarkably beautiful shape. It is a small growing form of the variable Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanusSN|2127]]SN|2127]] and is distinguished for the white or pale pink flowers.

Roots

Each plant has a large turnip-like taproot, which lies below the soil surface and serves for water storage.

Tubercles

The tubercles are deltoid dark olive green with no spines and lie flat on the soil surface. They are more long than wide, closely packed and divergent, sharply angled apically.

Flowers

These plants have a woolly crown, from which emerge white or very pale pink (never magenta-violet), 2,5-5 cm, 2 times wider than long when fully expanded.

Blooming Season

Mid-September onwards. Flowers are diurnal and last for 3 to 4 days.

Stem

Usually solitary, rarely giving rise to side shoots from old areoles, flattened on top, depressed centrally.

Fruits

White or green with lots of seed.

Areoles

The tubercles forms a central longitudinal areolar groove extending to the tips on the adaxial surfaces of the tubercles, woolly, 1-3 mm wide, 5-10 mm long.