Xerophyte

Habit

It is a geophytic plant, usually solitary, deep-seated, that flush with soil surface in habitat.

Seeds

Dust-like, very small, S. disciformis has nearly 2 times bigger seeds with pressed hilium, S. jarmilae has oval-shaped hilium.

Description

Strombocactus jarmilaeSN|12844]]SN|2109]] is a slow-growing, miniature taxa of doubtful validity, generally included in Strombocactus disciformisSN|2103]]SN|2103]]. It is appears to have a smaller body, with small flowers, long thin spines and some other minor differences. It blooms profusely, and starts flowering at an early stage of development when only 1 cm in diameter.

Roots

It has a thin central root and not the strong napiform root typical of S. disciformis.

Tubercles

S. jarmilae has characteristic rhomboid tubercles other than those of S. disciformis and of Strombocactus pulcherrimusSN|2109]]SN|12844]]. They are firm, spirally arranged and imbricate, less than 1 cm tall. These tubercules are flattened and almost truncated above and somewhat horny or keeled below.

Flowers

Flowers of S. disciformis are larger and more fleshy, those of S. jarmilae are thin, smaller, and dehydrated soon. One to several arise on the crown, measure about 3 cm in length and breadth, are cream coloured.

Blooming Season

Flowers emerge early in spring and are freely produced throughout the summer, remaining open for 1-2 days.

Spines

4 to 5, erect, somewhat thinner, dark grey at the tips and pale grey at the base, up to 2 (or more) cm long, becoming calcified and in age falling at the stem base.

Stem

The body is flattened or spherical, not bigger than 4 cm in diameter (S. disciformis may reach 20 cm in age, and 3 to 9 cm across). The crown is slightly depressed and felted. The colour is blue-green with greyish tinge, the base covered with brown corky spots in age.

Fruits

7 mm across, splits down its length.