Xerophyte

Seeds

Black, tuberculate-roughened.

Description

Ariocarpus fissuratusSN|2114]]SN|2114]] var. lloydii is traditionally distinguished from var. fissuratus by its higher, somewhat rounded and more convex stem. The cv. Latus (whatever that means) is the lovely large tubercle type of the species. In this cultivar the tubercles are fewer but very fat and broad (at least two times wide) and rounded at the apex.

Roots

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

Tubercles

Ovate, broad at base and rounded at the apex, about 3 to 5 (or more) cm wide. They lack edges and lateral longitudinal furrow and are only finely rugose with quite coarse and irregularly warty.

Flowers

These plants have a woolly crown, from which emerge 3 to 4 cm broad, white to purple (usually pink) 2 times wider than long when fully expanded. Inner perianth-segments oblong-oblanceolate; style and stigma-lobes white.

Blooming Season

October, November. Flowers last for 3 to 4 days.

Stem

Somewhat rounded and sometime even columnar shaped in cultivation in adult specimens ranges from 15-25 cm in diameter.

Fruits

Ovoidal, pale green.

Areoles

Filled with a dense mass of hairs, up to 3 mm wide, sometimes confined to middle of tubercle faces instead of extending to tips.