Xerophyte

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.