Xerophyte

Habit

Solitary, slow-growing geophyte cactus, with tubercles slightly projecting above ground level. The large tuberous body is below the soil.

Description

Ariocarpus furfuraceus differs from the standard Ariocarpus retususSN|2081]]SN|2079]] only for its equilaterally triangular tubercles, all the other characteristics clearly show that they are conspecific. Ariocarpus retususSN|2079]]SN|2079]] is quite variable and has received numerous unnecessary names of no botanical value, representing no more than local phenotypes

Roots

Tap root.

Note

All of the Ariocarpus seedlings are spiny and quite different from adult specimens, though the spines are feather-like.

Tubercles

The distinctive characteristic of Ariocarpus furfuaraceus are the tubercles, which are equilaterally triangular shaped, divergent, convex or nearly flattened adaxially and often with shallow adaxial undulations or wrinkling, not fissured, 1,5-4 cm long, 1-3,5 cm wide, nearly as wide as long.

Flowers

Diurnal, 4-5 cm in diameter, 2-4 2cm long, white to clear pink.

Blooming Season

Autumn.

Stem

Grey-green, flattened, globose, rounded on top, 3-12 cm high, 10-25cm in diameter.

Fruits

White, green, or rarely pinkish, 10-25 mm long, 3-10 mm in diameter.

Areoles

At the tips of the tubercles, rounded, 1-5 mm in diameter.