Turbinicarpus schwarzii var. rubriflorus
Succulenta (Netherlands) 72(2): 79. 1993
Family
Cactaceae
Genus
Species
Turbinicarpus schwarzii var. rubriflorus
Author
G.Frank
Chinese genus
姣丽球属
Chinese name
-
DescriptionEdit description
Description
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanusSN|12648]]SN|12648]] subs. rubriflorus is almost indistinguishable from the standard "Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanusSN|12648]]SN|12648]] subs. schwarzii", but when the buds - well hidden in the plants’ woolly crown - appear, all its magnificent and unique flower colouring reveals the difference. The flowers are much more coloured than the standard subs. schwarzii. The petals have bright pink to dark magenta midribs.
Parastichy Number
5 and 8
Roots
Tap root, nearly shaped like a drawn molar tooth, with mass of fibrous roots.
Tubercles
Flattened 4-angled (diamond shaped) broad and stumpy.
Flowers
Apical short tubed, campanulate, 20-30 mm long, 30-40 mm wide, sepals lanceolate, margins entire white or pale pink with darker bright-pink or purplish midribs.
Blooming Season
Spring to autumn.
Spines
1 to 3 spongy yellowish brown or whitish horn coloured, the lower one longer, up to 2 cm, the 2 side spine approximately 4-5 mm, often missing, still shorter, flattened below, curved towards the apex and often contorted grey, corky, rather soft, with transverse fissures. The spines are bunched at plant apex and persistent only on the upper body, below they fall off and the body and tubercles are corky and bare.
Stem
Solitary or slowly clumping (dichotomy also observed) flattened semi-globose; turbinate, pale greysh-green globose, with a further 30 mm underground, 2 cm tall, 3,5-5 cm in diameter (but often larger in cultivation).
Areoles
Oval, woolly, at top of plant, quickly disappear.