Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. schwarzii

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Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. schwarzii (Shurly) N.P.Taylor
Cactaceae Consensus Init. 5: 14. 1998
Family: CACTACEAE

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. schwarzii Photo by: Peiffer Clement
This subspecies has a pale green epidermis, angled tubercles and white stigma, whereas the similar T. polaskii has a brownish epidermis, flat, rounded tubercles and pink stigma.

Origin and Habitat: Mexico (Eastern San Luis Potosí: La Bonita)
Habitat: Grows in heavy black earth among small green plants or grass and mostly under shrubs.

Synonyms:

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. schwarzii (Shurly) N.P.Taylor

Neolloydia schmiedickeana var. schwarzii (Shurly) E.F.Anderson
Pediocactus schmiedickeanus var. schwarzii (Shurly) Halda
Strombocactus schwarzii Shurly
Thelocactus macrochele var. schwarzii (Shurly) Kladiwa
Turbinicarpus klinkerianus subs. schwarzii (Shurly) D.Donati
Turbinicarpus macrochele subs. schwarzii (Shurly) Doweld
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. schwarzii (Shurly) Glass & R.A.Foster
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus f. schwarzii (Shurly) Panar.
Turbinicarpus schwarzii (Shurly) Backeb.

See all synonyms of Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus

Description: Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanusSN|12688]]SN|12648]] subs. schwarzii best known as: Turbinicarpus schwarziiSN|12648]]SN|34222]] is a one of the several local form of the very variable Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanusSN|34222]]SN|12648]] distinguished for having flattened tubercles with yellow-grey central spines and ivory white flowers in spring. This subspecies exhibits wide diversity in form.
Habit: It is a solitary or slowly clumping, small cactus, dichotomy also observed.
Stem: Flattened semi-globose, turbinate, pale green. In habitat rarely exceding 2 cm of height and 3,5-5 cm in diameter with a further 30 mm underground, but often much more larger in cultivation.
Parastichy number: 5 and 8.
Areoles: Oval, woolly, at top of plant, quickly disappear.
Tubercles: Flattened 4-angled (diamond shaped) broad and stumpy,
Spines: 1 to 3 spongy yellow-grey, yellowish-brown or whitish horn coloured (Newly emerged centrals yellow-brown), 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. Juvenile radial spines are feathery and very characteristic.
Root: Tap root, nearly shaped like a drawn molar tooth, with mass of fibrous roots.
Flowers: Apical short tubed, campanulate, 20-30 mm long, 30-40 mm wide, sepals lanceolate, margins entire, white or (rarely) pink.
Flowering season: Early spring (Jan-April) flowering.
NOTE: For a long time it was thought that Turbinicarpus polaskiiSN|12648]]SN|12688]] was a synonym of this taxa. The easiest ways to distinguish between them are: schwarzii has a pale green epidermis, angled tubercles and white stigma, whereas polaskii has a brownish epidermis, flat, rounded tubercles and pink stigma.

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Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus group

Turbinicarpus klinkerianus subs. hiemalis D.Donati & Zanov.: It flowers in winter, hence the scientific name "Hiemalis" (Belonging to winter)
Turbinicarpus macrochele subs. frailensis P.Lechner & Jantschgi: as fewer stigma lobes (3-6) white to yellowish-white, 2-3.5 mm long, straight, and only weakly papillose. Distribution: W to S-W of Matehuala, San Luis Potosi, México.
Turbinicarpus macrochele subs. valteri D.Donati & Zanov.
Turbinicarpus rioverdensis G.Frank: It comes from Rioverde, hence the scientific name "rioverdensis"
Turbinicarpus rioverdensis subs. paoloi Halda & Kupčák: This is a form with long spines referable to T. schmiedickeanus ssp. schwarzii
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus (Boed.) Buxb. & Backeb.: (ssp. schmiedickeanus) Stem disc-shaped, dull green and flat on top, twisted spines, and white to magenta flowers. Distribution: Miquihuana, Tamaulipas.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. alenae Halda & Kupčák
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. andersonii Mosco & Zanov.: stem partly underground with pyramidal tubercles. Spines only 1-2. Flowers magenta and white in winter. Distribution: east of El Huizache, SLP, Mexico.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus f. aurata hort.: Mutant completely lacking chlorophyll pigment. The result is a completely cream-white, yellow or reddish plant.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. bonatzii (G.Frank) Panar.: Dark green-bluish, semi-globose, depressed, divided into tubercles, merging in a tuberous root 3-5 cm long, and from it longer fibrous roots develop. It is closely related to Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus ssp klinkerianus
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus f. cristatus hort.: crested form.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. dickisoniae (Glass & R.A.Foster) N.P.Taylor: It has gray-green stems. Radials spines: 18-24 finely acicular, rigid white young areoles (areole in old specimens have only central spines that curve slightly inward). No other variety of schmiedickeanus has as many radial spines nor as slender central spines. Distibution: Aramberri, Nuevo Leon.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. flaviflorus (G.Frank & A.B.Lau) Glass: It has a very distinctive form, described by some as almost pagoda-like with conical tubercles, 4(-6) spines and greenish yellow flowers. Distribution: Santa Rita, San Luis Potosi.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. flaviflorus f. brevispinus: it has very short corky brownish spines that contrast well with the body which is coated in a whitish bloom.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. gracilis (Glass & R.A.Foster) Glass: Stem with nearly round, slender tubercles, one thin, slender papery central spine, and white flowers; Distribution: Aramberri, Nuevo Leon.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. gracilis f. cristatus hort.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. klinkerianus (Backeb. & H.Jacobsen) N.P.Taylor: Disk-shaped stems with tapering pyramidal tubercles, with a total of 3 spines with only one persisting, and white flowers with magenta midribs. Distribution: El Huizache, San Luis Potosi.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. klinkerianus f. aurata hort.: Mutant completely lacking chlorophyll pigment. The result is a completely cream-white or yellow plant.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. klinkerianus f. cristatus hort.: crested form.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. klinkerianus var. lilnkeuiduus: pretty much the same as Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. klinkerianus and not readily distinguishable, if not for the label. Origin: Plants so-named are known only in cultivation.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. klinkerianus f. pachystele
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. kupcakii (Halda & Horáček) Halda & Horáček
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. macrochele (Werderm.) N.P.Taylor: Stem with poorly developed tubercles, 0-4 spines, sometimes as many as 6, and white flowers. Distribution: Matehuala, San Luis Potosi.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. macrochele f. cristatus hort.: crested form with long twisted spines.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. polaskii (Backeb.) M.Zachar, Stanik, Lux & Dráb: Flattened globose, pale grey-green, olive green or purplish-tan in full sun. Tubercles: Broad, very flattened, 4-angled and 1 to 3 spongy spines. Flowers: White in summer with pinkish stigmas.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. polaskii f. variegatus hort.: The variegated forms show decoloured areas (lacking or with reduced chlorophyll content) that appears cream-yellow to pinkish.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. rubriflorus (G.Frank) Panar.: Same as ssp. schwarzii but flowers pink to dark magenta midribs.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. schwarzii (Shurly) N.P.Taylor: Plant with pale green epidermis, Tubercles: Flattened 4-angled (diamond shaped) broad and stumpy, 1-3 spines with one much longer than the others, and white flowers. Distribution: La Bonita, San Luis Potosi.
Turbinicarpus sp. Santa Rita n.n.: has bright purple flowers whit margins of tepals pinkish white. Distribution: Santa Rita, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
Turbinicarpus sp. Negrita: pretty much the same as Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. klinkerianus and not readily distinguishable, if not for the provenance. Distribution: La Negrita, San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

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Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) Davide Donati, Carlo Zanovello “Conoscere, capire, coltivare i Turbinicarpus-Rapicactus” Cactus Trentino Sudtirol, 2004

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. schwarzii Photo by: Cactus Art

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. schwarzii Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. schwarzii Photo by: Cactus Art

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. schwarzii Photo by: Peiffer Clement

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. schwarzii Photo by: Cactus Art

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. schwarzii Photo by: Cactus Art

Cultivation and Propagation: It’s a fairly easy species to cultivate. Need a very well drained soil. Requires strong sun to part sun to develop good spinal growth and waterings should be rather infrequent to keep the plant compact and not to become excessively elongated and unnatural in appearance. keep dry in winter or when night temperatures remain below 10° C, it is hardy to -4°C for a short period. Assure a good ventilation.

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Cite this page: "Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. schwarzii" Text available under a CC-BY-SA Creative Commons Attribution License. www.llifle.com 14 Nov. 2005. 02 Apr 2025. </Encyclopedia/CACTI/Family/Cactaceae/12663/Turbinicarpus_schmiedickeanus_subs._schwarzii>