Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. gracilis

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Since 4 Aug 2013

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. gracilis (Glass & R.A.Foster) Glass & R.A.Foster
Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) 49(4): 167. 1977
Family: CACTACEAE

Accepted Scientific Name: Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. gracilis (Glass & R.A.Foster) Glass
Guía Identif. Cact. Amenazadas México 1: Tu/sch ssp. gracilis (1998 publ. 1997) Glass

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. gracilis (Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. gracilis) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
The Latin epithet "gracilis" means "slender", referring to the slender spines and tubercles.

Origin and Habitat: Aramberi, Southern Nuevo León, México.
Altitude: 1000-1300 metres above sea level.
Habitat: It grows in rocky areas on fairly steep hillsides.

Synonyms:

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. gracilis (Glass & R.A.Foster) Glass

Neolloydia schmiedickeana var. gracilis (Glass & R.A.Foster) E.F.Anderson
Pediocactus schmiedickeanus var. gracilis (Glass & R.A.Foster) Halda
Turbinicarpus gracilis Glass & R.A.Foster
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. gracilis (Glass & R.A.Foster) Glass & R.A.Foster

See all synonyms of Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus

Common Names include:
SPANISH (Español): Uñita

Description: Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. gracilis much better known under its old name, Turbinicarpus gracilisSN|12696]]SN|12696]] is a small cactus species that typically will grow solitary but may on occasion cluster. It is very similar to Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus ssp. dickisoniae the closest variety from which differ in type and number of spines.
Stem: The stem is globular and depressed, up to 30mm high 30-40mm wide grey-green (but in cultivated plants it can be more elongated and wide).
Tubercles: round. ca. 7 mm long (compared to the 3-5 mm long tubercles of ssp. dickisoniae), ca. 1,8 mm in diameter at tip, 3-5 mm broad at base, slender, nearly terete, somewhat angled, bright greyish green;
Central spines: Thin and papyraceous ca. 18-23 mm long, 1 mm wide, grey, erect but flexible and curved;
Radials spines: few short, 2 mm long, white deflexed in lower portion of areole, perpendicular to axis of tubercle; occasionally present also in adult specimens but deciduous.
Flower: Slender funnelshaped, 2 cm long, 1,5 cm in diameter; outer perianth segments white with pale greenish brown to narrow greenish or cerise mid-line; inner segments pure white;
Fruit: Tan, globose, dehiscent along longitudinal split.
Seeds: Small, black, finely tuberculate, ca. 1 mm long, 0,5 mm in diameter.

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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 var. gracilis (Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. gracilis) Photo by: Prof. Ilham Alakbarov

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. gracilis (Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. gracilis) Photo by: Cactus Art

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. gracilis (Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. gracilis) Photo by: Cactus Art

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. gracilis (Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. gracilis) Photo by: Cactus Art

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. gracilis (Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. gracilis) Photo by: Cactus Art

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. gracilis (Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. gracilis) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. gracilis (Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. gracilis) Photo by: Diego Armentano

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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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