Frailea pygmaea subs. aureispina

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Since 4 Aug 2013

Frailea pygmaea subs. aureispina (F.Ritter) P.J.Braun & Esteves
Succulenta (Netherlands) 74: 131. 1995
Family: CACTACEAE

Accepted Scientific Name: Frailea pygmaea (Speg.) Britton & Rose
Cactaceae (Britton & Rose) 3: 210. 1922 [12 Oct 1922] Britton & Rose

Frailea pygmaea subs. aureispina Photo by: Alexander Arzberger

Origin and Habitat: North of Quarai, Rio Grade do Sul. Field number: FR 1386
Habitat and ecology: The cactus grows on rocky outcrops and stony fields in pampa grasslands. Frailea aureispinaSN|3524]]SN|3329]], grows together with Frailea castaneaSN|3329]]SN|3524]].

Synonyms:

Frailea pygmaea subs. aureispina (F.Ritter) P.J.Braun & Esteves

Astrophytum aureispinum (F.Ritter) Halda & Malina
Frailea aureispina F.Ritter

See all synonyms of Frailea pygmaea

Description: Frailea pygmaeaSN|3675]]SN|3317]] subs. aureispina firstly described as Frailea aureispinaSN|3634]]SN|3329]] by Friederic Ritter in 1970, is a very small cactus with shortly cylindrical stems covered by golden-yellow spines. It is usually included within (as a synonym of) Frailea pygmaeaSN|3329]]SN|3317]]. However, this taxon is the one that least resembles Frailea pygmaeaSN|3669]]SN|3317]], the dark felted areoles are similar to the areoles of Frailea phaeodiscaSN|3317]]SN|3669]], and the yellow to orange spines are noticeably stronger than those normally found in F. pygmaea.
Note: In the area North of Quarai where Frailea aureispinaSN|3317]]SN|3329]] grows, no other forms of F. pygmaea grow, but Frailea schilinzkyanaSN|3329]]SN|3634]] (Frailea perumbilicataSN|3317]]SN|3675]]) is quite common. This latter species also has strong spines, which vary from yellow to dark brownish in colour, but other than in these characteristics it does not resemble F. aureispina. It is possible that F. aureispina is not related to F. pygmaea at all, its characteristics being the result of natural hybridization between F. phaeodisca and F. schilinzkyana (F. perumbilicata), both of both of which grow nearby. This is just a hypothesis, but clearly this is a plant that needs to be studied in more detail.
Stems: Cylindrical, bright green, 15-25 mm thick, 3-5 cm high, solitary.
Root: Napiform.
Ribs: 13-18, 0.5-1 mm tall, dissolved in round tubercles, only 0.5-1 mm high.
Areoles: On the tubercles, 0.8 mm long, 0,5 mm wide, with reddish-brown felt, later naked, 1-1,5 mm apart.
Spines: Pale to orange yellow with a reddish-brown base.
Radial spines: 10-13, 3-4 mm long, acicular, usually straight, all around the areole, spreading sideways or partly erected.
Central spines: Absent, or 1-2, protruding, not longer than radials, similar in colour or brownish.
Flowers: Apical, 4 cm long, and over 4 cm wide when fully open, pericarpel 7 mm long, 4 mm thick above, tapering below, tawny brown with small narrow reddish scales, dense grey wool, and reddish-brown fine bristles. Nectaries absent. Flowers tube 8 mm long, 10 mm wide above, pale yellow internally, externally yellowish-green covered as the ovary. Filaments pale yellow, red at base, set up to 2 mm below the upper edge of the tube. Anthers pale yellow. Stylus about 2 cm long, pale yellow, the lowest 2 mm united with the tube with c. 6 pale yellow stigma-lobes 6-7 mm long. Petals 22 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, greenish yellow.
Seeds: Cap-shaped, nearly black, shining, light, 1,5 mm long, 2 mm wide.

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Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Frailea pygmaea group

Frailea pygmaea (Speg.) Britton & Rose: is a very small cactus that lives half buried in the ground. It has a wide distribution and is very variable with some forms having heads no wider than one or two cm. Distribution: Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.
Frailea pygmaea subs. albicolumnaris (F.Ritter) Hofacker
Frailea pygmaea subs. asperispina (F.Ritter) P.J.Braun & Esteves: has dark felted areoles and golden-yellow spines stronger than those normally found in F. pygmaea. Distribution: North of Quarai, Rio Grade do Sul.
Frailea pygmaea var. aurea (Backeb.) Backeb.: has golden-yellow spines, yellowish or brown areoles and sulphur-cleistogamous fruits. distribution: Uruguay near Montevideo. (Dept. Canelones, Puenta-Ballena?)
Frailea pygmaea subs. aureinitens (Buining & Bredero) P.J.Braun & Esteves
Frailea pygmaea subs. aureispina (F.Ritter) P.J.Braun & Esteves
Frailea pygmaea var. curvispina F.Ritter: it has recurved, creamy-brown bristles, short to long, more or less curved backwards, twisted and interlaced. Distribution: Pantano Grande Region, Rio Grande do Sul.
Frailea pygmaea var. dadakii (Frič ex A.Berger) Backeb.: has globular stems, depressed on top, with about 12 ribs. It branches profusely forming dense clumps. The spines are all radial, usually 8, brownish passing to white, curved backwards and twisted.
Frailea pygmaea subs. fulviseta (Buining & Bredero) P.J.Braun & Esteves
Frailea pygmaea var. gloriosa Prestlé: has long glassy-white spines and brown areoles. It is very nice.
Frailea pygmaea var. grandiflora: has somewhat larger flowers. Distribution: Uruguay.
Frailea pygmaea subs. lilalunula (F.Ritter) P.J.Braun & Esteves

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