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Accepted Scientific Name: Ariocarpus fissuratus K.Schum. in Engl. & Prantl
Nat. Pflanzenfam. Nachtr. [Engler & Prantl] 3, Abt. 6a: 195. 1894
Origin and Habitat: Japan, Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)
Synonyms:
Ariocarpus fissuratus K.Schum. in Engl. & Prantl
Nat. Pflanzenfam. Nachtr. [Engler & Prantl] 3, Abt. 6a: 195. 1894
Synonymy: 22
- Ariocarpus fissuratus K.Schum. in Engl. & Prantl
- Anhalonium Engelmannii Lem.
- Anhalonium fissuratum (Engelm.) Engelm.
- Mammillaria fissurata Engelm.
- Roseocactus fissurams A.Berger
- Roseocactus fissuratus (Engelm.) A.Berger
- Ariocarpus fissuratus f. aurea
- Ariocarpus fissuratus var. lloydii (Rose) W.T.Marshall
- Ariocarpus fissuratus subs. lloydii (Rose) U.Guzmán
- Ariocarpus lloydii Rose
- Roseocactus lloydii (Rose) A.Berger
- Ariocarpus fissuratus var. lloydii f. aurea hort.
- Ariocarpus fissuratus var. lloydii f. cristata hort.
- Ariocarpus fissuratus f. monstruosus
- Ariocarpus fissuratus var. pailanus Halda
- Ariocarpus fissuratus f. pectinatus hort.
- Ariocarpus fissuratus f. rubra hort.
- Ariocarpus intermedius (Backeb. & Kilian) M.Voldan
- Roseocactus intermedius Backeb. & Kilian
- Ariocarpus lloydii var. mayor Frič
- Ariocarpus fissuratus var. lloydii cv. latus
- Ariocarpus fissuratus cv. Cauliflower x Godzilla
- Ariocarpus fissuratus cv. Godzilla
- Ariocarpus fissuratus cv. Godzilla (Cotton Flock Type)
- Ariocarpus fissuratus cv. Godzilla aurata
- Ariocarpus fissuratus cv. Godzilla variegata
- Ariocarpus fissuratus cv. Green Coral
- Ariocarpus fissuratus cv. Tri-fingers
Description: Ariocarpus fissuratusSN|2114]]SN|2114]] var. lloydii is traditionally distinguished from var. fissuratus by its higher, somewhat rounded and more convex stem appearing above the ground.
Forma aurea (yellow form): The yellow schizochromic form (Ariocarpus hybrid retusus f. aureaSN|26100]]SN|26100]]) has bright golden yellow stems due to the absence (or reduced production) of chlorophyll pigments: every other pigment is present at normal levels, the dominant green colouration is lost, but will still more than likely have normal other pigments that give the yellow overall appearance of the stem. This form with yellow stems is very attractive and highly prized. This schizochromic form is almost always seen grafted on stronger columnar species, and cannot can be grown on its own roots.
Stem: Flat to somewhat rounded and sometime even columnar shaped in cultivation, pale to golden yellow or orangish, from 10 to 15 cm in diameter, .
Tubercles: The tubercles of var. lloydii are very different from those of the standard Ariocarpus fissuratusSN|2114]]SN|2114]] and easily recognizable. They are imbricated, ovate, broad at base and usually more rounded at the apex, about 2 to 3 cm wide. They lack edges and lateral longitudinal furrow (or are only weakly fissured). They are only finely rugose with quite coarse, often confluent papillae in the whole surface which form transversal ledges and irregularly warty.
Areoles: Filled with a dense mass of hairs, up to 3 mm wide, sometimes confined to middle of tubercle faces instead of extending to tips.
Flowers: These plants have a woolly crown, from which emerge 3 to 4 cm broad, white to purple (usually pink) 2 times wider than long when fully expanded
Blooming time: October, November. Flowers last for 3 to 4 days.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Ariocarpus fissuratus group
- Ariocarpus bravoanus H.M.Hern. & E.F.Anderson: It is particularly interesting as it represents a link between the former subgenera Ariocarpus with an undivided or fully divided areole and Roseocactus subgenus with the areolar fissure.
- Ariocarpus bravoanus subs. hintonii (Stuppy & N.P.Taylor) E.F.Anderson & W.A.Fitz Maur.
- Ariocarpus bravoanus subs. hintonii f. monstruosa rubra hort.: has soft rubbery textured red montrous stems, only a few centimeters across and plant looks more like some non-cactus succulent than a cactus.
- Ariocarpus fissuratus K.Schum. in Engl. & Prantl: Geophyte plant that produces a star-shaped rosette of fleshy, deltoid to hemispheric tubercles which are coarsely rugose and characteristically deeply fissured on either side of the central areolar groove.
- Ariocarpus fissuratus f. aurea: Mutant completely lacking chlorophyll pigment. The result is a completely yellow .
- Ariocarpus fissuratus var. lloydii (Rose) W.T.Marshall: has higher, somewhat rounded and more convex stem appearing above the ground.
- Ariocarpus fissuratus var. lloydii f. aurea hort.: Mutant completely lacking chlorophyll pigment. The result is a completely yellow or orangish plant.
- Ariocarpus fissuratus var. lloydii f. cristata hort.: crested form.
- Ariocarpus fissuratus var. lloydii cv. latus
- Ariocarpus fissuratus f. monstruosus: It shows an abnormal, uncoordinated form of vegetative growth, with a multitude of condensed lateral proliferation, each areole originating a new stem only a few centimetres across.
- Ariocarpus fissuratus var. pailanus Halda
- Ariocarpus fissuratus f. pectinatus hort.: has long areoles that stretch out to the full length of the tubercle and uncommon short pectinated spines already present in young specimens. Distribution: Only known from cultivated specimen.
- Ariocarpus fissuratus f. rubra hort.: has notches ribs of a bright red colour due to the absence (or reduced production) of chlorophyll pigments.
- Ariocarpus fissuratus cv. Godzilla: Odd plant with strongly structured surface and the deep colour, but greener or woollier plants are in the variation range of this cultivar.
- Ariocarpus fissuratus cv. Godzilla (Cotton Flock Type): Very woolly form. The rough tubercles epidermis is almost concealed by the dense long hairs .
- Ariocarpus fissuratus cv. Godzilla aurata
- Ariocarpus fissuratus cv. Godzilla variegata
- Ariocarpus fissuratus cv. Green Coral: this cultivar must be considered the next step of "Godzilla" with larger and longer green warts on the tubercles surface.
- Ariocarpus intermedius (Backeb. & Kilian) M.Voldan: (A. fissuratus var. intermedius) intermediate form between Ariocarpus fissuratus and Ariocarpus lloydii.
Notes: Notes: Albinism, Schizochromism & Variegation
Variegation: A variegated plant has sectors, patches or stripes with two or more different colours, even distinct shades of green. Plants with variegated stems or leaves are often attractive and highly prized. In most species the stems or leaves are normally green, and variegated epidermis is an uncommon mutation, termed a chimera. A chimeral variegation is due to losing the ability to produce chlorophyll in some of the plant’s tissue, so that this tissue is no longer green. Tissues lacking chlorophyll are usually white or pale yellow coloured (due to carotenoid pigments) or red (due to betalain or anthocyanin pigments) contrasting with the normal green tissue. There are several forms of variegation, depending on the tissues that have been affected. The variegation in some forms is unstable. The extent and nature of the variegation can vary, and sometimes the plant will return to the green form. In others it is stable and does not change under normal conditions. Because the variegation is due to the presence of two kinds of plant tissue, propagating the plant must be by a vegetative method of propagation that preserves both types of tissue in relation to each other.
Albinism: Every once in a while a plant exhibits albinism (completely lacking chlorophyll pigment). This means that its tissue is unable to carry out photosynthesis. The result is a completely cream-white yellow or reddish plant. This plant will be weaker than a green plant, and albinism is generally a fatal trait (it can't produce its own food and it's not getting it from anything else). Without chlorophyll, the albino plant has no way to manufacture the food needed for survival and growth to maturity. This implies that these plants cannot survive on their own roots and necessitate being grafted on a normal green plant that provides food. Some of these albino plants are indeed very popular, and sought after by collectors.
Schizochromism: The yellow or red appearance of some plants is more precisely caused by another aberration called "schizochromism". Here, though, the specific green pigment (chlorophyll) is missing: every other pigment is present at normal levels. The dominant green colouration is lost, but the plant will still more than likely have normal other pigments that give the yellow overall appearance of stems and the red colouration of spines.
Cultivation and Propagation: Variegated and albinous cacti are regarded as choice and difficult in cultivation, but despite that many of them are relatively easy to grow. But be aware that they cannot tolerate prolonged exposure to direct sun light (especially during the hottest summer days), so grow them in half-shade or under filtered sun. They are sometime seen as grafted plants, but many grow well on their own roots, too.
On the contrary, the albinos can survive only if grafted on a strong green base.
Use mineral well-permeable substratum with little organic matter (peat, humus). Water sparingly from March till October and keep perfectly dry in winter at temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees centigrade. (In general these plants are more tender and cannot endure freezing temperatures ) In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!!
Propagation: Usually by seed. Plants are often grafted onto column-shaped cacti.
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