Accepted Scientific Name: Ariocarpus retusus Scheidw.
Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Bruxelles 5: 492 (t. 1). 1838
Ariocarpus retusus subs. pectinatus Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
This odd plant has long adiaxal areoles that stretch out to a greater or the full length of the tubercle and uncommon short pectinated spines .
Origin and Habitat: Mexico, San Louis potosi, To Huizache (?) but plant described from cultivated specimen.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Ariocarpus retusus
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Accepted name in llifle Database:Ariocarpus retusus Scheidw.Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Bruxelles 5: 492 (t. 1). 1838Synonymy: 31
Accepted name in llifle Database:Ariocarpus retusus subs. trigonus (F.A.C.Weber) E.F.Anderson & W.A.Fitz Maur.Haseltonia 5: 18. 1998 [1997 publ. 1998]Synonymy: 7
Cultivars
(11):
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Description: This plant differs from the standard Ariocarpus retususSN|2079]]SN|2079]], for its short pectinated spines already present in young specimens. The spines persist with the age, but in adult plant they are partially covered by fur.
Similar species: 
]SN|2114]] f. pectinatus] shows similar pectinated spines, and is much more common in cultivation.
Stem: Dull green, flattened, globose, rounded on top, 3-12cm high, 10-15cm in diameter.
Tubercles: Leaflike divergent, erect, basally compressed, becoming attenuate at the apices, convex or nearly flattened adaxially, 1.5-3cm long, 1-3cm broad, usually nearly as broad as long (or sometime longer than broad)
Spines: 1,2 to 2,0 mm long, dull.
Areoles: At the tips and extending on the upper side of the tubercles, elongated from 2,5 to 20,0 mm long, wooly.
Flowers: Diurnal 4-5cm in diameter., 2-4 2cm long; white to pink
Flowering time: October
Fruit: white, green, or rarely pinkish, 10-25mm long, 3-10mm in diameter.
Remarks: Ariocarpus retususSN|2079]]SN|2079]] is an extremely variable species,. Tubercle size and shape vary widely, a terminal areole is sometimes present at the tip. The vast amount of phenotypic variation in the species has led to the erection of several variants.
More...Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Ariocarpus retusus group
Ariocarpus confusus Halda & Horáček: intermediates between Ariocarpus retusus and Ariocarpus trigonus flower color, white through to magenta, a color not found in any other populations. Distribution: Aramberri region.- Ariocarpus elongatus (Salm-Dyck) Wettst.: has longer an narrower tubercles than Ariocarpus retusus. Distribution: Huizache, San Luis Potosí.
- Ariocarpus furfuraceus C.H.Thomps.: has equilaterally triangular shaped tubercles.
- Ariocarpus furfuraceus f. cristata Frič: crested form.
- Ariocarpus furfuraceus f. monstruosus hort.: Free branching plants with thinner elongated stems and copious production of wool. There are several different clones.
- Ariocarpus furfuraceus var. rostratus A.Berger: (Ariocarpus retusus var. furfuraceus ''rostratus'') Refers to plants with a more tapered apex to the tubercle.
- Ariocarpus retusus Scheidw.: (ssp. retusus) Widespread, flowers are cream or white, occasionally with reddish midveins.
- Ariocarpus retusus f. cristata hort.: is a slow-growing crested cactus forming with fan shaped stems that will slowly forms brain-shaped cushion up to 3-12 cm high and 70 cm in diameter, or more.
- Ariocarpus retusus subs. horacekii Halda & Panar.: like Ariocarpus trigonus but smaller. Distribution: South of Matehuala, San Luis Potosí.
- Ariocarpus retusus subs. jarmilae Halda, Horáček & Panar.: nomina nuda
- Ariocarpus retusus subs. panarottoi Halda & Horáček: Nomina nuda.
- Ariocarpus retusus subs. pectinatus Weisbarth: It has, dull pectinated spines already present in young specimens up to 1,2 to 2,0 mm long. The spines persist with the age. Areoles at the tips and extending on the upper side of the tubercles, elongated 2 to 20 mm long, wooly.
- Ariocarpus retusus subs. scapharostroides Halda & Horáček: Plants from the Villa Juarez region of SLP, it is characterized by erect angular tubercles, superficially reminiscent of Ariocarpus scapharostrus.
- Ariocarpus retusus var. sladkovskyi Halda & Kupčák
- Ariocarpus retusus subs. trigonus (F.A.C.Weber) E.F.Anderson & W.A.Fitz Maur.: (Ariocarpus retusus ssp. trigonus) Somewhat less widespread with long sharp tubercles twice as long as wide. The flowers are yellow (usually), white to pinkish white.
- Ariocarpus retusus cv. Cauliflower: has a completely or partially warty skin that gives it an aspect of cauliflower.
- Ariocarpus retusus cv. Cauliflower King: This is a variant of cv. cauliflower with bigger, if not huge, tubercles giving an overall appearance rather globular.
- Ariocarpus retusus cv. Frumdosus: Unlike the type species, this cultivar has not convex, bulging tubers, but flat and smooth giving them an aspect of tetrahedron.
- Ariocarpus retusus cv. Frumdosus brevituberosus
- Ariocarpus retusus cv. Frumdosus f. variegata
- Ariocarpus retusus cv. Maruibo: Unlike the type species that has more or less triangular tubers, here they take a round shape and looks like small spheres ending with a large woolly areolae.
- Ariocarpus retusus cv. Maruibo Cauliflower: A pretty good combination of "Maruibo" and "Cauliflower" character.
- Ariocarpus retusus cv. Maruibo Pectinatus: is characterized by the swollen tubercles of "Maruibo" together with the very woolly and sometimes prickly central groove of "Pectinatus".
- Ariocarpus retusus cv. Mituibo: (a.k.a. cv. Three Finger or Tresfinger)The tip of each tubercles is split into three points as three fingers, a bit like a trident with a large central section and two smaller ones on each side.
- Ariocarpus retusus cv. Tama Botan: (a.k.a. Ariocarpus retusus var. major) It is a cultivated selection with very wide leaflike, divergent tubercles. The tubercles are 3,5 to 5 cm wide, and are as wide as long or wider in adult specimens.
Ariocarpus retusus subs. pectinatus Photo by: Prof. Ilham Alakbarov
Ariocarpus retusus subs. pectinatus Photo by: Cactus Art
Ariocarpus retusus subs. pectinatus Photo by: Cactus Art
Ariocarpus retusus subs. pectinatus Photo by: Prof. Ilham Alakbarov
Ariocarpus retusus subs. pectinatus Photo by: Prof. Ilham Alakbarov
Ariocarpus retusus subs. pectinatus Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Ariocarpus retusus subs. pectinatus Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Ariocarpus retusus subs. pectinatus Photo by: Valentino VallicelliCultivation and Propagation: This species is slow growing but certainly not as slow as some other types of cacti, it is of easy culture in a well drained non-organic free draining soil compost, with ample water during the growing season. Use of a weak low-nitrogen fertilizer during the growing season can encourage growth. The main threat to their development is root rot. Ariocarpus should be kept dry whenever there is a threat of cold. The appearance of Ariocarpus can benefit greatly by watering the plants from the bottom. This practice will help to keep the “wool” on the top of the plant from becoming matted or discoloured. Need light shade to full sun. Frost Tolerance: Hardy to -10° C.
Propagation: Ariocarpus retusus is probably the easiest species of the genus to raise from seed, but will generally take about 6-10 years to reach flowering size, this rare form is frequently grafted to speed the growth rate.
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by Valentino Vallicelli
