| Place of origin:
Mexico, states of Hidalgo and Queretaro.
Description: This species is the one of
greater size of the genus. The stem is spherical in the beginning,
but it becomes columnar with age. Specimens growing in the
wild can reach up to 1 m. height and 30 cm. wide, but it hardly
grows beyond 30 cm. in culture. It shows 8 acute, straight
or slightly spiraled ribs. They are covered a little by silver
plated grudges in bands that form a curved pattern. The areolas
are quite separated and present 5 to 11 straight and acute
spines, of yellow or brown color and variable length. The
long ones can reach up to 3 cm. The flowers are 8 cm. wide
and are of yellow color. There are different varieties like
glabrescens, of dark green color and with a very little number
of grudges or without them; mirbelli, with grudges that cover
the stem entirely and with gilded colored spines.
Advice of culture: Like the rest of the
species of the genus, propagation is made by seeds. It requires
very well drained soil and full sun. |
