| Strombocactus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Strombocactus disciformis subsp.disciformis | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Tribe: | Cacteae |
| Genus: | Strombocactus Britton &Rose |
| Species: | S. disciformis |
| Binomial name | |
| Strombocactus disciformis | |
| Synonyms | |
Ariocarpus disciformis(DC.)Marshall | |
Strombocactus disciformis is a rarespecies ofcacti and the only species of thegenusStrombocactus. The plant originates from Central and NortheastMexico.
Strombocactus is a monotypic genus with a strong turnip-like root, a small, depressed, roughly spherical stem covered with spirally arranged overlappingtubercles, each with a spine-bearingareole at its tip.
Strombocactus disciformis are low-growing, gray-green succulents with a broadly round, unbranched stem and root. In their natural habitats, they grow in a disk shape, half hidden in the ground, reaching around 8 cm in diameter and 2-3 cm in height. In cultivation, they become nearly spherical. Adult tubers can reach 15 cm in diameter, larger than the above-ground parts. The plant's spiral ribs are deeply notched, creating a wart-like appearance with a ratio close to thegolden ratio (13:8).Areoles are located on the blunt ends of these warts, which are curved (straighter in cultivation) and have a square base. They rarely have more than four or five short, bristly thorns, which fall off after a few years.[2]
Flowers come from new growth at the crown, emerging from the youngest areoles. The flowers, white to cream or magenta and 2.5 to 3.5 cm long and open to about 4 cm in diameter. The 7 mm long, thin-walled brown fruits contain 0.3 mm reddish-brown seeds.[3]
The species has two recognized subspecies:[4]
| Image | Subspecies | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
 | Strombocactus disciformis subsp.disciformis | Querétaro to Hidalgo |
 | Strombocactus disciformis subsp.esperanzaeGlass & S.Arias | Guanajuato |
Strombocactus disciformis is found in the Mexican states of Querétaro, Hidalgo, and Guanajuato, growing on almost vertical, weathered limestone rocks at altitudes of 1000 to 1600 meters.[5]
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First described asMammillaria disciformis by Augustin-Pyrame de Candolle in 1828, the specific epithet disciformis is derived from the Latin "discus" (disc) and "-formis" (shaped), referring to the plant's shape.[6]Nathaniel Lord Britton andJoseph Nelson Rose reclassified it asStrombocactus in 1922.[7]
Both subspecies areclassified as Vulnerable on theIUCN Red List, which states that it has a limited range and "is experiencing a decline in mature individuals due to illegal overcollection". The species is listed in Appendix 1 of theConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species meaning commercial international trade is prohibited and non-commercial international trade is regulated.[1]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is available under theCC BY-SA 3.0 license.
Media related toStrombocactus at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toStrombocactus at Wikispecies