Thelocactus today

[Guest]

Is the Thelo. conothelus albiflorus the same as saussieri v albiflorus? Looks very much like mine under that name although I have 2 plants one of which has quite a pinky flower but the other is pure white.

Mike.

[Martin]

Vic

multicephalus is shown in the New Cactus Lexicon and was described in 1999 but has been known of for some time

From the Thelocactus web site



it says

"It is one of the last taxa that have been described, even though this entity has been known in Europe for some time. At the type locality it is often clustering, forming small clusters, and thus the name. It is found however also in several locations more to the south, down to Matehuala in San Luis Potos?. In these localities it has single, depressed stems. It is a beautiful species, with depressed or globose stem, sometimes clustering, of a blue-green marbled colour, completely divided into tubercles. The spines are not differentiated into centrals and radials, and they are variable in length. The flowers are generally white, rarely pinkish. This species may easily be confused with Thelocactus rinconensis, especially the form with depressed stem known as phymatothelos, from which it can be distinguished by the different stem colour, the absence of ribs and the different anatomy of the epidermis. In fact, multicephalus has only one hypodermal layer, while all the taxa belonging to the rinconensis complex have a multi-layered hypodermis."

It looks a bit like rinconensis I guess so a few folks may have it and not realise.

Its been offered comercialy for a few years (Graham Charles had a few for sale last year) and this plant came from Panarotto in Italy.

I also have a form with less spines will get a picture today

[Martin]

Mike

Yes it is a syn of conothelos

Saussieri is a name referable to the plants with depressed globose stem growing around Matehuala, in Nuevo Le?n and San Luis Potos?. There are no other differences from the type.

[phil]

Some lovely flowers there. Thanks for posting.

[Vic]

Thanks Martin! It's got fantastic spines. One to look out for when I pop over to Belgium/Holland next week.

[John E]

Hi Martin
This is the plant that I snatched from under your nose at Ingo Breuers. The name on the label was Thelocactus krainzianus which the NCL shows under Thelocactus tulensis.
John E
[attachment 3240 IMG_3428a.jpg]

[Martin]

John

Thanks for reminding me ! It has a nice flower shade for a Tulensis and quite large

Tulensis is normally a dull off white and not too large a flower.

I did find another one but it was a miserable plant so I left it !!

I have a few of these seed grown from BCSS seed list a year or so ago so hopfully in a few years when they flower they will be like the picture !

[Maria J]

Fantastic selection!
Anyone got any flower pics of T. phymatothele?

[Martin]

Maria

I posted one in my series

The 5th picture.

This is quite a nice one they tend to be a little paler

[John E]

Hi Maria . This is a pic of my Thelocactus rinconensis var. phymatothelos
[attachment 3395 IMG_3432a.jpg]