Turbinicarpus subterraneus

Turbinicarpus subterraneus
Date: 2001 April 9

A most fascinating species of Turbinicarpus. It has a tuberous root from which arises an extremely thin neck, ending in a normal-looking plant body. It can generate new shoots from the tuber if the original is damaged (possibly grazed by animals in habitat).

This specimen was grown from seed sown in 1997, and is only 6cm tall (not counting the flower). I haven't had any problems with the seedlings in cultivation, which surprised me, as cultivated plants are seldom seen.

The variety 'zaragozae' of this species (or perhaps an independent species) does not posess the thin 'neck', so don't grow it (as I did) expecting to get something like these pictures!

Date: 2002 April 27
A year later, the same plant repeats its flowering performance.

This one grew two stems even as a small seedling, and the stems are now prostrate. Possibly the heads grow larger in cultivation than in habitat, and of course there is no other vegetation providing support, so there is little chance of the thin stem supporting them vertically.