Ariocarpus Retusus pack of 5 seeds

• • Ariocarpus Retusus Anhalonium prismaticum Lemaire 1839
    = Mammillaria prismatica

• Ariocarpus elongatus Lee 1937Scientific
  = Anhalonium elongatum Salm-Dyck 1850
• Ariocarpus pulvilligeris
• Anhalonium areolosum,

Ariocarpus Retusus Common name: Living Rock, Seven Stars

Origin: widely distributed from north of Saltillo, Coahuila southwards to San Luis Potosi, SLP, Also found occur in Tamaulipas , Zacatecas and Nuevo Leon.

Habitat: High Chihuahuan desert at altitudes of between 1300 and 2000 metres, on calcareous hillsides and occasionally gypsum plains. At lower altitudes (200 – 800m) of the Sierra Madre Oriental it is replaced by A. retusus ssp. trigonus.

Description: Solitary, slow growing geophyte cactus with tubercles slightly projecting above ground level. The flat tuberous body is below the soil.
Stem: Grey, or blue-green, flattened, globose, rounded on top, 3-12cm high, 10-25cm in diameter.
Tubercles: Leaflike, divergent, erect, basally compressed, usually becoming attenuate at the apices, convex or nearly flattened adaxially and often with shallow adaxial undulations or wrinkling, not fissured, 1.5-4cm long, 1-3.5cm wide, nearly as wide as long;
Areoles: at the tips of the tubercles, rounded, 1-5mm in diameter.
Flowers: Diurnal 4-5cm in diameter., 2-4 2cm long; white to pink (or magenta), occasionally with reddish midribs,
Root: Tap root
Flowering time: October
Fruit: white, green, or rarely pinkish, 10-25mm long, 3-10mm in diameter.

Ariocarpus retusus is an extremely variable species

Cultivation: 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