AZTEKIUM ritteri cactus pack of 10 seeds

AZTEKIUM ritteri  Origin and Habitat: Aztekium ritteri is endemic to the Mexican state of Nuevo León. Early observations indicated that this species was restricted to one or two localities in the Valley of Rayones. More recently, several additional subpopulations have been found and evaluated. Large numbers of plants occur in these several sites, many of which are largely inaccessible.
Altitude range: 800-1060 metres above sea level.
Habitat: It occurs in xerophile shrublands in the semi-desert in vertical cliffs of friable limestone together with Mammillaria winteriae. Elsewhere it has been reported growing on similarly steep gypsum faces. The plant appears to favour north facing slopes rather than those with a sunnier aspect. This species is threatened by illegal collecting, however, some populations of the species are protected by growing on inaccessible cliffs. It is also threatened by natural erosion processes that wash away habitat.

Description: Aztekium ritteri is a tiny globular cactus, seldom exceeding 5 cm in diameter and rather less in height, with 9 to 11 rounded ribs, these are in turn crossed by numerous horizontal furrows. Between these true ribs are small secondary ribs, reaching about halfway up the plant body. The colour of the younger growth is a rather pale yellowish green, merging to grey-green on the lower, older growth. The centre of the cactus contains a lot of white wool. Once the plant body has reached full size it slowly offsets, and small clumps are commonly found. It does not develop a large storage root.
Spines: 1 to 3 small, weak, often missing from the youngest areoles. The older areoles form a more or less continuous line along the centre of the true ribs.
Flowers: Small (less than 10 mm wide) from the plant tip, white to pink, and usually the outer petals have a darker mid-stripe. It flowers freely in cultivation throughout the summer months. They are followed by small pink fruit that open when ripe and let out tiny seeds.