Ariocarpus is a
genusIn biology, a genus is a taxonomic unit used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The term comes from Latin genus "descent, family, type, gender" , cognate with – genos, "race, stock, kin" ..In addition, genus is a taxonomic rank in the hierarchy In biology, a genus (plural:...
of 8 species of succulent, subtropical
plantPlants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. They include familiar organisms such as trees, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The scientific study of plants, known as botany, has identified about 350,000 extant species of plants, defined as seed plants,...
s of the Cactaceae family.
The name comes from the ancient Greek "aria" (an oak type) and "carpos" (=fruit) because of the resemblance of the fruit of the two genus in acorn form.
It comes from limestone hills of Rio Grande in the south of
TexasTexas is the second-largest U.S. state in both area and population, and the largest state in the contiguous United States.The name had wide usage among native Americans, meaning "friends" or "allies"...
and also the north and the center of
MexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
with strong sunshine exposures.
Ariocarpus are endangered and quite rare in the wild.
- Ariocarpus agavoides
Ariocarpus agavoides is a species of plant in the Cactaceae family. It is endemic to Mexico. Its natural habitat is hot deserts....
- Ariocarpus bravoanus
Ariocarpus bravoanus is a species of plant in the Cactaceae family. It is endemic to Mexico. Its natural habitat is hot deserts.-References:...
- Ariocarpus fissuratus
Ariocarpus fissuratus is a species of extremely slow growing cacti found in rare numbers in Mexico and the southern United States. Commonly called "living rocks," these cacti usually blend in well with the terrain around them. They are greyish-green in color, sometimes taking on a yellowish tint...
Engelm.
- Ariocarpus furfuraceus Watts., more robust species, until 25 cm of diameter.
- Ariocarpus lloydii
- Ariocarpus retusus
Ariocarpus retusus is a species of cactus, from the genus Ariocarpus, found mainly in Mexico. It is one of the largest, and fastest growing, species of the genus. Despite its slow growth, often taking 10 years to reach flowering age, the retusus is a desirable cactus for cultivation, having...
- Ariocarpus scapharostrus
- Ariocarpus trigonus Web.
- Anhalonium Lem.
- Neogomesia Castañeda
Castañeda or Castaneda is a Spanish and Asturian and Leonese surname. In non-Hispanic countries, the name is usually spelled Castaneda . In Portuguese, this name is spelled Castanheda...
- Neogomezia Buxb. (orth.
Ariocarpus is a
genusIn biology, a genus is a taxonomic unit used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The term comes from Latin genus "descent, family, type, gender" , cognate with – genos, "race, stock, kin" ..In addition, genus is a taxonomic rank in the hierarchy In biology, a genus (plural:...
of 8 species of succulent, subtropical
plantPlants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. They include familiar organisms such as trees, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The scientific study of plants, known as botany, has identified about 350,000 extant species of plants, defined as seed plants,...
s of the Cactaceae family.
The name comes from the ancient Greek "aria" (an oak type) and "carpos" (=fruit) because of the resemblance of the fruit of the two genus in acorn form.
It comes from limestone hills of Rio Grande in the south of
TexasTexas is the second-largest U.S. state in both area and population, and the largest state in the contiguous United States.The name had wide usage among native Americans, meaning "friends" or "allies"...
and also the north and the center of
MexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
with strong sunshine exposures.
Ariocarpus are endangered and quite rare in the wild.
Selected species
- Ariocarpus agavoides
Ariocarpus agavoides is a species of plant in the Cactaceae family. It is endemic to Mexico. Its natural habitat is hot deserts....
- Ariocarpus bravoanus
Ariocarpus bravoanus is a species of plant in the Cactaceae family. It is endemic to Mexico. Its natural habitat is hot deserts.-References:...
- Ariocarpus fissuratus
Ariocarpus fissuratus is a species of extremely slow growing cacti found in rare numbers in Mexico and the southern United States. Commonly called "living rocks," these cacti usually blend in well with the terrain around them. They are greyish-green in color, sometimes taking on a yellowish tint...
Engelm.
- Ariocarpus furfuraceus Watts., more robust species, until 25 cm of diameter.
- Ariocarpus lloydii
- Ariocarpus retusus
Ariocarpus retusus is a species of cactus, from the genus Ariocarpus, found mainly in Mexico. It is one of the largest, and fastest growing, species of the genus. Despite its slow growth, often taking 10 years to reach flowering age, the retusus is a desirable cactus for cultivation, having...
- Ariocarpus scapharostrus
- Ariocarpus trigonus Web.
Synonyms
- Anhalonium Lem.
- Neogomesia Castañeda
Castañeda or Castaneda is a Spanish and Asturian and Leonese surname. In non-Hispanic countries, the name is usually spelled Castaneda . In Portuguese, this name is spelled Castanheda...
- Neogomezia Buxb. (orth. var.)
- Roseocactus A.Berger
- Stromatocactus Karw. ex Rümpler
The Rumpler Tropfenwagen was a car developed by Austrian engineer Edmund Rumpler.Rumpler, born in Vienna, was a designer of aircraft when on the 1921's Berlin car show he introduced the Tropfenwagen. It was to be the first streamline car...
(nom. inval.)
Description
The plant is semi buried with a big pivoting root.
The aerial part is flattened with a diameter of 6-12 cm, triangular tubercules overlapping with transverse wrinkles. The plant is totally without thorn and of gray color. It is easily hiding in its environment.
The plant summit contains a woolly structure from which emerge big pink or yellow flowers, but only after several years.
The plant contains contains bitter and toxic alkaloids such as the
hordenineHordenine is a phenylethylamine alkaloid with antibacterial and antibiotic properties. It stimulates the release of norepinephrine in mammals...
. They protects the plant against herbivore appetites.
Cultivation
While very slow growing, a number of species, A. retusus for instance, are not particularly difficult to keep.
Ariocarpus species have a tuberous root system and are quite sensitive to soil conditions, prefering sharply draining loam based soils with minimal humus. Care should be taken to avoid overwatering, allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Plants require water only during periods of summer growth and should be kept perfectly dry overwinter, with a minimum temperature of 12°C, although certain species can cope with considerably cooler conditions.
Propagation is by seed and, although slow, is not necessarily difficult.
Ariocarpus seedlings are often grafted on
PereskiopsisPereskiopsis is a genus of cacti .Peireskiopsis
Vaupel is an orthographic variant.-Description:...
in order to considerably increase their growth rate, more mature plants may be regrafted onto
EchinopsisEchinopsis is a large genus of cacti native to South America, sometimes known as hedgehog cacti, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus. One small species, E. chamaecereus, is known as the peanut cactus. The 128 species range from large and treelike types to small globose cacti...
, Eriocereus or Opuntia compressa for better hardiness, though such plants often bear little resemblance to ungrafted specimens.
External links
("Lost Peyotls)"
Ariocarpus - living rocks of Mexico photos on www.AIAPS.org