Thelocactus lausseri is a species of cactus endemic to Mexico.[1]

Thelocactus lausseri
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Genus: Thelocactus
Species:
T. lausseri
Binomial name
Thelocactus lausseri
Říha & Busek

Description

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Thelocactus lausseri grows as a single, spherical or short, elongated cactus. It has a grey-green body that is 7 to 10 cm (2.8 to 3.9 in) tall and 5 to 8.5 cm (2.0 to 3.3 in) in diameter. The cactus has 8 ribs arranged in a slight spiral. The areoles, which lack glands, are about 5 to 6 mm (0.20 to 0.24 in) in diameter. The rounded warts are 7 to 9 mm (0.28 to 0.35 in) in diameter and 8 to 12 mm (0.31 to 0.47 in) high. It has 20 to 25 radial spines that are 18 to 25 mm (0.71 to 0.98 in) long and silvery-white to yellowish in color. There are 4 central spines (occasionally 6) that are 6 to 10 cm (2.4 to 3.9 in) long, yellow to greyish, straight or slightly curved, and needle-shaped. The flowers are 2.5 to 4.4 cm (0.98 to 1.73 in) long and wide, ranging in color from whitish to light pink with a darker central stripe. The fruits have scales and burst open when dry. The seeds are 2 mm (0.079 in) long and thick.[2]

Distribution

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Thelocactus lausseri is found growing in shrubland on limestone and calcareous soil in the Sierra de las Ovejas, Coahuila, at elevations between 800 and 1500 meters.[3]

Taxonomy

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It was first described in 1986 by Jan Říha and Josef Busek. The species name lausseri honors the German plant collector Alfons Lausser.[4][5]

References

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  1. ^ "Thelocactus lausseri Říha & Busek". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  2. ^ Anderson, Edward F. (2001). The Cactus Family. Portland, Or: Timber Press (OR). p. 660. ISBN 0-88192-498-9.
  3. ^ "Thelocactus lausseri". LLIFLE. 2013-08-04. Retrieved 2024-09-17.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license.
  4. ^ Mosco, Alessandro; Zanovello, Carlo (2000-07-28). "A phenetic analysis of the genus Thelocactus" (PDF). Bradleya. 18 (18). British Cactus and Succulent Society: 45–70. doi:10.25223/brad.n18.2000.a6. ISSN 0265-086X.
  5. ^ Mosco, Alessandro; Zanovello, Carlo (2002). "An introduction to the genus Thelocactus" (PDF). Cactus & Co. 1 (6). Cactus & Co.: 144–171.
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