Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)

• Pelecyphora strobiliformis f. cristata hort.
• Encephalocarpus strobiliformis f. cristatus hort.

• Pelecyphora strobiliformis (Werderm.) Frič & Schelle ex Kreuz.
• Ariocarpus strobiliformis Werderm.
• Encephalocarpus strobiliformis A.Berger

• Pelecyphora strobiliformis f. cristata hort.
• Encephalocarpus strobiliformis f. cristatus hort.

Description: The typical Pelecyphora strobiliformisSN|1558]]SN|1545]] (commonly known as the "Pinecone Cactus ") is among the most famous of all cacti for is unique shaped stem. It grows almost always as a solitary plant levelled with the ground. Pelecyphora strobiliformisSN|855]]SN|1545]] f. cristata (crested form), only deviate from the standard species for the stem which is fan shaped up to 30 cm (or more) long with age.
Habit: It is a slow-growing geophytic succulent, with solitary or multiple stems barely rising above ground level.
Stem: Spherical to flattened globose, greenish to yellowish-green, somewhat resembling a pine cone and vaguely reminiscent of Ariocarpus, 2-4 cm tall, 4 to 6 cm in diameter (or more, in cultivation).
Tubercles: Spirally arranged overlapping, scale-like, imbricated, and closely applied to each other, flat and convex on the inside and carinate on the outside. The base is woolly.
Areoles and spines: Dimorphic, with the spines-producing portion on the outer part and the flower-producing portion at the base of the tubercle. Small, oval, woolly on the new growth in the inner portion of the pointed tubercles apex. While the new growth continues, these areoles produce a few short, more or less pectinate spines. With age, the areoles disappear and the oldest tubercles have a bare, blunter apex.
Root: Large, spindle shaped, compressed taproot.
Flowers: Borne at the base of young tubercles near the top of the plant, diurnal, bell-shaped or funnelform, brilliant, pink to reddish-purple, about 3 cm long, with greenish outer segments and incised or curly inner segments.
Remarks: Although adult specimens of Encephalocarpus strobiliformis bear scale-like tubercles, which are very different from the laterally compressed tubercles of Pelecyphora aselliformisSN|1545]]SN|855]], all the other characteristics clearly show that they are congeneric, while a third species, Pelecyphora valdezianaSN|1545]]SN|1558]], does not seem to clearly belong to this genus, and it is now brought into synonymy with Turbinicarpus.

Notes: The cause of cresting is not fully explained, biologists disagree as to why some plants grow in this unusual form. Some speculate that it is a genetic mutation. Others say it is the result of a lightning strike or freeze damage, but whatever the stimulus, the growth point of the stem has switched from a geometric point, to a line, which folds and undulates as the crest expands. Crested Encephalocarpus are quite rare, cresting occurs naturally and can be encountered in many other species.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) N. L. Britton, J. N. Rose “The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family.” Volume 4, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923, page. 41
5) Curt Backeberg “Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde” Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart New York 1982–1985

Cultivation and Propagation: Although regarded as a choice and difficult plant is not too difficult in a greenhouse, although grows quite slowly.
Soil: Use mineral well permeable mineral soil with little organic matter (peat, humus).
Exposure: They need a good amount of light shade to full sun this help to keep the plants healthy, although slow growth.
Watering: Water sparingly from March till October (weekly during summertime, if the weather is sunny enough) , with a little fertilizer added. Less or no water during cold winter months, or when night temperatures remain below 10° to prevent root loss. It is sensitive to overwatering (rot prone).
Fertilization: Feeding may not be necessary at all if the compost is fresh then, feed in summer only if the plant hasn't been repotted recently. Do not feed the plants from September onwards as this can cause lush growth which can be fatal during the darker cold months.
Hardiness: Keep perfectly dry in winter at temperatures from 5 to 15 degrees centigrade. (but it is relatively cold resistant and hardy to -5° C, or possibly colder for short periods) In the rest period no high atmospheric humidity!! (Temperature Zone: USDA 9-11)
Crested growth: Unlike 'monstrose' varieties of plants, where the variation from normal growth is due to genetic mutation, crested growth can occur on normal plants. Sometimes it's due to variances in light intensity, or damage, but generally the causes are unknown. A crested plant may have some areas growing normally, and a cresting plant that looks like a brain, may revert to normal growth for no apparent reason. If you have any of the crested part left you need to remove the normal growth and leave the crested part behind this will need to be done regularly.
Propagation: Grafting or cuttings. It is often grafted because difficult and slow to grow on its own roots. Plants are usually grafted onto column-shaped cacti but proved to be able to produce their own roots if degrafted. Cuttings will take root in a minimum temperature of 20° C (but better in hot weather). Cuttings of healthy shoots can be taken in the spring and summer. Cut the stem with a sharp, sterile knife, leave the cutting in a warm, dry place for a week or weeks (depending on how thick the cutting is) until a callus forms over the wound. Once the callus forms, the cutting may be inserted in a container filled with firmed cactus potting mix topped with a surface layer of coarse grit. They should be placed in the coarse grit only; this prevents the cut end from becoming too wet and allows the roots to penetrate the rich compost underneath. The cuttings should root in 2 to 6 weeks. Large crested piece must be placed on the soil surface without burying the plant base down in the soil.
Propagation: Grafting or cuttings. Plants are usually grafted onto column-shaped cacti but proved to be able to produce their own roots if degrafted. Cuttings will take root in a minimum temperature of 20° C (but better in hot weather). Cuttings of healthy shoots can be taken in the spring and summer. Cut the stem with a sharp, sterile knife, leave the cutting in a warm, dry place for a week or weeks (depending on how thick the cutting is) until a callus forms over the wound. Once the callus forms, the cutting may be inserted in a container filled with firmed cactus potting mix topped with a surface layer of coarse grit. They should be placed in the coarse grit only; this prevents the cut end from becoming too wet and allows the roots to penetrate the rich compost underneath. The cuttings should root unpredictably in 2 to 10 weeks. Large crested piece must be placed on the soil surface without burying the plant base down in the soil. The application of both a rooting hormone as well as fungicide on the cut surfaces helps prevent infection and accelerate rooting.