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= Turbinicarpus beguinii subs. hintoniorum A.Hofer
Succulentes 2000(3): 21 (2000)
Accepted Scientific Name: Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. beguinii (N.P.Taylor) Lüthy
Kakteen Sukk. 50(11): 279 (1999)

Flowers. Rebutialand cactus collection Demjén, Hungary.
Origin and Habitat: Southern Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
Synonyms:
- Turbinicarpus beguinii subs. hintoniorum A.Hofer
- Neolloydia glassii var. hintoniorum (A.Hofer) Doweld
- Rapicactus beguinii subs. hintoniorum (A.Hofer) Lüthy
Turbinicarpus mandragora (Frič ex A.Berger) A.D.Zimmerman
Bradleya 9: 92. 1991
Synonymy: 8
- Turbinicarpus mandragora (Frič ex A.Berger) A.D.Zimmerman
- Echinocactus mandragora Frič ex A.Berger
- Gymnocactus mandragora (Frič ex A.Berger) Backeb.
- Lodia mandragora (Frič ex A.Berger) Mosco & Zanov.
- Neolloydia mandragora (Frič ex A.Berger) E.F.Anderson
- Pediocactus mandragora (Frič ex A.Berger) Halda
- Rapicactus mandragora (Frič ex A.Berger) Buxb. & Oehme
- Thelocactus mandragora A.Berger
Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. beguinii (N.P.Taylor) Lüthy
Kakteen Sukk. 50(11): 279 (1999)
Synonymy: 17
- Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. beguinii (N.P.Taylor) Lüthy
- Echinocactus beguinii F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.
- Gymnocactus beguinii (F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.) Backeb.
- Mammillaria beguinii (F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.) hort.
- Neolloydia beguinii (F.A.C.Weber ex K.Schum.) Britton & Rose
- Neolloydia glassii Doweld
- Neolloydia smithii var. beguinii (F.A.C.Weber) Kladiwa & Fittkau in Krainz
- Rapicactus beguinii (N.P.Taylor) Lüthy
- Thelocactus beguinii N.P.Taylor
- Turbinicarpus beguinii (N.P.Taylor) Mosco & Zanov.
- Turbinicarpus beguinii subs. albiflorus
- Turbinicarpus beguinii subs. haenkeanus Halda, Horáček & Malina
- Turbinicarpus beguinii subs. hintoniorum A.Hofer
- Neolloydia glassii var. hintoniorum (A.Hofer) Doweld
- Rapicactus beguinii subs. hintoniorum (A.Hofer) Lüthy
- Turbinicarpus beguinii subs. senilis M.Zachar & Lux
Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. booleanus (G.S.Hinton) Lüthy
Kakteen Sukk. 50(11): 279 (1999)
Synonymy: 8
- Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. booleanus (G.S.Hinton) Lüthy
- Neolloydia booleana (G.S.Hinton) Doweld
- Rapicactus booleanus (G.S.Hinton) D.Donati
- Rapicactus subterraneus subs. booleanus (G.S.Hinton) Lüthy
- Turbinicarpus booleanus G.S.Hinton
- Turbinicarpus subterraneus subs. booleanus (G.S.Hinton) M.Zachar
- Turbinicarpus subterraneus subs. booleanus (G.S.Hinton) D.R.Hunt
- Turbinicarpus subterraneus var. booleanus (G.S.Hinton) D.R.Hunt
Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. pailanus (Halda & Panar.) Lüthy
Kakteen Sukk. 50(11): 279 (1999)
Synonymy: 6
- Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. pailanus (Halda & Panar.) Lüthy
- Neolloydia pailana (Halda & Panar.) Doweld
- Rapicactus mandragora subs. pailanus var. mandragora (Halda & Panar.) Lüthy
- Rapicactus pailanus (Halda & Panar.) D.Donati
- Turbinicarpus beguinii subs. pailanus (Halda & Panar.) U.Guzmán
- Turbinicarpus pailanus Halda & Panar.
Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. subterraneus (Backeb.) Lüthy
Kakteen Sukk. 50(11): 279 (1999)
Synonymy: 8
- Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. subterraneus (Backeb.) Lüthy
- Echinocactus subterraneus Backeb.
- Gymnocactus subterraneus (Backeb.) Backeb. ex Fritz Schwarz
- Neolloydia subterranea (Backeb.) H.E.Moore
- Pediocactus subterraneus (Backeb.) Halda
- Rapicactus subterraneus (Backeb.) Buxb. & Oehme
- Thelocactus subterraneus Backeb.
- Turbinicarpus subterraneus (Backeb.) A.D.Zimmerman
Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. zaragosae (Glass & R.A.Foster) Lüthy
Kakteen Sukk. 50(11): 279. 1999
Synonymy: 13
- Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. zaragosae (Glass & R.A.Foster) Lüthy
- Gymnocactus subterraneus var. zaragosae Glass & R.A.Foster
- Neolloydia subterranea subs. zaragosae (Glass & R.A.Foster) Doweld
- Neolloydia subterranea var. zaragosae (Glass & R.A.Foster) E.F.Anderson
- Neolloydia zaragosae (Glass & R.A.Foster) Doweld
- Pediocactus subterraneus var. zaragosae (Glass & R.A.Foster) Halda
- Rapicactus subterraneus subs. zaragosae (Glass & R.A.Foster) Lüthy
- Rapicactus zaragosae (Glass & R.A.Foster) D.Donati
- Thelocactus subterraneus var. zaragosae (Glass & R.A.Foster) Bravo
- Turbinicarpus beguinii subs. zaragosae (Glass & R.A.Foster) D.R.Hunt
- Turbinicarpus subterraneus subs. zaragosae (Glass & R.A.Foster) M.Zachar
- Turbinicarpus subterraneus var. zaragosae (Glass & R.A.Foster) A.D.Zimmerman
- Turbinicarpus zaragosae (Glass & R.A.Foster) Glass & A.Hofer
Description: Turbinicarpus beguiniiSN|1893]]SN|1904]] subs. hintoniorum A.Hofer nom. inval. is probably a synonym of the type species Turbinicarpus mandragoraSN|1904]]SN|1893]] subs. beguinii (N.P.Taylor) Lüthy distinguished from the latter for its pale greenish yellows blooms.
Habit: Plant solitary, rarely growing together in small groups.
Stem: Hemispherical to oblong, sunken during the rest period, to 50 mm Ø, to 30 mm above ground. (but up to 25 cm tall and 8 cm in diameter in cultivation), merging into the tuberous root. Epidermis dark green, during the rest period almost completely concealed by the spines. Body completely divided into tubercles.
Tubercles: Round with rhombic outline, 5 mm high, diameter at the base 12 mm.
Areoles: Sitting on the tubercles, round, 3 mm Ø, bare.
Root: Conical tuberous root 50-70 mm long long with numerous fibrous roots, especially at the end of the tuberous root.
Tubercles conical: Low and conical.
Spines: Needle-like.
Radial spines: 9 (-10) white, often with dark brown, almost black tip, upper 16 (-20) mm long, lower 8 (-10) mm long.
Central spines: 2, white with black tip, one porrect, 15-20 mm long, second directed upwards, slightly towards the body, to 30 mm long.
Flowers: Flowers: numerous (up to 6) appearing from the apical wool, funnel-shaped, 25 mm Ø, petals 33 mm long, lanceolate, pointed, pale greenish yellow, mid-stripe 2-3 mm wide, inside pale purple to pale pink or almost missing, outside brownish purple. Filaments pale greenish cream, pollen dark yellow, pistil pale greenish white, stigma lobes 6, pale greenish white.
Fruit: Naked, light green, barrel-shaped, 8 mm long, 4 mm Ø.
Seeds: Black, 1,5 x 1,1 mm large.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Turbinicarpus mandragora group
Turbinicarpus beguinii subs. albiflorus: has white or very pale pinkish flowers. Distribution: Southern Nuevo Leon?
Turbinicarpus beguinii subs. hintoniorum A.Hofer: has pale greenish yellows blooms. Distribution: Southern Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
Turbinicarpus beguinii subs. senilis M.Zachar & Lux: has a dense covering of glassy white long curved spines. Distribution: Coahuila, Mexico? It may be merely a long spined cultivar (Nursery produced )
Turbinicarpus mandragora (Frič ex A.Berger) A.D.Zimmerman: Solitary (may branch if the growing tip is damaged) Stem grey-green , 4-6 cm in diameter that become narrower at the collar. It has strong tuberous roots. Distribution: Coahuila: Parras, Viesca.
Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. beguinii (N.P.Taylor) Lüthy: has mostly 12 closely packed, radial spines, up to 17 mm, snow-white, almost glass-like, black tipped. Central spines 1, much longer up to 30 mm, stronger, white with dark brown to black tips. Distribution: Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, Coahuila to Hidalgo.
Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. booleanus (G.S.Hinton) Lüthy: has a tuberous root, connected to the stem by a narrow neck 1-5 cm long. Central spines 2, erect, whitish with dark brown tips, 12-21 mm long. Radial spines usually 18-20 white, 3-17 mm long. Distribution: San Roberto, Nuevo Leon.
Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. pailanus (Halda & Panar.) Lüthy: has a napiform and bundled root connected to the stem by a narrow neck. Stem olive green becoming corky as it ages.
Radial spines 11-16 to 10 mm long. Centras 2, one erect one horizontal to 25 mm long. Distribution: Coahuila, Sierra de la Paila.Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. subterraneus (Backeb.) Lüthy: has club-shaped stems, up to 150 mm high often prostrate, separated by a slender snaky neck from the tuberose root. Radial spines 16-19, radiating horizontally. Centrals 2 straight, erect: Distribution: Doctor Arroyo and Mier y Noriega Arroyo, Nuevo Leon.
Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. zaragosae (Glass & R.A.Foster) Lüthy: has a globular to club-shaped stem up to 150 mm high tappering gradually to the tuberous root. Radial spines, 21-25, glassy white with brown tips, central spines 2, brownish black. Distribution: Zaragosa, Nuevo Leon.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Hofer, Succulentes 23(3):21-23, 2000

Blooming habit. Rebutialand cactus collection Demjén, Hungary. (Turbinicarpus beguinii subs. hintoniorum) Photo by: Agócs György

Rapicactus beguinii subs. hintoniorum (Turbinicarpus beguinii subs. hintoniorum) Photo by: Prof. Ilham Alakbarov

Rapicactus beguinii subs. hintoniorum (Turbinicarpus beguinii subs. hintoniorum) Photo by: Prof. Ilham Alakbarov
The gallery now contains thousands of pictures, however it is possible to do even more. We are, of course, seeking photos of species not yet shown in the gallery but not only that, we are also looking for better pictures than those already present. Read More...
Cultivation and Propagation: Turbinicarpus beguiniiSN|1904]]SN|1904]] subs. hintoniorum is a summer-growing species fairly easy and robust to cultivate, but very slow growing. This plant is xerophytic, adapted to dry soils and is quite susceptible to over-watering if kept in a non ventilated place especially after the first flowering.
Growth rate: Slow-growing.
Soil: Grow it in an open mineral, sandy-gritty cactus compost and provide a very good drainage. Will benefit from adding up to 30% Gypsum to the potting mix.
Exposure: It is suited for sunny-brightly exposure, but can tolerate light shade. However it will do its best only with lots of sun and become stressed with inadequate light which could result in poor growth and unnatural shape. Direct sun is also beneficial in order to get a good spine growth. It has a good heat tolerance.
Watering: Waterings should be rather infrequent to keep the plant compact, and avoid its becoming excessively elongated and unnatural in appearance. Furthermore it has a tap root, and watering it properly is often difficult, because it tends to crack open or rot if over-watered. Keep dry in winter or when night temperatures remain below 10° C. Mature individuals easily rot and die especially after transplanting so be extremely cautious with watering. Water it less than average if in bigger pots.
Fertilization: Feed them once during the growing season with a fertilizer specifically formulated for cactus and succulents (high potash fertilizer with a dilute low nitrogen), including all micro nutrients and trace elements diluted to ½ the strength recommended on the label. They thrive in poor soils and need a limited supplies of fertilizer to avoid the plants developing excess vegetation, which is easily attacked by fungal diseases.
Special need: It is suited for airy exposures. Provide very good ventilation. Nearly all problems occur as a result of overwatering and poor ventilation, especially when weather conditions are dull and cool or very humid. They must have very dry atmosphere.
Hardiness: It likes warmth (recommended minimum winter temperature 5° C) But plants kept perfectly dry can easily survive a light frost.
Pests & diseases: These cacti may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Red spiders may be effectively rubbed up by misting the plants from above.
- Mealy bugs: Mealy bugs occasionally develop aerial into the new leaves and flowers with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Scales, thrips and aphids: These insects are rarely a problem.
- Rot: Rot is only a minor problem if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much.
Reproduction: From seed, since the plant rarely produces plantlets, or grafted. The seeds can be sown in pots of fine, well-drained sandy soil, any time during the spring when temperatures are warm. Cover the seeds with a fine layer of grit and water from below with a fungicide to prevent damping off. For the 1-2 weeks cover the pots with a sheet of glass/clear perspex to keep the humidity levels high. Remove the glass and replace it with light shade-cloth and mist once or twice a day for the next two weeks after which most seeds should have germinated. From then on mistings can be reduced to every second and then every third day as the little plants grow. The seedlings should not be disturbed until they are well rooted after which they can be planted separately in small pots. Sometimes it is grafted to avoid root rot problems as plants grafted on an hardy stock are easy to grow and no special skill is required.
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