Accepted Scientific Name: Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. booleanus (G.S.Hinton) Lüthy
Kakteen Sukk. 50(11): 279 (1999)
Turbinicarpus subterraneus subs. booleanus (Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. booleanus) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Origin and Habitat: East of San Roberto, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
Habitat: Gypsum outcrops.
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Turbinicarpus mandragora
Description: Solitary (may branch if the growing tip is damaged)
Root: Tuberous, connected to the stem by a narrow neck 1-5 cm long.
Stem: Grey-green, spherical, obovate to turbinate, that become narrower at the collar 2,5-4,5 tall, 2,5-5,5 cm in diameter (often larger in cultivation).
Tubercles: Hard, spirally arranged, closely-set, 4-angled, rhomboid and somewhat flattened and almost truncated above, and somewhat horny or keeled below.
Roots: Strong tuberous roots
Central spines: 2, erect, whitish with dark brown tips, 12-21 mm long.
Radial spines: Usually 18-20 (sometimes fewer or more) white, 3-17 mm long
Flowers: Pale to dark magenta with darker midstripes, on summer days, 2 cm long, 2,5 cm in diameter.
Fruits: 7 mm long, 6 mm in diameter, without scales, dark green to purple, that split open when ripe.
More...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.
Notes: Many of the plants sold as “mandragora” are Turbinicarpus subterraneusSN|1934]]SN|1934]] or other species not related to the true mandragora. The seeds of this species are very different from that of subterraneus and related species (beguinii, booleanus, pailanus, zaragozae). The Seed morphology of this species is particular and similar to Pediocactus.
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, 2006Jackie M. Poole, William R. Carr, Dana M. Price, Jason R. Singhurst “Rare plants of Texas: a field guide” Texas A&M University Press, 30/Dec/2007
4) Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose “Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” Courier Dover Publications, 1963
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Turbinicarpus subterraneus subs. booleanus (Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. booleanus) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Turbinicarpus subterraneus subs. booleanus (Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. booleanus) Photo by: Peiffer Clement
Turbinicarpus subterraneus subs. booleanus (Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. booleanus) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Turbinicarpus subterraneus subs. booleanus (Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. booleanus) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Turbinicarpus subterraneus subs. booleanus (Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. booleanus) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Turbinicarpus subterraneus subs. booleanus (Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. booleanus) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Turbinicarpus subterraneus subs. booleanus (Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. booleanus) Photo by: Peiffer Clement
Turbinicarpus subterraneus subs. booleanus (Turbinicarpus mandragora subs. booleanus) Photo by: Valentino VallicelliCultivation and Propagation: It 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.
Growth rate: Slow-growing.
Soil: Grow it in an open mineral, sandy-gritty cactus compost and provide a very good drainage.
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.
Turbinicarpus (Rapicactus) mandragora is very slow growing and rot prone when cultivated on its own roots, this is the reason for its rarity.
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by Valentino Vallicelli
by Valentino Vallicelli
by Peiffer Clement
