Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. polaskii

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Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. polaskii (Backeb.) M.Zachar, Stanik, Lux & Dráb
Rod Turbinicarpus (Genus Turbinicarpus) 47 (1996), basionym not validly publ.
Family: CACTACEAE

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. polaskii Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Tiny stem with broad fat tubercles and white woolly tops.

Origin and Habitat: Mexico (Eastern San Luis Potosí: near La Bonita)

Synonyms:

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. polaskii (Backeb.) M.Zachar, Stanik, Lux & Dráb

Strombocactus polaskii (Backeb.) T.Hewitt
Toumeya macrochele f. polaskii (Backeb.) Kladiwa
Toumeya schwarzii var. polaskii (Backeb.) Kladiwa
Turbinicarpus macrochele subs. polaskii (P.Lechner & Jantschgi) D.Donati
Turbinicarpus macrochele var. polaskii P.Lechner & Jantschgi
Turbinicarpus polaskii Backeb.

See all synonyms of Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus

Description: Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanusSN|12688]]SN|12648]] var. polaskii, more often known with its old name Turbinicarpus polaskiiSN|12648]]SN|12688]], is a tiny slow growing solitary cactus.
Stem: Flattened globose, pale grey-green, olive green or purplish-tan in full sun, 2 cm tall, 3.5-5 cm in diameter.
Root: Tap root
Tubercles: Broad, flattened, 4-angled.
Areoles: White and woolly.
Spines: 1 to 3 spongy spines, one up to 2 cm
Flowers: White in summer (July to September in habitat), 2,5 cm long, 4 cm across, with white or pinkish stigmas.

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Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus group

Turbinicarpus klinkerianus subs. hiemalis D.Donati & Zanov.: It flowers in winter, hence the scientific name "Hiemalis" (Belonging to winter)
Turbinicarpus macrochele subs. frailensis P.Lechner & Jantschgi: as fewer stigma lobes (3-6) white to yellowish-white, 2-3.5 mm long, straight, and only weakly papillose. Distribution: W to S-W of Matehuala, San Luis Potosi, México.
Turbinicarpus macrochele subs. valteri D.Donati & Zanov.
Turbinicarpus rioverdensis G.Frank: It comes from Rioverde, hence the scientific name "rioverdensis"
Turbinicarpus rioverdensis subs. paoloi Halda & Kupčák: This is a form with long spines referable to T. schmiedickeanus ssp. schwarzii
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus (Boed.) Buxb. & Backeb.: (ssp. schmiedickeanus) Stem disc-shaped, dull green and flat on top, twisted spines, and white to magenta flowers. Distribution: Miquihuana, Tamaulipas.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. alenae Halda & Kupčák
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. andersonii Mosco & Zanov.: stem partly underground with pyramidal tubercles. Spines only 1-2. Flowers magenta and white in winter. Distribution: east of El Huizache, SLP, Mexico.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus f. aurata hort.: Mutant completely lacking chlorophyll pigment. The result is a completely cream-white, yellow or reddish plant.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. bonatzii (G.Frank) Panar.: Dark green-bluish, semi-globose, depressed, divided into tubercles, merging in a tuberous root 3-5 cm long, and from it longer fibrous roots develop. It is closely related to Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus ssp klinkerianus
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus f. cristatus hort.: crested form.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. dickisoniae (Glass & R.A.Foster) N.P.Taylor: It has gray-green stems. Radials spines: 18-24 finely acicular, rigid white young areoles (areole in old specimens have only central spines that curve slightly inward). No other variety of schmiedickeanus has as many radial spines nor as slender central spines. Distibution: Aramberri, Nuevo Leon.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. flaviflorus (G.Frank & A.B.Lau) Glass: It has a very distinctive form, described by some as almost pagoda-like with conical tubercles, 4(-6) spines and greenish yellow flowers. Distribution: Santa Rita, San Luis Potosi.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. flaviflorus f. brevispinus: it has very short corky brownish spines that contrast well with the body which is coated in a whitish bloom.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. gracilis (Glass & R.A.Foster) Glass: Stem with nearly round, slender tubercles, one thin, slender papery central spine, and white flowers; Distribution: Aramberri, Nuevo Leon.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. gracilis f. cristatus hort.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. klinkerianus (Backeb. & H.Jacobsen) N.P.Taylor: Disk-shaped stems with tapering pyramidal tubercles, with a total of 3 spines with only one persisting, and white flowers with magenta midribs. Distribution: El Huizache, San Luis Potosi.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. klinkerianus f. aurata hort.: Mutant completely lacking chlorophyll pigment. The result is a completely cream-white or yellow plant.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. klinkerianus f. cristatus hort.: crested form.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. klinkerianus var. lilnkeuiduus: pretty much the same as Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. klinkerianus and not readily distinguishable, if not for the label. Origin: Plants so-named are known only in cultivation.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. klinkerianus f. pachystele
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. kupcakii (Halda & Horáček) Halda & Horáček
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. macrochele (Werderm.) N.P.Taylor: Stem with poorly developed tubercles, 0-4 spines, sometimes as many as 6, and white flowers. Distribution: Matehuala, San Luis Potosi.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. macrochele f. cristatus hort.: crested form with long twisted spines.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. polaskii (Backeb.) M.Zachar, Stanik, Lux & Dráb: Flattened globose, pale grey-green, olive green or purplish-tan in full sun. Tubercles: Broad, very flattened, 4-angled and 1 to 3 spongy spines. Flowers: White in summer with pinkish stigmas.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. polaskii f. variegatus hort.: The variegated forms show decoloured areas (lacking or with reduced chlorophyll content) that appears cream-yellow to pinkish.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. rubriflorus (G.Frank) Panar.: Same as ssp. schwarzii but flowers pink to dark magenta midribs.
Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. schwarzii (Shurly) N.P.Taylor: Plant with pale green epidermis, Tubercles: Flattened 4-angled (diamond shaped) broad and stumpy, 1-3 spines with one much longer than the others, and white flowers. Distribution: La Bonita, San Luis Potosi.
Turbinicarpus sp. Santa Rita n.n.: has bright purple flowers whit margins of tepals pinkish white. Distribution: Santa Rita, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
Turbinicarpus sp. Negrita: pretty much the same as Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus subs. klinkerianus and not readily distinguishable, if not for the provenance. Distribution: La Negrita, San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

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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) Davide Donati, Carlo Zanovello “Conoscere, capire, coltivare i Turbinicarpus-Rapicactus” Cactus Trentino Sudtirol, 2004

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. polaskii Photo by: Prof. Ilham Alakbarov

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. polaskii Photo by: Cactus Art

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. polaskii Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. polaskii Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. polaskii Photo by: Cactus Art

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. polaskii Photo by: Cactus Art

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. polaskii Photo by: Prof. Ilham Alakbarov

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. polaskii Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli

Cultivation and Propagation: It’s a fairly easy species to cultivate. It needs a very well-drained soil, and requires strong sun to part sun to keep the plant compact and low and to develop a good spinal growth. 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. It is hardy to -4°C for a short period. Assure a good ventilation.
Reproduction: From seed, since the plant rarely produces plantlets, or occasionally grafted.

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by Valentino Vallicelli

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by Valentino Vallicelli

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Cite this page: "Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus var. polaskii" Text available under a CC-BY-SA Creative Commons Attribution License. www.llifle.com 14 Nov. 2005. 06 Apr 2025. </Encyclopedia/CACTI/Family/Cactaceae/12687/Turbinicarpus_schmiedickeanus_var._polaskii>