Leuchtenbergia principis var. trachythele

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Since 4 Aug 2013

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Leuchtenbergia principis var. trachythele

Family: CACTACEAE

Accepted Scientific Name: Leuchtenbergia principis
Curtis's Botanical Magazine 74: pi. 4393. 1848; et: Salm-Dyck. Cact. 177 (1850)

Leuchtenbergia principis var. trachythele Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
A plant raised from seeds bought on Köhres seed catalogue (Plant nr. 9459)

Origin and Habitat: North-central Mexico (San Luis Potosi, Chihuahua) Although occurring over a rather large area, these cacti are sparsely scattered and can be difficult to localize.

Synonyms:

Leuchtenbergia principis var. trachythele

See all synonyms of Leuchtenbergia principis

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Accepted name in llifle Database:
Leuchtenbergia principis Hook.
Curtis's Botanical Magazine 74: pi. 4393. 1848; et: Salm-Dyck. Cact. 177 (1850)
Synonymy: 7

Leuchtenbergia principis Hook.

Anhalonium leuchtenbergii A.Dietr.

Leuchtenbergia principis f. cristata hort.
Leuchtenbergia principis f. monstruosa hort.
Leuchtenbergia principis tariapensis

Leuchtenbergia principis f. gracilis hort.

Leuchtenbergia principis var. trachythele

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Common Names include:
ENGLISH: Prism Cactus, Cob Cactus, Agave Cactus

Description: The "thachythele" variety is reported to be distinguished from standard "Leuchtembergia principis" by its rough, sandpaper-like epidermis, but the plants raised from the seeds bought on Köhres seed catalogue (Plant nr. 9459) are not rough at all but shows a strong habit with pruinose blu tubercles that tinge purple during winter rest. Spines are very long too.

Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Leuchtenbergia principis group

Leuchtenbergia principis Hook.: It has long, slender, bluish-green triangular tubercles 6-15 cm long, tipped by equally long papery spines making the plant resemble an agave. It has a large, tuberous taproot. Older plant forms a short cylindrical shaped stem. It is unlike anything else.
Leuchtenbergia principis f. cristata hort.: Crested form.
Leuchtenbergia principis f. monstruosa hort.: This is an heavy clumping (monstrous) cultivar, with small and densely branched heads at the tip of each tubercle.
Leuchtenbergia principis tariapensis: This is a smaller form with very thin and long tubrecles.
Leuchtenbergia principis var. trachythele: The "trachythele" variety is reported to be distinguished from standard "Leuchtembergia principis" by its rough, sandpaper-like epidermis.

Notes: Leuchtenbergia is a monotypic genus (having only a single species). However, despite its very different appearance it is closely related to Ferocactus and hybrids have been created between these two genera. This hybrid are known with the name Ferobergia.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) 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
2) David Hunt, Nigel Taylor “The New Cactus Lexicon” DH Books, 2006
3) Edward F. Anderson “The Cactus Family” Timber Press, 2001
4) Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose “Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” Volume 3, 1922
5) Fitz Maurice, B & Fitz Maurice, W.A. 2013. Leuchtenbergia principis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 10 September 2014.