Discocactus zehntneri


Discocactus zehntneri is a species of Discocactus found in Brazil.

Description

Discocactus zehntneri is a solitary cactus characterized by its dull-green, spherical or flattened spherical shape, growing up to tall and in diameter. It features 12 to 20 slightly tubercled ribs, each up to high, with areoles that are somewhat sunken into these ribs. The cactus boasts strong spines that are white or yellowish at the base, darkening at the tips, and turning to light brown or whitish towards the ends. These spines are downturned and densely packed, effectively hiding the plant's body from view. Notably, there is no central spine. It has approximately 11 radial spines that resemble combs and can reach up to in length. The cephalium, which is formed of cream to white wool and yellowish to brown bristles measuring up to long, can grow up to high and has a diameter of.
The flowers of Discocactus zehntneri are slender and funnel-shaped, reaching lengths of up to. Its fruit is club-shaped, red, and can grow up to long.

Subspecies

Accepted subspecies:
ImageSubspeciesDistribution
Discocactus zehntneri subsp. alagoinhensis Brazil
Discocactus zehntneri subsp. boomianus Brazil
Discocactus zehntneri subsp. mirohalfarii Brazil
Discocactus zehntneri subsp. zehntneriBrazil

Distribution

This species is commonly found in the northern Brazilian state of Bahia, growing between rocks in sand and gravel at elevations between 400 and 1100 meters.

Taxonomy

It was first described in 1922 by Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose, with the specific name "zehntneri" honoring Swiss biologist Leo Zehntner.