Description of the cactus and the origin of its name, recommendations for growing peleciphora in rooms, advice on reproduction, diseases and pests that occur during care, curious notes, species. Pelecyphora belongs to the genus of plants belonging to the Cactaceae family. The native area of natural distribution falls on the lands of Mexico, and they grow high in the mountains. Some sources claim that this genus unites only two varieties, but there are also seven other species that are classified as other categories of flora representatives.
These unusual plants were first introduced to the world in 1843 by the famous German botanist, connoisseur and cactus researcher Karl August Ehrenberg (1801–1849), specializing in spermatophytes (seed plants). His description was based on a copy that was brought to the scientist directly from Mexican lands in 1839. The scientific name of the cactus was due to the peculiarities of its structure. The papillae, which covered the surface of the stems, resembled elongated coffee beans or double-edged miniature tomahawks (hatchets). Hence, by combining the two Greek words "pelecys", meaning "hatchet, hew, hew" and "phore" into one, the result is "pelecyphora". The species Pelecyphora aselliformis, which is the main species of this genus, was characterized by such papillae.
On the stems of the small size of the peleciphora, there are papillary tubercles, which are arranged in a spiral order. Despite the fact that the growth rate of a cactus is extremely slow, at the age of 5–7 years the diameter of the stem does not exceed one centimeter. The structure of the areoles is elongated and narrowed. Their surface is covered with whitish felt pubescence. Miniature thorns of snow-white color originate there. There are so many of them and they are located with such frequency that their outlines resemble wood lice, which is what served as the specific name of the plant "aselliformis" - "reminiscent of wood lice of the genus Asellus". Over time, pubescence begins to form between the tubercles of the cactus, becoming more and more dense. Its density directly depends on the proximity to the top of the stem - at the very top it is the densest and merges into a continuous covering. Between the tubercles, the color of the stem is visible - it is a rich dark green color.
With the arrival of spring, at the very top of the cactus, flower buds are formed, giving rise to buds that reach three centimeters in length. Opening, the flowers of pelecifora have petals of a rich lilac hue. The shape of the petals is elongated-oval, moreover, towards the base it is more and more narrowed, and the top is distinguished by a pointed tip. The color of the flower petals may be slightly lighter (pale pink) if the petal is on the outside of the corolla or saturated to a dark purple hue in the middle of the flower. Often, on the back of the outer petals, the color becomes beige with a darker (light brown) stripe in the central part. In full disclosure, the diameter of the flower reaches 2.5 cm. The buds open several times in May or summer.
After flowering, the fruits ripen, which, when dry, hide between the tubercles on the pelecyphoric stem. It is not uncommon for collectors who do not have enough experience begin to collect cactus fruits, instead of letting them fall near the stem of the mother specimen and germinate. The fruits are small in size, their surface is colored dark green with a yellowish tint. Pelecyphora fruits are soft to the touch and contain black seeds inside.
Due to the fact that the growth rate of this cactus is very low, it is classified as a rare representative of the cactus family. But every florist who is keen on collecting cacti wants to have such a copy in his collection. On the territory of the former USSR, the plant was popularized thanks to the cactus collector and was often called "Donkey Pelecyphora", but such confusion was associated with the incorrect translation of the species name "Pelecyphora aselliformis".
Recommendations for growing peleciphors, room care
- Lighting and selection of a place for a cactus. Since Pelecyphora naturally grows on the Mexican plains, it needs a lot of bright sunlight, which will be provided on the south-facing windowsill. Being in such a place, the outlines of the stem will become spherical, and development will be easy.
- Growing temperature. In order for the plant to feel comfortable, it is necessary to create conditions for it that resemble natural ones. So the heat indicators in the spring-summer time should fluctuate within 22-30 degrees, and in the winter months it is recommended to reduce them to the range of 7-10 units. If the soil is completely dry, then the pelecyphor can easily tolerate a short drop in temperature to 3-5 degrees.
- Air humidity. For this cactus, humidity indicators should be low, spraying is prohibited even in the heat, but frequent ventilation should be carried out.
- Watering. As soon as the plant comes out of dormancy, and this time falls in the spring, then it is necessary to begin to gently moisten the soil in the pot. Watering should be moderate and very careful so that no drops of moisture fall on the stem. It is recommended to carry out the so-called "bottom" watering, when water is poured into a stand under the pot, and after 10-15 minutes, the remaining liquid is drained. It is important that the soil is never too waterlogged. If the weather is too rainy in the spring and summer, then irrigation is not carried out at all. When autumn comes, the moisture gradually decreases, and in winter days, completely stops. And since Pelecyphora begins a dormant period, they keep the cactus in a well-lit place, but in a completely dry state. It is recommended to use only soft and warm water, the temperature of which is 20-24 degrees. If possible, use distilled or bottled water.
- Fertilization for peleciphors during the period of vegetation activity with a frequency of once a month. The preparations are suitable for cacti or succulents in very low concentration.
- Tips for replanting and soil selection. As soon as the first spring days come, then you can do the Pelecyphora transplant. When the cactus is still young, then, despite the slow growth rate, the pot is changed annually, only later such an operation is performed only once every 3-4 years. Everything will depend on the increase in the size of the stems of the plant. Containers for peleciphors are selected of medium size, but wide enough, since this representative of the cactus family has the peculiarity of growing strongly and in one pot often the number of specimens reaches ten units. In this case, the stems of all are spherical, but the height will change up to 3 cm.
The soil for the peleciphor is not very fertile, since in natural conditions the soils on which the cactus grows are primitive sierozem. The substrate should be loose enough with a high mineral content. It is composed of:
- clay, sod soil, up to 40% hand coarse sand and gravel;
- coarse sand, small-sized brick chips (pre-sifted from dust), a little deciduous soil (only 15% of the total volume of soil mixture), gravel and quartz sand.
After the plant has been transplanted, it is not recommended to water it for 5-7 days for adaptation to take place, or if the root system was accidentally injured, then the wounds had time to heal.
Breeding tips for peleciphors
To get a new cactus, you can sow the harvested seeds or perform cuttings.
Often, after pinching the growth points in Pelecyphora, babies are formed, which can then be used for reproduction. In spring, when the cactus is out of dormancy, the lateral shoots (babies) should be carefully separated from the mother plant and left to dry for several days until a whitish film forms on the cut. Then the cuttings are planted in pots filled with moistened clean coarse sand, and a support is organized so that the baby always touches the ground with a cut. You can plant blanks next to the container wall so that the future cactus rests on it.
Seeds are also recommended to be sown in light, cactus-friendly soil or clean sand mixed with peat. Crops are placed in greenhouse conditions on the windowsill, where they will be provided with bright, but diffused lighting. During germination, the temperature is maintained in the range of 20-25 degrees.
When peleciphors are grown from seeds, young cacti begin to stretch very strongly. After the plant has a turnip root build-up, a rounded top will be formed on the stem, and compression will begin at the root collar. Over time, the cactus takes on a short-cylindrical shape, with a stem that has spherical outlines and a slight flattening. The size of the stem will directly depend on the level of lighting (you need bright) and how long the cactus has been.
Diseases and pests arising from indoor cultivation of peleciphors
The most common problem when caring for Pelecyphora is a violation of the requirements for its content, because if the humidity is too low, the cactus can be attacked by thrips, cactus scale insects or mealybugs. It is recommended to spray with insecticidal or acaricidal preparations, such as Fitoverm, Aktara or Aktellik. There are many other means, but the main thing is that their spectrum of action is similar.
If the soil in the pot is too waterlogged for a long time, then not only the root system, but also the stems, may rot. In the case when the problem is noticed immediately (the color of the stems turns yellow or the stem itself is soft to the touch), then you can still save the cactus by transplanting, as a result of which the roots affected by rot are removed, and then they and the plant are treated with fungicides. After that, planting is performed in a new sterile pot with a disinfected substrate. Then it is recommended not to water the pelecifora for some time, and when the plant adapts, then carefully maintain the moisture regime.
Curious notes about pelecifore, photo of a cactus
The genus remained monotypic until 1935, when the efforts of two specialists studying representatives of the Cactus family (Alberto Vojtech Fritsch (1882-1944) - a botanist from the Czech Republic and Ernest Schelle (1864-1946) - a botanist from Germany) included the variety Pelecyphora strobiliformis, which received first description in 1927. This was done by the German botanist and mycological researcher Erich Werdermann (1892–1959), assigning the cactus to the genus Ariocarpus.
The cactus contains small amounts of anhalidin, hordenine, N-methylmescaline, pellotin and other substances. In its native lands, it is because of the content of mescaline (psychedelic, entheogen included in the group of phenylethylamines), the same that is found in the lophophore cactus (called "peyote"), the plant is called "peyotetillo". But one should not delude oneself, there is very little such a substance in pelecifor, and the plant can even be used for therapeutic purposes and it will not cause a hallucinogenic effect.
But, in spite of this, Pelecyphora suffers from cactus gatherers, as it is considered a rare and very valuable plant, which is actively traded and is highly valued among collectors. Since some populations have been mercilessly plundered for decades, the pelecyphora is under protection. But due to the low speed, the population is very slow, but recovers. If we take into account some information, then it is known that in the populations that the robbers did not reach, the number of plants reaches 10,000 units. In such areas, the cactus stems can reach almost 8 cm in diameter, and the flowers, opening in diameter, measure 3.5 cm. In this case, the stems grow so much that the boundaries between the colonies cannot be distinguished, they grow on top of each other, covering all possible and available soil.
Types of peleciphors
- Pelecyphora aselliformis (Pelecyphora aselliformis). In its native places of natural growth, the plant bears the names Hatchet cactus, Little peyote, Peyotillo, and Woodlouse cactus. Often the specific name "aselliformis" is associated with the type of areola, which is very similar to the scales of a rather rare fish found in the seas - "azelli". The native territories of distribution are in the area of San Luis Potosi, in Mexico, while some specimens can be found at an absolute height of 1850 meters in the mountain belt. The cactus has a clavate stem from the very beginning, which later becomes spherical with a slight flattening. Its diameter is 2.5–4 cm with a maximum height of 6 cm. The height of the tubercles (papillae), which cover the stems, does not exceed 2.4 mm with a length of about 5–9 mm and a width of 1–2.5 mm. There are 40-60 needles growing in areoles, they differ in rigidity and through them characteristic “combs” are formed, resembling wood lice. This creates the impression that the thorns seem to be "combed" in both directions from the central part. The areoles also have a whitish tomentose pubescence, which, approaching the apex, turns into a continuous felt cocoon. If you break the stems of a cactus, milky sap is released from them. When blooming, buds with lilac-purple petals open, the diameter of which reaches 1, 3-2, 3 cm. Usually the location of flowers in the apical zone of the stems.
- Pineal pelecyphora (Pelecyphora strobiliformis). This variety is common not only in the area of San Luis Potosia, but also in the desert lands of Chihuahua, and in Tamaulipas - the territory of Mexico. Most often, this cactus can be found at an altitude of 1600 m above sea level. The locals call the plant - Pinecone cactus, Peyote, and the synonym is Encephalocarpus stobiliformis. The stems of the cactus are multiple or single, only slightly protruding above the ground surface. Their height figures are 2–4 cm with a stem diameter of about 4–6 cm or more in breeding. At the base, the stem is spherical, flattened, spherical. Its color varies from greenish to yellow-green, slightly reminiscent of pine cones. Distantly, the stems of this species resemble ariocarpus. On the surface, triangular tubercles are formed, which can overlap each other, so densely they are located, as if they were scales. The length of the papillae-tubercles is 8–12 mm, with a width of about 7–12 mm. From the areoles at the apex of the tubercles, small thorns originate, which number 7-14, with a length of about 5 mm. The root of the plant is rod-shaped, compressed, large in size. When flowering begins, from the buds formed on the tops of the stems near the young papillae, bell-shaped flowers begin to open, the diameter of which is 1.5-3 cm. The color of the petals in flowers can vary from pinkish to reddish-purple. Corolla length reaches 3 cm. On the outer side of the petals there are greenish segments.
