General characteristic differences of the plant, how to care for the epithelant at home, recommendations for reproduction, the fight against possible diseases and pests, curious notes, species. Epithelantha (Epithelantha) is attributed by scientists to one of the most ancient plant families on the planet - Cactaceae. The native area of natural growth of this representative of the flora falls on the lands of Mexico (which include Coahuila and Nuevo Leon) and the United States of America (northwestern lands of Texas). It prefers to settle in places where there are outcrops of calcareous rocks or on talus, where there is a presence of carbonate. A small number of varieties were included in this genus by botanists, which in appearance differ little from each other.
The description of the plant was first taken up in 1898 by the then famous cacti connoisseur from France Frederic Albert Constantin Weber (1830–1903). But already in 1922, other American botanists and taxonomists Nathaniel Lord Britton (1859-1934) and Joseph Nelson Rose (1862-1928) presented more refined characteristics of this cactus. The epithelant has its scientific name due to the combination of three Greek words "epi", which means "na", "thili" translated as "nipple", and the last part "anthos" - "flower". With this description, the Greeks indicated the zone where the plant's flower buds were laid.
The epithelanta is a dwarf cactus with a spherical or cylindrical shape. The plant's stems are hard, and their diameter varies in the range of 3-5 cm. And although the color of the stem is dark green, it is practically invisible due to the numerous papillary formations on the surface. The size of such papillae is rather small and they are arranged in a spiral manner. There is strong pubescence at the top of the stem, and it can be either flat or with a depression in the central part. More species have multiple lateral shoots. Areoles are whitish in color, small in size, elongated in shape. Numerous spines originate from the areoles, which are shaded with a snow-white color. Their contours are very thin, and the length of the thorn does not exceed 0.2 cm on average. These thorny formations are strongly pressed against the surface of the stem.
When Epithelantha blooms, flowers are formed with white-pink petals, while at the base the petal of a more intense pink color, which turns pale towards the top, until it becomes whitish. Alternatively, the color of the petals in the flower can be completely white. The shape of the flowers, even in full disclosure, is funnel-shaped. The diameter of the flower reaches 0.5–0.7 cm. The buds originate from a woolly formation at the top of the stem, which is painted in a snow-white tone. The areola in which the flower bud is laid is not monomorphic, but dimorphic - that is, existing in two forms, double. This property confirms the relationship of the epithelants with the genus Mammillaria.
After pollination of the flowers, the fruits of a bright raspberry color ripen. Their shape is oblong, in the form of a tube. The length of the fruit reaches 1 cm with a diameter of about 3 cm. On a cactus, such fruits can remain for a long time and since they are surrounded by white pubescence, they add a spectacular look to the cactus, as they somewhat resemble candles on a cake.
The growth rate of the plant is rather slow, but the Epithelantha species is quite decorative and is preferred by cactus growers who have the knowledge and experience in cultivating such representatives of the handicap. Caring for a plant requires exceeding the rules below.
How to care for the epithelial, growing at home
- Lighting. For this succulent, a place on the sill of the southern window is best suited, where there will be a lot of sun, but at the same time constant ventilation is provided so as not to cause sunburn. In autumn and winter, a well-lit area is also needed. With insufficient light, Epithelantha's growth stops, and the stems begin to stretch out strongly.
- Content temperature epithelants in the summer can reach 30 degrees, and with the arrival of autumn days, the thermometer indicators should be gradually reduced, bringing them to a range of 8-10 units.
- Humidity. Since the plant naturally grows in rather arid areas, it easily adapts to the low humidity inherent in living quarters.
- Watering. When a plant begins a period of vegetative activity, the substrate is moistened very carefully and carefully. It is recommended to carry out the so-called "bottom watering" when the Epithelantha pot is placed in a basin of water and after 10-15 minutes the container is removed and the remaining water is allowed to drain. Or, water is poured into a pot holder, and after the specified time, the remaining liquid is drained. If the substrate is constantly in a waterlogged state, then this will inevitably lead to rotting of the root system, and salt stains of a yellow or brown hue are also formed on the thorns. Because of this, the decorative appearance of succulent stems is greatly reduced. It is recommended to use only warm and soft water for irrigation. Distilled or bottled water must be taken.
- Fertilizer for epithelants should be applied only twice a year (in the spring and autumn periods) or once every 4 months - this is when the plant is already old enough and it is more than 8 months old. It is recommended to use any preparations intended for cacti and succulents. They begin to use fertilizers only in a dosage of 25% of that indicated on the package. You should choose drugs in which the amount of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) will be increased.
- Transfer and selection of soil. Epithelantha is recommended to be replanted as soon as the last winter days arrive or in March. When the succulent is still very young, the pot is changed annually, but over time it is transplanted every five years. It is necessary to provide holes in the bottom of the new container for the outflow of excess moisture, and a layer of expanded clay or medium-sized pebbles is also needed. The pot size should be small. The soil for the succulent is selected with good drainage. In the substrate, a higher content of fine gravel or brick chips sifted from dust is desirable. These components should be up to 60%. The remaining components are turf and crushed charcoal (in a 1: 1 ratio). Since this cactus in nature prefers lime talus, it is recommended to add a small amount of slaked lime to the substrate.
Recommendations for the reproduction of epithelants
This dwarf succulent can be propagated by sowing seeds, rooting cuttings from the tops of the shoots or stems.
The most popular and relatively easy method is the separation and grafting of shoots, which are often formed on the sides of the stem. When rooting, they need to be planted in clean, moistened sand or peat-sandy substrate, providing support so that the workpieces do not move. If the lateral shoots (children) are grafted, then the size of the resulting succulent becomes too large compared to the base varieties, therefore it is preferable to obtain an epithelant by sowing seed.
When seed propagation, it is important that the temperature indicators do not go beyond 20-25 degrees. The pot is taken for planting flatish and with holes for moisture drain in the bottom. A soil mixture consisting of sand and sod soil (1: 1 ratio) is placed in the container. Since the seeds are very small, then they are distributed over the surface of the soil carefully and they are not sprinkled on top. It is recommended to wrap the pot with a transparent plastic bag or put glass on top - this will create an imitation of greenhouse conditions. When germinating, the owner should not forget about regular spraying of the soil using a fine spray gun. You also need daily ventilation, for this the shelter is removed for 10-15 minutes.
As soon as the first shoots are noticed, the time of air baths is gradually increased by 10-15 minutes, until the shelter is removed altogether. As soon as the first thorns are formed on the cactus, it is recommended to plant young Epithelantha.
Fight against possible diseases and pests of epithelants
When the growing conditions begin to be violated, the plant is attacked by harmful insects, among which the mealybug is most often found. This pest is manifested by the formation of whitish, cotton-like lumps located between the foliage.
To combat mealybugs, spraying with soapy water is used, which is made from grated laundry soap (about 300 grams), infused for about 12 hours in a bucket of water. Then the solution is filtered and ready for use. An oil product is prepared in a slightly different way - it is based on a few drops of rosemary essential oil, diluted in a liter jar of water. The usual tincture of calendula, which can be purchased at the pharmacy, is used as an alcohol solution.
If after such measures the pest does not disappear, then it will be necessary to carry out the treatment with insecticidal preparations, with a second course in a week.
When the substrate in the pot is very often in a waterlogged state, the roots of the epithelants begin to be affected by root rot. To solve this problem, urgent transplantation and removal of the affected root shoots are required, followed by treatment with fungicides. The new pot should be sterile and the soil disinfected.
Curious notes about the cactus epithelant, photo
In the middle of the 19th century, the world learned about this extraordinary cactus - an epithelial. In 1856, the American flora explorer George Engelman (1809–1884), who had Germanic roots, began to look closely at the Mammillaria genus and describe its many varieties. At the same time, he first described Mammillaria micromeris and its species greggii, which received the name of the collector and collector of plants Joshua Greg, who found this cactus. But another scientist from France, physician, botanist and expert in mycology Frederic Albert Constantin Weber (1830-1903), carefully studying the flowers of the plant, noticed that the buds begin to grow from areoles, and not from axillas. The last term was called the sinus, which is located between the mammillaria (papillary formations) or tubercles that appear in some cacti. It is because of this difference that Epithelantha got its name in 1898 as “epithelanthos” translated as “flowering from the papilla”.
In 1922, American botanists-mycologists N. Britton and J. Rose decided to separate this cactus from the genus Mammillaria into a separate one. And at that time the plant was the only representative of its kind.
There is evidence that the juice of the Epithelanta variety of thick-rooted, or as it is popularly called "mulatto", has the ability to cause in a person not only sound, but also visual hallucinations.
Types of cactus epithelial
Small epithelant (Epithelantha micromeris), also called Epithelant micromeris. The cactus is found naturally in Mexico and Texas (USA) and can grow on bare tops and slopes of mountains, preferring calcareous substrates. The height at which this plant can "settle" reaches 1500 meters above sea level. The cactus has a spherical stem, whitish radial spines. If the stem is grafted, then its outline changes to cylindrical. In diameter, the parameters of the stem vary within 1, 5–3 cm. The color of the stem is grayish-green, there is dense pubescence at the top. Over time, this cactus begins to bush. Very small papillae are densely located on the surface of the stem. The color of the radial spines is whitish, they are soft to the touch, the length can reach 0.2 cm.
During flowering, buds are formed, in which the color of the petals can vary from whitish to pinkish-red. The flower in full disclosure reaches a diameter of 0.6 cm. Usually the buds appear in the apical (apical) part of the stem. After flowering on the cactus, fruits ripen red, elongated, which can decorate the stem for a long time.
Synonyms for this plant are the terms: Epithelantha rufispina, Epithelantha micromeris var. rufispina or Epithelantha micromeris var. densispina, Epithelantha densispina, Mammillaria micromeris, and Cactus micromeris.
There are varieties of var. rufispina and var. gregii with central spines.
Epithelant small-sized subspecies of Russifin (Epithelantha micromeris v. Rufispina). A cactus with a very slow growth rate and dwarf parameters. When a cactus reaches adulthood, it does not exceed 5 cm in diameter. The plant is often called a "button cactus". The color of the spines is reddish-red. Over time, single side shoots are formed on the stem of the plant.
In the process of flowering, flowers open, the diameter of which is slightly more than 0.5 cm. The usual place for the buds is the top of the stem. However, the variety compensates for this disadvantage by the fact that after the flowers, fruits of a pinkish-red color with a tubular shape appear.
Epithelant undersized Gregg subspecies (Epithelantha micromeris ssp.greggii (Engelmann) Borg). As well as the base species, it prefers the lands of the southern United States and Mexico. It differs from the main variety in larger sizes and coarser thorns to the touch. The outlines of the stem are clavate. Its diameter reaches 5 cm. The root of the cactus is thickened. Radial spines can be whitish or completely white. Their length is 4 mm. Their thickness is uneven, so a certain refinement is noticed in the middle part. There are 5-7 central spines. They are more rigid and coarse, but the color is the same as that of the radials. At the very top, such spines gather in peculiar bundles, and here their length is already 0.8 cm.
In the upper part there is a dense woolly pubescence, from where the flowers originate. The color of the petals can take on dark pink or rather light reddish shades. The diameter of the flower at opening is 1 cm. The appearance of the flowers is very delicate due to the fact that the petals have a mother-of-pearl surface. The flowers of the cactus are replaced by fruits in the form of an oblong berry. The color of the fruit is red. Inside there are very small black seeds.
Epithelantha bokei (Epithelantha bokei L. D. Benson). The plant was described in 1969. Natural distribution occurs in the desert lands of the southern regions of the United States, as well as northern parts of Mexico, which includes the Chihuahua Desert. Prefers to settle on limestone soil. The stem of the cactus is miniature, taking on a clavate shape, its height does not exceed 3 cm. The color of the spines is white, they tightly cover the surface of the stem. In the upper part, the thorns are directed upward. And in the same place is the place where the formation of flowers with pale pink or pale yellow petals takes place. When the plant is quite adult, small constrictions are formed on its stem, they are sometimes called "annual rings", indicating how the change in the activation of growth and its stagnation took place.
