Strombocactus

Strombocactus disciformis
Strombocactus disciformis ssp. esperanzae
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Tribe:	Cacteae
Genus:	Strombocactus Britton & Rose
Species:	S. disciformis
Binomial name
Strombocactus disciformis (DC.) Britton & Rose
Synonyms
Ariocarpus disciformis (DC.) Marshall Ariocarpus disciformis ssp. jarmilae (Halda) Halda Cactus disciformis Kuntze Echinocactus disciformis (DC.) K.Schum. Echinocactus turbiniformis Pfeiff. Mammillaria disciformis DC. Pediocactus jarmilae ? Strombocactus disciformis ssp. jarmilae (Halda) Halda Strombocactus jarmilae Halda

Strombocactus disciformis is a rare species of cacti and the only species of the genus Strombocactus. The plant originates from Central and Northeast Mexico.

Description

Strombocactus is a monotypic genus with a strong turnip-like root, a small, sunken, roughly spherical stem covered with spirally arranged overlapping tubercles, each with a spine-bearing areole at its tip. Flowers come from new growth at the crown, and the cactus's small seeds are difficult to see with the naked eye.^[1]

Taxonomy

The species has several forms and subspecies:

• Strombocactus disciformis f. cristata
• Strombocactus disciformis ssp. esperanzae

Conservation status

Both subspecies are classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, which states that it has a limited range and "is experiencing a decline in mature individuals due to illegal overcollection". Both sub-species are also contained in Appendix 1 of CITES species (Convention on International Trade in Endangered species) as at June 2013.

References

1. Venning, Frank D. Cacti (A Golden Guide). Racine, Wisconsin: Western Publishing Company, Inc. p. 155.