Frailea Castanea (Castanea v.Nitens)

GreenTara

SUC27

8.00

Frailea is a genus of globular to short cylindrical cacti native to South America. The cactus grows on rocky outcrops and stony fields in pampa grasslands, at elevations from 150 to 300 metres above sea level. Frailea castanea (or Frailea asterioides) is a very singular miniature plant, and one the of most fascinating cacti with a disk like, flattened to globose body. Stem is diminutive in size and several remain solitary, never outgrowing 4-5 cm diameter. Stems are chocolate brown or dark reddish-green with 8-15 flat ribs. Spines per areole: 3-15 minute, short, black spider-like, appressed on the plant body and usually all bent downward.
Flower is sulphur yellow, sometimes larger than the plant itself (4cm diameter). Fraileas are cleistogamous meaning that their flowers produce seed without even opening. Without the need for pollination, hence the buds rarely reach full bloom and remain closed. They will open only in great heat in the hottest, brightest, afternoon sun, if at all.
Fruits are dry indehiscent that detach easily, pericarp membranous, fragile that break easily releasing very big 3-3,5 mm wide seed.
Frailea castanea is a summer grower species relatively easy to grow. It is sometime seen as a grafted plant but grows very well on its own roots too. Characteristically, during the dry season plants retract completely under the ground both in the wild and in cultivation too. Fraileas are relatively short-lived plants, only lasting few years (rarely more than 10-15 years in cultivation).

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