Strombocactus

Strombocactus disciformis
File:Strombocactus esperanzae.jpg
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.

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.