Leuchtenbergia
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| Leuchtenbergia principis Hook. |
Leuchtenbergia principis (agave cactus or prism cactus), the sole species of the genus Leuchtenbergia, is a species of cactus. It is native to north-central Mexico (San Luis Potosi, Chihuahua). The genus is named after Eugène de Beauharnais, prince of Leuchtenberg.
It is very slow-growing but can eventually grow up to 70 cm high, with a cylindrical stem which becomes bare and corky at the base with age. It has long, slender, grayish-green tubercles 6-12 cm long, with purplish-red blotches at their tips. The tubercles are topped with papery spines, making the plant resemble an agave; old, basal tubercles dry up and fall off. After four years or so, yellow, funnel-shaped flowers 5-6 cm diameter may be borne at the tubercle tips. The fruit are smooth and green, 3 cm long and 2 cm broad. It has a large, tuberous taproot.
[edit] Taxonomy
It is related to the genus Ferocactus, and hybrids have been created between these two genera.
[edit] References
- Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan.
