The appeal of this unusual mamm lies in its open-spined, long-tubercled bodies but also in its large, freely-produced, lemon-yellow flowers. These have the added attraction of emitting a sweet, lemony fragrance. Even within subgenus Dolichothele this species stands out for its elongated tubercles that have an almost rubbery flexibility. These are topped by clusters of slender spines just a hair thicker than bristles. Specimens tend to be long-lived in cultivation, often forming large clumps, but if you haven’t yet acquired one, here is your chance to obtain one of these buxom specimens, which will give you a good head start. The species is native to the states of Hidalgo and Querétaro, Mexico. HBG 108050, plants grown from seed. $8.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 84 (2), March - April, 2012