Scientific Name
Ariocarpus fissuratus (Engelm.) K. Schum.
Common Name(s)
Living Rock, Living Rock Cactus, Living Stone Cactus, False Peyote, Star Rock, Chautle
Synonym(s)
Mammillaria fissurata, Roseocactus fissuratus, Roseocactus intermedius
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cacteae
Genus: Ariocarpus
Description
Ariocarpus fissuratus is a geophyte cactus that forms a star-shaped rosette of thick, fleshy, deltoid to hemispheric tubercles with no spines that lie almost flat on the soil surface. It has a large turnip-like taproot below the soil. The rosette grows up to 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter. Tubercles are about as long as wide and closely packed, forming a coarse mosaic.
The flowers are bright pink-violet and appear from the woolly crown of the rosette in fall. They are up to 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter and last 3 to 4 days. Fruits are white or green with black seeds.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
You should plant your Ariocarpus in soil formulated for cacti. You can buy a cactus mix at your local nursery. Do not use generic soil mixes because they will not provide enough aeration and drainage. Additionally, using a container without a hole, whether a pot or a terrarium, is a bad idea for the same reason.
Ariocarpus need a lot of sunlight. However, in hot, dry areas, they can be damaged by excessive sunlight, so you should use a shade cloth to limit the sun or move them out of the sun during the hottest hours of the day. In more temperate areas, direct sunlight is fine.
These cacti prefer to be kept at room temperature or slightly lower and in low humidity.
Water your Ariocarpus when it is dry, but then wait until the soil dries out completely to water it again. The amount of time this takes will vary depending on your climate and your pot's size if you use one.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Ariocarpus.
Uses
This cactus is usually referred to as false or dangerous Peyote and has been known in the Americas since pre-Columbian times. It was very possibly used as a Peyote substitute when Peyote was unavailable.
Origin
Ariocarpus fissuratus is native to northern Mexico and Texas in the United States.
Cultivars
Links
- Back to genus Ariocarpus
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
Click on a photo to see a larger version.
