Wilcoxia SCHMOLLII - Schmoll's wilcoxia, Wilcoxia schmollin.
A rare collectible cactus!
Wilcoxias are amazing plants; their flowers increase in size until they wither. Members of the genus propagate well by seeds and cuttings. The latter develop typical tuberous roots within a year. New plants can also be obtained by dividing such roots. Under natural conditions, wilcoxias frequently regenerate from tuberous roots when the aboveground part of the plant dies off during drought or when it is grazed by animals, such as goats.
Wilcoxias grow in the southern part of the state of Texas, USA, as well as in diverse habitats in Mexico - from the state of Coahuila to the southern part of the state of Puebla and Baja California. They always grow in the shade of other plants, especially spiny shrubs, whose branches the weak shoots of wilcoxias use as support. They are usually distributed at low elevations.
The stems are distinctly ribbed, reaching no more than 1 m (3.3 ft) in height and 0.9 cm (0.35 in) in diameter. There are usually up to 10 rounded narrow ribs; areoles sit so closely on the ribs that their tomentum merges into one continuous mass covering the stem.
Flowers are broadly funnel-shaped or with strongly reflexed perianth segments, from 2.5 to 5 cm (1.0 to 2.0 in) in diameter, white, pink, or red, remaining open for about two days. The fruit is oval in shape, up to 2.5 cm (1.0 in) long, slightly fleshy, covered with short spines, reddish-green when ripe.
Schmoll's wilcoxia is a delicate, richly branching species with golden tomentum and beautiful pink-red flowering.