Turbinicarpus sphacelatus

Beautiful and extremely rare cactus, therefore highly sought after by collectors, but not only: unique in its kind, during its growth T. sphacelatus has a completely different physiognomy from when it is mature, you will feel like you have two different plants! In the growth phase it is a very small globose or slightly cylindrical cactus, which does not exceed 3-4 cm in diameter, equipped with little protruding tubercles and almost completely covered with short white spines, thin and arranged like the legs of a spider around to the elongated areolas. In the mature phase, the appearance of this extraordinary plant changes completely: the conical tubercles become very protruding, the radial thorns disappear to make room for long, grayish central thorns, robust and very tortuous, which tangle with each other especially at the apex. At this point, both in youth and maturity, showy funnel-shaped flowers with candid shades will blossom, with pink central stripes that make them as delicate as they are elegant.