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Cultivation Key � Full sun/Bright shade��� ��Moderate water Hardy to 20-30F (-7/-1C) if dry

Plant of the Month April 2009 � Glory of Texas Thelocactus bicolor Cactaceae (Cactus Family) Form: Thelocactus bicolor is a solitary bodied plant. Globular in shape, although later becoming more cylindrical. It has a dark forest green body color and normally has 8 ribs. Its habitat is the Chihuahuan desert from Texas to San Luis Potos� in central Mexico. This large range has created several local forms of T. bicolor, most of which have made it to ssp. or var. level. The spines are stout and vary in length. They can be a dark red, pink or a creamy white. One of the distinct features of Thelocactus (But not all Thelocactus species and a few other genera also have this characteristic) are the extrafloral glands on each areole. The glands, which can be identified as slits, are visible just above the areole. These glands secrete a sweet nectar. Size: Typically growing to around 8 - 10inches in height and 4-6inches in diameter. Flowers/Fruit: The flowers of Thelocactus bicolor are some of the most beautiful in the Cactus Family. Huge pink to purple petals, with dark red throats definitely make an impact in the greenhouse. Depending on the var. or ssp., the petals can be thin and fringed or thick and rounded. The fruit are quite small, fleshy, hairless and spineless and have a scaled like texture. Sun/Water: T. bicolor can take full sun, however, it should be lightly shaded in the hottest of the summer months in the Southwest USA. Water regularly in the summer growing season. In the Southwest USA, the summer months can get extremely hot (110F) and the plant may decide to go dormant during this intense heat. No water should be given, or very, very little during this time. Keep dry during the winter. Propagation: Is done mainly by seed, as these plants usually remain solitary. Although offsets can form on cultivated plants. Books/Websites: The Cactus File Handbook: Thelocactus is a great reference. Available through Rainbow Gardens Bookshop. An excellent Thelocatus website is: The Genus: Thelocactus More websites can be found on our Reference Links page.

The different forms of Thelocactus bicolor

T. bicolor ssp. bicolor � Wide distribution range, Texas to Central Mexico

T. bicolor ssp. bolaensis � A distinctive form found in Sierra Bola, Coahuila, Mexico

T. bicolor ssp. flavidispinus � Found in Texas (Brewster Co. and near Marathon)

T. bicolor ssp. heterochromus � Found in Coahuila and Durango in Mexico

T. bicolor ssp. schwarzii � Found in Tamaulipas, Mexico

T. bicolor ssp. tricolor � Very similar to ssp. bicolor, but with bright red spines. Found in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico

T. bicolor ssp. commodus � Now synonymous with T. bicolor ssp. bicolor

T. bicolor ssp. ellipticus - Now synonymous with T. bicolor ssp. bicolor

T. bicolor ssp. rhodophthalmus - Now synonymous with T. bicolor ssp. bicolor

T. bicolor ssp. schottii � Poorly known, although now synonymous with T. bicolor ssp. bicolor

T. bicolor ssp. pottsii � Now synonymous with T. bicolor ssp. heterochromus

T. bicolor ssp. texensis � Invalid name

T. bicolor ssp. zwakii - Reported from Castanos in Coahuila but not sufficiently distinct to deserve a ������������������

����������������������������� ��subspecies rank.

T. bicolor ssp. bicolor Photo: PeterB	(=T. bicolor ssp. bicolor) T. bicolor ssp. commodus Photo: GeneS	(=T. bicolor ssp. bicolor) T. bicolor ssp. commodus MG1259.6 seed Photo: GeneS
T. bicolor ssp. tricolor	T. bicolor ssp. tricolor	T. bicolor ssp. tricolor
T. bicolor ssp. tricolor This particular clone has a slightly different flower. The petals are more fringed and the color is a much paler pink.	T. bicolor ssp. tricolor Pale pink flower form	T. bicolor ssp. tricolor Pale pink flower form
T. bicolor ssp. schwarzii Nectar glands	T. bicolor ssp. tricolor Fruit	T. bicolor ssp. tricolor Flower buds
T. bicolor ssp. schwarzii	T. bicolor ssp. schwarzii	T. bicolor ssp. schwarzii
T. bicolor ssp. heterochromus 3 yr old seedling	(=T. bicolor ssp. heterochromus SB77) T. bicolor ssp. pottsii SB77	T. bicolor ssp. heterochromus MG1268.4 seed Photo: GeneS
T. bicolor ssp. heterochromus SB1920 variegated Photo: GeneS	T. bicolor ssp. heterochromus 3 yr old seedling	T. bicolor ssp. heterochromus SB1920 variegated Photo: GeneS
T. bicolor ssp. flavidispinus SB424 Photo: GeneS	T. bicolor ssp. flavidispinus Photo: PeterB	T. bicolor ssp. flavidispinus Photo: PeterB
T. bicolor ssp. bolaensis Photo: PeterB	T. bicolor ssp. bolaensis Photo: PeterB	(=T. bicolor ssp. bolaensis) T. bicolor ssp. wagnerianus Photo: GeneS
T. bicolor ssp. bolaensis Sierra Zavaleta, Coahuila, Mexico Photo: A. Mosco Photo borrowed from the Thelocactus Genus Website		T. bicolor ssp. bicolor Photo: GeneS

All photos taken are from our personal collection or of our sales plants.

(Except where noted)

Plant of the Month Archives

June 2008 � Cylindropuntia bigelovii

July 2008 � Ferocactus cylindraceus var. cylindraceus

August 2008 � Echinocereus engelmannii

November 2008 � Pachypodium namaquanum

December 2008 � Copiapoa humilis ssp. humilis

January 2009 � Turbinicarpus lophophoroides

February 2009 � Astrophytum asterias

March 2009 � Euphorbia obesa

April 2009 � Thelocactus bicolor

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All photos are property of CoronaCactus Nursery LLC.� (except where noted)������������������������ ����3-29-09