Name and distribution
Turbinicarpus pseudopectinatus occurs naturally in northeastern Mexico. The name was initially published as Pelecyphora pseudopectinata. Former combinations include Normanbokea pseudopectinata and Thelocactus pseudopectinatus. The current POWO account connects these names to one accepted species. [2-WWW]
The germination study describes populations on limestone substrates in desert scrub of northeastern Mexico. [Flores et al. 2008, opis siedliska]
The spine study included material from seeds TCG 6002, originating from Dr Arroyo in Nuevo León. [Mosco 2009, Table 1]
Mikrobudowa cierni
The radial spines studied had a woody texture and an epidermis divided into individual elements. Short conical protrusions occurred on the outer cell walls. The interior consisted of thick-walled fibres. This creates a rough surface differently from the long, feathery projections in T. valdezianus. [Mosco 2009, p. 121–122, tab. 2, ryc. 1E]
The epidermal surface and fibre arrangement form two separate levels of spine features. External protrusions shape its relief, while wall thickness and overall spine diameter jointly contribute to stiffness. Mosco assessed these relationships microscopically and qualitatively. The study's scope allows tissues to be described without assigning unmeasured mechanical parameters to them. [Mosco 2009, pp. 120–127]
Hypodermis and internal tissues
The stem hypodermis had one cell layer in the material studied. Its walls were thin, while in most taxa compared the hypodermis had thickened walls. Prismatic crystals occurred in this layer. This exemplifies variation in protective tissues within the current genus Turbinicarpus. [De la Rosa-Tilapa et al. 2019, wersja online, p. 2]
The cortex included photosynthetic and storage parenchyma with small vascular bundles. The main stem xylem was fibre-free, with wide-band tracheids. The combination of a delicate hypodermis with this tissue arrangement describes the species' specific structure. Water requirements of a potted specimen also depend on roots, temperature and growing conditions, which this study did not compare. [De la Rosa-Tilapa et al. 2019, online version, pp. 2–4]
Seed germination
In T. pseudopectinatus, batch age significantly affected germination. The effect of putrescine was not significant. Batches from different years were compared, linking storage duration to initial seed differences. [Flores et al. 2008, full text, results]
Laboratory propagation and a hybrid
T. pseudopectinatus was among species propagated from seedling fragments by stimulating areoles. The 2005 study abstract describes shoot development on different medium treatments, followed by rooting and acclimatisation. This is staged propagation, in which shoot production and obtaining an independent plant are separate outcomes. [Dávila-Figueroa et al. 2005, abstract]
POWO accepts the hybrid Turbinicarpus × mombergeri with the formula T. laui × T. pseudopectinatus. Culture of this hybrid was the subject of a regeneration study published in 2022. Information about the hybrid links both parents, while detailed results obtained for it describe the hybrid material itself. [2-WWW] [Santos-Díaz et al. 2022, POWO, formula. Santos-Díaz et al., abstract]
Related articles
Materials from the author's archive
The species also appears in Konrad Szychowski's private material archive. [Kaktusy i Inne 2005c, file p. 24] [Biuletyn PTMK, Oddział we Wrocławiu 1989, file p. 6]
Synonyms and names in the literature
Pelecyphora pseudopectinata · Normanbokea pseudopectinata · Mammillaria pseudopectinata · Neolloydia pseudopectinata · Thelocactus pseudopectinatus · Pediocactus pseudopectinatus [2-WWW]