Description
Quirky Ball: a Rare Flower of the Tropical Savanna
Quirky Ball, scientific name *Discocactus horstii*, is a perennial flowering plant belonging to the cactus and succulent family. It is classified in the Cactaceae family, genus *Discocactus*, and is native to Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Morphological characteristics: Quirky Ball is a flattened globe, about 7 cm in diameter and only 2 cm tall. Its epidermis is brown‑green, with 20 ribs; the rib edges are tall and straight. The areoles are densely packed, with thick yellow‑white short wool, and 8–10 spines, grey‑white to brown, 0.2–0.3 cm long, arranged in a comb‑like pattern. The top of the globe bears a 2 cm flower pedestal; large white flowers open at night, are fragrant, bloom in summer, and have a long flower tube.
Habitat: Quirky Ball grows in tropical savanna regions. Although annual rainfall is high, evaporation is also high, so it usually thrives in well‑drained slope grasslands. It is also known as Hu’s Discocactus, a famous rare species.
Cultivation tips: Quirky Ball requires full sun and mineral‑rich soil; the minimum winter temperature must be kept above 15 °C. This species is difficult to cultivate, and other species in the same genus are also not widely propagated. Seed sowing and grafting of live seedlings are not too difficult, but cutting pieces from the plant to induce rooting is very challenging and often results in rot.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.