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Aztekium
Genus of extremely slow growing plants. The typus species Aztekium ritteri was among the first to be considered at risk of extinction due to the severe deterioration caused by its collection.
| Etymology | For the shape of the stem that, in some way, recalls the famous Aztec calendar carved on rock. |
|---|---|
| Typus species | Aztekium ritteri Boed. |
| Natural origin | State of Nuevo León, Mexico. |
Aztekiums come from regions with persistent winter aridity and infrequent summer rains. They have the habit of colonizing exposed rocky walls with steep slopes, so they remain protected from the incidence of the sun during the hottest hours of the day and escape the competition with larger plants. They coexist with lichens and small ferns of the genus Selaginella .
Description
They are among the most slowest cactus in growth, encrusting on gypsum walls, or limestone. Their roots are thin, woody, able to cling to the rock.
Multiplication: commercially, especially grafting specimens are available, because sowing is difficult on average and takes a long time.
Cultivation
They are not demanding plants that live with the minimum of resources, namely:
- thin, draining substrate, without organic components;
- position in the shade;
- regular watering;
- occasional spraying.
If kept dry, aztekium plants can survive in winter temperatures of some degrees below zero.