Ariocarpus furfuraceus forma mostruosa
 

Description: This odd cultivar differs from the standard solitary Ariocarpus furfuraceus for its  monstrous free branching habit, for the thinner elongated stems and for the copious production of wool. The distinctive characteristic of this plant are the tubercles, which are stubby, large or equilaterally triangular shaped, divergent, convex or nearly flattened  with shallow adaxial undulations or wrinkling, not fissured, 1.5-2 cm long, 1-3 cm wide.
Stem: Globose to elongated, rounded on top, about 3-10 cm high, 3-6 cm in diameter (Often grafted specimens grows much more larger depending on grafting stock). The stems are grey, or blue-green often flushed in violet in full sun and, typically,  the new growth (especially if grafted) take a pink colouring. 
Areoles: At the tips of the tubercles, rounded, 1-5 mm in diameter with abundant white wool in the axil.
Flowers: Not known
Root: Tap root
 

.

.

.

Scientific Name: Ariocarpus retusus var. furfuraceus forma mostruosa

Origin:  Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix I
 

This is a very rare elongate and free branching monstrous form of Ariocarpus furfuraceus.

Cultivation: The plants of this cultivars are often grafted to accelerate growth as they are extremely slow growing on their own roots, but the grafted plants are typical rather tall growing, compared with plants on their own roots that are usually more flat to the ground. The plants need deep pots to accommodate the napiform unit formed by the stem base and the rootstock (or they will often simply crack your pots),  and a loose mineral soil with a well-drained substrate. They need a good amount of light. Watering can be done weekly during summertime, if the weather is sunny enough, with a little fertilizer added. Kept this way, plants will show a healthy, although slow growth.

Propagation: Usually by grafting or occasionally by cuttings in late spring to summer,  just take a cutting of the plant let it dry for 1 or 2 weeks and stuff it in the ground (preferably dry, loose, extremely well draining soil).

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Ariocarpus retusus.

• Ariocarpus retusus
• Ariocarpus retusus forma cristata
• Ariocarpus retusus var. furfuraceus forma mostruosa
•  Ariocarpus retusus (furfuraceus) f. major (cv. TAMA BOTAN)
• Ariocarpus retusus ssp. pectinatus
• Ariocarpus retusus ssp. trigonus
• Ariocarpus confusus ( retusus/trigonus complex )