Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)

• Sclerocactus papyracanthus cv. Curly Spines
• Toumeya papyracantha cv. Curly Spines

• Sclerocactus papyracanthus (Engelm.) N.P.Taylor
• Echinocactus papyracanthus (Engelm.) Engelm.
• Mammillaria papyracantha Engelm.
• Pediocactus papyracanthus (Engelm.) L.D.Benson
• Toumeya papyracantha (Engelm.) Britton & Rose

• Sclerocactus papyracanthus cv. Curly Spines
• Toumeya papyracantha cv. Curly Spines

Description: Sclerocactus papyracanthusSN|13716]]SN|13716]] cv. Curly Spines is a selected form or cultivar characterized by an array of flattened, nicely curved or contorted central spines. Though plants with contorted spines are somewhat rare, curly spined specimens occurs naturally throughout its range, and can be encountered in many cultivated specimens.
With the exception of the existence of curved or contorted centrals, all the other characteristics are absolutely identical with standard Sclerocactus papyracanthusSN|13716]]SN|13716]], namely size and form of stems, roots, flowers, fruits et.
Habit: Sclerocactus papyracanthusSN|13716]]SN|13716]], best known as Toumeya papyracanthaSN|13720]]SN|13720]] is a tiny solitary, or slowly branching cactus with flattened grasslike spines.
Roots: Fibrous 5-10 cm long.
Stem: Dark green, 2,5-20 cm tall and 1-2 cm in diameter. It has no ribs and tubercles are elongate.
Areoles: 1-2 mm in diameter at the summits of the tubercles, and generally 3 mm apart.
Central spines: Usually 1-2 (occasionally 3-4), strongly flattened, flexible, grooved, nicely twisted, curved or contorted, papery in texture, 18-38 mm long. often obscuring the surface of the stem.
Radial spines: Parallel to the stem surface, 6-8 per cluster, ashy-white, about 3 mm long.
Flower: On the new growth of the current season near the apex of the stem. Whitish, bell-shaped, with a brownish central midstripe, 18-25 mm wide.
Fruit: Green, often changing to tan, spherical, 12-20 mm long, dry and dehiscent at maturity.
Seeds: Quite large (2.5 mm long) black, covered with minute bumps, irregularly oval in shape, slightly flattened.
Phenology: Blooming time April/May.

Cultivation and Propagation: Need moderate watering because excess of water causes mature individuals to rot and die especially after transplanting.
Sun Exposure: Full sun to partially shaded.
Cultural Practices: Need a very draining and mineral substratum.
Frost Tolerance: Very frost hardy, above approx -12° C.
Needs moderate watering, because excess of water causes mature individuals to rot and die, especially after transplanting.
Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade.
Cultural Practices: Needs a very draining and mineral substratum.
Frost Tolerance: Very frost hardy, above approx -12° C.
Propagation: Seeds. Temperature for optimum germination: night minimum approx 17 day maximum, up to nearly 40 C, at any time of year with proper temperatures and daylength (ca.13-14 hours); it is possible to extend day-length with artificial lights. Anyway the seeds germinate slowly with extreme difficulty and a low rate of success. scarification and stratification help, alternately freeze and thaw both wet and dry, but don’t keep wet, alternate wet and dry with changing temperatures. Germination can take several years, so keep pot and try again next year. Seedlings do not do well either, and some die each year, for this reason plants are commonly grafted on hardy stocks like Opuntia humifusaSN|11629]]SN|11629]] or Echinocereus triglochidiatusSN|10576]]SN|10576]]. In this case they are easy to grow and no special skill is required.