Xerophyte

Habit

Plants are usually solitary.

Central Spines

0–1, straight, somewhat longer than radials, 20-30 mm long, yellowish to brown, usually dark banded, straight to curved or even hooked.

Seeds

Brown.

Description

Coryphantha clavaSN|3896]]SN|3896]]ta is an erect Coryphantha with characteristic club-shaped stems. It comprises two subspecies, the typical form and subsp. stipitata (Schweid.) Dicht & A.Lüthy.

Roots

Turnip root

Tubercles

Distant, obliquely conical, up to 2 cm long, in rows of 5, 8 and 13. The axils when young with short white wool.

Flowers

Apical, variable in size, 2-5 cm long and up to 4 cm Ø, shiny pale-yellow. Outer perianth-segments linear, acute, entire, with broad brownish midrib infrequently slightly lashed; inner perianth-segments linear, entire, narrow, creamy white; stamens pinkish, much shorter than the perianth-segments; style pinkish; stigma-lobes 5 or 6, short, greenish.

Stem

Elongate/cylindrical to clavate, 4-7 cm Ø and 10 to 30 cm high, dark blue-green, also reddish. Apex densely wooly.

Radial Spines

(6-)8-9(-12), initially brownish, base reddish with dark tips, 8–15 mm long.

Fruits

Pale-green, approx. 2 cm long.

Areoles

White, with the apical (spine-bearing) and axillary parts of the areola connected by a shallow furrows above and 1-2 (or several) red large glands.