Xerophyte

Central Spines

(0-)1(-3), conspicuous, ascending in the direction of the tubercle axis, some subcentral displaced laterally or even slightly down-wards, very rigid, brown or black, soon greyish and frosted, 13-20 mm long.

Seeds

1 x 1.2 mm, reniform, smooth, brown, reticulate.

Description

Coryphantha pseudoechinusSN|10157]]SN|10393]], fistly described by Bodeker in 1929, is an egg-shaped cactus species solitary when young, then freely branching to form low clumps. This species produces flowers all through spring and summer and seed pods at the same time. These can be seen starting to develop before the withered flower remains fall. The flower is violet-pink and 2.5 cm. long and about 3 cm. broad depending on the heat of the sun. The fruit is dull purple about 12 mm, long and slightly rounded. The seed is brown. Two susbpecies are recognized, the typical form and susbp. laui (L.Bremer) Dicht & A.Lüthy.

Note

Coryphantha pseudoechinusSN|10393]]SN|10393]] Bodeker so called to distinguish it from Coryphantha echinusSN|10393]]SN|10157]] Engelmann which it much resembles ; the brilliant yellow flower of the latter however is very different from the smaller crimson blossoms of the former.

Tubercles

In 5 and 8 series, conical, somewhat flattened on the upper side, rhomboid at the base, strongly ascending, to 12 mm long, with sharp, narrow groove, woolly in youth. Some yellow nectar-glands are only produced during active growth and formation of buds and this immediately behind the spine-bearing areole only. Axils in youth woolly.

Flowers

Situated near apex, often numerous and opening at the same time, flattened funnelform, pale rose pink to bright magenta, 2-2.2 cm long, 2-3.5 cm in diameter. Outer perianth segments lanceolate, dark red-brown with a rose margin, greenish at the base up to11 mm long. Inner perianth segments narrow lanceolate, violet-rose, lighter towards the base up to 22 mm long. Filaments numerous, whitish, anthers yellow. Style whitish with 5-6 whitish stigma lobes.

Stem

Ovoid to short cylindrical, sprouting from the base, forming large groups, dull leaf green, becoming grey-green with age, 7-12 cm long, 4-6 cm in diameter apex slightly depressed with some wool.

Radial Spines

18-20(-25), straight, stiff, needle-like, grey to white to reddish brown, sometimes black tipped, 8-15 mm long.

Fruits

Oblong, ovoid, with attached flower remnants, pale yellowish green to bronze to pinkish, to 15(-23) mm long and 7 mm wide.

Areoles

Round, 2 mm diameter.