Xerophyte

Habit

It is a slow-growing, perennial stem succulent, either solitary or branching from the base to form clusters.

Central Spines

One thin, awl shaped, straight, stiff, erect, slightly expanded basally, dark, becoming grey with age, 11-13 mm long.

Description

Coryphantha pusillifloraSN|10393]]SN|10394]] is a very nice, mostly cylindrical offsetting cactus species, with delicate pink flowers and yellowish later greyish spines. Bremer naming the plant pusilliflora, meaning very small or insignificant, in reference to the tiny magenta flower (usually about 2 cm in diameter). It is sometimes considered a synonym of Coryphantha pseudoechinusSN|10394]]SN|10393]].

Tubercles

Conical, widening basally, becoming rhombic, erect, in rows of 5, 8 and 13. The axils when young with short white wool.

Flowers

Funnelform, magenta with greenish white throats, about 2 cm in diameter or less (rarely up to 3,5 cm across).

Stem

Ovate to short cylindrical, 12 cm tall, 5-6 cm across, rounded and slightly depressed apically, bright green.

Radial Spines

18-20, thin, longer than radials, needle-like, somewhat stiff, straight, white to yellow, becoming grey, often with dark tips, 6-10 mm long.

Fruits

Oblong, green, fleshy to 14 mm long.

Areoles

White, with the apical (spine-bearing) and axillary parts of the areola connected by a distinct furrows above.