Xerophyte

Habit

It is a miniature globose cactus, erect, unbranched or in small clumps, not deep-seated in substrate, appearing ashy grey and relatively rough in general aspect.

Seeds

Blackish, obliquely hemispheric reticulated in 0,5 mm diameter.

Description

Epithelantha micromerisSN|6936]]SN|6936]] v. neomexicana, is an unpublished catalogue name (nomen nudum) used by some seeds collectors and succulent traders to indicate the naturally occurring New Mexican form of Epithelantha micromerisSN|6936]]SN|6936]]. It is very similar to the type species and not readily distinguishable, if not for the geographical provenance. It is another little white beauty with very small radial spines, combed and projected toward the apex and all spring produces many tiny cream/pink flower. This taxon is self-fertile. It produces viable seeds even without extra pollination.

Roots

Diffuse.

Tubercles

Numerous, not confluent into ribs, hemispheric or short cylindric, very small, ca. 1-3 mm; arranged in tight spirals around the plant.

Flowers

Inconspicuous, creamy-pink to pink, funnelform diurnal, borne at adaxial margins of spine clusters in the plant top. Only partly opened just distal portion visible, as they barely stick out above the wool obscured by longer spines at stem apex.

Blooming Season

Flowers late winter-early spring .

Spines

Approx. 20-30 white to ashy grey very small (2-5 mm long), appressed on sides of stems, combed, straight, terete, slender, innocuous, in 1-3 superimposed series except for a longer (4-12 mm) and erect adaxial tuft of spines projected toward the apex, on sexually mature stem apex. Spine clusters at the sides of stem 4-5(-7) mm in diameter. Smooth or microscopically roughened by break-up of epidermis, not distinguishable as radial and central spines. In fully adult plants, the distal portions of the longest spines are worn, leaving the apex of the plant covered with short, innocuous spines.

Stem

Unsegmented, mostly spheric or obovoidal, rarely cylindric, often flat-topped with a depressed centre, about 5cm tall and 4 cm in diameter, occasionally more; surface completely obscured by spines.

Fruits

Indehiscent, bright red, thin narrowly cylindric, 3-20 × 2-3(-5) mm, weakly succulent, soon drying and papery, smooth, spineless; pulp absent; floral remnant deciduous. Fruiting late spring-early summer (Apr-Jun) and persisting several months. Its fruit are known as "chilitos."

Areoles

Small at tips of tubercles, 1 mm long, nearly circular, elliptic when distended by flower or fruit, slightly woolly when young, copiously woolly only at sexually mature stem apex; areolar glands absent;