Xerophyte

Description

Coryphantha elephantidensSN|3920]]SN|3920]] is a large, depressed-globular cactus, simple or occasionally clumping and group-forming. C. elephantidens usually has pink flowers but they can sometimes be yellow. This species comprises three subspecies - the typical form, subsp. bumamma (Ehrenb.) Dicht & A.Lüthy, and subsp. greenwoodii (Bravo) Dicht & A.Lüthy.

Note

The epithet 'elephantidens' comes from Latin and means 'elephant tooth' and describes the fang-like spines of this species.

Spines

The tubercles are capped with a 5-8 of stout reflexed radial spines, spreading, somewhat unequal, 18-26 mm long, strong, subulate, curved, never porrect, but adpressed to the body, when young brownish with yellowish bases, black at apex. Central spines are absent.

Stem

Simple, flattened globular to subglobose, up to 14(-19) cm in diameter and 14 cm high, glossy dark green, subglaucous.Tubercles; Very large, , somewhat flattened, 20-30 (60) mm wide, obtuse, rounded on top, pentaedrical at the base, 4 to 5 cm wide, always broader than rounded, without glands, the tubercles axil is densely woolly.

Fruits

Very big, ca. 4 cm long and 1 cm in diameter.

Areoles

Elliptic, when young woolly, in age naked.