Xerophyte

Seeds

1-1.15 x 0.7-09 mm.

Description

Copiapoa lauiSN|881]]SN|1422]] is a miniature, clustering copiapoa, with mall stems of about 1 cm and offset to make big mats that are flat to the ground in habitat but form mounds in cultivation and it is difficult to walk without stepping on the heads. C. laui is the smallest species in the genus, this was only discovered in the 1970s and was thought at first to be a species of eriosyce.

Roots

Each head has a thickened, turnip-like taproot, so propagation is easily achieved by removing an offset with its root already formed.

Similar Species

Copiapoa lauiSN|1422]]SN|1422]] is closely related Copiapoa hypogaeaSN|1422]]SN|881]] and often recognized as a subspecies of the latter. However, most experts consider subsp. laui to be a separate species.

Note

This member of the Cacataceae family was given the name 'laui' for Alfred B. Lau (fl. 1970-), German plant-explorer and self-named missionary in Mexico, and later in Belize.

Flowers

1.5-2.2 mm in diameter, yellow with reddish petal tips, short, wide funnel-shaped.

Ribs

15 to 20 more or less dissolved into low small tubercles forming vertical rows or spiralled.

Stem

1(-3) cm in diameter, that grows partially underground, 1 to 1.5 cm high, clear grey to red-brown-grey, sometimes greenish. Top sunken covered with whitish wool.

Radial Spines

4 to 7 insignificant, very small and bristly, whitish to yellowish.Central spine. Usually absent, occasionally 1 central spine similar to the radials.

Fruits

Globular, 3-5 mm across, greenish-brown with shiny black seeds.

Areoles

0.7-1 mm in diameter about 2 mm apart.