Xerophyte

Description

Epithelantha micromeris subs. greggiiSN|6936]]SN|6928]] is the largest and most common of the Epithelantha micromerisSN|6928]]SN|6936]] subspecies that appears ashy grey and relatively rough, somewhat bristly in general aspect.

Roots

Diffuse (usually).

Tubercles

Numerous, not confluent into ribs, hemispheric or short cylindric, very small, ca. 1-2 mm; arranged in tight spirals around the plant.

Flowers

Inconspicuous, funnel-shaped, diurnal, deeper pink than the type, 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 in May-June.

Spines

20 or more chalky white, ashy grey to reddish brown, 3-5 mm long, spreading and radiating at an early age rather than pectinate and appressed on sides of stems, straight, terete, slender, innocuous. The upper ones much longer.

Stem

Branching, mostly spheric or obovoidal, often flat-topped with a depressed centre, 5-7,5 cm in diameter; surface completely obscured by spines.

Fruits

Indehiscent, bright red, thin narrowly cylindric, 18 × 2-3(-5) mm, weakly succulent, soon drying and papery, smooth, spineless; pulp absent; floral remnant deciduous. Fruiting summer.

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.