Xerophyte

Central Spines

1 to 3 longer, one dominant, subulate, curved down-wards to almost hooked, basally yellowish-white with brownish to almost black tips, becoming grey. The 1-2 supplementary centrals (if present) are straight or slightly curved to the side and somewhat protruding upwards, thinner and shorter.

Seeds

Brown.

Description

Coryphantha calipensisSN|10082]]SN|10082]] is a low branching cactus forming more or less compact clusters with age. It is one of the most peculiar coryphanthas with pineapple appearance. This species is dimorphic with distinct young and mature forms. It passes a purely radial-spined youth stage with short tubercles, but develops central spines and long tubercles as it ages, giving the plant its characteristic appearance.

Axils

With white wool, more dense at the top.

Flowering Period

Summer. 4–5 years from seed.

Tubercles

Prominent, set in 5 and 8 series, conical, rhomboidal at the base, appressed to body with their apexes facing up, 2,5-3 cm broad, 2 cm long, with a deep woolly furrow.

Flowers

6-7 cm in diameter, whitish-yellow to lemon-yellow, stamens red, style with 8 yellow green stigma.

Stem

Almost globular to slightly elongated, 7-9 cm high, 5–9 cm in diameter blue green, greyish green or olive green, apex rounded very woolly.

Radial Spines

(8-)10–13(-16), 7-8 of them radiating, horizontally arranged, straight to slightly curved, 1-1,2 cm long, hyaline, white, the other ones longer at the upper part of the areoles, straight, more densely set, dirty white with dark tips, longer, up to 18 mm.

Fruits

Greenish-brown up to 20 mm long.

Areoles

Circular to oval, 2 mm in diameter, woolly in youth.