Copiapoa humilis

Copiapoa humilis

Copiapoa humilis (Phil.) Hutchison

A small cactus with a taproot and a globose stem bearing distinct tubercles. Its current circumscription includes several subspecies, among them tenuissima, known from studies of regeneration in tissue culture. [Larridon et al. 2015] [2-WWW]

2 min readAccount dated 9 October 2026

Structure and diversity

In the 2015 account, the C. humilis group is characterised by globose stems, solitary or weakly branched, reaching about 7.5 cm in diameter. Ribs are divided into distinct, conical tubercles. A thickened taproot lies below the surface. [Larridon et al. 2015, p. 1514–1515]

Tubercle and spine appearance varies among subspecies. POWO currently accepts five units at this rank. C. humilis subsp. tenuissima has a separate profile, because material called C. tenuissima in older papers belongs to this taxon. [2-WWW]

Species boundaries in the literature

The accepted name is Copiapoa humilis (originally Echinocactus humilis). The 2015 analysis separated C. australis, previously described as C. humilis subsp. australis. Both morphological differences and the position of the material in the chloroplast tree supported this. [2-WWW] [Larridon et al. 2015]

Compared with C. australis, typical C. humilis has more prominent tubercles. The molecular result placed C. laui close to this group, despite its earlier association with C. hypogaea. Separating these names clarifies attribution of data on structure and propagation. [Larridon et al. 2015]

Scope of the regeneration experiments

Somatic embryogenesis studies concerned a horticultural monstrose form of subspecies tenuissima. The authors described the studied material's dark epidermis, lack of spines and white areoles. These features and responses to media refer to this particular form. The experiment is described in detail in the article on regeneration. [Lema-Rumińska et al. 2013]

Synonyms and names in the literature

Echinocactus humilis [2-WWW]

Sources for this account

Article2015

An integrative approach to understanding the evolution and diversity of Copiapoa (Cactaceae), a threatened endemic Chilean genus from the Atacama desert

Larridon I., Walter H. E., Guerrero P. C., Duarte M., Cisternas M. A., Peña-Hernández C., Bauters K., Asselman P., Goetghebeur P., Samain M. S., An integrative approach to understanding the evolution and diversity of Copiapoa (Cactaceae), a threatened endemic Chilean genus from the Atacama desert, American Journal of Botany, 2015, 102(9):1506-1520, doi: 10.3732/ajb.1500168

The study brings together three chloroplast DNA regions, morphology and the distribution of Copiapoa. It discusses species boundaries, recurrent similarities in growth form and the consequences of classification changes for threat assessment.

Physiology and anatomyGenusCopiapoa

DOI ↗Article or source page ↗

[2-WWW]Source website

Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

https://powo.science.kew.org/

Accepted names, synonyms and distribution. A citation beside a taxon leads to its record.

Accessed 2026-10-08.

Article2013

Influence of Abscisic Acid and Sucrose on Somatic Embryogenesis in Cactus Copiapoa tenuissima Ritt. forma mostruosa

Lema-Rumińska J., Goncerzewicz K., Gabriel M., Influence of Abscisic Acid and Sucrose on Somatic Embryogenesis in Cactus Copiapoa tenuissima Ritt. forma mostruosa, The Scientific World Journal, 2013, 2013:513985, doi: 10.1155/2013/513985

The experiment concerns somatic embryogenesis in a horticultural monstrose form of Copiapoa humilis subsp. tenuissima, named in the title as C. tenuissima. It compares embryo development directly on tissue and through callus, and the effects of abscisic acid and sucrose concentrations.

Physiology and anatomyGenusCopiapoa

DOI ↗Article or source page ↗

Structure and diversity

Species boundaries in the literature

Scope of the regeneration experiments

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