Structure and similarity to hypogaea
Larridon and colleagues describe C. laui as a small geophytic plant with a rounded stem, a taproot and a green-grey surface. Spines are very small or disappear. Fine hairs occur in the axils of scales on the flower covering. This combination of features resembles C. hypogaea. [Larridon et al. 2015, p. 1515]
In the chloroplast tree, C. laui was closer to the C. humilis group, while C. hypogaea belonged to another part of the genus. This result supports independent origins of the similar low growth form and reduced spines. [Larridon et al. 2015, p. 1514–1517]
Range and accepted name
The current POWO list gives Antofagasta and northwestern Atacama in Chile. Diers published Copiapoa laui in 1980. It remains the accepted species name. [2-WWW]
In older literature, the plant was also associated with C. hypogaea as a variety or subspecies. Writing Copiapoa laui (formerly C. hypogaea subsp. laui) allows the same plant to be found in sources using different taxonomic treatments. [2-WWW] [Larridon et al. 2015]
Synonyms and names in the literature
Copiapoa hypogaea subsp. laui · Copiapoa hypogaea var. laui [2-WWW]