Coryphantha gracilis

Structure and identification

The stem is usually solitary, spherical or short-cylindrical, with small tubercles and thin lateral spines. The lower part of an older stem loses its spines and becomes corky. The taproot is longer than the small above-ground part. A central spine is usually absent. If one appears on an older plant, it points upwards. Flowers are broad, pale yellow or cream. In the monograph, seeds were described as almost spherical or ovoid, with a broad boundary of the hilar region. [Dicht and Lüthy 2005, p. 171]

Habitat and variation

The verified type locality lies on hills near Pelayo in Chihuahua, on limestone gravel among sparse grasses. The authors also recorded a site further north in the Rosario area. The description of fruit ripening includes a transition from green to dark purplish red, after which the fruit dries completely. [Dicht and Lüthy 2005, p. 171]

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