Coryphantha potosiana

Structure and identification

The stem is cylindrical or short-columnar, with small white dots on the dark grey-green epidermis. Small tubercles are numerous and conical, with grooves bearing yellow-orange glands. Areoles without a central spine are elongated, and thin lateral spines form a dense, partly interwoven arrangement. A single central spine is rare. Flowers are small, pale yellow or creamy white. [Dicht and Lüthy 2005, p. 62]

Habitat and variation

The monograph indicates sites in San Luis Potosí on almost exposed flat ridges on lava substrates, near opuntias and agaves. Small tubercles and denser armature distinguish the plant from C. clavata. The 2022 revision documented a neotype from Villa de Arriaga, stabilising application of the name. [Dicht and Lüthy 2005, p. 62; p. 148] [Sánchez et al. 2022, p. 62; p. 148]

The Coryphantha tubercle. Development, identification and water conduction

Synonyms and names in the literature

Mammillaria potosiana [2-WWW]

Sources for this account

Book2005Excerpt consulted

Coryphantha: Cacti of Mexico and Southern USA

[Dicht R. F., Lüthy A. D., Coryphantha: Cacti of Mexico and Southern USA, Springer, Berlin–Heidelberg, 2005, s. VIII + 200, doi: 10.1007/b138100]

A monograph of the genus with species descriptions, keys, photographs and habitat documentation. It discusses tubercle groove development, spine variation, roots, flowers, fruits and seeds. It includes an internal classification, analysis of former names and a chapter on cultivation practice.

GenusDistributionPhysiology and anatomyCoryphantha

DOI ↗Edition description ↗

Article2022

Phylogenetic relationships in Coryphantha and implications on Pelecyphora and Escobaria (Cacteae, Cactoideae, Cactaceae)

Sánchez D., Vázquez-Benítez B., Vázquez-Sánchez M., Aquino D., Arias S., Phylogenetic relationships in Coryphantha and implications on Pelecyphora and Escobaria (Cacteae, Cactoideae, Cactaceae), PhytoKeys, 2022, 188:115-165, doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.188.75739

A study of five plastid DNA regions, sequence length changes and eight morphological features. It analyses Coryphantha boundaries and relationships between Escobaria species and the two classical Pelecyphora species. It proposes expanding Pelecyphora and publishes new combinations with type and synonym documentation. It discusses tubercle grooves, tepal margins and seed coat sculpturing, including exceptions in P. chihuahuensis and P. macromeris.

GenusPhysiology and anatomyCoryphanthaCumariniaEscobariaPelecyphora

DOI ↗Article or source page ↗

Structure and identification

Habitat and variation

Related articles

Sources for this account

Coryphantha: Cacti of Mexico and Southern USA

Phylogenetic relationships in Coryphantha and implications on Pelecyphora and Escobaria (Cacteae, Cactoideae, Cactaceae)