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Accepted Scientific Name: Epithelantha micromeris (Engelm.) F.A.C.Weber in Bois
Dict. Hort. [Bois] 2: 804. 1898 Britton & Rose, Cactaceae, 3: 93, fig. 102. 1922 Bois
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Origin and Habitat: New Mexico (USA)
Synonyms:
Epithelantha micromeris (Engelm.) F.A.C.Weber in Bois
Dict. Hort. [Bois] 2: 804. 1898 Britton & Rose, Cactaceae, 3: 93, fig. 102. 1922
Synonymy: 16
- Epithelantha micromeris (Engelm.) F.A.C.Weber in Bois
- Cactus micromeris (Engelm.) Kuntze
- Cephalomamillaria micromeris (Engelm.) Frič
- Echinocactus micromeris (Engelm.) F.A.C.Weber in Bois
- Mammillaria micromeris Engelm.
- Epithelantha micromeris var. caespitosa Y.Itô
- Epithelantha micromeris f. cristata hort.
- Epithelantha micromeris var. longispina Y.Itô
- Epithelantha micromeris var. neomexicana n.n.
- Epithelantha micromeris var. rufispina (Bravo) Backeb.
- Epithelantha greggii var. rufispina (Bravo) Backeb.
- Epithelantha rufispina Bravo
- Epithelantha micromeris var. texensis n.n.
- Epithelantha micromeris var. texensis f. cristata hort.
- Epithelantha micromeris var. typica Croizat
Epithelantha micromeris var. dickisoniae hort.
Synonymy: 3 Accepted name in llifle Database:
Epithelantha micromeris subs. greggii (Engelm.) N.P.Taylor
Cactaceae Consensus Init. 5: 12. 1998
Synonymy: 12
- Epithelantha micromeris subs. greggii (Engelm.) N.P.Taylor
- Cactus micromeris var. greggii (Engelm.) J.M.Coult.
- Cephalomamillaria greggii var. greggii (Engelm.) Frič
- Cephalomamillaria micromeris var. greggii cv. Gray Herb. CardCat., Issue 114 (Engelm.) Frič
- Epithelantha greggii (Engelm.) Orcutt
- Epithelantha micromeris var. greggii (Engelm.) Y.Itô
- Mammillaria greggii (Engelm.) Saff.
- Mammillaria micromeris var. greggii Engelm.
- Epithelantha greggii subs. potosina D.Donati & Zanov.
- Epithelantha micromeris var. densispina (Bravo) Backeb.
- Epithelantha densispina Bravo
- Epithelantha greggii var. densispina (Bravo) Backeb.
Epithelantha micromeris subs. greggii f. cristata
Synonymy: 2 Accepted name in llifle Database:
Epithelantha micromeris subs. pachyrhiza (W.T.Marshall) N.P.Taylor
Cactaceae Consensus Init. 5: 13. 1998
Synonymy: 6
- Epithelantha micromeris subs. pachyrhiza (W.T.Marshall) N.P.Taylor
- Epithelantha micromeris var. pachyrhiza W.T.Marshall
- Epithelantha pachyrhiza (W.T.Marshall) Backeb.
- Epithelantha micromeris f. elongata (Backeb.) Bravo
- Epithelantha pachyrhiza subs. elongata (Backeb.) D.Donati & Zanov.
- Epithelantha pachyrhiza var. elongata Backeb.
Epithelantha micromeris subs. pachyrhiza f. cristata
Accepted name in llifle Database:
Epithelantha micromeris subs. polycephala (Backeb.) Glass
Guía Identif. Cact. Amenazadas México 1: Ep/mi ssp. polycephala (1998 publ. 1997)
Synonymy: 4
- Epithelantha micromeris subs. polycephala (Backeb.) Glass
- Epithelantha greggii subs. polycephala (Backeb.) D.Donati & Zanov.
- Epithelantha micromeris var. polycephala (Backeb.) Glass & R.A.Foster
- Epithelantha polycephala Backeb.
Epithelantha micromeris subs. unguispina (Boed.) N.P.Taylor
Cactaceae Consensus Init. . 5: 12. 1998
Synonymy: 6
- Epithelantha micromeris subs. unguispina (Boed.) N.P.Taylor
- Epithelantha micromeris var. unguispina (Boed.) Backeb.
- Epithelantha unguispina (Boed.) D.Donati & Zanov.
- Mammillaria micromeris var. unguispina Boed.
- Epithelantha spinosior
- Epithelantha unguispina subs. huastecana D.Donati & Zanov.
ENGLISH: Button Cactus, Texas Button Cactus, Ping-pong Ball Cactus, Common Button Cactus
SPANISH (Español): Tapone, Mulatto
Description: Epithelantha micromerisSN|6936]]SN|6936]] v. neomexicana, is an unpublished catalogue name (nomen nudum) used by some seeds collectors and succulent traders to indicate the naturally occurring New Mexican form of Epithelantha micromerisSN|6936]]SN|6936]]. It is very similar to the type species and not readily distinguishable, if not for the geographical provenance. It is another little white beauty with very small radial spines, combed and projected toward the apex and all spring produces many tiny cream/pink flower. This taxon is self-fertile. It produces viable seeds even without extra pollination.
Habit: It is a miniature globose cactus, erect, unbranched or in small clumps, not deep-seated in substrate, appearing ashy grey and relatively rough in general aspect.
Stem: Unsegmented, mostly spheric or obovoidal, rarely cylindric, often flat-topped with a depressed centre, about 5cm tall and 4 cm in diameter, occasionally more; surface completely obscured by spines.
Tubercles: Numerous, not confluent into ribs, hemispheric or short cylindric, very small, ca. 1-3 mm; arranged in tight spirals around the plant.
Areoles: Small at tips of tubercles, 1 mm long, nearly circular, elliptic when distended by flower or fruit, slightly woolly when young, copiously woolly only at sexually mature stem apex; areolar glands absent;
Spines: Approx. 20-30 white to ashy grey very small (2-5 mm long), appressed on sides of stems, combed, straight, terete, slender, innocuous, in 1-3 superimposed series except for a longer (4-12 mm) and erect adaxial tuft of spines projected toward the apex, on sexually mature stem apex. Spine clusters at the sides of stem 4-5(-7) mm in diameter. Smooth or microscopically roughened by break-up of epidermis, not distinguishable as radial and central spines. In fully adult plants, the distal portions of the longest spines are worn, leaving the apex of the plant covered with short, innocuous spines.
Roots: Diffuse.
Flower: Inconspicuous, creamy-pink to pink, funnelform diurnal, borne at adaxial margins of spine clusters in the plant top. Only partly opened just distal portion visible, as they barely stick out above the wool obscured by longer spines at stem apex.
Blooming season: Flowers late winter-early spring .
Fruits: Indehiscent, bright red, thin narrowly cylindric, 3-20 × 2-3(-5) mm, weakly succulent, soon drying and papery, smooth, spineless; pulp absent; floral remnant deciduous. Fruiting late spring-early summer (Apr-Jun) and persisting several months. Its fruit are known as "chilitos."
**Seeds:*** Blackish, obliquely hemispheric reticulated in 0,5 mm diameter.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Epithelantha micromeris group
Epithelantha micromeris (Engelm.) F.A.C.Weber in Bois: Miniature globose cactus, unbranched or in small clumps. Produces small pink flowers followed by attractive red fruits . Spines are white or greysh, innocuous and appressed on sides of stems.
Epithelantha micromeris f. cristata hort.: This is a miniature cactus that makes a nice and tangled cluster of fine crests. The stem surface is completely obscured by small pectinated ashy-grey to white spines.
Epithelantha micromeris var. dickisoniae hort.: Minute clustering cactus of doubtful status (but common in cultivation), it shows similarities with Epithelantha micromeris subsp. polycephala and Epithelantha pachyrhiza. Spines are whitish turning to a brownish tinge in adult plant's crown. Roots: Tuberose.
Epithelantha micromeris f. elongata (Backeb.) Bravo: It has elongated stems and a thick tap-root. It is intermediate between E. micromeris and E. pachyrhiza. Distribution: Ramos Arispe, Coahuila, Mexico.
Epithelantha micromeris subs. greggii (Engelm.) N.P.Taylor: This subspecies has a rough, somewhat bristly appearance with iIndividual stems up to 5 cm or more in diameter,. Spines are chalky white to reddish brown. Distribution: Northern Mexico, especially Saltillo, Coahuila.
Epithelantha micromeris subs. greggii f. cristata: crested form.
Epithelantha micromeris var. neomexicana n.n.: This is the population found in New Mexico (USA) but this taxon is not easily recognizable from other Epitelantha micromeris (if not the same identical plant)
Epithelantha micromeris subs. pachyrhiza (W.T.Marshall) N.P.Taylor: It has tuberousroots and a stem only partly obscured by the white to orange-tan spines; Distribution: Strictly endemic of southeast and northeast of Saltillo.
Epithelantha micromeris subs. pachyrhiza f. cristata
Epithelantha micromeris subs. polycephala (Backeb.) Glass: Clustering miniature cactus; an old plant may have more than 100 heads, and be 10 cm of diameter. Spines are grey/whitish, pastel or ocre. Distribution: it occurs in a limited area of Coahuila.
Epithelantha micromeris var. rufispina (Bravo) Backeb.: Minute globular cactus, becoming somewhat elongated when old. the spines are numerose up to 40 whitish all radials, turning to a grey-reddish or brownish tinge in adult plants crown. The spine base is reddish.
- Epithelantha micromeris var. texensis n.n.: This is the population found in Texas (USA) but this taxon is not easily recognizable from other Epitelantha micromeris (if not the same identical plant)
Epithelantha micromeris var. texensis f. cristata hort.: Crested form.
Epithelantha micromeris subs. unguispina (Boed.) N.P.Taylor: It is a little larger than the standard form. Stem globular, up to 6 cm, often clumping over time. It generally has a small projecting black-tipped central spine, 4-5mm long. Origin: Near Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, south into San Luis Potosi.
Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
1) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
2) Sean Hogan "Flora: a gardener's encyclopedia" Volume 1 Timber Press (Portland, Or.) 2003
3) Cactus and Succulent Journal (US) 50: 186, f 5 1978
4) Hiroshi Hirao “Colour encyclopaedia of cacti” Japan 1979 (Japanese language and script)
Cultivation and Propagation: Although regarded as a choice and difficult plant, in cultivation it is relatively easy. It needs a particularly well-draining soil mix (rot prone). Water sparingly.
Frost Tolerance: Depending on the variety, will handle -12° C (Temperature Zone: USDA 8-11)
Sun Exposure: Light shade to full sun.
Propagation: Seeds, offsets.
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