Coryphantha
| Coryphantha | |
|---|---|
| File:Coryphantha elephantidens.jpg | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily | Cactoideae |
| Tribe | Cacteae |
| SubTribe | |
| Genus | Coryphantha |
| Species | |
| Notes | Taxonomy follows Joël Lodé (2015) with insights from Breslin et al. (2021) and Sánchez et al. (2022). |
Etymology
The name is derived from the Greek koryphe (summit) and anthos (flower), referring to the characteristic position of the flowers at the apex of the stem.
Description
Coryphantha is a genus of globose to short cylindrical cacti, growing solitary or forming clusters.
- Tubercles: Prominent, conical, always bearing a characteristic longitudinal groove on the upper side.
- Areoles: Situated at the tubercle tips; axillary region initially woolly.
- Spines: Variable; radial spines numerous, central spines present or absent, sometimes hooked.
- Flowers: Diurnal, funnel-shaped, relatively large; typically yellow, but also pink, magenta or whitish; emerging from the apex (not from older axils as in Mammillaria).
- Fruits: Fleshy, green to yellowish, elongate; becoming exposed at maturity.
- Seeds: Brown to black, smooth to finely reticulate.
Habitat
The genus is primarily associated with the Chihuahuan Desert and adjacent regions.
Plants grow in:
- limestone slopes and cliffs
- volcanic substrates
- desert grasslands and scrub
Altitude range: approximately 500–2700 m.
Distribution
- Mexico: Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas and others
- USA: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
Taxonomy
The genus Coryphantha was established by Engelmann (1856) and later formalized by Lemaire (1868).
According to Joël Lodé (2015), the genus is accepted as distinct within the tribe Cacteae.
Molecular studies (Breslin et al., 2021) confirm that Coryphantha belongs to the Mammilloid clade and is closely related to Cochemiea and Escobaria.
Some segregate genera have been proposed (e.g. Cumarinia, Escobrittonia), but are not universally accepted.
Species
Following the classification of Joël Lodé (2015).
- Coryphantha clavata
- Coryphantha compacta
- Coryphantha cornifera
- Coryphantha delaetiana
- Coryphantha delicata
- Coryphantha difficilis
- Coryphantha durangensis
- Coryphantha echinoidea
- Coryphantha echinus
- Coryphantha elephantidens
- Coryphantha erecta
- Coryphantha georgii
- Coryphantha glanduligera
- Coryphantha glassii
- Coryphantha gracilis
- Coryphantha hintoniorum
- Coryphantha jalpanensis
- Coryphantha kracikii
- Coryphantha laui
- Coryphantha longicornis
- Coryphantha maiz-tablasensis
- Coryphantha melleospina
- Coryphantha neglecta
- Coryphantha nickelsiae
- Coryphantha octacantha
- Coryphantha ottonis
- Coryphantha pallida
- Coryphantha poselgeriana
- Coryphantha potosiana
- Coryphantha pseudoechinus
- Coryphantha pseudonickelsiae
- Coryphantha pulleineana
- Coryphantha pycnacantha
- Coryphantha radians
- Coryphantha ramillosa
- Coryphantha recurvata
- Coryphantha reduncispina
- Coryphantha retusa
- Coryphantha robustispina
- Coryphantha salinensis
- Coryphantha sulcata
- Coryphantha sulcolanata
- Coryphantha tripugionacantha
- Coryphantha vaupeliana
- Coryphantha vogterriana
- Coryphantha werdermannii
- Coryphantha wohlschlageri
Phylogenetic classification
Based on Sánchez et al. (2022).
The genus is divided into two subgenera corresponding to two main clades.
Subgenus Coryphantha
- Sections: Corniferae, Coryphantha, Durangenses, Pycnacanthae, Robustispina
Subgenus Neocoryphantha
- Sections: Clavatae, Echinoideae
A total of 46 species and 12 subspecies are recognized in this framework.
Notes
- The genus shows clear division into two evolutionary lineages.
- Some taxa remain unresolved (inserta sedis).
- Phylogenetic data refine but do not completely replace traditional taxonomy.
