Epithelantha F.A.C. Weber ex Britton & Rose (1922)
(Greek epi = on; thele = (breast) wart; Greek anthos = bloom)
bloom on the wart
because of the position of the blooms
Epithelanta are the smallest plants in the Chiuhuan Desert vegetation.
At first sight is Epithelantha similar to the genus of Mammillaria, but analysis by Boke (1955)
shows that the structur of areoles strong depart. The areoles of Mammillaria are split in two parts and the flowers
appear at the base of the tubercle (axil). The areoles of Epithelantha are complete different and the flowers appear on the
areole at the tip of the tubercle where is also appearing the spine. Anyhow is Epithelantha near akin with
Mammillaria, or it is a parallel development.
small, globular to longish, apex usually wooly, also clumping
spines usually tiny, like bristles, dense or less spread
central spine somewhat stronger;
flowers small, appear on the youngest areoles on the apex; fruits longish, red berrys |
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