Coryphantha cornifera


Coryphantha cornifera is a species of cactus that is endemic to Mexico.

Description

Coryphantha cornifera typically but not always grows alone. Its stems range in shape from globose to cylindrical, and its general color is a dull olive-green. The cacti measure tall and in diameter, and have fibrous or semi-fibrous roots. The cactus's top, at least on older plants, is blunt, depressed, and maybe be covered with white wool. The cactus's surface is divided into numerous tubercles looking like the bottoms of green chili peppers. Atop each tubercle spines arise from special areas called areoles; this species' areoles typically produce 12–18 radiating spines, and often 1–4 longer and more robust central spines; spine arrangement is highly variable.

Habitat

Coryphantha cornifera inhabits semi-arid scrub and grasslands, and occasionally disturbed areas oak forests. The species shows a preference for limestone in flat or gently sloping areas. It inhabits elevations of 1,400–2,200 meters. It flowers from June to July, sometimes extending into September.

Distribution

Coryphantha cornifera is endemic just to highland central Mexico. The iNaturalist website page for the species documents research-grade observations in the Mexican states of Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro and Hidalgo.

Etymology

The generic name Coryphantha derives from the Greek coryphe, meaning "top" or "head", and anthos meaning "flower"; the whole genus name refers to the flowers appearing atop the stems. The species name "cornifera" is derived from the Latin words cornus, meaning "horn") and fer meaning "bearing"; this refers to the usually present, larger and more robust central spine or spines of the species, which may be shaped like a horn or hook.

Synonyms

The taxon Coryphantha cornifera has been known by these 50 synonyms:
Homotypic Synonyms
  • Cactus cornifer Kuntze in Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 260
  • Echinocactus cornifer Poselg. in Allg. Gartenzeitung 21: 102
  • Mammillaria cornifera DC. in Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. 17: 112
Heterotypic Synonyms
  • Cactus pfeifferianus Kuntze in Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 261
  • Cactus radians Kuntze in Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 261
  • Cactus radians var. pectinoides J.M.Coult. in Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 3: 144
  • Cactus scolymoides Kuntze in Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 261
  • Coryphantha bernalensis L.Bremer in Cact. Succ. J. 56: 165
  • Coryphantha cornifera var. scolymoides Borg in Cacti: 292
  • Coryphantha cornuta A.Berger in Kakteen: 339
  • Coryphantha daimonoceras A.Berger in Kakteen: 339
  • Coryphantha impexicoma Lem. ex C.F.Först. in Handb. Cakteenk., ed. 2: 414
  • Coryphantha maliterrarum L.Bremer in Cact. Succ. J. 56: 71
  • Coryphantha radians Britton & Rose in Cact. 4: 36
  • Coryphantha radians var. impexicoma Backeb. & F.M.Knuth in Kaktus-ABC: 370
  • Coryphantha radians var. pectinoides Bravo in Cact. Suc. Mex. 27: 17
  • Coryphantha schwarziana Boed. in Mammillarien-Vergleichs-Schluessel: 12
  • Coryphantha scolymoides A.Berger in Kakteen: 271, nom. rej. prop.
  • Echinocactus cornifer var. impexicomus Poselg. in Allg. Gartenzeitung 21: 102
  • Echinocactus cornifer var. longisetus Poselg. in Allg. Gartenzeitung 21: 102
  • Echinocactus cornifer var. muticus Poselg. in Allg. Gartenzeitung 21: 102
  • Echinocactus cornifer var. nigricans Poselg. in Allg. Gartenzeitung 21: 102
  • Echinocactus cornifer var. scolymoides Poselg. in Allg. Gartenzeitung 21: 102
  • Echinocactus radicans Poselg. in Allg. Gartenzeitung 21: 107
  • Mammillaria cornifera var. impexicoma Salm-Dyck in Cact. Hort. Dyck.: 20
  • Mammillaria cornifera var. mutica Salm-Dyck in Cact. Hort. Dyck.: 20
  • Mammillaria cornifera f. scolymoides Schelle in Kakteen: 290
  • Mammillaria cornuta Hildm. ex K.Schum. in Gesamtbeschr. Kakt.: 496
  • Mammillaria daemonoceras Lem. ex C.F.Först. in Handb. Cakteenk.: 251
  • Mammillaria daimonoceras Lem. in Cact. Aliq. Nov.: 5
  • Mammillaria demonoceras Jacques in Ann. Fl. Pomone 6: 294, nom. superfl.
  • Mammillaria demonoceras var. impexicoma A.Cels & J.F.Cels in Ann. Fl. Pomone 6: 295, nom. superfl.
  • Mammillaria impexicoma Lem. in Cact. Aliq. Nov.: 5
  • Mammillaria pfeifferiana de Vriese in Tijdschr. Natuurl. Gesch. Physiol. 6: 51
  • Mammillaria pfeifferiana var. altissima Scheidw. in Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Bruxelles 6: 93
  • Mammillaria pfeifferiana var. dichotoma Scheidw. in Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Bruxelles 6: 93
  • Mammillaria pfeifferiana var. flaviceps Scheidw. in Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Bruxelles 6: 93
  • Mammillaria pfeifferiana var. fulvispina Scheidw. in Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Bruxelles 6: 93
  • Mammillaria pfeifferiana var. variabilis Scheidw. in Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Bruxelles 6: 93
  • Mammillaria radians DC. in Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. 17: 111
  • Mammillaria radians var. daimonoceras K.Schum. in Gesamtbeschr. Kakt.: 496
  • Mammillaria radians f. daimonoceras Schelle in Handb. Kakteenkult.: 241
  • Mammillaria radians var. globosa Scheidw. in Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Bruxelles 5: 494
  • Mammillaria radians f. impexicoma Schelle in Handb. Kakteenkult.: 240
  • Mammillaria radians var. impexicoma Salm-Dyck ex K.Schum. in Gesamtbeschr. Kakt.: 495
  • Mammillaria radians var. scolymoides Schelle in Handb. Kakteenkult.: 241
  • Mammillaria scolymoides Scheidw. in Allg. Gartenzeitung 9: 44
  • Mammillaria scolymoides var. longiseta Salm-Dyck in Cact. Hort. Dyck., ed. 2: 132
  • Mammillaria scolymoides var. nigricans Salm-Dyck in Cact. Hort. Dyck., ed. 2: 132
  • Mammillaria scolymoides var. raphidacantha Salm-Dyck in Cact. Hort. Dyck., ed. 2: 132