Kadenicarpus horripilus


Kadenicarpus horripilus is a species of plant in the family Cactaceae.
It is an endangered species, threatened by habitat loss.

Description

Kadenicarpus horripilus often grows sprouting with olive-green, spherical to elongated spherical bodies and fibrous roots. The bodies reach growth heights of and a diameter of. Their clearly pronounced conical cusps are high. The plant usually a single, protruding, straight, whitish central spine that is dark at the tip. It reaches a length of. The 12 to 14 straight radial spines are white with a dark tip, protruding and long.
The flowers are magenta with a white throat. They are long and have a diameter of. The elongated, greenish-red fruits turn yellowish-brownish when ripe. They are long and reach a diameter of.

Distribution

It is endemic to Hidalgo state in Mexico. Its natural habitat is hot deserts.

Taxonomy

It was first described as Mammillaria horripila in 1838 by Charles Lemaire. The specific epithet horripilus is derived from the Latin words horrere for 'shudder' and pilus for 'hair' and refers to the thorns of the species. Monserrat Vázquez-Sánchez placed the species in the genus Kadenicarpus in 2019. Further nomenclature synonym are Echinocactus horripilus Lem., Neolloydia horripila Britton & Rose, Gymnocactus horripilus Backeb., Thelocactus horripilus Kladiwa, Thelocactus horripilus Kladiwa & Fittkau, Turbinicarpus horripilus V.John & Říha, Bravocactus horripilus and Pediocactus horripilus Halda