Epithelantha greggii var. rufispina

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Epithelantha greggii var. rufispina (Bravo) Backeb.
1954
Family: CACTACEAE

= Epithelantha micromeris var. rufispina (Bravo) Backeb.
Cactus (Paris) no. 39: 31. 1954

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

Epithelantha greggii var. rufispina (Epithelantha micromeris var. rufispina) Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Apical spines in mature plants take a reddish tinge, especially if wet.

Origin and Habitat: Epithelantha micromerisSN|6936]]SN|6936]] var. rufispina is found in abundance from Parras de la Fuente to south of Saltillo in the state of Coahuila, Mexico.
Habitat: It grows in the shelter of bushes and grasses and is a bit difficult to spot in its half- hidden location.

Synonyms:

Epithelantha micromeris var. rufispina (Bravo) Backeb.

Epithelantha greggii var. rufispina (Bravo) Backeb.
Epithelantha rufispina Bravo

See all synonyms of Epithelantha micromeris

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Accepted name in llifle Database:
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 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

Accepted name in llifle Database:
Epithelantha micromeris var. dickisoniae hort.
Synonymy: 3

Epithelantha micromeris var. dickisoniae hort.

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.

Accepted name in llifle Database:
Epithelantha micromeris subs. greggii f. cristata
Synonymy: 2

Epithelantha micromeris subs. greggii f. cristata

Epithelantha greggii f. cristata

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.

Accepted name in llifle Database:
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.

Accepted name in llifle Database:
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.

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Description: Epithelantha micromerisSN|6936]]SN|6936]] var. rufispina is a minute globular button cactus, becoming somewhat elongated when old. A dainty plant, and an easy one to handle. The short spines of this little cactus are appressed to its body and so do not puncture your hands.
Stem: Solitary, up to 10 cm tall, but at times has offsets at the base. The appressed apex contains many reddish spines. The stem becomes quite dehydrated during drought, but fills out quickly.
Spines: 30-40 all radials, greyish-white in young specimens, turning to a grey-reddish or brownish tinge in adult plants crown, while the rest of the spines on the body of the plant are greyish.
Flowers: Small cream-pink coloured, emerging from the wool at the apex.
Blooming season Flowers start open from April in succession over a longer time later in summer.
Fruits: Oblong to clavate, red, edible, referred to as "chilitos" or little chili peppers. Their taste is tart, however, and not peppery.
Taxonomy: Dr. Helia Bravo first described this cactus in 1951 as Epithelantha rufispinaSN|12633]]SN|12633]]. Backeberg in 1954 found it to be a variety of Epithelantha micromerisSN|6936]]SN|6936]] and called it E. micromeris var. rufispina.

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) Curt Backeberg “Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde” Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart New York 1982–1985
2) Curt Backeberg "Das Kakteenlexikon", 1966
3) Saguaroland Bulletin, Volumi 26-27, page 40, Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society, 1972

Epithelantha greggii var. rufispina (Epithelantha micromeris var. rufispina) Photo by: Carolina González

Epithelantha greggii var. rufispina (Epithelantha micromeris var. rufispina) Photo by: Cactus Art

Epithelantha greggii var. rufispina (Epithelantha micromeris var. rufispina) Photo by: Cactus Art

Epithelantha greggii var. rufispina (Epithelantha micromeris var. rufispina) Photo by: Carolina González

Cultivation and Propagation: Although regarded as a choice and difficult plant in cultivation it is relatively easy. Needs a soil mix particularly well draining (rot prone). Water sparingly and keep perfectly dry in winter. Hardy to -7°C
Sun Exposure: Light shade to full sun.
Propagation: Seeds, offsets.

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