Coryphantha elephantidens

Family

Cactacaea

Native

Mexico

Description

Coryphantha or beehive cactus, is a genus of small to middle-sized, globose or columnar cacti.

Coryphantha sulcolanata has large, depressed-globular cactus, often clumping and group-forming, each head is up 18 cm in diameter, very large tubercles 20-30 cm wide, rounded on top, pentaedrical at the base, always broader than rounded , without glands, the tubercles axil is woolly.

The tubercles are capped with a 5-8 of stout reflexed radial spines, long (18-26 mm) never porrect, but adpressed to the body.

The radial spines are 5 to 9 unequal, upper and lower one short, laterals longer, stout, reflexed, 12-26 mm long - yellowish white with dark tips at first, later darker.

Sulcolanata blooms with a sweet smelling large 4 to 8 cm creamy- yellow flowers.

Environment

Coryphantha prefers shady positions, beneath larger plants or partly covered by grass. It grows out in the open or under bushes. It also grows in pure gypsum and in gravelly soils.

It grows nearly in all substrates including nearly pure gypsum, gravelly soils, usually sandy alluvium or clay, especially in dry river lagoon areas, rarely crevices or steep slopes.

Landscape Uses

This is a beautiful specimen cactus for a large cactus or succulent garden. It can make an interesting plant for a large container and is a nice centerpiece for a warm, sunny courtyard. The plant does have a few spines so care should be taken in its location.