Synonyms
Coryphantha alversonii, Coryphantha vivipara, Mammillaria alversonii, Escobaria vivipara
Other common names
Bisbee spinystar
Kaibab spinystar
spinystar
Bisbee beehive cactus
Marston's foxtail cactus
Plant type
Cacti
Scientific Family
Cactaceae
Plant Description
Origin
Native
A small low growing cactus having clusters of 1 to 24 stems, each with spirals of conical bumps (tubercles). Stems are round or cylindrical, un-branched and flat-topped. May become more flat-topped in winter with more than half the stem underground.
Height under 8 inches, tubercles (knobby projections on a stem) not in vertical rows with a groove on their upper surface and flowers borne between tubercles distinguish this cactus.
Height
6 inches
Habitat
Desert scrub to conifer forests.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
700
High elevation
8800
Flowers
Flower color
Pale rose-pink to reddish-pink or purple
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
August
Mostly found at apex. Tepals (sepals and petals) 21 to 56 per flower, outer tepals fringed. Flowers 6 days after summer rain. Male (anthers) flower parts are orange-yellow, female (stigmas) are white.
Stems
Stem Color
Green
Stem Number
Multiple
Stem Shape
Cylindrical
Segmented Stems
No
Stem Surface
Bumpy
Cylindrical 3 to 6 inches long and 2-1/2 to 3 inches in diameter. Stems are not ribbed, but have tubercles grooved on the upper surface. Darkest when fresh, weathering to blackish.
Areoles
These are structures unique to cacti, found on the stems, areas from which spines, flowers and fruits emerge.
Spine color
White or pinkish-gray, dark reddish-brown tips
Spines hooked
No
Glochids
No
Spines are 1/4 to 1 inch long, rigid and needle-like. Spines overlap and obscure the stem color.
Fruit
Fruit color
Green
Juicy pod, 1/2 to 1 inch long, remaining green but tinged with purple when ripe. The pod contains reddish-brown seeds.