Cacti of the Northern Chihuahuan Desert
Button Cactus
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The Epithelanthas are a group of quite small cacti, rarely exceeding 2 inches in diameter. When small, they are more spherical in form but may form a small columnar plant with age. They occur on rocky hillsides and canyon slopes that have good drainage. Above is E. Micromeris showing a clump of plants, an image of the flower and a picture of the fruit. To the left is Epithelantha boekii, another member of the genus, that occurs in a similar habitat in the Big Bend region. Notice how closely the spines are interwoven on E. Boekii making the plant seem as if it were solid white in color. |