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Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Escobaria vivipara

Escobaria vivipara (Nutt.) Buxbaum

Spinystar, Common Beehive Cactus, Pincushion Cactus

Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: esvi2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Apart from some opuntia, Escobaria vivipara (formerly classed as Coryphantha vivipara) is the most widespread cactus in the US; the species has good frost tolerance and has adapted to a wide range of habitats, from Mexico all the way north to Canada, where it is one of only four cactus species in the country. The plant is somewhat unremarkable; a globe or small cylinder, generally less than 2 inches in diameter, single or forming low clusters of 20 more stems, their surface covered by pronounced tubercles bearing 10 to 40 white radial spines and 3 to 12 central spines, darker in color. The showy pink flowers make the cactus much more noticeable; they appear any time between spring and late summer, and are followed by green fruits.

Nipple Cactus (E. missouriensis) is very similar, differing in having a single central spine in each cluster, greenish-white flowers, and reddish fruit with black seeds; it occurs mostly east of the Rocky Mountains but grows westward to central Idaho, western Colorado, southern Utah, and northern Arizona.

Description provided courtesy of The American Southwest.

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