Publication: Kakteen (Berger) 270. 1929
Description
Coryphantha delaetiana is a strongly spined globular cactus either solitary or in clusters (depending on the clone). This species has a wide range and shows a great variability
Stem: Nearly globular to short cylindrical, or sometimes club-shaped, light green, strongly spiny at the top, 6-8 cm in diameter and 6 to 15 cm high.
Tubercles: Rather short, rhomboid, to 10 mm long closely set.
Central spines: 1 to 4, reddish to almost black, the lowest central stronger than others but sometimes absent, 2 to 2,9 cm long, straight, extended forward or slightly curved downward, the 3 upper ones often wanting directing upward and those near top of plant converging and touching but not fused.
Radial spines: Greyish or whitish, 7 to 15(-20), spreading, slender, 10 to 15(-20) mm long.
Blooming habit: Flowers large pale yellow, 4 cm long. Outer perianth-segments greenish or slightly tinged with red, the inner light yellow. Filaments green-yellow. Stigma-lobes about 7.
Origin and Habitat
Large area of Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango and Coahuila to Nuevo León)
Habitat: It is a fairly widespread species locally very abundant with plants growing in clusters comprising hundreds of plants. Grows on alluvial soils in plains.
Cultivation and Propagation
It is a summer-growing species of easy cultivation. It is sensitive to overwatering (rot prone) and slow-growing.
Soil: Grow it in an open sandy-gritty cactus compost.
Pots: It needs a relatively shallow pot to accommodate its fibrous roots and provide a very good drainage. They may stay in the same pot for many years.
Watering: Water in moderation, it prefer a completely dry place during winter. Mature individuals easily rot and die especially after planting so be extremely cautious with watering. Keep dry in winter or when night temperatures remain below 10° C. Water it less than average if in bigger pots.
Special need: Provide very good ventilation. Nearly all problems occur as a result of overwatering and poor ventilation, especially when weather conditions are dull and cool or very humid.
Fertilization: Feed them once during the growing season with a fertilizer specifically formulated for cactus and succulents (high potash fertilizer with a dilute low nitrogen), including all micro nutrients and trace elements diluted to ½ the strength recommended on the label. They thrive in poor soils and need a limited supplies of fertilizer to avoid the plants developing excess vegetation, which is easily attacked by fungal diseases.
Exposure: It will do its best with lots of sun and become stressed with inadequate light which could result in poor growth and unnatural shape.
Hardiness: It likes warmth (recommended minimum winter temperature 5° C) however plants kept perfectly dry can can survive low temperatures, approx. -5°, but for safe cultivation it is best to avoid freezing temperatures.
Use: It can be cultivated outdoors in raised beds, terraces if sheltered from winter rain.
Pests & diseases: These cacti may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Red spiders may be effectively rubbed up by misting the plants from above.
- Mealy bugs: Mealy bugs occasionally develop aerial into the new leaves and flowers with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Scales, thrips and aphids: These insects are rarely a problem.
- Rot: Rot is only a minor problem if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won’t help all that much.
Propagation: Seeds. The seeds can be sown in pots of fine, well-drained sandy soil, any time during the spring when temperatures are warm. Cover the seeds with a fine layer of grit and water from below with a fungicide to prevent damping off. For the 1-2 weeks cover the pots with a sheet of glass/clear perspex to keep the humidity levels high. Remove the glass and replace it with light shade-cloth and mist once or twice a day for the next two weeks after which most seeds should have germinated. From then on mistings can be reduced to every second and then every third day as the little plants grow.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
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Dr. med. Reto F. Dicht, Adrian D. Lüthy “Coryphantha: Cacti of Mexico and Southern USA” Springer, 2005 ISBN: 978-3-540-22306-1
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Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose “Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” Courier Dover Publications, 1963
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Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
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James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
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David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. “The New Cactus Lexicon” dh books, 2006
From llifle page Coryphantha gladiispina
Description
This species has a wide range and shows a great variability. The body is solitary, or forming large groups, heads 8 cm in diameter. Tubercles up to 1 cm long.
Spines: Mostly 3-4 central spines of which the dominant one is porrect up to 2,5 cm long; 7-20 radials often directed upwards and somewhat thinner, up to 2 cm long.
Flowers: Relatively small, pale yellow up 4 cm in diameter.
Origin and Habitat
Over a large area of the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Durango and Coahuila and also Nuevo León.
Type-locality: Near Parras de la Fuente Coahuila.
Cultivation and Propagation
Popular with collectors does not cause problems in culture, flowers without problems and often with several flowers at the same time. Hardy to -5° C. Water sparingly, needs good drainage. Keep drier in winter, Full sun to partial shade.
Source: Coryphantha gladiispina, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
From llifle page Coryphantha salm-dyckiana
Description
Coryphantha salm-dyckiana is a globose cactus species, with 9-20 radial spines and 3-4 central spines of which the dominant one (sometime absent), straight, or partially recurving, 2-3 cm long, dark reddish brown. It is usually solitary or sometime forming clumps after a few years. This species has a wide range and shows a great variability either in habitat and in cultivation too. However the distinguishing characteristics of Coryphantha salm-dyckiana, appear to fall within the natural variation of Coryphantha delaetiana and it should be synonymized with the latter.
Stem: Globose to shortly cylindrical, 6-10 tall and in diameter, dull greys-bluish-green, apex rounded woolly.
Roots: Central thin tap-root.
Tubercles: In 8-13 series, rhomboid, up to 10 mm tall, delineated by a groove near the areole on the upper surface, axil woolly,
Areoles: Round, approx 7 mm in diameter slightly woolly.
Radial spines: 9-15(-20), thick, subulated, 10-20 long, radiating sideways and downward, straight or somewhat curving, grey or whitish.
Central spines: Mostly 3-4 central spines of which the dominant one (sometime absent), straight, subulated or partially recurving, 2- 3 cm long, dark reddish brown with blackish tips.
Flower: Funnelform, 4 or more cm in diameter, pale-yellow.
Fruits: Green to tannish, oblong to large ovoid, juicy with attached flowers remnants.
Origin and Habitat
Mexican states of Chihuahua, Durango and Coahuila.
Habitat: Often found in arid plains with sandy-gypsum or gravely soil.
Cultivation and Propagation
Small growing and easy to to care in normal cactus compost and very willing to flower, Because of it’s small size makes a great potted plant specimen, great for beginning collectors, water sparingly and allow to dry between watering, needs good drainage. Watering should be curtailed during the winter months. Full sun but is tolerant and prefers light shade during the hot Summer months. And provide very good ventilation. Frost Tolerance: Hardy to - 5°C if kept dry.
Propagation: Seeds (usually) or by the shoots of adult plants (if available).
Notes
There is a long nomenclatural debate around this controversial species. The early description of Mammillaria salm-dyckiana by Scheer ( In: Salm-Diyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849:134, 1850) depicted a different plant with very large tubercles and only 8-10 radials and only one central spine, but this description correspond to the description of Coryphantha poselgeriana Dietrich 1851, the later combination Coryphantha salm-dickiana by Britton & Rose (In: Cactaceae: 4: 28, 1923) correspond to a plant with small tubercles, 15 radial spines, 1-4 central spines and correspond to the description of Coryphntha delaetiana (Quell 1908) Berger 1929.
Since the name name of Coryphantha salm-dyckiana has continuously used in its incorrect sense its name has been rejected by the committee for spermatophytes in 2000.
Source: Coryphantha salm-dyckiana, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
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