Texas
Wildbuds

Coryphantha tuberculosa var. tuberculosa

(Cob Cactus)

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Coryphantha tuberculosa var. tuberculosa, Rio Grande Village-Hot Springs Trail, Big Bend National Park 5485

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Coryphantha tuberculosa var. tuberculosa, Rio Grande Village-Hot Springs Trail, Big Bend National Park 5462

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Coryphantha tuberculosa var. tuberculosa, Rio Grande Village-Hot Springs Trail, Big Bend National Park 3227

Scientific Name Coryphantha tuberculosa var. tuberculosa (Escobaria tuberculosa, Mammillaria tuberculosa) USDA PLANTS Symbol N/A
Common Name Cob Cactus, White Column Foxtail Cactus ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 912408
Family Cactaceae (Cactus) SEINet
Reference
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Description Habitat: Limestone mountainsides, ridges and outcrops; 1600 to 5900 feet elevation.
Plant: Clumps of branched cylindric stems; older, lower portion without spines and resembling pineapple or a corncob.
Pads & Spines: Cylindric stems 2 to 6 inches long with tubercles; 1 to 3 or more central spines per areole, 1/2 to 3/4-inch long, second (lower) of two spines is always shorter than other (upper); 17 to 25 light gray radial spines 1/2-inch or less long; tips of larfer spines gray, tan or darker brown.
Inflorescence: Funnel-shaped flowers at tops of stems, 3/4 to 1-5/8 inches across with pale pink to nearly white tepals curving back; white stigma lobes and white or pale yellow anthers (shorter than stigma); flowers open mid-late afternoon and remain open until after dusk.
Bloom Period: April to August, sometimes again after rains.
Fruit: Oval-shaped, 3/8 to 1 inch long and 1/4-inch or less across, dull to bright red at maturity, greenish before.
References: "Little Big Bend" by Roy Morey, "Cacti of Texas" by Powell, Weedin and Powell and Flora of North America.
Note: Plant in photos was found by chance at the overlook on the Rio Grande Village-Hot Springs Trail in late October at dusk.
BONAP Distribution Map

Map Color Key
Texas Status:
Native

Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County

© Tom Lebsack 2024