Epithelantha

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Ordo: Caryophyllales

Familia: Cactaceae
Subfamilia: Cactoideae
Tribus: Cacteae
Genus: Epithelantha
Species: E. bokei – E. cryptica – E. greggii – E. ilariae – E. micromeris – E. pachyrhiza – E. polycephala – E. spinosior
Source(s) of checklist:

Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Epithelantha in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Mar 13. Reference page.

Name

Epithelantha F.A.C.Weber ex Britton & Rose, Cactaceae 3: 92 (1922).

Type species: Epithelantha micromeris (Engelm.) Britton & Rose

Synonyms

Cephalomamillaria Fric

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Northern America
Regional: Mexico

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Weber, F.A.C. in Britton & Rose, 1922. The Cactaceae 3: 92

Additional references

Govaerts, R.H.A. 2001. World Checklist of Seed Plants Database in ACCESS E-F: 1-50919. [unavailable to the public] Reference page.
Britton, N.L. & Rose, J.N. 1922. The Cactaceae. Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family. Vol. 3. 255 pp. + 23 pl. Carnegie Institution of Washington. BHL PDF Reference page. : 3: 92.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Epithelantha in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Mar 13. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2021. Epithelantha. Published online. Accessed: Mar 13 2021.
Tropicos.org 2021. Epithelantha. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Mar 13.
Hassler, M. 2021. Epithelantha. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2021. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2021 Mar 13. Reference page.
eFloras 2008. Epithelantha in Flora of North America . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Epithelantha in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 09-Oct-10.

Vernacular names
English: Button cactus
español: cacto botón, ikuli mulato

Epithelantha (button cactus) is a genus of cactus that is native to north-eastern Mexico, and the south-western United States from western Texas to Arizona. There are eight species recognised in the genus Epithelantha. The name Epithelantha refers to the flower position near the apex of the tubercles.[1]
Description

Epithelantha are very small cacti with globe-shaped or cylindrical stems typically up to one inch in diameter, rarely reaching two inches long. Tiny whitish spines completely cover the surface of the stem. The flowers are also tiny, growing from the tip of the stem. Fruits are bright red.[2]

The fruit of all species is said to be edible.
Species

As of January 2021, Plants of the World Online accepted eight species:[3]

Image	Scientific name	Distribution
	Epithelantha bokei L.D.Benson	Texas in the United States and Coahuila in Mexico
	Epithelantha cryptica D.Donati & Zanov.	Mexico (Coahuila)
	Epithelantha greggii (Engelm.) Orcutt	Mexico (Coahuila)
	Epithelantha ilariae D.Donati & Zanov.	Mexico (Nuevo León)
	Epithelantha micromeris (Engelm.) F.A.C.Weber ex Britton & Rose	United States in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, and in Mexico in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí and Zacatecas
	Epithelantha pachyrhiza (W.T.Marshall) Backeb.	Mexico (Coahuila)
	Epithelantha polycephala Backeb.	Mexico (Coahuila)
	Epithelantha spinosior C.Schmoll	Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León)

References

A. Michael Powell; James F. Weedin (15 November 2004). Cacti of the Trans-Pecos and Adjacent Areas. Texas Tech University Press. p. 364. ISBN 978-0-89672-531-7. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
"Cactuses of Big Bend National Park". University of Texas Press. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
"Epithelantha F.A.C.Weber ex Britton & Rose". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2021-01-07.