Coryphantha

9.9

A small round cactus with many bumps that grows in dry parts of Mexico and the US Southwest

noun
/ˌkɔːrɪˈfænθə/

Specialized

: Coryphantha

Botanists often distinguish Coryphantha from Mammillaria by the structure of their tubercles.

Examples

The Coryphantha species thrive in arid regions of Mexico and the American Southwest.
She added a flowering Coryphantha to her collection of rare cacti.
The Coryphantha cacti thrive in dry environments.
Many Coryphanthas are found in the deserts of Arizona.
She added a flowering Coryphantha to her collection of rare cacti.
The Coryphantha species thrive in arid regions of Mexico and the American Southwest.
Many Coryphanthas are found in the deserts of Arizona.

Surface Forms

Coryphantha singular

Coryphanthas plural

Morphology

Coryphantha = coryph + anth

This is a Latinized botanical genus name based on classical elements, but the parts are not transparent enough for an average English learner to infer the meaning of the genus name.

Etymology

Coryphantha comes from Greek parts koryph- 'top' and -antha 'flower', a helpful image to remember the name. That's why the name fits these round cacti that often have flowers on the very top of their little bumps.