Coryphantha tripugionacantha L1464 – San Juan Capistrano, Zacatecas

Description:
Named for its "three dagger spines", this is one of the most heavily armed Coryphanthas you can grow. Its globose, slightly flattened body is covered with prominent rounded tubercles. Each areole carries three thick, curved, grey central spines with dark tips, surrounded by shorter brownish-grey radials. The body is blue-green when young and matures to a soft dull green. Large, silky, creamy-yellow flowers open at the top of the plant, a beautiful contrast to its fierce spines.

Origin:
A true collector's plant, it is known only from a small area around San Juan Capistrano in western Zacatecas, Mexico, at about 1000 m. This lot carries Alfred Lau's original field number L1464 from the type locality. The genus name Coryphantha means "flowering on the top" in Greek, reflecting its blooming habit.

Interesting Facts:

• Habitat: Grows on rocky, well-drained ground alongside rare Echinocereus and Mammillaria species.
• Adaptations: Its dense spines protect it and help shade the body, reducing water loss; a large taproot stores water through dry spells.
• Rarity: Listed in CITES Appendix II.

Scientific Details:

• Family: Cactaceae
• Genus: Coryphantha
• Species: tripugionacantha A.B. Lau (1988)
• Field number: L1464, San Juan Capistrano, Zacatecas
• Size: Compact, up to about 9 cm tall and wide
• Growth Habit: Usually solitary; sometimes forms small groups over time
• Blooming Season: Late summer to autumn

Care:

• Full sun to bright light.
• Deep pot with very gritty, fast-draining mix to suit the taproot.
• Water well in the growing season; keep dry in winter.
• Feed once in summer with a low-nitrogen cactus fertiliser.

Despite its fierce look, it is an easy, rewarding grower that flowers regularly – ideal for enthusiasts who appreciate bold spines and vivid blooms.

Discover Coryphantha tripugionacantha and bring a touch of the Mexican desert into your collection! 🌵✨