General: Spinystar (Escobaria vivipara var. rosea) is a small, round cactus that grows to about 5-inches tall by 5-inches wide (usually 3 by 2 or smaller). The stem does not have the ribs (flutes) seen in some other cactus. The stem is densely covered with relatively long, stout, straight white spines with red tips (none are fish-hook shaped), and all of the spines are pressed closely against the stem. Spinystars tend to grow in small groups, so if you find one, look around for more.
Spinystars are small and inconspicuous, but interesting members of desert vegetation communities in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) life zone.
This species is difficult to find because they are small and occur infrequently, but look for them on rocky limestone outcrops and along limestone ridges.
Family: Cactus (Cactaceae).
Other Names: Coryphantha vivipara var. rosea |