Biznaga de Piña

Description

Coryphantha longicornis is a species of plant in the genus Coryphantha of the cactus family (Cactaceae). The specific epithet longicornis is derived from the Latin words longus for 'long' and cornu for 'horn' and refers to the long curved thorns of the species. A common Spanish name is "Biznaga de Piña". Coryphantha longicornis mostly grows individually. The spherical to short cylindrical, light grey-green shoots reach heights of growth of 9 to 30 centimeters with a diameter of 10 to 15 centimeters. The shoots are densely covered with thorns, the apex of the shoot is woolly. The very firm, more or less erect warts are conical. The three stiff, white to brown central spines often have a blackish tip and are 1.3 to 2.5 inches long. The lowest is strongly curved and descending, the upper central spines are shorter. The twelve 0.6 to 1.3 centimeters long radial spines are translucent white. The yellow flowers are 4 to 6.5 centimeters long and reach a diameter of 4 to 7.5 centimeters. The yellowish green fruits are 1.4 to 1.7 centimeters long. Coryphantha longicornis is common on lava gravel, often under bushes, in the northwest of the Mexican state of Durango. The first description by Friedrich Bödeker was published in 1931. Coryphantha longicornis is classified as Least Concern (LC) in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. H. not endangered, classified.