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

Plant Form: Short, usually solitary, rounded stem that emerges from the ground. Unbranched.

Height: Usually 3 to 4-inches tall (to 7-inches tall and 5-inches in diameter).

Trunk: None.

Leaves: None (reduced to spines).

Spines: Central spines 10-12, white with red tip; radial spines 12-18, straight, white.

Flowers: Blooms in early summer. Inflorescence: solitary flowers at the top of the stem. Flowers purple to magenta, about 2-inchs in diameter.

Seeds: Small (2 mm), brown.

Habitat: Limestone soils in the Pinyon-Juniper Woodland.

Distribution: Southeast California, southern Nevada, and northwest Arizona. This subspecies occurs on the Desert National Wildlife Range.

Elevation: 5,000 to 9,000 ft.

Comments: