Grusonia emoryi

Illustrator: John Myers

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Shrubs, forming mats, 15–30 cm. Roots diffuse. Stem segments curved-clavate, gradually to abruptly narrowed at base, 7–19 × 2.5–5 cm; tubercles very prominent, 20–50 mm, 1–3.5 times longer than wide, not or little obscured by spines; areoles 4–6 mm in diam.; wool white to gray. Spines 12–30 per areole, mostly in apical areoles to ± uniformly distributed along stems (in northern populations), spreading, yellow, tan, or red-brown, tipped yellow, longest 3–7 cm; major 3–5 abaxial spines divergent, yellowish or red-brown, angular-flattened, sharp-edged; major (1–)3–5 adaxial spines ascending-divergent, tan or red-brown, angular-flattened to subterete. Glochids adaxial in areole, yellow to brown, 5–7 mm. Flowers: inner tepals yellow, 20–30 mm; filaments yellow to reddish; style cream; stigma lobes cream or tinged pink. Fruits yellow, cylindric to ellipsoid, 40–90 × 14–40 mm, fleshy, spineless (rarely with few very short spines) but usually densely yellow glochidiate; areoles 30–45. Seeds yellowish white to yellow, 5–6 × 3.5–4 mm, smooth. 2n = 44.

Phenology: Flowering late spring (May–Jun).
Habitat: Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts, sandy or gravelly desert flats, washes, hills
Elevation: 700-1200 m

Distribution

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Ariz., N.Mex., Tex., Mexico (Chihuahua).

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.