Habitat: United States, Mexico.
Description: globular or columnar cacti, usually densely spined with a tuberous taproot system. The tubercles, each bearing an areole, are arranged in spirals and vertically furrowed. Large, yellow flowers are borne at the top.
It includes the genus Cumarinia.
Soil: basic mix.
Location: full sun to partial shade.
Temperature: minimum temperature of 5°C (41°F).
Water: average.
Cultivation tips: watch out for spider mites and avoid waterlogged soils. The desert species are more difficult to grow, requiring clayey soil with the addition of sand and a little limestone and less frequent waterings in the summer.
Main species of Coryphantha: Coryphantha vivipara, hardy to frost; Coryphantha andreae; C. compacta; Coryphantha conifera, provide intense light and water in the summer; Coryphantha delaetiana; C. difficilis;
Coryphantha elephantidens, the fruits ripen the following spring.
Coryphantha clava=clavata, with conspicuous tubercles covered with yellow or red spines; it enjoys an airy location and occasional water spray mist; it grows in clumps.
Coryphantha bumanna, a dwarf plant that needs plenty of sun to blossom, water from April to September every 15 days, a minimum of 5°C (41°F) and mineral soil; Coryphantha echinoidea; C. echinus; C. erecta; Coryphantha guerkiana;
Coryphantha macromeris;C. pallida, it needs full sun, good drainage, calcareous soil; C. obscura; Coryphantha palmeri;
C. pusilliflora; Coryphantha radians; Coryphantha greenwoodii, grow in rich soil; the fruits ripen the following year; Coryphantha poselgeriana; C. retusa; Coryphantha recurvata; C. sheeri; Coryphantha sulcata; C. sulcolanata; Coryphantha werdermannii.