Thelocactus multicephalus

Thelocactus multicephalus is a species of cactus endemic to Nuevo León, Mexico.^[2]

Thelocactus multicephalus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Cactaceae
Subfamily:	Cactoideae
Genus:	Thelocactus
Species:	T. multicephalus
Binomial name
Thelocactus multicephalus Halda & Panar.
Synonyms[2]
Thelocactus rinconensis subsp. multicephalus (Halda & Panar.) Lüthy 1999

Description

Thelocactus multicephalus is a small perennial gray-green cactus that grows in clusters, growing 6 - 15 cm (5.9 in) tall and is between 8–20 cm (3.1–7.9 in) in diameter. It has conical tubercles. The areoles have 4 to 5 central spines are 1–12 cm (0.39–4.72 in) long that are grey, radial spines are absent. Flowers, about 3–6 cm (1.2–2.4 in) long, are funnel-shaped and white and rarely light pink, growing from new growth at the top of the plant. Seeds are 1.6–2.1 mm (0.063–0.083 in) long.^[3]

Distribution

The plant is found in Nuevo León and San Luis Potosí, Mexico growing on limestone hills at elevations between 1600 and 1700 meters

Taxonomy

Echinocactus multicephalus was first discovered near Sandia, by A. Hofer and collected by JJ. Halda in February 1985.^[4] The plant was described in 1998.^[5]