Epithelantha micromeris subsp.

the differences between the subspecies are:

--ssp. micromeris; Has a neater (Orderly and clean), smaller, tighter look; the tops are
very depressed.
--ssp. greggii; Larger up to 2 inches across; Has a rough, bristly look, pink flowers.
--ssp. pachyrhiza; the roots are tuberous, only partially covered with orange-tan to
white spines, Pinkish-white flowers.
--ssp. polycephala; forms clusters, Each stem about 1 inch across, All 21-27 spines (per
areole) are about the same color (white) and length. Pinkish-white flowers
--ssp. unguispina; forms clumps, has long black tipped central spines, the pink flowers
are larger than the others.

Epithelantha bokei
The Boke button cactus is very similar to the common button cactus but has a smoother,
tidier overall image. The tiny flatly appressed spines present a satiny appearance. The
pinkish flowers barely exceed 1/4" in diameter. This button cactus was named for Dr
Norman H. Boke, University of Oklahoma, who collected it first in 1955.

Read more: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/96945/#ixzz2kAu5x5zB

Other valid synonyms are Cephalomamillaria greggii & Epithelantha micromeris var.
greggii
Synonym:Mammillaria micromeris var. greggii
Synonym:Cactus micromeris var. greggii
Synonym:Mammillaria greggii
Synonym:Epithelantha greggii
Synonym:Cephalomamillaria micromeris var. greggii

Read more: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/96948/#ixzz2kAswj7oh

Micromeris
Gregii

Gregii polycephala
Gregii potosina

Pachyrhiza
Pachyrhiza parvula

Pachyrhiza elongate
Pachyrhiza pulchra

unguispina
Unguispina huastecana

ilariae
bokei

The taxon greggii, hardly distinguishable from E. micromeris when adult, is easily
recognizable when immature thanks to its areolas with rayed spines, rather than
pectinate as in E. micromeris.

Epithelantha micromeris
Adult: plant globose, up to 6 cm high and 5 cm diameter, more or less clustering, body
almost obscured by spines; root fibrous; spines 20-42, arranged in 1-3 layers, fragile,
translucent, little pectinate; Immature plant: body globose, sometimes depressed; root
fibrous; 20- 26 spines, 1 to 2.5 mm long, single layer of clearly pectinate spine per
areola; spines flattened, base orange-yellow, with a central translucent mid stripe and
opaque white margins; on the margins is evident a furfuraceous desquamation of the
epidermis, breaking up in fine cells.
Anthesis: January-April, pink flower.
Fertility: autogamous plant

2- Epithelantha bokei
Adult: plant unmistakable, usually globose- depressed, 5 cm high, 4 cm diameter,
clustering only when aged, body obscured by spines; root fibrous; spines 50 -120
arranged in 6-9 layers per areola, ivory-white to pink; the plant appears always smooth
and regular.
Immature plant: body depressed, apex strongly concave, particularly during the winter
stasis; root fibrous; spines 35-60, arranged in multiple, superposed layers (4-6),
pectinate, from 0.2 to 0.7 mm long; spines flattened, pinkish-yellow, with a central
translucent mid stripe, and opaque, clearly denticulate margins; the denticlesconsist in
epidermal cells with tubercled outer periclinal walls.
Anthesis: late March-July, flower colour variable from deep pink to orange to grayish
Fertility: obligate allogamous.

3- Epithelantha greggii
Adult: plant globose, clustering only when aged, up to 11 cm tall, 8 cm diameter, body
rarely obscured by spines; roots fibrous, sometimes with a very short taproot; 16-36
spines, 3-5 mm long, not pectinate, glassy, often not appressed at the body. Very
difficult to distinguish from the taxon micromeris.
Immature plant: body globose; root fibrous; spines 14-22, 1-3 mm long, generally
radiate and arranged in 1-2 layers; spine thin, fragile, not flattened, translucent;
epidermal layer breaking up in elongated cells, fine superficial desquamation starting
from the tip.
Anthesis: April-October; grayish-pink flower.
Fertility: obligate allogamous.

- Epithelantha polycephala
Adult: body cylindroid, slight to very clustering, > 8 cm in height, 2-3 cm diameter; long
tap-root; spines 20-42, arranged in 2-3 layers, opaque, brownish, but not pungent;
bristly appearance.
Immature plant: body elongated; taproot; spines 16-26, 1-3 mm long, thin, fragile,
generally not pectinate and arranged in 1-2 layers, not flattened, translucent, brownish;
epidermal layer breaking up in elongated cells, fine scaling starting from the tip.
Anthesis: late March-October, greenish yellow flower with pink throat.
Fertility: obligate allogamous.
Distribution: limited, from the town of Meson del Norte to the village of Tepehuanes, NE
of Saltillo (Coah, MEX).
Sympatry: none.
Ecology: the plant is strictly adapted at a particular substrate, it grows only on schist
with neutral or basic reaction, stratified and very fragile, with thin strata.
- Epithelantha sp. “potosina”
Adult: plant globose, clustering only when aged, height 6 cm, 5 cm diameter; root
fibrous; spines 27-48 per areola, 2-3 mm long, not pectinate, grayish white; very
regular appearance.
Immature plant: body globose; root fibrous; 24-37 spines, 1-2 mm long, thin, fragile,
slender, not flattened, not appressed at the body, little pectinate, arranged in 1-2 layer
per areola, white, translucent, slightly curved; fine superficial desquamation of the
epidermis, broken up in roundish cells, starting from the tip. Anthesis: April-October,
pink flower.
Fertility: obligate allogamous.

4- Epithelantha pachyrhiza
If we consider belonging to the taxon pachyrhiza all of the plants with taproot and narrow
neck, particularly evident in young plants, the “group” is rather variable and interesting.
Four different morphotypes can be easily distinguished:
- E. pachyrhiza grex “typical”
Adult: plant globose, usually single, narrow neck generally invisible; root napiform, often
branched; spines 18-34 arranged in 1-2 layers per areola, little pectinate. Hardly
distinguishable from the taxon micromeris when adult.
Immature plants: body depressed or clubby, neck thinner than the body; root napiform,
long and very strong; spines 16-24 per areola arranged in 1 layer, 1-2 mm long,
pectinate, white but yellow based, slightly flattened and little pointed; epidermal layer
thick, white and opaque, with “waxy” appearance, breaking up in large, rectangular
cells Salwith little desquamation.
Anthesis: April-July, pink flower
Fertility: obligate allogamous.
- E. pachyrhiza grex “elongata”
Adult: body clubby then cylindroid, usually single, > 10 cm X > 5 cm diameter, neck
short and often invisible; root napiform; spines 18-36 arranged in 1-2 layers per areola,
whitish.
Immature plants: body clubby with long tap-root; spines 18-28 per areola arranged in a
single layer , 1 to 2.5 mm., pectinate, white, slightly flattened and little pointed;
epidermal layer thick, white and opaque, with “waxy” appearance, breaking up in large,
rectangular cells with scarce desquamation. Every areola shows a sort of 2 crest at the
base of the spines, one per side of the “comb”.
Anthesis: late March-October, yellowpinkish
flower
Fertility: obligate allogamous.

- E. pachyrhiza grex “pulchra”

Adult: body clubby, usually single or clumping with age, 6 X 3 cm diameter, with
narrow, long neck; root napiform; spines 50-85, arranged in 5-7 layers per areola, pure
white to ivory, not pectinate.
Immature plant: body small, with long, narrow neck; long tap-root; spines 30-52, 0,7-2.5
mm, arranged in 3-4 layers, pectinate, white, slightly flattened, pointed; epidermal
layer thick, white and opaque, with “waxy” appearance, breaking up in rounded, convex
cells, with little desquamation.
Anthesis: late March-October, pinkwhite flower
Fertility: obligate allogamous.

5- Epithelantha unguispina
Adult: body globose, clustering with age, > 8 cm tall, 7 cm diameter; root fibrous;
spines18-26, grayish-white with yellow base, arranged in 1-3 layers, the lower longer,
with a typical spine pointing downward up to 1 cm long, pungent, with black tip; very
bristly appearance.
Immature plant: body globose: root fibrous; spines 16-22, 1-2.5 mm long, clearly
pectinate, single layer of spines per areola, flattened, white with yellowbase, with a
central translucent mid stripe, with opaque margins, the lower longer; on the margin is
evident a furfuraceous desquamation of epidermis.
Anthesis: late February-June, with deep pink flowers. Very floriferous
Fertility: obligate allogamous.

Epithelantha sp. “huastecana”

Adult: body globose, clustering with age, > 8 cm tall, 7 cm diameter; root fibrous; 25-
38 spines, 4-6 mm, grayish- white with yellow base, arranged in 1-3 layers, thin, the
lower longer, with a spine 7 mm long adpressed at the body, grayish; regular
appearance. Immature plant: body globose, roots fibrous, spines 18-26, 1 to 2,5 mm
long, clearly pectinate, single layer of spines per areola , flattened, white with yellow
base, with a central translucent mid stripe, with opaque margins, the lower spines
longer; on the edges is evident a furfuraceous scaling of the epidermis.
E. Anthesis: late February-June, with
deep pink flowers. Very floriferous.
Fertility: obligate allogamous.

6- Epithelantha sp. “ilariae”

Adult: body globose-depressed, generally single, 4 cm tall, 6 cm diameter; root fibrous;
spines 30-52, in 2-3 layers, milky white, regular appearance. Similar to taxon bokei.
Immature plant: body globose; root fibrous; spines 25-38, 1-2 mm long, thin, elongated,
cylindrical, rather pectinate and arranged in 2 layers per areo- la, translucent, white;
thick epidermis breaking up in rectangular cells, superficial desquamation starting from
the tip.
Anthesis:April-October, pink flower.
Fertility: obligate outcrosser.