Escobaria vivipara (Ball Cactus) - photos and description

 

 

 

 

 

General: Prairie cactus appearing singly or in clumps of many plants. The stem is succulent, and globular in shape.

Flowers: Very showy reddish-pink blooms with yellow centres. Flowers to 4 cm diameter, scented, close in the evening.

Leaves: The leaves have been reduced to sharp spines.

Height: Height listed in Budd's Flora from 3 to 20 (!) cm. We've measured plants to 4 cm tall.

Habitat: Dry soil, often on eroded hillsides.

Abundance: Common.

Origin: Native.

Synonym: Listed in some of the guides we use as Mamillaria vivipara, and as, Coryphantha vivipara.

When and where photographed: Took the above photos June 19th top of butte, West Block of Grasslands National Park, 400 km southwest of Regina, and June 19th, on a small prairie hilltop in the Buffalo Grass Eco Reserve, 200 km southeast of our home in Regina, SK.