Escobaria Sneedii

Escobaria (pelecyphora) sneedii is one of the more easily identifiable members of the genus on account of its numerous small, densely clustered stems - up to 250 of then, though this is quite a variable species and some specimens have fewer, larger stems. The range is limited to a narrow, discontinuous band in the Chihuahuan Desert, in far south New Mexico, extending a little way into Arizona and Texas. It inhabits a wide range of elevations, from desert lowlands to mountainsides over 8,000 feet. Often the stems are mostly buried; only the upper half or less is visible above ground.

The stems, which are (usually) completely obscured by the white spines, are initially globular, becoming cylindrical or club-shaped with age, up to 3 inches in length. Spines number between 35 and 80; occasionally variously colored in pale shades of pink, brown or grey (more likely on volcanic soils), but usually pure white. Tips of the longest spines are darker, brown or purplish. Spines are of varying lengths, the longest around a quarter of an inch. Spines become darker as the plant ages.

Flowers, occurring very near the apex, are pink to orange-pink, with well-defined darker midstripes. Outer tepals are conspicuously fringed. Anthers are yellow, the stigma lobes white.