Blossfeldia
Blossfeldia
5
species Cactaceae
Morphological Summary
Monotypic genus housing the world's smallest cactus, B. liliputana, whose adult body can measure just 1 cm in diameter. It lacks ribs and has flat, tiny spiral tubercles. During extreme drought it almost completely dehydrates and contracts until visually integrated with the rock, reanimating with rain (poikilohydry). Inhabits crevices of calcareous or granitic rocks in northwestern Argentina and Bolivia. Named in honor of German collector Harry Blossfeld.
Distribution Argentina (Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, Catamarca) and Bolivia (Tarija, Chuquisaca, Potosí): rock crevices, 1,000–3,500 m.
Conservation Least Concern; difficult to locate due to its tiny size and cryptic habitat.
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eco
SpeciesWorld's smallest cactus
Blossfeldia liliputana
Liliput cactus
Specimen ID RN-BLSF-00002
Origin Argentina (Salta, Jujuy, Tucumán), Bolivia
Type species
eco
Crested FormExtremely rare
Blossfeldia liliputana f. cristata
Crested Liliput cactus
Specimen ID RN-BLSF-00004
Origin Argentina / Bolivia / cultivado
Type crested form
eco
Form
Blossfeldia liliputana f. prolifera
Proliferating Liliput cactus
Specimen ID RN-BLSF-00005
Origin Argentina / Bolivia / cultivado
Type form
eco
VarietyMiniature
Blossfeldia liliputana var. fechseri
Fechser's Liliput cactus
Specimen ID RN-BLSF-00003
Origin Argentina / Bolivia
Type variety
eco
Blossfeldia liliputana Werderm.
Liliput Cactus
Specimen ID RN-BLSF-00001
Origin Argentina (Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, Catamarca) y Bolivia (Tarija, Chuquisaca, Potosí): grietas de roca, 1.000–3.500 m
Type World's smallest poikilohydric miniature cactus