The teeny tiny treasure is Escobaria sneedii ssp. sneedii. The tiny white marbles stacked one on top of another look like they should tumble and roll away. They stay put however with only an occasional escapee.
These are found in New Mexico through to western Texas and grow in very well drained sights that receave some summer rain. Winters are dry with lows of 10 F. My two plants withstand temps down to 0 F for the past five years showing no sign of damage.
Rare in it's native habitat. These tiny cactus can often form large mounding clumps, with a lopsided pyramid look reaching a foot or more across.
There are two subspecies and one other species in the Escobaria sneedii complex. E. sneedii ssp sneedi, E. sneedii ssp leeii and E. guadalupensis (syn. E. orcuttii ). They are all closely related and occupy the same territories so intermediate or hybrid plants occur. The status of E. sneedii ssp leeii as a sub species is also tenuous since it is restricted only one, small canyon surrounded by populations classified as E. sneedii ssp. sneedii.
First two shots are of E. sneedii ssp leeii
Third and fourth of E sneedii ssp sneedii
Fifth of E. guadalupensis (syn. E. orcuttii )
