This genus is native to Mexico and the southern United States; its name was derived from two Greek words: koryphé (head) and ànthos (flower), as its flowers arise from the top of the stem. It is often confused with Mammillaria, but Coryphantha differs by the fact that flowering does not occur on the side of the plant, and by the presence of grooves on the upper side of the tubercle, which is a distinctive feature of this genus. Some species are characterised by taproots, which must be taken into account for the choice of the pot, soil composition and watering frequency. Flowers are usually yellow.
