Coryphantha elephantidens

Coryphantha elephantidens (Lem.) Lem. (1868)

🌵 Author(s)	Charles Lemaire
🌵 Basionym	Mammillaria elephantidens (1838)
🌵 Basionym author(s)	Charles Lemaire

Etymology

Latin elephantus ‘elephant’ + Latin dens ‘tooth’. For “the shape of the spines, which look like elephants’ teeth” (Lemaire 1838: “Nomen suum meruit ob aculeorum formam, elephantûm dentes quasi simulantem”). Not “for the large tubercles” (Eggli & Newton, Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names. 2004) or “ivory-like” (Genaust, Etymologisches Wörterbuch der botanischen Pflanzennamen. 3. Auflage. 1996).