taxonID	type	description	language	source
03A41256FFAAFFF3FF31F8ADFECDE37E.taxon	materials_examined	Holotype: — MEXICO, San Luis Potosí, Mpo. Guadalcazar, San Juan Sin Agua, 1365 m a. s. l., sand-clayish alluvial plains with accumulation of evaporitic deposits; 2014 november 07, Hinton et Donati 29502 (GBH!) (Fig. 7).	en	Donati, Davide (2025): Grusonia pulvinata, a new sibling species within G. vilis s. l. (Opuntioideae: Cactaceae). Phytotaxa 712 (2): 87-106, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.712.2.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.712.2.1
03A41256FFAAFFF3FF31F8ADFECDE37E.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: — Grusonia pulvinata is similar to G. vilis, but it differs in: plant body densely branched, pulvinate; thin taproot; branches mainly deflexed, as ascending sequence of axes comprised of distinct joints; obovate joints strongly attached to the previous joint (or stem); shorter central spines, up to 31 mm long; ovary with sparse areoles, bristle spines rare or absent and few glochids; proliferation of sterile fruits. Diploid.	en	Donati, Davide (2025): Grusonia pulvinata, a new sibling species within G. vilis s. l. (Opuntioideae: Cactaceae). Phytotaxa 712 (2): 87-106, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.712.2.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.712.2.1
03A41256FFAAFFF3FF31F8ADFECDE37E.taxon	description	Description: — Plant succulent, cespitose pulvinate, forming compact cushions of mainly deflexed branches, up to 60 cm wide and 26 cm tall. Thin taproot. Joints obovate to elliptic, often curved, 36 – 58 mm long and 21 – 36 mm wide, firmly attached to the previous joint; tubercles 6 – 12 mm long and 2 – 4 mm wide, mainly inflated. Areoles 3 – 5 mm wide; areole protrusions on the areoles close to the base of the plant body. Leaves succulent, conical-elongated, up to 8 mm long, early deciduous. Central spines (1 –) 4 (– 8), up to 31 mm long, the lower downward – pointing, the upper erect – spreading, acicular, retroversely barbed, bulbous at the base, terete, surface ridged, brown-reddish (red during growth), the lower sometimes grayish, covered for the apical third by a white, vestigial tunica. Radial spines 6 (– 8), 7 – 14 mm long, acicular, white. Glochids not dense, 2 – 4 mm long, yellowish, produced from the adaxial portion of the areole, mainly erect – spreading; glochids dense on areole protrusions, spreading in all directions. Flower sessile, hermaphroditic, 25 – 46 mm diameter at the anthesis; outer tepals 6 – 11 mm long and 3 – 5 mm wide, subulate to apiculate, pink-purplish; inner tepals 12 – 21 mm long and 5 – 8 mm wide, spatulate-cuneate, apiculate to mucronate, magenta coloured with green base; filaments green, apically pinkinsh, thigmotactic; style greenish; stigma 5 – 9 lobed, greenish; pericarpel obconical and short, 20 – 45 mm long, with sparse areoles containing few or absent short bristle spines, short spines and, adaxially, few short glochids. Fruit green-reddish, 21 – 48 mm long; fruit areole protrusions very small or absent, containing short glochids; sterile fruits sometimes proliferating, generally producing new flowers. Seeds suborbicular, 3 – 5 mm wide, tan-yellowish (Fig. 8)	en	Donati, Davide (2025): Grusonia pulvinata, a new sibling species within G. vilis s. l. (Opuntioideae: Cactaceae). Phytotaxa 712 (2): 87-106, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.712.2.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.712.2.1
03A41256FFAAFFF3FF31F8ADFECDE37E.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — The epithet pulvinata means pulvinate, cushion shaped. Karyology: — Grusonia pulvinata is a diploid, with 2 n = 22 chromosomes. (Figure 8) Phenology: — Flowering from April to June. Setting fruits usually from September.	en	Donati, Davide (2025): Grusonia pulvinata, a new sibling species within G. vilis s. l. (Opuntioideae: Cactaceae). Phytotaxa 712 (2): 87-106, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.712.2.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.712.2.1
03A41256FFAAFFF3FF31F8ADFECDE37E.taxon	description	Habitat: — Grusonia pulvinata grows mainly on sandy-clayish alluvial plains with an accumulation of evaporitic deposit, often associated with gypsicolous and halophilous species.	en	Donati, Davide (2025): Grusonia pulvinata, a new sibling species within G. vilis s. l. (Opuntioideae: Cactaceae). Phytotaxa 712 (2): 87-106, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.712.2.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.712.2.1
03A41256FFAAFFF3FF31F8ADFECDE37E.taxon	distribution	Distribution: — Grusonia pulvinata is distributed from the El Huizache area to north-west of Matehuala, San Luis Potosí, and adjacent, restricted areas in Zacatecas, Mexico. Conservation status: — As a result of the survey, the distribution of Grusonia pulvinata appears to be restricted to plains with evaporitic deposits of north-western San Luis Potosí and adjacent areas in Zacatecas (about 8000 km ²). Thousands of plants grow north-west of Matehuala (Donati, pers. observ.), but the number of individuals of the total population is difficult to assess, since G. pulvinata very often grows in hard-to-locate clearings in the tall shrubby vegetation (Yucca-Prosopis) of San Luis Potosí. Thus, following IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (2001, 2012), it should be considered as Data Deficient (DD). Taxonomic key: — A proposed diagnostic key follows:	en	Donati, Davide (2025): Grusonia pulvinata, a new sibling species within G. vilis s. l. (Opuntioideae: Cactaceae). Phytotaxa 712 (2): 87-106, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.712.2.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.712.2.1
03A41256FFAAFFF3FF31F8ADFECDE37E.taxon	description	Grusonia grahamii subsp. vilis. Mexico, Zacatecas: Zacatecas, 1907, Lloyd # 14 (US 00117071; holotype); Zacatecas, 1907, Lloyd # 14 (NY 00688044; isotype); Mazapil, Cedros, 1999, 1850 m a. s. l., Puente 1619 (ASU 0054219); Mazapil, SW of Cedros, 1998, 1750 m a. s. l., Baker 12831 (DES 0050823); SE of Concepcion del Oro, Loma el Peyote, 1998, 1900 m a. s. l., Baker 12834 (DES 0050822); Mazapil, NW of Lomas de Renuevas, slopes of Carpintero; Mazapil, 24.2 km from Cedros on the road to Matamoros, 500 m N on dirty road, 2005, 1551 m a. s. l., Brailovsky, Hernánez, Gómez and Navarro 50 (MEXU 1203398, pro Grusonia sp.); Melchor Ocampo, hills 19 km W of M. Ocampo to El Trebol, 2005, 2071 m a. s. l., Brailovsky and Navarro 380 (MEXU 1203734, pro Grusonia moelleri); Mazapil, plains E of Matamoros, 2005, 1654 m a. s. l., Brailovsky and Navarro 428 (MEXU 1203737, pro Grusonia moelleri); Mazapil, hills NW of Sierra " El Mascarón ": dirty road N of Cedros, after km 4 turn SE on a track to the sierra, 2005, 1879 m a. s. l., Brailovsky, Gómez and Goettsch 105 (MEXU 1203740, pro Grusonia moelleri); Mazapil, plains close to Peñasco mine, 10 km E of Cedros to Mazapil, 2005, 1934 m a. s. l., Brailovsky and Ibarra 285 (MEXU 1203741, pro Grusonia moelleri); Melchor Ocampo, N of " El Trébol ": dirty road from Matamoros to Melchor Ocampo, 2005, 1751 m a. s. l., Brailovsky 69 (MEXU 1207215, pro Grusonia moelleri); Mazapil, NW of Lomas de Renuevas, slopes of Carpintero: 24.2 km from Cedros on the road to Matamoros, 2005, 1571 m a. s. l., Brailovsky, Hernández, Gómez and Navarro 50 (MEXU 1207222, pro Grusonia moelleri); Mazapil, hills N of Cedros, 5 km N of Cedros to El Jaguey, 2005, 1750 m a. s. l., Brailosvsky and Navarro 411 (MEXU 1207243, pro Grusonia moelleri); Mazapil, 33 km from Cedros to Matamoros, road to el Vergel, 2005, 1937 m a. s. l., Brailovsky, Gómez and Goettsch 180 (MEXU 1207253, pro Grusonia moelleri); Mazapil, Los Llanos, 2005, 1817 m a. s. l., Brailovsky 264 (MEXU 1207256, pro Grusonia moelleri); Mazapil, Rancho de Renuevas: 19.4 km from Cedros to Matamoros, 2005, 1711 m a. s. l., Brailovsky, Hernández, Gómez and Navarro 31 (MEXU 1207266, pro Grusonia moelleri); Mazapil, 18 Km S of Tecolotes on the track to Candelaria, 2005, 1956 m a. s. l., Brailovsky 459 (MEXU 1207279, pro Grusonia moelleri); Mazapil, Tanque Nuevo, road to EL Vergel, 2005, 1850 m a. s. l., Brailovsky and Ibarra 237 (MEXU 1210342, pro Grusonia moelleri); Mazapil, Los Barriales del Vergel, 17.5 from Cedros to Matamoros, 2005, 1616 m a. s. l., Brailovsky, Hernández, Gómez and Navarro 9 (MEXU 1210343, pro Grusonia moelleri); Mazapil, S of El Vergel: 16 Km. W of Cedros to Tecolotes and Ahuichila, 2005, 1682 m a. s. l., Brailovsky 425 (MEXU 1210344, pro Grusonia moelleri); Mazapil, N of Sabana Grande, 21.5 km SE of Cedros, 2005, 1874 m a. s. l., Brailovsky, Gómez and Goettsch 141 (MEXU 1210381, pro Grusonia moelleri); Mazapil, 2 km N of Tecolotes, 2005, 1840 m a. s. l., Brailosvsky and Gómez 155 (MEXU 1210382, pro Grusonia moelleri); Mazapil, 4 km SE of Tecolotes, dirty road to Candelaria, 2005, 1771 m a. s. l., Brailosvsky and Navarro 494 (MEXU 1210425, pro Grusonia moelleri); km 212 carretera Zacatecas-Saltillo, 1965, 1820 m a. s. l., Bravo H. 1965 - 05 (MEXU 61056, pro Grusonia (Opuntia) vilis); Km 261 of the road Zacatecas-Saltillo, 1973, 1900 m a. s. l., Sánchez Mejorada 1780 (MEXU 158973, pro Grusonia (Opuntia) vilis). Mexico, Coahuila: E of Viesca, 2014, 1137 m a. s. l., Hinton et al. 29536 (GBH 29536). Mexico, Durango: Lerdo, South of Lerdo, 2014, 1220 m a. s. l., Hinton et al. 29492 (GBH 294929). Mexico, San Luis Potosí: Cedral, E of Vanegas, 2014, 1740 m a. s. l., Hinton et al. 29504 (GBH 29504); Cedral, El Salado, 2014, 1723 m, Hinton et al. 29507 (GBH 29507). Grusonia aggeria. USA, Texas: Brewster County, Tornillo Creek Basin, N. of Hot Springs, Big Bend Natl. Park, 1952, Blakley B- 1422 (DES 00001429); USA, Texas: Brewster County, Big Bend Ranch State Park, ca. 2.9 miles N of Lajitas gate, E of road, 1463 m a. s. l., 1995, Hodgson 9059 (DES 00041946). Mexico, Chihuahua: MEX 16, 16.8 mi N Aldama, 8 mi S El Morrion, 1978, Lehto k- 8126 (ASU 0059103); Mexico, Chihuahua: 16 km NNW of Torreoncitos, NW of km 39 along Hwy 22 (49), NW of Jimenes, 500 m east of Arroyo Flórido at La Parra, 1997, Baker 12390 (ASU 0058909); Mexico, Chihuahua: 1 km east of Mercurio; 25 km NE of Escalón; 2 km NNW of the summit of Cerro Piloncillo, 2004, Baker 15667 (ASU 0058911); Mexico, Coahuila: Bolson de Mapimi, 13.3 miles E of El Cinco., 1971, Keil k- 8126 (ASU 0059100). Mexico, Coahuila: Ca. 10 km WSW of Cuatro Ciénegas; Sierra La Madera, Loma Larga, 1998, Baker 12817 (ASU 0059096). Grusonia grahamii. USA, Texas: El Paso County, Hueco Mtns., limestone hills located 2.5 mi E of Nations East Well & 3 mi west of Hueco Tanks State Historical Park, 1991, Worthington 19354 (UCR- 69037); USA, Texas: El Paso County, El Paso, Resler Arroyo near I- 10, 2003, Worthington 32137 (UCR- 161605); USA, Texas: El Paso County, El Paso, NW edge of El Paso, a mile or two of Mesa Road / Drive, a short distance N of Belvedere St., ca 0.5 mile’ E. of intersection of Belvedere and Resle, 1990, Zimmerman 2631 (DES 00039361); USA, Arizona: Grown in cultivation at Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, originally received as a plant collected by Patrick Quirk s. n., 14 November 1997 from Texas, Terrell County, Gatlin Ranch, Ward s. n. (DES 00063754); USA, Texas: Brewster County, Big Bend National Park, just N of Willow Springs Site, 1995, Hodgson 8982 (DES 00041829). Mexico, Chihuahua: Mpio. de Ciudad Juárez. Sierra Juárez., 1984, Worthington 11680 (ASU 0059101); Santa Cruz Microondas Station, Rte 45 ca. 54 mi S of Chihuahua City, 1976, Pinkava P- 13374 (ASU 0059098); 5 km NW of La Cruz and Rio Conchas, just north of Arroyo La Colorada, 2004, Baker 15662 (ASU 0054186). Mexico, Coahuila: North of Ocampo, 1 km NE of Guadalupe, east of Sierra del Mula, 2004, Baker 15672 (ASU 0054187); 3 miles east of Ocampo, 1974, Jansen 11 (ASU 0059076). Mexico, Durango: Ca. 21 mi W of Ciudad Lerdo (0.7 mi W El Refugio) (ca. 19 air mi W Torreon) Sierra del Rosario, 1977, Pinkava P- 13866 (ASU 0059104); 5.1 mi S of El Refugio, 21 air mi SW Torreon, 12.3 mi from MEX 40, Efacing steep mountain cliffs above Rio Nazas. Pass through E edge of Sierra del Rosario, 1977, Pinkava P- 13864 (ASU 0059120); Rte 40, ca. 20 mi S of Leon Guzman plaza. Microondas Chocolate Station turnoff, Pinkava P- 13458 (ASU 0059073).	en	Donati, Davide (2025): Grusonia pulvinata, a new sibling species within G. vilis s. l. (Opuntioideae: Cactaceae). Phytotaxa 712 (2): 87-106, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.712.2.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.712.2.1
