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Blossfeldia liliputana
Blossfeldia liliputana is a species of cactus native to South America in northwestern Argentina and southern Bolivia (Potosi Department). It grows at 1,200 - 3,500 m altitude in the Andes, typically growing in rock crevices, and often close to waterfalls.
It is of note as the smallest cactus species in the world, with a mature size of around 10-12 mm diameter. The flowers are pink, 6-15 mm long and 5-7 mm diameter.
The species is named after the fictional country Lilliput where all the inhabitants are minute. The spelling is often cited as liliputana, but under the provisions of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature this is an orthographic error to be corrected to liliputiana. No official change has been made as for now.
References and external links
Edward F. Anderson, The Cactus Family ISBN 0-88192-498-9, pp. 129-130
Germplasm Resources Information Network: Blossfeldia liliputana
Mauseth cacti research: Blossfeldia liliputana
Cacti Guide: Blossfeldia liliputana
Blossfeldia liliputana habitat pictures
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Blossfeldia liliputana
