Origin and Habitat: Coryphantha elephantidensSN|3920]]SN|3920]] is endemic to Mexico where it is known to occur in the states of Aguascalientes, Guerrero, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Veracruz and Zacatecas. The subsp. greenwoodii has a restricted range near Piedras Blancas, Veracruz. Subsp.bumamma is recorded from the States of Oaxaca and Michoacán.
Altitude: 1100-2000 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology: Coryphantha elephantidensSN|3920]]SN|3920]] is found in grasslands and xerophyllous scrub. It is widespread and relatively common and is threatened by deforestation from small-holder agriculture and cattle ranching. In the same area it is possible to find several cactus and succulent species like: together with Mammillaria elegansSN|20632]]SN|13998]], Mammillaria uncinataSN|14267]]SN|14267]], Mammillaria hubertmulleriSN|13998]]SN|20632]], Stenocereus dumortieriSN|25145]]SN|7942]], Stenocereus stellatusSN|7945]]SN|7945]], Stenocereus beneckeiSN|7942]]SN|25145]], Opuntia pumila, Opuntia tomentosa, Myrtillocactus geometrizansSN|8050]]SN|8050]] and the palm Brahea dulcisSN|24746]]SN|24746]].

• Coryphantha elephantidens (Lem.) Lem.
• Aulacothele elephantidens (Lem.) Monv.
• Cactus elephantidens Kuntze
• Echinocactus elephantidens Poselg.
• Mammillaria elephantidens Lem.

• Coryphantha elephantidens (Lem.) Lem.
• Aulacothele elephantidens (Lem.) Monv.
• Cactus elephantidens Kuntze
• Echinocactus elephantidens Poselg.
• Mammillaria elephantidens Lem.
• Coryphantha elephantidens f. aurea hort.
• Coryphantha elephantidens var. barciae L.Bremer
• Coryphantha elephantidens subs. bumamma (Ehrenb.) Dicht & A.Lüthy
• Coryphantha bumamma (Ehrenb.) Britton & Rose
• Mammillaria bumamma Ehrenb.
• Mammillaria elephantidens var. bumamma (Ehrenb.) K.Schum.
• Mammillaria elephantidens f. bumamma (Ehrenb.) Schelle
• Coryphantha elephantidens subs. greenwoodii (Bravo) Dicht & A.Lüthy
• Coryphantha greenwoodii Bravo
• Coryphantha elephantidens var. recurvispina (de Vriese) hort., nov. comb. ined.
• Cactus recurvispinus (de Vriese) Kuntze
• Coryphantha recurvispina (de Vriese) L.Bremer
• Mammillaria recurvispina de Vriese
• Coryphantha elephantidens var. roseiflora Y.Itô
• Coryphantha elephantidens subs. sulcolanata (Lem.) hort., nov. comb. ined.
• Aulacothele sulcolanata (Lem.) Monv.
• Cactus sulcolanatus Kuntze
• Coryphantha sulcolanata Lem.
• Echinocactus sulcolanatus Poselg.
• Mammillaria sulcolanata Lem.
• Coryphantha elephantidens f. variegata hort.
• Coryphantha garessii L.Bremer

• Coryphantha elephantidens cv. Tanshi Zougemaru
• Coryphantha elephantidens cv. Tanshi Zougemaru inermis

Description: Coryphantha elephantidensSN|3920]]SN|3920]] is a large, depressed-globular cactus, simple or occasionally clumping and group-forming. C. elephantidens usually has pink flowers but they can sometimes be yellow. This species comprises three subspecies - the typical form, subsp. bumamma (Ehrenb.) Dicht & A.Lüthy, and subsp. greenwoodii (Bravo) Dicht & A.Lüthy.
Derivation of specific name: The epithet 'elephantidens' comes from Latin and means 'elephant tooth' and describes the fang-like spines of this species.
Stems: Simple, flattened globular to subglobose, up to 14(-19) cm in diameter and 14 cm high, glossy dark green, subglaucous.
Tubercles; Very large, , somewhat flattened, 20-30 (60) mm wide, obtuse, rounded on top, pentaedrical at the base, 4 to 5 cm wide, always broader than rounded, without glands, the tubercles axil is densely woolly.
Areoles: Elliptic, when young woolly, in age naked.
Spines: The tubercles are capped with a 5-8 of stout reflexed radial spines, spreading, somewhat unequal, 18-26 mm long, strong, subulate, curved, never porrect, but adpressed to the body, when young brownish with yellowish bases, black at apex. Central spines are absent.
Flowers: Sweet smelling large 6 to 11 cm whitish broad, perianth-segments numerous, narrowly oblong, apiculate rose-colored to purple pink or white with a reddish throat and reddish median strip, (rarely yellow).
Blooming season:: Late summer to autumn.
Fruits: Very big, ca. 4 cm long and 1 cm in diameter.

Notes: Coryphantha elephantidensSN|3938]]SN|3920]] is the centre of a complex of closely related species and it is quite difficult to decide about what is the valid names or eventual subspecies of the different taxon at present time. The complex comprises: Coryphantha elephantidensSN|3939]]SN|3920]] (Lemaire 1838) Lemaire 1868 Coryphantha sulcolanataSN|3933]]SN|3928]] (Lemaire 1838) Lemaire 1868, Coryphantha recurvispinaSN|3925]]SN|3925]] (De Vriese 1839) Bremer 1976 Coryphantha bumammaSN|3928]]SN|3933]] (Ehrenberg 1849) Britton & Rose 1923 Coryphantha greenwoodiiSN|3920]]SN|3939]] Bravo 1970 and Coryphantha garessiiSN|3920]]SN|3938]] Bremer 1980.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
2) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey "The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass" Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
3) David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. "The New Cactus Lexicon" dh books, 2006
4) Hernández, H.M., Gómez-Hinostrosa, C., Guadalupe Martínez, J., Sánchez , E., Dicht, R.F. & Lüthy, A.D. 2013. Coryphantha elephantidens. In: IUCN 2013. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species." Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 17 February 2014.
5) Nathaniel Lord Britton, Joseph Nelson Rose “Cactaceae: Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus Family” vol. 4 The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington 1923
6) Graham Charles “Cacti and Succulents: An illustrated guide to the plants and their cultivation” Crowood, 30 Apr 2014
7) Paul Carpenter Standley, United States National Museum “Trees and Shrubs of Mexico: Passifloraceae-Scrophulariaceae” U.S. Government Printing Office, 1924
8) CONABIO. "Catálogo taxonómico de especies de México." 1. In Capital Nat. México. CONABIO, Mexico City. 2009
9) Urs Eggli, Leonard E. Newton “Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names. Birkhäuser” 2004
10) Charles Antoine Lemaire “Cactearum aliquot novarum ac insuetarum in Horto monvilliano cultarum accurata descriptio.” 1838.

Cultivation and Propagation: Full sun to light shade in summer. Water sparingly, keep drier in winter. Needs good drainage. Frost Tolerance: Hardy to -3°C.
Propagation:: Offsets as it is a suckering cactus or by seeds.