Ball cactus explained

The term ball cactus is usually applied to the species of:

• Parodia (syn. Notocactus), a South American cactus genus often kept as houseplants

It has also been applied to any ball-shaped cactus, notably plants from all of the following genera:

Coryphantha Echinocactus Echinomastus       Escobaria

Gymnocalycium       Mammillaria Melocactus Pediocactus

Turbinicarpus

And more specifically to:

• Escobaria missouriensis, the Missouri foxtail cactus or common ball cactus
• Escobaria vivipara, the spinystar or purple ball cactus
• Gymnocalycium mihanovichii, the ruby ball or "moon" cactus
• Parodia leninghausii, the golden ball cactus or lemon ball cactus
• Parodia magnifica, the ball cactus or balloon cactus
• Parodia scopa, the silver ball cactus
• Pediocactus simpsonii, the mountain ball cactus