| Blossfeldia liliputana | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Cactaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cactoideae |
| Tribe: | Notocacteae |
| Genus: | Blossfeldia |
| Species: | B. liliputana |
| Binomial name | |
| Blossfeldia liliputana Werderm. |
|
Blossfeldia liliputana is a species of cactus native to South America in northwestern Argentina (Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán and Catamarca Provinces) and southern Bolivia (Potosí 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.