Origin and Habitat: Monte Amargo river (Copiapó ) to Carrizal Bajo.

• Copiapoa echinata F.Ritter
• Copiapoa megarhiza subs. echinata (F.Ritter) Doweld
• Copiapoa megarhiza var. echinata (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.

• Copiapoa fiedleriana (K.Schum.) Backeb. in Backeb. & F.M.Knuth
• Copiapoa coquimbana var. fiedleriana (K.Schum.) A.E.Hoffm.
• Copiapoa pepiniana var. fiedleriana (K.Schum.) Backeb.
• Echinocactus fiedlerianus K.Schum.
• Copiapoa echinata F.Ritter
• Copiapoa megarhiza subs. echinata (F.Ritter) Doweld
• Copiapoa megarhiza var. echinata (F.Ritter) A.E.Hoffm.
• Copiapoa echinata var. pulla F.Ritter
• Copiapoa echinata var. borealis f. pulla F.Ritter
• Copiapoa intermedia F.Ritter ex Backeb.
• Copiapoa totoralensis F.Ritter

Description: It is a small and usually branched very spiny cactus.
Stem: Spherical 50-100 mm in diameter dull greyish-green.
Root: Long tap-root.
Ribs: 10-20
Areoles: 4-6 mm wide with grey felt abour 5-8 mm apart.
Spines: Usually straight black or brown becoming to grey as they ages up to 30 mm long. Radial spines 6-10, central spines 1-4 very similar in size and colour to the radials.
Flower: Unscented, funnel-shaped 3-4 cm long, pale yellow. Tube with few yellow scales. Tepals 5-6 mm large yellow with reddish tips. Anthers sulphur yellow. Stigma 12-lobed yellow.
Fruit: Spherical about 10 mm in diameter, green with 2-3 brownish-green scales.
Seed: 1,4 × 0,9 × 0,6 mm, black, shining.

Cultivation and Propagation: This species need full sun otherwise the bodies tended to elongate in cultivation, but should be protected from excessive heat and sun in summer, Require light watering, good drainage, and deep pot to accommodate tap root. Keep warm and dry in winter to avoid rot. Frost tolerance 0°C.
Propagation: Seeds (offsets rarely), Grafting is often used to speed growth rate and to create a back-up to plants in collection.