Origin and Habitat: Turbinicarpus horripilusSN|6344]]SN|6344]] is endemic to Mexico (Hidalgo: Metzitlán). The extent of occurrence is less than 100 km², the species certainly occurs in less than five locations, and the population size is estimated from 1,000 to 3,000 mature individuals. There is less than 1 individual per square meter. The few subpopulations are continuing to decline due to illegal overcollecting.
Altitude range: 1200-1500 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology: This species grows in semi-desert scrub vegetation in rock crevices and steep slopes among calcareous rocks. In the same area it is possible to find several cactus and succulent species like: Mammillaria geminispinaSN|9015]]SN|14012]], Mammillaria candidaSN|14012]]SN|9015]], Myrtillocactus goemetrizans, Cephalocereus senilisSN|6893]]SN|6893]], Stenocereus dumortieriSN|7942]]SN|7942]], Opuntia durangensis, Tillandsia recurvata, Agave strictaSN|27883]]SN|568]] and Agave salmianaSN|568]]SN|27883]]. Illegal collecting continues to threaten this species.

• Turbinicarpus horripilus (Lem. ex Förster) V.John & Říha
• Bravocactus horripilus (Lem.) Doweld
• Echinocactus horripilus (Lem.) Lem.
• Gymnocactus horripilus (Lem.) Backeb.
• Gymnocactus horripilus subs. kvetae Chvastek & Halda
• Mammillaria horripila Lem.
• Neolloydia horripila (Lem.) Britton & Rose
• Pediocactus horripilus (Lem.) Halda
• Thelocactus goldii Bravo
• Thelocactus horripilus (Lem.) Kladiwa & Fittkau

• Turbinicarpus horripilus (Lem. ex Förster) V.John & Říha
• Bravocactus horripilus (Lem.) Doweld
• Echinocactus horripilus (Lem.) Lem.
• Gymnocactus horripilus (Lem.) Backeb.
• Gymnocactus horripilus subs. kvetae Chvastek & Halda
• Mammillaria horripila Lem.
• Neolloydia horripila (Lem.) Britton & Rose
• Pediocactus horripilus (Lem.) Halda
• Thelocactus goldii Bravo
• Thelocactus horripilus (Lem.) Kladiwa & Fittkau

• Turbinicarpus horripilus subs. wrobelianus Nitzschke & Montes
• Bravocactus horripilus subs. wrobelianus (Nitzschke & Montes) Doweld
• Turbinicarpus horripilus var. wrobelianus (Nitzschke & Montes) D.Donati & Zanov.

Description: Turbinicarpus horripilusSN|6344]]SN|6344]], formerly known as Gymnocactus horripilusSN|12124]]SN|12124]], is a small, slowly clustering, globular to roughly columnar cactus.
Stem: Bluish-green to olive-green up to 4-9 cm cm in diameter, 10-18 cm tall; Apex depressed, very woolly,
Root: Swollen bundled.
Tubercles: ± Conical, compressed at the sides, rhombic at the base 5-7 mm high.
Areoles: Oval, with much white wool, very soon becoming bare.
Radial spines:8-15 rigid, 9-11 mm long, radiating, straight or (rarely) somewhat bent, intertwined in each other white with brown tip.
Central spines: 1-2 rigid, pungent up to 3 cm long, dark brown becoming greyish white, blackish tip.
Flowers: Diurnal deep purple with whitish throat, up to 4 cm in diameter.
Blooming time: Spring and summer.
Fruits: Greenish-red becoming yellowish-brown 4-6 mm long, 3-5 mm wide.

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) Guadalupe Martínez, J., Fitz Maurice, W.A. & Fitz Maurice, B 2013. Turbinicarpus horripilus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 August 2015.

Cultivation and Propagation: Cultivation: It’s a fairly easy species to cultivate and relatively fast growing. Need a very well drained soil. Requires strong sun to part sun to develop good spinal growth and waterings should be rather infrequent to keep the plant compact and not to become excessively elongated and unnatural in appearance. Careful watering away from the body of the plant will allow the areoles to keep their wool. keep dry in winter or when night temperatures remain below 10° C, it is hardy to -4°C for a short period. Assure a good ventilation.
Reproduction: From seed, since the plant rarely produces plantlets, or grafted.