Xerophyte

Central Spines

2-4 to 6 mm long.

Description

Frailea alexandriSN|33228]]SN|33228]] is the only Paraguayan species with shortly columnar stems. The stems are solitary, but may occasionally produce a few shoots with age. The flowers open open normally only in great heat in the hottest, brightest, afternoon sun, if at all, but even unopened flowers (cleistogamous flowers), produce fruits with viable seeds without the need for pollination, hence the buds rarely reach full bloom and remain closed.

Flowers

Funnel shaped 20-30 mm long and wide, yellow, some petals are flushed red.

Ribs

About 15, broken down into small tubercles.

Stem

Globular to shortly cylindrical 15- 30 mm in diameter and up to 7 cm tall, epidermis dark green that takes a red tinge when exposed to direct sunlight.

Radial Spines

13 to 15 straight, spreading, yellowish, later darker, 2-4 mm long.

Areoles

Filled with whitish felt.