Xerophyte

Flowers

Solitary from the upper parts of the branches, large white tinted pink. Perianth tube 12-15 cm long with spreading tepals that form a bloom as wide as the length of the tube. Stamens numerous. The large white flowers open at night bat remain open 'till mid-morning and are thus probably pollinated by bats.

Blooming Season

Mature plants (more than 25 years old) bloom in spring or summer (January and February) and they fruit in autumn (March and April).

Spines

6-9 of unequal length, the biggest 5-10 cm long, straight, sturdy, and sharp enough to be used as toothpicks, hence the common name. At first white, the spines gradually become black.

Ribs

8-9 high, blunt, and more or less scalloped.

Stem

S. coryne has a very short trunk from which sprout numerous, up to 100 or more up-right and ascending, stout branches that branch again above and form a broad head.
Deeply ribbed, with new growth emerging purplish blue-green and ageing to olive green.