Xerophyte

Description

Solitary or with many basal and lateral offshoots. This species has a wide range and shows a great variability

Flowers

(nearly 10 cm.) long. They are usually lemon yellow and bright yellow inside, but this species also has white, pink or red flowers. Blooms in flushes in late spring and occasionally in summer. Buds are covered by long silky hairs and grow laterally from the centre of the stem. The tube is slightly curved, funnel-shaped, slender and a greenish white, with pale green scales red at the base, with white and black down.

Spines

8 to 10 radials clear radial about 1 cm. long pointing outward, usually 4 central spines, 2 to 4(-6) cm long. The one to four central spines are thicker, sometimes flat, about 3 cm (up to 6cm) long, and brown to black with yellow tips.

Ribs

14 to 15 sharp-edged separated by deep grooves.

Stem

Dark green globular or elongated reaching a height of 15cm and a diameter of 4 to 10 cm or more.

Areoles

Brown on young plants.