Xerophyte

Description

Tiny offsetting species with a globose stem, slowly growing atop a thick, underground taproot, with a constriction between the stem and the root, eventually becoming somewhat elongated in cultivation.

Roots

Forms a tuberous root system with (usually) a very large carrot-like root of at least 7 cm in length.

Tubercles

Smaller tubercles than the type.

Flowers

Pale yellow to pale reddish, with a silky shine, funnel-form; buds hairy with brown wool.

Blooming Season

Late spring. Flowers already when young, synchronised flowering of the whole plants takes place over one or two days, and they remain open for about three or four days.

Spines

Short brown to black coloured radials of small size 2 to 5 mm.

Stem

Slow growing, up to 3-5 cm across, 2-6 cm tall, brown-olive-grey tones

Fruits

Large, red, clavate, wrapped in white wool.

Areoles

Grey, woolly.