Xerophyte

Habit

Simple at first it slowly ramifies from the base to form clusters.

Central Spines

Usually absent.

Roots

Tap root.

Flowers

Diurnal, funnel shaped, dark purple to pink lilac, with a usual clearer centre, 6 cm long, 5 cm diameter. Tube relatively stout up to 1 cm in diameter. Inner perianth-segments, narrowly obovate, abruptly acute, spreading. Stamens and style much shorter than the inner perianth-segments. Style below green, above yellow. Scales on ovary and flower-tube lanceolate with short hairs in their axils.

Blooming Season

Blooms are produced in spring and remain open for about three days.

Spines

Variable, stout, all radial or sometime with one central.

Ribs

9–12, sharp edged, broken into long acute, hatchet-shaped, tubercles, separated by acute intervals.

Stem

Low thick flat, or spherical, but usually broader than high, somewhat umbilicate at apex, bright green, dark green, up to 4 cm tall and 12 cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

9–12, somewhat pectinated, slightly curved backward, pale grey to whitish, thickened at the base.

Fruits

Subglobose, 10 to 12 mm in diameter.

Areoles

Felted about 1,5 cm apart.