Xerophyte

Central Spines

1 curved upwards, at first black-bluish that becomes greyish-white with darker tip 7-20 mm long.

Seeds

Black.

Description

Usually solitary cactus almost completely concealed by spines and wool.

Tubercles

Conical, well-developed, 3-8mm high.

Flowers

White with a greenish base, 10-18 mm long, generally 30 mm wide but can be up to 70 mm wide.

Ribs

15-15 tubercled.

Stem

Globular depressed, 40-160 mm high, 70-200 mm wide, yellowish-green with a very woolly apex.

Radial Spines

16-20 radiating, partially pectinated, straight, whitish 2-10 mm long. The young spines have a yellow base, a white median zone and a dark brown tip, then they become white and translucent.

Fruits

Dry, dehising from a lateral fissure.

Areoles

Oblong, at first very woolly then almost naked.