Xerophyte

Habit

It is a slow growing clustering cactus that may forms clumps of many heads.

Central Spines

None or 1 to 2 ± distant and erect, whitish with darker base.

Seeds

1,2-1,4 mm long and 1-1,2 mm wide.

Phenology

Flowers are produced in late spring and remain open for three or four days.

Roots

Conical multi-branched.

Flowers

Buds greenish, brownish to reddish, from the basal, older areoles, up to 40 mm long and 50 mm wide, odourless to slightly muffin smelling. More or less bi-coloured, red, often more brownish or violet at the tips, throat usually paler red or fading in orange or yellow, but less frequently uniformly red , light-violet or even white. Floral tube funnel-shaped yellowish-green or yellowish-red with tan coloured scales. Filaments yellowish with reddish bases, style yellowhish, with 5-6 stigma lobes.

Ribs

With raised tubercles (3-5 mm wide) . In older plants tubercles are arranged in up to 13(-16) spiral line merging in the apex.

Stem

Rapidly offsetting from the base, small, dull grey-green, individual stems 2,5 cm tall, 3 cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

11 to 14, fine, bristly, 1,5-3 mm long tight, pectinate, pointing diagonally and downward. Whitish with brownish base partially interlaced.

Fruits

Reddish to brownish approx 6 mm wide, with brown scales. Under the lowest scales usually it is possible to find some fine, white hair.

Areoles

Narrow with short white felt 5 mm long, 1 mm wide.