Xerophyte

Central Spines

0(-3) per areole, if 1, erect, if 2, ascending-spreading, 8-20 mm long.

Description

Escobaria missouriensisSN|9953]]SN|10274]] (a.k.a. Neobesseya missouriensisSN|10277]]SN|10277]]) is a low growing winter hardy cactus species. This is one of the most variable species in the genus and has lots of unnecessary synonyms ( like many other cacti) and comprises a multitude of different regional forms as well as various cryptic allied species. But where each form is linked to others by populations of plants with intermediate characteristics.

Stigma

3-7, green or yellowish, 1-5 mm.

Roots

Diffuse or short taproots, sometimes adventitious from bases of branches.

Tubercles

5-21 soft; areolar glands absent.

Flowers

Nearly apical, 18-50 mm long, 15-50 mm wide tepals, fringed (rarely entire), pale greenish yellow to yellow-green, with midstripes of green or rose-pink to pale brown.

Spines

6-21 per areole, slightly pubescent, bright white, pale grey, or pale tan, weathering to grey or yellowish brown, dark brownish orange to pale brown or pale greyish pink tips present on all or only the largest plants.

Stem

Deep-seated in substrate, becoming flat-topped and nearly subterranean in winter, 2-8 wide, 1-10 cm tall.

Fruits

Bright orange-red to scarlet when mature, spheric to ellipsoid, 5-10 mm, slightly succulent but not juicy, floral remnant weakly persistent, often lost through weathering.

Habit

Unbranched or profusely branched (eastern populations) and occasionally forming clumps up to 30 cm in diameter.

Filaments

Brighter pink than inner tepals, pinkish with greenish white bases, or uniformly whitish.

Note

At first glance it seems very much like Escobaria viviparaSN|10274]]SN|9953]] but the strange copper flower colour and brightly coloured fruit will quickly distinguish it. Though not exactly showy, the straw-yellow, brown, or amber flowers are quite appealing, as are the bright red fruit that persist from late summer to spring. It is variable over its huge range, and worth obtaining in various forms.

Anthers

Bright yellow.

Radial Spines

6-20 per areole, moderately to tightly appressed, 4-16 mm

Areoles

With short white wool, not obscuring the basal portion of the spine.