Xerophyte

Note

Latin 'ignescens', present participle of the verb 'ignescere' to become inflamed, on fire, from 'ignis' fire. The specific epithet alludes to the characteristic red colour of the spines and of the flowers.

Flowers

Red to orange-yellow up to 3.5 centimetres long.

Spines

About 20, arising only in the upper areoles. Erect, reddish brown, dark with age, very crowded, up to 10(-26) cm long. Glochids straw yellow 3.5-5.5 cm long.

Stem

Up to 9 cm long and 4 cm in diameter, strong, oval, apex more or less conical and pointed with noticeable tubercles in the upper part. Some of them are strong, others thinner.

Fruits

Fleshy, finally dry and pulp-less, barrel-shaped filled with numerous spines up to 6 centimetres long on the edge.

Areoles

About 15 the basal ones small spineless, the upper ones located on the top of the joints larger and spiny.