Xerophyte

Habit

It is more or less cespitose typically with about 10-12 stems (but often only 2 or 3).

Central Spines

Solitary, acicular, porrect, with very bulbous base, perpendicular to stem surface, 12-18 mm long or more, dull white to yellow or brown often with dark brown base, yellow zone in middle, brown tip..

Description

Echinocereus papillosusSN|8474]]SN|8474]] is a low growing cactus with extremely attractive and impressive blooms. The flowers are bright yellow, 10-12 cm wide, with a red throat in spring.

Tubercles

Conical about 1 cm high, with areoles on tip, 10-12 mm apart, separated by deep valleys which almost interrupt ribs continuity.

Flowers

Extremely attractive and impressive and delicately fragrant. Bright yellow, 12 cm wide, with a red throat, with rather few perianth-segments 4 to 6 cm long, oblong-spatulate, acuminate, more or less serrate. Ovary covered with red scales and white spines up to 6 mm long.. Filaments reddish; anthers light yellow. Style white 10-13 mm broad, stigma lobes green.

Blooming Season

Spring (early April-May).

Ribs

6 to 10, prominent, extremely notched.

Stem

Small, cylinder-shaped, usually erect but sometimes decumbent or ascending, and sprawling, basally branching, pale to dark green (tan colour in full sun), 5-30 cm long, 2-4 cm thick.

Radial Spines

About 7-11, acicular, stright, bristle-like, round, from bulbous bases, spreading, dull white to yellow, 10-12 mm. long or less, upper 2-3 much shorter.

Fruits

A small green berry covered with short bristles.

Areoles

Small, bare.