Xerophyte

Habit

Solitary or branching around the base and forming small mounds up to 10 cm in diameter (or more) barely rising above ground level.

Central Spines

1-4.

Seeds

Strongly warty with a large hilum.

Flowers

Several, orange, growing in a ring from around the base of the stem. Funnel-shaped up to 3 cm long and in diameter. Pericarpel with 7-8 scales with a solid tube having scales with axillary hairs. Perianth disc-shaped; outer perianth-segments lanceolate, purple, 4 to 5 mm long; inner perianth-segments 15, red to orange, 5 to 18 mm long; pericarpel bristly, 6 mm in diameter with about 7-8 scales with axillary hairs; tube 1,5 cm long firm; styles pink stigma-lobes white; stamens with white filaments; anthers yellow.

Spines

10-12, brownish, rigid 4-20 mm long, acicular and stiff. becoming white with a rusty brown tip and eventually white finally almost transparent white.

Ribs

10-14 not prominent, somewhat spiraled, more or less tuberculate. Tubercles conical 5 x 7-8 mm.

Stem

Globular to more or less cylindrical, sometimes tapering apically, dark shiny green, 5 to 6 cm high, up to 3,5 cm in diameter (but often more in cultivation).

Radial Spines

7-14.

Areoles

Whitish grey 7-11 mm apart.