Xerophyte

Habit

It is a small usually solitary or slowly offsetting around its base. In cultivation it is often found a very free branching form that readily fulfils a large bowl with dozen of heads in a few years.

Central Spines

3 or 4, very similar to the radials. One of the centrals appears longer than all others, and and may occasionally be more or less hooked.

Flowers

Small, funnel-shaped, apical, mostly orange tinged with red or rusty-red (but ranging in color from yellow through pink to scarlet) 2-3.5 cm wide. Dried flowers remain for a long time on the plant body after blooming.

Blooming Season

Spring to summer, but with favorable conditions this one blooms almost all year, just taking "catnaps" in-between.

Ribs

About 15 -16 (or more), forming small tubercles.

Stem

Small, greyish-green to dull green, attaining about 8 cm in diameter and 4,5 cm in height.

Radial Spines

9-15 or so, thin, whitish grey or yellow with a brownish tip, more or less curved (which is a useful recognition factor)

Fruits

Red or green, with white hairs.

Areoles

Young areoles are relatively large, and filled with abundant white wool. Later they are naked.