Xerophyte

Seeds

Oval, 1,2x0,7 mm, black brown, shiny, relief flat to low-domed. The hilum is large, basal and superficial.

Description

Geohintonia is a monospecific genus discovered in 1992. It is a strongly ribbed cactus of unique appearance.

Flowers

2 x2-4 cm, rich pink to magenta and open during the day; they are born in on top of the plant. Pericarpel and lower part of the tube naked, white. Upper part of the tube with small acute scale, with densely hairy axil bearing 1 cm long white bristles. Stigma 5-6 mm long, yellowish white.

Blooming Season

Flowers intermittently throughout the warm months from spring to autumn.

Spines

Few, very short (3 to 15 mm), triangular, curved, flatened and corky, soon papery a brittle deciduous. Easily detached from the base.

Ribs

Numerous (18-20) and well distinct.

Stem

Usually solitary, dark green/brown covered by a glaucous/grey pruina, globose becoming slowly columnar, up to 10 cm or more, 10 cm in diameter with a woolly apex.

Fruits

Hidden in apical wool, ovoidal (approx 9x4-5 mm), thin walled, pale, drying and breaking off below the middle.

Areoles

Large, discrete, at first with long wool, later nearly naked.