Xerophyte

Description

Small mat forming cactus

Flowers

From the basal portion of the stem, ca. 5 cm long and 4-8 cm broad, outer petals somewhat overlapping and violet-violet-pink to purple sharpened, with yellowish throats, Stamens more or less to the stylus bent. Red, yellow, white or intermediate colours are also common in habitat and in cultivation, too.

Spines

Needle-like, more or less curved and interlaced with one another, radials 4-15, centrals 1-3, to 6 cm long, gold-yellow to brown.

Ribs

12-20 sharp-edged with inclined protuberances.

Stem

5 -10 cm wide, basally branching.