Xerophyte

Central Spines

1 to 6 stronger and more than 2 cm long as well.

Seeds

Small, black glossy.

Description

Copiapoa taltalensisSN|1391]]SN|1391]] is a perennial geophytic succuculent with rounded stems arising from a large tuberose root.

Roots

Tuberous.

Flowers

Diurnal closing at night, protracting the period of opening many days and arising on the crown, often several at a time, nearly hidden in the dense wool. They are glossy, pale yellow or reddish, with broad limb, 3,5-4,2 cm long and up to 5,5 cm in diameter, and with a faint scent. The filaments, anthers and style are yellow, the 7 to 12 lobed stigma darker. The ovary measures about 1 cm across.

Spines

Straight or slightly curved, white to yellow to brown to black (later grey).

Ribs

10 to 17 prominent, not wavy, divided into large tubercles about 7 mm high.

Stem

Globose to short cylindrical, 5 to 15 cm or more tall, and 5 to 10 cm in diameter, pale green or olive green eventually lightly tinged with brown in the sun, globular flattened in the young plant, later columnar, crowned by a dense mass of silky brownish wool, particularly at flowering time.

Fruits

Globose to ovoid scaly.

Habit

It is solitary, or sprouting very sparingly from the base to form large clump up to 50 cm tall.

Blooming Season

Flowers throughout the whole summer.

Radial Spines

7-12 about 2 cm long.

Areoles

Round covered with white or brown felt up to 1 cm apart.