Xerophyte

Central Spines

About 20, 30-60 mm long.

Roots

Large, tuberose yellowish.

Flowers

1-5 (or more) cm long and in diameter, borne at plant apex on young areoles, tubular to narrow funnel-form, showing various shades of purple-pink with clearer throat in the spring, 2,5-5 cm, 1-3 cm wide; Floral tube with tufts of white wool.

Spines

15 to 40 radials very dense, glassy, variable in colour from blond/white, yellow, brown to almost black, with darker tips; straight to strongly curled and tangled, some hairlike soft and flexible, other needle-like and stiff, of variable length, obscuring the plant body and becoming longer with age.

Ribs

13 to 21 notched somehow depressed between the areoles.

Stem

Purplish and solitary, globose to short columnar, 6-18 cm tall, 5-8 cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

15-40 20-60 mm long.

Fruits

Elongate to clavate, reddish opening by basal pores at maturity.curled and tangled, some hairlike soft and flexible, other needle-like and stiff, of variable length, obscuring the plant body and becoming longer with age.

Areoles

Woolly.