Xerophyte

Central Spines

1 to 7 slightly stronger, 2 to 5 cm long,

Seeds

1,25 mm.

Description

Solitary cactus with showy dull-white or brownish blooms, tannish-green stems and long thin spinesthat are not easily distinguished as centrals or radials. This species is quite variable and of very controversial classification.

Roots

Fibrous to tuberose often separated by a narrower neck.

Flowers

Up to 3,5 cm long and broad, funnel-form, diurnal, produced by younger areoles at the woolly apex, dull white to pale brow. Pericarpel and floral tube with bracts, wool and bristles.

Ribs

13-17 in adult specimen about 7-12 mm tall, tubercled.

Stem

Flattened, sub-globular or shortly cylindrical 9-14 cm in diameter, glaucous-green, dark olive green to tannish-green.

Radial Spines

10 to15, about 1,5-4 cm long, needle-like and more or less curved inward, pale yellowish, brownish or dark grey with a darker tip.

Fruits

2 x 1,5 cm, more or less elongated, green or reddish-green, deishing by basal pores.

Areoles

5-20 mm apart.