Xerophyte

Seeds

1 mm long, 0.75 mm high.

Description

It is a small geophytic solitary cactus with a large tap-root, and only the apical part of the stem exposed at soil level.

Flowers

Cherry red to pink-magenta, with more intensely coloured mid-stripe 20-30 mm in diameter, 25-35 mm long, standing above the tubercles by about 10 mm, with approximately 22 inner (teptals), scale like perianth segments, more intensely red with pale edge. Pistil 15 mm long, white, standing above the stamens by around 2-4 mm, with 6 white, 1.5-2 (-2.5) mm-long stigma lobes.

Blooming Season

From March to October, mainly between April and June

Spines

3-5, up to 20 mm long, flattened, cardboard-like, grey with dark tip, irregularly bent inwards, frequently weathered, not piercing.

Ribs

Arranged in tubercles, these are 15 mm long and 13 mm wide at the base, slightly angular, upper side keeled, however concave at the base, clearly keeled on the underside, arranged in spirals, opposite contact parastichy with a number relationship of 5

Fruits

10 mm long, 5 mm in diameter, smooth, reddish-dark purple, brighter at the base, opening with 1-2 longitudinal tears.

Areoles

At first with reddish brown wool, later becoming grey.