Xerophyte

Central Spines

3-8, longer and stronger than the radials (15-35 mm long) pale greyish brown, with slightly darker brown tips.

Note

The name longigibba, meaning "long humpy", refers to the large tubercles that helps distinguish this cactus from the other related taxon.

Flowers

Approx 3 cm long and wide in diameter golden yellow, or paler yellow, the tepals often darker-tipped. The flowers are produced near the crown of the plant especially near the very tips of the stem or at the shoulder of the stem.

Blooming Season

The flowers are produced in early summer and remain open for five or six days.

Ribs

16-18 tuberculate, often spiraling. Tubercles large and prominent 25-40 mm long, 15-25 mm wide, and 10 to over 15 mm high, steep, lacking a chin below the areole.

Stem

At fist solitary often clustering from around the base with age, globose to short cylindrical , light green, with a spiny crown, not depressed, 5 to 9 cm, or more in cultivation, later becoming 2 or 3 times as tall as broad.

Radial Spines

7-12, similarly coloured, 10-25 mm long, the upper the longer, straight or a little curved.

Fruits

Longish, pale green, about 10 mm long and 6 mm wide.

Areoles

8 to 12 mm long, 3 to 6 mm wide, with pale brownish wool, more developed in the younger, upper part of the stem, the areole groove continues downwards as a dividing furrow between the tubercles.