Xerophyte

Description

Solitary spherical to columnar cactus, 10-25 cm in diameter and 7-30 cm tall or more, depending on the variety.

Note

Echinopsis mammillosa (and particularly the carmine flowered variety kermesina) is often used in hybridization, and is an important component of some modern Echinopsis hybrids, lending its large showy flower structure to these hybrids.

Flowers

Up to 20 cm long, 10 cm wide. The variety "kermesina" differs from the white-flowerd Echinopsis mamillosa for the pink to carmine coloured flowers.The flowers of this species are characterized by relatively short curved floral tube scales and unusual seeds.

Blooming Season

This species will produce flowers in the summer when only 8 cm in diameter. The blossoms open at night and last about 24 hours.

Stem

Large and globular, with many ribs divided into low rounded tubercles.