Xerophyte

Habit

It is a small very slow growing clustering cactus.

Seeds

Brown, curved and reticulate.

Description

Pelecyphora aselliformisSN|855]]SN|855]] (commonly known as the "Hatchet Cactus") is among the most famous of all cacti for is unique shaped stem.

Tubercles

Laterally flattened, elongated, arranged in spirals.

Flowers

Pink to violet flowers with lighter outside petals, 2-3,5 cm in diameter. The floral buds are acuminate and appear on the apex.

Blooming Season

It normally flowers from February till October, but only if the sunlight is strong enough.

Spines

40 to 60 pectinated.

Stem

Spherical to shortly cylindrical, 5-10 cm tall, 2-5 cm in diameter. The stem in young plant is quite different, very thin, pencil-like or clavate.

Fruits

Dry, papery.

Areoles

Oval shaped areoles. Areoles in this species are clearly dimorphic, much as in the mammillarias, but the vestigial groove is reminiscent of Coryphantha and related genera.