Xerophyte

Central Spines

3-4 protruding or outstretched 1-2,5 cm long, round in cross-section, creamy-white to yellowish turning grey with age.

Description

This is a very spiny clustering plant that can grow more than 100 heads per clump with beautiful orange/red short tube flowers. It has a whitish appearance due to spine colour.

Roots

Fibrous.

Flowers

Short tubular to funnel-shaped, 5 to 7 cm long and up to 5 cm in diameter, red with a lighter throat; stigma lobes green.

Ribs

9-10 flat.

Stem

Cylindrical, that branch profusely from the base, green 6-8 cm long and up to 3 cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

12 to 15, straight, acicular, 5-15 mm long, spreading out or add-pressed against the stem of the same colour of centrals.

Fruits

Egg-shaped, 8-12 mm long, 9-11 mm in diameter, greenish-brown splitting open at maturity.