Xerophyte

Habit

Caespitose, with a turnip-like root.

Central Spines

Absent or one or two thicker up to 3 cm long.

Roots

Roots-strong, long, thick, narrower at top.

Flowers

Campanulate 3 cm long and grow from the centre of the white wool at the apex. Outer segments of the perianth are linear and greenish; inner segments are wide, blunt and yellow suffused in red.

Ribs

There about 11-13 tuberculate ribs with a rounded, raised edge and a wide base.

Stem

Elongated-globose 20-30 cm high, 5-15 cm across, pale to bright green and covered with copious white wool at the apex, particularly at flowering time.

Radial Spines

8-10 fairly slender or slightly curved horizontal, dark amber, brown or black becoming grey with age.

Areoles

Apical, 5-8 mm in diameter, depressed or convex, covered with short wool when young, later glabrous about 0,5-0,8 cm, 2 cm apart.