Xerophyte

Description

Habit

Phenology

Blooming time April/May

Flowers

On the new growth of the current season near the apex of the stem. Yellowhis, bell-shaped, with a brownish central midstripe, 2.5-4.5 cm wide.

Spines

Central spines usually 3-4, flattened, ± flexible, grooved, twisted, papery in texture, 4-5 cm long. Often obscuring the surface of the stem. Radial spines parallel to the stem surface, 6-8 per cluster, ashy-white, 3-9 mm long.

Stem

Green, up to 20 cm tall and 6-12 cm in diameter. It has vertical ribs with elongate tubercles.

Fruits

Green, often changing to tan, spherical, 1.2-2.0 cm long, dry and dehiscent at maturity along a dorsal slit and around the circumscissile apex.

Areoles

0.1-0.5 cm in diameter at the summits of the tubercles, and generally 0.3-1,5 cm apart. Glands, which are homologous with spines, are frequently on the adaxial sides of areoles which do not produce flowers