Xerophyte

Central Spines

3-4, up to 6 cm long.

Seeds

Cap-shaped, nearly as broad as long, black, finely areolate-papillale.

Description

Weingartia westiiSN|14935]]SN|14935]] is a very spiny and usually simple cactus.

Flowers

One per areole nearly apical, approx 4- 5 cm tall 3,5-4,5 cm in diameter, narrow funnel-shaped with short tube, tepals yellow (occasionally white) with a neat staminal throat ring.

Blooming Season

Spring to early summer and remain open for five or six days.

Spines

Very dense, acicular, spreading, thin, elastic, interlacing and almost completely covering the stem, not easily distinguishable as centrals and radials creamy-grey, straw-coloured to brownish..

Ribs

Completely divided into round spiralling tubercles.

Stem

About 10 to 20 cm tall, 6 to 20 cm in diameter, spherical to short-columnar, yellowish-green, grey-green or purple tinged and connected though a thin neck to the strong tuberous root.

Radial Spines

7-9 similar to the central up to 4 cm long.

Fruits

Small, spherical-ovoidal or tear-drop-shaped, olive green to tannish-brown, thin-skinned at maturity, dehiscing basally or on the side, with few seeds.

Areoles

Large, felted and somewhat raised.