Xerophyte

Central Spines

Hooked, 5-12 cm long.

Description

The Glandulicactus wrightiiSN|3499]]SN|3499]] f. cristatus is a nice crested form with fan-shaped branches. There exist also the standard species, not crested, which is a medium sized solitary cactus with long central hooked spines .

Roots

Tap root.

Flowers

Relatively small, Approx. 2-4 cm. long, 2-3 cm in diameter. Very distinctive brick-red to purplish or brownish purple, usually dark or dull. (Much the colour of Mammillaria pottsiiSN|9355]]SN|9355]] flowers). Several flowers usually develop together at the stem apex.

Blooming Season

Spring (March-May), the flowers remain open for up to twelve days.

Spines

New spines in young areoles are pink to reddish, later straw coloured to pale grey.

Ribs

Protruding, 9-15 mm hight, 6-10 mm wide, deeply notched and thus almost divide in tubercles,

Stem

Globose or short columnar glaucous green or greyish green in colour, up to 15 cm tall, and not more than 8 cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

8-10 , abaxial 3 hooked , nearly as thick as central spines 15-45 mm long.

Fruits

Roundish, bright red, with numerose conspicuous white fringed scales, pulp mealy. Fruiting May-June. it is common to see several fruit developing simultaneously at the stem apex.