Xerophyte

Habit

Simple at first it slowly ramifies from the base to form clusters.

Description

Echinopsis pentlandiiSN|10595]]SN|10595]] cv. Yellow (forma albinica), is a chlorophyll-less mutant with distinctive bright yellow stems, it is unable to produce protochlorophyll or chlorophyll. Albinism is a genetic aberration where there is a total absence of pigments. An "albinos" plant therefore is one with no pigment whatsoever, it will have totally white or cream stems or leaves. The yellow appearance of this "albinos" E. pentlandii is more precisely caused by an aberration called "schizochromism". Here, though, the specific green pigment (chlorophyll) is missing

Flowers

Diurnal, funnel shaped, variously coloured (depending clone), up to 6 cm long, 5 cm diameter. Tube relatively stout up to 1 cm in diameter. Inner perianth-segments, narrowly obovate, abruptly acute, spreading. Scales on ovary and flower-tube lanceolate with short-hairs in their axils.

Blooming Season

Blooms are produced in spring and remain open for about three days.

Spines

Variable, all radial or sometime with one central, often difficult to distinguish as centrals and radials, brownish. Usually less than 3 cm long, but often longer in old specimens.

Ribs

About 9-12, sharp edged, broken into long acute, hatchet-shaped, tubercles, separated by acute intervals.

Stem

Ovoid or cylindrical, but usually higher than broad, somewhat umbilicate at apex, yellow.

Areoles

Felted about 1,5-2 cm apart.