Xerophyte

Roots

Turnip-like, fleshy with numerous lateral fine fibrous roots.

Flowers

Mostly deep pink, red, purple, but also yellow, orange or white.

Blooming Season

Mature plants produce several waves of blooms over the growing season.

Spines

Arranged like little spiders, cream coloured, yellowish or brownish, turning greyish eventually.

Stem

Green to dark green, spherical more or less flattened usually less than 4 cm tall in habitat (but often larger in cultivation). It has up to 20 ribs, with raised tubercles between which the areoles appear. The tubercles are spirally arranged on the stem's surface. In nature plants usually grow flat with the ground most of the year, contracting under the soil to endure drought periods. In culture plants grow larger forming depressed round stems.