Xerophyte

Central Spines

1, sometime appearing very late, often not in all areoles, at first black, then grey-white and spotty, whit black tip. 15-20 mm long, porrect, curved downward, thick and stiff.

Seeds

Reniform, brown 1,5 x1 mm wide, testa reticulate.

Description

Mostly branched with age, forming clumps.

Roots

Diffuse or short taproots.

Tubercles

Conical, later rounded pyramidal, strongly elongated upward, with a pronounced groove on upper surface, dimension about 1-1,2 cm long, width at the base 15 mm. Parastichy number 8-13. Axil woolly only near the stem apex.

Flowers

Nearly apical, funnelform, 3,5 cm wide, pale yellow (sometimes pinkish and proximally reddish). Perianth segment entire, lanceolate, the outer one with a reddish midstripe.

Stem

Lime green, 6 cm in diameter, 5-7 cm tall, apex depressed with white wool.

Radial Spines

14-18, grey-white, radiating, horizontal to slightly protruding, straight, acicular up to 1,6 cm long largely obscuring the stem, upper 2-3 more closely set, lower ones horn coloured, upper ones brownish coloured later turning grey from the base.

Fruits

Green, ovoid, slimy; floral remnant strongly persistent, fruiting 2-4 months after flowering.

Areoles

Round, ± 2 in diameter with white wool in youth.