Xerophyte

Habit

It stays usually solitary, but sometimes branches forming small dense clumps.

Seeds

About 1 mm long, kidney-shaped, pitted, brown, with hilum lateral.

Description

Escobaria orcuttiiSN|10358]]SN|10358]] is a small clustering cactus species, with spines obscuring the stem and giving the plant a dull-white or pale brownish appearance. The flowers are rose-coloured.

Phenology

Flowering occurs in spring (April to May in habitat). Fruit are persistent into autumn.

Tubercles

4-8(-12) mm long, on mature stems with upper surface bearing a groove.

Flowers

Diurnal, rose-coloured, not opening widely to 1,2(-2) cm in diameter. Perianth segments pale yellowish to pinkish or nearly white, usually with midribs darker, stigmas about 6 long, white to pink.

Blooming Season

Blooms in early summer. Flowers open during the afternoon and only stay open for two hours or so.

Spines

Not well differentiated as centrals and radials.Central spines 9-22, thicker, white with dark purplish or brownish tips, 9-11(-22) mm long, often brittle and breaking readily at the touch.

Stem

Individual stems cylindrical, to 15 cm high and 4-6(-9) cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

30-50, white, slender, spreading and 8-25 mm long.

Fruits

Elongate, 1,5-2 cm long, green to somewhat reddish.