Xerophyte

Habit

It is essentially a miniature plant simple at first, that readily forms a clustering mound of tiny heads.

Seeds

Hemispheric to helmet-shaped. black, papillate.

Phenology

It flowers profusely in spring.

Roots

Fleshy tap root.

Flowers

Large, funnel-shaped, long-necked, 4 cm in diameter, 4,5-5,5 cm long, orange-red. Tube up to 3 cm long 2-3 mm across, solid for more than half its length, red-orange with a pinkish or lilac blush to the outer tepals.

Spines

24-26 all radials, about 5 mm long, distinctively silvery-white, dense, spreading and somewhat pectinate, covering almost completely the small stems in a spiral pattern.

Stem

Heads compressed spherical to shortly cylindrical 2,5 cm wide, rarely higher than 3 cm or more.

Fruits

4 mm in diameter, deep crimson to purple.

Areoles

Small, brown and elongated 1-2 mm long, forming 35-40 spirals.