Xerophyte

Description

The seedlings of Uebelmannia pectiniferaSN|14312]]SN|14312]] var. eriocactoides closely resemble to juvenile plants of Eriocactus leninghausii, hence the name. This taxon differs from the related taxa of the Uebelmannia pectiniferaSN|14312]]SN|14312]] complex also for it tall upright habit

Note

The variability range within var. eriocactoides is very limited

Flowers

Diurnal, funnel-shaped greenish yellow. They are 15 mm long, 12 mm in diameter.

Spines

The spines in juvenile plants up to 5-8 cm in diameter are 11-20 per areole very dense golden-yellow to whitish-yellow, about 10 mm long and resemble to those of the genus Eriocactus thy are short, fine needle-like, pointing diagonally and horizontally often curved downwards, but as the plant ages the spines decrease in number, become longer, straight and almost pectinately arranged, up to 40mm long, turn greyish and easily fall off from old areoles. New yellow brown spines contrast nicely with older spines, which are grey.

Ribs

18-25 straight.

Stem

Clavate to shortly columnar, 30-50(-80) cm tall. At maturity, the stems become spineless at the base and have a white or bluish patina on the skin near the top. The stem appears almost completely covered with conspicuous, young, golden-yellow spines. Apex usually not woolly. The newly growing stem apex is light green, soon covered by a coating.

Areoles

Closely set, located individually on the ribs and not joined into a single line.