Xerophyte

Seeds

Large and black 1 to 1,4 mm long.

Description

Obregonia denegriiSN|2100]]SN|2100]] f. cristata (crested form), only deviate from the standard species for the stem which is fan shaped up to 30 cm (or more) long with age.The typical Obregonia denegriiSN|2100]]SN|2100]] (commonly known as the "artichoke cactus") is among the most famous of all cacti for is unique shaped stem. It grows almost always as a solitary plant levelled with the ground, with the sunk and woolly apex. It is considered an intermediate form between Ariocarpus and Lophophora.

Roots

Thick taproot.

Tubercles

Not imbricate, deeply cut like an artichoke, triangular, prominent, leaf like, flat above, keeled below and with a basal ridge.

Flowers

The flowers grow between the wool of the apex, in the centre of the stem on young tubercles, they are funnel-shaped white diurnal, up to 2.5 cm in diameter, 2.5-3 cm long. External perianth segments greyish, pericarpel naked or with few scales. Filaments reddish purple or pink, anthers yellow, style white and stigma lobes white.

Blooming Season

Summer.

Spines

2 to 4 whitish to brown about 5 to 15 mm long in the young tubercles, ± soft flexible, slightly curved and often rapidly shedding.

Stem

Solitary, greyish green to dark green, fan-shaped with a woolly linear meristematic apex, it grows up to 30 (or more) cm in width and ap to 15 cm thick.

Fruits

Hidden in the wool, pear-shaped, white naked, fleshy and edible that dry when mature. The withered flowers remaining attached.

Areoles

Small at the tips of the tubercles, with wool when young.