Xerophyte

Central Spines

1 stronger and straight.

Description

Solitary and very slow growing species.

Note

In cultivation it is possible to find two distinct form called "RED FORM" and "YELLOW FORM". The yellow type form has yellow young spines and it is also greener in colour, while the red form (with red young spines) tend to have a redder epidermis (especially in winter). This 2 forms are not cultivars but simply selected plants raised from controlled pollination from naturally yellow and red specimens. Natural populations comprises a mix of red, yellow and intermediate spines colours.

Flowers

Pale yellow

Spines

Young spines at the plant apex are red or yellow. But all the spines as they ages become grey with a darker tip (almost black).

Stem

At first globular then semi-cylindrical, 40 cm diameter, 60 cm tall. Epidermis is grey-green or purple-bluish (in full sun).

Radial Spines

7-8.