Xerophyte

Description

In recent times Morawetzia sericataSN|6097]]SN|6097]] has been referred to Oreocereus (Oreocereus doelzianus var. sericatus), but differing from other Oreocereus in forming a cephalium of wool and long bristles on the ends of the flowering shoots. The flowers are carmine. They form low colonies of slender cerei with many erect stems, branched from the base or a little above ground.

Flowers

Has deep purplish pink, vermilion-red blossoms to about 10 x 3 cm. Scales of tube with numerous loose axillary hairs, limb oblique with rounded petals.

Spines

Stems are covered in long, white, hair-like, silky spines without bristle tufts, (which becomes more dense in strong light) to protect them from the mountain cold and hot sun. Hidden in this white down are up to 20, to 3 cm long, stout, needle-like spines yellow or straw-coloured. 4 long centrals sometime develops later.

Stem

Bright green with blunt ribs that protrude less than 1 cm and are slightly prominent where the areoles are borne. Stems up to about 1 m tall x 6-8 cm in diameter.

Fruits

Ovoid to spherical, yellowish or greenish opening basally.

Areoles

Circular, greyish-white and felted, separated by slight depressions, 1,5 cm apart.