Xerophyte

Central Spines

1 or 2, well developed spreading to erect (or slightly curved). 1 to 9 cm long.

Seeds

Shining black, 4-5 mm long (the larger of all the columnar cacti)

Description

It is one of the most massive columnar, treelike cacti in the world, often 7 to 15 m tall, The runk is short but very large often branching within 0,5-3 m of the base with many massive branch. This very spectacular species rivals the size and majesty of Carnegia gigantea (Sahuaro)

Flowers

White with reddish brown exterior, showy with purplish outer petals, 5 to 10 cm long, with a floral tube covered with dense brown velvety wool. Tepals white, floral bracts 13-20 mm long.

Blooming Season

Unlike other columnar cacti it may flower at any time, even though late winter and spring is the most common. The flowers are nocturnal, open in the evening and closing about midday.

Spines

Few, sharp, rigid, white to grey.

Ribs

10-12 acute.

Stem

Individual branches, deep green, closely set, ascending, erect, relatively slender up to 12-18 cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

8-12 short, spreading.In mature specimen the areoles bear only a dense tuft of bristly spines, the longer one often 1-3 cm long.

Fruits

Red 6-7.5 cm in diameter splitting apart at maturity and densely covered with 5 cm long, golden yellow spines. they are relatively harm less and seldom penetrate the skin. The pulp is firm and scarcely juicy. The developing fruit appears to form large golden clusters on the arms, giving, the giant cacti an attractive appearance.

Areoles

Up to 1 cm in diameter.