Xerophyte

Central Spines

(2-)4-6, 1-2 sometimes hooked. Lower central spines (1-)3, dark coloured (reddish, to black, less often tan to brown), one (or two) hooked, 2-4 cm long. Lateral central spines usually 2, whitish, tan, red, or reddish brown, terete, 1-3 cm long. Upper central spines 1(-3) white, flattened, flexible, 20-60 mm long, 0.7-1.6 mm wide.

Seeds

Black, 2-2.5 mm long, 2.5-3 mm broad. Testa with rounded papillae.

Description

Sclerocactus spinosiorSN|13716]]SN|19510]] (desert valley fishhook cactus) is a rare cactus species usually solitary with spines frequently obscuring stems. This well-armed cactus is densely covered with creamy-white to black, flattened, flexible, and sometime hooked spines. The flowers are reddish purple to lavender and close to 4 cm across. Subspecies blainei has longer, white, ribbon-like spines.

Flowers

Narrowly funnelform to campanulate, reddish purple to violet or lavender, 2-5 cm long and 1-4 cm in diameter. Outer perianth segments with greenish brown or reddish brown midstripes and pink, violet-pink, or reddish purple margins, usually oblanceolate, 10-20 mm long, 4-7 mm wide, usually mucronate, margins nearly entire. Inner perianth segments reddish purple to lavender, oblanceolate to narrowly oblanceolate, 15-25 mm long, 6-8 mm wide, margins paler, nearly entire. Filaments yellow, green, red-violet, or pink. Anthers yellow. Styles minutely and sparsely papillate.

Blooming Season

Late spring (Apr-May).

Ribs

13-14, distinctly tuberculate.

Stem

The stem of a mature plant is, depressed globose to somewhat elongate, (2-)4-15(-23) cm long, and (1-)4-10(-15) cm in diameter, usually unbranched, light green to dark green, and glaucous.

Radial Spines

6-10(-12), white, spreading, 1-3.5 cm long, 0.3-1 mm wide, tipped white or dark.

Fruits

, Green to pink or pale red, barrel-shaped, 9-13 mm long, 8-12 mm wide, dry dehiscent along 2-4 vertical splits. Scales few, membranous.