Xerophyte

Habit

It is a small globose highly branching cactus that forms large clumps.

Leaves

A most peculiar trait of this plant are the vestigial leaves on young areoles. This is an ancestral trait not manifested in the normal plant. This trait is revealed thanks to a mutation that permits this odd cultivar to show the characteristic of bearing leaves, reminding us of an ancient era when its cacti ancestors were normal leafed plants. “Leaves” are very small, green cone-like, on the tubercles tip.

Central Spines

Not seen.

Description

Eriosyce gerocephala f. monstruosa is a monstrous highly branching cactus with very short bristly spines that forms dense clumps. This form reproduces vegetatively and it is possible to find clones with different degrees of monstrosity or deformity.

Note

This is a very distinctive plant even without flowers. It’s very different from the common long and dense spiny form. Maybe we can call it a freak?

Flowers

not seen.

Spines

Very short, thin, white, bristly, spreading.

Stem

Globose up to 6 cm tall and wide freely branching and retaining the basic spherical structure with spiralling tubercled ribs.

Fruits

Not seen.

Areoles

Large, white and felty, they are arranged geometrically and contrast with the stem.