Xerophyte

Description

Neoporteria nidusSN|21601]]SN|21601]] a controversial species with its stem wrapped by very long curved spines, soft, grey and not-prickly. Short pink flowers with clearer throat up to 3 cm long manage to work their way through these spines. N. nidus belongs to the Eriosyce senilisSN|2896]]SN|2896]] complex. This complex comprises a large number of infraspecific taxa (such as

Flowers

Rather slender, 3(-4) cm long, various shades of purple-pink with clearer throat, inner perianth-segments narrow, acute; scales on the flower-tube woolly and setose.

Ribs

16 to 18, obtuse, strongly tubercled.

Stem

Generally simple, somewhat glaucous, short-cylindrical, 5 cm long, 5 to 6 cm in diameter, the top covered by the slender ascending connivent spines.

Areoles

Large, circular; spines weak, numerous, sometimes 30 in a cluster, unequal, white, the longest 3 cm long, bulbose at base.