Xerophyte

Habit

It is a small cereus like cactus, at first solitary then with time forming small irregular few branched clusters, with stems, either ascending or prostrate, somewhat jointed hidden under a dense cover of spines.

Central Spines

1 to 4, stouter than the radials, one of them pointing downwards strongly hooked, 2-5 cm long.

Seeds

Black and pitted.

Description

Cochemiea pondiiSN|9642]]SN|9642]] subsp. setispina (syn

Roots

Fibrous or moderately thickened.

Tubercles

Short; axils of tubercles woolly but not setose.

Flowers

Large, produced near the plants tip from axils of tubercles, scarlet, 5 cm long, 2 cm wide, zygomorphic with a long hypanthium, segment flaring and tips reflexed.

Blooming Season

March – April (sometime blooms a second time in Autumn)

Stem

Ascending, 30 cm high.

Radial Spines

10 to 12, white with black tips, widely spreading, unequal, 10 to 34 mm long, slender.

Fruits

Obovoid, 3 cm long, scarlet.