Xerophyte

Habit

This plant forms a low column of straight or hooked spines, simple or branched at base with several stems.

Central Spines

1 to 4, often straight, but also somewhat arched or hooked, stout, the lower and longest about 3-4 cm long, white, creamy-yellow, yellowish-brown, reddish, tannish-brown to almost black. Older spines are grey and provide effective camouflage in habitat.

Seeds

Broadly oval, flattened.

Flowers

Diurnal, up to 10 cm in diameter and 6 cm long, pinkish or yellowish sometime with some violet, borne on the upper part of the areoles near the top of the plant. Stigma lobes numerous, red or purple. Stamens in two series the lower forming a ring around the style. Tube and ovary very spiny with woolly hairs and bristles.

Ribs

Up to 12 prominent and tuberculate.

Stem

20-30(-50) cm tall and 1-2 cm in diameter (2-8 cm in Austrocactus bertiniiSN|4001]]SN|3996]]), dark olive green slender cylindrical to cylindrical

Radial Spines

6-10 light coloured, up to 1,5 cm long.

Fruits

Nearly dry, globose, spiny with wool and bristles, flower remnants persistent.

Areoles

Circular yellowish-felted about 1 cm apart.