Xerophyte

Habit

It is a very small cactus that lives half buried in the ground. Most of the plants in habitat are single headed unless they are damaged.

Seeds

Elm shaped, 2 mm long, shining, black.

Roots

Long tuberose, inversely conical 2-3 cm wide.

Flowers

Arising from the crown from a very woolly bud, often cleistogamous, 2,5 to 3 cm in diameter, pale yellow. They will open only in great heat in the hottest, brightest, afternoon sun, if at all.

Blooming Season

Hottest part of summer.

Spines

Few quite fine, short, bristly, setaceous

Ribs

13-21 ribs, quite flat divided by transverse depression into tiny tubercles

Stem

Flattened, light green to dull green body, depressed at the crown.

Fruits

Dry indehiscent that detach easily, pear-shaped, with short matted hairs and with a pointed head of bristles. The fruit wall is thick, membranous, fragile and it opens by a basal pore to release the seeds that are promptly harvested by ants.