Xerophyte

Habit

This species stays small and will offset to form clusters of as many as 11 stems. It lack small, clustered sterile stems (a characteristic of the related Escobaria sneediiSN|10397]]SN|10397]] that occurs and intergrade with Escobaria villardiiSN|21585]]SN|21585]] in the Doña Ana County)

Central Spines

8-10, of which 1-2 longest stouter, thicker, darkly pigmented 12-20 mm long, and spreading, typically ashy white, yellowish or pale brownish and dark at tip, fading to gray, standing out, others 6-8 up to 20 mm long, translucent white.

Seeds

1 mm Ø, kidney-shaped with hilum lateral, pitted, brown.

Description

Escobaria villardiiSN|21585]]SN|21585]] is a low-growing, widely spreading cactus with stems covered in white spines forming untidy mats or mounds.

Tubercles

Globose to cylindrical, somewhat rounded on top, 6–11 mm long, 3–6 mm Ø, on mature stems with a groove the full length in the upper surface.

Flowers

20-35 mm long, 8–25 mm Ø, not opening widely pale yellow, pale pink or pink/white with dark midveins, feathery edged. Stigmas white to pink.

Blooming Season

Flowers in spring (in habitat in April.)

Spines

20–36(-50), slender and bristle like, 6–20 mm long, very variable.

Stem

The individual stems, short cylindrical, 2-4(-6,5) cm Ø and to 6–15 cm long,

Radial Spines

20-36, bristle-like, white, some curved 5-12 mm long.

Fruits

11–21 mm long, cylindrical., greenish to somewhat reddish, occasionally with a few woolly scales.