Xerophyte

Seeds

1.2 mm long, 0.7 mm wide, black-brown.

Roots

Large tap root that may exceed the size of the plant above soil level.

Note

Latin “torquatus, torquata, torquatum” ringed or collared, having a necklace or collar. Referring to the closely set areoles (less than 3 mm apart), that form an almost continuous line down the ribs' sides.

Flowers

From the basal parts of the stem, about 30 mm long and 40-50 mm wide, red with a yellow throat. Bud dark green with small black scales, white woolly hairs, and (rarely) single hair bristles. Flower tube about 15 mm long, of which 3-4 mm thick, inside pale yellow, outside covered with hairs and larger black scales. Inner perianth segments about 12 mm long, 5 mm wide, spathulate, obtuse, apically red gradually turning pale yellow toward the base, outer perianth segments with shorter tip, equally coloured, almost black at the end. Filaments 6-7 mm long, green becoming yellowish at tips, developing all over the tube length. Anthers yellow. Style light-green, with 8 green stigma lobes, protruding about 4 mm above the level of the highest anthers.

Spines

Only radial, 6-10, pointing sideward (pectinate), only about 1 mm long (sometimes 2 mm), white with reddish-brown base.

Ribs

8-10, straight to snaky about 3mm high, separated by shallow, broad furrows. The ribs are composed of very densely packaged tubercles, often touching each other to form a continuous areoles line.

Stem

Long columnar, 20-30 mm thick, green.

Fruits

Spherical, reddish, about 4 mm wide, covered with 1-2 mm long, narrowly triangular, dark scales and white wavy hair.

Areoles

1 mm long, white.