Xerophyte

Description

Branching upwards to 15-20 cm high in tight clumps up to 40 cm in diameter. The var. caudata is a very nice selected clone easily distinguscable from the standard for the more compct, shorter, thicker and brighter blue pads.

Flowers

5 cm in diameter and 6cm long; open from spring to early summer. They are intensely rose purple.

Spines

Spineless.

Stem

Oval to heart-shaped bright blue, with a blush of purple pigmentation (due to the presence of betacyanins pigments) that vary in function of temperature. New pads stretching from the lower areas of the plant.

Areoles

Numerous with white wool (3 mm of diameter), filled with brownish-reddish clustered glochids 3 mm long and easily penetrate the skin.