Xerophyte

Habit

Caespitose, with a turnip-like root.

Central Spines

3-4 thicker 3-4,5 cm long (or more).

Seeds

with large umbilicus.

Roots

Roots-strong, long, thick, narrower at top.

Flowers

Campanulate about 4,5 cm long , bright sulfur yellow and grow from the centre of the white wool at the apex. Outer segments of the perianth are linear and greenishor reddish; inner segments are wide, blunt and yellow. Ovary pale green. Pericarpel scales red.

Ribs

There are about 10-18 scant crenate.

Stem

Depressed-globose 20-30 cm high, 5-10 cm Ø, green, covered with copious grey wool at the apex, particularly at flowering time. 10-15 cm in diameter that branches profusely, forming large clumps up 1 m large and 60 cm high.

Radial Spines

8-10 fairly slender, mostly straight and acicular, usually pale brown, but also honey-amber, red-brown or black becoming grey with age.

Fruits

Red brown.

Areoles

Apical, 5-8 mm diam, depressed or convex, covered with short wool when young, later glabrous about 0,5-0,8 cm, 2 cm apart.