Xerophyte

Habit

It forms low compact cushions, with many heads covered with greyish wax. It is slow to cluster, may for many years be a single stem.

Central Spines

1-4 (usually 2), 1-2 cm long, subulate stout, straight or slightly curved, dark coloured, becoming grey or whitish.

Seeds

1,2 x 11 x 8 mm.

Description

Copiapoa cinerascens var. intermedia is localized in the southern part of the areal and is characterized by smaller sized stems with more greenish skin (but this characteristics are also seen in different locations). Ritter classified this plants as

Roots

Large swollen tap-root connected to the stem-base by a narrow neck.

Flowers

Diurnal closing at night, protracting the period of opening many days, somewhat fragrant, funnel-shaped, opening widely, yellow, 2,7-5,5 cm long.

Blooming Season

Summer, it needs a lot of sunlight to bloom, so it's pretty rare to have blossoms when in cultivation in greenhouses. It is not unusual for this Copiapoa to take 10 or more years before it starts blooming, but once it does, it should every year.

Ribs

15-20 or more , obtuse, with broad low tubercles above the areoles.

Stem

Depressed-spherical 8-9 cm in diameter, light grey-green to ash-grey and with grey wool at the apex. The grey colouration is a waxy coating presumably produced to prevent desiccation in it's extremely dry environment. In cultivation the waxy bloom is often not produced, revealing a green epidermis.

Radial Spines

7-9, 5-15 mm, stoutly needle-like, straight, spreading, interlacing, and never all adpressed, lower ones longest.

Fruits

1-1,5 cm in diameter, reddish or greenish,

Areoles

Crowded, the adjoining ones usually touching, round, 5-8 mm in diameter and, 3-7 mm apart. Young areoles filled with soft grey or black felted wool.