Xerophyte

Central Spines

Not very rigid, one erect or deflexed pointing downward, yellow or straw-colored with a dark to light brown tip usually 2,5-7 cm long (but occasionally to 12 or more cm long) accompanied, in at least some areoles, by 1 or 2 accessory centrals.

Description

It is a clumping spiny plant with few-branches which are not crowded against one another.It produces long straw-coloured spines not obliterating the stem surface.

Flowers

Funnel-shaped, borne on the upper half of the stems, 5-6,5(-8) cm long and 5-6.5 cm in diameter, dull-pink, magenta to reddish-purple.

Blooming Season

Flowers are produced in spring and remain open for two or three days.

Stem

1 to 10 per clump, ovoid to elongated-cylindrical, (3-)10-12(-25) cm tall, 4-7,5 cm. in diameter, rather firm, ribs 9-22 but usually 14-18, not markedly tuberculate at the areoles.

Radial Spines

10-14(-17) acicular, whitish or greysh 1,2-2 cm long.

Fruits

Spherical, spiny, fleshy, at first green or tanning-green turning red at maturity.