Xerophyte

Central Spines

Solitary, 10-20(-25) mm long.

Flowers

About 15 cm long. Flower-tube with ovate, acute scales 1 cm or more long, hairy in the axils. Outer perianth-segments linear, acute; inner perianth segments oblong, acutish, white. Stigma-lobes numerous, linear.

Blooming Season

Summer.

Spines

Rigid, all subulate, needle-like, white rose-coloured or red when young, later whitish or greyish, tipped blackish.

Ribs

4-7(-rarely to 7) blunt, rounded, not tuberculate.

Stem

Erect at first, then arching or even prostrate, sprawling or clambering, bluish-green, or grey-green, glaucous, nearly round in cross section, jointed to 3 m (or more) long and 2-4-(rarely to 8) cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

5 to 8 about 1 cm long.

Fruits

Spherical, slightly tuberculate, spineless, with a few scales3-5 cm in diameter red, splitting laterally to expose the spongy white funicles and black seeds.

Areoles

1.2-1.4 cm apart.