Xerophyte

Central Spines

Dark brown to black, soon becoming chalky-white or greyish, up to 20 mm long.

Description

Eriosyce taltalensis subs. paucicostataSN|2363]]SN|2363]] is a very variable species for size and number of spines, colour of epidermis, number and form of ribs, etc. It comprises several questionable varieties and its taxonomic history has undergone several changes. The great variability of Eriosyce taltalensis subs. paucicostataSN|2363]]SN|2363]] is due to the fact that cross pollination among different forms and different species (in habitat and especially in collections) is very frequent and it can be quite difficult to determine what is the "pure type" and the cross. The form "viridis" is distinguishable for the green body (whereas the standard form generally has a blue-grey or grey-purple tinged stem), but even the “viridis” plants tend to take some purple in strong light during colder months or under stress conditions, and the differences among individuals may be remarkable. It can happen that two individuals of two different populations can look very similar and also, two plants of the same population can look very different.

Roots

Conical taproot.

Flowers

From young areoles, campanulate or funnel-shaped, very pale pink, cream-white or pale yellowish with a vague green nuance. About 3 cm in diameter. Floral tube with abundant white wool and bristles. There might be over 50 flowers on a mature specimen (only mature specimens bloom).

Spines

Juvenile specimens have 1 central spine and 8 radials, but the numbers increase as they get older, and areoles can have over 20 spines on mature specimens.

Ribs

Adult specimens have around 8-13 notched ribs, forming tubercles with sunken areoles.

Stem

Solitary, subglobose to elongate, up to 15 cm in diameter with abundant white wool on top.

Radial Spines

6-12, up to 1 cm long.

Fruits

Reddish, elongate, opening by a basal pore.