Xerophyte

Habit

It is a solitary plant (or rarely branching) .

Central Spines

3-4 very flattened, whitish, yellowish, brownish to almost black, often darker at the tip, directed upwards ± rigid, ferocious-looking, straight or curved, unequal with one very long (from 1 to 10 cm long) and 1-5 mm wide at the base

Seeds

1 mm long x 0,9 mm wide, pyriform to reniform, black. Head with celled and wavy wall.

Note

Identifying the species of a Stenocactus (Echinofossulocactus) is as difficult as identifying the genus is easy. For the most part, they tend to look alike, and there are far more names than there are species.

Flowers

Central, rather small, up to 4 cm long, funnel-shaped. Perianth segments in two series, pale pink with a purplish midrib, oblong-linear, acute. Flower tube well developed, covered with imbricating scales.

Blooming Season

Late spring to summer.

Ribs

(25-)30-60(-80) thin, more or less folded, very regularly and attractively waived and depressed in the region of areoles. The flattened, wavy or curled ridges of this species are characteristic of other kinds of Echinofossulocactus.

Stem

Up to 20 cm tall, 10 cm wide, globose, obovoid or short-cylindric, somewhat depressed at apex, bluish-green, dark matt green or dark olive-green.

Radial Spines

Usually 4 to 6 flattened, whitish to brownish, 0,5 to 1 cm long and about 0,6-1 mm wide at the base.

Fruits

8-12 mm long, 4-6 mm wide, obovoid reddish to greysh, dry at maturity.

Areoles

1 to 3 in each ribs, woolly in youth, later naked.