Xerophyte

Habit

It is usually solitary and large stemmed.

Tubercles

More or less regularly arranged in spirals, and firm, areolar glands are absent.

Flowers

The flowers are apical or nearly so, pure white, pale rose-pink, or pale lavender-pink, darker centrally, 2,5 to 4 cm in diameter.

Spines

21-41 per areole, ashy white, grey, or pale tan in colour, with the tips of the largest spines reddish brown or reddish black, all straight. Radial spines numerous (15-41 per areole), 4-15 mm long, grey to white, sometimes as many as 30. Central spines several, stouter than radials, brown to blackish or coloured only at tips

Stem

Ovoid to cylindric up to 20 cm tall, up to 7 cm in diameter.

Fruits

Oblong, bright red not very succulent; the floral remnant is strongly persistent.