Xerophyte

Seeds

Brownish-black, rounded to ellipsoidal, 1-1.5 mm long.

Description

It is a slow-growing, relatively short columnar cactus, densely clumping from the base, densely covered with soft furry spines and grows in clumps to a height of about two 60 cm and up to 2 m wide. New growth is yellow, turning to brown or black, which darkens to gray with age.

Note

Brachycereus nesioticusSN|6108]]SN|6108]] (K. Schum.) Backbg. is most closely related to the Andean (Ecuador) Armatocereus cartwrightianusSN|4801]]SN|4801]] (Britt. & Rose) Backb.

Flowers

Diurnal, narrow funnelform, creamy white from the side of the stems, 6-10 cm long, 2,5-5 cm in diameter. Floral tube with numerous spiny areoles and small scales. The flowers are visible in the early morning hours only opening just before dawn, and normally fade by 7 or 8 in the morning.

Spines

40 or more , 2.5 cm long, unequal, yellowish when young, darkening to brown or black as they ages, radiating, stiff to somewhat flexible, 0.5-5 cm long.

Stem

Cylindrical to prostrate, 10-50 cm (3.9-20 in) high, about 3- 5 cm in diameter with 14-22 ribs

Fruits

Tan-coloured, fleshy at maturity, 1.5-3.5 cm long, 1-1.4 cm in diameter, covered with yellow spines. Flowers remnants persistent.