Xerophyte

Seeds

1,4 × 0,9 × 0,6 mm, black, shining.

Description

It is a small and usually branched very spiny cactus.

Roots

Long tap-root.

Flowers

Unscented, funnel-shaped 3-4 cm long, pale yellow. Tube with few yellow scales. Tepals 5-6 mm large yellow with reddish tips. Anthers sulphur yellow. Stigma 12-lobed yellow.

Spines

Usually straight black or brown becoming to grey as they ages up to 30 mm long. Radial spines 6-10, central spines 1-4 very similar in size and colour to the radials.

Ribs

10-20

Stem

Spherical 50-100 mm in diameter dull greyish-green.

Fruits

Spherical about 10 mm in diameter, green with 2-3 brownish-green scales.

Areoles

4-6 mm wide with grey felt abour 5-8 mm apart.