Xerophyte

Habit

Body highly branched to form large, dense cushions up to 50 cm in diameter.

Central Spines

1-2(-4), needle-like, more robust and slightly longer (up to 5 cm long), the same colour as the radial.

Seeds

Black 1 x 0,8 mm.

Roots

Thickened shortly napiform without narrow neck.

Flowers

Up to 3 cm long and 5,5 cm in diameter, pale yellow, slightly reddish outside.

Blooming Season

Blossoms are born in mid spring, late spring, late summer, mid autumn.

Ribs

(10-)12-15(-19) rounded, tuberculate, notched, 10-12 mm high and wide.

Stem

Globose to short cylindrical 13 cm tall, 6 to 10 cm in diameter, pale green to olive green often in habitat with a grey waxy coating presumably produced to prevent desiccation in it's extremely dry environment. In cultivation the waxy bloom is often not produced, revealing the epidermis colour.

Radial Spines

7 to 10, needle-like, rather slender, straight 1-3 cm long at first brown to black, later greyish-white.

Fruits

Round, 10-15 mm long, reddish or brownish.

Areoles

Big, oval about 4 mm long and 10 mm apart, covered with white wool turning grey, later glabrous.