Xerophyte

Central Spines

1 to 4, sometime absent on juvenile specimen, fairly slender, erect, straight or curved 10-35 mm long.

Seeds

Black.

Description

Copiapoa humilisSN|9790]]SN|9790]] is a very small, low growing cactus with roots like turnips, sometime solitary but usually clumping at the base. It's a highly variable taxon with several more or less similar forms that could be described as local varieties. Taylor suggests that this is a very complex species or species aggregate, perhaps representing geographical varieties or, in some cases, critical species, listed here in sequence from north to south

Roots

Large tap-root, connected to the stem by long slender neck. Seedlings naturally produce the huge tap root, starting from germination, i.e. before the plant stem becomes mature.

Flowers

At the apex, 2-4 cm long, corolla sulphur yellow, strongly scented. In cultivation Copiapoa humilisSN|9790]]SN|9790]] are able to flower from immature stems at an early age (about 2 years from germination) and set viable seed. Ovary always glabrous, with smaller scales inserted only above the peripheral ring.

Spines

10-14 greyish-white to yellowish (in youth) to black (adults).

Ribs

About 8-14 slightly spiralling forming distinct elevated tubercles.

Stem

Subglobular, depressed, somewhat soft, producing copious wool in the apex. 2,5-9 cm broad by 2-6 cm high pale olive-green to tan. Juvenile stems are darker purple-red to almost black.

Radial Spines

About 7-13, thin, needle-like, setaceous, open wide on sides, marginal, somewhat bent, 2-25 mm long.

Fruits

Round, naked, bright red, up to 8 mm long.

Areoles

Well separated, with white wool.