Xerophyte

Seeds

Black, about 1.5 mm long, nearly globose with rim around basal hilum, pitted.

Description

In the wild the Escobaria duncaniiSN|10435]]SN|10200]] is an inconspicuous and difficult cactus to identify, and usually rare. It normally stays solitary, or branches slowly as it ages, rarely more than 2.5 cm in height, it often passes as an immature cob cactus (Escobaria tuberculosaSN|10182]]SN|10187]]). It will form condensed upright cylinders, densely covered with white spines with darker tips. It has pink flowers

Tubercles

Grooved on the upper side.

Flowers

About 1 cm wide, not opening widely, nearly apical, pale white, brown, or pink with midribs darkest, stigmata green; perianth deciduous in flower.

Blooming Season

Flowers in April.

Spines

30-75 per areole, slender and bristle-like, spreading, to 10 (22) mm long, pure white to brown, bristly with pink, red-brown to nearly black tips

Stem

Mostly 1-2 cm across by 1-2 cm tall, hemispherical, becoming short cylindric in age, but appearing conical due to spination.

Fruits

Mature fruits are elongate, about 1-2 cm long, bright red or pinkish-red, floral remnant caducous.