Xerophyte

Seeds

Dark brown.

Roots

It has a tuberous carrot-like root from which arises a contracted neck, ending in an enlarged top-shaped plant body.

Juvenile Spines

6-10, small, inconspicuous, 2-5 mm long, all radial, spreading sideways or flattened close to the plant, from black to nearly white.

Flowers

Up to 3.5 cm. long, wide funnel-shaped, the underside with white wool and some fine yellow bristles. Petals pale to brownish-yellow, at the edge  whiter.

Spines

Dimorphous. This species is one of those Eriosyce which pass a short-spined youth stage in which they are already floriferous. Most of the plants after several years develop long spines, giving the plant a completely different fiercely spiny appearance.

Radials 8-12, up to 2 cm long, black to yellowish, the upper radials sometimes longer and bent. Central spines 1-3, black to brown, sometimes light brown to yellow and bent to the side.

Ribs

Divided in tubercles , later flattish.Areoles. White felty.

Stem

Hemispherical to spherical, 2-6 cm diameter, almost black.

Fruits

About 1.5 cm. long, red, hairy.