Xerophyte

Seeds

Very small.

Description

This is a strange plant that forms lots of axillary shoots in a continuous series on almost each node starting from the base of the stem, while the typical Strombocactus disciformisSN|2103]]SN|2103]] is usually solitary.

Roots

Strong napiform (turnip-like).

Flowers

Arise on the crown, measure about 3.5 cm in length and breadth, are shiny cream coloured with occasional spots at the tip and in the throat, The filaments are white or reddish, the anthers yellow. The 8 to 10 lobed stigma are white or yellowish.

Blooming Season

Flowers emerge early in spring and are freely produced throughout the summer, remaining open for several days.

Spines

4 to 5, erect and dark grey at the tips and pale grey at the base, 1.2 to 2 cm long, they become calcified, they are caducous and in age fall at the stem base.

Stem

The body is flattened or spherical, 3 to 8 cm high, reaching 20 cm in age, and 3 to 9 cm across and branches profusely from the base to form a crowded clump with hundred of small heads around the main stem. The crown is slightly depressed and felted. The colour is blue-green with greyish tinge, the base covered with brown corky spots in age. It is composed of hard, spirally arranged rhomboid and imbricate tubercles, 1 to 1.8 cm high. These tubercules are flattened and almost truncated above and somewhat horny or keeled below.

Fruits

7 mm across, splits down its length.