Xerophyte

Central Spines

Usually one, straight, gray, pointing slightly upward.

Description

It is a short usually solitary cactus.

Flowers

Diurnal sulfur-yellow about 2 cm long , 1,5 cm in diameter.

Blooming Season

Flowers come sporadically from early summer to late summer.

Ribs

When fully mature it has up to 32 ribs, but initially it has considerably fewer. These ribs at first are strongly tuberculate, later narrow and continuous.

Stem

Spherical to slightly elongated and cylindrical with creamy-white wool in the centre, 6-8(-10) cm wide, becoming 10-12 cm high with age, greyish-green, the plants grown in shadow are greener, while the ones in full sun can take a reddish colour.

Radial Spines

3 (seldom more ), one longer pointing slightly downward, the other lateral more or less erect, subulate, light to dark grey with darker brownish tips, 3-5 mm long.

Fruits

1,8 x 6-8 mm yellowish-green and globular with numerous seeds.

Areoles

Close set, greyish white, at first 3 mm or more apart, then nearly confluent and encompassing the stems.