Xerophyte

Habit

It is a solitary cactus with dens covering of spines.

Central Spines

About 20, 30-60 mm long.

Roots

Large, tuberose yellowish.

Note

Eriosyce senilisSN|2896]]SN|2896]] is quite variable and has received numerous unnecessary names of no botanical value, representing no more than local phenotypes

Flowers

1-5 (or more) cm long and in diameter, borne at plant apex on young areoles, tubular to narrow funnel-form, showing various shades of purple-pink with clearer throat in the spring, 2.5-5 cm, 1-3 cm wide; Floral tube with tufts of white wool.

Spines

15 to 40 radials, very dense, glassy, typically cream-white, straight to curled and tangled, hairlike soft and flexible, of variable length, obscuring the plant body and becoming longer with age.

Ribs

13 to 21 notched somehow depressed between the areoles.

Stem

Dark purplish and solitary, globose to short columnar, 6-18 cm tall, 5-8 cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

15-40 20-60 mm long.

Fruits

Elongate to clavate, reddish opening by basal pores at maturity.curled and tangled, some hairlike soft and flexible, other needle-like and stiff, of variable length, obscuring the plant body and becoming longer with age.

Areoles

Woolly.