Xerophyte

Description

Oroya peruvianaSN|1494]]SN|1494]] is a very variable species, with a (usually) solitary slow-growing flattened stem, that eventually becomes shortly columnar, up to 20 cm in diameter, 30 cm tall.On the contrary the var. minima offsets strongly in almost on each basal node of the stem on top of the ribs, with even small heads covered with numerous pups reaching only 2-5 cm across. In age forms clump up to 15 cm in diameter with up to 100 heads (or more), and generally the single heads stay smaller than the type. The spines are more or less pectinated, and range in colour from pale yellow to brown. They are relatively long, and widely spaced.The flowers are small and pink with yellowish centres, in dense clusters at the plant apexes and open in the summer, sometimes in a ring.. They are followed by red, hollow berries.