Xerophyte

Habit

It is simple, but sometimes forms two or more stems.

Central Spines

(2-)4, upper one flattened and wide, creamy white to copper-brown, up to 5 cm long, 3-4 mm wide, lateral 2 even wider, angular, spreading, while the lower ones are shorter and point downwards.

Description

Stenocactus multicostatusSN|1730]]SN|1730]] more often known as Echinofossulocactus multicostatusSN|1726]]SN|1726]] is a low-growing cactus with a lot of narrow, very acute and straight or wavy ribs, densely pleated together giving a wrinkled look to its near globular shape, with short 6 to 18 soft flattened brownish spines, arranged crosswise, but there is a great variation among plants of different origin both in spination, body shape and number of ribs. Since the various forms are connected by intermediates it is extremely difficult to recognize infraspecific taxa.

Flowers

From the plant crown, about 2,5 cm, wide, with a short tube, white, pinkish purple or violet (or rarely yellowish) with a darker violet to purple midvein in early spring.

Blooming Season

Spring and summer.

Ribs

Many as the name implies, typically 50 to 100 (but occasionally up to 150 or more) very tight, thin, acute, wavy, very broad at the areoles.

Stem

6-15 cm wide and up to 6-12 cm tall, depressed spherical, spherical to short-cylindrical usually many-ribbed, grey-green to deep green with a flat tops .

Radial Spines

4-6 to 9 of different lengths.

Areoles

There are only 2 or 3 (-4) areoles in each rib, witch are covered with white felt in young plants