Xerophyte

Central Spines

0 - 1, up to 35 mm long, brown-black, stiff and straight.

Seeds

1-1,5 mm black.

Description

Usually solitary.

Roots

Fibrous.

Note

Adult plants, either without central spines, or with 1 central spine can be found. But with the exception of the absence or existence of centrals, all the other characteristics are absolutely identical, namely size and form of ribs, number, size and arrangement of radial spines, flowers, fruits and seeds. Furthermore this species is one of those Echinocereus which pass a purely radial-spined long youth stage, in which they are already floriferous. Most of the plants after several years develop central spines, giving the plant its sea urchin appearance.

Flowers

Magenta-pink, throat a lighter shade, 45-60 mm long, 40-55 mm wide. Tube length 20-40 mm, filament 15-25 mm long, stylus 25-40 mm, yellow, stigma lobes 5-6 yellowish-green.

Ribs

11 to16, 5-12 mm long

Stem

Green, short, cylindrical, up to 20 cm tall 4(12) cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

5-18, pectinated 16-23 mm long. Cream with darker tips add-pressed.

Fruits

Ovoidal, brownish-green, length15, diameter 10. They dry and break at maturity and ripe in 2 months.

Areoles

Ellipsoidal, length 3–4mm, width 2 mm, close set, distance 4-7 mm, at first woolly, then naked.