Xerophyte

Habit

It is a small solitary cactus densely folded by bristly spines.

Description

Eriosyce villosaSN|3030]]SN|3030]] var. polyraphis much better known under its old name, Neoporteria polyraphis, is now considered nothing else than Eriosyce villosaSN|3030]]SN|3030]], but the plants in cultivation are not exactly the same, the spines are a little shorter and the flowers are a bit more pointed.

Roots

Large tuberose tap-root.

Note

The number of spines (especially the bristly or hairy radials) in Eriosyce villosaSN|3030]]SN|3030]] shows a certain degree of variability depending on origin. The otherwise similar features of “var. villosa” and “var. polyraphis”, namely size and form of stems, flowers, fruit, etc., prove, that is impossible to differentiate between these taxa.

Flowers

Bright magenta, borne on young areoles, 2-2,5 cm in diameter, Pericarpels and floral tubes with long wool and gassy white bristles.

Blooming Season

Blooms early in the year. Occasionally forms some buds late in the previous year, and it can sometimes flower during the winter, although the main burst of flowering is in April.

Spines

± dense, long, glassy gold-brownish to black central spines with thin bristle like grey radials.

Ribs

13-15 Deeply notched between areoles.

Stem

Subglobose to Globose becoming elongated, green or very dark green (almost black) or dark red, up to 15 cm tall, 8 cm in diameter.

Fruits

Elongate, red, dehiscing by basal pores.