Xerophyte

Description

This is the nice crested form of Copipoa humilis with olive-green, or somewhat grey-green, or rarely red-brown stems that forms nice brain-shaped mounds. The apical line meristem is somewhat depressed often with white woolly felt. There are several clones and the dimension of the mound varies from 10 cm to 30 cm in diameter (but often more in cultivation, especially if grafted) moreover the transversal thickness of the crests vary from 2 to 8 cm. Given insufficient light and too much water, they grow into great masses of fat, olive-green crests. Given a very bright position, the stems are dark tannish-green, brownish to almost black at times, with red and purple. There are indeed marked differences in sizes, epidermis colour and spines length in plants from different clones, and also the growing condition (especially sun exposure, water availability and grafting) determine conspicuous differences in habit of cultivate specimens.

Roots

Massive, thickened rootstock going well down into the ground, with a long narrow neck.

Flowers

Yellow, campanulate, scented, about 30 mm long, growing from the centre of the white wool at the apex.