Xerophyte

Central Spines

1 to 3.

Seeds

1.5 mm long, 1.2 mm wide, 1 mm thick, blackish.

Roots

Tuberous.

Cephalium

Towards the apex, lateral on a somewhat thickened part of the stem, with enlarged areoles, densely filled with white wool and many soft rust-red bristles 15-30 mm long.

Flowers

About 3 cm long; tube 11 mm long, 4 mm wide, pale inside, outside somewhat ruby, with very little scales; filaments of the same colour of petals 4-8 mm long; anthers small golden yellow; pistil of the same colour of petals 22 mm long, stigma lobes 5,2-3 mm long; petals straight, pointed, outer ones about 7 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, pale yellow with a crimson mid-stripe; inner ones 5 mm long, 2.5 mm wide, very pale yellow. The species is self-fertile.

Ribs

7-8, 2-3 mm high, dull.

Stem

About 80 cm long, erect, 10-20 mm thick, glossy dark green.

Fruits

12-15 mm long, 8 mm wide, brownish-red, club-shaped. The fruits remain long on the plant.

Note

The species name multiflorus = multiflorum describes the numerous flowers that appear on plants.

Blooming Season

Flowers appear in flushes during the growing season.

Radial Spines

12-15 needle-like, brown or rusty-red to white pointing sideways 5-10 mm long.

Areoles

4-7 mm apart, 1-2 mm wide, circular, white, with downwardly facing white hairs, 5-10 mm long.