Xerophyte

Habit

It is a small usually solitary or slowly offsetting around its base.

Central Spines

3 or 4, very similar to the radials. One of the centrals appears longer than all others, and and may occasionally be more or less hooked and dark-gray, brown or almost black, in var. atra.

Flowers

Small, funnel-shaped, apical, mostly orange tinged with red or rusty-red (but ranging in color from yellow through pink to scarlet) 2-3.5 cm wide. Dried flowers remain for a long time on the plant body after blooming.

Blooming Season

Spring to summer, but with favorable conditions this one blooms almost all year, just taking "catnaps" in-between.

Ribs

About 15 -16 (or more), forming small tubercles.

Stem

Small, greyish-green to dull green, attaining about 8 cm in diameter and 4,5 cm in height.

Radial Spines

9-15 or so, thin, whitish grey or yellow with a brownish tip, more or less curved (which is a useful recognition factor)

Fruits

Red or green, with white hairs (dark red in var. atra).

Areoles

Young areoles are relatively large, and filled with abundant white wool. Later they are naked.