Xerophyte

Central Spines

Dark-tipped, reddish, pink, ascending, (1-)2-3(-4) per areole, 19-44 mm long, uppermost ones longer often curved toward apex of plant, sometimes slightly so. The longest or only central spine 25-35 mm long.

Phenology

Flowering Mar-Apr; fruiting Apr-May.

Tubercles

Grooved in the upper side.

Flowers

3.5-5(-6) cm long, 4-5 cm in diameter. Outer perianth segments (sepaloids) with purplish-green midribs, to 7.5 mm broad and up to 30 mm long. Inner perianth segments (20-)30-43 mm long, 07-18 mm wide, pale to bright rose-pink, blotched at the base with orangish brown, chestnut, maroon, or greenish brown. Stigma lobes mostly 10, 1.5 mm long, stout red to brownish red, papillae red to green. Ovary in anthesis broadly obconical.

Chromosome Number

2n = 22.

Spines

Dense, obscuring surface of stem 13-16 per areole, purplish pink or nearly white with brown tips.

Ribs

15-21. the indentations between tubercles sharp and narrow.

Stem

Ovoid or somewhat cylindricoid, (4-)10-22(-27) cm tall, 4-9(-10) cm in diameter.

Radial Spines

11-15 appressed. The lowermost the shortest 11-20 mm long; uppermost and lateral ones longest 22-25(-37) mm long, the lateral spines often pectinate.

Areoles

15-19 mm apart along ribs.