Xerophyte

Habit

Plants usually solitary but at times forming large clumps of nearly 1 meter wide, densely coveredwith spines;

Central Spines

(2-)4, reddish brown, longer and stouter than the radials, erect, 5-9 mm long.

Seeds

Brown.

Axils

More or less woolly when young, later with five to seven white bristles, the flowering and fruiting axils are filled with dense white wool.

Tubercles

Firm, conical, keeled, with latex.

Flowers

Funnelform, purplish red, rather small up to 12 mm long and in diameter. Inner perianth-segments oblong, entire; filaments pale; stigma-lobes green;

Stem

Flattened globose, pale green, up to 10 cm in diameter, occasionally dichotomously branched.

Radial Spines

About 16, slightly spreading, white with darkertips, 4-8 mm long.

Fruits

Club shaped, scarlet, 12-16 mm long.