Xerophyte

Description

Stenocactus coptonogonusSN|6257]]SN|6257]] (Echinofossulocactus coptonogonusSN|6262]]SN|6262]]) is a globular or a little depressed cactus, 7 to 10 cm high. Unlike most of the stenocacti that have numerous thin wavy ribs this species has few ribs that are thick at base, triangular in cross-section and not undulated. The flowers are white with violet midveins, to 3 cm long and 4 cm in diameter.

Flowers

3 cm long, 4 cm broad, pink-magenta and white, in the plant apex. Inner perianth-segments numerous, linear-oblong, acute, purple or violet with white margins. Floral tube short. Ovary brownish violet, bearing thin scales.

Blooming Season

Spring.

Spines

3 to 5 (rarely to 7) spines, stout, a little incurved, cream-white or greyish white (red when young). Upper spines pointing vertically upward, broad, flattened, to 35(-50) mm long. Lateral pair pointing vertically upward, tetragonal. Lowermost pair(-s), if present, short, slender, nearly round in cross section.

Ribs

10 to 15, stout, thick at base, 1.5 cm high, 5 mm or more in width, triangular in cross-section, acute, notched, with transverse grooves at the areoles and not undulated.

Stem

Solitary or perhaps cespitose, globular or a little depressed, grey to glaucous-green, 5-10 cm tall, 7-15 (or more) cm wide.

Areoles

2 cm apart, elongated above the spines into the flower-bearing portion, sometimes with nectar glands, when young abundantly woolly, but in age naked.