Xerophyte

Central Spines

Usually absent.

Note

Seems to be a pretty variable plant you might get some other names which are effectively the same plant.... and also not sure all plants identified as this are really this.

Flowers

From the centre, narrow funnelform, about 6 cm long. External perianth segments greenish whit reddish margins, internal perianth segments oblong, white to light pinkish or greenish spreading. Scales on the ovary and flower tube small, scattered.

Blooming Season

It produces flowers almost continuously during the year.

Spines

All radials, 5-8, straight or slightly tortuous, short, the longest up to 12 mm (or more) long, nearly useless in terms of defence. Young spine are pastel-white or yellowish with a darker tip, later become pale-grey.

Ribs

About 10, broad to acute, and more or less notched into chin-shape protrusions or warts.

Stem

Simple, spherical-depressed to short cylindrical, up to 10 cm tall, 8-15 cm in diameter, green, pale-green or brownish-green, and highly decorative, often with horizontal clear and dark strips. Like other species of the subgenus Muscosemineum, G. damsii has a high proportion of a red pigment (betalain) in the epidermis.

Fruits

Oblong, 2,5 cm long, 6 mm in diameter, reddish at maturity.