Xerophyte

Central Spines

4 per areole forming a cross, spreading at about 45° angles, the lower one stronger and more flattened, narrowly elliptic in cross section, straight or slightly curved, conspicuously annulate, principal central spine 30-50 cm long and 2-3(-5) mm broad. As younger plant does have colourful spines.

Seeds

Conspicuously bur minutely reticulate, elongate-obovoid 1,6-1,8 mm long, hylum basal but oblique.

Roots

Fibrous root system.

Flowers

Infundibuliform 2,5-5 long 3-6 cm on diameter, colour similar inside and out. Perianth-segments oblong, obtuse, sometimes apiculate, more or less serrulate on the margins, greenish yellow or golden-yellow with brownish midstripes; flower-tube bearing stamens almost to the top of the ovary; scales on the ovary orbicular, imbricate. Stigma lobes yellow.

Spines

21-34 per areole, central spines and larger radial spines pink or yellowish, becoming duller by age or turning yellow or horn-colored, smallest spines per areole slender, sometimes bristle-like, less than 1 mm diam. (rarely absent).

Ribs

21-34, 1-2 cm tall somewhat rounded, obtuse, undulate shallowly notched immediately above each areole.

Stem

Pale to deep green, somewhat glossy, erect, mostly depressed-globose or globose (to short cylindric), with little apical pubescence, usually 10-30 cm tall and 10-20 cm in diameter.

Fruits

Barrel-like, bright yellow (very rarely reddish) with a pleasant acid taste, 20-35 long and 15-25 mm across, fleshy, skin leathery with about 30 fimbriate-denticulate scales. Dehiscent through basal pore.

Habit

It is a solitary barrel cactus, sometimes wider than tall.

Blooming Season

Spring-early summer.

Radial Spines

10-20 per areole, similar to the centrals but smaller 1-2 cm long, spreading irregularly, stiff and straight.

Areoles

Narrow elliptic to oval 10-20 mm long with brownish tomentum, spine-bearing in the lower part, felted in upper part, flower-bearing and also with several reddish glands, these becoming elongated and spinescent in age.