Xerophyte

Habit

It is a tiny geophytic cactus rising barely above ground level, usually solitary or sometime branching.

Roots

Fibrous, arising from a large taproot which is narrowed into a necks where joining the stems.

Flowers

Diurnal, 3-5 cm long and broad, closely packed apically from young areoles, funnel-form, the colour is reddish often with red/brownish midveins. Pericarpel and floral tube with bracts, wool and sparsely bristly.

Spines

Mostly absent, or (if present) 1 to 14, stiff, needle-like, variable from very short (less than 3 mm long) to 15 mm long (depending on individuals), straight or more or less curved and not easily distinguished as centrals or radials, creamy white, brown or black and darker at the tips, turning grey as they ages. Central spines (if present) 1-4, slightly stronger 3-15 mm long.

Ribs

14-22, noticeably tubercled with pronounced chin-like protrusions.

Stem

4-10 cm in diameter, hemispherical to spherical, flattened at the apex, but often elongate in cultivation, dull olive-green, brownish to blackish green often with purple sheen.

Fruits

Oval, to 1,5 cm long, red, fleshy, thin walled and splitting open at maturity by basal pores.