Xerophyte

Habit

This species is a low growing cactus usually solitary starting out spiny then becoming more woolly.

Central Spines

One central, erect, subulate, brown, up to 2 cm long slightly heavier but not very different from the the radials, but often the spine clusters may be without centrals.

Flowers

Numerous protruding from the whitish felt at stems apexes, glossy golden-yellow with with outer petals greenish, up to about 5 cm in diameter, and standing near the top. The buds are tightly wrapped by brown wool. Tepals in two rows, linear, denticulate at the tip, translucent, sulfur yellow. Stamens yellow, with white anthers. Stile longer, sulfur yellow. Stigma-lobes 8-12 carmine-red.

Blooming Season

They bloom annually from June to September. Flowers opened several days in the sunshine.

Ribs

13-16(-20), vertical, at maturity well marked, acute, deeply notched. Furrows narrow, sharp.

Stem

Broadly orbicular flattened and growing partly underground, often narrowed at the base, depressed and woolly at the top, dark olive-green, not over 15 cm tall and 10-18 cm broad (but often in cultivation, with age, forms a dark green cylindrical stem up to 22 cm tall).

Radial Spines

6-9(-12), dark-zoned, yellow, rigid, sturdy, the 3 lower longer and stronger (15 to 18 mm long), initially red, later brownish, all spines darker at the top.

Fruits

Oblongish, fleshy sooty-red.

Areoles

Well spaced, woolly, recessed, 15-20 mm in diameter.