Xerophyte

Description

Echinopsis aureaSN|10643]]SN|10643]] subs. fallax is a solitary or branched subspecies species distinguished by impressively strong and very showy spines.

Flowers

Lemon yellow and bright yellow inside (nearly 10 cm) long. Blooms in flushes in late spring and occasionally in summer. The buds are covered by long silky hairs and grow laterally from the centre of the stem. The tube is slightly curved, funnel-shaped, slender and greenish white, with pale green scales, red at the base, with white and black below.

Spines

It has 8 to 10 radials, paler, about 2 cm long pointing outward and, usually, 4 central spines, 3 to 6 cm long. The central spines are thicker, about 4 cm (up to 6cm) long, and brown to black with yellow tips.

Ribs

14 to 15, sharp-edged, separated by deep grooves.

Stem

Dark green to grey-green, globular or elongated, reaching a height of 15 cm and a diameter of 4 to 10 cm or more.