Xerophyte

Central Spines

Absent.

Description

Escobaria cubensisSN|10124]]SN|10124]] is a dwarf species with very small flowers, it is one of the rarest cacti and it is seldom seen in specialized collection (it is virtually unknown out of it natural habitat). The plants do not reach more than 20 mm above the surface, and in habitat they are camouflaged by rock fragments. The greenish-yellow flowers, about 16 mm in diameter, are produced from the axils near the apex of the body, but are not very showy.

Roots

It has a strong fat taproot up to 7 cm long.

Tubercles

Narrow 6-7 mm long, grooved only half the length along the ventral surface.

Flowers

Yellowish-green at the plant apex not more than 11 mm tall and in diameter.

Blooming Season

The flowers open in the daytime and in the habitat have been observed to be open between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., repeating this process over a period of four or five consecutive days. The plant never flowers during the period between June and August.

Stem

Very small, solitary, globose to depressed globose, not more than 2,5 cm tall and 4,5 cm in diameter (but usually in habitat the plant are half this size or even lesser) pale green, yellowish-green to olive green.

Radial Spines

10-15, finely hairy, radiating, white, (2-)3-4(-6) mm long.

Fruits

Roundish to clavate less than 1,5 cm long. Immature fruits are greenish-yellow and become pink to red at maturity and can contain up to 35 small black seeds.